Why do we pray to the Lord’s prayer?

(Luke 11:1-4, Matthew 6:9-13)

The Lord is calling believers into His presence to fellowship with Him, stand in the gap, pray for the church, others and ourselves in a growing and intimate relationship with Him. May light shine on this model of prayer Jesus taught His disciples to fulfill the will of God and give believers a greater appreciation for what the Lord has taught us through the scriptures to the glory of God our Father.

The disciples of Christ asked the Lord to teach them how to pray, so Jesus model the “Lord’s prayer ” as a pattern they should follow.  Today, disciples of Christ should ask the Spirit of Truth to lead and guide us to commune with our Father with understanding, pure motive, good conscience and in faith to establish a personal relationship with Him. God desires to reveal Himself to those who sincerely seek Him in truth, “ask of me and I will show you great and mighty things you do not know”, and prayer is means by which we can grow intimately with God to carry out His plan and predetermine purpose in the earth. The disciples must have seen Jesus intimate commune with our father, and they desire the same intimacy with Him,-who loves us as He loves Christ. May we desire the same dialogue with our living Father who desire to talk with us like a friend.

“Suffered not the little children unto me for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

 What are some of the benefits of the Lord prayer?

The Lord prayer depicts a parent and child relationship.  This prayer also enables us to acknowledge God as sovereign, He is Holy and to be reverence in heavens and the earth. The Lord prayers empower us to pursue the will of God and be in union with Him through Jesus Christ. As a father provides, forgives, guides and protects His children, we should seek the face of our heavenly father and have these expectations from him, for the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off.

Why do we address God as our Father who is in heaven?

We address God as our father who is in heaven, because Jesus greeted our father in this manner. Even though our living Father dwells in believers through the Holy Spirit and is present with us when we gather in His name, God dwells in eternity.  We address God as a Father because we are children of God- Whoever believes Jesus is Christ :is born of God, as many that receive Him to them, He gave the rights to become children of God. ” But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your heart, crying “Abba Father!  Hallowed be your name. ”Beloved, what manner of love is this the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be call the children of God”

What does Hallowed be your name means?

To hallow God name is to proclaim He is Holy. There is none Holy like our God, there is none beside Him. He is God there is no other, He is God and there is none like Him. He cannot be liken to and equal to others. He is in the distinct category “God!” and there is no other God besides him. Therefore, the name of the Lord is to be revered and honored, Holy is His name. Be Holy, for I am Holy, without holiness, no one will see God. Worship God in the splendor of His holiness. Exalt the Lord our God, worship at His footstool, -He is Holy. Praise be to the God of peace, who sanctify us spirit, soul and body and keep us blameless until the day of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Amen- It is only God who make men holy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God”

Why should the Kingdom of God come upon the earth?

The kingdom of God implements righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit through the people of God in the earth.  The kingdom of God is within you- Jesus said.  Wherever the sole of your feet trend upon, the kingdom of God is there.  The heaven declares the righteousness of the Lord, speeches are utter from heaven and revelation knowledge are reveal at night that we may hear, what the Spirit is saying to the churches and understand the word of God to live by faith to bear and produce fruits by which the father will be glorified in His Son. The Lord of the harvest sent laborers into His harvest to share the good news to convict hearts of sin, judgement and righteousness that leads to repentance to produce salvation of souls.

Jesus said :“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.

The kingdom of God is not of this world. Believers are in the world, but not of this world, and we are sent into the world, as ambassadors and witnesses of Christ to reconciled men to God. In this kingdom, we are expected to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are expected to share the gospel, make disciples, bear fruits of the Spirit, and use the gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of body of Christ to grow in the fullness of Christ to the glory of God. We are expected to walk worthy of the Lord, by showing mercy, loving justice being faithfulness steward of what the Lord has graciously given to us as we stand in the liberty for which Christ makes us free.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Therefore, we pray the kingdom of God would come upon the earth to shine light that reveals righteousness, justice, mercy and truth to deliver believers and others from the hand of the enemy, deliver us from fear, deliver us fear of death, and enforce peace on earth- peace between God and men and peace amongst men. “Blessed are the peace maker these are the sons of God”

“This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly, those who believe in God must be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable for men.”

Why do we pray your will be done on earth as it is in heaven?

• The will of our father is everyone who sees the Son and believe in Him will have eternal life
• The will of our father is the disciples of Christ should continue His finished works on the earth
• The will of our father is His sons and daughters should obey His word
• The will of our Father is all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of truth
• The will of our Father is for the sick to be healed and we should do good work .“How God anointed Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit and power and He went about doing good and healed all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him.
• The will of the Father is for His sons and daughters to worship Him and bring Him glory and praise with thankful hearts for everything in the name of Jesus.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they shall be filled “

Sometime, we do not know what to pray, but thanks be to Christ, who give us His Spirit to pray the will of God for us. “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Now, He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” May the Spirit of truth always lead us to pray the will of God in every prayer.

Why do we pray to give us our daily bread?

We ask our father to provide bread to sustain and strengthen our heart. The Lord provides both the spiritual and physical needs of His children. Jesus said: I am the bread of life, He who comes to me shall never hunger and He who believes in me shall never thirst. “If you who are evil knows how to give good gifts to your children, how much more the heavenly father will give good things to those who ask of Him. Our loving Father, graciously supplies our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. May we seek the Lord when in need and our good shepherd shall provide us our daily bread that not only meet our physical needs but also satisfy our spiritual longing as well.

Why do we ask Our father to forgive us for our trespasses ?  We ask our father to forgive our sin and promise to forgive others when offended because our father expects His son and daughters to be merciful as He is. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. There is joy in heaven when one sinner repents.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”

Why do we ask God to lead us not into temptation?  We ask our father to lead us not into temptation because we do not want to yield to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and pride of life. So, why did the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted because in this world, we shall encounter temptations, and Jesus exemplified how we should overcome temptation by  the spoken word.  We should see temptation in our mind eyes as danger “alert.”  We should Identity the temptation, acknowledge what it is and flee from it as in the case of Joseph or speak the word of God to overcome it as in the case of Jesus. May we walk in the Spirit to not fulfill the lust of the flesh. May we put on the whole amour of God to stand against the wiles of the devil. May we flee youthful lust to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the name of the Lord from of a pure heart” – And also establish accountability, when necessary.

“The prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the simple pass on and pays the penalty. May we resist the devil, so he can flee from us.”

Why do we pray to deliver us from evil? It is the will of God to deliver us from evil. Jesus prayed and asked our Father to not take us out of this world but to keep us from the evil one- May the Lord protect our spirit, soul and body from the presence and influences of evil. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

With this understanding, and an appreciation for the Lord’s prayer, let’s say the Lord’s prayer together

Our Father, who are in heaven

Hallowed be your name

Your kingdom come, your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day, our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasses against us

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and glory

Forever and ever. Amen

“May our sons in their youth be like well-nurtured plants and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adore a place”