The Church of Divine Guidance Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Group studying the book Prayer That Turned The World Upside Down: The Lord's Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution by R. Albert Mohler, The President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The Lord’s Prayer is the most powerful prayer in the Bible, taught by Jesus to those closest to him. We desperately need to relearn its power and practice.
The opening words of the Lord’s Prayer have become so familiar that we often speak them without a thought, sometimes without any awareness that we are speaking at all. But to the disciples who first heard these words from Jesus, the prayer was a thunderbolt, a radical new way to pray that changed them and the course of history.
Far from a safe series of comforting words, the Lord’s Prayer makes extraordinary claims, topples every earthly power, and announces God’s reign over all things in heaven and on earth. Study along with us by getting a copy of the book by clicking this LINK or the image of the book in the study notes.
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More Than Going to Heaven When You Die
“Repent for the
kingdom of heaven has come near.”
A lot of times when we hear the word “kingdom” or “heaven” we think of a place really far away and we go there when we die. But according to Jewish thought, the world Jesus lived in, heaven was actually more like God’s control room. God’s space. A place not very far away, but a place that is near.
And so Jesus steps on the scene and tells people to turn around, change their mind, and change the direction of their life. Why? Because the place where God is fully reigning and ruling is near. It has crash landed in Jesus. It is right in front of them. It’s less about a destination, and more about bringing our lives under His reign and rule right now. In this moment. In our finances, in our schools, in our relationships, and every facet of our being.
A lot of times when we hear the word “kingdom” or “heaven” we think of a place really far away and we go there when we die. But according to Jewish thought, the world Jesus lived in, heaven was actually more like God’s control room. God’s space. A place not very far away, but a place that is near.
And so Jesus steps on the scene and tells people to turn around, change their mind, and change the direction of their life. Why? Because the place where God is fully reigning and ruling is near. It has crash landed in Jesus. It is right in front of them. It’s less about a destination, and more about bringing our lives under His reign and rule right now. In this moment. In our finances, in our schools, in our relationships, and every facet of our being.
Our Final Session
The author of the
book from which we are studying ,“The Lord’s Prayer”, R. Albert Mohler,
Jr, uses the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew
6:9-13 from the New International Version;
Matthew 6:9-13 NIV “This, then,
is how you should pray: “ ‘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. ’
Many Christians who
regularly say the Lord’s Prayer in church services each week or remember a
version they memorized as a child recite concluding words that do not appear in
many modern translations—“for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever, Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV In this
manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your
kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do
not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The reason these
words are not found in modern translations such as the NIV or the ESV is that
they probably did not appear in the original copy of Matthew. As a result of
studying ancient manuscripts, scholars now believe with some certainty that
these words were probably a later addition to the Lord's Prayer. Since the
Lord’s Prayer seems to end rather abruptly, Christians in the early church
added a doxology to the end of the prayer so as to give God the final word of
praise in corporate worship settings.
Doxology a liturgical formula of praise to God.
The dictionary
defines doxology as “an expression of praise to God, especially a short hymn
sung as part of a Christian worship service.” The word doxology comes from the
Greek doxa, (“glory, splendor, grandeur”) and logos, (“word” or “speaking”).
Most doxologies are short hymns of praise to God in various Christian worship
services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns.
Another commonly
heard doxology is “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” which was written
in 1674 by Thomas Ken, a priest in the Church of England. The familiar words
are “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here
below; Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.”
Although the word doxology is not found in the Bible, the themes expressed in doxologies are certainly scriptural, and have always been integral parts of true Christian worship.
Although the word doxology is not found in the Bible, the themes expressed in doxologies are certainly scriptural, and have always been integral parts of true Christian worship.
In fact, one of the
doxology found in the Old Testament looks almost exactly like the doxology
traditionally appended to the Lord’s Prayer:
“Yours, O LORD, is
the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for
all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O
LORD, and you are exalted as head above all” (1 Chron. 29:11).
