The Lord’s Prayer | America At Its Best | Pastor Rob Koke

I am loved by God. I cannot earn it, I cannot lose it. I am forgiven and made brand new. In Christ, I live with passion and purpose. I am empowered by the Spirit to be the church in the world and to live this love revolution. Come on, let's give God praise for that. All right, you may be seated. Everyone except you right here in the front row with the overall, yeah, come on, stand to your feet. Look at it, this is, come on, turn around, turn around. That's what I'm talking about right there. So we're gonna do something a little bit different this morning. Last week, we were focusing in on celebrating what is the best about America. When America's at its best, we focused in on some of the characteristics and attributes that we all celebrate. But today, we're gonna be really kind of leaning into prayer, and we're going to share about prayer. It's my hope and desire, of course, that what you hear from God's Word about prayer will inspire your personal prayer life, that you'll learn some things today that will take you to a whole nother level in terms of your own prayer journey and spiritual maturity. But we're also going to kind of pause a number of times during the message, and we're going to pray together as a congregation

and worship off of that prayer. So it's gonna be a little bit more of a devotional feel to our time together here today. And I think if it's anything like the first service, it is going to be so impactful and so beautiful as we pray into our country. So we celebrated last week, and last night we were with our family, like many of you guys, just enjoying the fireworks. But what was so precious to me is that I got to see it through the eyes of our granddaughters, Gemma and Nala. They were just mesmerized by the fireworks exploding. And that's Nala in the foreground, and then that's Gemma a little bit further towards the fireworks, but they're just like all into it and ooh and an ah and celebrating. It was just a great, great patriotic moment for our family. But we also understand that we live in a great country, we celebrate that country. I don't know if you were like Laura and I yesterday, we were watching the tall ships from around the world that were entering into the harbor in New York. And it felt like the whole world was pausing for a moment to celebrate our 250 years of independence. And I think one of the reasons why the whole world paused is because if you were to take the United States out of the world and you would just be left without the United States, its influence, its beacon of light, its hope for democracy, the freedoms that we try to value and express.

If you took America out, the world would be a vastly different place. And sometimes you don't miss something until it's gone. And I want us to appreciate what we have in this beautiful land that we get the privilege of living in. But at the same time, we also understand that our nation has some challenges. And they range a whole broad kind of focus. I mean, there's so many different areas that we can look to. There are financial challenges. I think as a nation, we spend more money than we take in. And so we've got a debt issue. There's racial challenges, of course. There's inner city challenges. There is the kind of proliferation of drug and alcohol abuse, especially amongst our young people. And pornography gets launched out of this nation to all the four corners of the world. And while we love this country, there are some issues and there's some challenges that we need to address. And I'm so grateful for scripture verses like 2 Chronicles 7 and verse 14 that encourage us to pray. And listen to what this particular verse says. If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven. and I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land.

If we would humble ourselves, if we would seek the Lord, if we would turn from our wicked ways and if we would pray, pray, God will heal our land. You know, the Bible says that we can bring anything we want to, to Him in prayer. I mean, there is like this wide open invitation. Jesus, He said it this way. Whatsoever you desire when you pray, whatsoever. Like, man, that is a wide open door for us to pray about everything. So if you've been a part of this church for any length of time, you've heard me say things like, if it matters to you, it matters to God. If it's something you care about, it's something God cares about. You can pray about anything. Be anxious for nothing, the Bible says, but in everything by prayer, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. You can pray about everything. Small things and big things and big things and small things. You know, Laura prays about everything. Honestly, she's like a prayer warrior. She prays for our kids, our grandkids. She prays over you guys. You'd be surprised how much she prays, but she also prays over parking spots. I want the front parking spot at the mall. She prays for stuff like that.

