Session VII, Day 3

Today we want to focus on the implications of the “us” and “our” of the petition, give us today our daily bread.

ASSIGNMENT:

1.  Read Malachi 3:6-8.  How does God say a man can rob God? 

2.  Read Proverbs 14:31.  (I read somewhere that the author of Proverbs mentions “the poor” 37 times in 31 chapters.)

3.  What was the second commandment after the first, Love the Lord your God… (Matt. 22:39)?

4.  Read what Paul wrote about the way we are to love and care for each other in Gal. 6:2 and Phil. 2:4.

5.  After Paul reminds his readers that we are all members of one body in Eph. 4:25, he proceeds to tell them that one of the reasons for a person to work is so that he may have something to __________________________ (see Eph. 4:28).

After reading today’s scriptures, and relating them to the give US this day OUR daily bread petition, we realize that this petition is not “all about me.”   We are praying for the needs of others as well as ourselves. 

Although the petition is for bread, we know that our Father cares about all our physical needs.  As you conclude your time of study today, read Matthew 6:25-34.  It may be a good time to confess to our Father all the things you are worried about and ask Him for the grace to depend upon His promises to take care of all your needs. 

Lord, teach us to pray

Session VII, Day 2

As we continue our focus on the petition, give us today our daily bread, we should point out that scholars are uncertain of the meaning of the original word that has been translated daily in our English Bibles.  Tony Ash, Pray Always, says that the Greek word translated “daily” in the Matthew 6 and Luke 11 prayers is not found elsewhere in scripture, or in any other Greek writing for several centuries before or after the time of the writing of the New Testament.  Therefore the literal meaning of the original word has remained somewhat of a mystery.  Three of the commentators we consulted, agreed that any of the following 3 interpretations of the original for “daily” are probably reliable:

•  today and each day
•  bread for the morrow
•  one’s necessary bread

ASSIGNMENT:

1.  Read Deut. 8:1-19 and consider the questions that follow:

(This chapter records a sermon Moses delivered to the Israelites in the last month of his life – before Joshua led the people into the Promised Land.)

a.   What does Moses say will be the result of following every command? (:1)

b.  God led them in the desert for 40 years in order to ­­­­­­­­­­__________  them  and ________ them  to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. (:2)

c.  They were humbled and fed manna -  to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.(:3)  What is the underlying principle God wanted them to understand here?

d.   God also wanted them to learn another lesson and that was:  Know then in your heart that as a man ______________ his son, so the Lord your God _____________  you. (:5)

e.   What all did God provide during those 40 years?  (:3-4)

f.    Moses issues a warning in :11-14.  What is it?  How is this warning relevant for us today?

2.  Moses knew the Israelites’ tendency toward pride and a self-sufficient nature (just as God knows our tendencies), and told them they may say to themselves,  My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.  However, Moses reminds them, remember the Lord your God, for it is He who _________________ (:17-18)

As we conclude today’s study, it would be a good time to bow before the throne and express gratitude for the bread He has provided – just for today.  You might want to go through a mental list of the physical blessings you have already enjoyed today. 

Lord, teach us to pray

Session VII, Day 1

As we continue our study of the Lord’s Prayer, it is helpful to be reminded of the context from time to time.  Begin your study today by glancing at some of the lessons Jesus taught in His sermon that began in Matthew 5.  Now look at the immediate context of the prayer in chapter 6.  Jesus warns His disciples about hypocritical giving, praying, and fasting.  He also cautions them about babbling like pagans. 

We have probably all heard certain phrases repeatedly frequently in public prayers over the years.  We need to be on our guard against “babbling”(NIV) or the use of “meaningless repetitions” (NASB).  On the other hand,  even as we recite the familiar and beloved words of the Lord’s Prayer or other familiar prayer phrases - if our intent is to honor and obey our father - we will bring glory to His name.

ASSIGNMENT:

Today we move beyond the first few lines of the prayer  (which addressed our Father, expressed honor for Him, and asked that His will be done) to the first request for us as God’s children:  give us today our daily bread.

1.  Read Exodus 16 and answer the following:

            a.   Why did the Israelites grumble against Moses and Aaron? (:1-3)

            b.   What was the Lord’s response (:4)? (Notice  His purpose, as stated in :4.)

            c.   What were the specific instructions for the gathering of the bread-like flakes (:16-19)?             d.   What happened when some did not obey the instructions (:20)?  However, when they     gathered enough on the 6^th day for the Sabbath, it did not spoil (:22-24). 

            e.   What happened when the people tried to gather manna on the Sabbath (:27)?

