God’s Name, Part 1

Matthew 6:5-15
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In this broadcast, Pastor Colin introduces us to a new series, “Six Things to Ask of God,” focusing on the transformative power of prayer. Through an engaging exploration of the Lord’s Prayer, Colin invites us to learn how to pray as Jesus taught, making our prayer lives more meaningful and effective.

In this episode, “God’s Name,” we delve into the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be your name.” Pastor Colin discusses the heavenly versus earthly realities of God’s name being honoured and leads us to grasp the profound importance of aligning our prayers with heavenly worship.

Touching upon how to use the Lord’s Prayer as a template, following in the thoughtful steps of Martin Luther, this series presents a wonderful opportunity to deepen your understanding and practice of prayer. Whether you’re new to prayer or seeking to enrich your spiritual journey, this series is designed to assist you in growing closer to God and enriching your prayer life.

100:00:00,600 –> 00:00:11,580What we have here then is the Son of God teaching us how to pray, and who would200:00:11,580 –> 00:00:20,340not want to pull up a chair and to sit down and to hear him as he teaches us today.300:00:22,020 –> 00:00:25,580Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith,400:00:25,959 –> 00:00:28,780I’m David Pick, pleased you could be with us today500:00:28,780 –> 00:00:31,580and today we’re beginning a new series,600:00:31,580 –> 00:00:35,000Six Things to Ask of God, looking at prayer.700:00:35,340 –> 00:00:38,840Colin, I think anyone who loves God would want to do as you said,800:00:38,980 –> 00:00:43,880they would want to sit down and learn from Jesus himself what it means to pray.900:00:44,180 –> 00:00:49,180Yes, that’s exactly right, and that’s what we have the opportunity of doing as we begin1000:00:49,180 –> 00:00:52,919the study of the Lord’s Prayer. It’s so wonderfully practical.1100:00:53,099 –> 00:00:56,259I mean, aren’t you glad that the disciples asked Jesus1200:00:56,259 –> 00:01:01,139this question — teach us to pray — and that our Lord gave this marvellous answer1300:01:01,480 –> 00:01:05,820that really gives us, I think, a model of how to pray,1400:01:06,139 –> 00:01:10,779and that’s what I want us to do over these next programs beginning today1500:01:11,139 –> 00:01:15,480for us to walk through the Lord’s Prayer and very practically to say,1600:01:15,779 –> 00:01:18,779now, how does this help me to pray?1700:01:19,160 –> 00:01:24,739My experience is that most Christians want to be able to pray better.1800:01:24,739 –> 00:01:27,459We have a sense that this is something very wonderful,1900:01:27,519 –> 00:01:30,080that it is something very, very important,2000:01:30,379 –> 00:01:33,199and that we don’t do it as well as we would like to.2100:01:33,199 –> 00:01:34,860So, we want help.2200:01:35,019 –> 00:01:39,019I get asked more questions about, you know, how can I pray better2300:01:39,160 –> 00:01:43,320than I think about any other subject, and there’s a reason for that.2400:01:43,459 –> 00:01:47,900We all feel that we need help, and here we have the place in the Scripture2500:01:47,900 –> 00:01:52,580where our Lord himself says, well, let me teach you how to pray.2600:01:52,839 –> 00:01:57,559And so, I’m so grateful that we have the opportunity of opening the scriptures together today.2700:01:57,559 –> 00:01:59,000Well, let’s do that.2800:01:59,180 –> 00:02:02,559We’re looking at the Gospel of Matthew today in chapter 6,2900:02:02,800 –> 00:02:08,460beginning at verse 5 and going through to verse 15 as we begin the message, God’s name.3000:02:08,660 –> 00:02:09,919Here’s Collyn.3100:02:09,940 –> 00:02:12,279Now, in any time of crisis,3200:02:12,279 –> 00:02:17,600the first duty and the first instinct of God’s people is to pray.3300:02:18,600 –> 00:02:20,619But what are we to pray?3400:02:21,259 –> 00:02:25,839What exactly are we to ask of God?3500:02:26,699 –> 00:02:30,940Prayer, I think, is an area where all of us need to grow.3600:02:31,240 –> 