The Lord’s Prayer Part 2
Our Heavenly Father
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
I.The Lord’s Prayer
A. Prayer Model or Framework
1. (ref. Luke 11:1) “…Lord, teach us to pray.”
a. Prayer is the divinely authorized methodology to access heavenly authority for earthly intervention; or simply, relational communication with God.
~If there is no prayer relationship in secret, there will be no prayer results in public.
~The purpose of prayer is to bring eternity into time, heaven’s will into the earth.
2. (ref. Matt. 6:9-13) The Lord’s Prayer
a. “The Lord’s prayer” would be more appropriately titled the disciples guide or framework for praying.
b. Prayer sandwich format: God – Us – God
B. Our Heavenly Father (Matt. 6:9)
1. (v9) “In this manner, therefore, pray:”
a. This may be the most recited, word-for-word, go-to, and powerless prayer when simply quoted.
~Just quoting the Lord’s prayer is like trying to prepare and eat a meal by just quoting the recipe out loud. (chap.6 v.7 vain repetition)
2. “Our Father” You are not an only child. Your Daddy is our Father.
a. (John 20:17) There is great benefit in understanding that God is your heavenly Father and that Jesus is your personal Savior, Brother, and Friend, but God also wants us to understand the Father is our Father.
b. God has to relate us equally as the family of God. You cannot be in a family with multiple children yet function like you are the only child in it.
~(Gal. 6:10 AMP; Eph. 3:14-15) God’s family
~(Rom. 12:10; 14:13; Gal. 5:13,15,26 all AMP)
~(Heb. 10:25; 1Pet. 3:7 all AMP)
~Church involvement determines the Father’s engagement
3. Why “Father?”
a. (ref. Matt. 27:46) Jesus ALWAYS referred to and prayed to the Father except while on the cross.
b. Father is the position of the head of the family. He is responsible for loving, training, disciplining, providing for, and protecting the family.
~(ref. Gen. 2:24) God the Father was training Adam to be a father: to love, provide etc.
~(Heb. 12:5-11 NLT) Love, training & discipline
~(Matt. 6:25-26) Provision
~(ref. Ps. 91) Protection
4. “Our Father in heaven” meaning not here on earth as we are. (ref. Dan. 4:26) Heaven rules over earth.
a. (Eph. 1:18-20; 2:6) Unbelievers are limited by their five senses, time and space, but because our Father resides in heaven we also have residence in and access to the heavenly realm.
5. “Hallowed be Your name.” Hallowed means to be sacred, separated and unique; to treat as one of a kind; to put in a special class by itself. (Holy)
[Pastor Lee Stokes]