The History Of God

Posted by fbropenclass on October 23, 2012

7:1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.

2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”

4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:

6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

7 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah): The list of the men of Israel:

8 the descendants of Parosh 2,172

9 of Shephatiah 372

10 of Arah 652

11 of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818 [supervisors of Moab]

12 of Elam 1,254

13 of Zattu 845

14 of Zakkai 760

15 of Binnui 648

16 of Bebai 628

17 of Azgad 2,322

18 of Adonikam 667

19 of Bigvai 2,067

20 of Adin 655

21 of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98

22 of Hashum 328

23 of Bezai 324

24 of Hariph 112

25 of Gibeon 95

26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah 188

27 of Anathoth 128

28 of Beth Azmaveth 42

29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 743

30 of Ramah and Geba 621

31 of Mikmash 122

32 of Bethel and Ai 123

33 of the other Nebo 52

34 of the other Elam 1,254

35 of Harim 320

36 of Jericho 345

37 of Lod, Hadid and Ono 721

38 of Senaah 3,930

39 The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973

40 of Immer 1,052

41 of Pashhur 1,247

42 of Harim 1,017

43 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah) 74

44 The musicians: the descendants of Asaph 148

45 The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 138

46 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47 Keros, Sia, Padon,

48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,

49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,

53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

56 Neziah and Hatipha

57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,

58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim and Amon

60 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392

61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

62 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 642

63 And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).

64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole company numbered 42,360,

67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.

68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,

69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests.

71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.

72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.

73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

There are 18 family names mentioned. 20 different towns and villages. 4,289 priests. And a number of family lines represented by individuals. Plus servants. Nehemiah’s grand total of 49,942 people (including those mentioned after verse 66) is very close to Ezra’s total of 49,897 (Ezra 2:64-65). The extra 45 in Nehemiah’s total are the singers (Nehemiah had 245 whereas Ezra referred to 200).

We don’t know why there is a difference. It may have been that the count had been taken at different times. It may have been that since the discrepancy is related to the singers that Ezra wasn’t counting the tenors.

Actually, there are some other differences between Ezra’s count and Nehemiah’s count, and the difference is probably a combination of discrepancy between women and children; the accounting of the Northern Tribes who were not settled in Jerusalem participated in the rebuild; or it may have been those that are described in verses 61-63, which we’ll take a look at in a moment.

Now, while this passage is curious and interesting because it gives us some insight to what was happening at that time, the purpose of this passage is not to give us a history lesson on the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

The Bible is not a history book about man. It is a history book about God. It is the story of God’s love and desire to relate to mankind. To accomplish His purpose and plan in His creation.

If you read this passage from the standpoint of the history of man, it becomes rather cumbersome and boring. But when you read this passage from the standpoint of the history of God and how He seeks to relate to His creation, it becomes a very different and powerful story.

You see to us, those names mean very little. They may be curious or interesting. Especially when you look at what some of the names mean…

But the truth that we need to cull from this passage is that every one of these people were important to God.

He created every one of them…with a purpose and plan for every one of them…each one with an eternal destiny designed by God.

25 … Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh

26 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.

Nehemiah 3:25-26

We tend to look at people for what they are worth to us. God looks at us for what we are worth for eternity.

Even the ones that it looked like they had no future…no right to be there…no hope:

61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

62 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 642

63 And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).

64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

Nehemiah 7:61-65

These were a number of people there who had no family record. They couldn’t prove their right to the community. They had no identity.

But they weren’t excluded without hope.

It was required that they meet with a priest that could use the Urim & Thummim to determine their fate.

Now, we have no historical evidence to affirm what the Urim & Thummim were. Many speculate that they were small stones. Some have suggested they were actually pieces of bone or wood. But whatever they were, they were used to determine fault or innocence, or truth or lie.

Urim and Thummim essentially means cursed or faultless

The reason they used the Urim and Thummim was because they had not been given the Holy Spirit to lead them. So God used other methods to reveal truth.

But you have the Holy Spirit!

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 14:26

8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:

9 about sin, because people do not believe in me;

10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;

11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

John 16:8-11

And to use anything other than the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to determine truth and the revelation of God is violating God’s standard and method.