00:02:36,419I think it’s an area in which all who really love the Lord Jesus Christ want to grow.3700:02:36,419 –> 00:02:39,820I’ve met over the years a few folks3800:02:39,820 –> 00:02:44,020who would style themselves as experts in evangelism,3900:02:44,220 –> 00:02:47,520experts in youth work or in men’s ministry.4000:02:47,539 –> 00:02:50,759But I have never yet met a Christian4100:02:50,759 –> 00:02:56,559who thinks of him or herself as an expert in regards to prayer.4200:02:56,559 –> 00:03:01,220All of us feel that we need to stand with the disciples4300:03:01,220 –> 00:03:06,880and to say, Lord, teach us to pray.4400:03:06,960 –> 00:03:12,720Aren’t you so glad that Jesus answered that question of the disciples4500:03:12,720 –> 00:03:16,600and that we have the answer of Jesus to that question?4600:03:16,679 –> 00:03:23,520Teach us to pray right in front of us here in the scriptures today.4700:03:23,520 –> 00:03:28,220What we have here, then, is the Son of God,4800:03:28,220 –> 00:03:31,160teaching us how to pray,4900:03:31,160 –> 00:03:36,360and who would not want to pull up a chair5000:03:36,360 –> 00:03:43,440and to sit down and to hear him as he teaches us today.5100:03:43,440 –> 00:03:45,300Now, I’ve called this series5200:03:45,300 –> 00:03:48,000Six Things to Ask of God5300:03:48,000 –> 00:03:51,979because there are six petitions in the Lord’s prayer.5400:03:51,979 –> 00:03:55,139Three of them relate to God’s glory,5500:03:55,139 –> 00:03:59,039and three of them relate to our good.5600:03:59,039 –> 00:04:02,179In relation to God’s glory,5700:04:02,179 –> 00:04:06,039we ask first that God’s name will be honoured,5800:04:06,039 –> 00:04:07,940then that his kingdom will come,5900:04:07,940 –> 00:04:11,199and then that his will should be done.6000:04:11,199 –> 00:04:13,300And then in relation to ourselves,6100:04:13,339 –> 00:04:17,540we ask that God will provide what we need,6200:04:17,540 –> 00:04:20,940that God will forgive our many sins,6300:04:20,940 –> 00:04:25,380and that God will deliver us from evil.6400:04:25,380 –> 00:04:31,079So, six things Jesus teaches us we should ask of God.6500:04:31,399 –> 00:04:34,679And all that we could ever ask,6600:04:34,679 –> 00:04:37,440all that we need ever ask,6700:04:37,440 –> 00:04:42,440can be included under one of these six petitions.6800:04:42,739 –> 00:04:46,420So the Lord’s Prayer is really like a kind of template6900:04:46,420 –> 00:04:47,660for praying.7000:04:47,660 –> 00:04:50,559It gives us a plan for prayer.7100:04:50,559 –> 00:04:52,239It gives us an outline.7200:04:52,239 –> 00:04:53,559It gives us a framework.7300:04:53,559 –> 00:04:58,559It teaches us how to pray.7400:04:59,320 –> 00:05:03,160So if you were to take, for example, a jotter,7500:05:03,160 –> 00:05:05,700and you were to divide a page7600:05:05,700 –> 00:05:09,140into six very simple sections,7700:05:09,140 –> 00:05:12,179you could call them God’s name,7800:05:12,179 –> 00:05:15,799God’s kingdom, God’s will,7900:05:15,799 –> 00:05:19,679God’s provision, God’s forgiveness,8000:05:19,679 –> 00:05:21,760and God’s deliverance.8100:05:21,760 –> 00:05:24,600And on that page, in these six sections,8200:05:24,600 –> 00:05:29,600you would have a perfect outline for prayer.8300:05:30,320 –> 00:05:31,920You could use it in two ways8400:05:31,920 –> 00:05:33,399when you have it in your jotter.8500:05:33,399 –> 00:05:36,040You could first start with the headings8600:05:36,040 –> 00:05:39,000and then just fill in under each of them8700:05:39,000 –> 00:05:41,299things that you think you ought to pray8800:05:41,299 –> 00:05:45,440in relation to each of these six petitions.8900:05:45,440 –> 00:05:46,940Or you could do it another way.9000:05:46,940 –> 00:05:49,660You could start with what’s on your mind.9100:05:49,660 –> 00:05:52,019You have a friend who is in some need.9200:05:52,019 –> 00:05:54,660They need help and they need support.9300:05:54,660 –> 00:05:56,140So, where does that belong?9400:05:56,140 –> 00:05:57,980Well, of course, that’s part of what God9500:05:57,980 –> 00:05:59,359would provide for them.9600:05:59,359 –> 00:06:01,399So, you