The Lord’s Prayer

Some issues relevant for today Who am I? What do I need? Whom do I want to be? To whom do I want to relate? How can I know about the above? How does the Christian faith help me deal with these issues?

The issue about prayer Is it right to pray? Is it right to pray right? Which one is more right?

THE LORD’S PRAYER THE ANSWER TO THE HUMANITY

THE LORD’S PRAYER In the wider context of Jesus’ genealogy and Sermon on the Mount (Mt 1-7): 1. Birth of Jesus and the fruit-bearing life (Mt 1-4; 7:15-23) 2. Distinctive role of Jesus (Mt 1:20-21) 3. Image and likeness of God (Mt 5:48)

THE LORD’S PRAYER In the context of Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:1-7:29) 5:1-16 The Beatitudes 5:17-48 Our relationship to neighbour 6:1-18 Our relationship to God (the climax) 6:19-23 Our relationship to ourselves

THE LORD’S PRAYER 6:1-4 Alms-giving 6:5-15 Prayer 6:16-18 Fasting

THE LORD’S PRAYER 6:5-6 Wrong perspective of the Jews of God => hypocrisy => lack of reverence and respect Jesus’ alternative: private / intimate 6:7-8 Wrong perspective of the Gentiles of God => babbling => lack of trust in God Jesus’ alternative: what we need is the Lord’s prayer

THE LORD’S PRAYER “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (6:8) Jesus teaches us:  Be DIFFERENT;  Trust that HE KNOWS better than we do;  Live a third way of life: the LORD’S PRAYER is what we need.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Is about:  What I need  Who I am  How I can live a fruit-bearing life

THE LORD’S PRAYER WHAT DOES THE LORD’S PRAYER MEAN TO YOU TODAY?

THE LORD’S PRAYER 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. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, “Our” = communal “Father” = sonship “in heaven” = transcendent; foreseeing

THE LORD’S PRAYER Hallowed be your name, “hallowed” = glorified May Your name be glorified within us and through us

THE LORD’S PRAYER Your kingdom come, “We are not talking about one sector of human affairs, one aspect of human life, one strand out of the whole fabric of world history, we are talking about the reign and about the sovereignty of God over all that is, and therefore we are talking about the origin, meaning, and end of the universe and of all man’s history of the Universe.” Leslie Newbigin, The Open Secret, 1979, p32.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40

THE LORD’S PRAYER Give us today our daily bread. “Our daily bread” ‘Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”’ John 6:35 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” John 6:54

THE LORD’S PRAYER “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

THE LORD’S PRAYER Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:1316

THE LORD’S PRAYER And lead us not into temptation, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38 Luke 11:4; 22:40; 22:46 “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8

THE LORD’S PRAYER But deliver us from the evil one. “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

THE LORD’S PRAYER For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “glory” = “Hallowed be your name” “kingdom” = “Your kingdom come” “power” = “Your will be done” (the authority to give eternal life and the power to raise one up)

THE LORD’S PRAYER What I need is to live the LORD’S PRAYER. I am one of the children of the heavenly Father, a prince/princess of the sovereign King, and one of the members in the world. To live a fruit-bearing life is to choose every day to know Jesus and his love, to forgive one another, to be clear-minded and self-controlled, and to have hope in Him and in prayers.

THE LORD’S PRAYER In short: 1. Be different; 2. Start praying for His glory, kingdom, and will within us and through us; 3. Then pray for our knowledge of His love, act to forgive people, choose to be clearminded and self-controlled, and hope in Him.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Points to ponder:  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt 6:33)  The significance of Holy Communion: a deep knowledge of Jesus and His love.  The practice of confession and forgiveness in the church and in the world.  New understanding of the Lord’s prayer in the life of disciples (James, Peter, and John) and apostle (Paul).

THE LORD’S PRAYER for _________ from _________ Heavenly Father, I pray that he/she will be different. I pray that Your glory, kingdom, and will be within him/her and through him/her. I also pray that he/she will every day know Your love, forgive people, be clear-minded and self-controlled, and have hope in You. Amen.