The Prayer that God Prospers

Text: Matthew 6:9-15 (HCSB)9 "Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
1. Our: The first step in prayer should be our approach WITH our Lord Jesus Christ(and the Holy Spirit) to our Father, and not just by ourselves. 

Notice that Jesus starts with the word “Our”, which means praying with Jesus(and the Holy Spirit)to God our Father for ourselves and other believers. (Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:26). 

Jesus taught us that the relationship that He has with His Father is ours too even in prayer! (John 17:23, Romans 8:29, I John 3:1-2). 

Before you make a request, ask yourself is this something Jesus will pray with me to God our Father in His own best interest? 

If not, don’t be surprised that your prayer is not answered.

2. Father: In Jesus’ second step in prayer, He taught us to direct prayer to our Father, God. 

Moments earlier in Matthew 5:16 Jesus introduced us to a revolutionary concept that God is actually our Father, which is a relational name. 

In prayer, we don’t first address what He is - God, or who He is - LORD, but to whom we belong – our Father.

3. Heaven: Although God is our Father, God still rules over us in sovereignty from His throne in heaven (Matthew 5:34), and our 3rd step in prayer is to yield to Him in everything. Since God’s viewpoint is from Heaven, we must yield to His perspective for He sees from the beginning to the end. (Matthew 6:33)
Your name be honored as holy.

1. Name: Our first and top request in prayer is the protection of God’s reputation or His name. 

God’s name represents all He is and represents. 

No problem or personal desire should be exalted above His name. (Philippians 2:10-11) 

Not only does God’s name communicate who He is, but identifies what belongs to him - us. (Revelation 14:1)

When we pray in Jesus' name, we pray what Jesus would, and does pray with us for His benefit(John 16:26).

2. Honor: Since God is our Father, my behavior and God’s reputation is intrinsically linked together. 

Any additional requests that would damage this linkage will and should be cancelled because it would damage God’s holy reputation. (Revelation 1:8, Matthew 5:16)

3. Holy: The name of God should be considered precious (holy) like fine China. 

It should only be used in the right occasion and manner. (Exodus 20:7) 

Utmost respect should always be used when addressing or using God’s name. 

Understanding the value of God’s name (s) holds the key to answered prayer. (John 16:23, John 6:35, John 8:12, John 9:58, John 10:7,11, John 14:6) 

Learn to match a name of God to your need while making requests in prayer.
Your kingdom come.

1. Kingdom: As our second request in prayer, the advancement of God’s Kingdom is to remain foremost. 

Kingdom is rooted in two words, which means King’s dominion. (Matthew 12:28) 

As we pray, we should ask our Father to reveal areas of our lives that are not under his dominion or submitted to His rule. 

Ask Him to reveal to you opportunities to advance His kingdom into the hearts and lives of others.

In addition, since we are in Christ, we pray from our position in Christ who is heaven from His vantage point. 

We pray from heaven's perspective not earth's. Not the other way around (Colossians 3: 1-3).  

2. Come: As we pray, we should realize that God’s Kingdom is constantly being resisted by Satan’s Kingdom. We are commanded to invite His participation in this struggle. (Matthew 12:26, Ephesians 6:12)

Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

1. Will: Our third request is "Father, what command of yours or principle for application am I missing?" 

Please bring to my attention what I should be doing that I’m not? (John 16:7-14) 

Please answer my requests from your vantage point not mine? 

Remember, we find God’s will in His Word not by outward circumstances. 

Ask what is God’s will in heaven to help you to better understand what to pray on earth. 

Because Jesus taught us to pray this, we should understand that God’s will isn’t being done on earth as it is in heaven, but we invite for it to be. (Lamentations 3:33) 

We don’t determine God’s will by circumstance.

2. Earth: Jesus not only taught us that Heaven is God’s throne, but earth is actually God’s footstool (Matthew 5:34-35). 

When we bend our knee to God on earth, we are actually putting our knee upon the footstool of God’s throne. 

To visualize, what Jesus is actually refering to review Isaiah 6:1-4.
Give us today our daily bread.

1. Give: Our fourth request is for God to provide for our needs. 

Notice Jesus didn’t require us to pray “if it be thy will for bread”. Jesus said to be simple and direct for real needs. 

Ask and expect to receive. (Matthew 7:7). 

If we’ve correctly prayed up to this point, we will receive. If we do what God says and put Him first, He will grant our requests. (Matthew 6:33, John 14:21)

2. Today: Jesus taught us to ask for today’s needs. We are told to focus on living righteously today, and God has committed to us provision (Matthew 6:33-34). 

It is interesting that God already knows our needs; however, He still commands us to ask. (Matthew 6:8) 

God waits upon our requests and will not even force His blessings upon us.

Finally, Jesus commanded us to not lay up things for ourselves on earth, but to store up blessing in heaven to be retrieved later in prayer in times of need. (Matthew 6:19-21)

3. Bread: Jesus taught us to request for needs – bread. Not steaks and lobster, but bread. Everything else that God provides for us is over the top.

12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

1. Forgive: We unlock (or lock) God’s forgiveness on earth by forgiving others. (Matthew 18:18-35) 

As an act of our will, we forgive, so God will forgive, too. 

Therefore, God’s forgiveness is conditional.

2. Debts: We are to acknowledge that all that we have actually belongs to God, and He is merely letting us use it. 

We owe Him. 

Thank him for all He does for you including His forgiveness. (Luke 14:33)
13 And do not bring (lead) us into temptation,

1. Lead: Jesus is leading us “if” we follow. (John 10:4-5) 

This is a request for God to direct our path based upon his knowledge of our weaknesses. (I Corinthians 10:13) 

It’s interesting that Jesus even commands us to request God’s wisdom for our path. 

God won’t even force His wisdom upon us. (James 1:5) 

God provides for us by directing our actions as we yield to Him moment by moment as an act of our will.

2. Temptation: It also pleases God for us to overcome temptation (Revelation 12:3); however, our temptations do not come from God, but from within from our own selfish desires. (James 1:13-15)

but deliver us from the evil one.

1. Deliver: Although God is sovereign, He exercises His protection only upon request.

2. Evil One: Satan is not able to destroy everyone; therefore, he is looking for victims. (See I Peter 5:8) 

God’s sovereignty must be continually yielded too for His assistance. 

(Psalm 91:1, John 15:9-10)[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] 
14 "For if you forgive people their wrong doing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don't forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.

1. Prayer starts and ends with God’s sovereignty, assistance, and reputation. 

Prayer is not about changing God, but changing us. 

Putting ourselves into a position that God can bless us.

2. Jesus ends with this warning - forgive, which reminds us of Matthew 6:12. This must be really important.

3. MSG "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.

Some excerpts taken from Adrian Rodgers.