The Lord's Prayer

(Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4)

The Lord’s Prayer is probably the most used portion of scripture.  Jesus gave us these Words to be used as a resource for guided prayer.   When used in this understanding, it becomes a powerful prayer tool and it brings us to a deep understanding of God’s presence and purpose in our lives.

The Lord’s Prayer must never be used as a ritual, but rather one to bring us to deep meditation and a close interaction with a loving Father and one who is and will forever be there to listen and to attend to our needs and to every word, thought and deed directed at Him by his children.

First we acknowledge is that He is our Father and He is in heaven, high and above all. We are his children.  This brings us to a place of intimacy and acquaintance. It gives us a sense of belonging.  It reminds us that He is a great God, most powerful, creator of the universe, lacking nothing and plenteous in mercy and grace, always forgiving.  It brings us to the realization that we are addressing one who is attentive to what we are saying.

Secondly we recognize that His name is to be Hallowed.  His name is to be glorified and honoured in heaven and earth.  It is to be treasured and cherished.  Our souls start to long for a close relationship with our Father for who He is.

 We then focus on His Kingdom.  His kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting. It is a Kingdom of Peace, Power and Authority.  This starts to give us a longing to belong to this Kingdom.  It brings us the desire and a hope to have a heaven experience.

Our thoughts are challenged as to His will for us on earth and our minds attempt to capture a picture of what happens in heaven.  We exist by the will of the Father.  When the will of the Father is manifested in our lives, we experience love, peace and righteousness.   This is what heaven is and when the will of God is established in our hearts, through obedience and meditating on the Word of God, we shall have a heavenly experience.

We are then aware of our daily needs.  Jesus is our Bread of Life.   The meaning of daily bread here catches on all our needs.   We are simply saying provide for us all that we need.   The Word of God is the Bread of Heaven which will satisfy our hungry souls and meet us at the very point of our needs.  Our forgiveness, anointing, healing, prosperity, joy, peace, whatever it be will come to us by the Word of God

Forgiveness is our portion through the death of Jesus at calvary.  Everyone who comes to Jesus laying down his sins and asking for forgiveness receives it without reservation.   This is the most amazing gift that God our Father gave to us.  His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16).

As much as we need forgiveness, we also need to forgive one another.  This gives us a transparent relationship with our Father.  We are able to approach Him with confidence.  Forgiving others will help you release hatred, bitterness, resentment and anger all of which are causes of sickness and diseases.  Some of the sickness lead to early death. 

For as long as we are human, temptations will come knocking on our doors every day of our lives.   Only God can direct our feet away from such temptations and traps of wickedness.  When tempted He will help us overcome.  We are never alone in temptations, when we focus on our Father who knows all things and who is ever present.

God is our mighty deliverer.   When you focus on Him, He will surely deliver you.  The Word says, the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy but Christ came to give us everlasting life.  When we hang in there, our Father will deliver us.

We are then ready to acknowledge before God our Father that His Kingdom is that of Power, and Glory forever and ever.   A M E N.

Next time you pray the Lord’s Prayer, pray with understanding and meditate on all the words you speak to our Father and your prayer life will be transformed.

Date: 24th November 2008
Introduction:

 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concernin u.

Date: 24th November 2008
Introduction:

.... ”Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God;  I will strengthen you, I will help you.  I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

The correct definition of F E A R is ‘False Evidence Appearing Real’.   Our adversary the devil will want to run us down with the spirit of fear and intimidation.  ...

Date: 2nd March 2009
Introduction:

GOD'S ABUNDANCE.

God's covenant to us is a covenant of abundant life. Abundance means excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, profuse, extraordinary, above the ordinary, more than sufficient. This is God's plan for his children. To live in the fullness of life; physically, spiritually and economically. I know you may be asking, Is this possible in my case? The answer is absolutely YES.

Date: 5th April 2010
Introduction:

GOD’S  COMMANDED BLESSINGS

God has called us to live under His commanded blessings.   As sure as the children of Israel walked under His commanded blessings, so should every child of God.  Under such blessings, all kinds of curses are made powerless.God has called us to walk in the faith of Abraham who the bible records as being a friend of God and a man of great faith.  The blessings of God come to us when we live in obedience to His commandment.  God becomes our friend and walks with us to fight out battles.  He commands His blessings upon our lives and makes us prosper.

Date: 13th April 2010
Introduction:

GOD’S COMMANDED BLESSINGS (Continued from last week)

Leviticus 27:30

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD. 

Lev.25:21

Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.

Date: 19th April 2010
Introduction:

GOD’S COMMANDED BLESSINGS III (Conclusion)

Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garment; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountain of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Date: 17th May 2010
Introduction:

Jesus Our Great Sympathizer

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” -Hebrews 4:14-16

Date: 29th January 2012
Introduction:

Jesus Our Great Sympathizer

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” -Hebrews 4:14-16

Date: 29th January 2012
Introduction:

 Jesus Our Great Sympathizer 

 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” -Hebrews 4:14-16

Date: 29th January 2012
Introduction: