The Tyler Papers  www.the-Tyler-papers.net 

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, AND MORE QUESTIONS

  SECTION 5 - The Lord’s Prayer

      THIS question must also be answered: "Why do Christians need to pray?"
      Gregg, it is because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness that God requires from us. He calls it a holy offering—the fruit of our lips.
      Also, because God gives His grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly: Asking God for these gifts and thanking Him always for them.
      Gregg, you must remember that prayer is in fact a two-way conversation. We must always be ready and willing to hear from God.

      This is also an important question: How does God want us to pray, so that He will listen to us?
      First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed Himself to us in His Word: Asking for everything He has commanded us to ask for.
      Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humbling ourselves in His majestic presence.
      Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: Even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord.
      Gregg, just think about all of this! This is precisely what God has promised us in His Word!

      Well, the next question is this: "What did God command us to pray for?"
      Gregg, we are to pray for everything we need, spiritually and physically: And all this is openly found in the prayer that Christ our Lord also taught us in His Word.

      And we naturally ask, what is this prayer?
      Gregg, we call this prayer—THE LORD’S PRAYER; but it is really our prayer. When Jesus was asked if He would teach us how to pray, He said that we should pray this prayer:
      OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, EVEN AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY, FOREVER. AMEN.
Mat.6:9-13 Paraphrased

      Let us begin here by asking why did Jesus command us to call God "Our Father"?
      Gregg, at the very beginning of our prayer, Christ wants to kindle in us what is basic to our prayer. That is, our childlike awe and trust that God, through Christ, has become our very own Father. As our earthly fathers do not refuse us the things of this life, God, our Eternal Father will even less refuse to give us what we ask in faith.

      Why then the words "in Heaven"?
      Gregg, these words teach us not to think of God's Heavenly majesty as something earthly: But to trust in Him that everything that we need for body and soul will be supplied to us by His almighty power.

      Now what does the first request mean?
      Gregg, "Hallowed be your name" means,
Lord, help us to really know you, to bless, worship, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: and for all your benefits; your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. And Gregg, it also means, Lord, help us to direct all our living—What we think, what we say, and what we do—So that your name will never be blasphemed because of us, but always honored and praised.

      We must also ask, What does the second request mean?
      Gregg, "Your Kingdom come" means a great deal to all of us. It means:
      First— Lord, rule us by your Word and your Spirit in such a way that more and more we daily submit to you.
      Second— Lord, keep your Church strong—continually adding to it.
      Third— Lord, destroy the devil's work. Destroy every force that revolts against you and every conspiracy against your Word.
      Fourth— Lord, do all this until your Kingdom has become complete and perfect—that in it you LORD are all in all.

      And what does this third request mean?
      Gregg, "Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" means this: Lord, help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any hesitation. For your will alone is good. And Lord, help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels also do in Heaven.

      What then does the fourth request mean?
      Gregg, "Give us this day our daily bread" means: Lord, do take care of all of our physical needs so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good, and that neither our work nor worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing. And so Lord, help us to give up our trust in creatures and things so that we may put all our trust in you alone.

      And what does the fifth request mean?
      Gregg, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" or “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” means: Lord, because of Christ's shed blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. And further Lord; forgive us our trespasses just as we ourselves are fully determined to do. That we too should forgive the trespasses of our neighbors—which is the real evidence and the proof of your grace that is truly within us.

      Now what is the meaning of the sixth request?
      Gregg, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" means: Lord, by ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And Lord, these are our sworn enemies—The devil, The world, And our very own flesh: As they never stop attacking us. And so Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit: So that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory. That sure victory that will come only in the perfection we will receive in our resurrected bodies.

      And what does the conclusion to this prayer mean?
      Gregg, "For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever" means: Lord, we have made all these requests of you because, as our all-powerful King, you not only want to, but are able to give us all that is good. This is because your holy name and not we ourselves should receive all the praise forever. But ultimately Lord, we wait for that day when your Kingdom will become complete: that day when we will receive our final reward—eternal life with you.

      Now finally, what does the little word "Amen" express?
      Gregg, "Amen" means this: Lord, it is because of Your Almighty Power, that this prayer is sure to be! (So let it be done; or, it is done!) It attests to the certainty of this prayer, based on the absolute certainty of God Himself. It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer, than that I really desire or even understand what I have prayed for.

      And now may God, through His Holy Spirit, richly bless all of these things to your heart and your mind: Even far above and beyond all that we could ever hope for. And all of this we pray in the blessed and holy name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
-AMEN-