What to pray: Forgive us our sins
vs 34 The true Christian life is a life sacrifice.
THE DEMANDS OF CHRISTIAN LIFE: Here is the call to costly discipleship. Reality.
DEMANDING DENIAL of your own self-promoting ambitions. Mark 10:28.
DEMANDING DEATH.
DEMANDING DIRECTION
This is followed in by THE BLESSINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: We do not deserve these blessings
UNDESERVED LIFE Vs 35 Do we trust God in every area of life Gal.2:20. CT Studd said, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”
UNDESERVED PROFIT Vs 36
UNDESERVED VALUE Vs 37 Jesus explained the value by the parables in Mat 13.
There are high costs for following Christ but they pale into insignificance when compared to the blessings. There is an infinitely higher cost in NOT folowing Christ. The cross is heavy but we are promised grace and strength to carry it. Jim Elliott said: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
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Aug 4
Pastor Orr
Sermon Text Luke 11:4
Lord’s prayer — 5th petition
The 5th petition is FORGIVE US OUR SINS FOR WE OURSELVES FORGIVE EVERYONE WHO IS INDEBTED TO US. The previous petition stemmed from our helplessness. This one comes from our deep love and indebtedness to God.
<<<<THE PETITIONERS>>>
US–The petitioners are believers.
The Lord Jesus could not pray this Himself because He was sinless. In Him there was no sin. He was perfect. This is the prayer of those who call Father. Others have no interest in asking for forgiveness. They do not feel they are sinners. This is the prayer of we who are believers, children of God.
<<<<THE PRAYER>>>
* IT IS A PRIMARY PRAYER— the very first real prayer of the believer when he is saved. The very first thing a baby does is to cry. This petition — forgive my sins— is the first cry of a new believer.
If you have not prayed that prayer, even if you profess to be a Christian, you are not. Because as God’s children we hate sin. “Lord be merciful to me a sinner.” Many will think they are Christian but God will say He does not know them.
* IT IS A PERPETUAL PRAYER. Is it enough to ask God to forgive once? Once is enough if we become sinlessly perfect. But we all need to go to God again and again for forgiveness. 1Jn 1:5 – 2:2. So this is not a once-for-all prayer but a perpetual prayer. The Christian does not go to others and say, “Look at me,” but they say, “I was a sinner just like you and Jesus forgave me.”
* IT IS A PAINFUL PRAYER for the Christian. When we ask for someone’s forgiveness, it is painful. So we go to God for forgiveness with a broken heart. We must not say this just from our lips like a boy says “sorry” to his little brother because he is made to. Psalm 51:1-12 shows David’s pain very obviously. He is a man who loves God and knows he has offended that God.
* IT IS A PASSIONATE PRAYER. This comes from the heart of a man who is in love with God. A prayer of earnest deep repentance 2Pet 1:3-4. This prayer reminds us of our sinfulness, but it also reminds us that by the grace of God, we can overcome.
<<<<THE PROOF>>>
Proof that the prayer is genuine is that we will also be forgiving.
To ask God what we refuse to others is an insult to God.
Praise the Lord, my soul, / and forget not all his benefits / who forgives all your sins / and heals all your diseases,