Now, back to our passage in Nehemiah where the priest used the Urim and Thummim…

whatever and however it was used, this passage is a beautiful picture of God’s grace.

See, none of us has any right to the family of God. Our sin has separated us. We can’t plead immunity because of our lineage or our good works or our good name. We are separated from God.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

That’s a desperate position to be in. In the OT, the priest would use the Urim and Thummin to determine your condition, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

But God became our High Priest to provide a way for us to pass from being cursed to being faultless.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

Hebrews 4:14

God provided a way for YOU to have a place in the family of God…forever!

The apostle Paul explained it this way:

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Your “Working Faith”

Posted by fbropenclass on October 14, 2012

–Your “Working Faith”…or maybe not—when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

Welcome – — Dan & Marsha …..(no Dan hasn’t retired…….)

Grandkids 1

Video-2

Announcements/Birthdays –

–Your “Working Faith”…or maybe not—when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

(in Luke 18:8 Jesus refers to Jesus second coming. This will be a period of spiritual decline and

persecution, a time that will require perseverance and Faith, but few will endure.)

–Opening Prayer

– Jessica McClure – 25 years ago –Midland Tx –18 month old – 3 days

This morning we’re going to talk about “Working Faith”

How many of you watched some portion of the recent London Summer Olympics? Did you happen to see the Women’s 800 meter Swimming event? The race is 25 laps long, it takes over 8 minutes, the longest race of the competition. This year a 15 year old US swimmer (the youngest competitor in the entire Olympics) competed against 9 other seasoned Veterans. Maybe she didn’t know she should pace herself and not start out so fast. after all its 25 laps. Maybe she forgot she was the only rookie in the pool, but lap after lap she swam her personal best and lap after lap the TV announcers predicted the other more powerful swimmers would shortly over take her. But 8 minutes and 14 seconds later Katie Ledecky won the Gold Metal and beat the current World Record Holder, who was 2 lanes away. She beat a USA record set 23 years ago. Ledecky is the youngest athlete in any sport from any country to win gold since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

How did she do it? She wasn’t satisfied to just be there as an Olympic competitor, against all odds, she believed she could win. Her training and preparation prepared her for that grueling 8 minutes. She believed and acted on that Belief.

We may not be as dedicated as Katie Ledecky, but we all practice some degree of Faith

The Sun will be up each morning

The Lights will turn on when I hit the switch

The coffee maker will have a fresh brew when I get out of bed in the morning, or in my case, Sue will have a fresh cup ready for me along with my vitamins

But is that really Faith or just habit…

***– Oswald Chambers—“My Utmost for His Highest”– Faith

“Faith in active opposition to common sense is mistaken enthusiasm and narrow-mindedness, and common sense in opposition to faith demonstrates a mistaken reliance on reason as the basis for truth.”

***We all know what “Spiritual Faith” is, but here’s Dan’s definition:

“Faith” is Trusting Obedience to the Known Will of God

***(MY EXAMPLE) 57 VW ***Faith Is Not A Head Thing, It’s A Heart Thing

Video-3 –

Don’t let your Failures define your legacy, develop a Working Faith and God will use you, despite your failures. We Serve a God of second chances.

However, Faith can actually be an Obstacle to our Spiritual Growth. Sometimes we have no Power behind our Faith We know Faith exists and we Believe, but it’s not really an active force in our Life and consequently we dismiss it as not being relevant to our spiritual walk. We don’t have a “Working Faith”

What does Scripture says about this practical side of Faith, this “Working Faith”

In Matthew 17:20 Jesus explained to His Disciples……..

MT 17:20 …..”Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. “

Can you really believe that? Maybe it’s just symbolic or a metaphor meaning something else. (don’t you just hate when someone says that? Scripture means what it says & the Holy Spirit will interpret that Scripture for us)

How about this “Working Faith” example

GE 22:1 Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

GE 22:2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

GE 22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

(An often overlooked example of Faith is Abraham’s son Isaac——————- 17yrs old carried wood)

I look at this example and I know my Working Faith isn’t strong enough to be obedient and sacrifice one of my sons to God

( although some days,……. maybe a minor injury.)