write that down there.9700:06:01,399 –> 00:06:02,959But then you think to yourself,9800:06:02,959 –> 00:06:03,880now, wait a minute.9900:06:03,880 –> 00:06:08,380What else do I need to pray in regards to this person?10000:06:09,079 –> 00:06:11,040I mean, what would it mean10100:06:11,040 –> 00:06:15,040for God’s name to be honoured10200:06:15,040 –> 00:06:17,420in this situation that this person10300:06:17,420 –> 00:06:18,320is facing?10400:06:18,320 –> 00:06:21,220What would it mean for God’s will10500:06:21,220 –> 00:06:25,239to be done in their situation?10600:06:26,260 –> 00:06:29,079So, the requests of the Lord’s Prayer,10700:06:30,440 –> 00:06:33,720they’re really like six pegs10800:06:33,720 –> 00:06:35,320on which you can hang10900:06:35,320 –> 00:06:39,920all of your other prayers.11000:06:39,920 –> 00:06:42,220The Lord’s Prayer is given to us11100:06:42,220 –> 00:06:44,839in order to shape our prayers.11200:06:44,839 –> 00:06:48,519It is Jesus teaching us11300:06:48,519 –> 00:06:51,739how we should pray.11400:06:53,079 –> 00:06:55,119Now, my aim in this series11500:06:55,119 –> 00:06:58,839is that through these Six Petitions,11600:06:58,839 –> 00:07:03,760we will learn better how to pray.11700:07:03,760 –> 00:07:08,519That we’ll learn how to pray more effectively.11800:07:08,519 –> 00:07:10,779And it is for this reason11900:07:10,779 –> 00:07:13,380that Jesus has given us the Lord’s Prayer.12000:07:13,380 –> 00:07:18,040Lord, teach us how to pray.12100:07:18,040 –> 00:07:23,500Using the Lord’s Prayer as a template in this way,12200:07:23,500 –> 00:07:25,720it’s not something new.12300:07:25,720 –> 00:07:28,339You know, Martin Luther12400:07:28,339 –> 00:07:31,260used the Lord’s Prayer as a template for12500:07:31,260 –> 00:07:35,399his own prayers throughout his entire life.12600:07:35,399 –> 00:07:37,380And he commended this practice12700:07:37,380 –> 00:07:40,619in a delightful little book called12800:07:40,619 –> 00:07:43,679A Simple Way To Pray’12900:07:43,679 –> 00:07:46,140This book was written by Martin Luther13000:07:46,140 –> 00:07:48,540for his barber.13100:07:48,540 –> 00:07:52,160And my imagination just runs into overdrive with this.13200:07:52,160 –> 00:07:56,619I picture Luther sitting in the chair13300:07:56,619 –> 00:07:58,239getting his hair cut.13400:07:58,239 –> 00:08:00,980And he leans back in the chair13500:08:00,980 –> 00:08:03,739and the barber begins to shave13600:08:03,739 –> 00:08:05,739the stubble from his chin.13700:08:05,739 –> 00:08:08,459And as he’s doing this delicate work13800:08:08,459 –> 00:08:10,559he says to Luther,13900:08:10,559 –> 00:08:15,359Pastor Martin, I have a question.14000:08:15,359 –> 00:08:19,040How should I go about praying?14100:08:19,040 –> 00:08:20,200And I think to myself,14200:08:20,200 –> 00:08:23,799well, maybe Luther just said at that point14300:08:23,799 –> 00:08:25,940my friend, please just focus on14400:08:25,980 –> 00:08:28,040what you’re doing with that razor blade.14500:08:28,040 –> 00:08:29,500I’ll answer your question,14600:08:29,500 –> 00:08:30,779but let me do it later.14700:08:30,779 –> 00:08:33,299I’ll write you a book entitled14800:08:33,299 –> 00:08:35,340A Simple Way to Pray.14900:08:35,340 –> 00:08:36,520And that’s what Luther did.15000:08:36,520 –> 00:08:39,859He wrote this marvelous book for his barber15100:08:39,859 –> 00:08:41,739telling this man who wanted to know15200:08:41,739 –> 00:08:43,340how to pray more effectively,15300:08:43,340 –> 00:08:46,780how to do it, by using the Lord’s Prayer15400:08:46,780 –> 00:08:51,400as a template for his own prayers.15500:08:51,400 –> 00:08:54,340And Luther says in this book15600:08:54,419 –> 00:08:57,820I do not want you to recite15700:08:57,820 –> 00:08:59,960all these words in your prayer.15800:08:59,960 –> 00:09:01,799In other words, he’s saying this prayer15900:09:01,799 –> 00:09:04,219is not given simply so that we use it16000:09:04,219 –> 00:09:06,840as a repeated recitation.16100:09:06,840 –> 00:09:10,919No, Luther says, here’s what I want you to do.16200:09:10,919 –> 00:09:15,020I want your heart to be