Prayer Essentials – Why We Must Pray
Part 5 – Praying Powerful Prayers
9. Pray after this manner, “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 forgive our debtors.”
13. “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one: for Yours is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13
Prayer is More than Exercise
What is it that moves us to pray? Is it the crisis we face at the moment, that we turn to prayer as some cure for our cares? What moves us to pray? Is it our ‘go-to exercise’ when the world lets us down? Here is where we begin prayer and find the value of prayer when we discern what causes us to pray.
We recently shared a message titled, ‘Finding God in a Crisis.’ That title alone may lead some to think of their relationship with God as the Divine Crisis Manager. This may cause some to have a skewed understanding of what it means to call upon God Almighty. Yes, we can definitely call upon the Name of the Lord in our distress and He will send deliverance. That is certain, but we must not limit God nor prayer to emergency situations. Prayer and communion with God are much more than that.
As we have reflected on the prayer life of Elijah, the Scripture reminded us that he was human just like us. Yet Elijah’s prayers got results. Our thoughts in this message turn to Jesus Himself. We will discover that while Jesus was God in flesh, He taught us to pray based on our relationship with God rather than our need for God. Jesus taught the true essentials of prayer. Our relationship with God should be the driving force of prayer.
In this wonderful text, often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talks about prayer. Notice, the prayer He teaches is not centered on a crisis but rather on knowing and trusting God as our Heavenly Father. Jesus does not say, “when panicked, pray this way.” He rather encourages us to pray like this by saying “Our Father Who is in Heaven.” What a wonderful way to open with prayer!
Jesus elevated prayer from a ritual to a right that is given to every child of God. Prior to Christ teachings, prayer was made to God through priests, made by prophets, and by means of animal sacrifices. While these were the requirements of the Old Testament or Covenant, Jesus gave us a New Covenant which in turn, give us confidence to come before God as His children and not as sinners in fear of judgment. What’s behind this new prayer that Jesus is advocating? How was this different for people and what could they expect because of this kind of prayer?
Entering God’s Kingdom by Prayer
If we remember, Jesus came to declare the message that the Kingdom of Heaven is near (or at hand). This meant that people would have access to God, an opportunity to talk directly to God, and the ability to live through His Power. This was uniquely different from the message the people had heard prior to Christ. The question we would legitimately ask is how to access this “Kingdom of God.” The answer is prayer. Please understand, this is more than submitting a prayer request. Prayer gives the believer the keys to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus model prayer is the greatest teaching on the subject. In those five brief verses, our Lord lays out such amazing truths for the saint that seeks to enter God’s Courts. These prayer essentials will work any time, for every purpose, and under any circumstance. These essentials not only help us pray but also moves us to pray to the Heavenly Father.
Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name … Your Kingdom come, Your 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 do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one: for Yours is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” First, the focus on God and not the need. Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. Second, follow God’s plan and not our way. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Third, have faith in God’s promises instead of our feelings. Give us this day our daily bread. Fourth, we receive God’s forgiveness as we offer forgiveness to those indebted to us. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lastly, view prayer as fellowship with God and not a temporary fix. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
What does it mean to focus on God and not our need? Those who come before God are more concerned with talking with God versus getting their needs met. True believers do not use God and His power to obtain things. They recognize that having the Lord in their life is the ‘pearl of great price’ and true joy of Salvation. When we focus on God, we are asking like Moses for God to show us His Glory. Wouldn’t it be cheap of the Child of God to only wanted the things God gave but did not want God? Wouldn’t it hurt the heart of God to think of Him as Great Provider but did not know Him as Heavenly Father. Please note that Jesus does not exclude God’s power to provide, but instead gives an even greater motivation to call on God based on the relationship as His Children. So, the very first thing Jesus taught was “Our Father.” That inclusive term serves as a reminder that He is both Father personally as well as the Father of millions that we may not know. Not only that, the term references God as Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. All belongs to God and as His children, we honor God and Hallow His Name. Rather than coming to God as a stranger forbidden to enter the Holy Place, the Child of God comes in need of their God and Father. What an incredible entry into God’s Kingdom!
In that same theme of recognizing God and not our need, the submissive child of God trusts in God’s Plan and not our own will. Willing to pledge our allegiance to God, we proclaim, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. As a child of God, we may notice what others possess and may even be tempted to ask for those things. Yet, we are reminded that the Father knows our need and is well acquainted with our situation. The verse goes further in recognizing that all God gives is based on His preordained plan for our life and not some spontaneous act of benevolence. Another verse says, He does all things based on the council of His will. Ephesians 1:11. This means that God gives what is best for time and eternity. As erring and weak humans, we may disagree with God’s will but we always trust God’s plan. Please understand that everything God does is based on His love for you.
Third, as we move through the prayer we have a greater understanding of how to apply faith in God. Our faith is not based on our request being granted but rather on God’s Promise. These great and precious promises are the sure foundation for our prayer. We would gladly and confidently say to God, “Lord remember your promise.” We would gladly and confidently say, “Lord this is what Your Word says.” We would gladly and confidently make our request known to God because the request is based on God’s promises revealed. Give us this day our daily bread. Some may ask, “what are His promises?” Well, do you remember what God has said to you in prayer? Faith is in God’s promise and not our request.
We learn also that the Promises of God are often revealed to us in Prayer. Remember, you have entered God’s Kingdom so it stands to reason that God will show you around and introduce you to things that you have never known. How wonderful it is to talk to God and learn of His ways as we fellowship with Him! As believer reflect on the Promise of God, they often forget about the request and instead focus more on God’s Powerful Promises.
The fourth prayer essential is forgiveness; it is forgiveness from God and at the same time, forgiveness for others. You cannot have the first without the other. You cannot ask God to forgive unless you forgive others. Why is this important? It is forgiveness for yourself and the power to forgive others. The gift of forgiveness pushes out the trash in order to embrace the forgiveness that God offers. It is not worth it, to risk your spiritual benefit over ill feelings and resentment for others. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. With forgiveness, the priorities are to let go of the pain caused by others and receiving the healing balm of God’s forgiveness and grace. In some ancient cultures, unforgiveness was characterized by someone carrying around a dead carcass on their back. As the dead body rotted and disintegrated, so the person carrying the body experienced that decay. Resentment is not worth it. Malice and anger are not worth it. Bitterness and revenge are not worth missing the forgiveness that God offers. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. That’s not a thought – its Jesus’ Word.
Lastly, we focus on fellowship with God. The ancient Hebrews recognized their fellowship with God through the possession of earthly property. The believer recognizes fellowship with God through Kingdom access. We recognize that God owns the Kingdom, but we also recognize that we are a part of God’s Kingdom. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Recognizing God’s Kingdom acknowledges Almighty God as the Owner, the Sustainer, the Provider, and the One who receives all the recognition for all times. My prayer ends not with my earthly kingdom, but with the Father’s Kingdom and with me as a part of it. I’m so glad I learned to pray for God’s Kingdom and not mine.