Our Father God

Scripture Texts: Matthew 6:9, 31-34; John 5:17-23

This evening we turn our attention to one of the greatest prayers ever prayed, to that prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer.  The Master of all prayer teaches us, “When you pray, pray like this…”

This prayer is like a rich chocolate or a fine wine or a beautiful sunset, sometimes it needs to be savored.  We are going to do just that.  We will take our time and savor this prayer, drawing out all its sweet fruit.  We will take a hold of this diamond and slowly turn it until each facet reveals more of the beauty within.  Too often we say this prayer quickly and unthinkingly.  So we are going to slow down and search out Jesus’ meaning in each phrase.

Did Jesus mean to say pray this prayer or to pray like this or after this manner?  I think the answer is both.  This is a divinely inspired and divinely written prayer from the lips of Jesus.  To pray this prayer is to pray within God’s will.  It will always be spiritually fruitful to pray this prayer.  Not as mindless mantra of course or as a meaningless repetition of words, not insincerely or disengaged, or as some guilt-induced fulfillment of some religious duty.  But when your heart and mind are actively engaged in this prayer, it is a powerful prayer.

Jesus teaches us in just a few brief words how we can focus on life’s greatest priorities.  In fact that may be the first lesson of this prayer, that it doesn’t take very many words to get right to the heart of the very most important requests.  This prayer is a great outline to follow with the extra benefit that it will break us from many bad habits in prayer: repetition, small mindedness, self-centeredness, churchy clichés, and boredom.

This is a wonderful prayer when you feel dry, empty, stuck.  This is a way to prime the pump, and as you pray each clause, you can begin to expand on them in your own heartfelt words.

There are six great concerns covered in this simple prayer: the worship of the Father, the kingdom of the Father, the will of the Father, the provision and sustenance of the Father, the forgiveness and grace of the Father and the protection of the Father.

This evening we will focus on just that, the opening address in the words “Our Father” And consider four lessons Jesus teaches us about God.

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