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[0:00] This is the First Mustang Pulpit Podcast, a podcast of the weekly preaching and teaching at First Mustang.! Thank you for joining us.! Just by way of reminder and review, and for those who maybe have not been with us in earlier weeks, when we're looking at the Lord's Prayer, this model prayer, you can really break it down in the two halves.

[0:44] The first part is Jesus teaching us to pray seeking the glory of God, and the second half is teaching us to pray seeking the help of God.

[0:55] We pray seeking the glory of God, and we pray seeking the help of God. And underneath each of those two broad headings, we find three requests on each one.

[1:07] Seeking the glory of God first, seeking the glory of His name, of His kingdom, and as we'll look at tonight, His will. With seeking the help of God, we seek His help for our daily bread, for forgiveness, and for deliverance from evil.

[1:27] So as we've done each week, let's return here to Matthew 6. Verse 9 says, Pray then like this, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

[1:41] 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 also have forgiven our debtors.

[1:53] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. And again, the Lord is teaching us here not so much what to pray as much as how to pray.

[2:07] In other words, while it's good and appropriate to memorize these words and to recite these words, this is not simply a prayer that tells us to repeat these words only.

[2:19] It's teaching us how to pray. It's teaching us the doctrine of prayer. It's teaching us who God is. It's teaching us about our need and our dependence upon Him.

[2:32] And as we've looked at, for those who may be with us for the first time, one of the things that stands out when you look at the words of this prayer is you do not find the first person singular pronouns of me, my, mine, or I.

[2:48] It's not that it's wrong to pray for personal things, and the Bible gives us examples of that. But when Jesus teaches His people how to pray, He purposefully does so, reminding us that we are to pray with each other and pray for each other.

[3:06] That we are not simply saved and left by ourself, but we are saved and in so doing brought into a family.

[3:17] That's the way He begins the prayer. Our Father. Our. It's a part of a family. Father. Our family has a Father. He is in heaven. Our Father is the God of all heaven.

[3:30] And the first request is, Hallowed be your name. This isn't just a statement of praise. This is a request. God, make your name holy through us.

[3:42] And again, what you see all throughout this brief prayer are the plural pronouns. Our Father. Give us this day our daily bread.

[3:54] Forgive us our debts. And so when we pray, we are to pray with each other. We are to pray for each other. And so when we say, Hallowed be your name, in context, we're saying, God, make your name holy among us.

[4:12] Plural. In our family, may your name be holy. In our church, may we always remember to give praise to your name.

[4:23] With our other brothers and sisters in Christ, other churches, we want to pray for them. One of the things that I love to do, one of my great joys on the Lord's Day, every Sunday, I get to my office early.

[4:37] I get a little card. I keep in my office of men that I pray for, pastors, friends of mine across the nation and some in other nations. I pray for every Sunday.

[4:49] And I shoot those guys a text until I'm praying for their church. Maybe, I don't know, 75, 80 guys I pray for every single Sunday. I text just almost every single Sunday, those 75, 80 men, until I'm praying for them, lifting their church up.

[5:03] And the reason why is because this is exactly how the Lord has taught us to pray. And this is helpful because if I'm not reminded of the Lord's Prayer and the importance of praying for others that are in the family, if I'm not aware of that, I can quickly lose sight and become very just tunnel vision on just me or just on our church.

[5:25] And as much as I love our church, as much as I'm giving my life to ministry in this church, we've got to remind ourselves that God's kingdom is not as small as this church address.

[5:38] We're a part of the kingdom. Praise God. This is the part of the kingdom where I'm the most thankful to be a part of it because this is where the Lord has allowed me to be a member of for all these years.

[5:51] But it's good from my heart to remember that God is at work all around us, not just here. And if there are other churches who are struggling, we want to pray for them.

[6:01] We want to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We're a part of a family. And we want to pray that God's name would be glorified among all of us, not just here, but all around the world wherever the body of Christ gathers together.

[6:21] Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. That's the first request, that the name would be glorified. Second request that we looked at last week, that His kingdom would come.

[6:34] The Lord's kingdom today is a spiritual one. One day it will be a physical one upon the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. But the kingdom of God today is exemplified in the hearts and lives of those who belong to Him.

[6:48] We're praying for His kingdom to come. That means we're praying both for spiritual conversion to take place, for people to be brought to spiritual life. We're also praying for the return of Christ.

[7:02] That's the second request. And now the third request, your will be done. And He gives us this added explanation, on earth as it is in heaven.

[7:13] So let's just look at a few things with this third request, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. First, we have to ask ourselves, what is the will of God?

[7:27] Your will be done, that's how we're to pray. We're praying for God's will. What is the will of God? Well, in theology, we can speak of God's will in a couple of different ways.

