Jesus taught his disciples how to pray
Matthew 6:9-13: Luke 11:2-4
This is often called the 'Lord’s Prayer' although this is not a prayer that Jesus prayed or he would need to pray. This is a prayer that He taught the disciples to pray. Jesus dos not need forgiveness from sins as we humans do.
The Lords prayer is sweet, short and to the point. The Prayer Jesus taught has two main parts - one that acknowledges who God is and His majesty. The other part acknowledges who we are are our needs are. Thefirst part praises God for who He is and thanks Him for what He does for us. The second part acknowledges who we are, and how much we need Him in our lives.
Thy Kingdom Come
The Kingdom of God is missional in nature. It means that the purpose of the prayer is to be not just about yourself, but it expands to the whole world. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a banquet and a great wedding feast. (Matthew 22:2) The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast wide; it pulls in all sorts of fish (Matthew 13:47). The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed; from a small beginning comes a great tree. (Matthew 13:31). The kingdom of heaven is like yeast; it permeates all, silently and pervasively. (Matthew 13:33). The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who hired laborers to work in the fields. He hired them at different times of day, but at the end of the day, he paid them all equally (Matthew 20:1). The kingdom has a system, economy and ecology completely different from the worldly kingdoms. One has to be prepared and willing to accept it to be part of that kingdom.
The Kingdom of God is personal in nature also. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field; you would be wise to sell everything you own to buy that field to get the treasure. (Matthew 13:44). One makes a choice to be part of it, by sacrificial love and compassionate care of others. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is hard for the rich to enter (Mark 10:23-25). He said the kingdom must be received as a child (Mark 10:15). Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21). The kingdom of God starts as a personal experience. In praying "Thy Kingdom Come" we are committing ourselves to part of that kingdom and accept the standards of that kingdom. Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).
Thy Will Be Done
"Thy Will Be Done" is a sign of humility and obedience when one goes to God in prayer. Anyone who prays to God has to approach Him with humilty and complete surrender to the will of God. When Jesus prayed in the garden to remove the cup of suffering from Him, the prayer was: "Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)." We acknowledge that God's will is better than ours and God's plans are superior to ours.
Blaise Pascal, the brilliant 17th-century intellectual, made significant contributions in the fields of science and mathematics. He established the groundwork for the development of mechanical calculators and modern hydraulic operations. As a young man, Pascal had a profound encounter with Jesus Christ. This life-changing experience motivated him to refocus his study from science and math to theology. Pascal wrote a remarkable prayer that can help each believer in facing the tasks of life. He prayed: “Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name.” Pascal’s supplication is profoundly submissive to the will of God.
The well known hymn. "Rock of Ages" was written by Augustus Toplady, a great preacher who was afflicted with sickness most of his life. He died at the age of 38 and his final words were: "My heart beats every day stronger and stronger for glory. Sickness is no affliction, pain no cause, death itself no dissolution. My prayers are now all converted into praise. When we are in trouble, the Lord is in there with us, and we can find the shelter from the storms of life."
Thomas à Kempis, (1379-1471), said, "Give what Thou wilt, and how much Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt. Set me where Thou wilt and deal with me in all things as Thou wilt." Dwight L. Moody implored, "Use me then, my Savior, for whatever purpose and in whatever way Thou mayest require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel, fill it with Thy grace."
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