OUR FATHER PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD
Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them to pray. He taught them what many of us call the “Our Father Prayer” (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13). The Bible says all scripture is given by God that we might be completely equipped to live as people of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 8:29). Our Father Prayer and other biblical words of God complements one another, and adds to our understanding.
- OUR FATHER PRAYER:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4).
- OTHER SCRIPTURES AND OUR FATHER PRAYER COMPLEMENT OR SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. “See what great love the Father has lavish on us that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1NIV). “Because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, Abby, Father” (Galatians 4:6NLT). All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father…who sent Him (John5:23NKJV). Jesus said, “ I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).
Looking at God’s words, He wants those of us who believe in and honor his Son Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, to recognize and honor his Father as our heavenly Father.
THY KINGDOM COME. Jesus said to a very religious man named Nicodemus: “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again…of water and the Spirit” (John 3:3-5). “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). “Repent and be baptized…in the name Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Yet, after Jesus rose from the dead and was going back to heaven, he said to his born-again followers: :”I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:3).
The Spirit-kingdom of God on earth currently “is in your midst.” It comes within you, when you repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, causing the Holy Spirit to comes to reign in your heart. Yet Jesus promises to take his followers to be with him in a heavenly kingdom.
THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. Jesus replied to some people who asked about the will of God: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:28-29; John 3:16). And He said: “If you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Jesus tells us, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the [heavenly] Father except through me” (John 14:16).
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights, and was tempted by devil to turn stones into bread, the Lord said: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus also said: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me” (John 4:34).
The Word instructs us to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things that God knows we need shall be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).
FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. When some people were about to stone a woman caught in adultery, Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone” (John 8:1-11). The Word says: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God wants us to forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave us (Ephesians 4:32; John 3:16).
Yet, there may be some grave wrongs done against us that we may feel are impossible for us to forgive. But if we have a sincere heart’s desire to please the Lord, and ask him for help, the Holy Spirit who he is our helper will enable us to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us (John 14:26; 1 John 5:14-15).
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. “When you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me”…he never tempts anyone…Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and draw us away” (James 1:13-14). (The devil prowls around like a roaring lion to take advantage of our weaknesses, 1 Peter 5:8). But we are counseled by the Word of God, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee” James 4:7).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to overcome his human weak in order to be able to do his Father’s will to bear the cross for our sins, rather his own desire to avoid the anguish of the cross (Luke 22:42; Hebrews 4:15). And he advised his disciples, (as he advises us): “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” (Luke 22:40).
Jesus was enabled by God to endure the cross for our sins. But the disciples who fell asleep rather than prayed, fell into sins of abandoning and denying their Lord (Luke 22:45-46; 54-57)
Peter, who denied the Lord, repented and the Lord forgave him. It is not God’s will that we should sin because we know God forgives. But if we should be enticed and fall, we should confesses our sins and God for Christ sake will forgive us (John 1:8-9; Proverbs 24:16)
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER. Words of God say: Jesus Christ is “seated at the right hand of the might God” (Luke 22:69; Ephesians 1:20-21). And the Lord Jesus says, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 2:10). “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth…to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11; Roman 14:11). “Moreover , the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
The kingdom of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; “and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). And our Lord God wants those of us who are his obedient children and faithful followers in this life to know “we shall also reign with him” (Romans 8:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:12).
AMEN. So be it says the Lord.
