Bible Study – Transformed (2) – Transformed in My Prayer – June 12, 2016

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Transformed: My Life in GOD’S Kingdom.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 6:9-15.

Prayer is grounded in a desire to honor GOD.

What comes to your mind when you think of “transformation?” One way to consider “transformation” is metamorphosis. A beautiful butterfly must go through transformation/metamorphosis to become a butterfly. Salvation is the beginning point of transformation through the process of “sanctification.” The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:2:

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

The indwelling Holy Spirit renews the minds of those who accept CHRIST as their Savior through sanctification. It is a daily walk in the Spirit seeking to do the will of the Father.

Our lesson for today centers on JESUS teaching HIS disciples/followers 

how to pray. Prayer is talking to GOD but also, just as important, listening to GOD when HE speaks to us. How does GOD speak to us? HE speaks in many different ways. It can be a whisper/still small voice or any number of ways that GOD knows how HIS children will listen and know that HE is communicating with them. The important thing is that GOD speaks to us today in many different ways.

This scripture was covered briefly in last week’s lesson.

Let’s read Matthew 6:9-10:

The Model Prayer (Also referred to as The LORD’S Prayer – JESUS was teaching.)

9 "Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The key words are “our Father” and the location of the Father to whom the prayer is addressed, “Heaven.” “Our Father” is to make certain to Whom we are directing our prayer, Who is located in Heaven. This is not to be confused with our earthly father or some earthly religious leader.

A person must be GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of rebirth in order to call GOD Father. Does this mean that GOD does not hear the pleas of those who have not experienced the miracle of rebirth? GOD always responds to all who call to HIM for salvation. Let’s read John 3:15-17:

15 so that everyone who believes in Him (JESUS) will have eternal life.

16 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

GOD did not have to provide the way of salvation but HE did. Salvation is through HIS Only Son JESUS.  Because GOD did provide the way for humans to be redeemed from the original sin, which carried the penalty of eternal death, reveals HIS love to the off-spring from Adam and Eve.

There were two trees in the center of the garden – one the tree of life, the fruit of which Adam and Eve could eat at anytime and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the fruit of which they were not to eat.

Adam and Eve chose to disobey GOD and eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. It was the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When they ate the forbidden fruit, death came upon them and all of their offspring, just as GOD had told Adam. GOD had placed Adam in charge of the Garden of Eden and he was responsible for what went on in the garden. 

Adam was standing next to Eve when she took a bite of the forbidden fruit and Adam did not try to stop her. As GOD promised, as soon as Adam took a bite, their eyes were opened to their sin. They lost eternal life and inherited eternal death. All humans are their offspring, therefore, the penalty of their original sin, which is death, falls upon all humans. We are all in a fallen, sinful state and eternal death looms over every human. Therefore, all humans are in need of salvation/redemption. GOD made man and woman with the freedom to choose in heaven. Freedom of choice carried over to our fallen state upon earth. Sin blocks all humans from reentering heaven. 

Thus all need JESUS. JESUS paid, in full, GOD’S requirement to redeem or purchase humans from eternal death. JESUS broke the sin barrier.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life? If not, now is that opportunity. That is the only way GOD becomes your Father and we as HIS children can honor HIS name.

When we realize and comprehend that JESUS rescued us from certain eternal death and GOD planned for our rescue before the foundations of the world we begin to appreciate the extent of GOD’S love for all humans. It is impossible for us to save ourselves from eternal death. John 3:16-17 is GOD’S provision for mankind through faith.

As a side note: Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Have you ever thought that is our world? We all live in a world of good and evil. It is a beautiful world but it is not the environment GOD planned for the off-spring of Adam and Eve. Therefore, HE sent HIS only Son to redeem those under the penalty of death. JESUS gave HIS physical, sinless life to pay, in full, the penalty for the original sin, which is eternal death. The death of the sinless lamb, JESUS, by the shedding of HIS blood, broke the sin barrier for all humans, who place their faith in JESUS, to have complete access to GOD.

JESUS stated in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

JESUS continued HIS teaching:

“Your Kingdom come” – JESUS had not given HIS life to pay the sin debt, in full, when HE was uttering these words. The “Kingdom of GOD” did not come until JESUS gave HIS earthly life to pay, in full, to satisfy the original sin debt. When JESUS died, the proof that HE paid, in full, the original debt for sin was revealed when GOD resurrected JESUS. There was yet another step in GOD’S plan. GOD needed to send the Holy Spirit to indwell all who place their faith in JESUS so that the “Kingdom of GOD” would be established in their hearts. This happened at Pentecost and will continue as long as the Spiritual church remains upon earth. There will be a time when the “Kingdom of GOD” will be fully established upon earth as JESUS taught and revealed in the Book of Revelation.

