TITLE: THE POWER OF A PRAYING CHURCH: THE MODEL PRAYER (PT.1)
TEXT: MATTHEW 6:9-13
INTRODUCTION
A. There is a difference between knowing and doing
B. Jesus desires that we know the Lord’s Prayer, and do the Lord’s Prayer
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
A. “Our”
1. Takes prayer out of the realm of the individual
2. When “I” pray, I am thinking about “Us”
B. “Father”
1. Prayer unifies us as a family
2. Prayer unifies us as a part of God’s family
a. We are all God’s creation (Psalm 24:1, The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,The world and those who dwell therein.)
b. Those who accept Jesus are God’s Children [offspring] (John 1:12, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name)
c. Those who are led by the Spirit are God’s sons and daughters (Romans 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.)
3. We pray to “Our Father” – Not to the atmosphere / Not to the ancestors
C. “In Heaven”
1. Our Father is distant enough to elicit respect, awe, wonder and honor…
2. Our Father is near enough to know personally and intimately…
3. Our elders say, “He sits high, and He looks low”
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
A. Hallowed = Holy, to be venerable or hallow
B. Holy is Your name
1. Our name is more than who we are called; our name is who we are
2. Since the Father is Holy, how do we approach a Holy Father?
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
A. Apply Kingdom Principles and Practices to Earthly Living
1. What are the principles and practices that govern how things operate in heaven?
2. How do we implement those principles and practices into earthly living?
B. Apply God’s Purpose and Plan to Earthly Decisions
1. What is God’s purpose and plan?
2. How do we incorporate God’s purpose and plan into earthly decisions
CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: THAT THE LORD’S PRAYER WILL BE A PART OF NURTURING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER
WORK FOR THE WEEK
