What should be the primary focus and thrust of our prayers? Jesus teaches us that it should be God’s interests – His Name, His Kingdom, and His Will.
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God-Centered Praying
Luke 11:2; Mt. 6:10
I think the one area of the Christian life that we all feel deficient in is our prayer lives. Do you find that to be true? How many of you feel happy and satisfied with the condition of your prayer life? That’s what I thought. I feel the same way. We know we should pray more than we do. However, in some degree we feel prayer is a great mystery. How can a lowly mortal commune with the infinitely exalted God of the universe? Who is this God we are to pray to? What kinds of petitions does He desire we ask of Him? These are great and weighty questions. Jesus’ own disciples felt the weight of these questions in their own hearts and came to Him and asked Him to teach them to pray.
Since we need help in this matter of prayer, we ought to ask the One who is the greatest authority on prayer – the Lord Jesus Christ. If any man has ever understood and entered into true prayer, it is Jesus Christ. He was in constant communion with His Father. Luke has already told us in his gospel account that Jesus prayed at His baptism. He often slipped away into the wilderness to pray. He went off to the mountain and spent the entire night in prayer to God. It was while He was praying that He was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. It would seem that if ever there were a person who didn’t need to pray, it was Jesus Christ. Jesus was God, and had no sin, yet prayed fervently and continually. How much more do we need to pray who are human and prone to sin? Fortunately, Jesus has given us some help on the subject of prayer. In the Lord’s Model Prayer in Luke 11, and Matthew 6, Jesus gives some rich instruction on prayer. For these sermons, I am going to be adding the portions of this prayer that Luke has left out, in order to bring as much rich instruction on prayer as I can.
In the Lord’s Model Prayer, Jesus first instructs His disciples who they are addressing in prayer. God is the Intimately Familiar One – He is “Father.” However, He is also the Infinitely Exalted One – He is the One who is in Heaven. As Father, He is tender, loving, and approachable. As the One in heaven, He is sovereign, all-powerful, holy, and to be feared. If we only think of God as the One in heaven, we forfeit a sense loving intimacy with God. But, if we only think of God as Father, we forfeit a sense of the fear of God. We need to remember that God is both Transcendent and Immanent when we come before Him in prayer.
The next thing Jesus teaches us, is what we should pray about. You will notice that He gives us six different petitions. The first three petitions concern God and His interests. The last three petitions concern us and our interests. The first three petitions all center on God. We are to pray about His Name, His Kingdom, and His Will. The last three petitions focus on us. We are taught to pray for Our daily bread, Our sins, and Our holiness.
The first three petitions correspond with the truth that He is in heaven. Because of His exalted position of Lord of heaven and earth, He possesses the right to be given worship, allegiance and obedience. The second three petitions correspond with the truth that He is our Father. As our Father He cares about our needs. In Mt. 6:32 Jesus told His disciples, “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” So, because we know Him as Father, we can bring our need for food, fellowship, and holiness. Because He is the One in Heaven, we pray for His name, kingdom, and will.
This morning we are going to meditate on the first three petitions in this prayer.
1. God’s Name – Let It Be Hallowed
Petition, Not Pronouncement. The first thing you need to understand about this petition is that it is a petition, not a pronouncement. When we pray “hallowed be Your name”, we are not proclaiming a truth, we are asking a request. We are not saying that God’s name is hallowed. We are asking God to cause His name to be hallowed.
The Most Important Petition. This first petition is supremely important because it is the very first thing we are to ask God to do. This is top priority. This is at the head of the list. This petition is central, and above all the other requests. This is the supreme petition of all. In fact, all of the other petitions exist for the sake of this first one. The reason this universe exists is to hallow God’s name. God’s kingdom comes for that. God’s will is done for that. Our daily bread is given so that we have life and strength for that. We are forgiven for that. We escape temptation for that. Nothing is more important than that God’s name is hallowed. The first and greatest petition is that we would plead that God would cause more and more people to treat His name as holy.