***Was God testing Abrahams Faith? Does He test our Faith??

DEUTERONOMY 13:3 “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

2 CHRONICLES 32:31 . . . God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. (the Prophet Hezekiah, whether he would place his trust in human treaties or in God)

PSALM 11:4-5 The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
The Lord tests the righteous .

ISAIAH 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Israel, God’s chosen people were rebellious)

JOHN 6:5-6 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”
But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do….(tested Disciples)

JAMES 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (Jesus step brother written to Believers)

So, God does Test our Faith,

But it’s always an Open-Book Test, & With the help of God’s instruction Book we SHOULD always pass the test, but we don’t.

I used to think God doesn’t test us. I reasoned that He knew what was in us, so He had no need to test us.

Well, he does know — but WE don’t. Each time we step out in Faith & see a glimpse of God’s Plan for our Lives, we Trust and Grow and are open to be used by Him to a greater degree.

As God tests our Faith, (and if we stay faithful), we can see a little more of His Plan & enjoy Victory (however sometimes Victory is a long time coming). As our Working Faith grows, God will give us greater responsibilities.

It often seems the larger the God given opportunity ahead — the bigger the test required now. God tests our Faith to prepare us. Think of Moses or Abraham or Paul, they were all given great responsibility but not until they had overcome great adversity and each had established a Working Faith.

In school students are tested to determine whether they’ve mastered the Subject.

A student may think they’re ready to graduate, but testing is a reality check that forces the student to see the real situation

Learning and Growth involve testing; testing lets you know how you’re Working Faith is doing.

If you are not satisfied with your Faith walk, spend more time in God’s Word and in Prayer. Get serious about your Spiritual Connection & deepen your relationship with God

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

–When was the last time you read your Bible, other than on a Sunday? Or listened to a Christian radio station, or got on your knees in humility to God

That’s how you develop a Working Faith; develop a closer connection with God.

Remember Peter (right after the feeding of the 5000)^{Matt 14:22-33}

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
but the boat was already a considerable distance^£ from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night (they divided the night into four watches. These watches consisted of three hours each . beginning at 6 o’clock in the evening. the fourth was from three AM until six.AM, is was called the morning watch. )Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“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?”
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.”

What would you have done if you were in that boat? Yeah, exactly what the other Disciples did, look for the Life Preservers…

Why don’t we have a “Working Faith”? A Faith that works, a Faith we can count on when our Life gets tough and dishes up a Trial or Temptation. Instead we look for our “water wings” and hope they don’t spring a leak.

(John Ortberg – If you Want to Walk on Water, you’ve got to get Out of the Boat)

***A Working Faith requires not only being convinced that WHAT we believe in is true, (just knowing the truth is only half of working faith). We must ACT on thatFaith and Live our lives accordingly.

Brother Mike – Stock Market

What did Dan say again about Faith……

“Faith” is Trusting Obedience to the Known Will of God

“Trusting” when common sense tells you not to; “Obedience” when your brain tells you Reason should be your basis for Truth

***How do we “know God’s Will” for us?

Did you ever wish for a Burning Bush experience?

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that God first and foremost wants us to have a personal relationship with Him, and bring glory to Him by the way we live our lives.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39; Mark 12:29-31). (Greatest Commandments)

AND

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”. Prov 3:5-6

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declared the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” Jeremiah 29:11.

The biblical principle is that we live in the Present trusting in the Lord, daily living our lives obedient to Him, and He’ll direct us towards what He wants us to do in the future.

We live by Faith, trusting in the Lord today, and by this process God will prepare us for future service and get us to where He wants us to be. If we are living today for the Lord, the future will take care of itself.

Romans 12:1 …”I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.”

If you do decide to step out in Faith & “Present your Bodies as a Living sacrifice & don’t Conform to the Standards of this World” , how do we know God does have a Plan for our Lives; not just a long term Plan, but a Plan for today & tomorrow & the day after that.

”Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Jeremiah 1:5

Psalm 139: 1-4, 13-17

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD………………………………….

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Example –Pastor Brandon/Deacon Mtg – Names & God – Stars/each Hair

So, “Working Faith” starts with God, not us. If you’re making decisions based primarily on “You”, then you have your priorities backwards and you’ll not reach your full spiritual potential; it’s God first, then you.

