“Copycat Repeater”

Sunday, December 16, 2012

I have yet another question that I would like to ask.  I have been watching parts of the Jesus of Nazareth movie.  In the movie, Jesus, while on the sermon on the mount, talks about how to pray.  Jesus then says what I think is called the Lord's Prayer.  Before I go to sleep at night after saying my normal everyday prayers, I like to repeat this prayer to God.  Is this okay to do?  I feel like it is okay to do, but I am not sure if it is okay to repeat it... I do mean the words that it says in the prayer; I just wanted to know if that was okay to do.  As always, thanks for your help; God bless!

Sincerely,
The Reiterator

Dear The Reiterator,

We aren’t required to pray the exact words of the Lord’s model prayer (which is found in Matt 6:9-13), but there is nothing wrong with sincerely repeating those words… with one exception.  One of the things that Jesus prayed for in that prayer has already happened.  When Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come…”, He was praying that the church would be established.  Jesus’ kingdom, also known as the church, has already come.  That kingdom began on the day of Pentecost when three thousand people were baptized and entered Jesus’ kingdom (Acts 2:37-41).  The apostle Paul said that christians have already entered into the kingdom (Col 1:13).  Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to pray that the kingdom comes.  However, it would be appropriate to pray that the kingdom (church) would expand, grow, and be further established.

Other than that one detail, everything that Jesus said in that prayer is perfectly appropriate today for a christian to pray.

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