Sunday, August 16, 2015

A Prayer of Total Coverage

by Pastor Rob Stevenson (2013)

The Lord’s Prayer is Matthew 6:9 -13 (KJV):  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread.  12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is a total prayer.  It covers all aspects of our prayer with Him.   Prayer includes all of these areas:

Positioning –  We pray to our Father who is in heaven.  His name is to be kept holy.  We are praying to our Father, through Jesus, His first son, (who died for us to have this capability) by the Holy Spirit (who is living in our spirits). 

Prophesying – When we pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”, then stand-by because you have prophesied a mighty action over all the world.   Special note here: Romans 14:17 (NKJV) says “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Petitioning – Sure, we ask God for things.  The best that we can ask for is bread, both the physical sustenance and the spiritual.  The bread for our bodies and the Bread of Life for our souls are both important.

Pardoning – Asking God for forgiveness must happen frequently because we do sin against Him; and we should also confirm with God that we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.  Both areas are important.  Right after the Lord’s prayer, we read in Matthew 6:14 – 15, NKJV: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Placing – And lead us not into temptation.  “Lord,” we speak, “place us in the righteous roadways.  Let our feet stay on the Rock, and not stray to the right or to the left.”

Protecting – But deliver us from evil.   Wherever evil is, we want the Lord to get us out of its clutches; and He will.

Proclaiming – For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  It’s a great proclamation!

Punctuating –  Amen.  So be it.  It’s done.  Period.  End of sentence.  Complete. 

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