PRAYING OUR FATHER’S WILL BE DONE

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). And he said people shall live “by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The biblical Word of God says all Scripture is given by God that the people of God might be completely equipped to live as his subjects (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Our Father Prayer and other parts of the inspired Word of God evidently complement one another, increasing our understanding of God’s will for our us on earth.

OUR FATHER PRAYER 

In praying to the Father and teaching his disciples, Jesus said: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. As a  basic guideline or outline of how we should pray concerning our Father’s will, Jesus said we should pray in the following manner: 

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 6:9-13NKJV).

OUR FATHER PRAYER IN LARGER BIBLE CONTEXT:

OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:26). “Because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, Abby, Father” (Galatians 4:6).“See what great love the Father has lavish on us that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). 

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 Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the [heavenly] Father except through me” (John 14:16). 

To those on earth, our Lord says, “If you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15).    

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.

After Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights, and was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread. But 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, and desire according to his will, shall be added unto us (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4).

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). 

Our Lord advises us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(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 consider what Christ has done in forgiving us all our sins; and have a sincere heart’s desire to please the Lord; and ask him for help to forgive others–the Holy Spirit whom the Lord gives us as our helper will enable us to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us (John 14:26; 1 John 5:14-15).

 “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:28)

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 fleshly desire to avoid the anguish of the cross, to be able to do the Father’s will of dying for the sins of the world (Luke 22:42; Hebrews 4:15).

The Lord advised his disciples, (as he advises us): “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” (Luke 22:40).  For the spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak. Praying invites the God to Strengthen and help us; the bible reminds us we can do nothing without the Lord (John 15:5); but we can do all things through Christ, the Son of God who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

Jesus was enabled through praying to God to endure the cross for our sins. But the disciples who fail to pray, fell asleep, and in their weakness, they abandoned and denied their Lord (Luke 22:45-46; 54-57)

Peter, who denied the Lord three times; later, repented and the Lord forgave him. But It is not God’s will that we should sin because we know God forgives. Yet 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

The 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). And  “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. “To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:11).“To whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:5).