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The Lord’s Prayer Denis V Smith

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THE LORD’S PRAYER Back to the basics of prayer!



Dr. Denis V Smith



THE LORD'S PRAYER

man bet his friend $20, he could not quote the Lord’s Prayer. His

friend quickly replied,

“And now I lay me down to sleep. A bag of peanuts at my feet

If I should die before I wake; Give them to my brother Jake.”

As the man pulled out his wallet for the $20 to give to his friend, he said,

“Here’s your $20, I didn’t think you knew it!”

The Lord's Prayer [Matthew 6:9-13] is part of a full account of the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus taught a succinct lesson about worship and

prayer.

When this was written, prayer in the world of Judaism had become

ritualised. People would stand on street corners, loudly intoning their prayers to gain the attention of those who passed by. Memorised prayers

could be simply repeated without even being conscious of what was said.

Sometimes they were speedily prayed just to get them over with. Jesus reminded them that to do this would make them no better than the pagans

of the day who had the idea that God could be manipulated with their words and actions.

A



They repeated certain magic words over and over again, thinking that perhaps their gods didn’t hear them the first hundred times.

In my library, the greatest numbers of my books deal with the subject of

prayer. It has always been a mystery and a challenge to me to get as much understanding on this very important subject.

I asked myself a number of questions that you may be asking:

1. Do people actually pray as Jesus taught His disciples 2000 years ago?

2. Of the people that do pray, does it actually make a difference in their lives?

3. Why do people who claim to pray not really look any different from

those who do not? 4. Does prayer actually make a difference in our world?

5. Doesn’t God know what this world needs much better than we do even before we ask Him?

6. Aren’t our actions in the world more important that the inward practice of prayer and contemplation – like feeding the hungry,

pursuing justice and equality for all and world peace? 7. And the great debate – Calvin vs. Arminius.

8. John Calvin said that God will do whatever He wants, whether we pray or not; so prayer basically just orients us to God’s will. So why

waste your time praying? 9. But then Jacobus Arminius said that God’s actions towards us are

determined by our praying. 10. And there is evidence of both of these positions within the Bible.

It just all seems too confusing.

Do I want to become an expert on God and prayer? Not really – I know that God is a better expert on me than I am on Him.

Therefore, I will go back in time, before the theological questions of the

‘experts’ I ponder and return to the original scenes of “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Years ago in Israel, I climbed a mountain above the beautiful Sea of Galilee – the mustard seeds of the parables were in bloom. The lilies of the field

flooded the sea of green and gold with their brilliant crimson blooms. I sat on a rock by an ancient Roman road.

I fixed my gaze on the ruts in the road made by chariot wheels two

thousand years ago, imagining a centurion whipping his magnificent steeds

down the rugged mountain to the shore.



I drifted back in time, seeing a multitude seated in that natural amphitheatre. I imagined myself sitting among them, listening to the

words of the greatest Teacher who ever lived. I read the Sermon on the Mount – it came alive!

As I prepared this study, contemplating this world for which Jesus Christ

died almost two thousand years ago, I asked myself, “Had His plans for the world come to pass?” I considered the Lord's Prayer – the disciple’s prayer

actually.

Some people think that “faith and prayer” are just an emotional escape from reality. Karl Marx called religion the “opiate of the masses.” Yet when

we pray, I think it is not to escape reality, but to find it!

The problem is, what we see around us is not true reality. We are

journeying to a Kingdom which is our true home. This world is but a shadow of the reality that awaits us – as we see that which is invisible – by

faith!

Remember,

“Faith is not a leap into the dark, but a leap into the light.”

Prayer is not to inform God of our plans but to call on Him to fulfil His plans!

