Presentation on the Lord's Prayer by Ligonier Ministries

Overview of the Lord's Prayer

• Focus on the petitions Jesus gave as a model for prayer.
• First petition: Hallowed be thy name.
  • Emphasis on God's name being regarded as holy.
• Second petition: Thy kingdom come.
  • The kingdom of God should be prayed for on earth as it is in heaven.

Third Petition: Thy will be done

• Related to the first two petitions.
• Importance of praying for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
• Questions raised:
  • Is it heretical to pray this since God's will is always done?
  • Understanding of God's sovereignty and the efficacy of His will.

Confusion around the Will of God

• New Testament references indicate God’s will can be complex.
• Two Greek words (thelemae, boulemia) for 'will' suggest different meanings:
  • Sovereign, Efficacious Will:
    • God's decrees come to pass (ex: creation, raising Lazarus).
  • Preceptive Will:
    • God's laws and commandments that can be violated (ex: Ten Commandments).
  • Disposition Will:
    • God's inclination toward people, what pleases Him.
    • Example: God does not delight in the death of the wicked.

Interpretation of Key Texts

• 2 Peter 3:9: God is not willing that any should perish.
  • Different interpretations based on the nuances of 'will':
    • Sovereign sense: none will perish.
    • Preceptive sense: God does not allow perishing.
    • Disposition sense: God is not pleased with the perishing.

The Nature of Prayer

• Thy will be done as a prayer for obedience to God's preceptive will.
• Acknowledgment that God's will is always done in heaven but not always on earth.
• Human Free Will vs. God's Sovereignty:
  • Free will is limited by God's sovereignty.
  • A reminder of who is sovereign when praying.

The Example of Christ's Prayer

• Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane illustrates submission to God's will:
  • "Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
• Importance of submitting to the will of God in prayer.
• Faith in Prayer:
  • True prayer trusts God for answers, whether yes or no.
  • Naming and Claiming approach is criticized as unbiblical.

Conclusion

• The essence of prayer is to seek God's will and glorify Him.
• Joy is found in the glorification of God.
• Final call to understand prayer and the importance of aligning with God's will.

Contact Information for Ligonier Ministries

• Phone: 1-800-435-4343
• Website: Ligonier.org
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 547500, Orlando, Florida, 32854