Matt. 6:9-13
In this chapter Jesus is talking
about how to pray and when He had finished the disciples asked Jesus to show
them what and how to pray. They knew He had contact with the Father through
prayer and His prayers were always answered.
This pattern helps
believers understand the nature and purpose of their personal prayers in their
relationship with their Father.
I. Jesus teaches us to
address God as Father as we pray for His name to be honored. Matthew 6:9 (NKJV) In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
a. In our lives.
Christians, who bear the
holy name of Christ, must be responsible to honor him in every aspect of their
lives. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God.
b. Pray for God’s name to
be honored in the world.
When we pray for God’s
name to be honored, we pray that this world will honor his name instead of misusing it. As
we look forward to Christ’s return when that will be a reality.
II. Jesus
teaches us to pray for the Father’s Kingdom to come to earth.
Matthew 6:10 (NKJV) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
a. God’s will to be done
on earth as in Heaven.
Jesus’ followers recognize
that the Kingdom began with his coming to earth. Luke 17:21 records
Jesus as saying “Indeed the Kingdom of God is within
you. To look forward to God’s coming Kingdom is to pray that more and
more people will enter it. Our prayer is that all Christians will help bring
God’s Kingdom to earth by living as Kingdom people in obeying the King’s will.
This prayer also reaffirms our belief that one day all evil will be destroyed, and
that God will establish Jesus as King over all the earth, and that his glory
will be known to all the nations. We pray for the day when all nations will
worship Him! Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV) 9 God also has highly
exalted Him (Jesus) and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
b. Example of what it’s
like in Heaven. Revelation 21:3-4 (NKJV) 3 And I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with
men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself
will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be
no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the
former things have passed away."
III. Jesus teaches us to
depend on God for our daily provisions.
Matthew 6:11 (NKJV) Give us this day our daily bread.
a. We are to acknowledge God
as the source of every good. We are not to forget it’s He who provides for us
each day. Don’t take Him for granted!
James 1:17 (NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shadow of turning.
IV. Jesus teaches us to
forgive others as we want God to forgive us.
Matthew 6:12 (NKJV) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
a. We are to forgive as
Jesus forgave us. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
b. This prayer for
forgiveness is not for salvation but for our fellowship with God and others. If
believers are unwilling to forgive those who wrong them, how can they expect to
be in fellowship with their Father who has freely forgiven them for their
wrongdoings?
V. Jesus teaches us to
pray for God the Father to keep us from sin and the evil one. Matthew 6:13 (NKJV) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
a. It is daily our hearts
prayer. We want to bring honor to God’s name by avoiding evil.
b. This prayer expresses a
healthy distrust of our own ability to resist temptations.
All Christians struggle
with temptation. Believers who pray these words realize their sinful nature and
their need to depend on God in the face of temptation.
The last part of verse 13
is not in some bibles because some of the older manuscripts didn’t have it
recorded in them. But these words come from King David’s prayer after the
people gave to build God’s Temple.
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is
Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head
over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You
reign over all.In Your hand is
power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your
glorious name.
God’s power is the energy
by which His kingdom is governed and maintained.
To God belongs the glory
and the honor in response to His kingdom of grace, and the salvation of men
forever and ever.
God’s power is the energy
by which His kingdom is governed and maintained.
To God belongs the glory
and the honor in response to His kingdom of grace, and the salvation of men
forever and ever.
All our prayers have no
other foundation than God alone.
Invitation: Have you entered
the Kingdom of God?
What or who do you trust
in to get you into God’s eternal Kingdom?
You must believe and put full
trust in God’s Son Jesus Christ to enter His Kingdom.
Ask Jesus to forgive your
sins and invite Him into your heart to save you.
Acts 4:12
(NKJV) There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
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