So in considering prayer let me begin with the words of Luke 11:1:

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his

disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

And I pick up the record from Matthew 6:5-13:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to

pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in

full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is

done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of

their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”



“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on

earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not

into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one; for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”

The prayer falls into three parts:

1. Preface – which is directed to God – concerning His fatherhood,

His person, His program and His purpose;

2. Petitions – our need for provision, pardon, protection, and

preservation;

3. Praise – the doxology which returns us to our primary focus of prayer – God!

The order is intentional – we honour God before raising personal needs.

That’s what Jesus meant when He said. “Seek first the Kingdom of God

and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” [Matthew 6:33]. We begin in prayer, praising God; then we make our requests known,

admitting we have needs which only God can meet and finally we praise Him in anticipation of Him meeting all our requests.



“OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN” The Lord's Prayer is a prayer of covenant because it is a prayer that

assumes a relationship of love between God and His people.

Let me say, “Don’t interpret the Fatherhood of God through your own concepts of ‘fatherhood.’” In your opinion, you may have had a lousy father

– at least not what you expected.

Fathers learn ‘fatherhood’ from God – not the other way around. God is

good and He loves His children – at all times – in all circumstances.

We call upon God as “our Father.” These words are not here just to remind us that He is greater than we are. These words are intended as a comfort

also, for the fact that He is the Lord of heaven and sovereign over all things. It means that He can answer our prayers.

We are coming to a Father who has the power to do what we ask and the

wisdom to say “no” to us when we ask wrongly.

When we pray is will be either a:

1. Red light – stop!

2. Green Light – go! 3. Amber light – slow down – don’t proceed just yet!

Our petitions should be worthy of heaven's consideration.

The word ‘Our’ reminds us:

1. That we do not pray alone but in fellowship with God’s people

scattered around the world; 2. That I have become part of a family that is often closer than

one's own family. 3. We have been adopted into the “family of God” and we have

one Father. 4. We should think of ourselves as part of a larger group with

whom we are praying, even if we are praying alone.

5. The word “our” does not refer to the little group gathered at the time the prayer is being offered – but to all of those who call

God their Father. 6. We pray as members of the body of Christ – of all time – and

in all places!



The word, “Father” means God is our:

• Creator; • The Author of our being;

• Preserver and • Sustainer of the life He has given us.

So much so that “we can boldly come to him and we shall “obtain mercy,

and grace to help in time of need.” [Hebrews 4:16] Above all, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and of all that believe in him, He:

• justifies us “freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in

Jesus”

• has “blotted out all our sins, and healed all our infirmities; • has received us as his own children, by adoption and grace;

• and “because” we “are sons, has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father;”

• because He “has begotten us again of incorruptible seed” • and “created us anew in Christ Jesus.”

And we know that He hears us always and we pray to him without ceasing.

We pray, because we love and “we love Him because he first loved us.” [1 John 4:19]

Oh the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God

– Who is in heaven: The Lord and Ruler of all, superintending and disposing all things; who is the King of all kings, and Lord of all lords, the blessed and

only Potentate; who is strong and girded about with power, doing whatsoever pleases Him; the Almighty; for when He wills, it is done!

Heaven is His throne – “where His honour dwells.”

But it is not there alone – for He fills heaven and earth – the whole expanse

of space with His presence. Heaven and earth are full of His glory.

• “Who is in heaven” – High and lifted up; God over all, blessed for

ever: Who, sitting on the circle of the heavens, beholding all things both in heaven and earth.

His eye encompasses the whole sphere of creation and our created

being!

• “Who is in heaven” reminds us that our Father doesn't miss anything.



When Daniel needed to know the king's dream and its meaning, the Lord

who knew everything revealed it, sparing him and his friends from being butchered. “Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven” [Daniel 2:19]

Our Father’s throne is in heaven” [Psalm 11:4], beyond space and time

and He is not consumed by the pressures that assail us.



“HALLOWED BE THY NAME”

The first of the six petitions of the Lord's Prayer is, literally, “May your name be sanctified.” The word “sanctified” is the same Greek word that was

used in John 17:17 when Jesus prayed for us: “Sanctify them by thy Truth.”

