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Nathan Pearl: Further, he says, "But pray not with vain repetition or do as the heathen do," and he says, "After this manner pray. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy 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 lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen." Now, understanding Biblical divisions, we'll understand that this is prior to the kingdom of God. This is when Christ is offering the kingdom of heaven. But he says, "Pray like this," and then you can look at it and say, "Our Father, which art in heaven," that's a position.
So when I pray, I'll start with “Heavenly Father.” I want to remind God that I'm coming to him as his son. I'm coming to him boldly as his son. Because Christ said, "Our Father, which art in heaven," I'm going to the same thing.
“Heavenly Father, hallowed be thy name.” There's praise. When you pray, how often, when you start a prayer, do you say, “Heavenly Father, you're magnificent. Your name is above all names. You are righteous and holy, full of just judgment and truth.” You praise God. You just declare his attributes. That's what Christ did, and that's what we ought to do.
Now, I could write a book on it, but I don't need to. Christ already did that.
He says, "Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven." So we're going to pray now that the will of God will take place and we'll see later that the things that he’s praying for is for the church, for intercessing for the saints and for the lost people.
And then, at the end, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God, bless me. God, bless the work of my hands. God, give me food to eat.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us.” Once again we’re going to pray, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory.” In prayer you should spend some time magnifying God, declaring God’s holiness, declaring the worthiness of God. And it’s not my words. It’s not my study. It’s the Word of God. It’s incredibly simple.
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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 4
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I am embarrassed to ask this question ... the answer is probably so obvious to most people.
What does it mean, "Lead us not into temptation" ?
Why would God LEAD us INTO temptation ?
From a very young age until now (50+), I have never understood that part of The Lord's Prayer. I have sought an answer from scores of priests, bishops, pastors, preachers, evangelists, parochial teachers, etc., etc., etc......... Without exception !!! ..... NONE have been able to answer me.
My children have asked this same question ..... I have had no answer for them.
I was raised in an Italian Catholic family and The Lord's Prayer is recited MANY times as you "pray the rosary" (which we did as a family EVERY NIGHT before bed !!). I STAYED in trouble for asking so many questions ..... Why is the pope infallible ? Why must I confess my sins to a MAN instead of straight to Jesus ? Why must we eat fish on Friday ? Why do we baptize an INFANT ? My questions were endless !!!
I am the ONLY one in my LARGE (and extended) family that left the Catholic Church as SOON as I left home.
Finding No Greater Joy has helped me SO MUCH to begin understanding God's Word ... I am making my way through the commentary on the Book of Romans. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE what I am understanding !!! Although sometimes I must read, and re-read, and read again the same paragraph, I am beginning to understand after all these years !!!!
Thank you for taking time to answer my question !!
God Bless Everyone At No Greater Joy
I forgot to check the follow up comments box !!
Thanks again !
Well said and bless you for the reminder that there is a certain posture in our hearts that is so important when we pray!
Amen!
To Karen: From a purely historical standpoint, the nation of Israel was headed for the tribulation at this time when the prayer was being taught. The mystery of the grace of God, the body of Christ, and all of Paul's writings were in the future. (Revealed after the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah and his literal, earthly kingdom) The Jews would literally have to be praying to receive their daily bread, for protection for the anti-Christ, for God's earthly kingdom to be established, etc., while we as Christians can draw some application from this prayer, in the literal, historical context they were to beg God not to lead them into temptation since "he that endureth to the end shall be saved" in the tribulation period. "God, provide me with bread today so I'm not tempted to take the mark of the beast" could be a common prayer in the tribulation. Another thing to consider, Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. So God did lead him into temptation. Not that God tempted him with evil, but led him to a position where the devil could use his natural desires (like hunger after 40 days) to tempt him to go against what God had told him to do.