I say, park in, you know, the way out areas. Your car won't get dinged and you get extra steps. But she's a prayer warrior, she really is. You can pray about everything. But then there are some things that the Bible says that we should focus our prayers on. So you can pray about anything, but then there's some encouragement for us to focus our prayers. And one of the places that the Bible teaches that we should focus our prayers is found in 1 Timothy chapter two. And this is the Apostle Paul, he's talking to Timothy. And he says, I urge you then, first of all, that petitions and prayers and intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful, quiet lives in all godliness and holiness, that we would live the way God wants us to live, for this is good and pleases God our Savior who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. What the Apostle Paul was saying is that you need to pray for your leaders, wisdom for your leaders, those who are in charge. And he didn't say you pray only if you agree with them. He said, just pray. At the time that he was encouraging everyone to pray for the kings and those in authority,

they were living underneath a dictatorship, an authoritarian government. And so it's important that we pray. And one of the reasons why we pray is that when there's peace in the land, the gospel actually expands. That's statistically true. More people come to faith in Christ during times of peace than during times of conflict and war. And so we should pray. And I've asked Pastor Oscar this morning to lead us in a prayer. And he's gonna pray for us, lead us in this prayer. And I asked him to pray for the president, for the vice president, for the cabinet, for the Congress, for the Supreme Court, for the federal judges, for the governor, for the mayor, our local leaders, our local law enforcement and military. And Pastor Oscar, he's an amazing, amazing guy. I think he's the perfect person to lead us in this prayer. I asked him in the first service where he served because he served in our armed forces. And he told me he served in the Marines. And then I thought to myself, of course he did. Of course he did. Out of all the branches of service, Oscar would serve in the Marines. And so let's join together. Pastor Oscar, would you lead us?

God loves Marines. Heavenly Father, thank you so very much, Father, for everything that you have done, that you're doing and that you're gonna do tomorrow, Lord. We come to you with humble hearts, with great knowing that you, Father, are sovereign over every nation. Lord, you are the ultimate authority. And so, Father, we lift our executive branch. Father, we lift up President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance. The whole administration, the cabinet, Father, we just ask that you surround them with wise counselors, Lord, knowing that they could be guided in truth, in honor, to guide in decisions with the country, Lord. We also lift up the other two branches, Lord, the legislative branch, the judicial branch, Lord, we pray for every member of the Senate, every member of the Congress and their team, Lord. We pray for the judges at the Supreme Court, the lower federal courts as well, Lord, every one of those people that are involved, Lord, we ask that you lead them in integrity, in wisdom, in your divine knowledge, Father, as one side creates laws and the other one interprets, Lord. We just ask that you bless them, bless their families who serve right along them. Father, we lift Governor Abbott as he leads this great, great state of Texas, Father, we ask that you give him the strength, the wisdom, the knowledge, Father, to lead this beautiful state of ours. Lord, our local leaders, we lift up Mayor Watson from Austin, Lord, and Mayor Craig Morgan from Round Rock, Lord, as they themselves lead their cities and the communities around us, Lord, give them wisdom, give them your divine knowledge, Lord, and guide them. Lord, we lift up Chief Banks and all the officers of the surrounding cities around Austin, Lord, and protect them, give them an extra hedge of protection, Father, as they serve their communities, Lord, all the firefighters, all the EMTs, paramedics, Lord, the dispatchers, everybody that is a first responder, Lord, give them courage when they come against danger, Father, give them compassion for those that need or that are in helpful needs. Lord, Jesus, bless their families, their friends that serve also in support right alongside of them, Lord, and Lord, we lift up our men and women in the armed forces, Father, we ask that your presence goes wherever they are deployed,