Rick Warren said in his multi-zillion selling book The Purpose Driven Life, “It’s not about You” Life is about God. God is the Creator of all, and all of creation exists to bring Him glory.

Our Journey to a Working Faith, begins with an acknowledgement of God’s place in our Life.

That’s the order laid out by Christ in Matthew 10:39,

“If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me” (The Message).

You must want to Seek Gods’ Will & make it a daily priority in your Life if you want a “Working Faith” like Abrahams, Peters, Paul’s or DAN’S

- Joni Erickson Tada       Faith isn’t the ability to believe long and far into the misty future.
     It’s simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.

“Trusting Obedience”

Trusting is “taking God at His word”, Obedienceis Acting on that Faith& “taking the next step”

Heb 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Heb 11:1 (NEB) Faith… makes us certain of realities we do not see.

The New English Bible (NEB) is a translation of the Bible into modern English directly from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic

Heb 11:1 (Mof) Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see.

James Moffat published one of the first Modern Translations of the Bible in 1926

Heb 11:1 (Wey) Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.

John Wycliffe produced the first complete English language Bible in the late 14^th Century

HEB 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Do you believe He rewards those who faithfully seek Him?

For a lot of years I didn’t have a plan; I was a Christian who lived day to day…I didn’t have a Working Faith, but He still took care of me and my Family, waiting for me to Trust & to Grow

Does that describe you? Do you have a Working Faith in God? Is it a “REAL” part of your life? If not, what’s the point? Don’t be just a member of a “Spiritual Party” Who attends “Party Meetings” on Sundays. Faith may be part of your Life, but is it a daily Priority in your Life?

Like the car that doesn’t drive or a light without power, so is the man of Faith who Life doesn’t reflect a Working Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord.

Remember, Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Rom 10:17

.***God requires belief and trust in moments of human weakness, but Faith is what makes us strong. Faith is the state of being convinced that God is in control even if it seems to make no sense. However, Faith without “feet” is futile.

So tomorrow morning when you wake up turn over control of your day to the Lord; start your day in Prayer renouncing your own way and commit the day to Christ as Lord. This habit of committing to Jesus first each day, will develop in you a Working Faith. Remember, Christ already has a Plan for your Day, but only if you allow Him to be a bigger part of your Life. It’s a journey, it takes time and patience, but you’ve got to take the first step..

–Your “Working Faith”…or maybe not— LK 18:8 …. when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Are you content with the Working Faith in your Life?

When Christ returns, and He will, Will He find you with a Working Faith that reflects the kind of relationship you want with God?

I’d like to close with this verse:.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1Cor 2:9-13, 15-16

–Closing Prayer Next Week Dan returns (I Promise)

Power Praying (Continued)

Posted by fbropenclass on September 25, 2012

Matt 6

5 “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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

6 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.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

(for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.)

I. REVIEW

There are two versions of the Lord’s Prayer in the Bible. This one in Matthew 6 and one in Luke 11. They are quite similar, but there are differences. Why?

Most likely the prayer was taught several times. Jesus was a Rabbi (teacher). He was addressed and treated that way by the crowds, His enemies, and His disciples. When He taught, He usually sat; the teaching posture of that era of Rabbis. He taught on a number of topics that Rabbis only were allowed to teach. Rabbis often taught prayers to their followers by repeating them. So, the slight differentiation would be perfectly normal.

We’re going to take a look at the Matthew version because of it’s detail and setting.

A. Our Father In Heaven

There are over 50 prayers recorded in the Bible before this one (72 prayers in the Bible), and not once is God addressed in a prayer as Father. Jesus suddenly introduced a whole new concept!

Now, the Jews were not unfamiliar with the Father God concept, but praying that way was incredibly new. Jesus was saying, when you pray it needs to be very personal, intimate, and real.