2.  Read Exodus 16:6 &11 again.  What important lesson did the Lord want the Israelites to learn as He provided for their daily needs?

3.  What lessons are there for us as we pray give us today our daily bread? 

Lord, teach us to pray

Session VI, Day 3

 To pray Your kingdom come, Your will be done… is to pray a prayer of personal surrender and submission.  We may say the words, but are we being completely honest when we pray that way? 

If we cannot answer with an emphatic “yes” to this question (and I imagine that most of us cannot), does that mean we shouldn’t pray this prayer? 

By no means!

We must continue praying His will be done and remember that God understands us perfectly.  Our requests for His will and our personal affirmations of surrender/submission to Him are never completely honest.  But neither are they completely dishonest.  When we pray for God’s will to be done, perhaps God’s answer is to move us a bit closer to the ideal. (Discussion above adapted from Pray Always, Tony Ash).

ASSIGNMENT:

In the time you’ve allotted for study today, we encourage you to spend in prayer.  We suggest you choose a place where you can be alone and, if you are able, get on your knees as you approach your Father.

If you wish to pray the Lord’s Prayer – pray it mindfully.  Pause after each line/petition and enjoy being in the presence of the One who created you in His image.

We pray that our Father will receive glory and that you will be blessed as you spend time before the throne today.

Lord, teach us to pray

Session VI, Day 2

Today we look into the next phrase "Your will be done."  Have there ever been times that you have been reluctant to pray for God’s will in your life or in the life of someone you love?  Probably most of us want God’s will done – to a point.  But there are these little pockets in life we hold on to.  There are just some things we cannot imagine relinquishing.

We have gone to the Garden of Gethsemane in previous lessons as we’ve studied about prayer and we will do so again now.  There are so many lessons we can learn as we envision our Lord praying through His tears and not obtaining the answers He requested.

ASSIGNMENT: 

2.  By reading Luke 22:39-46, what lessons can we learn about the following?

            a.  suffering

            b.  praying for God’s will

            c.  obedience

            d.  getting a “no” answer for a prayer request

3.  As we linger in the garden with our Lord, it would be a good time to recall His “I am the vine, you are the branches” lesson in John 15.  As we consider that Jesus taught we must abide, trust in, and draw our very life from Him, and as we envision His suffering in the garden -  we recognize that our abiding will include suffering and also must include giving up our own will for the will of our Father.

4.  What are your thoughts on the following statement?  “We cannot participate in the blessings of resurrection without also participating in the agony of Gethsemane and Calvary.”

As you prepare to conclude your time of study today, be mindful of what our Lord Jesus has accomplished for you personally and offer up a prayer of praise and gratitude.

Session VI, Day 1

This week we begin focusing on Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  We will spend our study today looking into the phrase Your kingdom come.  Unfortunately because of the nature of this online study, all the questions you may have regarding the kingdom cannot be addressed.  Hopefully, the passages offered here will help you go deeper, if you are so inclined

 ASSIGNMENT:

1.  Read the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.  What is different in the first three petitions (Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done) and the last three?

2.  Do you consider the sequence of the petitions significant?  Why?

We read in Matthew 3:1 that John the Baptist’s message was:  Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  John’s preaching attracted great crowds of Jews.  These Jews were familiar with Old Testament prophecy that promised the Messiah would usher in an everlasting kingdom with a king like David who would rule from the throne in Jerusalem.  They asked John what they should do.  They were ready for a return to the former glory days of Israel.

In Matthew 4:17, we learn that early in Jesus’ teaching ministry He preached:  Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

In Acts 1:1-3, we read of Jesus’ last meeting (or one of His last meetings) with the disciples shortly before His ascension into heaven.  Luke tells us that He spoke about the things concerning the kingdom of God.

3.  The kingdom the Jews expected was ____________ in nature.  However, the kingdom Jesus spoke of was _______________ in nature. 

