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HopeLives365

Mark Finley

Secrets of the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven reveals a God not only who is a loving heavenly Father, but He's there in heaven.

He's the God of might, the God of majesty, the God of power.

We can approach the all-powerful, all-knowing, almighty God of the universe, knowing that our loving Heavenly Father delights when we come to Him in prayer.

Not long ago I saw on the internet a three-year-old boy repeating the Lord's Prayer.

Now that's the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples.

You recall that Christ's disciples came to him and they said to him, Lord teach us to pray.

In the New Testament, the Lord's Prayer is found really in 2 places.

It's found in Luke the 11th chapter, and it's also found in Matthew the 6th chapter.

Matthew 6 is a longer version of the Lord's Prayer than in Luke chapter 11.

The Lord's Prayer might actually be titled the Disciples' Prayer, because it was the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray.

We're going to be studying the longer version in Matthew chapter 6 today.

So if you have your Bible, I invite you to take it and turn to Matthew the sixth chapter.

So you're taking your Bibles, looking at Matthew chapter 6, and we're going to look at the Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase.

Because this prayer is not only a prayer to be said, but it has to do with a life to be lived.

Matthew the 6th chapter, we're beginning there with verse 9, after this manner therefore pray ye our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Now Christ's instruction in the Lord's Prayer is so simple that it can be grasped by a little child, But it's so profound that the brightest and greatest minds will never fully understand its depth.

Now the Lord's Prayer is divided into 2 sections.

The first 3 petitions have to deal with the glory of God.

The last 3 petitions have to deal with the glory of God.

The last 3 petitions have to deal with the necessities of human beings.

That structure of the Lord's Prayer, first dealing with the glory of God, then the needs of humanity, is placed there intentionally by Christ.

Because when God is given his proper place, everything else falls into place.

Can you read that with me from the screen or say it?

When God is given his proper place, all other things fall into place.

In other words, when God is given his supreme place, his glory and his honor, When they consume our lives, only then can we effectively present our needs to Him.

So let's begin this prayer and take a look at it phrase by phrase.

We have a heavenly Father who cares for us immensely.

Notice what it says, Our Father which art in heaven.

First, the fatherhood of God as a loving, caring father.

God's love is always driven by God's power.

And God's power is always motivated by God's love.

Now the idea of the fatherhood of God is a consistent theme throughout Scripture.

Take your Bible please, turn to Isaiah chapter 63.

Let's take a look at the fatherhood of God and its significance in our personal lives.

Isaiah chapter 63, you're looking there at verse 16.

Here Isaiah speaks and he says, Doubtless thou art our father.

You're the 1 that loves us, the 1 that sustains us.

He's using an illustration, verse 16, Isaiah 63.

Israel may acknowledge us not, but thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer, thy name is from everlasting.

Isaiah says, as we walk through life, never forget that we have a loving, caring, heavenly Father.

This is a consistent theme through scripture.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him.

Pity in the sense of looking down upon with care, compassion.

Verse 14, he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust.

When the mountain is high, when the journey is long, God our loving heavenly father knows that we are weak and frail and he looks down upon us with compassion.

Jesus teaches us to call his father our father.

That is 1 of the most profound thoughts in the universe, that Jesus invites us to call His Father our Father.

And God loves us as much as He loves His own Son.

We're not orphans, street children begging for food.

Jesus is so eager to welcome us into the family of God that the very first words He teaches us to pray in the Lord's Prayer are, Our Father.

In Christ we are 1 family with a Father who will guide us, a Father who will strengthen us, a Father who will sustain us, a Father who will empower us, a Father who will direct us, a Father who will protect us, a Father who will provide for us, and that is incredibly good news.

There is a wonderfully encouraging statement in the book Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, page 105, And you can notice it here, thoughts from the Mount of Blessing 105.

He listens to every word that is offered, every prayer that's offered.

He tastes the sorrows and disappointments of every soul.

He regards the treatment that's given to father, mother, sister, friend, and neighbor.

In other words, when we feel abused, when we feel mistreated, when we feel condemned, we feel criticized, our Heavenly Father knows all about that.

He cares for our necessities, and His love and mercy and grace are continually flowing to satisfy our need.

From heaven's sanctuary above, our loving Heavenly Father pours out grace.

He pours out mercy to satisfy every 1 of our needs.

Now the concept that God is our Heavenly Father impacts our lives greatly.

This is not something that's simply theoretical.

It's not some intellectual insight, but it impacts the way we live day by day in those grim, discouraging, dark moments.

We must constantly remind ourselves, we've got a loving Heavenly Father, that we matter to God.

In His infinite mercy, we are of royal lineage, children of the King of Kings.

Now the expression, our Father which art in heaven, reveals a God not only who is a loving heavenly Father, but He's there in heaven.

We can approach the all powerful, all knowing, almighty God of the universe, knowing that our loving heavenly Father delights when we come to Him in prayer.

He waits in eager anticipation to answer our prayers and meet our deepest needs.

Our Father in Heaven, that idea places together these 2 profound concepts that I've mentioned, The love of God and the power of God.

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Secrets of the Lord’s Prayer

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