[7:39] One is what we would call His providential will. Or you can also call it His will of decree. This is God's sovereign, providential will.

[7:51] These are things that God has willed to take place. And these are going to happen no matter what, apart from our obedience or disobedience. An example would be God's creation.

[8:02] Genesis 1, God created the heavens and the earth. Ephesians 1, 11 and 12, In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

[8:20] That is God's providential will. That's His will of decree. These are things that God has willed to take place, and He does all things after the counsel of His own will.

[8:34] Isaiah 46, For I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.

[8:54] That's one way we speak of the Lord's will, His sovereign will, His will of decree. Psalm 115, verse 3, says, The Lord is in the heavens.

[9:06] He does all that He pleases. God's sovereign will, will be accomplished. So when we speak of the will of God, sometimes that's what we're talking about.

[9:21] God's providential will, His will of decree. Things that are going to take place, simply because He's decreed it to be so. That's not what Jesus is teaching us about here in the model prayer.

[9:35] Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We're talking about a second category of God's will that's known as His preceptive will.

[9:46] Think of the word precepts, or His will of instruction. This speaks of God's commands. These are things God has given His people to do, that at times we obey them, and other times, sadly, we can ignore them.

[10:03] These are things that we can know if we study God's word, but if we do not study God's word, we won't know them of what He wants us to do. So, God's will of decree says He's creating the heavens and the earth.

[10:24] But God's preceptive will says that we are to not let the sun go down in our anger, to be forgiving, to be patient. You can obey that, or you can disobey that.

[10:39] There are things in the Bible, sometimes people say, I just don't know what God wants me to do, but it's just because we haven't read the Bible, because there are many things the Bible tells us exactly and precisely what He wants from us.

[10:49] But if we have not read, we will not know. That's what the Lord is talking about when He says, Your will be done. Done. Let's give you a couple of examples you can write down.

[11:01] 1 Thessalonians 4, 3-7. Listen carefully to this. For this is the will of God. So, we're talking about His preceptive will. Okay? This is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God, that no one transgressed and wronged his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you, for God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

[11:46] So, God has revealed His will to us in Scripture that we are to flee sexual immorality. Now, some obey that and some disobey that.

[12:04] But if you have a Bible and open it and read it, you will not be left to wonder, is God silent in terms of sexual morality? He's not silent.

[12:15] He has spoken. And His precepts are clear. We are to flee sexual immorality. We are to live with our bodies in holiness.

[12:29] Here's another example. Micah 6.8. God has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? And He gives you three things.

[12:41] Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. What is God's preceptive will in Micah 6.8?

[12:56] What does He reveal to us? What are His instructions that He wants us to obey? Do good, be kind, walk humbly with God?

[13:09] I suppose if I were to look back over the number of years that I've been able to serve in the local church, if I were to say, what's the most often asked question I've ever been asked, probably the question I get more than any other, at least top two, would be somebody saying, how can I know God's will for my life?

[13:26] And it usually goes like this, Michael, I just don't know what God's will for my life is. And I say, I've got good news, I do. And they say, really?

[13:38] Well, should I take this job or that job? Should I go to this college or that college? Should I marry this girl or that girl? And I say, you don't have two different girls willing to marry you, don't worry about it, that ain't gonna happen.

[13:52] No, but here's what I can tell you God's will for your life is. Micah 6, 8, He has told you what's required of you. Here's God's will for your life. Do good, obey, be kind, treat people right, and walk humbly with God.

[14:15] Honor the Lord, pursue the Lord, live a life of humility as you walk with God. And people say, yeah, yeah, that's good, that's good. I need to find out which job to take.

[14:28] And that's fine, but the job you take doesn't change God's will for your life. Whatever your job is, that's what He requires of you. Whatever your career, whatever house you buy, whatever car you buy, whatever college you go to, whoever you marry, all of those things, in all of those situations, what is required of you is to be kind, do right, and walk humbly with God.

[14:56] This is God's preceptive will. These are things God has revealed to us in Scripture that we can know them if we read His Word, and we can obey them if we would submit to His Word.

[15:12] Write down Romans 12, 1 and 2. I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

[15:26] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

[15:45] How do you know God's will for your life? By having your mind transformed by knowing the Word of God. So it matters what college you go to, and it matters what your major is, and it matters where you choose to live, but whatever decision you make and all of those things, you still have the option, whether or not you're going to obey the will of God.

[16:13] And He's revealed His will to us, and everything you are accountable to know and to do is found in the pages of Scripture. God reveals His will to us in the Bible.

[16:29] So we speak of His will of decree. Those are things God has chosen to do. That's not what Jesus is speaking of here. He's speaking of the second category, His preceptive will, His revealed will, His commands, His words of instruction, and Jesus says, pray that His will, the things He's told us to do, would be done on earth as it is in heaven.

