"The Lord's Prayer"

THE prayer that is usually called "the Lord's prayer" is not in reality one

the Lord prayed, but rather one that he taught his disciples to pray. This, of

course, was on the other side of the cross. We want to study together for a

little while this disciples' prayer.

Jesus prayed much, and he taught his disciples to pray much. In fact, the

great men and women of the Bible were praying men and women. So it is

today. The really influential Christians are given to much prayer. They do as

Jesus teaches in Luke 18:1: "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." The

inspired Paul said: "Pray without ceasing." (1 These. 5:17.) It is very wrong to

pray to be seen and heard by men. "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be

as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in

the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,

They have their reward." (Matt. 6:5.) Of course when we do things to be seen

and heard of men, and we are seen and heard of men, we have received our

reward and do not need to look to the Father for any further reward.

There are at least three things that will cause one to pray. First, a great

need will cause us to pray. "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." When we

fully realize our utter dependence upon God for everything we have and need,

we will pray more. Second, a great faith in God will cause us to pray. In fact,

we can measure our faith pretty much by our prayers. It is a fairly safe

criterion. If we have much faith in God, we will pray much; if we have little

faith in God we will pray but little: if we have no faith in God, we will not

pray at all. Third, great sorrow will cause us to pray. We all pray when the

calamities of this earth overtake us.

The prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray is short. We should not think

that we are heard for our much speaking. Je

sus said: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for

they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." (Matt. 6:7.) Jesus

prayed a short prayer in the garden in the face of the cross. I am fully

convinced that our public prayers should be short. Jesus continued in private

prayer all night. It would be good for some of us to do likewise.

In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells us of two men and their prayers One of the

prayers was a little lengthy. It took the man a good while to tell God how

good he was! "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are. extortioners,

unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give

tithes of all that I possess." The man who parades his own virtues will bear

watching. Some are even proud of their humility! The other prayer was brief

and to the point. Hear it: ''God. be merciful to me a sinner.'' This prayer was

the more efficacious of the two. The Christ said: "I tell you, this man went

down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth

himself shall he abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

This prayer that Jesus taught his disciples was not only short, but it was

simple. Most of the words are monosyllables. They are easily comprehended

even by the unlearned. The very simplicity of it is powerful.

"Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name." Here we have

superb adoration. When Moses approached the burning bush, God called to

him, saying: "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the

place whereon thou standest is holy ground." (Ex. 3:5.) When we approach

God in prayer, we are on holy ground. The only time we have the word

"reverend" in the Bible is in connection with God's name. "Holy and reverend

is his name." (Ps. 111:9.)

"Thy kingdom come." Of course we cannot pray for the kingdom to come.

It has already come more than nineteen centuries ago. When Jesus taught his

disciples to pray. "Thy kingdom come," that was about three years before its

coming. Paul saidhe was in the kingdom. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Col. 1:13.) Of

course the kingdom was then in existence, or Paul and others could not have

been translated into it. This was written about thirty years after the

establishment of the kingdom. John said he was in the kingdom. (Rev. 1:9.)

This was sixty or more years after the establishment of the kingdom. We can

pray for the spread and advancement of the kingdom.

"Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." If God's will were being

done on this earth, it would be an entirely different world. There would be no

wars. Just as fast as people come into the kingdom of Christ they learn war no

more. What a transformation it would work in the business and social world

if all would do the will of the Lord! Yes, and what a difference in the religious

world! "Thy will be done."

"Give us this day our daily bread." When the Israelites were in the

wilderness. God gave them their daily bread. When we work in cooperation

with divine laws, we have our daily bread. "I have been young, and now am

old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

(Ps. 37:25.)

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." That would be a

dangerous thing for many of us to pray if the Lord would answer. Too many

want God to forgive their sins, but are not willing to forgive those who may sin

against them. Jesus, in commenting on this, further says: "For if ye forgive men

their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive

not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We should

stay far away from our temptations. We should not allow ourselves to be led

into temptation. Wise is the individual who knows his weakest point. Watch

those weak points. "A chain is no stronger than its weakest link." A Christian

is no stronger than his weakest point.