Lord's Prayer

All People's Church Falcon Lake
Pastor Brian
Matthew 6
This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored;  may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today the food we need.  Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.  Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.'

Is your prayer life exactly where you want it to be? Not likely. The disciples asked Jesus "teach us to pray" not how.
They noticed Jesus didn't do structured prayer but real prayer. V6 pray secretly.

1. There is a reward of prayer.
We think a real prayer should be answered. But God wants to reward us for prayer time. The Pharisees prayed publicly so they could be collecting compliments and get their reward from people.
God wants us to pray in secret and will reward us. It's not about words but about communion with God. Seeking God with all our hearts. It's not a magic formula. It's not the words that make us Christian but the new life God gives to those who genuinely seek him.
Be aware that the Lord's Prayer often becomes just vain repetition.
Our Father. This is the first time in the Bible that God is called father. ABBA (daddy). Jesus calls God Father 17 times.
We are adopted by God as his children. We can now call him Daddy.
Our Father is limitless in capacity. Big enough to help us with every issue we ever face.
We need to open up in intimacy with God. That can be difficult. That Honest communion with God is the reward that God gives us.

2. Alignment with God. Your will be done on earth and in my life. Me aligned with God. Sin interrupts the flow of God's will. Isaiah said here am I send me. Never pray this prayer if you're not serious about doing God's will.

3. Prayer brings us the provision of God. Daily not monthly supplies. We are not entitled to long term enough. Ask God for relief from fear for the future. Proverbs says I need only what I need for today. Contentment is great gain. Be Content or you jeopardize your intimacy with God. The Lord is my shepherd. We ask for bread not cake. It's OUR bread. That includes the neighbor. Share it. It is a gift. Not a right. All material possessions are on loan from God.
Our union with God makes us a blessing to the world. Forgive as we forgive. It takes 2 people to build a relationship. Forgiveness in us is God flowing through us.
God is not the author of temptation. When you travel into the desert you must have a capable guide. We are pilgrims traveling with a divine guide. Lord we trust you to guide us in the right path. Keep us from the deceit of Satan.

In the secret place God will reward us. Challenge to become a people of prayer. Yours is the power and the kingdom.