North Anderson Baptist
PRAY LIKE THIS: A SERIES ON THE LORDS PRAYER
Message Two In The Series: "Our Father" Matthew 6:9
Locations & Times
North Anderson Baptist Church
2308 N Main St, Anderson, SC 29621, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
It's one thing to hear a person state what he/she believes but if you really want to know where their hearts and heads are...just listen to them pray.
There's an old latin phrase that is alarmingly true: "Lex orandi, lex credeni" - meaning, as we pray so we believe"
Prayer reveals our doctrines, convictions, and theology. It informs us as to what really believe about God, ourselves, and His disposition towards us.
The very first verse of the Lords Prayer helps us to zero in on what prayer is really about and why it matters so much.
1. WE PRAY IN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY
Matthew 6:9 "OUR Father..."
If you look closely, you'll notice that there are no first-person singular pronouns in the entire Lord's Prayer.
The prayer itself begins, "Our" and while that seems like an insignificant detail, it actually speaks volumes.
It's a reminder that when we pray, we do so in concert with the saints...past, present and future!
It also reminds us that as we pray, we do so in partnership with the church.
One of the greatest struggles of our culture is it's fascination with individualism. This radical obsession has certainly crept into the evangelical church today.
With the first word of the Lord's Prayer being "our", we're reminded that when we entered into a relationship with Jesus, we entered into a relationship with His people. It's no longer "me" but now "we"
The word "our" indicates that we are called to pray WITH one another regularly.
2. WE PRAY TO A CONCERNED FATHER
Matthew 6:9 "Our FATHER..."
While addressing God as Father is familiar and comfortable language for us, it would have been shocking for the first century Jew to hear.
While several times in the Old Testament, we find that the Lord is called the Father of the nation, He's never referred to as the Father of an individual person.
Yet, when Jesus comes onto the scene, this is how He identifies God. In the Gospels, He calls out to God as "Father" more than 60 times!
The term Father tells us that as we pray, we do so not as strangers or aliens but as children. (Gal 3:26)
It tells us that we pray to a Father who is accessible (Romans 8:16-17, Hebrews 4:16)
It tells us that we cry out to one who cares (1 Peter 5:6-7)
3. WE PRAY IN CONNECTION TO THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS
Matthew 6:9 "Our Father WHICH ART IN HEAVEN..."
The language indicates that we believe our Father is ABOVE ALL. That He is in sovereign control of all things (Deuteronomy 4:39)
Acknowledging that He is above all reminds us that we cannot bring a need before them that He cannot meet (Philippians 4:19)
There's an old latin phrase that is alarmingly true: "Lex orandi, lex credeni" - meaning, as we pray so we believe"
Prayer reveals our doctrines, convictions, and theology. It informs us as to what really believe about God, ourselves, and His disposition towards us.
The very first verse of the Lords Prayer helps us to zero in on what prayer is really about and why it matters so much.
1. WE PRAY IN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY
Matthew 6:9 "OUR Father..."
If you look closely, you'll notice that there are no first-person singular pronouns in the entire Lord's Prayer.
The prayer itself begins, "Our" and while that seems like an insignificant detail, it actually speaks volumes.
It's a reminder that when we pray, we do so in concert with the saints...past, present and future!
It also reminds us that as we pray, we do so in partnership with the church.
One of the greatest struggles of our culture is it's fascination with individualism. This radical obsession has certainly crept into the evangelical church today.
With the first word of the Lord's Prayer being "our", we're reminded that when we entered into a relationship with Jesus, we entered into a relationship with His people. It's no longer "me" but now "we"
The word "our" indicates that we are called to pray WITH one another regularly.
2. WE PRAY TO A CONCERNED FATHER
Matthew 6:9 "Our FATHER..."
While addressing God as Father is familiar and comfortable language for us, it would have been shocking for the first century Jew to hear.
While several times in the Old Testament, we find that the Lord is called the Father of the nation, He's never referred to as the Father of an individual person.
Yet, when Jesus comes onto the scene, this is how He identifies God. In the Gospels, He calls out to God as "Father" more than 60 times!
The term Father tells us that as we pray, we do so not as strangers or aliens but as children. (Gal 3:26)
It tells us that we pray to a Father who is accessible (Romans 8:16-17, Hebrews 4:16)
It tells us that we cry out to one who cares (1 Peter 5:6-7)
3. WE PRAY IN CONNECTION TO THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS
Matthew 6:9 "Our Father WHICH ART IN HEAVEN..."
The language indicates that we believe our Father is ABOVE ALL. That He is in sovereign control of all things (Deuteronomy 4:39)
Acknowledging that He is above all reminds us that we cannot bring a need before them that He cannot meet (Philippians 4:19)