B. 6 Petitions

Now, at this point we begin what some have called the 6 Petitions. There are six requests made during the rest of the Lord’s Prayer:

Your Kingdom Come

Your Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Give Us Today Our Daily Bread

Forgive Us Our Debts (Sins) As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Deliver Us From The Evil One

1. Your Kingdom Come

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:17)

Righteousness: “dikaiosune” The work (things) we do because of our

holiness (set aside for God)

Peace: “Eirene” Restored Quiet Rest

Joy: “Chara” Full (total) Delight

Now that’s a Kingdom!!! And wherever God’s kingdom or His Lordship is found, there will be totally changed people; people who live for God; people who know Jesus as Lord of their lives; people who have discovered the power of the Holy Spirit in and through their lives.

The kingdom of heaven is the willing acceptance of God’s rule within our individual lives. It is a kingdom of grace and forgiveness. And that Kingdom changes our lives; it changes our homes; it changes the way we do business; it changes the way we treat ourselves, our families, our friends, and the other people in our lives. It changes the way we think. It changes the way we live!

2. Your Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven

This is an interesting statement that Jesus introduces. It is a recommitment to yielding to God’s way.

I LOVE that Jesus taught us to pray this: Your will be done on earth AS IT IS in heaven.” God’s will can be done here on earth in the same way that it is done in heaven!!! That means that we really can have close to heaven on earth!!!

How so???

a. Heaven Is God’s Kingdom Without Dominion Of Sin!

b. Heaven Is A Place Full Of God’s Gifts!

c. Heaven Is A Place Where God’s People Gather

d. Heaven Is A Place Of Knowledge and Understanding!

e. Heaven Is A Place Of Childlike Wonder

f. Heaven Is A Place Of Treasure

g. Heaven Is A Place Where You Will Have Angelic Qualities

II. THE 6 PETITIONS cont.

A. Give Us Today Our Daily Bread

This is a breath-taking statement and petition.

The term for “daily” is never used anywhere else in the Bible. It’s not even used in classical

Greek literature. It is a compound word: “epiousios” – meaning supervening existence.

That, combined with the word “bread” reads “Give us for today that bread which causes us to continue to exist.” In other words, meet our needs for today.

One of the major flaws of human nature is that we live for tomorrow. Just about everything that we plan and do today has implications for tomorrow. We work today so we can retire tomorrow. We save money today so we can buy something we need tomorrow.

There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s quite wise to do so. But Jesus’ ministry put a great emphasis on “today”.

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:28-30)

In the story of Zacchaeus,

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. (Luke 19:5,9)

But the great truth behind this petition is that God is in the business of meeting needs! It’s what He WANTS to do!

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all

times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

(2 Cor 9:8)

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may

receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb 4:16)

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Pet 1:3)

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19)

To pray “Give us today our daily bread” is to acknowledge that you are completely dependent on God TODAY; that you are not planning a scheming behind God’s back; that you do not have a “Plan B”.

Now, I want to give some clarity to this. God does not say that you shouldn’t plan for tomorrow He does not say you shouldn’t be wise and financially astute. Look at the way Jesus explained it:

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.

17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”‘

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

The term “rich toward God” means focused and dependent on God, realizing that God is your source, your provider. It is a pathetic person who is financially wealthy, but not spiritually wealthy.

B. Forgive Us Our Debts As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors

This 4th Petition has two parts. But the focus of both parts should be the forgiveness

aspect as opposed to the indebtedness aspect.

Now, the word for debts here, “opheilema”, does mean debt or obligation, but it is also a

word that was used to refer to a debt that is in default – that cannot be paid

appropriately because the payment has already been missed. In other words, if I

borrowed a hundred bucks from you and promised to pay it back on Friday, but missed

the deadline, now I still owe you the money, but I have also failed my obligation to pay it

on time – in a sense a double fault.

1. Forgive Us Our Debts.

The fact is we are not able to pay the debt of our sin. Any sin is an offense

against God. The penalty for any sin against God is death.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in

Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

Without God’s forgiveness you are in default – not only have you not paid for

your sin, you have not paid for it on time. And the only way out of that mess is

God’s mercy – His forgiveness. Forgiveness that wipes the slate clean.

So, when you sin you need to ask and receive God’s forgiveness.