4.  Consider the following passages (notice that some indicate the kingdom’s presence in Jesus’ personal ministry and others speak of the “consummated” kingdom in terms of the future):

            a.  Luke 11:20 – interprets Jesus’ casting out the demons as a sign that the kingdom       was present.

            b.  Luke 17:20-21 – indicates the kingdom was present as Jesus was personally present.

            c.  Luke 22:18 – Jesus speaks of the kingdom in terms of the future.

            d.  I Corinthians 15 – Paul addresses questions regarding future resurrection of the saints           when Jesus hands over the kingdom       to…God…(:12-24). Paul then moves on to teaching    about the spiritual nature of the resurrected body (:40-58); in :50 – flesh and blood           cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

5.  How would you describe the kingdom? 

6.  As you pray the petition, Your kingdom come, what are you praying for?

Tony Ash says “the kingdom might best be defined as the rule or reign of God.”  (Pray Always, pg 88).

Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, wrote this:  “The Father is a king who has a kingdom.  The children and heirs of a king have no higher ambition than the glory of their father’s kingdom; in time of war or danger, this becomes their passion, they can think of nothing else.  The children of the Father are here in the enemy’s territory, where the kingdom that is in heaven has not yet been fully manifested.  What is more natural than when they learn to hallow the Father’s name, they cry with deep enthusiasm, “Your kingdom come!”

In closing, read Matthew 6:25-34.  Consider the promises of Jesus regarding provision for our physical needs.  “Camp” on verses 33-34 for a time.  What lessons/implications are here for you, personally?

Session V, Day 3

As we continue our focus on keeping God’s name holy, we will consider two other related phrases.
1. The first one is for His name’s sake. I “Googled” that phrase and printed three pages of scriptures that contain this and/or similar expressions.

Today our reading assignment is lengthy – but there are blessings in that reading as you hear what God says to Ezekiel – and to us.

ASSIGNMENT:
Read Ezekiel 20 (yes, the entire chapter!).
Notice especially the following statements (we found it helpful to underline):
For My names’ sake
You will know that I am the Lord
I did what I did…(to keep My name from being profaned in the eyes of the nation); this sentiment is expressed several times – not always with the same wording.


In the first section – verses 1 – 39 – God describes Israel’s rebellion as He “poured out His wrath on them …. for the sake of His name.” Notice verse 33 and following as God says that He will gather you from the nations… Everything God did/does: the initial call to be His people, the blessings, the discipline, the re-gathering is all ___ ____ _______ ________ and so that all people will know that ____ ____ _____ ______ (since translations vary, you may not find the precise phrase that fits in these blanks; therefore feel free to use your own words as you complete these thoughts.)


2. The second phrase we will consider is in Jesus’ name we pray (a traditional closing for many of our prayers).
We do not find this exact phrase in the New Testament, but the truth it expresses is evident in many passages, as in:
Acts 4:30, Rom. 1:8, and Rom. 16:27, and others.


Paul told the Colossians (in 3:17): And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. I believe Paul is referring to more than a perfunctory “In Jesus’ name we pray.”


We need to be careful about tacking on any memorized phrase to our prayers out of habit. As we learn to be more mindful in our praying, we may find that changing up the wording of our usual closing in our prayers may help us be more mindful of the blessing Jesus secured for us as He gave Himself on the cross. It would certainly be appropriate to include an expression of gratitude at the beginning of our prayers – as we recognize that it is only through the blood of Jesus that we have access to our Father.
It would be good to remind ourselves of the temple curtain that was torn as Jesus died. For generations that temple veil had been a symbolic reminder to every praying Jew that his sin separated him from God. The tearing of that curtain ushered in a new era – now we can enter the presence of our Heavenly Father with confidence because of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.


Recently in our ladies’ class that meets at the building, one of our sisters read the final verse of Paul’s letter to the Romans as she closed our time of intercessory prayer. Rom. 16:27 reads:
…. to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ. Amen


As we close our study on Our Father, hallowed be Your name, we want to leave you with the following thoughts to consider:
We have read several passages over the last couple weeks that have described God’s longing for His children. When we distance ourselves from God and are not mindful of the blessing of our Father/child relationship … consider how He must long for us also.


As we attempt to better understand how we can hallow our Father’s name (when we pray and as we live), consider this: Everything is subordinate to His name, His kingdom, His will. As it becomes more and more our desire to honor Our Father, we will grow to the point that we will go to any length to protect the holiness of His name – even to the point of bringing reproach on our own name and reputation (see what David says about his attitude in Ps. 69:6-9)


May we practice coming into His presence mindfully, pause for a moment and with all our hearts, say to Him, Our Father, hallowed be Your name!


Lord, teach us to pray!