Lesson Seven
                The "Why" Of Prayer (part 3)
    (Jesus' Instruction - Matt. 6:9-15)

INTRODUCTION:
1. Luke's account gives the setting: "And it came to pass, as he was  praying in a certain place, that when he ceased, one of his disciples  said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his  disciples." Luke 11:1
a. The Lord's perseverence in prayer made such an impression on His disciples that they   wanted to be taught.
b. The disciple's question and the Lord's response indicates the necessity of being taught   how to pray.
2. Because Matthew's account is more detailed, we will study it.
a. Though often called "The Lord's Prayer", Jesus was not praying this Himself, nor   teaching His disciples this as an exact verbal formula to be memorized.
b. Jesus said, "After this manner" they were to pray; it was to be a model after which they   could construct their own prayer.
3. This model prayer has two major divisions with three parts each:  first, concerning devotion to  God and matters relating to His kingdom and, second, concerning the individual and his needs.

I. DEVOTION TO GOD:  vs. 9-10
A. "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name."
  1. Prayer begins with faith in God as our Father - Heb. 11:6; 13:5 [such faith    removes cares, doubts, fear, all expressions of unbelief].
  2. "Hallowed by thy name" - emphasizes the reverence in which our Father's name    must be held (His name stands for all He is - Psa. 111:9).
   a. If our God's name is "reverend", what does it say about those who address     men that way?
   b. We must remember we are the created, and God is the Creator     of heaven and earth; this should cause us to approach God with     deep reverence.
   c. The flippant way some attempt to address God is nothing short     of blasphemous - i.e. "The Man upstairs", "Big Daddy", etc.
   d. One may choose his/her own words when praying, but they should express     reverence toward God.
  3. The Father - son/daughter relationship is a special one God has with believers -    Matt. 23:8-9
   a. Jesus did not come to establish a  "brotherhood of men", but one of     believers.
   b. Those who reject Him are of the devil - John 8:44; 1 Jn. 3:8-10

B. "Thy Kingdom come"
  1. "Kingdom" means God's rule and reign in the hearts of His people - Lk. 17:21;    1 Pet. 3:21; cf. Lk. 19:12-14, 27 [kingdom = reign]
   a. It is spiritual in nature - John 18:36; 3:3-5; Rev. 1:5-6
  2. Christians should not pray "thy kingdom come" because the New Testament    teaches it was established in the days of the apostles - Rev. 1:9; 12:10; Col. 1:13;    Heb. 12:28
  3. However, Christians should pray for the kingdom regarding:
   a. Its growth - Matt. 28:18-20
   b. The continued faithfulness/strength of its citizens to be victorious over     Satan - Eph. 6:10ff.; 1 Cor. 15:58
   c. For preachers, elders, teachers concerning the success of their work -    Eph. 4:11-12
   d. For unity among brethren - Eph. 4:1-6
   e. For the ultimate triumph of God's people - 1 Cor. 15:50-57

C. "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth"
  1. Jesus' only disposition on earth was to do His Father's will - John 5:30;    6:38; Matt. 26:42; cf. Phil. 2:5ff.
  2. For us to so pray, we must know what our Father's will is as revealed    in the new covenant - Heb. 10:9
  3. We should pray with the attitude of bringing our wills and desires into    harmony with God's, not visa versa - cf. Mark 10:37

II. PERSONAL NEEDS:  vs. 11-13
A. "Give us this day our daily bread"
  1. This acknowledges our dependence on God for the material necessities of life.
   a. We must recognize the material needs are secondary to the spiritual and     their use should serve to accomplish the spiritual - Matt. 4:4
   b. Nonetheless, the physical needs are essential for life daily, therefore we     pray "Give us this day...".
  2. Jesus later warned of these things:  "Be not anxious for your life, what    ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall    put on..." - Matt. 6:25-34
   a. He illustrated with the birds & flowers God's providential care for all His     creatures .
   b. These daily necessities are what men worry about; the child of God,     however, must pray instead of worry - Phil. 4:6-7
  3. While we must pray for these things, we also must work for them - Gen. 3:17,19;    2 Thess. 3:10-12
B. "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors"
  1. "Debts" are figurative for our sins, indicated in vs. 14-15
  2. Our forgiveness demands that we forgive those who have sinned against us -    Mark 11:25; Eph. 4:32
  3. Asking God for forgiveness presupposes our repentance; no forgiveness is given    apart from repentance - Psa. 51:17; Luke 13:3
C. "And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one [or, from evil]"
  1. We need the guidance of our Father; we cannot guide ourselves - Jeremiah 10:23
  2. "Temptation" can either mean trials for testing/proving or temptation to do evil.
   a. God tests or proves individuals, but He never tempts one to do evil -     James 1:2-4, 13-18
   b. Jesus teaches we must pray not to be led into difficult trials and that we     be delivered from temptation to sin.
   c. In the trials of life Satan tempts us to sin through our desires or fears by     crossing God's boundries He has set; but God has provided a way of     escape - 1 Cor. 10:13
  3. When we face temptation, do what Jesus told His disciples to do:  "Watch and    pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh    is weak" - Matt. 26:41

CONCLUSION:
1. This model prayer covers the basics of life:  God and His kingdom, as well as us and our  needs.
2. Peter summed up our relationship to life's problems: "Humble yourselves therefore under the  mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon him,  because he careth for you" (1 Pet. 5:6-7).

QUESTIONS

1. What two major divisions can be seen in the Lord's model prayer?


2. Define "hallowed".  What does this suggest about the way we pray?




3. Can Christians pray, "Thy kingdom come"?  Explain.




4. What matters relativie to God's kingdom should we pray for?












5. What should be our disposition when praying to the Father?  How will this affect our prayers?









6. What is God's prescribed remedy for worry?  Explain.





7. On what two conditions is the forgiveness of "our debts" dependent on?  Explain.






8. To pray, "lead us not into temptation" can refer to what two things?