"The Model Prayer" (Part 1)

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 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.”

(Matthew 6:9-13)

I – TO WHOM WE ARE TO PRAY? - We are not to pray to saints and angels but only to the everlasting Father, the Lord of Heaven and earth. “Our FATHER which art in Heaven.” After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9).

We are not to pray to idols. “Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I [am] the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:4). “Cursed [be] the man that maketh [any] graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth [it] in [a] secret [place]. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.” (Deuteronomy 27:15).

We are not to pray to animals. The world’s greatest worshippers of gods are the Hindus. They have 330 million gods and goddesses, or 8 to every Hindu family.Hindu religion teaches the sanctity of animal life. India's 450 million Hindus have roughly 75 million cows to worship. They allow monkeys, rats and other pests to eat and damage their crops.

We must only pray to “Our Father” who:
a. Loves Us –“.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
b. The Father Who Cares –“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”(1 Peter 5:6-7).
c.The Father Who Take Away Our Fears - “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.”( Matthew 6:34).
We must also note that not all can pray “Our Father” .But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12).

A Christian is anyone who sincerely trusted Christ for salvation and acknowledge Him as Lord. A Christian is anyone who has the Spirit of God living in Him. Those who accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, became full heir to His new Father’s estate.When a person becomes a Christian, he gains all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God’s family.


II – A PETITION RESPECTING GOD’S NAME – “Hallowed by Thy Name.” And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this [is] my name for ever, and this [is] my memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3:13-15).

Our Lord is the Lord of “I AM.” By the “name of God” we mean all those attributes under which He is revealed to us.

a. “I am the Bread of Life”.-“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” ( John 6:35).
b. “I am the Light of the World”.- “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
c. “I am the Door”.- “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7).
d. “I am the Good Shepherd”.- “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).
e. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. -“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”(John 14:6).
f. “I am the vine”. -“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” (John 15:1).
g. “I am the Alpha and Omega”. -“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).

By asking that they may be “Hallowed”, we mean that they may be known and glorified. God called Himself “I AM”, an appellation describing His eternal power and unchangeable character.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”(Hebrews 13:8).
In a world where values, morals, and laws change constantly, we can find stability and security in our unchanging God.

(Message By: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon, Odiongan Baptist Church Inc.)