November 4, 2017

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10

You no doubt recognize these two verses as the beginning of the prayer Jesus taught to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.

But we have established that Jesus did not intend this to be a rote prayer that they were to regularly, religiously or ritualistically pray. Jesus meant this to be a pattern for how to pray and as a picture of God.

Think of prayer as a spiritual conversation with a perfect Father. 

But even more, think of prayer as a spiritual conversation with a pure and perfect Father.

Further, Jesus adds that His Father is a POWERFUL pure and perfect Father!

If God is to be understood as a Heavenly Father. And He is. And if God is to be understood as a Holy Heavenly Father. And He is. Then He must be an all-powerful Heavenly Father! And He is!

Those things being true, how should I pray?

Jesus teaches that when we pray, we should commit ourselves to God’s will. We worship God when we give him our lives every time we pray. Jesus teaches that when we pray, we should commit ourselves to God’s will.

God has a specific will for your life. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 that his will is good and perfect and it fits you. Part of connecting with God is saying, “God, what is your will for me today? I want to do your will.”

In Heaven, God’s will is done perfectly. The problem on Earth is God’s will is not always done. That’s why we’re to pray, “Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We’re saying, “God, I want to submit to you. I want to do what you want me to do.”

You can pray “Your will be done” in three different ways. You can say it in resentment: “Your will be done, but I don’t like it.” You can say it in resignation: “Your will be done, because I can’t help it.” Or you can say it in anticipation: “Your will be done, because I know it is the best, and that’s what I want for my life today!”

 I was a kid, we watched a popular TV show called “Father Knows Best.” Your earthly father may not always know what’s best, but you can trust that your heavenly Father does. That’s what it means to say, “Your will be done.”

God has a specific will for your life. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 that his will is good and perfect and it fits you. Part of connecting with God is saying, “God, what is your will for me today? I want to do your will.”

In Heaven, God’s will is done perfectly. The problem on Earth is God’s will is not always done. That’s why we’re to pray, “Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We’re saying, “God, I want to submit to you. I want to do what you want me to do.”

You can pray “Your will be done” in three different ways. You can say it in resentment: “Your will be done, but I don’t like it.” You can say it in resignation: “Your will be done, because I can’t help it.” Or you can say it in anticipation: “Your will be done, because I know it is the best, and that’s what I want for my life today!”

I was a kid, we watched a popular TV show called “Father Knows Best.” Your earthly father may not always know what’s best, but you can trust that your heavenly Father does. That’s what it means to say, “Your will be done.”

Will you pray that prayer?

Conversation With A Pure & Perfect Father

"This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10

One of the many blessings of prayer is getting to know God, your Heavenly Father, through intimate conversations with Him!

As you discover Who He is you also gain a clearer view of yourself.

In this Scripture Jesus teaches that prayer is a conversation with a perfect Father.

He also reveals that prayer is a conversation with a PURE and perfect Father.

So, to review: God is a Father Who is:

• Perfectly approachable
• Perfectly available
• Perfectly anxious
• Perfectly aware
• Perfectly able

But He Is also perfectly AWESOME!

Jesus' pattern for prayer says, "Hallowed be your Name". God is an approachable Father but He is a HOLY approachable Father.

The word "hallowed" is "hagiazo" in the Greek. That means "holy" The American Heritage Dictionary defines hallowed as, "sanctified; consecrated; highly venerated; sacrosanct," like the hallowed halls of a great university. To hallow is "to make or set apart as holy. To respect or honor greatly; revere." In simpler terms, we often use hallowed to refer to someone whom we should treat with awe and respect because they deserve it. 

Why does the Lord's prayer contain the phrase, "Hallowed be Your name"? The phrase follows the opening of the prayer, which directly addresses God, so we know that the phrase means that God's name should be hallowed. When we review the dictionary definition of hallowed, we can understand why God should be hallowed, but why should His name be hallowed? 

To understand why God's name should be hallowed, we first need to understand that the Jews (God's chosen people) had different naming customs than we do today. To a Jew, a person's name was more than just a way to identify them physically; their name also reflected their nature. Jews named their children in a way that expressed the child's mission in life. Because of this custom, the Jewish people had about 16 different names for God in the Hebrew Old Testament. Each name reflected a different aspect of God's character, so God's names were considered by the Jews to be just as holy as God Himself. In fact, God's names were and are so holy to the Jews, that they never write His full name for fear of bringing disrespect to it and to God. 

