Point of Grace Worship 6.27.21 Sermon Notes – Praying That Matters Part 2 2021
Summer 2021 – Transitions? … … … God, what are you up to?
The Lord’s Prayer leads me toward a healthy relationship with God …
especially when in transition… when setting up new “normals”.
What if we became …
Less focused on consuming kingdom benefits and more on contending for the kingdom’s cause! Less about “consuming” ………… more about “contending”… Less like “spectators” cheering good and God on and more like “special forces” deployed with purpose.
Praying the Lord’s Prayer moves us in this direction. Praying that matters.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name … Your kingdom come … Your will be done … …on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6
Notice the sequence and shift of the prayer’s two halves!
Petition 4 – Father, Give us today our bread that is coming (near),
What frame of mind do we need to authentically pray for our daily physical needs? How freeing would it live each day with the faith that provision for our physical needs is coming from the Father and it is all gifts of grace?
Petitions 5 – Father, forgive us our (sin) debts as we also have forgiven our (sin) debtors.
Jesus prioritizes forgiveness (receiving and giving) for the good of our souls – so He gave us actual words to pray. Jesus authored forgiveness; - is motivated by God’s forgiveness of us not our feelings about the person or situation, - recognizes the violation and doesn’t ignore it, - is a faith-based decision drawing on the power of the cross and not dependent of feeling forgiving. - is the pathway to reconciliation which can happen if repentance is present.
Living forgiven and forgiving frees us to contend for the kingdom of God in the lives of all we influence.
Petition 6 - Father, lead us not (only) into temptation but (even more) deliver us from the evil one.
When taken as one petition the first clause is negated (with a not) in order to subordinate (or lessen it) thus magnifying the main clause.
Jesus gives us words to pray which bring us into the reality of the war zone we live in as contenders for His Kingdom. The second half of the Lord’s Prayer equips and trains us to be Kingdom contenders by:
- Turning us toward Our Father in heaven for 100% of our physical needs,
- Teaching us to seek, receive and give forgiveness so life can happen all around,
- Leading us to relentless dependence on our Father’s deliverance in the war with evil.
Prayer of the Week Heavenly Father, You are my true Father, who loves me very much. I love You, I trust You, I worship You and step by faith into my true identity as Your lavishly loved child – the identity given to me in my baptism.
Father I join forces with Your entire family praying “Hallowed be Your name on earth as it is in heaven.” “Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” “You Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Pause and strategically pray these three petitions over the real life situations you are facing. You are calling in the coordinates asking Him to act.)
Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Give us this day our daily bread”. I recognize and ask for Your care and provision for all of my physical needs from finances to food, a warm bed to a running car, medical care to retirement income …. It is all from Your hand. Thank You. In praying I surrender my needs to Your care and I surrender my sometimes incessant need to worry about all these things. Help me trust You Father. Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us”. Father You are leading me to recognize my deep need for Your forgiveness. Forgive me of my every sin, Father. (Confess any specific sin burdens that today weigh on your heart.) I receive Your complete and total forgiveness. Lead me now Father as I recall any grudges, retribution or unforgiveness harboring in me against those who have sinned against me. I now surrender this all to You and make the decision to “let it go … into Your hands” … to forgive. Help me Father to live forgiven and forgiving.
Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Lead us not (only) into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”. Father help us recognize and follow Your leading as we contend for Your Kingdom in this war zone of a world. Even more, Deliver us from the evil one. Jesus, You are the only one who is completely victorious over evil and we go forward this day facing whatever evil may come in the power of Your name. Deliver us from evil Father, deliver us.
Father, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for calling me to be a contender for You and Your kingdom as I live the meaningful life You intend today.
Amen
Resources for this Week
Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – Matthew 7:7-12 Tue – Exodus 16:11-15, 19-21 Wed – Matthew 18:21-35 Thu – Colossians 3:12-15 Fri – 1 Peter 5:6-11 Sat - Psalm 103:8-14
Meditation Hints:
Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”
Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.
Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.
Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.
Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading.
“Moving Mountains” by John Eldredge
“Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church
“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne
The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store
“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge