The Lord's prayer is found in John 17, but Matt 6 has application to today, Doctrine of prayer part 13

/9. “The Lord’s Prayer is not the “Our Father” but the prayer of John 17.\

 

Matt 6:9 Pray, then, in this way:

'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed [set apart] be Thy name [person and essence].

 

“in this way:” - houtos [houtos] = in this manner. This doesn’t mean to use these exact words, but rather after this pattern.

 

All prayer is directed towards the Father and “in heaven” indicated our need for humility towards Him. He is in heaven and we are on earth. He is capable and we are incapable, therefore we need Him.

 

“Hallowed” - aorist passive imperative of hagiazo [hagiazo] = to be sanctified or set apart as holy. Aorist points to the time that you pray and you set God apart in fellowship and concentration.

 

Thy name refers to His person or His essence.

 

Do I say this verbatim, no? But the pattern so far is right on, but it won’t be for long since this is pattern for the disciples before Israel rejected the Messiah. Therefore, some of the pattern given here does not apply to the Church-age.

 

Matt 6:10 'Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

 

We noted last night that this is not a legitimate prayer for our dispensation. This was legitimate while the King was still on the earth and Israel still had time to accept Him, but they rejected Him [not all but not enough to form a pivot] and so the age of Israel was interrupted and the Church-age inserted.

 

Matt 6:11'Give us this day our daily bread.

 

The translation of this verse is in question since the adjective translated “daily” is only found here and in the parallel verse in Luke 11:3. There is no other record of it is found outside the NT.

 

Most scholars believe the word to mean “for tomorrow” instead of daily.

 

There is no question that “this day,” means today. This word we find several times and the contexts give us a certain meaning.

 

Therefore the corrected translation must stand, though seemingly confusing:

 

/Matt 6:11 Give us today tomorrow’s bread. [corrected translation]\

 

Does this mean that the disciples as well as we should pray for our logistical needs for today and that they be as much as tomorrow?

 

Well we must take into account what the Lord would finish this discourse with:

 

Matt 6:30 But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?

 

Matt 6:31"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'

 

Matt 6:32"For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

 

Matt 6:33"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Matt 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

/Therefore, “Give us today tomorrow’s bread,” refers to having today whatever needs I have for tomorrow. It is simply asking God to give you the wisdom to live one day at a time. \

 

 

 

 

If I know that I have today what I need for tomorrow then I’ll never be anxious for tomorrow. This pattern continues day after day that whenever I think about tomorrow I know my needs are met, then my lack of concern for tomorrows needs give me an attitude of living one day at a time.

 

With that in view the corrected translation becomes clear.

 

By why pray for it if logistical grace is provided by the Father for all believer, winners and losers alike?

 

He clearly states that He will provide all of your needs, but at times we are tempted to doubt that. Remember, temptation is not a sin. As our Lord was tempted to by-pass the cross and communicated this to His Father, He repeated it three times until the Father comforted Him enough to let it pass.

 

So it is with such a seemingly small thing about tomorrow’s needs. There will be times, as it was with the disciples, where faith in logistical support falls under the temptation of doubt. This is a legitimate use of prayer.

 

/Prayer is a weapon that brings comfort in times of temptation and no temptation is too small, even temptation over tomorrow’s simple needs.\

 

This does not make prayer a problem solving device. Prayer brings calm and comfort so that the RFD or any other problem solving device can be applied.

 

I think of Paul being out there on any of his four missionary journeys, in the cold, without food, in danger of robbers and murderers, and even stranded at sea floating around on a plank of wood. I have a feeling that he made use of this principle of prayer.

 

Therefore, this part of the Lord’s teaching on prayer in Matt 6 still applies to us today.  

 

Matt 6:12'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 

/ “forgive” = send away or wipe out. “debts” refers to monetary obligations and not sins. This is a prayer for a grace attitude concerning money. \

 

By grace God can get you out of a bad financial decision. I’ve racked my brain to see how this could only apply to the disciples in their situation, and they do have a legitimate situation where several of them have left their businesses behind to follow Christ full time, like the fishing industry that Peter and Andrew had, and debts probably have accrued, so it does have natural application to them, but doesn’t it also have natural application to many of us who have made similar drastic decisions to do one thing only to find that we’ve owed money to another?

 

/Matt 17:27

"But, lest we give them offense, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."  \

 

I know that it does. In my years in the church I have seen many delivered from obligations that they were in doubt that they could keep, only to find that God came through in a very personal and special way. In fact, I have seen it personally many times. This in no way implies that God has given you a platinum card and you can be irresponsible with your finances. God simply wants you to know that He will provide your needs, and if you are tempted to doubt that, go to Him in prayer and communicate your need.

 

Naturally, all the protocol concerning prayer applies. It must not be a selfish request. “God I just bought a house that I couldn’t afford. It was way beyond my means and I’m in debt. Need some cash.”

