Entrusted with the Gospel

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“Hallowed be Thy name.” 

Here is the greatest prayer we can ever pray. I thought this morning, as I lifted it up: “It is THE prayer of my life.” Make it yours too.

There are two main thoughts in this compelling, opening line. First, it is a request that God’s name would be hallowed, and honored…so, we pray that people would do just that. They don’t really. At least they don’t…enough. And so, we pray they would. I take this time to pray that God’s name would be honored and praised. 

Along these lines, I pray that I would personally honor his name on this day, that my words and deeds today would honor his name, that he would use me to that end, and I also pray that others would honor his name. So, this phrase becomes a prayer request.

Secondly, it is a statement of fact. We are stating a truth: “Your name is honorable.” This means that beyond a prayer request, the phrase becomes a moment of praise. When I am alone, sometimes I sing. But mostly, I just tell God how glorious he is. I praise him. I declare to my heavenly Father, “Your name is honorable and hallowed.”

As you come to this “hallowed” intro to Jesus’ prayer, consider, if the Lord will take your one and only life, and use it to answer just this simple prayer, all will be well.

“Thy kingdom come.”

God’s kingdom refers to wherever he is worshiped and honored and obeyed. So, this is a prayer that there would be more of such places…in other words, that his kingdom would spread. I also make this personal for myself, and those for whom I am praying. I pray, “Oh, God, that you would use me (and my family, and our elders, and our staff, and our church…) to extend/advance your kingdom.”

Here is where we all pray that our evangelistic efforts will bear fruit, that the gospel would go out “not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV)

Ask the Lord to cause His kingdom to be extended deeper into your workplace, into your neighborhood, and your city…and our nation. In this, it’s an excellent moment to pray the prayer of the Sons of Korah, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6 ESV)

“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

It’s fair to think of heaven as a paradise…because Jesus does (Luke 23:43). But why is it such? Certainly because of the presence of the Lord to bless every inch of the place, but also because everyone there is perfect in obedience, and obedience makes us happy. It’s a paradise because there we are perfectly happy. And in a way, this is what we are praying for in the next request, “Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.”

“Father, help me to obey…and help others.” That’s the summary. It’s a prayer which of course will glorify God, but the Messianic Psalm 45 also tells us that obedience leads to joy. Because Jesus is the most obedient person in the universe, he is also the happiest: 

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.

Psalm 45:7 (ESV)

More than all his companions, the Messiah has been anointed with the oil of gladness because he loves righteousness and hates wickedness.

As we ask for help to obey, simultaneously, we are asking for joy. We want obedience to catch on like a virus…so more and more people will be drawn to do the will of the Father, just like every happy person in heaven does.

Continued next week…