The prayer, then, is that God's name be “sanctified.”

But what does that mean? It does not mean that we somehow “make God's

name holy.” It does means that we recognise the holiness of His name and that we treat His name with the honour that is due to it. We “set His name

apart” – for “sanctify” means “to set apart” – by treating it as special.

When we speak of the name of God, we are not simply speaking of the words we use to identify Him.

His name includes His character; it represents Him. How we treat His name

is how we relate to Him. To honour His name is to honour, to love and serve Him.

God's fatherhood draws us close to Him but His holiness separates Him

from an unholy creation, keeping us from presuming upon His fatherhood.

He doesn't accept us on any terms – all roads do not lead to Heaven. Those

not willing to understand His holiness will not experience His love.

When we say “Hallowed be Thy name,” we are asking that His name be kept holy.

In Isaiah’s time [Isaiah 6] the curtains of eternity were pulled back

momentarily and we glimpse the Throne of God. What we hear is the cry of the angels, “Holy, holy, holy” as they circle God’s Throne and proclaim His

being - holiness.

The quality of God which causes worship from the angels is His holiness. This holiness, more than anything else sets Him apart from His creation.

There is:

• no darkness in His character, • no flaws in His perfection and

• no weakness in His faithfulness.



By starting with God’s holiness in the Lord’s Prayer, we recognise that prayer is not primarily for our benefit – the primary focus in on God.

People today love to have their names highly regarded – they want to see

their names in lights, on plaques, awards and in headlines. They are seeking fame and fortune.

To this attitude David responds, “Glorify the Lord with me and let us exalt

His Name together” [Psalm 34:3].

Jewish worshippers regarded the Name of God as so utterly sacred that when scribes copied Scripture they would use a new quill to write the Holy

Name.

It was considered irreverent to speak God’s Name aloud. There are many

names for God in the Bible.

Religious leaders took two names – Adonai, which means “the Lord God” and Yahweh, the Name “I AM” God gave to Moses – and they took the

vowels of the first, the consonants of the second and came up with Jehovah – a word they felt they could speak without offending the holiness

of God.

In John’s Gospel we see an instance where Jesus prays publicly, “Father, glorify Your Name.”

And then a voice immediately thunders from heaven, “I have glorified it,

and will glorify it again.”

To “hallow” God’s name means:

• to sanctify,

• to be sound, fit and whole, • to make special,

• to be perfect, free from defilement and uncontaminated.

It means to have:

• a different quality of being, • to be extraordinary,

• set apart.

God is separate from us in that He is undefiled.



The opposite of “hallow” is to “profane or disgrace” God’s Name.

This petition could be translated, “May Your Name be held Holy.”

In other words, “May You be revered and respected because of Who You are. May Your character and reputation be honoured and kept untarnished.

May nothing demean Your person.”

Our primary concern and our deepest passion should be that God would cause His Name to be revered.

We don’t add to God’s holiness in prayer – we treat Him as holy.

Although we have free access to God, when we take advantage of His open-door policy we speak to Him with reverence.

“Hallowed be Thy Name” balances out “Our Father.”

In these two phrases, we see both our close, intimate relationship to God

and also the reverential honour we owe Him.

PRAYER

“Almighty God, help me never to forget that you desire to become a Father to all mankind. Even though you dwell in the eternal Heaven and desire

that Your name be held in holiness and purity, you have commissioned your church to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world. You desire

that those in this corrupted world, who become your children through your

Son, will live holy and consecrated lives to the glory of your Name.”



“THY KINGDOM COME” Astronaut James Irwin is one of a few men to walk on the moon. As he

stood upon the lunar landscape and looked up at the earth, he prayed for the first time in his life.

He thought about the strife among nations, poverty, hunger, and rampant

evil; and he thought to himself, “What is more important than man walking on the moon is that God should walk on earth.”

