The Lord’s Prayer

18. July 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Today, we’re looking at the Lord’s Prayer.  This is not what it was named in the scripture but what it has become known as throughout church history.    Jesus has instructed how not to pray and now he informs us how to pray.   

Our text is:  Matthew 6:9 ”This, then, is how you should pray: “‘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 today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Look at the first part of the prayer.  It suggests that we are to acknowledge and reverence the name of God.   For we are to say “hallowed be your name.”   The word hallowed means holy.  Sometimes we take the word holy to be mystical or spooky but in actuality, it simply means different.  His name is different than all the other names for Gods.  He is separate, unique, distinct, different, and holy.   When the scriptures call for us to be holy it is calling for us to be “different” than the people of “this world”.  Then the prayer instructs us to always ask that the kingdom of

The prayer then instructs us to ask God for our daily portion.   As you can see, Jesus intended that we pray everyday, for the prayer contains asking God for our “daily allowance” . 

The next part of the prayer solicits forgiveness but notice the forgiveness is based on us forgiving others.  For it says forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.    The implication here is that when we come to God we are in good standings with those that have wronged us and we have forgiven all that need to be forgiven.  Remember the text; forgive us as we have already forgiven.    OHHHHHHH!!!  This is so powerful to me.  For many of us, we still struggle with that forgiving piece.  This theme is all over the scriptures.  God requires us to be at peace with our enemy and in right standing with our brethren.  It is connected to our forgiveness from God.    I hope that we’re getting the message here.  Could it be that some things are being held up in our lives because of all the people that we need to forgive.    Let it go.  It’s not worth it.  Some times we think we’re hurting that person, but we’re really hurting ourselves.

The prayer then asks God’s help in the area of temptations.  The prayer solicits God’s help for deliverance from the evil one. 

Now, the prayer closes with the forgiveness piece again.  The last lines teach that if we do not forgive men their wrongs towards us then God will not forgive us.   That’s it people.  I can’t clean it up for you.    If we don’t forgive, we’re don’t get forgiven.   Yes!!!!  It is a hard truth.  

So let me ask you a question.  The hate that you harbor in your heart towards someone that wronged you is it really worth you letting it cause your spiritual life to suffer.   Is it really worth not getting forgiveness from God.    Let it go.  Watch the freedom that you will experience.  Watch the doors that will begin to open.    Let it go!!!!!!!!!   Jesus instructs us to and tells us what the consequences will be if we don’t.

Have a great weekend. 

See you on Monday. 

God Bless. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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