The Lord’s Prayer
I Chronicles 29:10-19
Matthew 6:9-13
Luke 11:2-4
i.
When I was in Seminary, (before children) Jennifer and
I loved to take the train into
ii. One day I was handed a pamphlet from a nun on the power of the name of Jesus.
1. I usually take anything a nun hands me :~)
iii. It recommended the repetition of his name for spiritual growth and power, blessing fame and the avoidance of punishment in purgatory. You could just sit and spout!
1. Better than the orange-oxygen cleaner that does everything
a. Seriously read like a magic infomercial.
iv. Reminds me of one of my son’s books - The Mystical, Magical, Marvelous coat!
v. Christians have been creating Christian Magic since their have been Christians!
1. Abracadabra & Hocus Pocus ( Hoc est enim corpus)
i.
I did not think about that event again until someone
handed me a book three years ago- the Prayer
of Jabez.
ii. Before I go any further, let me say I am not against this book, but I am appalled at how the teaching is often applied and how the prayer is used
1. Repetition for power, that borders on magic.
2. Why in the world Wilkerson chose this obscure prayer also in Chronicles? The Bible is full of tremendous prayers from people we know. Such as the David’s prayer read to us from also from 1 Chronicles, v 29.
3. It
strikes me as odd that the
4. Suffice it to say, I have nothing more to say about the Prayer of Jabez other than to point out that it was the impetus for this sermon on the Lord’s Prayer, which has been percolating in my brain ever since.
5. As
far as I can tell the only specific teaching from God on how and what we ought
to pray. If prayer was magic; this would be Houdini’s example.
The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 &
Luke 11.
i. Stick a finger in each because we will flip back and forth a little
i. Don’t get caught up in the differences. In fact, take comfort in the differences. Remember, this prayer is not an incantation and nobody ends up with a tail if they get it wrong. I believe the derivations provide evidence that these are not strict models.
ii.
Some differences in Biblical version, especially
the doxological ending found in Matthew 6:13(4), for “yours is the kingdom the
power and the Glory,” and some text that is in the Matthean, but not the Lukan
passage, which all springs from debate over the Traditional Textus Receptus and
newer version from manuscripts found in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries – Codex Vaticanus & Codex Sinaiticus.
None of which affect the impact and
teaching of the prayer
iii. In the Matthean passage, Jesus uses the prayer as part of the “Sermon on the Mount” to provide antithesis to the ostentatious prayer of those who want public recognition.
1. Jesus teaches that prayer is not for show, but rather for genuine communication with an all-knowing, all-powerful being.
a. E.g. If I proclaim my undying, impenetrable, magnificent, unwavering, unalterable, passionate, deep and abiding love for Jennifer in front of her friends and ignore her at home, my sin of ignoring her is compounded by my sin of arrogance.
b. This also means prayer is not for correction or teaching – pastors
i. How many of you have been chided by prayer?
1. Father, we just prayer for Julia, she is lost. Help her see how her poor decision is clearly against your will…
iv. The second instance, the shorter of the two, comes by specific request from the disciples for Jesus to teach them to pray, like John the Baptist taught his followers to pray.
1. Smacks
of desire for secret knowledge.
The disciples were constantly embarrassing themselves with dumb questions.
2. Surely they had heard Jesus’ early teaching recorded by Matthew.
3. Jesus answers with this simple prayer, and follows the words with a strong encouragement in vv 5-13 to pray with assurance.
i. Let’s work form the Matthean Passage
ii. Verses 9-10 & Verses 11-13
1.
Our Father
in Heaven, Hallowed be your name…
a. Simple form in the Lukan passage assuredly corresponds to the term Abba, literally daddy, a term used by children for their father
i. Although the Idea of God as father is not foreign, Hebrews would most certainly not have been used to approaching God in this manner.
ii. Denotes intimate fellowship and access
1. Josiah bursting into my office = Access
b. The
Matthean combination of “in heaven” provides a striking contrast of the immanent
and transcendent God!
c. Although
aJgiasqhvtw to;
o~nomav
sou, is a verb, it also
means to “recognize or proclaim” the holiness of the object of the verb. In
other words,
We recognize the holiness of God’s Name
d.
Name
(o[noma) the name is used for everything which the name covers,
everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by
mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority,
interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
2.
Your
kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
a.
Well, his kingdom has
in fact come! Jesus is the arrival of the
i.
If you saw the Matrix,
you know that Neo has conquered the Matrix, but that now there is significant
work to be done and disciples to made
b.
I am convinced that as
his followers we are to look around this broken and hurting world and pray that
we may be involved in God’s work! I dare
you to pray “God let your will be done,” because I have news for you – you
are the agent of his work! We are to yearn for the day when every knee will bow
and every tongue confess that Jesus is king.
3.
Give us today our daily bread…
a.
The first WE petition
b.
There has been
substantial debate over the word that modifies bread here. Is it today or
tomorrow or some eschatological tomorrow, or maybe it even makes it mean
spiritual bread? If you are interested in such debate, there is plenty to be
had. Most prefer the simplest answer in this case. This is a petition for daily
provision, and a declaration of trust and reliance on the Lord, especially
given the following teaching in vv 25-34 on worry!
i.
Nevertheless, there
are clear connections to Manna in the Dessert and the coming wedding supper of
the Lamb.
4.
Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors…
a.
Not a causal
relationship. This prayer begins with Abba; clearly we already stand in shalom
with God.
b.
It does declare
however, the ongoing nature of our relationship.
i.
We continue to repent
here every Sunday, because although we declare we are redeemed, we know that
the battle of the sin habit is still wagging hot. Much like the kingdom of heaven
our righteousness has an already not yet component, and in the same way we
yearn to see the kingdom finished on earth we yearn to see our transformation
completed!
c.
Not only do we
continually seek restoration and declare our position of peace, but we must also
act as agents of God’s peace in this world.
5.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the
evil one.
a.
James
b.
We do of course
sometimes succumb to temptation, but it is never because we had no choice. I Corinthians
c.
I have disobeyed a
voice louder than audible. I do not want to share the details, but I could feel
the Spirit cry out in me.
i.
Simple & Accurate
i.
As most of you know, I write the repentance prayers we
use. It kind of started on accident, but has turned into something I love to
do. I have taken a shot at it myself, and I will close today’s sermon with it.
i.
Try not saying
Amen, or looking around while you pray, or stopping to make a comment. Someone
will think you have gone mad or wicked
;~)
ii.
Prayer is
effective, but not meant to turn you into a Christian Superhero