[16:59] And this is important because He's just told us to pray for His name to be honored among us and to pray for His kingdom to come.

[17:12] And now we are praying that we would be obedient to the words of Scripture He has revealed to us. So we're to pray in such a way, God, would you so change my heart that it is my desire to obey your revealed will.

[17:33] and how do I know your revealed will? By being in the word. So you don't separate prayer from Bible reading. They must fit together.

[17:45] It's the very lesson Jesus teaches us. We're to pray, but we pray in accordance with His will. How do you know His will? By knowing His word. So the word and prayer fit perfectly together.

[18:02] Now let me also make mention of this. These first three requests, His name, His kingdom, and His will are uniquely Christian prayers.

[18:19] Now I know I'm talking to dear friends tonight and I'm talking to people here on a Sunday evening service. I get it. You're committed. You're the core. I get that.

[18:30] But as your friend, let me just push on you just a little bit to challenge you here. Everybody wants to feel better when they're sick.

[18:46] Everybody wants a job when they graduate. Everybody wants their children to make friends at a new school.

[19:01] Let me be clear. I am in no way saying you shouldn't pray about those things. Of course we should. But if you take someone who doesn't know the Bible, who's not truly converted, and put them under enough stress, they may pray a little bit.

[19:20] How do I know that? Watch college football this fall. Watch a last second field goal. I'm serious. What does everybody do? Everybody's praying. The same guys who were cussing and yelling and screaming are on their knees praying.

[19:38] The people in the stands up in a church in six months are surrendering to go to Africa on missions if the field goal will just go through the uprights. Just watch them. Everybody turns into a prayer warrior in the last second free throw, the last second field goal.

[19:55] Make sure that the prayers you pray are uniquely Christian prayers. Otherwise, what we ask for would be no different than a pagan.

[20:13] prayer. If you want powerful prayer in your life, pray Christian prayers. Pray to the Father who is in heaven that His name would be magnified among you.

[20:34] Pray for His kingdom, not yours. Pray for the spiritually dead to be brought to life, that His kingdom would be made manifest in the salvation of other people.

[20:47] Pray for His kingdom to come, that Christ would return, that we would be ready for His return, that we would be longing for His return, and then pray, God, I want to do your will, and to do your will demands I'm in your word.

[21:03] I cannot know your will if I am not in your word. So this is a prayer to say, God, make me crave your word. Give me discipline to read your word. Help me be willing to shut off the television, and the phone, and the computer, and whatever distractions may get in the way, so I'm devoted to the word.

[21:23] God, give me a hunger to know your word, so that I can know you, so that I can know your will, so that your will will be done on earth, just as it is in heaven.

[21:35] That is a uniquely Christian prayer. For sure, pray for those who are sick. That's biblical. For sure, pray for your family.

[21:49] That's biblical. But make sure, as a Christian, that the prayers you're praying, an unbeliever couldn't pray.

[22:05] Because God's, when you say, our Father, you are claiming a privilege only known by those who belong to Jesus.

[22:21] Your will be done. Here's a second question. How is God's will done in heaven? Because that's the second part of this request.

[22:34] Christ, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, I want to do your will today the same way the angels do your will in heaven.

[22:47] So, as a seventh grader in middle school, God, I want to do your will as a middle schooler the same way the angels in heaven do your will.

[22:57] God, I'm a stay-at-home mom, and as I stay home and take care of my family and take care of the home and take care of my children, I want to do your will as a stay-at-home mom the same way the angels in heaven do your will.

[23:14] I'm a business owner and I've got people who depend on me and I've got a business that I've got to lead and organize, but God, help me as a business owner to do your will right here as a business owner and obey you the same way the angels in heaven obey you so that your will, your preceptive, revealed will is done among us on earth as it is in like manner.

[23:44] Let our obedience look like the obedience of the angels in heaven. How do the angels in heaven obey?

[23:56] Let me just very quickly give you four words to make note of here of how God's will is done in heaven. Number one, God's will is done immediately. There's not debate, there's no pondering, they are commanded and they respond.

[24:16] God, help me to do your will and to obey immediately. Second, write down the word completely.

[24:28] Not only do the angels of heaven obey immediately, they obey completely. They complete the task the Lord has given them to do. Psalm 103, 20, bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word.

[24:50] God, help me, help us, help my family, help our church, help all of our churches, help us to do your will and to know your will.

[25:01] We have to know your word and so help us to study your word and obey your word and obey it immediately and obey it completely. Third, in heaven they obey God joyfully.

[25:19] It's their desire to bring glory to God and so when they obey God, it is a joy for them to do so. This is praying that we would obey God's will immediately and completely and joyfully.