wherever they go, you are there, Lord, and that you are also with their families and friends, Father, as they fully, fully support their service member. Lord, and after all this, we pray, Lord, let you know that we trust you, but that we become one nation under God. Jesus, we love you, we honor you, and we give you all the glory, and we ask all this in the mighty, mighty name of your Son, Jesus. And everybody said, amen. Would you all stand and worship with us today? I just want to speak the name of Jesus over every heart and every mind. Because I know there is peace within your presence. I speak Jesus. I just want to speak the name of Jesus so every dark addiction starts to break. The clearing there is hope and there is freedom. I speak Jesus. Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name is life. Break every stronghold, shine through the shadows, burn like a fire. I just want to speak the name of Jesus over fear and all anxiety. To every soul I'm captive by depression. I speak Jesus. If your name is power, your name is healing, your name is light, break every stronghold, shine through the shadows, burn like a fire. If your name is power, your name is healing, your name is light, break every stronghold, shine through the shadows, burn like a fire. Shout Jesus from the mountains, Jesus in the streets, Jesus in the darkness over every enemy. Jesus for my family, I speak the holy name of Jesus. Shout Jesus, yeah. Shout Jesus from the mountains, Jesus in the streets, Jesus in the darkness over every enemy. Jesus for my family, I speak the holy name of Jesus. Your name is power, your name is healing, your name is light, break every stronghold, shine through the shadows, burn like a fire.

Your name is power, your name is healing, your name is light, thank you Jesus, break every stronghold, shine through the shadows, burn like a fire. I just want to speak the name of Jesus over every heart and every mind. Because I know there is peace within your presence, I speak Jesus. You may be seated. That's a good thing to do, isn't it? Just speak the name of Jesus, speak the name of Jesus. Speak the name of Jesus over your family, speak the name of Jesus over your kids, over your marriage, over your job, over your circumstances, over our country. Speak the name of Jesus. If you wanted to know more about prayer, going to Jesus to get some information would be a good thing. Because nobody believed in the power of prayer more than Jesus. No one knows prayer better than Jesus. The disciples saw Jesus praying and they were so inspired by how Jesus was praying and the fruit of the prayers that Jesus prayed that they asked him very sincerely, would you teach us how to pray? And Jesus did exactly that in Matthew chapter six. And verse five, he said, okay, you want to know how to pray when you pray? So it's my strong suggestion here, the full connection with God in my prayer life, full connection with God in my prayer life. There was a time in my life when I was in the middle of prayer and I was in the middle of prayer. In my prayer life, your wishing will always stay. You say, you know what? I need to take better care of this vessel. Desire or that wish never really impact. He said, you know what? We want, he said, you know what? We want our marriage to time and time again by the other priority. And we got a growing family.

And we got a growing family. And there was lots of family. And there was lots of. Plan, an intentional plan to do it. You can't just have a nice wish or a desire. Getting a prayer journal. And I started this spiritual habit. Hey, my spiritual attitude and find three things that I can be grateful for in this. Sometimes I'll put HTG, honest to God because I wanna pour out my heart to God. But it's all recorded here in these journals. I needed to make a plan. I needed to have a place, a plan, a time and make it non-negotiable. And so throughout the years, that's one of the ways that I just tried to live this out. When you pray, Jesus said, and then he went on to describe how, you know, some of the prayer posture should be lived out. He said, don't be like the hypocrites for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. Don't be like the religious people who pray for show. Pray from your heart. And there's a time for public prayer. I mean, we just had a beautiful expression of it here this morning and we'll have a few more.

But we gotta make sure that our prayer life isn't just public. Sometimes I think we can reduce our prayers to just what we do around a dinner table. And I think we should pray and thank God for every meal that he has provided by his bounty. We should pray, you know, with our kids. That's a public thing. We should pray when we're taking trips and pray for God's traveling mercies and all of that. Every part of that is good. We should pray in our small groups and that's in a public setting. But we should also make sure that there is some alone time, just you and God. Make sure that you include on your prayer journey this private part of it. That's why Jesus said that when you pray, go into a room and close the door and pray to your father who is unseen, and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. You gotta find a spot and find a time and pray. I don't know. I don't even know what year this one was from. Just gonna open it randomly. Ah, here's one. 2-13, this was in February. I don't even know what year. Sometimes I put the year at the beginning.

