Thursday 29 March 2012

Lord's Prayer - Forgive us our sins!


Listened to a really good talk at Church this week.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Jesus' disciples knew that prayer was an important part of Jesus daily pattern. Sometimes he needed space to pray on his own and Sometimes he prayed in the temple and synagogue and prayed with others.

After watching him the disciples asked

Luke 11:1 (NIV)
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

They wanted the same richness in prayer that Jesus had.

General principles ...

Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV)"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [6] But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. [7] And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

It is not about being seen to pray and how spiritual you are.

Matthew 6:5-6 (NIV)"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [6] But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

It is not about long words or magic phrases with special beginnings and endings. There is no need to worry If you get prayer wrong it doesn't mean it  'won't work'.

Matthew 6:7 (NIV)And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Also prayer is not a news broadcast to God. It is not about many words being said over and over again.

What can we learn?

Matthew 6:9 (NIV)"This, then, is how you should pray: " `Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

This sets the mood, the atmosphere, the mindset of prayer. We can also use this to remember the character of the God we are praying to.

Matthew 6:9 (NIV)"This, then, is how you should pray: " `Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Father - intimate
hallowed - Holy 

Matthew 6:10 (NIV)your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

A God who is for the present and now. He is outgoing and wants to fill our lives and shaped by His goodness.

Matthew 6:11 (NIV)Give us today our daily bread.

God - the provider

Matthew 6:12 (NIV)Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

God - the forgiver who comes to run out the mistakes, to renew?

Matthew 6:12 (NIV)Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Why debts?

There are 5 different pictures that the Gospels use for sin including an image of a debt that we can never payoff.

Jesus is in the business of forgiveness

Matthew 9:2-8 (NIV)Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." [3] At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" [4] Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? [5] Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up and walk'? [6] But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." [7] And the man got up and went home. [8] When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew 6:12 (NIV)Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

If we expect God to have an open hands and heart to forgive us we need to do the same for others.

Our culture doesn't say much about forgives because it can be difficult. Forgives is not a Christian word for tolerance. For relationships to be healed there needs to be forgives.

Luke 23:32-34 (NIV)Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. [33] When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals---one on his right, the other on his left. [34] Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

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