WELLS OF SALVATION MINISTRIES & DOMINION CENTER FOR ALL NATIONS A Systematic, Expository, Study of God’s Word
BIBLE STUDY
THE GREAT PRIORITY IN THE LORD’S PRAYER
Matthew 6:9, 10
Prayer is the heart-to-heart communion with God. Beyond the sound of our words in prayer, our thoughts, attitude and desires are very significant. They give meaning to the words we say before God. So, prayer goes beyond the use of the right words. One may use the right words in prayer, but if the heart, attitude and dispositions are wrong before God, the prayer becomes empty babbling, the babbling of a hypocrite. For instance, I cannot say: “Our” if I live a selfish, self-centered life, living only for myself. Nor can I say “Father” if my name is not in the Book of Life, in the family book of God in heaven. How can I say: “our Father which art in heaven ” if I am laying up no treasure up there, if my heart and interests are all buried in earthly things?
None is eligible to say: “Hallowed be Thy Name” if he is not daily striving, endeavoring to honor God alone in all he says and does. To say those words with any meaning before God we must, by words and deeds, be living daily in holiness. I cannot say: “Thy kingdom come” if I am not doing all in my power to hasten the coming of that kingdom, if I am not preparing for the arrival of the King.
I cannot truly say: “Thy will be done” if I am deliberately rebelling against the revealed will of God in His Word. To pray from the heart, not merely from the head, our hearts must be united with God and His Word.
1. SANCTIFYING THE NAME OF GOD Matthew 6:9; Isaiah 29:23,24; Exodus 20:7; Psalms 111:9; 29:2; 86:9-11; Ezekiel 36:21- 28; 2 Timothy 2:19.
From the Greek, “hallowed be Thy Name” means, ‘holy, sanctified, exalted, honored be Thy Name’. To hallow the name of God is to count it as sacred, so set apart that we hold the matchless name of God in reverence. To hallow the name of God is to honor it, esteem it, reverence and adore it as divine and infinitely higher than any other name. It means that we “make no mention of the name of other gods” (Exodus 23:13; Joshua 23:7) but we always “praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted” (Isaiah 12:4).
To hallow the name of God is to so respect it that you will not blaspheme the name, you will not take God’s name in vain or encourage others to take the name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Hallowing the name of God means that we so live, walk and work every time and everywhere “that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed” (1Timothy 6:1). If “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you” (Romans 2:24) then you do not honor or hallow His name.
We hallow, sanctify God’s name when we honor, esteem, exalt, adore, reverence that name and live in such a way that our neighbors respect God’s name and everything pertaining to God. Only then can we truly pray: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
2. SUPPLICATION FOR THE REIGN OF GOD Matthew 6:10; Mark 1:14, 15; John 3:3-8; Romans 14:17-19; Matthew 6:33; Luke 19:11-13; 21:31-36; Revelation 11:15.
To pray, “Thy kingdom come” shows a desire for the arrival of God’s kingdom by a person who is completely dissatisfied with all the kingdoms of the world. We are eager to see the soon establishment of the kingdom of God to replace all earthly kingdoms. The one who prays, “Thy kingdom come” has experienced the peace of the kingdom in his own heart, so he desires this peace of the kingdom for others and in the whole world. His prayer, “Thy kingdom come” is an expression of his willingness to do anything, to labour and to serve, to work alone and with others, to see to the establishment of God’s kingdom. He has surrendered to God’s rule and reign in his own heart and life and he desires God to reign as King in all realms of mankind.
It takes deadness to self to pray like this because quite often, our prayers are filled with our own kingdoms, our own reign, our desires, aspirations and ambitions. Only those who have been transformed by the power of God’s grace and the change of heart has led to a complete abandonment of personal agenda for personal kingdom can truthfully and sincerely pray, “Thy kingdom come.” For the true believer, all that is within his heart cries out, “Thy kingdom come.” He desires the King of kings to reign in his heart and on earth.
3. SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD Matthew 6:10; Psalm 103:19-21; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 2:15-17; Ephesians 6:6-8; Psalms 143:10; 40:8-10; John 9:31; 1 John 5:14, 15. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” God desires that His will be done by each of His children on earth, by all believers in Christ, by the whole church on earth, by all people on earth, as it is done by all angels in heaven. God’s desire and Christ’s provision through His full redemption is that each of us will know and do His will without any interruption as angels do His will in heaven.
This is proof that our holiness and sanctification is His will. Nor is it God’s will that Christians be partially holy. “This is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Holiness of heart and life is the will of God. Holiness in individuals and in the whole Church is the will of God.
When the kingdom of God is established in our hearts and God reigns as King without a rival, our consuming desires and passion will be to do the will of God, always and all the days of our lives. Also in our prayers, we ask only “according to His will.” We do not want to have whatever is not His will for us. His perfect will, not a permissive will, is our desire and prayer. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”