This is the desire we express when we pray “Thy Kingdom come.”

The word “kingdom” in the original language means “rule” or “reign.” God’s

Kingdom is unique – it is not a human kingdom. Earthly kingdoms rise and fall, but the reign of God will prevail and last forever and will involve a rule

of righteousness.

Daniel watched a succession of world kingdoms come and go. He

prophesied about one that would start as a small stone and would grow into a great mountain – and would topple every other world empire!

In the Lord's Prayer we pray for that kingdom to come in power.

God is concerned about government. History is the story of the rise and fall

of kings and kingdoms. God has made His choice for the world's final ruler – His own Son. We pray for that kingdom to come.

Throughout history, there have been various groups of people who believed

that the Kingdom of God could somehow be ushered in through their own efforts.

By understanding the Greek grammar of the Lord’s Prayer it’s obvious that this isn’t possible.

1. The verbs are in the imperative, which in Greek is the most

forceful way to tell someone to do something. So, there’s almost “desperation” to this prayer.

2. The verbs are in the passive voice which means that it is only

God who is able to do that which we’re asking.



It’s not through our evangelistic efforts alone or our political agendas that

God’s Kingdom comes. Our task is to pray and depend upon God to see the results. But the paradox is that just as “faith without works is dead.

obviously, we have to love people and do good works without all the mental effort to figure out how this all fits into God’s ultimate cosmic plan.

“So, may God’s Kingdom come, both in our own lives and the life of His

Church and also for the world as a whole to bring new life and healing.”

When we see governments distorting justice, encouraging crime, ignoring misery, punishing the innocent, we yearn for God's government.

When we see disharmony in families, broken relationships, and promises not kept with shattered lives as the result, we pray “Thy kingdom come.”

When final government rests upon His shoulders, things will be different.

Today, His government is here in part, but ultimately we are praying “Maranatha – even so, come Lord Jesus.”

To say “Thy kingdom come” is to offer a prayer that can and will be

answered – now in part, then in full.

It’s not “my kingdom come” – It’s your kingdom come.

Some people are involved in personal “kingdom building.” Correct prayer is that God’s kingdom will be extended.

Our primary concern should be with God’s plans and with the rule of God in our lives.

Have we surrendered our plans and priorities to God? Are we trusting Him

with our plans, or are we more concerned that God’s plans might interfere with ours

“The kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly

defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Victory comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self.” [Chuck Colson]

There are not many Kingdoms of God, only one – and all who trust in the Lord are one – in the Body of Christ – God’s Kingdom.

There is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” [Ephesians 4:5]



In this prayer we hope for the day when all divisions will be done away

with, and we will all be members of this one Kingdom, praising God together.

Pilate asked Jesus what kind of king He was because Jesus didn’t fit Pilate’s

perception of kingship. He didn’t conform to the popular notion of a political ruler.

Jesus responded, saying, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” [John

218:36] He told His followers, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” [Luke 17:21] In a spiritual sense, we are living now in the Kingdom.

It is a Kingdom that is both present and future – it is here and now, and will one day come in fullness.

“Thy Kingdom come” is an evangelistic prayer. We are part of the answer

to this, our own prayer. For we have a role in bringing God’s Kingdom to completeness.

“Thy Kingdom come” is a call for God to increase His Kingdom, to convert

the hearts of unbelievers, to draw people to a saving knowledge of Christ. We need to pray for revival.

“Thy Kingdom come” is also a warfare prayer, a battle cry. There is

another kingdom – the kingdom of darkness where people are enticed and enslaved by sin which is the very essence of the human predicament.

Our desire as Christians is for God to be honoured and revered, but we realise that there is enemy who is opposed to God’s Kingdom.

We are engaged in spiritual warfare and we’re praying for victory.

Paul writes, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the

powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” [Ephesians 6:12]

“Thy Kingdom come” is a prophetic prayer. Believers see further on their

knees than philosophers on their tiptoes.