Nope. Here's an example. Lord, help Laura to serve me better. Massages, grapes, that she would wipe the sweat off my brow. You ask, has God answered that prayer? Not yet, but we keep persevering. Pray and pray sincerely. Verse seven, and when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans do for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Don't be like them for your father knows what you need even before you ask him. I don't know what comes to your mind when you hear that word babble, but I have a feeling that what it means is that you're just saying things. You don't really mean what you're saying. You're just saying things. You're going through some kind of spiritual exercise that doesn't have any heart to it. It doesn't have any sincerity to it. There is a Greek word. that when Jesus said, when you pray, that Greek word is prosochomai, prosochomai. And that Greek word actually means that when you utter words, you are actually directing them towards God. So it's not just a wish,

it's not just a request that you're uttering, you're actually focusing that request and you're sending it to God. There's a reality to it that you're not just saying things, you are projecting to God what your heart's desires are. That's prayer. We talk to God like we talk to people. You don't just card out some spiritual kind of language and use a King James voice and feel like God's gonna hear you more for that. Just talk to Him. What matters to you matters to God. What you care about, God cares about. And I think we can just be honest. Sometimes I think, you know, when we pray, we ought to pray with a faith, a declaration of faith and trust that God's gonna do it. And I often do that. In fact, most of the time I do. But every once in a while, I'll put that HTG on the top of the page and I'm just gonna pour out my heart to God. And if it's mixed with some doubts and anxiety and fears, that's okay, I'm just gonna tell God how I feel in this moment. And God is not intimidated by that. He would much rather hear what's really on your heart than some made up language that's not even true for you. Just be honest with Him. And you can pray with confidence.

Prayer is so much more powerful than you ever imagined. And sometimes we just treat it like a last resort. We kind of throw up a prayer after we have tried everything else we possibly could. We've talked to our friends, we've tried to figure it out on our own. We tried to do what we think might fix the problem and then prayer is the last resort. Don't make prayer your last resort. Make it your first go-to. James chapter five and verse six, the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. It's powerful and effective. And you know what? You are made righteous by grace. God has given to you a gift, it's called righteousness. And your prayers are powerful and effective. Sometimes we think, oh, if I can just get somebody to pray for me, sometimes in the lobby, someone will come up and say, you know, I just, I need you. Like as if my prayers are more powerful than anyone else's. And I'm here to tell you, your prayers, the prayers of your prayer partners, the prayers of your small group, your life group, the prayers of all the people in your family, they are just as powerful as anyone else's prayer because by grace, God has made you right with Him. So you can have confidence when you pray. So I'm gonna ask Pastor Laura to come

and she's gonna lead us in a moment of prayer as she so eloquently does all the time. She prays over you and for you. She's gonna lift up the needs of this congregation. If you're going through a family drama, if you've got relational disconnects, if you've got a lost loved one that doesn't know the Lord, you're needing some healing, a financial breakthrough, we're just gonna believe God for miracles right here in our church family and those of you watching online. So let's pray. Thank you, Father. Father, we thank you so much that you see us. Father, you know us. Father, you created us. And in this moment, God, you know what we're going through. God, you know what we need. You know our hearts cries. Father, our longings. Father, our dreams. Father, those things that are really bothering us, God, that have just tried to weigh us down time and time again. And yet, God, you give us so much in your word that helps us to hold on to, to cling to, knowing that we can have hope because of what you have already done for us, Jesus, and God, what you promised to do. And so today, God, we thank you that we can look to your word.

God, we can see that Jesus, when he was here, he went about doing good and healing all who were sick and oppressed of the enemy. He was filled with compassion. God, you have compassion for us in our sickness, in our weakness. Father, in. Our addiction, Father, in the ways that we're being bound, and today, God, we ask that you would set us free, God, that you would bring healing and wholeness, Father, to our physical health, to our minds, our emotions, Father, to every single part of our lives, God, that's not lining up with how you would want it to be. Father, we know that the enemy alone comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus, you came, that we would have life and have it more abundantly, God, we're asking that you would breathe the Zoe life of God into every single person here and into every set of circumstances that they're facing. Father, we're trusting you today, God, to let heaven come to earth. Father, in our lives, God, we desperately need you. Father, in whatever ways that it is, God, we lift it to you, we thank you that you have commanded your blessing upon your people, Father, and we're asking that for our nation as well. Heal our land, God, in every way. In Jesus' name, amen, amen, amen. Let's all stand and worship together. I've carried a burden too long on my own I wasn't created to bear it alone And I hear your invitation To let it all go Yeah, I see it now I'm laying it down And I know that I need you I run to the Father I've fallen at grace I'm done with the hiding I'm risen awake My heart needs a surgeon My soul needs a friend So I run to the Father again

