We are blessed to be spending the summer in a series on prayer - we want to lean in and learn and have it shape us moving forward.

John Starke (The Possibility of Prayer)*RECOMMENDED BOOK

"We live in an age of efficiency. We judge our use of time by what we accomplish or produce. Anything we do that seems inefficient or unhurried is a waste of time. “I didn’t get anything done today.” If that’s how we evaluate our use of time, is it any wonder we rarely justify the time for prayer, much less any meaningful spiritual exercise? A life with God calls for unhurried time that is driven not by accomplishments or tasks but by love and communion. Nothing is earned or achieved in prayer."

Prayer was vitally important to Jesus – he modeled it well and often…because for Jesus: PRAYER WAS PERSONAL. Relational. (far more than some transactional interchange with God)

Prayer is me, as ONE who IS limited – leaning into, listening to, learning from, resting in and anchoring myself to the ONE who is Unlimited!

Ever since the Fall of humanity – God has set out again to redeem, repair and ANNOUNCE this better way of living…getting the way of Heaven closer and closer to earth…it’s in this WAY OF JESUS.

This prayer is not merely for the 2nd coming of Jesus – but it is for the spreading of God’s kingdom (his desires, his ways) around the world and around the corner – throughout the world through His followers. We are his kingdom servants. His heart is for things to operate here – like they operate in Heaven.

N.T. Wright – talks about us (as followers of Jesus) we are God’s ACTIVE AGENTS in this world! Wherever we go, whatever we’re doing, we’re to partner with God in bringing His will on earth, as in heaven… we’re part of the solutions.

That’s why to settle to just wear the label of “Christian” – but not really follow after Jesus is such a detriment to the way of Jesus and the movement of the Kingdom of God in the world. Jesus didn’t call us to be fans of him – he called us to be followers of him. We're ACTIVE AGENTS on assignment for God.

We can’t fix everything – but we can address what’s right in front of us.
We can all live out the principle we’ve talked about around here for awhile.

DO FOR 1 WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD DO FOR EVERYONE.

He says we can pray, “Give us each day our daily bread.” We can ask him for provision.

Obviously, when Jesus talks about daily bread, he’s talking about the basic necessities of life.

It’s interesting that the word translated “daily” or “each day” is a word that is used in the Bible only in connection with the Lord’s Prayer. It is not used outside the Scriptures, in classical Greek literature. The word was a mystery, and translators guessed at it, and usually guessed right. But several years ago on a piece of papyri they found a woman’s grocery list out of the ancient world. On that list there were several things that were perishable. And next to each item she had epiousios—enough for the day.

In our culture, where we have freezers full of food, we hardly take this seriously, but in most of the world, it’s a basic request. If we pray this prayer, we are asking God to provide our needs as we serve his kingdom. We are acknowledging that for our bread, our threads, the things we need, we will turn to God, and he will supply.

forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (V12)

the word for debts here – is only used 2 times in the NT (here, Romans 4:4)…it is clear that Jesus and Matthew intended the word to mean “sins”.
• it reflects that all sin – places us in debt to God.

Jesus is not saying: that our forgiving is a necessary means to earning God’s forgiveness (read Matt 6:14-15)…The bible makes it abundantly clear that we CAN NOT earn or merit God’s forgiveness – it’s a gift – it’s the gift of the Cross!

*This part of the model prayer – keeps us grounded in the Cross! It’s saying that as we come to recognize, operate and live more richly in understanding God’s forgiveness for us – we ARE TO FORGIVE OTHERS!

There should be a 'flow' of forgiveness in our lives. God to us. Us to others.
One doesn’t gain forgiveness by forgiving – but a person gives evidence of his/her own forgiveness by forgiving others!

ALLEGIANCE

Finally, the last part of this model prayer…
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (V13)

This is getting at the notion of asking for God’s equipping of power and wisdom to avoid some area of sin – some habits that hinder us from God’s best! It’s proactively praying for ourselves or others.

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

We are in a battle → temptation is always lurking to pull us away & and put a rift between us and our Heavenly Father! Don't become distracted. Be alert and pray for God's wisdom, protection and strength to persevere and persist in faith.

Quote:
"I'd rather be able to pray than to be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught his disciples how to preach, but only how to pray."
-D. L. Moody

the Lord's Prayer

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Thanks for tuning in with us. We are praying that your prayer life will grow this summer friends. Join us again next weekend as we lean into How to Hear from God.

*REMINDER: if you ever have to miss a Sunday but still want to watch online service, just go to www.elementscitychurch.org and click the WATCH button to join us Sundays at 5pm online.