Mat 6:10; The Long Road from Self-Will to God’s Will.

Sunday August 25, 2024

Idea: The Lord’s prayer commits us to do His will and the process of conformity is long and, at times, painful.  

Intro: The first three petitions of the Lord’s prayer phrased using third person imperatives. The imperative of request (example: “Give Me water to drink” Joh 4:7) forces us to mean what we say and desire what we ask. The imperative leaves no room for lip service - just saying the words like an incantation. 

The imperative is the perfect response to the Lord’s warning of using meaningless words. In Mat 6:7 Jesus used two similar and colorful terms to describe the prayers of the Gentiles (unbelievers outside the religious community) “meaningless words” (not repetition - unfortunate translation) and “many words.” 

Mat 6:7

These think they must badger a reluctant Deity into noticing them and awaken Him to needs that He may have overlooked. The problem is not repetition but a lack of understanding of God as your Father who already knows your needs perfectly. The issue is faith in a personal God who is your Father and the meaning of the words said to Him. 

The imperatives are also third person. It is “Your will be done” not “You do Your will.”

Mat 6:9-10

All three are third person imperatives. Holy be Your name. Not “You make Your name holy.’ Your kingdom come, not “You bring Your kingdom.” 

This leaves no room for the conclusion that praying these lines is the extent of our responsibility. Not only do these three petitions have to have meaning behind them, but by saying them (in the third person) we are committing ourselves to their outcomes.

God has made all believers in Christ born-again. With new life in Christ we can and must do all three petitions (Jam 1:18). 

The second three (or four) petitions are all second person imperatives: You give, You forgive, and You lead and deliver. (technically we could say that there are seven petitions). Second person emphasizes the power of God - Your give, You forgive, You lead, You deliver. It is not random that the Lord would switch from third person to second. 

Mat 6:11-13

This should cause us to ask some questions, and one of the greatest places you can ask questions is in prayer. Can I get my bread (all physical bodily needs)? Can I participate in attaining forgiveness from God? Can I lead myself and deliver myself? 

In the second part of the prayer, there is one petition that you must participate in – forgiving others of their debts to you. And God’s treatment of your many debts against Him will be determined by your own attitude of forgiveness.

Mat 6:25-33. Notice what He tells us not to concern ourselves with and what He tells us to seek.

And, as with all things worldly, God’s ways are not man’s. Man thinks his top priority is to earn his food, determine his own freedom, and make his own way. God’s ways are that those are solely His responsibility. We are to glorify His name, live in the way of the kingdom of heaven as we long for its reality, and to do His will. 

What you participate in with God will face significant opposition.

There is no natural tendency in us to glorify God, love His kingdom, or do His will. 

Our will has to change, and change demands spiritual disciplines performed consistently over a long period of time. 

Praying daily - Luk 18:1 f.; Mat 26:44

Reading / hearing God’s word daily - 2Pe 3:18. 

Serving God and His people daily - all three are in the closing of the Book of Hebrews: Heb 13:15-21. 

Difficult road: An inevitable aspect of the process of changing your heart is suffering painfully (almost always mentally). 

There is a dangerous, false view that if God is doing things, it will be easy. This idea is not Scriptural. Gal 6:17; Phi 1:27-30.

For every believer, obtaining a changed heart will be a struggle, 2Ti 4:6-18.

Praying “Your will be done” every day gives you a renewed motivation and vigor. 

Success yesterday is no guarantee for today. 

Failure yesterday does not rule today (forgive us as we forgive others).

The one who perseveres and overcomes the struggle and comes out on the other side, bruised yes, but mature in faith and who loves all the will of God (Eph 4:13), will be rewarded, Mat 5:10-12. 

The Lord’s Prayer is the very center of the Sermon on the Mount.

A machine can obey commands, but it cannot be happy, love, or experience joy in a relationship. 

The Lord Jesus goes through an incredible experience in order to conform us to God’s will. When He was at His weakest and most tempted to not glorify the Father and do His own will – Jesus showed us that this prayer was His very own (Mat 26:36-46). 

The Lord Jesus has made it so that you can be like Him. 

You can glorify the name of the Father, live by and long for His kingdom, and do His will, while you rely upon the Father completely for needs, forgiveness, leading, and deliverance.

Salvation from sin and death includes the right to be like Christ in life. If you are not becoming like Him then you are not living out your Christianity.

Pray these petitions every day and continue to seek their meaning and commitment. If you do, your will, over time and with struggle, will become synonymous with God’s will, and the God of peace will become your peace – your only peace.