In the Lord's prayer, the phrase, "Hallowed be Your name" is appropriate, because not only is God holy, but His name is holy too. We should never treat God's name with disrespect as some do when they curse and use God's name in vain. We should give the same respect and honor to God's name that we give to God because He and His name are one in the same.  

So, like an earthly father God made Himself approachable through Christ Jesus, we are to approach Him through prayer with the great respect and reverence that is due a Holy Father! Just as we should respectfully approach an earthly father - except more!

Have you been in touch with your pure and perfect Father yet this morning?

November 2, 2017

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,  on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10

Over my next three posts I want to identify three helpful insights Jesus shares with His disciples to help them become more effective in their prayers.

Are you interested in developing a more productive prayer life?

Here is the first insight on prayer from Jesus' teaching:

Prayer is a spiritual conversation with a perfect Father.

Prayer is a spiritual conversation.

We often think of prayer not as a conversation but rather as a monologue where we ask and He listens. That is not the image Jesus portrays in this teaching!

During prayer your spirit connects with the Spirit of God in a sweet communion, exchanging emotions, thoughts, desires, hopes and learning to hear His heart.

When prayer becomes a spiritual conversation guess what happens?

God becomes more real! 

Talking to God and especially - listening to Him - makes Him seem more real and personal! 

Talking to God and listening to Him gives you wisdom and direction.

Prayer is a spiritual conversation!

Prayer is a spiritual conversation with a perfect Father.

If you had a source for perfect information and perfect insights wouldn't you take advantage of it?

That is the nature of the God you can enjoy spiritual conversations with!

He is perfect in His character.

He is perfect in His nature.

He is perfect in His wisdom and knowledge.

He is perfect in His ways.

And when you enter into spiritual conversations with Him you can draw from all that perfection!

Prayer is a spiritual conversation with a perfect Father!

One of the things a father delights in the most is having long talks with his children. It is the best way to get to know them and for them to get to know him! It is time well spent!

And one of the things a child treasures the most is conversations with his father.

Conversations between a child and a father forms great memories.

Conversations between a child and a father forges great intimacy.

Jesus counsels His disciples to think of God as a Father and prayer as a conversation with their perfect Father.

How do you think of prayer?

What do you think of when you pray?

What happens when you pray?

If your prayers are not spiritual conversations with a perfect Father you have much to learn and much to gain by learning to pray!

Picture Of God

“This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your  Kingdom come, our will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10

You probably recognize this as the first two verses of "The Lord's Prayer". To put this prayer in context He has just told his disciples how NOT to pray and now He proceeds to instruct them in prayer.

How many times in your life do you suppose you have prayed the Lord's Prayer? If you have children you may have taught it to them.

What if I told you Jesus didn't give this to the disciples as a prayer to pray but as a pattern for how to pray?

And what if I told Jesus didn't didn't give this to the disciples as a prayer to pray but also as a picture of God.

Jesus is saying, "When you pray, pray according to this pattern."

He is saying, "When you pray, think of God in this way!"

So, Brad, are you saying I shouldn't say the Lord's Prayer?

No, I'm not saying that at all! What I am saying is you shouldn't limit your praying to a prescribed prayer. I am saying realize prayer is a way to get to know God better if you learn this pattern. I am saying that prayer will become much more meaningful as you understand the picture of God presented by Jesus in this teaching.

Here is an example.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" tells us two important truths about God. These are two amazing opportunities to get to know God through prayer. These are two great pictures of God!

First, God is approachable!

He is a Father Who lives in Heaven. But like a father He loves His children and longs to be with them (with you). He delights in having you call upon Him and commune through prayer. Tell Him your heart, your hurts and your hopes. Take time to listen to His whispers through His Spirit.

Second, God is awesome!

While God is approachable His Name is to be "hallowed". The word for hallowed is "hagios" or holy. You are to approach him with awe and wonder and humility and reverence.

You shouldn't approach your earthly father with disrespect. How much more "when you pray" should you approach your Heavenly Father reverently.

Do you see the pattern?

Do you see the picture?

When you pray will you let Jesus teach you to pray?

