WHY I TAKE THE LORD’S PRAYER
SERIOUSLYDeveloped by: Dennis Fuqua
www.livingprayer.net
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
Why I take Prayer Seriously
The level of all my relationships is determined by the level of my communication in those relationships
My relationship with God is my most important relationship
Therefore the level of my communication with God (my prayer life) determines the level of my relationship with God
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
Why I take Prayer Seriously
Paul’s instruction to Timothy (1 Tim 2:1) The example of the early church (Acts
1:14, 6:4) The place prayer played in Jesus’ life (see
Luke’s Gospel)
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
Why I take the Lord’s Prayer Seriously
The Author Jesus, more than anyone else is qualified
to teach us how to prayer He taught exactly what the Father
wanted Him to teach He told us specifically that He wanted us
to pray in this manner He told us it would be worse for us if we
heard His words and did not obey them than if we never heard them
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
Why I take the Lord’s Prayer Seriously
The context Given on two occasions Matthew 6 – Jesus-initiated as a key part
of the instructions of on spiritual disciplines
Luke 11 – disciple-initiated in response to seeing Jesus pray
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
Why I take the Lord’s Prayer Seriously
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
Two different prayers, two different occasions, two different mountains, separated by many miles and many months
c.100miles
Why I take the Lord’s Prayer Seriously
The content Simply looking carefully at the content of
this prayer demands that we take it seriously
Seven requests covering God’s heart and our needs
Each of these requests have very deep significance
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
The Lord’s Prayer
Notice the focus The first half – focus on God and His
purposes The second half – focus on us and our
needs
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
The Lord’s Prayer
Note the Nouns Our Father Heaven Your Name Your Kingdom Your Will
The Person of God The Principles of
God The Purposes of
God
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
The Lord’s Prayer
Note the Nouns Our Father Heaven Your Name Your Kingdom Your Will
More known to me
More valued by me
More aligned in me
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
The Lord’s Prayer
Note the Nouns Our Father Heaven Your Name Your Kingdom Your Will
On earth as it is in heaven
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
The Lord’s Prayer
Note the Verbs
Give us Forgive us Lead us (not) Deliver us
Our provision Our reconciliation Our direction Our protection
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua
The Lord’s Prayer
So, when you pray, pray like this…
(c) 2009 Dennis Fuqua