LIFESHAPE #6 THE HEXAGON: THE POWER OF PRAYER IN OUR LIFE & CHURCH:
Martin Luther taught in the Small Catechism, and by example, the importance of praying the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, as well as other prayers. Learning to pray according to the model Jesus gave us in the Lord’s Prayer will renew our personal and church’s prayer life. 80 percent of books on prayer written by introverts. Jesus helps us understand the “Shema:” Deut: 6:4-9 & 11:13-21 ( http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Torah/The_Shema/the_shema.html ) which teaches us that the relationship we have with God is like a father and his child being taught the law. We can walk with Him on the road and engage Him in conversation:Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, 4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.” — Luke 11:1-4
The disciples were full-time students, learning practical faith by watching Jesus in action. We are not told to pray for everything we need for the rest of our lives, but only for today. Using the Model Prayer of Jesus found in the Sermon on the Mount, let us learn to pray as Jesus did.
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. — Matthew 6:9-13
We hear in the Gospel lesson today how God the Father, ripped heaven open and spoke the truth of His relationship with Jesus Christ, His Son, and us through Baptism: “This is MY Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased!” Matthew 3:17. Knowing this special relationship we have we should learn to pray as Jesus instructed. His disciples were watching him and they wanted to learn how to pray like him. He was asked and they even said that he should teach because John taught his disciples. Jesus taught the very simple way: It is noted that Jesus’ high priestly prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He was betrayed followed this pattern. JOHN 17.
The Hexagon in the Lord’s Prayer:
OUR FATHER: Our Father in Heaven – Here is an important relational concept: Father. Jesus used the Aramaic word “Abba,” meaning Daddy. This implies the intimacy we have with God. Jesus is teaching us to have this right relationship that He enjoys with the Father, which transcends physical presence. (This is eternal life, that they know You, the one true God – John 17:3)
These notes are from Luther’s Small Catechism on the Lord’s Prayer: Introduction
Our Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? God would [with this little introduction] tenderly urge us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.
OUR FATHER’S CHARACTER: May Your Name Be Kept Holy – God is very close yet different. We offer reverence and respect to our God who is holy. We acknowledge that He is what we desire to be; we long for Christ-likeness. The second commandment in Luther’s explanation is not just misusing God’s name, but we should call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks. Isa 43:6-7 We are created to glorify and honor (hallow) God! Jesus in John 12:27-28 says: “it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify thy name!”
The First Petition. Hallowed be Thy name. What does this mean?--God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also. How is this done?-- When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as the children of God also lead holy lives in accordance with it. To this end help us, dear Father in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, Heavenly Father.
OUR FATHER’S KINGDOM: May Your Kingdom Come Soon. May Your Will Be Done on Earth As it is in Heaven – Our Father is not just a King, He is the King. We want His kingdom to advance in this world. We desire what You desire. (Glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began – John 17:5). Best defined: “I WANT WHAT YOU WANT DADDY!” we pray “what you’ve done in heaven to remove sin and sickness and sadness and suffering and all that other stuff—let that be seen here on earth” This is what Jesus meant when He says “the kingdom of God is at hand.” That is what we want as children of God and Cross & Res to be the “visible presence” of the Kingdom of God in our community! Kingdom and Kingship are the same and we submit to the KING of KINGS.
IN LEARNING THE HEXAGON THE SECOND & THIRD PETITION ARE COMBINED IN OUR FATHER’S KINGDOM
The Second Petition. Thy kingdom come. What does this mean?--The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also. How is this done?-When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.
The Third Petition. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What does this mean?--The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.
OUR FATHER’S PROVISION: Give Us Today the Food We Need – Human beings are needy creatures, and we admit it; food, water, shelter, health, emotional and spiritual needs. Whatever the hunger, He provides. (Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You – John 17:7). Manna in the desert was every day, we want a Sabbath manna, a double portion. Hear the importance of this in Proverbs 30:7-9 “…give me only my daily bread..” Our Father’s provision is abundant and He will provide for our needs. Read: Matthew 6:25-34.
The Fourth Petition. Give us this day our daily bread. What does this mean? God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all wicked men; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. What is meant by daily bread? Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
OUR FATHER’S FORGIVENESS: Forgive Us Our Sins As We Have Forgiven Those Whose Sin is Against Us – God has given us some territory that is ours, and we often stray from the territory on to land that belongs to someone else and we incur a debt we cannot pay. When we transgress against another we are saying, “God, what You have given to me is not enough” and we must seek forgiveness. Lord, keep us from being indebted to You in withholding forgiveness from others. (I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do – John 17:4).
The Fifth Petition. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.
OUR FATHER’S GUIDANCE: Don’t Let Us Yield to Temptation – now the prayer is dealing with our relationship with the Father, and then those around us. Here it changes to where we go out into the world with God’s message. Take us into the world to do Your work, but give us the strength to be in the world but not of the world. (Sanctify them by the truth, Your word is truth – John 17:17). This is where the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 is important.
The Sixth Petition. And lead us not into temptation. What does this mean? God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.
OUR FATHER’S PROTECTION: Rescue Us From the Evil One – There is an enemy of our soul, who desires that we participate in what is evil. If we are led astray, we will actually end up in the hands of the evil one. The thief comes to kill and destroy, but Jesus came that we might have life. (My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one – John 17:15).
The Seventh Petition. But deliver us from evil. What does this mean? We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.
Amen. What does this mean? That I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and heard; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray, and has promised that He will hear us. Amen, Amen; that is, Yes, yes, it shall be so.
As we learned in the Triangle, we can couplet these so we may better remember them as UP, IN and OUT:
OUR FATHER’S CHARACTER AND KINGDOM AS UP
OUR FATHER’S PROVISION AND FORGIVENESS AS IN
OUR FATHER’S GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION AS OUT
Can you think of ways you can use this as an example of how to pray? Each of these 6 simple phrases are deep and we can spend hours, as Jesus, Martin Luther and others have in talking to our KING. I hope we will be followers who strive to live as Jesus showed us and taught us. Examples: Sticking points: As you pray through this prayer, watch and wait—anticipate that God wants to speak to you through one of these areas. As you pray you may be led to think about the huge stack of bills on your desk waiting to be paid or the person who is ill etc.. These are sticking points, pause when you feel this pull on your heart and take time to remember OUR FATHER’S PROVISION and spend time here to GROW! SO LET US PRAY!!
No comments:
Post a Comment