History is headed to a climax, a Kingdom-conclusion. We place our trust in Divine providence. One day Jesus will return! One thing we can know for

sure is that God is in ultimate control of history.



In the meantime, we’re to be watchful and spiritually prepared, and

occupied with fulfilling the Great Commission to disciple all nations. This petition is much like the final, concluding words of the Bible: “Come, Lord

Jesus.” [Revelation 22:20] When we pray “Thy Kingdom come” we identify ourselves as subjects of the King of kings.

PRAYER

“Lord, help me never forget that my priorities must be the same as yours.

Lord, let your kingdom come to my life, to my home, to your church, to our government. Your rule brings righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy

Spirit. Our rule brings discouragement, tension, unrest. Today, may the

Gospel of your Son be proclaimed in the entire world as a witness to all nations. Let your kingdom be established in every continent. Let millions

of men and women, boys and girls from every nation, tribe, and language be brought into your kingdom while they live. And when they die, may

they be ushered into your presence where there is fullness of joy!”



“THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” The first petition – “Hallowed by Thy name,” which seeks the glory of

God's name is only satisfied when the second petition – “Thy kingdom come,” or the coming of God's kingdom, is fulfilled.

But what does that mean, other than that which is expressed in the third petition – “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven?”

God's will must be done on by people on earth as it is in heaven!

Our prayers for the name of God to be praised are connected with the

concrete realities of earth’s history and the everyday lives of the mass of humanity.

Until the human race as a whole learns to seek the praise of God's name,

this prayer will not have been fully answered

God's glory will not be realised in history, nor will His kingdom come until and unless men do His will on earth, as it is done in heaven.

This is the logic of the prayer which indicates that the third petition completes the thought of the first two.

Just as the glory of God cannot be truly manifest unless the world is

restored to Him as His kingdom, so the world cannot be His kingdom in truth unless His will is actually performed, day in and day out by the

majority of mankind.

To that end, we pray for the fulfilment of His will on earth.

What is the will of God that we seek?

It can be summed up in various ways but summarised as Jesus taught it: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy

soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great

commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” [Matthew 22:37-39].

Jesus here taught that essence of the law of God is love – first love for God,

then, also love for our neighbour.



What we are seeking when we pray that “God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven,” is that we and all Christians may be able to love God and

one another as we should.

Chuck Colson wrote, “It’s not what we do that matters, but what the Sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn’t want our success;

He wants us. He doesn’t demand our achievements; He demands our obedience.” [Loving God, Chuck Colson p25]

PRAYER

“May I never forget that you sent your Son to die for the sins of the world

and you desire all mankind be saved and come to the knowledge of that

truth.

May I always remember that I am a witness for your Son wherever I find myself. Help me to live this day remembering that your will is for me to go

into my world and proclaim your Gospel and thus the will of God for Heaven and earth is fulfilled. May my life count today and the people whom I

contact become part of your everlasting family through my witness!”



“GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD” The order of this prayer is significant. It teaches us not only to seek God

and His kingdom first, but also that all that we seek for ourselves should be sought in reference to His kingdom. Having focused on God and His

kingdom, I am now ready to include “me and my needs.”

To start and end with me is to stay an infant in prayer with words like,

“Dear God, help me to find my keys, to get this parking place, to get a promotion, to afford the new furniture, to pass my test, in Jesus' name.

Amen.”

Jesus wants us to come before our Father with our needs. Ole Hallesby, the Norwegian Lutheran pastor and writer said, “Prayer is letting God into my

helplessness.”

Rather than tough it out in time of need, we are encouraged to come before God as needy children. Kingdom work requires kingdom supplies.

Good fathers provide for the needs of their children – and God is a good

father. Someone said, “If God had to pay income tax, He would have to claim all of us as dependents.”

We are not praying, “Give us this day our daily cheesecake.”

Bread speaks of the essentials of life, not the desserts. We are praying to have our needs supplied – and we never graduate from dependency. Each

day has enough concerns – and we pray for daily provisions.

When we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” we’re showing that we’re depending on God a day at a time. Jesus urges us, “Don’t worry about

having enough food or drink or clothing…. Do not worry about tomorrow.” [Matthew 6:31, 34]

Within our request is the faith-knowledge that God will provide. With

confidence we make our needs known to God.

Back in Bible days, bread was a whole-grain staple of life. It was baked

fresh every day and was an essential part of life. Jesus was instructing His disciples to ask God for what they needed to live for the day. Jesus also

taught that we do not live by bread alone, but by the words of life found in Scripture.



Bread is a symbol for everything necessary for life and well-being and includes food, good health, shelter and clothing, a means of income, peace,

safety, friends and family.

This prayer doesn’t imply that we’ll have all we want, but that we will have all that we need.

Some people are trying to make their own daily bread.

They figure that if they make enough money they’ll be happy.

Some people spend their whole lives striving for material prosperity and

miss what life is really all about.

In Deuteronomy 8:18, we’re reminded, “It is God who gives you power

to get wealth.”

All the resources at our disposal are gifts from above!

Reliance upon God does not mean laziness!

Paul writes to slothful saints: “We hear that some among you are living idle lives, refusing to work. “In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command

them - settle down and get to work. Earn the bread you eat. And I say to the rest of you, never get tired of doing what is right” [2 Thessalonians 3:11-13).

When sin entered the world, God told Adam, “From now on you will earn your bread by the sweat of your brow.” [Genesis 3:19]

Israel in the wilderness had to learn that they received their daily bread,

called manna, one day at a time to teach them to trust in Him and to seek all things from Him as their resource.

And not only dependence upon Him for food – but they would to learn to

live not by bread alone, but by “every word that proceeds from the

mouth of the LORD.” [Deuteronomy 8:3]. God's Word is the real source of life – not the bread which He uses to sustain us.



PRAYER

“You are my provider! Teach me contentment, Jesus. Lord, give me neither

poverty nor riches; give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, ’Who is the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I

may steal and thus insult God’s holy Name. Show me a way of true delight in the things of this earth, without mad cravings to own or control. Increase

my hunger for You and for the things of Your Spirit. I praise you for health and strength. In reality Lord, I have so much and people are starving to

death in other nations. Forgive my continual desire for more and more. May your provision for me and my family be sufficient to live with dignity so

that I might proclaim your faithfulness. Then provide even more that I might bless others. Let me understand that it is by faith that I live. May I

trust you for an income that allows me to live with confidence in your

provision. May my tithe return to your storehouse and my offerings to world mission to allow others to proclaim your Gospel in nations where I

may never go!”



“AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE

THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US” A Sunday School teacher asked her class, “What must you first do before

you can be forgiven?” A child answered, “Sin.”

Some versions of this verse speak of “debts” and “debtors.”

“Trespass” or “sin” does create a debt – so they are both interlinked.

Sometimes “debt” refers to a monetary debt, but more often it means a

“moral debt” as the result of our sin.

We owe God obedience, and we can’t pay that debt because without Him we are spiritually bankrupt.

On the cross Jesus paid a debt He didn’t owe because we had a debt we

could not pay.

We are all sinners in need of forgiveness. The Bible says “there is none righteous, no not one.” [Romans 3:10]

The cross of Christ represents the cost of our forgiveness. The most essential and difficult thing God ever did was to provide forgiveness for our

sins. Forgiveness is our greatest human need.

On the cross our debt is stamped “PAID IN FULL.” The charges against us have been dismissed. And as a result of that forgiveness, we have an

obligation to extend forgiveness to others.

People who are unforgiving cannot understand or accept the forgiveness God offers. Anyone who is not willing to forgive another has not

experienced God’s forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive others, we are asking God not to forgive us.