stirred16300:09:15,020 –> 00:09:18,359and to be moved by the thoughts16400:09:18,359 –> 00:09:22,340that are prompted from the Lord’s Prayer.16500:09:22,539 –> 00:09:24,739In other words, use this as a template,16600:09:24,739 –> 00:09:28,020use each of these six petitions16700:09:28,020 –> 00:09:32,239as pegs on which you will hang your prayers,16800:09:32,239 –> 00:09:35,200a framework on which you will build16900:09:35,200 –> 00:09:38,219the prayers that you offer to God.17000:09:38,219 –> 00:09:41,840And this simple way to pray was not simply17100:09:41,840 –> 00:09:46,239Luther’s idea of what a barber should do.17200:09:46,239 –> 00:09:48,719This is what Luther did himself17300:09:48,719 –> 00:09:50,580throughout his entire life.17400:09:50,599 –> 00:09:51,739He says this,17500:09:51,739 –> 00:09:54,559to this day,17600:09:54,559 –> 00:09:59,559I suckle at the Lord’s prayer like a child17700:10:00,020 –> 00:10:02,659and as an old man,17800:10:02,659 –> 00:10:05,979I eat and drink from it and never17900:10:05,979 –> 00:10:08,539get my fill.18000:10:08,539 –> 00:10:09,700Well, friends,18100:10:09,700 –> 00:10:13,619that describes exactly what I want us to do18200:10:13,619 –> 00:10:15,900over these next weeks together,18300:10:16,200 –> 00:10:19,900I want us to suckle at the Lord’s prayer,18400:10:21,200 –> 00:10:25,140to learn from Jesus Christ himself18500:10:26,000 –> 00:10:29,179how here we should pray.18600:10:30,080 –> 00:10:31,919You’re listening to Open the Bible18700:10:31,919 –> 00:10:33,200with Pastor Colin Smith18800:10:33,200 –> 00:10:35,219and we’ll pause the message there for a moment18900:10:35,219 –> 00:10:36,479but we’ll be back shortly19000:10:36,479 –> 00:10:39,520to look at the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer.19100:10:39,520 –> 00:10:41,539Our message is called, God’s Name19200:10:41,539 –> 00:10:43,500and it’s the first in our series,19300:10:43,500 –> 00:10:45,619Six Things to Ask of God.19400:10:45,619 –> 00:10:47,659Don’t forget, if you ever miss one of the programs19500:10:47,659 –> 00:10:50,080or if you want to go back and listen again,19600:10:50,080 –> 00:10:52,580you can do that by coming online to our website,19700:10:52,580 –> 00:10:56,880openthebible.org, and there you’ll find all the messages19800:10:56,880 –> 00:10:59,059which have already gone out on air.19900:10:59,059 –> 00:11:02,460Back to the message now, we’re in Matthew chapter 6,20000:11:02,460 –> 00:11:05,659verses 5 to 15 and here’s Colin.20100:11:05,659 –> 00:11:08,580Now today we look at the first petition20200:11:10,479 –> 00:11:12,940of the Lord’s Prayer.20300:11:12,940 –> 00:11:16,559Hallowed be your name.20400:11:16,559 –> 00:11:19,039We’re going to look at the relationship20500:11:19,039 –> 00:11:21,679in which this prayer is prayed.20600:11:21,679 –> 00:11:25,119We’re going to look at the prayer itself and its meaning.20700:11:25,119 –> 00:11:28,400We’re going to look at the ways in which it is answered.20800:11:28,400 –> 00:11:32,200We’re going to look at the challenge that it brings20900:11:32,200 –> 00:11:34,080and then we’re going to look at the example21000:11:34,080 –> 00:11:36,039of our Lord, Jesus Christ.21100:11:36,039 –> 00:11:38,859And then at the end, I want us to take time21200:11:38,859 –> 00:11:43,440to pray from this prayer together.21300:11:43,440 –> 00:11:47,000Hallowed be your name.21400:11:47,000 –> 00:11:48,320Now, let’s start here21500:11:48,320 –> 00:11:51,599because this is where Jesus begins with the relationship.21600:11:51,599 –> 00:11:53,659Matthew chapter six and verse nine.21700:11:53,659 –> 00:11:56,719Pray then like this.21800:11:56,719 –> 00:12:00,659Our Father in heaven.21900:12:01,520 –> 00:12:03,780This is very important.22000:12:03,780 –> 00:12:06,520The six petitions of the Lord’s prayer22100:12:06,520 –> 00:12:11,520are all addressed to our Father in heaven.22200:12:12,619 –> 00:12:17,140In other words, this is a prayer for God’s children.22300:12:17,140 –> 00:12:19,900These are prayers that are to be brought22400:12:19,900 –> 00:12:24,000by those who have been reconciled to God22500:12:24,000 –> 00:12:28,119through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.22600:12:28,119 –> 00:12:30,440And that’s a very important reminder for us22700:12:30,440 –> 00:12:35,440because by nature, we simply cannot pray this prayer.22800:12:36,440 –> 00:12:39,619The Bible makes it very clear that by nature,22900:12:39,619 –> 00:12:44,619we are alienated from God and we are dead towards him.23000:12:45,020 –> 00:12:49,219By nature, we are much more concerned about our name23100:12:49,219 –> 00:12:52,039than we are about God’s name.23200:12:52,039 –> 00:12:55,580By nature, we tend to think that life revolves around us23300:12:55,580 –> 00:12:57,799and so if we’re left to ourselves,23400:12:57,799 –> 00:13:00,059if we were to pray it all,23500:13:00,059 –> 00:13:03,900we begin with ourselves and we begin with our needs23600:13:03,979 –> 00:13:06,320and we never really get any further.23700:13:07,359 –> 00:13:10,059But Jesus came into the world to bring us into23800:13:10,059 –> 00:13:14,619an entirely new and different relationship with God.23900:13:15,580 –> 00:13:18,859God is his Father,24000:13:18,859 –> 00:13:21,299and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,24100:13:21,299 –> 00:13:26,039we come to know God as our Father as well.24200:13:26,039 –> 00:13:31,039Jesus brings you into a new relationship with God24300:13:31,739 –> 00:13:35,599in which you love him, you trust him,24400:13:35,599 –> 00:13:40,159you worship him, you serve him, and you obey him.24500:13:41,799 –> 00:13:46,219In love for this perfect Father,24600:13:46,219 –> 00:13:51,219you will discover a new peace, a new strength,24700:13:51,280 –> 00:13:55,500a new hope, and a new joy.24800:13:55,500 –> 00:13:59,000How great is the love that the Father24900:13:59,020 –> 00:14:03,440has lavished on us, that we should be called25000:14:03,440 –> 00:14:05,799children of God.25100:14:07,119 –> 00:14:11,280In Christ, we are adopted into the family of God,25200:14:11,280 –> 00:14:14,640and that’s why God sends his Spirit into our hearts,25300:14:14,640 –> 00:14:19,640the Apostle Paul says, to cry out Abba, Father.25400:14:19,640 –> 00:14:22,299So the Lord’s Prayer has six petitions,25500:14:22,299 –> 00:14:26,080and they’re all addressed to our Father in heaven.25600:14:26,080 –> 00:14:29,219They’re all prayed out of this relationship25700:14:29,219 –> 00:14:31,799in which through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,25800:14:31,799 –> 00:14:34,000we are reconciled to God.25900:14:34,000 –> 00:14:37,340Father hallowed be your name.26000:14:37,340 –> 00:14:41,340Father, let your kingdom come and your will be done.26100:14:41,340 –> 00:14:43,840Father, give us this day our daily bread.26200:14:43,840 –> 00:14:48,280Father, forgive our sins, and Father, deliver us from evil.26300:14:48,280 –> 00:14:53,280These are the prayers of a Christian disciple.26400:14:53,760 –> 00:14:55,960They are not the things that we would ask of God26500:14:56,000 –> 00:14:58,460if we were left to ourselves.26600:14:58,460 –> 00:15:01,320They are the prayers that Jesus brings us into.26700:15:02,679 –> 00:15:05,799They are the prayers of God’s own children.26800:15:05,799 –> 00:15:10,400And so you want to pray as Jesus taught us to pray.26900:15:10,400 –> 00:15:13,820Here is where we must begin.27000:15:13,820 –> 00:15:17,119We must enter by faith in Jesus that relationship27100:15:17,119 –> 00:15:21,780in which we come to know God as our own Father.27200:15:22,719 –> 00:15:27,460We come to the Father only through him.27300:15:27,460 –> 00:15:31,780And John makes this very clear in his Gospel where he says,27400:15:31,780 –> 00:15:36,539to those who received him, that is received Jesus,27500:15:36,539 –> 00:15:39,840to those who believe in his name,27600:15:40,760 –> 00:15:45,760God gives the right that they should be his own children.27700:15:46,780 –> 00:15:51,020If you want to know God as your own Father,27800:15:51,880 –> 00:15:54,919if you want to learn how to pray27900:15:54,919 –> 00:15:57,520as Jesus teaches us to pray,28000:15:57,520 –> 00:16:00,880you must receive Jesus