And again, and again, and again My heart has been in your sight Long before my first breath Running into your arms It's running to life from death And I feel this rush Deep in my chest Your mercy is calling out Just as I am You pull me in And I know I need you now I run to the Father I've fallen at grace I'm done with the hiding I'm risen awake My heart needs a surgeon My soul needs a friend So I run to the Father again And again, and again, and again You may be seated. When Jesus was closing out his discourse on prayer, he actually gave a model prayer for us to follow. And you know what? You can pray this prayer right out of the scripture. You can use this prayer word for word as it's written. But you can also use it as a rhythm to your prayer life, that each line in this prayer gives you an idea of where you can focus for a few moments and then go on to the next. This is what he said. This is how you could pray, should pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And give us this day. our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power

and the glory forever. I first learned that prayer in a small little United Methodist church that I grew up in, in the Northeastern part of our country. And sometimes I use that as a guide for my prayer life. And I'm actually in a season right now where that's what I'm doing. I actually take the Lord's prayer and I work through it section by section and just kind of allow the Holy Spirit to energize this prayer and make it real for me every day. Our Father, our Father, we have the opportunity to come to the creator of the universe as our Father. In Romans chapter eight, it talks about how we can call him Abba Father, the most intimate, endearing term in the Hebrew culture. He wants us to recognize that he's not just some force, not just some power, not just some God in the universe. He is our Father. And we can come before him like a child with his dad and that kind of heart. But then the prayer goes on to say, hallowed be thy name. And for me, that's a part where I can pause for a moment and just talk about how great our God is, that he is a God who is all powerful and he is all knowing, he's the creator of the universe and he is holy and he is righteous and he is high and lifted up and there's a respect and an honor that belongs to his name.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And I pause here sometimes more than any other section and I pray that it would be on earth as it is in heaven, that God's will will be done. And often I'll just start on a global scale. I'll just pray about what God is doing around the world. Your kingdom come, your will be done on all the nations, in all the nations of the world. And then sometimes I will pray into the ministries that we're supporting in Africa and in Asia, in the Philippines, in Kenya, in Botswana, in Haiti, and in India and all around the globe, there are places that we are sowing seed and helping to bring the gospel to places that have never heard it before. And I pray, God, your kingdom come, your will be done. And then I get to our country and I'll think about from Hawaii, because I got a brother who lives in Hawaii, so I don't wanna just say California, there's another state out to the west, Hawaii, and we just pray across the United States. And I pray into what's happening in our cities and what's happening in our states and what's happening in our country and any current conflicts and issues that might be on the table. We just pray, God, your kingdom come.

And then here in this great state of Texas, and then I pray over what's happening right here in central Texas, where we have influence as a church. And then I pray over our church, Lord, your kingdom come, your will be done. In shoreline, through shoreline, let us be like a city set on the hill. And I pray that over my family. Your kingdom come, your will be done. And then I end up, Lord, over my life. Let your kingdom come, let your will be done. Let it be in my life here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our, this day, our daily bread, all the resources that we need. God, I need all your wisdom. I need all your love and all your peace and resources. I just call upon you to give it to me, Lord. The other day, I was praying the next part of this prayer. Forgive me for all of my trespasses. And then it goes on to say, and forgive those who have trespassed against me. And I don't know what it was about this particular morning, but I was praying. and God just seemed to be stirring my heart and bringing to my mind some people that I hadn't fully forgiven. And so I just started forgiving people and forgiving people and even people I thought I had fully forgiven. You know, if they came into my mind, I forgave them again, even if I already fully did it.

