Topic: Prayer
Focus: Agreement with God
Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Jesus was the one who instituted the use of “Amen” at the end of a prayer. There is no record of the word ever being used at the closing of a prayer before the time when He taught His disciples the best way to pray. Isn’t it interesting that people who aren’t willing to use the Name of Jesus in a prayer are still praying the way Jesus taught people to pray, when they say, “Amen”?
For centuries, people have used the word “amen”, to indicate a strong verbal agreement. To fully appreciate what is happening when we say “amen”, we have to consider what is taking place when we pray.
As we review the Lord’s Prayer, we see the immediate confirmation of God as our Father and the reverence due His Holy Name.
The prayer goes on to agree with the will of God being done on earth and in heaven, concerning His kingdom.
The next portion of the prayer is a request for daily food.
The willingness to be forgiven according to the same measure that we are willing to forgive is stated next, followed by a request for deliverance from temptation and the evil one.
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The kingdom, power, and glory are affirmed as belonging to God forever.
At the end of the prayer, we see the word, “Amen”.
The literal meaning of the word amen is, “so be it”, or “truly”, but when the word, “amen” is spoken in response to what another person says, it is the same as making a verbal covenant with that person forever. When we pray, we are speaking to God and coming into agreement with Him. We make a covenant with God when we put the word, “amen” at the end of what we say to Him.
A “covenant” is an agreement between two or more parties. It is a powerful pact. The power of agreement is seen in Matthew 18:18-19, when Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”
“Amen” is a very small word that carries an overwhelmingly huge impact. When we say “amen”, we’d better be sure we truly agree with what is being spoken, whether the words being said belong to us, or someone else. In the sight of God, saying, “amen” is the same thing as signing a lasting contract.
The fact that the word, “amen” is so powerful is actually pretty exciting, in regard to the positive aspects. Think about how powerful prayer really is, as we pray according to the will of God. When we appropriate our faith to come into agreement with the Word and will of God, we can expect miracles. In Mark 11:24, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
In John chapter 16, Jesus was telling His followers that the time was approaching when they wouldn’t be seeing Him on earth. He said, “And in that day (after His ascension back to heaven) you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
Jesus came to earth and fulfilled the plan for our salvation. He gave His life’s blood as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world, but besides doing that, He left us armed with His Words and directions for praying in the best possible way. We are not defenseless or helpless. All we need to do is put our hearts in agreement with the will of God and pray in the Name of Jesus, and we will experience the eternal blessing of God in our lives.
Declaration: I will find new strength as I come into agreement with God’s Word and will. As I pray in the Name of Jesus, I will use my faith to release the power of God. As I speak the word “amen”, powerful covenants will be made.
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