PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER
Matt. 6:9-15; Luke11:1-4)
Of all the Gospel passages
that contain our Lord’s teaching on prayer, we ought give attention to the most
important passage of all – the Lord’s Prayer, (Matt. 6:9-15; Luke11:1-4).
Do you remember those days as a child
growing up in Sunday Church School? I
do. And I especially remember, quite colorfully being taught the Lord’s Prayer.
And how many of you, like me, learned to "recite" it perfectly
with pride? Again, I did. Ignorantly, in
the beginning, this was my way of learning much of my Sunday Church School
learning. Oh, but how many of you know that those that the Lord loves and calls
as His own, will not allow us to remain ignorant of the Power of His Word? But, for now, we should get back to the
Principles of Prayer.
My study of
scripture suggest that very early in the life of the church, these verses came
to be regarded as a pattern of outline for prayer, woven into the church’s
worship. It is possible that these words
were originally not a formal prayer, but a brief summary of the lessons on
prayer, which our Lord gave His disciples.
Several indications of this may be observed. In Luke’s version, the words of Jesus,
"When ye pray, say, Our Father," are
spoken in response to the request of the disciples: "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." Can we stop right here for a moment? I just have to stop and give PRAISE to Christ
Jesus for the Holy Spirit of Wisdom!
See, before God opened my eyes to see not only the beauty of His
message, but the SALVATION,
The disciples
had seen and heard their Master at prayer, and wished to learn how to pray as
He did.
(If you were to read
all of the New Testament records, no
where would you find that the disciples asked their Lord to teach them.)
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onsidering the
passage as a summary of our Lord’s teaching on prayer, we find that it lays down seven
essential principles.
These principles
were the response to the disciples’ request.
v The first three principles relate to
the attributes of God and give us the vertical or the primary scope of the
cross. That scope was: God’s nature;
God’s kingdom; and God’s will.
v The last four principles give us the
secondary or the horizontal scope of the cross.
That scope was a summary of human needs:
the need for daily bread; the need for forgiveness for debts; the need
for defense against temptation; and the need for deliverance from evil.
Friends, if you finally get it, say HALLELUJAH! As for me, there will be no more recital, but
total commitment of the WORD to my spirit, heart, soul, and mind. Yes, Lord!
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/Chairman/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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