[25:39] So understand that as Jesus is teaching us how to pray, He's giving us all kinds of doctrinal truth here and all kinds of practical application.

[25:51] salvation. You will not obey God joyfully unless you delight in His name. Which is why He begins with the first request, Hallowed, holy be your name.

[26:08] God, more than anything else, help us to live in a way that your name is magnified. magnified. Now, when I obey you, your name is magnified.

[26:22] Therefore, when I obey you, my joy is made complete. That's how He's teaching us to pray. This is very, very different than simply praying for a parking place close to the mall because you don't want to walk.

[26:45] I'm not suggesting that's wrong to pray for. But if you ask any pagan, had you rather walk or park close, they'll pick to park close.

[27:01] I'm not saying it's wrong to pray for basic things. I'm just saying that what makes this uniquely Christian prayer is saying my greatest delight is to bring glory to God.

[27:18] Now, when God answers, I don't want to call them small prayers, but when God answers, you may pray for things that seem kind of strange or kind of small or kind of trivial.

[27:34] When He answers them, here's the difference between the Christian and the pagan. The Christian recognizes the goodness of God and still gives praise to the Lord. Which means, in the small things, if I can use that term, in the small things we pray for, make sure that you give thanks to God.

[27:58] Because even a pagan would go through some religious mumbling if he thought it was going to make life more convenient. What he would not do is give praise to the Father who is in heaven.

[28:14] So, with every good and perfect gift you receive, return thanks to the Lord. We obey immediately, we obey completely, we obey joyfully, and then a fourth way to think of it is we pray to obey for His glory.

[28:35] Not our own. We're praying for His glory. Revelations 4, I said revelations, that's a big pet peeve of mine, there's only one revelation.

[28:49] Revelation 4, 8. The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes and all around and within, and day and night, they never cease to say, here's what the angels say in heaven, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.

[29:10] If you want to obey on earth as the angels obey in heaven, let your obedience be done for the sake of His name. Let your life be a living testimony of the name of Christ, not what you have done, not what you have accomplished, not what you have achieved, but the name of Christ.

[29:34] Christ. And then thirdly, just to wrap up in a way of application, how does this request cause me to live? If I pray your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, how will it cause me to live?

[29:49] Number one, I must study to know God's word. I must study to know God's word. I can't pray for God's will to be done if I don't know His will, and I can't know His will if I don't study His word.

[30:03] This prayer is a prayer that says, God, I want to study Your word. Number two, once you study it, I must seek to obey His word.

[30:18] Your will be done. I've got to know your will, but I've also got to obey it. It's not just your will be known. Your will be done.

[30:29] Now, you can't do what you don't know, so we have to first know His will, but the request is, Your will be done. If it were just about Bible study, if that's all this was about, the prayer would be, Your will be known.

[30:48] But it's also about obedience. So it's Your will be done. And thirdly, this request causes me to live this way, that I strive to live in a way that brings God glory.

[31:04] glory. I strive to live in a way that brings God glory. Augustine said, God, command what You will and then grant what You command.

[31:20] And Jesus said, pray like this. Your will be done. Whatever it may be, help me to do Your will.

[31:31] and help me to do it here on earth as it's done in heaven. Immediately, completely, joyfully, and for Your glory.

[31:56] So far, we've got about 20 words, maybe. that You've given us in the model prayer. And it would take hours upon hours for us to get to the depth of the riches of what You've taught us.

[32:13] Because it's not just teaching us what to pray, as much as teaching us how to pray. Pray remembering that You're a part of a family, our Father.

[32:31] pray remembering that the God that You pray to is the God who is in control of all things and the sovereign ruler that we've sung about tonight. And the first request, hallowed be Your name.

[32:47] May Your name be glorified, set apart as holy in my life. Second request, I want Your kingdom to come. I want to pray for kingdom things.

[32:59] I want to pray for conversion of souls. I want to pray for obedience unto Your will. I want to pray for the return of Christ. I want to live in expectation of meeting the Lord face to face.

[33:12] Third request, Your will be done. I must know Your word and I must obey Your word. And I want to obey it the same way the angels obey it in heaven.

[33:26] Immediately, completely, joyfully, and for the glory of God. What would happen in your life if you prayed like that?

[33:47] These are distinct, unique, Christian prayers that are the very kinds of prayers Christ Himself said pray like this.

[34:06] So that as we obey Him, His name is glorified, our hearts are satisfied, and the world around us can see we're living for His kingdom, not our own.

[34:26] So Jesus in verse 9 says, pray then like this. May our prayers even this week be energized, rejuvenated, God, to pray that His will would be done in our lives on earth as it is in heaven.

[34:49]  God, be for to havemumbles and to and and