What Does it Mean to Hallow God’s Name? In this request, we are praying that God would cause people to regard His name as holy, and worthy, and set apart from every other name. Well, what does “hallowed” mean? It means “sanctified” or “set apart.” It means that we treat God’s name as above every other name, that it is holy, beautiful, great, and valuable.
What Does God’s Name Refer To? Does it refer to Elohim, or Jehovah or Yahweh? No, in Scripture, God’s name refers to God Himself. God’s name refers to God’s character and God’s attributes. The name stands for the person. In Ex. 33:19 God told Moses, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” Then in Exodus 34 we have the fulfillment to this promise. In verse 6 it says, “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” God says He will proclaim His name to Moses, but when God does so, He proclaims His excellencies and attributes, not any particular name. So, “hallowed be Your name” means something like “Father, bring people from all over the world to see and feel and believe and confess that You are glorious, and great, and majestic, and supremely valuable. Another way to pray this prayer would be to say, “Father, glorify Yourself among all the peoples of the earth! Reveal Yourself to others in all Your blazing attributes so that they would magnify and exalt and know and fear and revere and worship and stand in awe of You!”
Application. Sadly, there is very little hallowing of God’s name in our world any longer. The Jews would not even pronounce the name of God, because they felt it was too holy to be spoken by mortal men. But what about us today? We drag God’s name through the mud. We blaspheme His name by using it as a curse word. Men laugh and tell jokes using God and holy things without blushing or batting an eye. We don’t set apart the Person of God as utterly holy. Instead we treat Him and His name as a common or profane thing.
So, what would it look like if God’s Name was hallowed? Let me give you four Scriptures that will unfold this idea a little at a time.
1. Numbers 20:12, “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’” God had told Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, in a passion of anger, Moses struck the rock twice. So, God says you didn’t believe Me. You didn’t treat me as holy. So, to hallow God’s Name, is to believe God.
2. Is. 8:12-13, “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.” So, to hallow God’s name is not to fear man, but instead to fear the living God.
3. Lev. 22:31-32, “So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am the Lord. You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the Lord.” So, to hallow God’s name is to keep His commandments, or to obey Him.
4. Lev. 10:3, “then Moses said to Aaron, ‘It is what the Lord spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored.’” The ESV puts it this way – “I will be glorified.” So, to hallow God’s name is to glorify Him.
What does it look like to hallow God’s name? It looks like people who believe Him, fear Him, obey Him, and glorify Him. We are to pray, first and foremost, that people all over the world would do that, more and more. Let’s start with ourselves, then pray this for our families, then pray for our church, then pray for our city, and our country, and our world.
2. God’s Kingdom – Let It Come
What is the Connection between this petition and the preceding one? Well, if people all over the world are to hallow God’s name, how will that take place? What is the means through which God’s name will be sanctified? The answer is in this petition – God’s kingdom will come.
What is the Kingdom of God? It is the kingdom of God is that sphere over which God reigns.
- The kingdom of God is spiritual. When Jesus was brought before Pilate, He said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn.18:36).
- The kingdom of God consists only of those who are born again. Jesus said in John 3:3,5 “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God… unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
So, the kingdom of God is God’s spiritual reign in this world over those who have been born of His Spirit. If God’s name is ever going to be hallowed in this world, it will be done by people that enter into His kingdom through the new birth.
What does it mean to pray for God’s kingdom to come? It means that we pray for the increase, and extension, and flourishing and power of God’s kingdom in the earth. It means that we pray that more and more people would be born of the Spirit, enter God’s kingdom, and begin to hallow God’s name. This means that we place a high priority on praying for the lost. We are to pray evangelistically. We are to pray for the lost in our families, in our church, in our neighborhoods, and for the lost around the world. We are to pray for missionaries that are working on the front lines in unreached areas. Every time another person is saved, there is one more person who must ascribe all of His salvation to the praise of the glory of God’s grace, and so God’s name is hallowed. We are to pray for the destruction of the devil’s kingdom! In order for God’s kingdom to come, the devil’s kingdom has to go. Pray for the success of the gospel. Pray that the word of the Lord would grow and spread and be multiplied. Pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint the preaching of the gospel here at The Bridge. Pray for a chance to witness for Christ.
