PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER
Matthew
6:5-15
King James Version (KJV)
Prayer and Intercession.
- Jesus’ words “Thy kingdom come,” are more than a suggestion to pray for a distant millennial day, for everything in this prayer is current. This prayer is not a formula for repetition so much as it is an outline for expansion. Worship is to be longer than a sentence. Petitions are not confined to bead. Forgiveness is to be requested in specifics, not generalities, and prayer for the entry of God’s kingdom into present earthborn situations is not accomplished in a momentary utterance. The verb mood and tense of “Thy kingdom come” essentially says, “Father, let Your Kingdom come here and now!”
- Such prayer intervention is called intercession. Motivation toward such prayer occurs when we recognize the importance Jesus placed on prayer in helping us serve in our roles as ‘kingdom administrators.” Without the intervention of God’s kingdom rule through prayer, Earth’s circumstances will succumb to inevitable consequences. Earthly scenes of need must be penetrated by God’s” WILL here as in heaven.”
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Although Jesus says
we are actually to say this prayer (v. 2), He does not intend that His
prayer be used as a mere rigid ritual, but that it be a guide to prayer as
well. Also, Jesus teaches importunity (that
is persistence) in prayer, along with a sense of urgency and boldness. He does not suggest that we must overcome
God’s reluctance to respond to our request, but that we must be earnest and
wholehearted in prayer. The persistence
is necessary for our benefit, NOT for God’s.
6:9 Father. A new role of personal intimacy with Yahweh originates with Jesus (see Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4: 6) Hallowed be
establishes the principle of prayer on the precept of worship.
6:10 Thy Kingdom come: The petitioner asks for the establishment of God’s rule, not only in its
consummation in the Age to Come, but in lives and situations now. This further defined as God’s will being
done in earth.
6:11 Jesus encourages prayer for physical needs, which are vitally linked with
kingdom concerns.
6:12 Prayer for forgiveness is qualified by a readiness to forgive personal
injury (see v. 14, 15).
6:13 The final petition requests God’s strength to withstand moral peril lest
the petitioner fail or be overwhelmed by temptation of evil.
In Closing
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D
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ear Friends, please know and
understand that either the weakness of man’s rule (the flesh) or the viciousness of hell’s works (the Devil) will prevail.
God’s power alone can change things and bring heaven’s rule (kingdom) instead, and the honor and the
glory for prayer’s answers are His.
However,
the praying is ours to do: unless we ask for the intervention of His Kingdom
and obey His prayer lessons, nothing will change. All kingdom ministry begins with, is
sustained by, and will triumph through prayer.
In Christ,
Janet
Irene Thomas
Playwright/Director/Screen
Writer/Producer/Lyricist
Founder/CEO
Bible
Stories Theatre of
Fine
& Performing Arts
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