Do not avoid forgiving and then harbouring resentments and holding

grudges. Some become bitter, wishing only to get even. People often say,

“I forgive, but I’ll never forget!” You will never forget! Every time you remember the offense and feel the hurt, remember your forgiveness.

Amnesia isn’t the goal! Jesus says in the Beatitudes, “Happy are those

who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them.” [Matthew 5:7]



We can forgive, not because we’re nice people, not because we feel like forgiving, but because we ourselves have been forgiven and set free.

Forgiveness breaks the power of the past.

The Hebrew word to forgive [salach] means “to have hatred in one’s fist, and to release it.”

The first thing we do in forgiving is to surrender our right to get even with

the person who has wronged us. Forgiveness stops the ongoing cycle of repaying vengeance with vengeance.

PRAYER

“Forgive me for the times I have not released others by my forgiveness of

them and thus restricting the positive influence of their lives. Forgive me for not sharing your love in my Jerusalem – where I live. Forgive me when

I have not witnessed cross-culturally in my Judea and Samaria. And forgive me when I have not gone into all the world by my concerned prayers and

financial gifts. Forgive me for so often forgetting that Jesus died for me, that I might live with you forever. Forgive me for forgetting that you loved

the world so much that you gave your Son and I have returned so little on your investment in me!”



“AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION” A driver placed a note under the windshield wiper of his illegally parked car

which read, “I’ve circled the block for 20 minutes. I’m late for an appointment and if I don’t park here I’ll lose my job. ’Forgive us our

trespasses’.”

When he came back, he found a parking ticket and a note from a

policeman, “I’ve circled the block for 20 years, and if I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job. ’Lead us not into temptation’.”

“You know,” said one man, “I can resist anything except temptation.”

Some people don’t need to pray “Lead me not into temptation” – they can

find it by themselves!

I don’t want to turn this into a Greek class, but it’s important that we

understand what the word “temptation” means. The word, , is a neutral word – it can mean, based on the context, “temptations, testings or

trials.”

A clearer translation might read, “Preserve us in testing” – in other words, “Help us while we’re facing the inevitable hardships and enticements of

life.” A test is a challenge to prove the character of our convictions.

Paul assures us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. [I Corinthians 10:13]

When we pray this prayer we’re asking God, “Please spare me this trial, but if I must endure it, strengthen me and protect me from any potential sin.”

We turn trials into temptations; while God turns God turns temptations into

tests so we can know how strong we are in Him and reveal the genuineness of our faith.

We do not live in a neutral universe.

We cannot say, “Whatever will be, will be.” We live in a messed-up world.

Our world has been devastated by sin and the devil.

The devil may appear stronger than we are, but he is no match for Jesus Christ. “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” [1 John 4:4]



PRAYER

“This day, I will not be led astray by my own desires – You tempt no one! It is my choice that leads me away from your priorities. The world, the flesh

and the Devil so often take my thoughts away from the supreme task of your church. I waste my time while the unsaved rush headlong into a

Christless eternity. I squander my resources on the next thing I want, while others die for want of the Bread of Life. My focus is so often on

myself, and yet I forget to use the gifts you have given to me to bring glory

to your name.”



“BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL”

The last of the three petitions concerning ourselves is the prayer that we

may be preserved from temptation and evil. Older English translations follow the King James Version and translate “deliver us from evil” but the

Greek contains a ‘definite article.’ The translation should be “deliver us from the evil one,” which is found in more recent English versions

We pray for help in a spiritual conflict with an evil supernatural being. This

conflict is one of the important presuppositions of the Lord's Prayer.

The tendency for modern Christians is to forget the reality of our spiritual warfare would be at least partially remedied by praying the Lord's Prayer

daily with the correct translation.

Satan is an enemy who hinders the building of God's kingdom and seeks to ruin those who do God's will. Why does God allow His enemy to continue to

persecute His own people and tempt people to sin against His majesty?

