Our Father

STUDY: #880-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: December 8 @ 14, 2015

TOPIC: "Our Father" Matthew 6:9-15, Luke 11:1 A disciple begs Jesus to teach them how to pray and says, "Lord, teach us to pray ..." Jesus then taught them the model prayer that today is known as Our Father. It is also known as the Lord's Prayer because it was He who taught it so that we can use as our model of prayer. It begins by directing the prayer to Our Father in Heaven. ONLY A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CAN MAKE IT HIS OWN. Only a person who has acknowledged Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord can bring these words to their lips to give them real meaning. That is the prayer of a disciple, the Lord Jesus Christ clearly presents it. It is not the prayer of a child. It does not make sense to a child. It’s not a family prayer; unless it’s the Church family. Only on the lips of a disciple does this prayer acquire its full meaning. "Father ..." When we begin with "Father" we establish our relationship with God in the invisible world. This visible world is hostile, full of suffering and circumstances of all kinds. But we can be certain that behind this difficult world there is an invisible one; where there isn’t a capricious, jealous and mocking God, but a God whose name is FATHER! Although there are still many things that seem dark, everything is bearable because there is a FATHER'S LOVE behind it all! It will always help us to believe that this world is not organized for our comfort, but for our training. Pain may seem bad, but it has a place in the order of God. "Our Father ..." It's like saying, "My Father"; the prayer is clear. God is not the exclusive possession of any person. He is "our" Father, "my" Father. God is the Father. This establishes our relationship with Him. He cares about us! In the infinite mercy of God; as disciples, we are from royal lineage because we are children of the King of Kings. If we believe that God is the Father this establishes our relationship with Him. God in His holiness becomes accessible to us so that we may be close to Him. "That are in heaven ..." reminds us of God’s holiness. Love is available for man, but also sanctity. "Hallowed be thy name ..." Jesus incarnated called God "Father" when He was among the circle of disciples. The reason for this is because the word "Father" is sacred. Jesus wants us to give God the honor and glory He deserves. We have to give glory to God before expecting to receive mercy and grace from Him. First, let’s make sure He receives praise for his perfections, and then we can obtain the benefits of it. Father, we glorify your name! Let us always acknowledge His holiness, His power; as He gives us everything, and leads our lives for the better. Let all that the Father is and does be glorified and sanctified. "Thy kingdom come ..." Of course this is the doctrine that Jesus preached. The kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 4:17). First, let’s acknowledge that He is in heaven, in His sovereignty over the universe. Let His name be sanctified! Let’s adore and honor He who is so worthy! "Thy kingdom come" means to put His interests before ours. Let us be submissive to His will; which is our sanctification.

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." By making this request we acknowledge that God knows what is best, and surrender our will before Him. It is a longing to see His will recognized throughout the world. First we pray that God's kingdom is established, and now we follow up on that request with our submission, and obedience to all the laws and ordinances of His kingdom. We want to be ruled by Him. That is why we call Him King. We should say to the Father: "Enable me to do what pleases you. Give me the grace to justly acknowledge your will so that I may have total obedience; and not displease you with anything; or that I feel distaste over anything that you do to me." "Give us today our daily bread..." After putting God's interests first, we are allowed to present our own needs. This petition acknowledges our dependence on God for daily food. We ask for bread, which is necessary and healthy. We pray for our bread which encourages us to be honest and industrious. It can be the daily ration of bread or what’s necessary for the imminent future. By praying this way we are showing our dependence on God's provision. "Give us" means not only I, but also others that can share with me. Let’s learn to not spend a single day without prayer, as we do without food. "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors ..." Forgive those who offend you. If we do not forgive those who trespass against us, how can we expect to have fellowship with his Father who has freely forgiven their trespasses? As we pray every day for bread, Jesus also guides us to pray for forgiveness each day. As we do for bread. As creatures of our Creator we have obligations; duties that we do not ask to be freed of. When that debt isn’t paid, another one arises and it is that of punishment. So what we ask the Father to forgive is the debts that deserve punishment so that not only do we eliminate those charges, but also win a new consolation. We forgive "our debtors." When the Father forgives us we also beg for the grace of forgiveness for those who owe us. It is our duty to forgive our debtors because an unforgiving heart is not in the conditions for Jesus’ blood to cleanse it from all sin, because it nests a sin that has not been confessed sincerely. Enduring, forgiving and forgetting the taunts and insults that are done to us is a necessary moral qualification for forgiveness and peace, because it confirms our hope that God will forgive us. The fact that God has put in our hearts the willingness to forgive is already evidence that He has forgiven us! "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ..." God allows His people to be tried. We have to acknowledge a total dependence on the Lord for preservation. The original in Greek reads: "And do not subject us to a tough test, but deliver us from Evil." God free us from the danger of sinning so we do not repeat such madness. "For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen." This conclusion to the prayer is also a form of praise and gratitude. The best way to pray to God is to praise Him. Our prayers should begin and end this way; for the prayer of praise is the most sublime of all. That is the best way of obtaining grace and favors since it makes us qualify like nothing else to receive them. We praise God, and give Him the glory not because He needs it, but because He deserves it. Praise is the most delightful, supreme task of the inhabitants of heaven. And all those who are going to heaven should start “their heaven” here. It is very beneficial to speak more of divine praises for a spiritual believer never thinks that the honor they give God is enough. Attributing the glory to God forever implies that we are aware that we must glorify God eternally;

that we are eagerly looking forward to living for eternity, and carrying out this blessed task with the angels, and saints that already enjoy His glorious presence. "Amen" So be it! With a "so be it" is the way to summarize our desires. The "Amen" is to express our wishes, and the assurance that God hears us. It is very healthy to conclude our religious duties with passion, fervor, and vigor so that our spirit feels full of tenderness and courage to do great things! AMEN!