Until the Kingdom of GOD is fully established upon earth, may all who are born into GOD’S Kingdom be obedient to GOD’S will, plan and purpose for their lives. Christians are citizens of heaven. Christians are ambassadors of GOD. We need to act like it. Christians are to pray that GOD will bring about the final act of establishing HIS Kingdom upon earth. But in the meantime Christians are to live according to their heavenly heritage because the Kingdom of GOD has already been established in their hearts and lives.

So to review these verses again:

9 "Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

GOD desires obedience from HIS children!

The model prayer begins by focusing on our relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST. Our relationship can vary depending upon our ability to know GOD not just to know about GOD. JESUS made it clear in Luke 11:9-10:

9 "So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

When we are in relationship with someone, we get to know the person. Marriage is such a relationship. One of the keys to marriage is effective communication, respect and working together in harmony and unity.

Having an intimate, loving relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS is the foundational relationship with GOD all must have. JESUS then addressed our daily physical needs as born-again humans/children of GOD.

Let’s read Matthew 6:11-13:

11 Give us today our daily bread.

This verse focuses upon physical needs. Notice the word “us.” “Us” refers to those who have placed their faith in GOD through faith in JESUS.

The Greek word for “daily” can be translated “for tomorrow” or “necessary for existence.” Christians walk with GOD on a daily basis and HE provides for HIS children both Spiritual and physical nourishment on a daily basis. 

Christians need to be cognizant that their daily needs are provided by GOD and not to become complacent or self-sufficient. Our walk with GOD is on a daily basis. We would not neglect keeping in touch with our very best friend on a daily basis. Yesterday has gone and tomorrow is not promised. But we are to plan for today and for tomorrow. The Greek word for “daily” implies planning for tomorrow.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Debt means that which is owed. In this context it refers to “offense or sin.” Notice, the word “debts” is plural. JESUS taught that GOD’S children fall short in a number of ways when they walk with GOD each day. That is why every Christian is under GOD’S grace and we have to confess our sins on a routine basis.

When we utter the word “debts” it should trigger an introspective review of the things where we have failed to measure up to GOD’S standard. As we seek forgiveness from GOD for our short comings, we in turn need to be honest with our attitude of forgiveness toward others. As Christians, we expect GOD to forgive us when we do not measure up and in turn we are to forgive those who have wronged us.

13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

Forgiveness is after the fact, whereas temptation is before the fact. The idea is for Christians to live in such an intimate relationship with JESUS that the Holy Spirit provides us with the strength not to sin. Temptation carries the idea of a “trial” or “test.”

Most of us do not like to be tested. But GOD allows HIS children to be tested through the sanctification process. In industry, quality control is vital to ensure that the product(s) meets the specifications. The same is true in our Spiritual lives, GOD allows HIS children to be tested to reveal flaws in their Spiritual walk and growth.

Christians can be led into temptation by their natural desires. Many desires come from our human DNA. Over the years Christians may have been taught false doctrine that needs to be tested by the truth of GOD’S Word or the truth regarding GOD or JESUS.

The evil one, Satan, is like a hungry lion seeking those he can devour. Satan’s desire is to lead Christians astray any way he can to prevent them from obediently serving GOD. Christians must know the truth of GOD’S Word and know GOD because HE is truth just as JESUS is truth. Knowing truth provides the basis for Christians to be delivered from the snares of Satan. Christians still have the freedom to choose.

Let’s read Matthew 6:14-15:

14 "For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.

15 But if you don't forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.

These verses are “quid pro quo” verses regarding forgiveness. Quid pro quo is a legal term which means something given or done in exchange for something else. When Christians forgive others for their wrongdoing, GOD forgives them accordingly for their wrongdoing.

Notice the word “people.” Forgiveness applies to all fellow humans. When Christians forgive, it reveals the attitude of their hearts toward GOD and in turn toward others. GOD’S desire is to forgive us and when we are in right relationship with HIM our Spiritual nature is to forgive.

The King James Version uses the word “trespasses” instead of “wrongdoing.” The Greek word for trespasses refers to a lapse or deviation from uprightness. This could be an intentional or unintentional act. Forgiveness means to “send away” or “abandon.” The Bible gives us insight in what GOD does with our confessed sins in Psalms 103:12:

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

And Micah 7:19:

19 He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You (GOD) will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Once Christians confess their sins and repent GOD forgives. HIS example is our example toward our fellow man or woman.

The rote recital of the model prayer is of little value if we do not consider the intent of the model. It is to guide GOD’S children to consider their relationship with GOD and their fellowman. Are we, as Christians, modeling the Christian life GOD intended for us to model in everyday life? The next time you sing or recite the model prayer, consider what you are uttering in light of JESUS’ teaching.  Blessings!!!