The Lord’s Model Prayer

1. Read: Matthew 6:9-13 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

2. About the Text:

1) Jesus is in the midst of instruction regarding prayer.

2) He wants the disciples to understand that the traditions of the Pharisees regarding prayer is sinful.

3) He instructs both positively and negatively.

4) On the negative side prayer is not to be:

a. Showy.

b. Vainly repetitious.

5) On the positive side, Jesus gave us an example of how to pray.

a. This is the Lord’s model prayer.

b. He was instructing his disciples how to pray at that time.

6) The basic outline for prayer here is the same for us today.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Ascribing Praise to God.

1) We are to address God as our Father and attribute unto him the honor he deserves. “Our Father who art in heaven.”

a. We pray to God the Father because…

a) He is the creator.

b) He is the sustainer.

c) He is the provider.

d) He is the protector.

2) We are speaking words of honor when we pray, “Hallowed be thy name.”

a. God’s name is to be revered and not taken in vain – used in an empty way.

b. God’s name is holy because God is holy – “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).

2. God is worthy of praise.

1) 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 “Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”

2) Isaiah 12:4-6 “And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

3. Jesus taught us to praise, honor, respect, and worship God the Father in prayer.

1. “Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.”

2. We acknowledge God’s supremacy in governing human affairs.

1) In Jesus’ day it was “Thy kingdom come.”

2) Now, it is “thy kingdom prosper.”

3) The church is God’s kingdom on earth – “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13).

3. We acknowledge God’s supremacy in salvation.

1) In sending His Son Jesus. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world . . . .”

2) In accepting that perfect sacrifice for our sins. Titus 3:4-7 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

3) In providing the plan through which man can be saved. Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed . . . .”

4) In giving us His perpetual word so we can have the pattern. 1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

4. We acknowledge our desire that God’s will prevail.

1) Jesus prayed “saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’”

2) “Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (James 4:15).

5. We acknowledge God’s power in providing for our lives.

1) In giving us food and gladness. Acts 14:17 “Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

2) In providing shelter and clothing. Matthew 6:33 — All these things will be added.

6. Jesus taught us to acknowledge our dependence on God in prayer.

1. “Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

2. We ask because God tells us to ask.

1) Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

2) 1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

3. God loves us and wants to give us good things. Matthew 7:9-11 “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

4. God will provide.

1) Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

2) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

3) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

5. We ask because we understand that God has the power to fulfill our requests.

1. “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

2. God is in control and we are thankful.

3. We are to be thankful in everything: Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

4. When we come before God in worship to Him, we are to be thankful. ” Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4).

5. God considers thanksgiving our sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

6. Thanksgiving is certainly worship to God.

1. This morning we have looked at the Lord’s Model Prayer. The Lord taught us to . . .

1) Ascribe to God all glory and honor.

2) Acknowledge God’s Supremacy.

3) Ask for the things that we have need.

4) Accept the great blessings that God has given us in thanksgiving.

2. Invitation