3. Approaching God in Prayer Jesus gave a model prayer for His disciples SHORT: 52 words – 30 seconds COMPREHENSIVE: covers in principle all we need to pray CHALLENGING: not meant to be used as a formula Prayer is meant to be an expression of a disciple’s relationship with Him Greek word in NT - “Abba” = ‘daddy’

4. How should we approach God in prayer? 1.In an attitude of devotion (v.9-10) ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name’  With confidence in God’s nature (‘Our Father...’) As a Father He cares James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …” As a Father He is in control ( lit. “in the heavens” – complete sovereignty, perfect knowledge and absolute power)

5. In an attitude of devotion (cont…) In an attitude of devotion (cont…)  oncern for God’s Name verse 9  With concern for God’s Name verse 9 ‘hallowed be Your Name’ By the way we pray By the way we pray By the way we live By the way we live  ommitment to God’s purpose verse 10  With commitment to God’s purpose verse 10 ‘Your kingdom come’ ‘Your kingdom come’ onformity to God’s Will verse 10  With conformity to God’s Will verse 10 ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ Matt 26:39, 42 “not My will, but Yours be done”

6. How should we approach God in prayer? 2. In an attitude of dependence (v.11-13) Food Food (represents all our physical needs) Verse 11 “Give us today our daily bread” Challenges our self-sufficiency "Back of the loaf is the snowy flour, and back of the flour is the mill; and back of the mill is the sun and the shower, and the wheat and the Father's Will." Challenges our selfishness Challenges our selfishness “Give us …” Challenges our anxiety Challenges our anxiety – “do not be anxious” Challenges our gluttony Challenges our gluttony – “bread” Challenges our ingratitude

7. In an attitude of dependence (cont…) Fellowship Fellowship With God – With God – through forgiveness With others – With others – forgiveness of others is a condition for mercy (God acting as a Father, not a judge)

8. In an attitude of dependence (cont…) Freedom Freedom From temptation too strong From temptation too strong – James 1:13 ?? Temptation has 2 parts – circumstance & desire A healthy distrust of self From the evil one From the evil one

9. Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen