Good day fellow people. I pray that your day has been really well and not as burdensome but in love, patience, and kindness. I was just thinking about the Lord’s Prayer and wanted to write a little study on it to see some fresh manna that comes from it for today. If you don’t have your bible, I will paste it down so we can examine it. The reason is, is developing a stronger prayer life with the Father, and in essence a stronger level of sensitivity to God and what he wants on this earth through us. Matthew Chapter 6 has an unbelievable scene and transitory position that Jesus was in as he addressed about “Who we are trying to please” and gives a model to prayer unto God. So Matthew Chapter 6:
First the scenario and the people that Jesus was addressing:
· And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
· 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4: 23-25
This begins the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus begins teaching the multitudes and exhortation unto them into the new foundations of relationship with God, now through his son. This sermon is the example of all sermons. It wasn’t a mere hour and half, three day revival. These people came from numerous parts of the world with a level of faith that was missing since the prophets of old. Being it had been almost 400 years without a word of the Lord, and the new openings of teachings from John the Baptist. After addressing the people and explaining to them who were blessed in the Beatitudes he tells the people “You are the Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World, to affirm them in where they were in the perspective of God at this point. A majority of what they knew of God was an angry God who struck down people. A God of Miracles, signs and wonders, and a God of tough love for his people. So Jesus immediately changes the relationship of how they are even addressed.
To be seen by men, or God?
· 1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (Matthew 6:1-2)
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.Matthew 23:12
So Jesus counter attacks this issue and says:
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3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. (Matthew 6:3-4)
Whoa! Now this is a hitter that I believe is so wonderful to know. If I am looking for God to move in my life or waiting to see him do mighty things in my life this it what it says to look for. It literally says in verse 4 that “He himself will reward you openly.” So, if for anything I have done in secret that was unto him, and that I am reminded of in my spirit when it comes. Then, I can be assure that this that I am receiving is from GOD himself. Therefore, giving me confidence that in all that I do in secret unto him all that I recieve in goodness back is by faith and works that he will give it back accordingly. Hallelujah. This maybe a key to some block to God answering our prayers when we believe he is not, maybe the thirst for wanting to be seen is hindering us. So, Jesus after powerfully teaching them now tells them how to pray now with a more sincere prayer:
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.[b] 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[c]
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
For a more detailed look line by line:
(9) In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
32 You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you,
Leviticus 22:32 (New King James Version)
In prayer, we should be reminded when seeking the holiness of God and the righteousness of his Judgments for our lives that we need an adjustment of himeself to always solve our problems. Because, if we think about it, the holiness of God and the righteousness of his judgments is the solutions for our problems. When we present ourselves as vessels of God’s making here on this earth we have to address it continually in worship to him. By no means can we as a “striving to be holy people” speak to a holy God as if he is a cheap imitation from the Dollar Store, he can’t be bought. A person who comes before God with the heart of acknowledgement of one’s short comings prepares you in humility with the understanding of no equality in the purity of our workings against the standard of his requirements. In sincerity, praying with this in mind sets us before his throne on our knees in prayer and in spirit humbling ourselves to a holy, righteous and just God. We need his mercy and compassion daily.
(10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. (Exodus 25:8-9)
In prayer, we should also understand that the manifestation of what God has already done and what he is using us to perform is according to the example that he has in heaven. In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle unto him in this world. This is a building that priests served and altars were constructed to minister to God. In the New Testament, our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 6:19) Therefore, what God wants to establish in the earth he first is going to establish in you, and then through you. Just as he showed Moses an example from heaven he has now placed another one for a new covenant. He gave us Jesus as an example, from heaven, and showed us what he wanted us to mimic to be unto him as a holy people. This is the Kingdom come and the citizens thereof of people seeing the example, being the example, and living in the product.
(11) Give us this day our daily bread.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:33 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
In prayer, we must remember that because Jesus has set us free, we must take upon him everyday of our lives to continually be rejuvenated spiritually from him in life. The Israelites ate manna 40 years straight everyday till they came out of the wilderness. Now, we are out of the wilderness and we have to thirst for the knowledge and grace of Christ everyday to overcome the wiles of the world and the snare of death. A prayer with Jesus in you is a sincere prayer knowing that all is provided for and all has been given from God, as it was his son. This also reveals a sense of humility of even Jesus himself, that though being the son of God he still was under authority by the creator of all. Who was Jesus’ father, God himself.
(12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors
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34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:34
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:34
In prayer, this is one of the most powerful things you can do. Is to forgive someone. I don’t know of anyone in this world that does not need to be forgiven and in the eyes of God we all need to ask for forgiveness. If you pray with the confidence that I am always right and they were wrong. It will dim the light of presenting yourself humble unto the Father. Why? Who are you to believe that all you do is right and what they always do is wrong? We are not God. Neither can we understand everything that we do right in our own eyes unless we weigh it against the requirements of his word. When you forgive someone you open the door for love to come through you in the redemption of fellowship. Every time trespass occurs there is a breaking of fellowship, of trust, of love, of friendship. Between believers God doesn’t want that because “Perfect love, casteth out all fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 When we forgive we are showing the characteristics of being forgiven unto God as the spirit of God forgives them through us.
(13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[c]
James 1:13-14
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
In prayer, as we end our communication with the Father, we need to understand that it is ourselves that Satan capitalizes on to draw us into himself. In Romans chapter 1, it also states that the judgments of God upon those of an abase mind is that he “gives them over unto their lusts.” When you pray to God, we have to fervently desire his spirit to lift us above our own selves. We need all of the Holy Spirit to live, in marriage, with kids, at work, at church, in the public. Because without it you’re as of the world yet: (29) If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him (1 John 2:29.) So in as much the world’s saying “You got yourself into it, now get yourself out.” We as Christians need to believe our flesh is trying to keep us in it but, I need God always to deliver me out of it, and without a doubt he will. Look at what God says unto David. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19. That’s good news and assurity that we can all remember. The Lord will deliver us from all things but the requirement is to be, righteous. In conclusion, I myself as sure as all of you want the full amount of Christ in our lives so we can live with him and have communication with the Father. I believe in all faith that the more we continue to seek him, he will reward us with his fullness. He said he would. So unto another day, more prayer, more worship, and dire for the things of the Lord for his will. Thanks for reading and please keep the light of Christ bright.
Your brother in Christ,
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R.Williams
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inquiry@realisticimaginations.com
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