October 31, 2017

“And when you pray, do not 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. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray:" Matthew 6:5-9

You probably recognize this portion of Scripture as Jesus' thoughts leading up to the Lord's Prayer.

My preaching professor had a favorite statement he pounded into our heads, "A text without a context is a pretext."

Verses 5 though 9 provide the context for the Lord's Prayer.

Jesus begins his teaching on prayer by point out how they should NOT pray. "Don't pray like the hypocrites."

The disciples probably knew exactly what He meant by that but just in case they didn't Jesus got specific:

"Don't make a show of praying by going to public places to pray."

"Do go into a private place to do your praying to get along with your Father."

Prayer is intended to be a private and focused spiritual conversation with the Heavenly Father.

Did you notice a short phrase that is repeated several times in this portion of Scripture?

"When you pray......"

"When you pray......"

"When you pray......"

He didn't say "if you pray."

He didn't say "should you decide to pray."

Prayer is expected by God.

So, if you are expected to pray how should you expect to pray?

Jesus answered, "This is how you should pray....."

And then He taught them a pattern for prayer that has come to be known as "The Lord's Prayer".

October 30, 2017

"And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:32-33

These disciples had devoted their lives to Jesus and had followed Him 24/7 for the last few years. They knew that He was the Son of God and yet only after they were delivered from the storm did they cry out in worship "Truly you are the Son of God!"

What was that about?

It is our final Lake Lesson - You worship God better after you weather the storm.

Faith is a collaboration between the head and the heart. To have faith you must gain knowledge in your mind, but you also have to apply that knowledge to daily living. You encounter God in the Scriptures to understand His will and His ways, but you also must prove Him in the everyday issues and experiences of living. If His truth doesn't provide solutions for daily life then why believe it?

These water-logged disciples knew Who He was. Who He was was the very reason they were following Him. They had heard the teachings and seen the miracles watched His life and felt His touch. Just prior to getting into the boat on the other side of the lake they had witnessed a miraculous feeding of thousands. BUT, when He came to them and rescued them in midst of a terrible storm, they came to know Him in a new way. What they had known in their heart worked in the need of their life.

It was in the throes of one of the fiercest storms of a stormy life that I came to a new understanding of Who Jesus is. I have worshiped Him better since. While the waves were tossing me and the winds had turned against me I challenged God, "If these things I have been teaching about and preaching about for years don't work for me, I am out!" When they did work for me, I got in like never before! When I cried out to God, "I have lost everything that matters to me, all I have is You." God responded, "What else do you need?"

Are you in the middle of a storm? Are you struggling to stay afloat? Is your mind wanting to doubt what you heart wants to believe? Is the storm inside you greater than the storm around you?

You are ripe for a Lake Lesson! You are about to know God in knew ways as Jesus proves He is beyond belief, He is bigger than life! He knows where you are in the storm, He knows about the storm within you, He knows how to get to you, He is probably on the way right now, and when He gets there He will calm the storms. After He calms the storm you will believe stranger and worship better!

We worship better after we weather the storm!

October 29, 2017

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:28-31

The ultimate result of thinking out of the boat for Peter was that - well, he got out of the boat! Once he realized that it was Jesus Who was coming to Him on the water he wanted to be with Jesus. The storm had not kept Jesus from getting to them, why should the storm keep him from Jesus? So when Jesus called Peter to get out of the boat - he did!

Peter stepped out of the boat and onto the storm-tossed waves and began walking on the water. Only two people I know about that ever walked on water. One of them was Jesus and the other was Peter! That is pretty select company, eh?

We don't really know how far Jesus walked over the waves but HE DID WALK ON WATER! He was so focused on getting to Jesus that he focus on the Savior rather than the storm.

Somewhere between where Jesus was and where the boat was, Peter momentarily took His eyes off of Jesus and began to sink under the waves.

What caused him to sink under the waves that He had just been walking on? Jesus identified the reason as doubt. But was it doubt in Jesus that brought him down or was it doubt in his own inability to walk on water?

I guess in the final analysis it really doesn't which it was, the fact remains he walked on water while He kept his focus on Jesus. But the moment he focused more on the storm and less on Jesus he went from being a walker to being a swimmer.

That brings us to our next Lake Lesson - When you are in the storm stay focused on Jesus! focusing on Jesus is the difference between being IN the storm and being ON it!