2. Forgive your Debtors.

Likewise, there are those who have offended you. They’ve lied to you; said

something inappropriate; they’ve hurt you; etc. Now, we’re not talking about

legal offenses here. We’re talking about personal offenses. Legal offenses are

handled by the law. They have a whole different set of guidelines and

requirements. But personal offenses are ours to forgive. Ours to release.

But how do you do that when you’ve been hurt so badly?

The secret is in the little word “as”.

Our forgiveness of others is to be a reflection of God’s forgiveness of us.

How does that happen?

Well, God’s forgiveness is based on the fact that the penalty of death for your

offense against God was paid on the cross by Jesus. In the same way, Jesus

paid for the offense that was made against you.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we

might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

a. Notice that He became sin…for US. God the Father pounded your

sin onto the cross. And He also pounded the sin of the person who

has offended you onto the cross.

b. If you can receive the forgiveness for your sin…you can receive the

forgiveness for the sin of the person of offended you.

C. Lead Us Not Into Temptation

This is one of the oddest statements. Doesn’t the Bible say:

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. (James 1:13)

The key to understanding this is in the word “Lead”. The word literally means “to carry or deliver to the point or the edge” of something. The perfect word picture is that of a delivery man bringing something and leaving it at your door.

So the idea here is “God, don’t leave me when I’m at the point of temptation.”

It is an acknowledgement that we are weak; that we need God’s strength; that we are dependent on His watchful, loving protection; that without Him, we are vulnerable and complicit to sin.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Cor 10:13)

D. Deliver Us From The Evil One

There is a common belief among many biblical scholars that “The Evil One” is intended here. The main reason given is that it follows the petition on temptation and temptation is normally attributed to the devil.

But I’m not sure that is sufficient enough to say that Jesus was referring to the devil. I maintain that Jesus meant to use the term He used and that He meant evil.

He used the same word in his prayer for the disciples in the Upper Room, and again the NIV interprets it as “the evil one”, but Jesus really just used the word for evil.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (John 17:15)

A better way to understand the flow of the prayer here is to understand the Biblical concept of human evil. The Apostle Paul explained it this way:

19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing.

20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Rom 7:19-20)

James explained it this way:

14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)

So, at the root of sin is evil. Your sin is rooted in evil – that evil nature which exists in

you; that nature which when allow to run unchecked wreaks havoc in our lives.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.(Rom 6:12)

So how do you deal with that root of evil in you life?

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (1 Pet 4:1-2)

a. Recognize that only Christ can overcome your sin.

b. Stay in the will of God.

c. Trust this promise from God:

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Tim 4:18)

E. The Doxology

The last line that we normally include when saying the Lord’s Prayer apparently was not included in the original manuscripts. In fact the earliest record we have of it is from sometime in the second century.

There’s nothing wrong with it. Nothing inappropriate. No doubt it was well-intended, but it was apparently not part of the original prayer.

That being said, it probably came from an earlier prayer by David in the OT:

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. (1 Chron 29:11-14)

Praying Like Jesus

Posted by fbropenclass on September 17, 2012

POWER PRAYING

Matthew 6:5-13

PRAYING LIKE JESUS

Matt 6

6 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.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

(for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.)

I. PRAYER MISTAKES (:5-8)

A. False Praying (:5-6)

1. Hypocritical Praying – pretending prayer

2. Using Prayer To Build Personal Esteem

3. Power praying is private and personal

B. Manipulation Praying (:7-8)

1. Prayer is not about asking for the same thing over and over until you get it!

It is not some sort of superstition where if you say just the right combination

of words you cast some sort of spell like the pagans attempt to do.

2. Many have misinterpreted what Jesus taught in Luke 18:

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.

3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men,

5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

(Luke 18:1-5)

What Jesus was teaching here was to never give up on your prayers…even when

the circumstances (unjust judge) seem to come against your requests.

3. Anytime you pray attempting to convince God of something, you are “babbling

like a pagan”. You are pitting yourself against spiritual power in some sort of

spiritual chess match and you will not win – why? Because God’s not listening.

You insult Him when you pray that way. You make it clear that you don’t know

the One to whom you pray. You don’t understand what prayer is.