Praising God for His blessings
Ephesians 1:3 NIV Praise be to
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly
realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Giving Him all glory
Romans 11:33-36 NIV Oh, the
depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his
judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should
repay them?” For from him and through
him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Affirming the Trinity
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Is it right or
wrong to append these words to the Lord’s Prayer? It would certainly be wrong
to ignore the textual evidence and assert that these words are scriptural and
part of Matthew’s Gospel. We should never say something is part of Scripture
that the author never intended. At the same time, it is not wrong to recite the
Lord's Prayer with the concluding doxology or to benefit from this tradition—so
long as we understand the words are not themselves Scripture. The reasons for
this are numerous.
Additionally, the psalms provide example after example of prayers beginning in supplicationand ending in doxology. And this tradition of concluding prayers with doxologies continued into the early church. One of the earliest Christian documents outside the New Testament,
Additionally, the psalms provide example after example of prayers beginning in supplicationand ending in doxology. And this tradition of concluding prayers with doxologies continued into the early church. One of the earliest Christian documents outside the New Testament,
The Didache
(Teaching)—a treatise dating from the first century—has a version of the Lord’s
Prayer that includes this very doxology.
The Didache is also
called the "Teaching of the Twelve Apostles." It was possibly written around 65 - 80 A.D.
and is supposed to be what the twelve apostles taught to the Gentiles
concerning life and death, church order, fasting, baptism, prayer, etc. There is debate as to its authenticity.
Simply put,
doxologies are a regular part of the worship of the people of God and have a
unique role in developing their piety. As J. I. Packer Noted,
Doxologies (that is, acts of praise to God for his glory) pop up all through the Bible. . . .Personal devotion praise and prayer grow out of, lead into, and stir up each other. Need felt and need met are their respective mainsprings, and praise for what God is and does, is the strong support of hope in what he can, and will, do. . . . So the more you pray, the more matter you will have for praise.
Doxologies (that is, acts of praise to God for his glory) pop up all through the Bible. . . .Personal devotion praise and prayer grow out of, lead into, and stir up each other. Need felt and need met are their respective mainsprings, and praise for what God is and does, is the strong support of hope in what he can, and will, do. . . . So the more you pray, the more matter you will have for praise.
Second, doxologies
are an appropriate response to the saving purposes of God and his glory. As I
hope this book has shown, the Lord’s Prayer clearly expresses the glory of God
and the gospel of grace. It reveals the coming of the kingdom of Christ, the
forgiveness provided by the King, his daily provision and care for his people,
and his deliverance of his people from the powers of this age. In light of
these truths, Christians should respond with effusive praise. Prayer that truly
reflects the heart of God is inseparable from a response of praise. Again, as
Packer explained, “Prayer and praise are like a bird’s two wings: with both
working, you soar; with one out of action, you are earthbound. But birds should not be earthbound, nor
Christians priceless.”
Third, the theology
of the traditional doxology is particularly fitting with the content of the
Lord’s Prayer. The elements of “kingdom,” “power,” and “glory” are found
throughout the Lord’s Prayer. At the prayer’s beginning, Jesus taught us to
pray that God’s kingdom come. The prayer also reveals God’s power by showing us
he is the King, the Provider, the Savior, and the Deliverer. And finally, it
shows us his glory by revealing himas the Father in heaven whose very name is
to be hallowed in all the earth. The traditional doxology reminds us at the
prayer’s end that the kingdom will indeed come, for it belongs to the God of
all glory and power. Indeed, the
doxology perfectly and succinctly sums up the character of God as revealed in
the Lord’s Prayer and does so in the posture of praise.
A FINAL ADMONITION
Every generation of
Christians must learn to make the request, like the disciples before them,
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Every generation of Christians must also remember
that Jesus’ response to that question now is the same as it was two thousand
years ago. If we would have the Lord himself teach us how to pray, then we must
turn to the Lord’s Prayer for instruction.