The answer is that God deals with us as free moral agents. He could

sanctify us instantly by the mere act of His will. He could turn us into a perfect saint – but they are usually only seen in stained-glass windows or

carved in marble on a pedestal – lifeless!

We must cooperate in the work of our own spiritual improvement. Sanctification is a process of growth. When we ask that we may not be led

into temptation, the petition has multiple possible meanings.

The Westminster Catechism suggests three different meanings for this petition.

1. We ask God that He not allow us to fall into temptation, for

we should all know our own weakness. We should pray, as it is

written in Proverbs: “give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and

say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)?



2. We ask God to preserve us in temptation, for it is a fact that we all must face temptation to some degree, since through

temptation God sanctifies us. James said, “we are tempted only when we are led astray by our own lusts.” [James. 1:13-14] We

should pray that in temptation, our faith would not fail, that He would show us the way of escape that we might endure the trial. [1 Corinthians 10:13]

3. We ask God that we might be led to repentance in the event that we do sin. We know our own weaknesses and our need of

God's grace. We know that we will, in fact, not be sinlessly perfect, that we will have to repent again and again until the day we stand

before God. Paul expresses this in Romans 7:14-25 where he cries out to God for salvation from the sin in his heart. He knows that

he loves God and His law, but the reality of his sinfulness is so deep that he sees sin contaminating every good deed that he

attempts. [v 14-23]

We must take the warfare against sin and Satan very seriously.

We do believe that those who truly trust in Christ for their salvation cannot fall – we also believe that those who truly trust in Christ for salvation are

preserved by the grace of God – that their preservation is not “automatic,”

but based upon the fact that they continue to exercise faith and pray to God and seek His grace continually.

PRAYER

“Deliver me from this predicament! Help me to build priorities into my life so that the evil one may not gain a foothold. Help me to put on your

armour – truth as a belt; righteousness as a breastplate; a willingness to share your Gospel as sandals on my feet; salvation as a helmet; faith as an

overall shield and the Word of God as a sword in my hand. You have given me the protection I need from all harm and danger. I will be strong in the

Lord and the power of your might. I will pray in the Spirit and having done all, I will stand firm – I am more than a conqueror through You!”

And so we close with the doxology –



“FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE

GLORY FOREVER AND EVER.”

The most ancient manuscripts do not include this closing portion, but the Church has used it consistently from the earliest times. It appears to be a

liturgical addition to the original prayer. However, it is a worthy ending of

praise, bringing us back to our centre – God!

As the conclusion of this powerful prayer, which appears as a Doxology – it is a solemn thanksgiving and acknowledgement of the greatness God to

hear and answer our prayer.

“For thine is the kingdom” – the sovereign right of all things that are or ever were created; yes, your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your

dominion endures throughout all ages. “The power” — the executive power whereby You govern all things in Your everlasting kingdom, whereby You do

whatsoever pleases You – in all places of Your dominion.

“And the glory” – the praise due from every creature, for your power, and the mightiness of your kingdom, and for all your wondrous works from

everlasting, you shall do – world without end, “for ever and ever! Amen!”

So be it!

PRAYER

“It is your kingdom, Father! Your power and Your glory for which I live and

work. I will not rely upon my own strength, but the power of your Holy Spirit as I seek to establish your kingdom in all the earth where You shall

rule forever and ever. Thank you for lifting my thoughts from that which surrounds me to the things which matter most. And tomorrow, when I

return to you in prayer, I will spend more time on your priorities than mine. For this is the way your Son has taught me to pray!”

AMEN!



Copyrights & References:

©Ted Larson, Daniel and Revelation, artwork is used with permission; © http://www.bbc.co.uk/thepassion/gallery/ ©Microsoft Images & Clip Art; ©Scripture is taken from the AUTHORISED (KING JAMES) VERSION of the Bible; THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are

registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.”

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