Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
​ 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Luke 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

I Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

I Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

 

MEMORY VERSE: I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.—Psalm 40:8

 

CENTRAL THOUGHT: Praying “Thy will be done in earth” begins first in our hearts as we yield and submit to the Father’s will, as did Jesus, our example. We then pray for God’s will to be done in the church and in all the earth; for souls to be saved, wholly sanctified, and come to a knowledge of the truth.

 

WORD DEFINITIONS

 

Matthew 12:50 “my brother, sister and mother”: “Filial subjection to the will of My Father in heaven is the indissoluble bond of union between Me and all its members; and whosoever enters this hallowed circle becomes to Me brother, and sister, and mother!” —Jameison-Fausset-Brown Commentary

John 7:17 “doctrine”: teaching.

Luke 22:42 “remove this cup from me”: “One’s lot or experience, whether joyous or adverse, divine appointments, whether favorable or unfavorable, are likened to a cup which God presents one to drink.” —Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

Romans 12:2 “be not conformed to this world”: do not follow the customs, pattern or mold; do not be fashioned accord to this world. “transformed”: The Greek word is the root of the English term metamorphosis, which means “I change the form.”

LESSON BACKGROUND

Jesus began His lesson on prayer, as we have studied, with an introduction to the new relationship with the Father and an humble affirmation of faith in Him and acknowledgement of His greatness and holiness. The first focus was that His Name would be hallowed. The next focus was on His Kingdom. Now we focus on His Will.

What was in His mind as He led us to this point in the prayer? No doubt, the very purpose He was sent into the world—to suffer, die, and ransom the souls of lost men and women. He didn’t just say or teach these words—He lived and breathed them. David’s words in Psalms 40 are a direct prophecy and words of Christ Himself. “I delight to do thy will.” “I came not to do mine own will,” He said, “but the will of Him that sent me.”

He spoke those words again, in agony, in Gethsemane. Three times He subdued His flesh and yielded to the Father, sweating great drops of blood, to allow the supreme will of God to be done—our salvation.

We read farther in the lesson that is it not God’s will that any perish, but that all should come to repentance. And not only to repentance, but to a knowledge of His truth and doctrine, to a life of holiness, praise and thanksgiving, and to a life of close relationship to Him; truly being His brother, His sister—identifying with Him in suffering and self-denial.

Paul, facing his long days of imprisonment and certain death, gently withstood the human reasoning of his dear friends, who begged him to spare himself. Finally, they acquiesced to God’s will.

Even if this would be our final end, we also yield ourselves fully to the will of God being done in and through our lives. We yield ourselves so the ultimate Will of God will be done—the salvation of precious souls.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

 

DISCUSSION:

 

1. Responsibility/Reward: With what three things (mentioned in today’s lesson) will we be blessed, if we allow His will to be done in our lives?

2. Not My Will: What did Christ accomplish by surrendering His Will to the Father? Could it have been done any other way?

3. But Thine Be Done: Name what all He has willed for mankind.

4. Praying God’s Will: Name specific requests and burdens that will be in our prayers when we begin to pray for God’s will to be done in the earth. How important is it that these needs come before our own?

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

Thy Name. Thy Kingdom. Thy Will. See how Christ’s pattern leads us to put Him first? What is a father’s heart response to a child who always comes to him with a genuine interest in obeying him, seeing that his wishes are done and his plans are carried out? Would he not be moved with compassion then to answer the personal requests and needs of that child? What will God’s response to us be when we approach Him with, “I come to do Thy will, O God. Here am I, Lord, send me” ?

The Scriptures lead us to know that the needs of the Kingdom—His church in the earth, His people; and His Will and Purpose—the salvation of souls; are what we should put first and foremost in our lives. From this prayer comes direction: where I should go; the words I should say to this one and that one; the letter I should write. And if I must suffer to accomplish these things? If I never get to “do what I want”? What of that? It is not important.

Could we see the importance of our prayers in this world; the impact we have on world rulers, events, political conflicts, governments, as we pray, “Thy will be done in earth”—we would avail ourselves more and more of this incredible influence and power with God.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

REFLECTIONS

 

We are earthen vessels whom the Lord desires to work through. When I think of an earthen vessel, I don’t usually think of stainless steel, copper, brass—I think of something much weaker and humbler. The Lord desires to work His will in the earth and He uses earthen vessels to pour His love out to lost humanity. Earthen vessels are fragile, so like us in our humanity. You drop one—it breaks. Yet God has chosen earthen vessels, clay pots, to carry on His work. It is important for us to be willing.

Sometimes when we get our eyes on the need, we fail to recognize the sufficiency of God and draw back. The disciples, when seeing the multitude, thought, “What are these few loaves and fishes among so many?” Yes, we are insufficient within ourselves; but let us not forget that God is able to fill the clay pots.

It is not so much the big things that matter most. It is the little every day things that matter to God. We can carry a little cool, refreshing water to those that are dry and thirsting in a desert place. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” It is not the vessel, it is the treasure that God puts in an earthen vessel that blesses. God has chosen the foolish, weak, base and things despised. . . that no flesh should glory in His presence.

—Bro. Bob Wilson

“Help me gladly submit and not murmur, ever saying ‘Amen’ to Thy Will.”