As this book has shown, each petition is a theology lesson in itself. None of Jesus’ words were careless, and this is particularly true of the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer turned the world upside down. This prayer is dangerous, overturning the kingdom of the principalities and powers of this world. This prayer is hopeful, expecting the kingdom of God to come in fullness with Christ on the throne. This prayer is compassionate, teaching us to call God our Father and depend on him for our every meal. This prayer is reverent, showing that nothing is more sacred than the name of God. This prayer is good news, reminding each of us that God forgives sin and delivers us from the powers of darkness.
In an age of superstition and superficiality, the Lord’s Prayer is a beacon of true biblical piety and theologically informed worship. As Christians await the arrival of God’s kingdom in its fullness, let us continually return to these words, asking with humble hearts, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Finally, I want to return to Martin Luther’s advice to his barber.
As this book has shown, each petition is a theology lesson in itself. None of Jesus’ words were careless, and this is particularly true of the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer turned the world upside down. This prayer is dangerous, overturning the kingdom of the principalities and powers of this world. This prayer is hopeful, expecting the kingdom of God to come in fullness with Christ on the throne. This prayer is compassionate, teaching us to call God our Father and depend on him for our every meal. This prayer is reverent, showing that nothing is more sacred than the name of God. This prayer is good news, reminding each of us that God forgives sin and delivers us from the powers of darkness.
In an age of superstition and superficiality, the Lord’s Prayer is a beacon of true biblical piety and theologically informed worship. As Christians await the arrival of God’s kingdom in its fullness, let us continually return to these words, asking with humble hearts, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Finally, I want to return to Martin Luther’s advice to his barber.
“So, as a diligent
and good barber, you must keep your thoughts, senses, and eyes precisely on the
hair and scissors or razor and not forget where you trimmed or shaved,
for, if you want to talk a lot or become
distracted thinking about something else, you might well cut someone’s nose or
mouth or even his throat.”
Going all the way
back to the Old Testament, God’s people have ended their prayers with “Amen.”
Why?
The word signals
agreement and affirmation, but it actually means much more. As Luther Said to
Master Peter the Barber:
Notice, at last, that you have made the “Amen” strong every time and not doubt. God Is surely listening to you with every grace and is saying yes to your prayer. Do not think to yourself that you are kneeling or standing , for all Christendom, all upright Christians, are with you and you among them in a unanimous, harmonious prayer, which God cannot disdain. And do not leave the prayer unless you have thought, “All right, God has heard my prayer, and I truly knowthis for certain, for that is what Amen means.”
We never pray this prayer alone, but with all Christendom, and we never have to wonder if this prayer is pleasing to God. Christ gave it to us! And yes, we know that God has heard our prayer when we pray like this.
Notice, at last, that you have made the “Amen” strong every time and not doubt. God Is surely listening to you with every grace and is saying yes to your prayer. Do not think to yourself that you are kneeling or standing , for all Christendom, all upright Christians, are with you and you among them in a unanimous, harmonious prayer, which God cannot disdain. And do not leave the prayer unless you have thought, “All right, God has heard my prayer, and I truly knowthis for certain, for that is what Amen means.”
We never pray this prayer alone, but with all Christendom, and we never have to wonder if this prayer is pleasing to God. Christ gave it to us! And yes, we know that God has heard our prayer when we pray like this.
That is really what
Amen means. And there is no more perfect way to end our study of the Lord’s
Prayer, the prayer that turns the world upside down, than with Amen.
Bible Study Audio
Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, is the president and CEO of AnGeL Ministries (www.annegrahamlotz.com), a nonprofit organization that undergirds her efforts to draw people into a life-changing relationship with God through His Word.
Many people today find that their prayers don’t “work.” And like a broken cell phone, DVD player, or TV remote, they throw prayer out as unnecessary “clutter” in their busy lives. Anne Graham Lotz has found that while prayer does work, sometimes the “pray-ers” don’t. So she has turned to the prophet Daniel for help.
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