Prayer & the Believer

NOTE: This information was gathered & accumulated over years, thru reading various material & setting under godly men. I do not take credit for this tool that has helped me, I can only take credit for gathering it together in a way that is beneficial to me & I hope others. I do not wish to plagiarize anyone’s individual work, but I am unable to express proper citation due to gathering various notes & scraps of paper from my own study that I have accumulated over the years. I am grateful for all those who have allowed God to use them to help use become better witnesses to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Disciples Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

A Model for a Lifetime of Prayer

Compiled from the Book

Hemphill, Ken.  The Prayer of Jesus. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.

Matthew 6:9-13   9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.  11 'Give us this day our daily bread.  12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.' 

We are called out by God to be in an intimate relationship with our Creator and Redeemer and to communicate with Him through prayer.  This prayer life is based upon our love and devotion for our God. A prayer is not to be done as a means to gain the approval of men, but is a lifetime means of communication with our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

v  Two points of prayer to keep in focus

1)     Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer

·        This is to be a constant activity

·        Requires sacrifice 

2)     1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing

·        This is to be based upon an ongoing relationship 

The Disciples Prayer, though it may be memorized, is an outline of how we are to communicate with our God.

 Verse 9

Pray, then, in this way:

            Not “If” you pray, but “When” you pray, pray like this

Our

            Not “my,” remember you are not alone --  pray for the saints

            Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this                                           in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Father

            The intimate nature of God

            God’s desire to be near us

            Abba meaning “daddy” an intimate relationship 

Ø  Come to Him with boldness

 who is in heaven,

            The transcendent nature of God

            He is beyond us in thought and reason, Untouchable

            Infinite vastness of the depth of God

Ø  Come to Him in humility

v  Petition: an earnest request made to a superior for some act to be  

Petition # 1 a request that God’s Name be Revered

Hallowed be Your name.

            Revere His Name – to esteem, to respect, to honor

Romans 10:13 "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men

by which we must be saved.

Ì  Names of God à Attributes to describe the indescribable                            

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)	Yahweh Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
El Elyon (The Most High God)	Yahweh Mekoddishkem                                (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
Adonai (Lord, Master)	Yahweh Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)	Yahweh Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Yahweh Nissi (The Lord My Banner)	Yahweh Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
Yahweh-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)	El Olam (The Everlasting God)
Yahweh Rapha (The Lord That Heals)	Elohim (God)
Yahweh Shammah (The Lord Is There)	Qanna (Jealous)

 Verse 10

 Petition # 2 a request that God’s Kingdom would come quickly

 Your kingdom come.

            Pray for it, desire it, and expect it.

            Knowing Jesus may return at any moment, should curb ones appetite for sin.

            Jesus will return to claim His own.

            Jesus will return to fulfill judgment upon the world.

 

Petition # 3 a request for the righteousness of God

Your will be done,

            Not “my” will be done, but “thy” will be done.

            Partial obedience is still disobedience.

            Submit your whole life to Him

On earth

            We live in a world of disobedience (imperfect)

 

as it is in heaven. à  In God’s presence

            Perfect obedience

            Complete obedience

 Verse 11

Petition # 4 a request for God to provide for this day’s needs

Give us this day our daily bread.

            Do not worry, but trust in God to provide you what you need right NOW

            Prayer for needs not greeds

 

Exodus 15 the God who provided manna and meat in the wilderness for Israel - provides today        

Matthew 6:25-34 do not worry, focus upon the kingdom

 

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him

Verse 12

 Petition # 5 a request for forgiveness

 And forgive us our debts,

            Sin interferes with our relationship with God

                        Know what you have been forgiven of

                        Confess your sins

                        Repent – turn to God and from sin

             Luke 7:36-48 Woman washing Jesus’ feet with her tears recognized her need for forgiveness           

Luke 18:10-14 the Pharisee and the tax collector -- know who you are before God

 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

            Sin interferes with our relationship with each other

            We forgive because we have been forgiven

Matthew 5:23-24

                        Seek out forgiveness of those you have harmed

            Matthew 6:14-15

                        There is a link between our forgiving others and God forgiving us

            Matthew 11:25-26

                        Forgive those who have harmed you

 Verse 13

 Petition # 6 a request for help during times of testing and temptations

And do not lead us into temptation,

James1:2-4

                        Joy in the midst of trials

            James 1:13-15

                        Do not blame God when you succumb to temptation and sin

                                                God does not tempt or cause us to sin

           

Petition #7 a request for God to provide a way of escape when temptation comes

but deliver us from evil. 

            1 Corinthians 10:13

                        You are not tempted beyond what you can handle

                        God will provide you a way of escape from temptation

            1 Peter 1:6-9

                        Your trials bring about a greater witness of God’s provision

 

 [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

 The final line in the Disciples prayer, though not found in the oldest of scriptural text is most likely taken from 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 to form a doxology, a formula for praise, as often found in the Old Testament.

 1 Chronicles 29:11-13  ¹¹ "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  ¹² "Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.  ¹³ "Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

Compiled from the Book

Hemphill, Ken.  The Prayer of Jesus. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.