as the Lord28100:16:00,880 –> 00:16:03,119and as the Savior of your life.28200:16:03,119 –> 00:16:08,119And you do this by believing in his name.28300:16:09,659 –> 00:16:14,659That’s where all true prayer begins.28400:16:16,099 –> 00:16:19,700Now, what a marvelous thing it is to know28500:16:19,739 –> 00:16:22,700the sovereign Lord of the universe28600:16:22,700 –> 00:16:26,280as your own heavenly father.28700:16:27,700 –> 00:16:32,099Dr. Jim Packer has a wonderful little image28800:16:32,099 –> 00:16:35,539and phrase on this that has been very helpful to me.28900:16:35,539 –> 00:16:38,219I just call it because it sticks in my mind,29000:16:38,219 –> 00:16:40,440Packer’s pendulum.29100:16:40,440 –> 00:16:43,460And here’s what Dr. Packer says.29200:16:43,460 –> 00:16:48,460”Let your thoughts flow to and fro29300:16:48,580 –> 00:16:52,719”like an accelerating pendulum29400:16:52,719 –> 00:16:56,659”taking ever wider swings.29500:16:56,659 –> 00:17:00,659”He’s my father,29600:17:00,659 –> 00:17:03,640”he’s God in heaven.29700:17:03,640 –> 00:17:06,239”He’s God in heaven,29800:17:06,239 –> 00:17:10,359”he’s my father.”29900:17:10,359 –> 00:17:12,260Packer’s pendulum,30000:17:12,260 –> 00:17:16,099try and take this in that when you come before30100:17:16,099 –> 00:17:18,020your father in prayer,30200:17:18,020 –> 00:17:20,380through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,30300:17:20,380 –> 00:17:25,380you are speaking to the sovereign Lord of the universe,30400:17:25,660 –> 00:17:29,500our Father in heaven.30500:17:30,459 –> 00:17:34,180When Jesus brings you to know his Father is your father,30600:17:34,180 –> 00:17:37,839you will have such a great desire to pray.30700:17:37,839 –> 00:17:41,699You will love the Father from your heart,30800:17:41,699 –> 00:17:44,260and because you love him,30900:17:44,260 –> 00:17:46,260well, your first desire will be31000:17:46,260 –> 00:17:49,599that his name should be honored.31100:17:50,939 –> 00:17:52,079That’s the relationship.31200:17:52,079 –> 00:17:55,839Then let’s look together at the prayer itself31300:17:55,839 –> 00:17:58,300and what this prayer actually means.31400:17:58,300 –> 00:18:00,880Pray then like this, Jesus says,31500:18:00,880 –> 00:18:02,339our Father in heaven,31600:18:02,339 –> 00:18:07,219hallowed be your name.31700:18:07,219 –> 00:18:12,579Now, what exactly are we asking God to do31800:18:12,839 –> 00:18:14,739when we pray this prayer?31900:18:14,739 –> 00:18:16,739What does it mean?32000:18:16,739 –> 00:18:20,099Hallowed be your name.32100:18:21,300 –> 00:18:23,540Now, I want you to notice32200:18:23,540 –> 00:18:28,540that heaven frames the first three petitions32300:18:28,579 –> 00:18:29,900of the Lord’s Prayer.32400:18:29,900 –> 00:18:31,160Did you notice that,32500:18:31,160 –> 00:18:33,500our Father in heaven,32600:18:33,500 –> 00:18:35,300hallowed be your name.32700:18:35,300 –> 00:18:36,339Your kingdom come,32800:18:36,339 –> 00:18:38,160your will be done on earth.32900:18:38,160 –> 00:18:39,959As it is in heaven.33000:18:40,140 –> 00:18:41,479Heaven.33100:18:41,479 –> 00:18:42,619In other words,33200:18:42,619 –> 00:18:47,459heaven frames the first three petitions33300:18:47,459 –> 00:18:49,199of the Lord’s Prayer.33400:18:49,199 –> 00:18:52,579Hallowed be your name on earth as it is in heaven,33500:18:52,579 –> 00:18:53,640your kingdom come,33600:18:53,640 –> 00:18:55,280on earth as it is in heaven,33700:18:55,280 –> 00:18:57,260your will be done on earth33800:18:57,260 –> 00:18:59,939as it is in heaven.33900:19:00,959 –> 00:19:01,800Now, you see,34000:19:01,800 –> 00:19:03,199that invites us immediately34100:19:03,199 –> 00:19:05,300to think about34200:19:05,300 –> 00:19:07,660the scene as it is described to us34300:19:07,660 –> 00:19:09,819in the Bible in heaven itself.34400:19:09,859 –> 00:19:11,500What is the scene in heaven?34500:19:11,500 –> 00:19:15,160Well, angels cry out in heaven right now,34600:19:15,160 –> 00:19:18,479holy, holy, holy is the Lord.34700:19:18,479 –> 00:19:20,599In fact, the worship in heaven,34800:19:20,599 –> 00:19:23,119the exalting of the