4. Verse 8 is the calm and pointed reminder from Jesus that God knows what’s

going on. God never says, “What’s going on here?” He knows you. He knows

your circumstances. He knows what you need. What He wants to hear from you

is your total reliance and trust in Him. He wants you to get your eyes of the

problem and on to Him – the source; the solution.

II. DISCOVERING THE PRAYER (:9-13)

There are two versions of the Lord’s Prayer in the Bible. This one in Matthew 6 and one in Luke 11. They are quite similar, but there are differences. Why?

We’re going to take a look at the Matthew version because of it’s detail and setting.

A. Our Father In Heaven

There are over 50 prayers recorded in the Bible before this one (72 prayers in the Bible), and not once is God addressed in a prayer as Father. Jesus suddenly introduced a whole new concept!

Now, the Jews were not unfamiliar with the Father God concept, but praying that way was incredibly new. Jesus was saying, when you pray it needs to be very personal, intimate, and real.

It does not need to be public and/or impressive.

You don’t need a human intercessor. You don’t need a priest to do your praying. In fact, you don’t need anyone to do your praying for you.

This is where our Catholic friends have it wrong. Praying and asking other saints in heaven to intercede for you…to pray for you…violates the very privilege that you have as a child of God – to crawl up into God’s lap and have a heart to heart talk with Him. Nowhere did Jesus ever teach to pray to anyone but to The Father.

The apostle Paul made it even clearer that those who have the Spirit of God in them can address Him as ‘Abba’, ‘Father, my Father’.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Rom 8:15)

That is the privilege of God’s people. We can approach God as the perfect Father/child relationship. We can come to Him knowing that He accepts us that way, and is wanting us to come to Him that way!

But notice that Jesus said to pray to “Our” Father.

What an amazing statement! We belong to each other as a family because of our OUR FATHER!

When we truly begin to grasp that our brothers and sisters in Christ really are family, it will move our hearts with God-like compassion, challenging us to give and forgive, to share and to care for those around us.

And OUR Father will be so pleased!

B. Hallowed Be Your Name.

The word “hallowed” means “holy”, but the intent is “to be honored” or to hold in high esteem.

If we do not have a high regard for people who live or work with us, if we simply take no notice of them, if we are just not interested in their opinion, let alone their advice or moral judgment, if we ignore them: neighbor, teacher, husband, wife, colleague, or whomever, we ignore them because we regard their opinion and their advice as irrelevant. Many people act the same way towards God. We ignore him, we fail to honor the God who holds our very existence in the palm of His hand.

But if we have a high regard for someone, we are totally interested in their input and opinion. We honor them. The same thing is true with God. As we make our choices we should be asking, “Lord, what do You think about this. What do You have to say about this matter? That’s how we honor Him.

So we are to honor Him. But what does it mean that His Name is hallowed?

The Bible gives great significance to the NAME of God:

The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe. (Pro 18:10)

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom 10:13)

“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. (Isa 42:8)

In that culture and in most cultures, a person’s name is of extreme importance. A

name is one’s identity. In the same way that the word chair identifies what an object is, one’s name identifies a person, and we associate all the characteristics, talents and abilities that that one person has with their name.

For example when I say Michael Jackson, many of you think of a singer, some of you think dancer, and some of you think “why do they let some people breed?”. But his name encompasses all that she is. If I say Donald Trump, many of you think wealthy investor. Some think TV Show personality. Some of you think “how does he get his hair to do that?” But his name encompasses all that he is.

What God was saying was “I am the Lord, and you’re not!” Quit trying to be something that you aren’t. I am Lord, and I’m not going to share that responsibility or authority with anyone else, so don’t even think that you’re in charge.

So, “Hallowed be Your Name” is a way of acknowledging that you are not in charge – God is. You are not in control – He is. You are not on the throne – He is. It’s His Kingdom!

Therefore, God teaches us to pray for the establishment of God’s Kingdom…

C. Your Kingdom Come

Now, at this point we begin what some have called the 6 Petitions. There are six requests made during the rest of the Lord’s Prayer:

Your Kingdom Come

Your Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Give Us Today Our Daily Bread

Forgive Us Our Debts (Sins) As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Deliver Us From The Evil One

The kingdom of God is described a number of different ways in the Bible: ‘The kingdom of heaven,’ ‘The kingdom of God,’ ‘The kingdom of Christ and of God,’ ‘The kingdom of his beloved Son’ and in Revelation it’s called ‘The kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.’