 

Again, God is not telling us that we have a green light to be irresponsible. His answer to such a prayer will most likely be foreclosure. However, even when we are responsible with our money any number of things can happen that can hurl us into dept. God does not desire you to be a slave to money.

 

 

 

I know a person who owns a fairly successful business and this person is getting sued for a large sum. This person is hitting the panic button. And I know for a fact that this person is not irresponsible. That is a perfect situation for this prayer, and there are many others like it. 

 

Always remember, you must always wait on the timing of God. Waiting on the timing of God shows you, yourself, that your are humble beneath Him and that you have faith that He will deliver on this promise of answered prayer.

 

/God’s delays are not delays of inactivity, but of preparation. The legitimate fulfillment of your request may take more preparation of your capacity and so God delays.\

 

However, there is a warning, if you are not forgiving of your debtors then you cannot expect God’s justice to execute this request. [10,000 talents vs. 100 denarii ]

 

Therefore, this also is a legitimate prayer for today. The foundation of this prayer is obvious. God does not want you to be in bondage to money. You should not be in bondage to your own wealth or the wealth of another who may owe you. Basically, you cannot serve two masters.

 

 

 

Matt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other [eventually this will occur]. You cannot serve God and mammon [money].

 

Legal tender does not give happiness. You must let it go and give more than you take or want. Empty your coffers and wait for God to fill them again. And He will if you do not lack the faith.

 

/Christ is telling us to pray that we lay aside our love of money and earthly goods and to wipe out the debt that others owe to us. God will fill your cup.\

 

Is it any wonder that Jesus gave the money bag to the one He knew would be stealing from it? Let it go and watch the God who owns all things fill your empty hands. With a closed hand, God cannot fill it.

 

/Prov 11:24

There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more,

And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. \

 

/Prov 11:25

The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. \

 

Matt 6:13'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]'

 

The key to this verse is the verb “lead”. It doesn’t mean to lead but to carry.

 

We resume with the last petition in this model prayer, found in verse 13. “Lead us not into temptation” — James 1:13 tells us that God cannot tempt, it is impossible and incompatible with His character to solicit to evil, and this petition does not mean to be led into temptation.

 

God never provides any temptation of any kind for any member of the human race.

 

/ “lead” - bear or carry into. “Do not carry us into testing.”\

 

The real secret of this is in the word “lead", which isn’t lead at all but it means to carry into.

 

Testing is inevitable and testing is a means of development and accelerated spiritual growth. Testing involves suffering, pressure, and adversity.

 

 

 

When testing comes we don’t close our eyes, shut down our thinking and then just let go and let God, and that is the reference here to being carried by God. In testing we apply what we have learned in preparation for that testing.

 

Being carried by God sounds poetic and gives one a warm feeling when they read the poem “Footsteps,” and yes we will be carried by God, usually when we’re at our worst.

 

But as we prepare for undeserved suffering under testing we stand firm, hold our ground, and apply what we have learned and metabolized. We are not to pray - “God, carry me out!”

 

In that context this verse takes on an entirely different meaning.

 

The whole point of this simply means that when testing comes we don’t want to be helpless, useless, and hopeless, we do not want to fall apart.

 

/So this is a prayer that we are able to stand up under pressure in a way that glorifies God and to not hit the panic button, begging God to get us out. \

 

When adversity comes — pressure, trial, heartache, catastrophe — we want to have the same peace, the same happiness, the same power we have at any other time.

 

This doesn’t even come close to leading into temptation, but rather, “Don’t carry us in time of catastrophe, testing, or pressure.

 

We want to be able to stand in pressure and this means to stand on what He has provided, without being confused, becoming frantic, worrying, etc.

 

And this last petition is simply a petition which says: “Lord when the suffering and the pressure comes I want to be spiritually self-sustaining. I want to be able to stand up under it with what you have provided for me.”

 

/What should be our condition and attitude when pressure and catastrophe and heartache and difficulty come? Calm, thoughtful, relaxed, having inner peace, stability, no anxiety, no fear, and no falling apart. \

 

You and I, as believers in Jesus Christ, cannot serve the Lord if we fall apart under pressure, God cannot use us if we fall apart.

 

Matt 6:13'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]'

 

/“but deliver us from evil” — deliver us from the source of evil, which is religion and legalism. \

 

The evil here means legalism, religion; the things that hinder the believer from using God’s assets in time of pressure. If you are legalistic, if you are religious, if you are self-righteous, you will never, never stand up under pressure. You will not be able to take it and you will be just like any unbeliever, you will be miserable in catastrophe and happy in success.

 

In other words, a slave to circumstances. One of the worst slaveries that has ever existed is the fact that most members of the human race are slaves to their circumstances.

           

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This is not even in the original. It is true but it isn’t here.

 

This prayer ends in a petition and not praise. The entire prayer reveals a pattern of petition. It’s a pattern for us to go to God and make requests that will aid in our successes and victories as believers.