Here is a break down of the prayer Jesus modeled for us.

As promised, I will review the Lord’s prayer as a model prayer.  The first words of Matthew 6:9 clearly state Jesus’ intention in giving this model.  It can also be found in Luke 11:2-4.  Jesus did not intend for us to memorize it and recite it.  But every denomination has this prayer in common.  It is memorized and recited at churches all over the country.  We will look at this prayer as a model for our prayers.

“…Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name”

1.  We see that we are to address the Father.  We enter into the Throne Room of God the Father.  Real prayer is coming before the Father.  If we are praying to anyone else, it is idolatry and our prayers are not being heard.  In the Old Testament people didn’t have entry into the Throne Room.  They had to go to a priest, which the Catholic Church has continued.  But when Jesus died, the veil that separated the common man from God was torn from the top to the bottom. (Matthew 27:51 & Mark 15:38) It was not needed anymore.  Jesus gave us access to Almighty God.  And He is now our High Priest in heaven interceding for us before the Father.  We do not need any man to be a go between us and the Father any longer.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”  (Hebrews 10:19-22)

•  Hallowed be Thy Name

Hallowed means holy and sanctified.  We can come to the Throne Room of heaven.  But how do we enter in where the Father sits on the Throne?  Scripture instructs us.  Jesus models it for us.  We come before the Father glorifying Him, praising Him and exalting Him.  He is all powerful and in control of all things past, present and future.  He is the All-Knowing God Who knows even our inner most thoughts and desires.  Psalms tells us: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”  (Psalms 100:4)  So we enter with worship for Who He is.  We can sing, dance or shout.  It is the event of the prayer, not our petition.  While there is a time to ask God, this time of worship is important and will bring one into His Presence.  The whole Psalm 150 gives us different ways to praise the Lord as we come into His Presence.

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”  (Psalms 150:1-6)

• Thy kingdom come

God’s kingdom has come for those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Before we come to Jesus we are not in God’s kingdom. Paul in Colossians tells us we were held by the power of darkness and how through Jesus, we are now in God’s kingdom.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”  (Colossians 1:13)

All who are followers of Jesus have a desire for everyone to receive salvation and mercy of God, enlarging God’s kingdom.  So, we pray for those who need Jesus.  We pray that God’s kingdom will encompass everyone.  And we wait for God’s kingdom to be fulfilled when we pray, “Thy kingdom come.”  The time will come when all other kingdoms will come to an end.  But God’s kingdom will continue forever.

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.”  (Revelation 11:15)

•  Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven

Jesus did the Father’s complete Will.  He was in communication with the Father and all He said and all He did was the Will of the Father.

“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do Thy will, O God.”  (Hebrews 10:7)

We can also like Jesus fulfill His Will because when we become God’s child, He gives us the desire to do His Will.  And He also gives us the ability to do it.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  (Philippians 2:13)

God’s Will is perfect and the best for us. 

•  Give us this day our daily bread.

This is the part where we petition the Lord for what we need, our daily bread.  First, we need a Word from God.  We can get this by prayer or reading the Bible.  Notice that we need His sustenance daily. 

When the Israelites were freed from Egypt and God sent them manna.  They were to gather just what they needed daily.  When they got more than they needed and stored it, it spoiled.  The thing is that we need a daily dose of God’s Word, enough for today.  It will not apply for tomorrow.  Tomorrow you will need a fresh Word. 

We may also have other needs.  This is the time to petition the Lord for what you need for today. 

•  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

We ask the Father to forgive us.  Every moment we are given an opportunity to glorify the Father.  Every moment we have a choice.  Most times we choose to do what we want, without thinking what God wants.  We need to ask the Lord to forgive us.  But notice one important point.  We also must forgive others. 

God has had mercy on us and has forgiven us.  We should also show mercy to those who have offended us or hurt us in any way.

•  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

This is not asking God to “lead” us into temptation.  It was the particular manner in which this was translated for the way people spoke in the time it was translated.  What it means is, don’t allow us to be led into temptation.  At this time we ask for the God’s help and strength in times of temptations.  Temptations always will come because we live on this earth where the devil roams around trying to get us to make God a liar and to destroy us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”  (1Peter 5:8)

We also ask for the Lord’s protection from evil.  In this day and age, we’re not even safe in our own homes.  We need God’s protection.  Just as God sent an angel to protect the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land, He has sent angels to us to protect us. (Exodus 23:20)

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”  (Hebrews 1:14)

•  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

We end our prayer time with worship.