Lord’s Day 49

Reuben Bredenhof

The Father helps his children to serve him according to his will

  1. Fighting the selfish will of sinners
  2. Loving the good will of God
  3. Carrying out the duties of our office and calling

Scripture readings: Deuteronomy 29:14-29, 2 Thessalonians 1

Stephen ‘t Hart

The LORD reveals to us his will – and he calls us to pray that we might do it

  1. Hear God’s will
  2. Obey God’s will

Scripture readings: Deuteronomy 29:14-29, Colossians 1

C. Bouwman

The child of God prays into existence the Father’s vision for world history

  1. The content of the vision
  2. The sharing of the vision
  3. The answer to the vision

Scripture readings: Luke 5:12-16, Luke 9:18-27, Ephesians 1:1-14

In constant prayer we ask God for grace to do and accept his will for us

  1. The background to the petition
  2. The example of heaven
  3. The implication for each of us

Jesus instructs his disciples to ask God for strength to obey his laws in their every circumstance

  1. God claims every area of life for himself
  2. My prayer must cover every area of life

Wes Bredenhof

The Third Petition: praying for help in our office and calling

We pray to do God’s will in this:

  1. Cheerfully
  2. Constantly
  3. Completely

Scripture readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-14, Psalm 40

Pray about that battle between two wills

We’ll learn how we’re to pray for:

  1. The denial of our own wicked will
  2. Obedience to God’s good will

Scripture readings: Isaiah 48:12-22, Acts 26

Our Lord teaches us to pray to be like the holy angels

That means we pray for obedience that’s:

  1. Swift
  2. Sincere
  3. Scrupulous

Scripture reading: Genesis 19:1-29

C. Stam

The Lord Jesus teaches us to pray for the reformation of our will according to the will of God

  1. What God wants to be done
  2. How God wants it to be done

Scripture readings: John 6:32-40, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

B. Holwerda

The Third Petition

  1. The deformation of the earth from out of heaven
  2. The reformation of heaven from off the earth
  3. The reformation of the earth from out of heaven

Scripture reading: Revelation 12

R. H. Bremmer

The prayer to do Father’s will

Therein we pray:

  1. Not with resignation
  2. In the obedience of faith
  3. With a heavenly example

Scripture reading: Romans 12:1-12

K. Dijk

The prayer for the unity of heaven and earth

  1. It focusses first on heaven
  2. It focusses then on earth

The third petition arises

  1. Out of our need
  2. Towards God’s gift

Prayer for obedience to the Father’s will

  1. According to the heavenly ideal
  2. In the earthly reality