Israel was ready for the Kingdom of God to come. When John the Baptizer spoke about it, proclaiming that the Messiah was at hand, it created quite a stir. Then when Jesus came along – the one John pointed out as the Messiah – and made statements like the one recorded in Mark 1 –

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the

good news!” (Mark 1:14-15)

They were beside themselves. Could it be? Could it be what they had been waiting for, for so long? Had the time come when Roman rule would be overthrown, and everyone in the world that had stood against Jehovah would be destroyed, and the final, perfect Kingdom of God would be established in Israel? Were they about to witness this massive political upheaval that they had been hoping for?

22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had

authority, not as the teachers of the law.

23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,

24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I

know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new

teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”

28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. (Mark 1:22-28)

But Jesus had some disappointing news for Israel: God’s Kingdom isn’t about armies and crusades, and conquests, and battlefields. The kingdom of God extends beyond the boundaries of this world, and therefore cannot be limited or contained by the definitions of this world.

And the things He said about the Kingdom of God were disconcerting!

But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Mat 12:28)

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 18:3)

“…the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

And not only did Jesus rile up the political factions that were ready to overthrow the government, but He really riled up the religious establishment when He said things like:

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:20)

…because what He was saying was that the Kingdom of Heaven wasn’t about political rule, NOR was it about religious rule! It wasn’t about how religious you acted, or about how much of the scriptures you knew! What He was saying to the Pharisees and Religious leaders was that their form of religion didn’t cut it with God, and that anyone could be more righteous than they were!

In fact, Jesus went on to say:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matt 7:21)

So, when Jesus teaches us to pray “Your Kingdom come…”, what does He mean?

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:17)

Righteousness: “dikaiosune” The work (things) we do because of our

holiness (set aside for God)

Peace: “Eirene” Restored Quiet Rest

Joy: “Chara” Full (total) Delight

D. Your Will Be Done

This is an interesting statement that Jesus introduces. It is a recommitment to yielding to God’s way.

The book of Daniel tells an amazing story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to bow down to the King, so they were to be thrown into a fiery furnace as punishment.

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.

18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Dan 3:16-17)

The words “But even if he does not…” are basically the same thing that Jesus said to pray – “But God, no matter what, You’re will be done.”

Jesus prayed this same way as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane as he got ready to face the cross. He asked the Father to spare Him the agony, but then said:

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

(Luke 22:42)

The greatest peace, the greatest hope, the greatest rest comes from immersing ourselves in this wonderful resignation and commitment: “God, the pressure is on right now; I don’t know what to do; I don’t know what choice to make; I don’t have any good options; things don’t look good for me… but Your Will Be Done!”

When we discover how to pray that legitimately, it will totally change our lives.

E. On Earth

We must live out God’s will on earth, even though we know that someday we will enjoy His will in heaven!

F. As It Is In Heaven

How so???

1. Heaven Is God’s Kingdom Without Dominion Of Sin!

But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne. (Mat 5:34)

2. Heaven Is A Place Full Of God’s Gifts!

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Mat 7:11)

3. Heaven Is A Place Where God’s People Gather

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 8:11)

4. Heaven Is A Place Of Knowledge and Understanding!

He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. (Mat 13:11)

5. Heaven Is A Place Of Childlike Wonder

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child and had him stand among them.

3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 18:1-4)

PRAYING LIKE JESUS

Posted by fbropenclass on September 12, 2012

Matt 6

6 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.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

(for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.)

I. PRAYER MISTAKES (:5-8)

A. False Praying (:5-6)

1. Hypocritical Praying – pretending prayer

2. Using Prayer To Build Personal Esteem

3. Power praying is private and personal

B. Manipulation Praying (:7-8)

1. Prayer is not about asking for the same thing over and over until you get it!

It is not some sort of superstition where if you say just the right combination

of words you cast some sort of spell like the pagans attempt to do.

2. Many have misinterpreted what Jesus taught in Luke 18:

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.

3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men,

5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”