Heidelberg Catechism days 45-52 part 2

 Heidelberg Catechism days 45-52 part 2: The Lord's Prayer part 2

Questions & Answers:

LORD’S DAY 48

123. Q – What does the second request mean?

A – “Your kingdom come” means, Rule us by Your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to You. Keep Your church strong, and add to it. Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against You and every conspiracy against Your Word. Do this until Your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it You are all in all.

LORD’S DAY 49

124. Q – What does the third request mean?

A – “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” means, Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey Your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.

LORD’S DAY 50

125. Q – What does the fourth request mean?

A – “Give us today our daily bread” means, Do take care of all of our physical needs so that we come to know that You are the only source of everything good, and that neither our works and worry nor Your gifts can do us any good without Your blessings. And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and to put trust in You alone.

LORD’S DAY 51

126. Q – What does the fifth request mean?

A – “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” means, Because of Christ’s blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of Your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors.

LORD’S DAY 52

127. Q – What does the sixth request mean?

A – “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” means, By ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And our sworn enemies – the devil, the world, and our own flesh – never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory.

128. Q – What does your conclusion to this prayer mean?

A – “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” means, We have made all these request of You because, as our all powerful King, You not only want to, but are able to give us all that is good; and because Your holy name, and not we ourselves, should receive the praise, forever.

129. Q – What does that little word “Amen” mean?

A – “Amen” means, This is sure to be! It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer, than that I really desire what I pray for.