Lord, teach us to pray (Part 1)

 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke11:1

Teach us to pray

The disciples saw Jesus praying and when he finished, they asked Him to teach them to pray. Note that they didn’t say, “teach us HOW to pray.” They knew how to pray. We see that in Jesus’ response. He says, “When you pray….” They also knew they ought to pray and by their request we can see that they understood that they fell short in the discipline of prayer. They asked that he teach them “to” pray.

Most of us can echo this request today, because we don’t spend enough time in prayer. It’s not that we don’t know how to talk to God. It’s that we don’t.

In response to their request, Jesus gave them a model prayer. It is very similar to the prayer he prayed during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13) which today we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. But this model he gives in Luke 11 differs from that prayer.

And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. (v. 2)

 

Prayer is about relationship

The first thing we learn from this model is the importance of relationship found in the word “Father.” Prayer is the privilege of God’s children—those who are born again. It is necessary for us to have a relationship with God before we can really pray. If you aren’t a child of God, your only approach to God is through Jesus Christ (see John 14:6). As a child of God, our relationship opens the door to God. Our Father in heaven always hears our needs and is willing to commune and fellowship with us. He is always available through our relationship. He is our Father. It is an intimate relationship with God and prayer draws us closer. We have a Father in heaven who loves us, will listen to us, and help us. This encourages us to pray.

Hallowed be thy name

“Hallowed by Your name.” His name. This isn’t referring to his title, God, but his name. We can’t pronounce His name. It has no vowels in the Hebrew. What’s interesting is that in the Hebrew, his name is a verb that means “the becoming one.” “I am.” It is a name by which God reveals his desired relationship with you. He is willing to become to you what your need is. If you look into the namesof God used in the Old Testament, this brings a deeper understanding to how God becomes what we need. For instance, Jehovah-Raah means The Lord My Shepherd and Jehovah Rapha means The Lord that Heals. Through Jesus Christ he has become God our Savior.

As we pray, we declare His name hallowed (holy). This is one of the reasons the Jewish scribes left the vowels out of the name of God, because they thought the name so holy that people were not worthy to even say it or read it to themselves. So they made it unpronounceable. We can say that is extreme, but in our culture we’ve gone the other direction. It isn’t unusual to hear people call God, “The big guy upstairs” or similar euphemisms. 

Thy kingdom come

“Your kingdom come.” In this phrase we come to the real purpose of prayer. Let me say, God didn’t intend prayer to be a negotiation to bring your kingdom to earth. But many treat it this way. They think prayer is how you get your heart’s desires. We see this in some of the formulas for prayer that promise results in getting what you want from God in this life now. This is not the purpose of prayer. God is not a genie that grants your wishes. Praying in this way reveals a person who thinks they are sovereign, rather than honoring God as sovereign. Prayer isn’t about accomplishing our will on earth. Prayer is about God’s will. It opens the door for God to do the work he desires in our hearts, which reminds me of Ps. 37:4, “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” If we delight ourselves in the Lord, our desires line up with his desires.

This brings me to praying in Jesus’ name. Jesus taught his disciples to pray in his name in John 14:13–14; 15:16; 16:23–24. Many people tack the phrase "in Jesus name" onto the end of a prayer without understanding what it means to pray in Jesus’ name. Praying in Jesus name isn’t a mantra that makes prayer "work." It goes back to our relationship with God. It is through Jesus that we have our access to God in prayer. By grace, the Holy Spirit unites us to Christ and grants us entrance into the fellowship that Jesus has with His heavenly Father. Praying “in His name” means praying according to His will. Yes, we can express our desires and our will in matters of prayer but when we pray in Jesus name we submit our will to His. We don’t have to say, “In Jesus name,” we only need to pray in Jesus name--his will.In this way, you yield yourself to God’s will in prayer.

Lord, teach us to pray (Part 2)

About The Inheritance

Written within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, The Inheritance offers a literal but symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you believe in your own quest for the Eternal City. The Inheritance is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families who enjoy meaningful discussions.

The Inheritance is available on Kindle, paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Kobo (Christian fiction), and Googlebooks. When you read it, be sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support.

Photo credits: pixabay

Saving the earth or saving souls

 

Back in 1970, we celebrated the first Earth Day. I thought it a strange thing. What were we celebrating? Turns out that it united groups around the country who had been fighting pollution, oil spills, etc. Earth Day created a platform for people who cared about taking care of the earth. Some looked at it as saving the earth and for others it was about doing a better job of taking care of what God gave us. But it morphed into something more. We started to hear about the imminent cooling of the Earth and dire predictions of a coming time of extensive glaciation, due to the cooling effects of aerosols and orbital forcing. But science didn’t back that up those claims, so the message changed to global warming. When science didn't back up these predictions either, this earth-religion changed its name to climate change. Now it’s about saving the earth and keeping people safe.

