If you have been reading this blog for any time at all, you know that I LOVE word studies! One thing that I have found to be very interesting is that sometimes the translators added words that they thought would make the meaning of the verse clearer. When you look at the actual words, leaving out the ones added, you sometimes come up with an even deeper meaning! I believe that this is the case with our reading in Luke today! The disciples of JESUS ask Him to show them how to pray. Rather than give them an actual prayer, as so many of us have been taught through the years, JESUS gave them a format for approaching God the Father in ALL manners of prayer! Here is Luke 11:1-4 as it is written:
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. KJV
The Amplified Bible looks like this:
1 Then He was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, [just] as John taught his disciples. 2 And He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come. Your will be done [held holy and revered] on earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us daily our bread [food for the morrow]. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]. And bring us not into temptation but rescue us from evil.
Now notice all of the words in italics! THOSE are the words added! As we dig deeper into the original words, we see that it SHOULD read like this:
When you pray, say Father, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Give us day by day our daily bread. Also, forgive us our sins for we forgive everyone that is indebted to us and lead us not into temptation.
THAT is IT! There is something powerful that happens when we simply take God at His Word and stop trying to make everything sound flowery, or religious or MORE! IT IS ENOUGH! HE is ENOUGH! AMEN! We are to come before our Father with respect, reverence and awe, honoring HIM for Who He is and for what He has done! With that attitude, we will be in the position to receive what HE has promised! AMEN! Then we ask that HIS KINGDOM would come! This is NOT in reference to Heaven when we leave this earth, but to our operating in Kingdom principles, right here, and right now! Having HIS will revealed and displayed in the earth WILL draw people unto JESUS! When we speak of His forgiveness of our sins, we are showing that we understand that we MUST forgive others if we desire to be able to receive His forgiveness! He has already, in JESUS, provided for the forgiveness of ALL sin, but the condition for our receiving this now is that we forgive others, also! I also believe that when we speak of Him leading us NOT into temptation, we are acknowledging the TRUTH that HE will NOT tempt us with evil, but only with GOOD, as He has promised (James 1:13)! Meditate on this and decide whether you agree or not! If you do, then begin to put this into practice and stop repeating, reciting or singing empty words that do not TRULY reflect HIS Word! You will find your faith rising high as you honor the power of His Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "You Are Life":
Shalom in Him!