The way God’s kingdom has come most powerfully throughout the last 2,000 years is during periods of Revival. So, we must pray for Revival. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Christians called them “Revivals of Religion.” So, what is a revival? The simplest definition is “a community saturated with God.” A revival is simply what the Holy Spirit does all the time in a person’s conversion. He convicts them of sin, awakens them to their need of Christ, shows them the eternal hell they are headed towards, reveals Christ in all His glory, and sweetly enables them to turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ. The only difference between a Revival, and what the Holy Spirit does at other times, is that in a Revival, the Holy Spirit does this work in many people’s lives at the same time. The work of the Holy Spirit becomes hundreds of times more intense than at other times. Sometimes revivals are localized, and sometimes they spread to many different locations. This was what took place from 1740-1744 in the American colonies. We refer to it now as the First Great Awakening. In this awakening, there was a great stirring of spiritual interest all the way from the New England colonies, all the way down to Georgia. The fervor would begin somewhere, and then spread like fire. It would not be long before it had spread to another town or State. When God sends a revival of religion, God comes down. God becomes the primary topic of interest and conversation in a city. Revivals are not a series of evangelistic meetings in a church. Sometimes you’ll be driving along and see a church with a big banner that says “Revival – April 21 – May 3.” Friends, you can be sure that that is not a Revival, for the simple reason that a true revival can’t be predicted or scheduled. A true revival can’t be produced by man’s efforts or power. Jonathan Edwards preached “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” in his own church with no visible effect. Later he was asked to preach in Enfield, Connecticut and the effect was astonishing and dramatic.
Reverend Stephen Williams was minister at Longmeadow Mass. He recorded the reaction in detail later that night in his diary.
“Before the sermon was done there was a great moaning and crying out throughout the whole house, “What shall I do to be saved?! Oh, I am going to Hell! Oh, what shall I do for Christ?!” etc. etc. So that the minister was obliged to desist. Shrieks and cries were piercing and amazing. After some time of waiting, the congregation were still so that a prayer was made, and after that we descended from the pulpit and discoursed with the people, some in one place and some in another, and–amazing and astonishing!–the power of God was seen, and several souls were hopefully wrought upon that night, and oh, the pleasantness of their countenances that received comfort.”
In a letter of February 4, 1743, Reverend William Shurtleff writes this of the state of things in his town in New Hampshire:
As I was call’d abroad upon the Day next ensuing what I last mentioned, it was suprizing to observe the Seriousness that appear’d in the Face of almost every one I occasionally met with: and it seem’d as if there was hardly any such Thing as entring into a House in which there was not some poor wounded and distress’d Soul; and where there was not a greater or less Degree of Concern in all belonging to it, as to their spiritual and eternal State. It was very affecting to be call’d into one Family after another, as I was going along the Street, and entreated not to leave them till Prayer had been solemnly offer’d up to GOD on their Behalf. A divine Power was then so plainly to be seen in what had come to pass among us, that there was hardly any that dare openly and expresly deny it.
The Second Great Awakening took place from about 1790 to 1840. During this time there were many fresh outpourings of the Holy Spirit resulting in thousands of conversions all over the United States. In a letter from George Baxter to Archibald Alexander on January 1, 1802 he wrote:
“The power with which this revival has spread, and its influence on moralizing the people, are difficult for you to conceive of, and more difficult for me to describe…On my way to Kentucky, I was told by settlers on the road, that the character of Kentucky travelers was entirely changed, and that they were now as distinguished for sobriety as they had formerly been for dissoluteness; and indeed, I found Kentucky the most moral place I had ever been in; a profane expression was hardly heard; a religious awe seemed to pervade the country… Infidelity [had been] triumphant and religion at the point of expiring. Something of an extraordinary nature seemed necessary to arrest the attention of a giddy people, who were ready to conclude that Christianity was a fable, and futurity a dream.”