The climate-change earth religion isn’t something new. If we look back in history, we see a wide range of peoples and beliefs who fall into this group. This includes paganism (polytheistic, nature-based religion); animism, (worldview that believes all living things possess a spirit including: people, animals, and plants); and Wicca which embraces the concept of an earth mother goddess.

 

Ancient Earth worship deities

In Greek mythology, Gaia (also spelled Gaea) is the representation of the Earth. Her title is goddess of the earth, mother of all life. Similarly, Tellus, also called Terra Mater, is ancient Rome’s version of the earth goddess who is often pictured reclining with a cornucopia. But ancient Greece and Rome weren’t the only ones who worshiped the Earth rather than the Creator God. Pachamama is another Earth goddess. This one, according to Inca legend, is an ever-present and independent deity. She was believed to be the creative power that sustained life or took it away with the ability to control fertility and even cause earthquakes. Prithvi Mata known as “the Vast One” is the Sanskrit name for the Earth as well as the name of a Hindu goddess (as well as in some branches of Buddhism). The Hopi believed in Kokyangwuti, Spider Grandmother, who along with their Sun god Tawa created the Earth and its creatures.

Christian stewardship

Christian stewardship refers to the Christian's responsibility in taking care of and using the gifts God has bestowed on us. This includes  the Earth which God created as well as the things on the earth. We are charged to be good stewards or managers. But we must be careful to hold fast to the truth of God’s Word and not be swayed by worldly wisdom or carnal thinking. 2 Peter 2:7 says that "the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly." All our works, the good deeds we've done will be tested by fire, and only things eternal will survive the test.

Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God (Col. 3:2-3).

Believers need not fear climate change. We need not worry about saving the Earth. Instead, we should be seeking to save souls, and to live for Christ. If we do that, we will care for the earth and care about things eternal. Ask yourself, which are you putting most effort into: Saving the earth or saving souls.

 

About The Inheritance

Written within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, The Inheritance offers a literal but symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you believe in your own quest for the Eternal City. The Inheritance is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families who enjoy meaningful discussions.

The Inheritance is available on Kindle, paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Kobo (Christian fiction), and Googlebooks. When you read it, be sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support.

Photo credits: pixabay,

A focus of praise

The other morning, as I prayed before slipping out of bed, I asked God to help me praise him more. I realized that I thanked him often, and said, “I thank and praise you,” but I wanted to be more specific with praise. After all, believers will praise him in eternity. I figure I should get into the practice now…”on earth as it is in heaven.” God started to answer my prayer that morning through my morning Bible reading.

 

I opened to Psalms 117. It was so short! Only two verses which call for universal praise of God.

Praise the Lord, all nations! Glorify Him, all peoples!  For His faithful love to us is great; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah! Psalm 117 (HCSB)

Even though it is the shortest of the Psalms it was by God’s providence that I read it that morning after my prayer. I was reminded to the praise him for his faithful love and his merciful kindness that I don’t deserve.

Since it was such a short Psalm, and did speak about praising God, I decided to study it. You know what I mean. Dig in a little deeper and see if God had a nugget to help me learn to praise him more. And I did. I learned that Psalms 113-118 is known as the “Hallel” which in Hebrew means praise. It’s where we get the word halleluiah. These Psalms are recited as a Jewish prayer by observant Jews on Jewish holidays as a way to offer praise and thanksgiving.

Jesus sang these Hallel Psalms

In ancient times, these Psalms were traditionally sung at the celebrations of the Feast of Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, and the feast of Pentecost. I found it inspirational to think Jesus sang these same Hallel songs with his disciples. In Mark 14:25-26 following the Passover meal (last supper) we see that Jesus and His disciples sang psalms before going to the Mount of Olives.

I assure you: I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in the kingdom of God.” After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Mark 14:25-26).

They would have sung the Hallel. Psalm 118 is the traditional song sang at the close of the Passover Feast, and it just so happens to be a prophetic Psalm of Jesus that was fulfilled that very night! As Jesus sang these words he knew what was about to happen in the garden, on the cross and everything in between.

As I read Psalm 118 equipped with this bit of history, it choked me up. It starts with giving thanks to God for his goodness and love which endures forever. Vs. 4 speaks of his faithful love, “Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His faithful love endures forever.’”

Vs. 5-7 speak of calling on the Lord when in distress. "I called to the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and put me in a spacious place. The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is my helper; Therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.”

But the vs. that stood out to me were verses 22-24.

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

 This came from the Lord;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This cornerstone is Jesus. This Psalm describes his rejection and his triumph. The builders in verse 22 are the Jewish religious leaders, who rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The Stone, which they disavowed, received the place of honor as the headstone of the corner. The rejected stone now sat at God's right hand.

Stop and think. Jesus sang Psalm 118 knowing what was ahead. He went to the cross as a willing sacrifice. I can’t begin to imagine. But I can praise God for his example. I can praise God for providing the way for us to escape the second death. And I definitely can praise him for his lovingkindness and mercy.

Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death (Revelation 2:11)

Praise God