Father’s name in heaven,34900:19:23,119 –> 00:19:24,699it never ends.35000:19:25,719 –> 00:19:27,060The Scripture says,35100:19:27,060 –> 00:19:29,060day and night,35200:19:29,060 –> 00:19:32,099they, that is the heavenly creatures,35300:19:32,099 –> 00:19:34,339never cease to cry,35400:19:34,339 –> 00:19:38,359holy, holy, holy is the Lord,35500:19:38,439 –> 00:19:43,400God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.35600:19:44,599 –> 00:19:48,339Every creature in heaven, without exception,35700:19:48,339 –> 00:19:50,219joins in saying,35800:19:50,219 –> 00:19:52,619to him who sits upon the throne,35900:19:52,619 –> 00:19:54,939and to the Lamb be blessing, and honor,36000:19:54,939 –> 00:19:59,180and glory, and might forever and forever.36100:20:00,540 –> 00:20:01,939That’s the scene in heaven.36200:20:03,819 –> 00:20:06,920Unceasing worship.36300:20:07,739 –> 00:20:12,020God’s name exalted,36400:20:12,020 –> 00:20:15,660and God’s name adored.36500:20:17,260 –> 00:20:19,180Now, what about the scene on earth?36600:20:20,619 –> 00:20:24,219Well, listen to how that’s described by the Prophet Isaiah.36700:20:25,180 –> 00:20:27,520God says through Isaiah,36800:20:27,520 –> 00:20:32,520”Continually all the day my name is despised,36900:20:37,540 –> 00:20:41,660that’s the reality on earth and it could not37000:20:41,660 –> 00:20:46,540be more different from the reality right now in heaven.37100:20:47,859 –> 00:20:50,560In heaven God’s name worshiped,37200:20:50,560 –> 00:20:53,979adored without ceasing on earth.37300:20:53,979 –> 00:20:58,979His name despised blasphemed all day long.’37400:20:59,060 –> 00:21:01,520All day long.37500:21:02,939 –> 00:21:07,479And it’s into that chasm of the difference37600:21:07,479 –> 00:21:10,619between the reality in heaven and the reality on earth37700:21:10,619 –> 00:21:14,420that we pray the first petition of the Lord’s prayer.37800:21:14,420 –> 00:21:17,719Hallowed be your name.37900:21:17,719 –> 00:21:21,719Let your name O father be exalted worshipped,38000:21:21,719 –> 00:21:25,819treasured and adored on earth as it is in heaven.38100:21:26,819 –> 00:21:30,260We are asking when we pray this prayer38200:21:31,219 –> 00:21:35,339that God will so move in the world38300:21:36,300 –> 00:21:39,760that God will act in such a way that people38400:21:39,760 –> 00:21:43,780around the globe will come to worship him,38500:21:43,780 –> 00:21:46,839to treasure him, to adore him, to live38600:21:46,839 –> 00:21:49,839for him on earth as it is in heaven.38700:21:49,839 –> 00:21:53,819Father please bring people to love and worship38800:21:54,060 –> 00:21:56,459and trust and adore you.38900:21:58,380 –> 00:22:02,359And I hope that’s true of each one of us today.39000:22:02,359 –> 00:22:03,839You’re listening to Open the Bible39100:22:03,839 –> 00:22:06,079with pastor Colin Smith and a message39200:22:06,079 –> 00:22:09,040called god’s name, the first in our series,39300:22:09,040 –> 00:22:11,099six things to ask of God.39400:22:11,099 –> 00:22:12,660And don’t forget if you ever missed one39500:22:12,660 –> 00:22:14,380of the series it’s easy to catch up39600:22:14,380 –> 00:22:15,939or go back and listen again.39700:22:15,939 –> 00:22:17,619You can do that by coming online39800:22:17,619 –> 00:22:21,640to our website openthebible.org.uk.39900:22:21,680 –> 00:22:24,000You can also find pastor Colin’s messages40000:22:24,000 –> 00:22:27,459as a podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites.40100:22:27,459 –> 00:22:29,599Search for Open the Bible UK40200:22:29,599 –> 00:22:32,780and subscribe to receive regular reminders.40300:22:32,780 –> 00:22:36,500Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.40400:22:36,500 –> 00:22:38,599And if you already support open the Bible40500:22:38,599 –> 00:22:42,079in that way, we want to say a big thank you today.40600:22:42,079 –> 00:22:44,239If that’s something you’ve been considering doing40700:22:44,239 –> 00:22:47,599in the future if you want to set up a new direct debit40800:22:47,599 –> 00:22:49,260to the work of Open the Bible40900:22:49,260 –> 00:22:51,959in the