Matthew 6:5–15 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you……

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven……

11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1.We see God as Father 2.We see God as Holy 3.We see God as King 4.We see God as Lord 5.We see God as Provider

1.We see God as Father 2.We see God as Holy 3.We see God as King 4.We see God as Lord 5.We see God as Provider 6.We see God as Judge

What is sin? Sin includes: Thoughts because God knows your thoughts Words because God hears your speech Deeds because God sees your acts Motives, God knows your heart Commission, where you do what God tells you not to do Omission, where you do not do what God tells you to do

There are only two options: forgiveness or unforgiveness.

Forgiveness is not approving of sin.

Forgiveness is not enabling sin.

Forgiveness is not denying you were sinned against.

Forgiveness is not waiting for an apology or confession of sin.

Forgiveness is not forgetting their sin.

“Remember” when referring to God is a covenant term, a Hebrew term meaning: I will now act toward someone because of a previous commitment.

When it says God remembers our sin no more it means He will no longer act toward us based on a previous commitment (law), but in a new way (grace).

Forgiveness is not ceasing to feel the pain of the sin.

Forgiveness is not a onetime event, even if the sin was.

Forgiveness is not neglecting social justice for the sin.

Forgiveness is not blindly trusting the one who sinned.

Trust is built slowly, but it is lost quickly.

Forgiveness is not reconciliation with the one who sinned.

Forgiveness is: No longer willfully holding onto the feelings of hurt, betrayal, pain, etc. It means no longer using someone else’s sin as justification for harboring resentment and anger. I have forgiven, therefore I release them from the debt they owe me.

1.We see God as Father 2.We see God as Holy 3.We see God as King 4.We see God as Lord 5.We see God as Provider 6.We see God as Judge 7.We see God as Leader

When you are tempted, take His hand and ask Him to lead you, NOT into temptation, but out of temptation, away from them.

Temptation is not sin. By God’s grace and through His strength you can overcome EVERY temptation.

1.We see God as Father 2.We see God as Holy 3.We see God as King 4.We see God as Lord 5.We see God as Provider 6.We see God as Judge 7.We see God as Leader 8.We see God as Deliverer

The Lord’s Prayer changes how we see God, so we might have confidence, boldness, and assurance when we pray.

Can we pray “our” if our faith has no room for the needs of others? Can we pray “Father” if we don’t live like His child? Can we pray “Father in heaven” if our lives are centered on earth? Can we pray “Hallowed be Your name” if He is not holy to us?

Can we pray “Thy kingdom come” if we insist on our sovereignty instead of His? Can we pray “Thy will be done” if we live for our own desires? Can we pray “On earth as it is in heaven” if we don’t give ourselves to His service? Can we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” if we don’t work hard at the jobs He gives us, while also sharing generously with others?

Can we pray “Forgive us” when we don’t forgive others? Can we pray “Lead us not into temptation” when we place ourselves in tempting situations? Can we pray “Deliver us from evil” when won’t admit we are in bondage to sin?

Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when, upon his knees, he comes face to face with God. - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Challenge: This week, every night as a family pray the Lord’s Prayer.