The Lord’s Prayer
4-13-2011 Vol. 4 Part 1
Psalm 31:15-24 NKJV My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies' sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon You; Let the wicked be ashamed; Let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. Father God I pray you hear my prayer for all to have a curiosity and desire to pick up your Holy Word the Bible, and seek answers to the truth of what they believe and how they live. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!
This series is going to be on the Lord’s Prayer and what it truly means when we pray it. How many times in your life, have you prayed the Lord’s Prayer and just recited it and not really mean or know what the words mean that you are praying. I know I have been guilty of this numerous times in the past. Growing up I was taught the prayer, but no explanation. It was just another prayer to memorize, like all the rest required of the religion I was raise in. I didn’t even know it was in the Bible, until I started studying the Bible, Matthew 6:9-13. Two verses before Matthew 6:9 Jesus warns us not to pray in vain; Matthew 6:7 NLT "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
Below is an example of someone praying the Lord’s Prayer in vain repetition and God answering the individual. I received it in an email a few years ago and thought it would be good to start this series with.
This is in three parts, the prayer in blue type, GOD’s response in red type, and the person praying saying what is in blue, but also conversing with God in black type.
Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
But, you called ME!
Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There, you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven" Well, here I am. What's on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right. Go on.
Hallowed be thy name .
Hold it right there. What do you mean by that?
By what?
By "Hallowed be thy name"?
It means, it means ….. good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just part of the prayer………... by the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense, I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks!
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control, of everything down here like you have up there, we're kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know; but, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church, I’m kind to people, give to charity, do good deeds…….
That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper and language, all the gossip you spread, your roving eye, lying, etc.? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money, all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read and movies you watch?
Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
EXCUSE ME!!!!! I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it, like YOU, for example.
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
SO COULD I.
I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to….., you know……, be really free.
Good. Now we're getting somewhere.
Will you help me?
Yes, I'm proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying. (pause) well go on!
I'm scared to.
Scared, of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try ME!
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!
But your prayer, what about your prayer, you said you forgive those who have sinned against you?
I didn't -- mean it.
Well, at least you're honest. But, it's quite a load to carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn't it? Besides, vengeance is mine to take care of for you.
Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born.
No, you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are? Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Go to Ann and tell her you forgive her. Then I'll forgive you. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know you're right. You always are, and more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You … (sigh)…, all right, all right, I forgive her.
There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad, not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer, are you? Go on....
Okay.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean. Wild parties, drugs, alcohol, sex, homosexuality, stealing, lying, pornography, filthy language, do I need to go on?
Okay, okay, I know, but what is left?
Fellowship with those that love Me, and not the world. Go ahead, finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory, what would really make me happy?
No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now, I've really made a mess of my life and things, I want to truly follow you, I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me, How do I make you happy?
YOU just did.
This email kinda makes you stop and think, doesn’t it. I know it did me when I read it a few years ago before I was saved. It really brought the verse about vain repetition to life and how I recited it without meaning a word of it. I was saying it thinking I was praying and doing my Christian duty, when actually what I was saying didn’t mean anything to God or Jesus. Now I have a conversation with God and Jesus and that is what they want, not a bunch of words repeated over and over.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth,
Unless you are Born Again, you cannot enter into Heaven, the Kingdom of God."
Bill
Last Week’s Trivia: Were there dinosaurs in Biblical times?
Answer: Job 40:15-24 NASB "Behold now, Behemoth (BDB Definition: 1) perhaps an extinct dinosaur 1a) a Diplodocus or Brachiosaurus, exact meaning unknown.), which I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox. 16 "Behold now, his strength in his loins And his power in the muscles of his belly. 17 "He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 18 "His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron. 19 "He is the first of the ways of God; Let his maker bring near his sword. 20 "Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the beasts of the field play there. 21 "Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh. 22 "The lotus plants cover him with shade; The willows of the brook surround him. 23 "If a river rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth. 24 "Can anyone capture him when he is on watch, With barbs can anyone pierce his nose?
Some theologians think the behemoth is a hippopotamus, but I have never seen a hippopotamus with a tail like a cedar tree, have you? I think it is one of the dinosaurs listed below. Read the description and look at the pictures of the Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus. If the Jordan was flooded it could still go out in really deep water.
This week’s Trivia: Have you ever thought about what life would be like if God appointed leaders instead of people electing leaders? What was God’s warning to the Israelites about Kings?
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