Folks, you and I have never seen a true revival. But I believe we ought to be praying that God would send them again. A mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our country is her only hope. I don’t know if God has given America over to our lusts, but if not, a mighty revival is the only thing that will change us. Over the last 100 years especially, we have sunk down into the greatest sin and debauchery imaginable. Let’s pray that God’s kingdom would come! Let’s pray for a powerful move of God upon this country again.
3. God’s Will – Let it Be done
How will God’s name be hallowed? By the increase and spread of His kingdom on the earth. How will we know when His kingdom has come? We will know it when His will is being done on earth. The hallowing of God’s name is to be our greatest desire. That greatest desire will be fulfilled as God causes people to be born again and enter into His kingdom. When a person is born again, they begin to do His will on earth.
What is Meant by “the will of God” here? There are two different expressions of God’s will. There is the will of God’s Decree and the will of God’s Desire. The will of God’s decree is His sovereign will. Everything that God decrees will certainly come to pass. We don’t pray for this will to take place, because we don’t know what it is. This is God’s secret will. He alone knows what He has planned to do in world history. This is the will expressed in Ephesians 1:11, “we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” This aspect of God’s will can’t be frustrated or thwarted. God will make sure that the will of His decree comes to pass. No, we don’t pray for God’s secret will. Rather, we pray for God’s revealed will. We pray for the will of God’s desire. What I mean by that that will of God in which His desires are made known. God desires that we repent, believe in Christ, love God supremely, love one another, honor our parents, refuse to worship idols, lie, steal, murder, commit adultery, lust or covet. However, this will of God can be thwarted. This will is frustrated in the world millions of times every day. This is the will of God that are to pray is done on earth as it is in heaven.
How Is God’s Will To Be Done? On earth, as it is in heaven. Well, how is God’s will done in heaven? Ps. 103:20-21 says, “Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word! Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will.” The angels and redeemed saints in heaven do God’s will perfectly. They do it instantly, cheerfully, thoroughly, and constantly. That is how we are to pray God’s will is done here on earth now.
Two Kinds of People. There are those who pray, “My will be done” and there are others who pray “Your will be done.” The purpose of prayer is not to get my will done in heaven. Rather it is to get God’s will done on earth. Jesus modeled this well didn’t He? In the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “Nevertheless, not My will but Your will be done.”
Do You Pray For This? Start with yourself. Do you pray that you would be more and more obedient to God? Do you notice unsanctified areas of your life, and make them a matter of prayer? Do you pray and ask God to help you become more patient, kind, compassionate, generous, loving, gracious, bold, just, and caring? Do you pray this for others around you – your spouse and children? How about your church family? We should be praying for growth in grace and sanctification in our own life and for everyone else we know.
Conclusion
Jesus is teaching us here that our praying must be God-centered. In this model prayer, Jesus teaches us that God’s interests must come first. It’s the same with the 10 commandments. The first 4 commandments have reference to God and the last 6 commandments have reference to man. It’s the same with the Greatest commandment. First we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and then our neighbor as our self. Jesus instructed us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. God’s glory, God’s reign, God’s will must be the supreme objects of our affections and desires. Is that true of you? Are God’s interests that which you are most passionate about in prayer? Or, are your prayers self-centered? When you do pray, are your prayers taken up with your needs, and wants, and desires. Do you only pray about God fixing your problems? What percentage of your prayer life is devoted to God’s interests, and what percentage is devoted to your interests? Jesus doesn’t say a word about praying for our own interests, until He has taught us to pray about God’s.
The Lost. If you really can’t pray “Father” because you have no assurance that you are truly His child, and have been born of His Spirit, the starting place for you is to enter His kingdom. You must be born again. You must be convinced of your lost and helpless condition, and also that Christ is an all-sufficient Savior. You must have your eyes opened to see the glory of Jesus Christ. You must see His value and preciousness. You must come to Him. “Nothing in my hands I bring, Only to Thy cross I cling.” If you are lost and outside of Christ this morning, I urge you come to Jesus and cast yourself on His mercy. Believe in Him. Call on the name of the Lord, and He will save you!
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