amount of £5 per month or more41000:22:51,959 –> 00:22:54,900or a one-off gift of £50 or more,41100:22:54,900 –> 00:22:57,160we’d love to say thank you by sending you41200:22:57,160 –> 00:22:58,380a free gift.41300:22:58,380 –> 00:23:01,979It’s Pastor Colin’s book, drive through the Bible,41400:23:01,979 –> 00:23:04,140a 30 day journey.41500:23:04,140 –> 00:23:05,819Along with that, we’ll also send you41600:23:05,819 –> 00:23:08,780a lovely tote bag and open the Bible pen41700:23:08,780 –> 00:23:10,140and bookmark.41800:23:10,140 –> 00:23:12,020Colin, what do you hope we’ll get41900:23:12,020 –> 00:23:14,660from reading drive through the Bible?42000:23:14,660 –> 00:23:16,939Oh, three things very clearly.42100:23:17,160 –> 00:23:19,140The first is simply to open the Bible.42200:23:19,140 –> 00:23:20,479I mean, you’d expect me to say42300:23:20,479 –> 00:23:21,920that when we are opening the Bible.42400:23:21,920 –> 00:23:23,640That’s our fundamental objective,42500:23:23,640 –> 00:23:25,439to get people into the word of God,42600:23:25,439 –> 00:23:27,680to get the word of God into the lives42700:23:27,680 –> 00:23:29,839and hearts of people because God’s word42800:23:29,839 –> 00:23:31,760is living seed and it bears42900:23:31,760 –> 00:23:33,079the most wonderful fruit.43000:23:33,079 –> 00:23:35,359It sustains us in the Christian life.43100:23:35,359 –> 00:23:38,319So this will get you into the Bible.43200:23:38,319 –> 00:23:39,920It’ll help you, secondly,43300:23:39,920 –> 00:23:43,160to understand the Bible story.43400:23:43,160 –> 00:23:45,359And the whole Bible is one story.43500:23:45,420 –> 00:23:48,479There is a narrative and drive through the Bible43600:23:48,479 –> 00:23:50,920takes us through the peaks and the Valleys43700:23:50,920 –> 00:23:52,579of the Bible story,43800:23:52,579 –> 00:23:55,040Old Testament, the gospels,43900:23:55,040 –> 00:23:57,119the believers’ experiences.44000:23:57,119 –> 00:24:00,160It’s laid out in the New Testament epistles.44100:24:00,160 –> 00:24:01,319And most of all,44200:24:01,319 –> 00:24:03,839because this is always the ultimate objective,44300:24:03,839 –> 00:24:06,119because the Bible is pointing us everywhere44400:24:06,119 –> 00:24:08,040to the Lord Jesus Christ,44500:24:08,040 –> 00:24:10,839as you are immersed in the scripture,44600:24:10,839 –> 00:24:12,880in this very simple introduction,44700:24:12,880 –> 00:24:15,119you’re gonna grow in your love44800:24:15,140 –> 00:24:17,300for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.44900:24:17,300 –> 00:24:18,260And that’s my biggest hope,45000:24:18,260 –> 00:24:19,699my biggest prayer.45100:24:19,699 –> 00:24:23,060As I think of people driving through the Bible story,45200:24:23,060 –> 00:24:25,099that love for Christ will grow45300:24:25,099 –> 00:24:26,839and faith in Christ will grow45400:24:26,839 –> 00:24:29,459and that hope in Christ will increase45500:24:29,459 –> 00:24:33,099as the word of God does its marvelous work in our lives.45600:24:33,099 –> 00:24:34,660Well, we’d love to send you a copy45700:24:34,660 –> 00:24:36,839of Colin’s book, Drive Through the Bible,45800:24:36,839 –> 00:24:38,420A 30-Day Journey,45900:24:38,420 –> 00:24:40,739if you were able to set up a new direct debit46000:24:40,739 –> 00:24:42,439to the work of Open the Bible46100:24:42,439 –> 00:24:45,199in the amount of £5 per month or more46200:24:45,199 –> 00:24:48,339or a one-off gift of £50 or more.46300:24:48,339 –> 00:24:51,099Full terms and conditions are on our website46400:24:51,099 –> 00:24:53,500and you can give online.46500:24:53,500 –> 00:24:56,119For Open the Bible, Pastor, Colin Smith,46600:24:56,119 –> 00:24:57,239I’m David Pick,46700:24:57,239 –> 00:24:59,119and I hope you’ll join us again next time46800:24:59,119 –> 00:25:00,520on Open the Bible.46900:25:08,520 –> 00:25:10,800Why might you want to use the Lord’s Prayer47000:25:10,819 –> 00:25:12,719when you pray yourself?47100:25:12,719 –> 00:25:15,300Find out next time on Open the Bible.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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