Lord, Teach Us To Pray: Week Three
Matthew 6:9-13
“What a man is on his knees before God, that he is, and nothing more.” - Robert Murray McCheyne
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. Zephaniah 1:17-18
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
When we pray, “Your kingdom come”, we are submitting ourselves to the priorities of our heavenly King.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” - Matthew 6:33a
When we pray, “Your kingdom come”, we are devoting ourselves to the proclamation of the King’s message - the gospel.
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how…” Mark 4:26-27
When we pray, “Your kingdom come”, we are anticipating the glorious return of our King.
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11
PRAYER PROMPTS
Pray that your priorities would be more fully aligned with the kingdom of God.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness… (Matt 6:33a)
Pray that you would be faithful and courageous in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, the savior of sinners.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Rom 10:14-15)
Pray that you, your loved ones, and your church family would persevere in the faith until our Lord returns.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
Life Group Discussion Questions
What are some common reasons why people struggle with prayer? Of those reasons, which have the biggest impact on your prayer life?
What do the three opening petitions of the Lord’s Prayer (6:9b-10) have in common? What does this reveal about the priority of/in Jesus’ model prayer?
When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” we are submitting ourselves to the priorities of our heavenly King. What would be the signs in our lives that we are failing to do that? How can we help one another do that?
When we pray, “Your kingdom come”, we are devoting ourselves to the proclamation of the King’s message - the gospel. What are some practical ways gospel proclamation can better feature in and influence our prayers? Why is this hard? How can we help one another in it?
When we pray, “Your kingdom come”, we are anticipating the glorious return of our King. Why is it necessary that we pray for this - if God has already promised to do it?