Because I don't want to live with bitterness and I don't want to live bound. I want to live free and open-handed, able to love everyone. Amen. And lead us not into temptation. Put that hedge of protection around us. I want to live, as the end of that prayer says, I want to live a God-glorifying life. To you be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. You can just pray it word for word or you can use it section by section to guide your prayer life. But watch how the Holy Spirit will energize how you pray. And so here this morning, as we close our service, I'm just gonna ask you to stand to your feet. And if you can, I want you to grab the hand of the person right next to you. And I don't want you to have to do a lot of gymnastics to do this, but if you can actually cross over the aisles and grab the hand of the person, I know you don't know them, but they're shoreliners. They're awesome. They're amazing. And let's just pray. Let's just pray. Let's do what the Bible says we ought to do. So Father, we come before you, and oh God, what a joy it is to call you Father. So we come before you, our Father, Abba Father,

and we just declare that you are awesome, you are great, you are good, you are holy, you are righteous, you are sovereign, you are all powerful, you're the creator of the universe. And Father, we pray your kingdom come, your will be done in this great land of ours, Lord. You know all the issues, the financial, the racial, the inner city tension, Lord. You know all of the challenges and all of the compromises and how people, you know, in our freedoms, we've lost sight of how holy and good and what's true and right is to you, knowing that you have already paid us to be gracious in extending. Father, put a hedge of protection around each and every in our state, in our nation, in the world, for this to sing this last song together. Come on. ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Your, your will be done ♪ ♪ Heaven, come earth, in heaven, earth, in heaven ♪ ♪ Our Lord be your name, your kingdom come quickly ♪ ♪ Your kingdom come quickly, your will be done the same ♪ ♪ On earth as it is in heaven, let heaven come to earth ♪ ♪ As it is in heaven, let heaven come, oh, let heaven come ♪ ♪ Yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Would you let heaven come ♪ ♪ Yours is the kingdom, yours is the power ♪ ♪ Yours is the glory forever, amen ♪ ♪ Oh, yours is the kingdom, yours is the power ♪

♪ Yours is the glory forever, amen ♪ ♪ Yours is the kingdom, yours is the power ♪ ♪ Yours is the glory forever, amen ♪ All yours is the kingdom, yours is the power, yours is the glory forever, Amen. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, forever, Amen. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. All yours is the kingdom, yours is the power, yours is the glory forever, amen. All yours is the kingdom, yours is the power, yours is the glory forever, amen. All yours is the kingdom, yours is the power, yours is the glory forever, amen. With every head bowed and every eye closed, if you came to church here today and you're not where you need to be with God, what a beautiful way to end our service with giving you the opportunity to get right with Him. If you want to meet Him for the first time, rededicate your life to serving Him, would you please raise your hand quickly and boldly, wherever you are. Wonderful, God bless you. Their head's going up all over. All of you with your hands raised, I want to lead you in a very simple prayer. And I want you to pray this prayer sincerely from your heart. And I'm going to ask everyone else as a reaffirmation of your faith in God to join me in this prayer. Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending Jesus. Jesus, I ask You to come into my heart. Forgive me of all my sins. I put my trust in You. And I will live for You, from this day forward, by Your power, for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen. Would you give them all a great big hand clap? Wow. If you made that decision, I want to encourage you to, after we're dismissed today, to go either to my left or to my right. You'll see some signs there, made brand new. There's also an availability for you out in the lobby. If you're a guest or a first-time tender, we have a welcome room for you. We'd love for you to go back there and meet some of our staff. I'm going to be back there after the service. I'd love to have the chance to meet you. If you want to receive more prayer, we have prayer partners that will meet you here up front after service is concluded today. And then also, if you want to be a part of the parking ministry, you can do that. That's available out in that center lobby as well. How many of you are glad you came to church? God is good. Have a fantastic rest of your holiday weekend. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday.