My wife asked me a good question last night, “Why aren’t you talking about “For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever.”

Simple Answer: It isn’t in the original text.

Why did so many of us (including me) learn it?  Well, it is still a Biblical Prayer, so its not bad or anything.  And, the King James had it in there.  Archaeology continues to reveal older and older texts, and it just isn’t in the old manuscripts.  Here is how the ESV Study Bible explains it.

In almost every one of the books I have read the author includes a chapter on “For Thine…”, although they usually add that it isn’t in the early text (meaning: we don’t know if Jesus said it).  Then they write on it anyway  🙂

NT Wright, one of the best living Theologian and certainly the best Biblical Historian writes that Jesus, as a young Jewish Man, would certainly have ended his prayer with “For Thine…”  When I pray the words of the Lord’s Prayer I pray those words, but when I use it the way Jesus said to “Pray this way“, I do not use that phrase.

So, I am not preaching on it for all of those reasons.  And, I have to cut enough stuff out without adding to the text itself!

This Sunday we will look at “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”.

I am used to the idea of a real devil, real evil, and temptation.  I grew up in Oklahoma, my sisters once claimed Satan was in the back yard hiding behind a tree.   I didn’t believe them, but I also didn’t believe that this was an impossibility.  Just highly unlikely.  The devil, if he exists, can only be in one place at any one time.  🙂

To pray this way reminds us of the Good News – that Jesus came and defeated death and evil.  But, it also reminds us that we live in a time where we still need additional help and protection because the presence of evil still lurks.

Typically I defend the reality of evil with reference to most stories we enjoy, write, watch, read: we expect a villain.  The hero is tempted to team up with the villain (for various reasons).  The villain appears destined to win, but loses (in most movies not called Cabin in the Wood or Empire Strikes Back).

Another way: Jesus believed in a real devil, spoke to Him, was tempted by Him.

Another way: most of the things we think of as evil are really fine in and of themselves, but were corrupted.

At the same time, I don’t have to spend too much time defending the reality of evil because that isn’t what Jesus did here.  And because most people don’t need much convincing because they know themselves and are regularly hurt by others.  Jesus taught (and at other times, modeling) prayer that begs for protection from evil.  For help seeing that sin is worse than suffering.  For strength regarding both.

Thoughts?  Discuss…

This Sunday we will explore Jesus’ command to pray against temptation and evil – for help with both.

There is a lot to say about every phrase in the “Lord’s Prayer”.  I am confident that that is why Jesus gave it, repeated it, and prayed this way Himself.  It is rich and full of the Heart of a Relentlessly pursuing God.

On a basic level temptation is what we do not see coming and evil is what we see.  We need help with both.

Tim Keller makes an interesting point that sin hurts us more than suffering does.  I simply can’t use a lot of Tim’s stuff because I’m not him, and just learn from his own style and reasoning.  But, on this one he is making a solid point.  Sin is worse than sickness (as an example of his point) in truth.  This is why, when we suffer, we often ask God to help us stay faithful.

Jesus rebuked both when he saw them – he rebuked sinful behavior, sickness, he prayed against temptation for his friends.

Thoughts?  Discuss…

Throughout this series I introduce a “Prayer Defeater” each sermon.  That might be the wrong term.  Which is why I am blogging about it; you are welcome, yea encouraged, to help me 🙂

Tim Keller likes the term “Defeater” as an idea that blocks truth; it must be navigated before we can even talk about Jesus and the Gospel.  John Eldredge writes of “Agreements” we make without realizing it (Like, “I’m never trusting women again”), and how destructive they can be; spiritual ones being the worst.  My boss, Dr. Eswine, refers to ‘core lies’ we believe.  They sneak in, often without us realizing it, and disrupt our ability to think about and engage people or the Lord.

Week 1 Prayer Defeater: I can just pray anywhere.  Of course you can pray anywhere, but if that is it, “if you just pray anywhere” you will miss out.  When Jesus taught on prayer he said go into your room, close the door, etc.

Week 2: Prayer is just talking to God.  Reasoning: If Jesus had wanted to say that I think he would have.  Prayer is certainly talking to God, but it is not just talking to God.  Often pastors or teachers say that to push on some of our religiousness.  Fine.  But, it isn’t true in a vacuum.  There is a good order to our needs, Proclaiming God’s Glory, asking for provision and protection.

Week 3: If God knows everything then prayer is pointless.  Or, if God knows everything why would I pray.  This one is a bit different, because it isn’t a core lie.  It can lead to a bad agreement, “Since God knows everything I will just pray a couple of times a week because God said to”.  But, it does have a couple of core lies behind it: prayer is just about changing me (Prayer Defeater #4), I don’t have free will, I can’t understand the things of God because my head explodes when I start thinking about him knowing everything and me having free will.  Jesus actually owns this one as he jumps into the teaching on prayer, “your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8”.

Prayer Defeater #5: Prayer doesn’t work.

Is Defeater the right word?

I read a lot for this series on the Lord’s Prayer.  Mainly because I like to read, but also because it jump-starts my brain to ‘what do I think about this relative to preaching’.

My favorite book is this one, NT Wright is always good, and this one is probably the most helpful and accessible.  This was my least favorite, but it is good.  There are some premise disagreements I have, but they are low level.  I got excited when I read it because all of the other ones are so good I was overwhelmed.  This one was easy to pick and enjoy pieces from while having most of my structure intact for the sermon series.

I like to listen to other folks too.  Keller has a 6 part series I listened to.  It was good, but I am not Tim Keller so it was mainly a blessing to me and I haven’t taken a lot from it directly.  Andy Stanley has a 3 part series on is (Permission to Speak Freely).  I’m not Andy Stanley  either, but his series is amazing.  I listened to each one 3 times.  He nails what it is about people that distracts and keeps us from hearing and doing Jesus’ simple teaching.  Probably 15% of my thinking about this series comes from his series.  Which is a lot when you think about the other books, the other series, Seminary, and the fact that at 19 Brennan Manning told me to pray the Lord’s Prayer 3 Times/Day and I have been doing that (more or less) ever since.

I also listened to Driscoll’s series.  He recommended Ryken.  That was helpful.  🙂

If I had 2 more months I would read this, and hopefully this.

I read Teresa of Avila’s “the Way of Perfection” (re-read actually); it was wonderful but I didn’t like it from a teaching standpoint (Maybe because the purpose of her book is to teach nuns, and to my knowledge there are no nuns at Riverside).  Her “Interior Castle” book would be awesome.  Although if I dipped into the mystics stuff on the Lord’s Prayer I might drown.

At 35 years old that is how I prepare for a series.

Its only my second one (not counting conferences).

Thoughts?

Discuss.

Want to read one and talk about it?

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that John Eldredge has also helped me look directly at Jesus and the ways he prayed.  The prayers he has on his website are very helpful.  I have used them directly, and in the car.  Which is slightly ironic.  🙂

Jesus said not to heap up empty phrases.  At first I thought (because of my own mentoring and how I am wired) that this means don’t repeat yourself to God.  But, that isn’t what Jesus said.  He said don’t heap up empty phrases.  So, we can repeat words and use words given to us…  if we mean them.

If we remember that the Lord is gracious and generous then it is easy to remember that this means the Lord’s prayer is a template.  But, we can use it word for word; either way the key is that the words matter as we pray them.  They make sense to out hearts, even as we do not know their full power in light of God and His Mission.

Use the Lord’s Prayer as a template, be freed in it.  Use it word for word and remember that Jesus is generous and gracious that way.  Either way.

In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus assumes we pray.

Simone Weil’s statement that beauty and affliction pierce our hearts (and tempt us to some kind of prayer).  When we are confronted with either or both (beauty actually being the more powerful one), something in us moves to God.  The writer of Ecclesiastes called it having “Eternity written on our heart”.  A condescending way to say it is, “There are no atheists in foxholes”.

We are busy and tired, but our hearts and minds grow restless with the sense that there is a God, he exists, and we long for connection with him.  This is why must learn the Lord’s prayer.  This is why we must learn how to pray from it.

Every Word in the Lord’s Prayer is full of meaning.

This one is a reminder that, in Jesus’ mind, prayer is not separate.  Our actions matter, our understanding of Jesus as the Messiah matters, our ability and willingness  (all given by the Holy Spirit) to love neighbor matter.

And prayer is a large part of that.

NT Wright says that this prayer is a distillation of Jesus’ sense of his own vocation.  Wow.  no wonder the disciples wanted to hear it all again in Luke 11.

I doubt many people are offended when they read Jesus’ instruction regarding prayer (Matthew 6, Luke 11), or when we see Him pray (John 17, Luke 22).

We make agreements about prayer to keep us praying as our frustration grows.

Prayer defeaters: things that get in the way of prayer and we don’t realize that they are there, or they aren’t so much bad as a distraction to the deep peace, intimacy, and sense of mission we receive from prayer Jesus’ way.

“Can’t I just pray anywhere?”  Jesus says no.

“Isn’t prayer just talking to God?”  Jesus says no.

“If God knows everything why would I pray?”  Jesus expresses confusion at the wording of this question. 🙂

“Isn’t prayer just about changing me?”  Jesus says no.

“If Prayer doesn’t work.”  Jesus, “You might be doing it wrong.  And, you should definitely be persistent.”  

Jesus rebuked sickness, and I wish I could.

Today I went to visit an old friend who is sick and to pray with his family.

The view from the waiting room was the same one I had following my second surgery at this hospital 3 years ago.

I was unprepared.

I remember seeing my mom take my two girls to this playground.  Same view of the playground today.

The consolation and hope, in Jesus, are the same for my friend and for my own anxious heart.  It is that Jesus has begun his redemption of all things, it is that in Him there is no eternal death but eternal life.  On a human level Jesus hated sickness – this encourages me.  He promises to heal.  His eternal healing matters to my head, but the human fact that sickness bothered Jesus really helps me in this moment.

I preached a few weeks ago on the role of the church, the role of Jesus, in providing mercy to the sick.  I was more firm in my application that usual.  Do less (those who you love know they can ask you anything, so you don’t have to offer), absorb more (sit, don’t talk too much, don’t offer platitudes, don’t say it isn’t a big deal because it is, even in light of Heaven and the NEw Heavens and the New Earth, sickness is still ugly and evil), pray always (internally, out loud, in your prayer closet, in your spiritual community, with elders), and remember our sickness that Christ healed (which reminds us that He will Renew the Creation and Resurrect His People.).

It is hard to do those things.

It was hard to not offer to do stuff.

It was hard to pray.

It was hard that they ‘liked’ my prayer because I would much rather pray something annoying or boring and see God work.  I know His Work is not separate, but still.

It is hard to sit there.  I know its good, I just preached on it!  But, it is still hard.