Illusion

And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. Matthew 24:4-5

This picture is an illusion. Stare intently at the 4 dots in the center of the drawing for about 30-40 seconds, then look at any smooth or single colored surface. A circle of light will begin to develop. If you blink your eyes a few times, a figure will begin to emerge. What is it that you appear to see?

Is it Jesus? It is not. It is an illusion, and we are quick to recognize it as being an illusion. Are we as quick to recognize truth when we hear it as it pertains to a Biblical viewpoint? We live in a world where an abundance of teachers are pointing to ways that seem right to man. Many point to various ways to God. Many are working toward unified ecumenical religious organizations where Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus come together in blended faith. Many teach doctrines established by men that, on the face of them, seem to be authentic – but are they? How do we know what is true and what isn’t? How do we escape false ‘christs’ or false witnesses? How do we guard ourselves from being deceived?

In the Book of Proverbs, we find an identical warning in verses 14:12 and 16:25, which tell us “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” The scriptures, in full context, lay out the following truth . . . There is only one way to be reconciled to God: By faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone. Once we come to the place of receiving Christ as Savior, we begin to feed on the milk of the Word. How? Faith comes by hearing. . . We hear from the pulpit, we hear in small group settings, we hear though others who know God. At least we presume they do, sometimes by virtue of position, but do they really?

It isn’t enough that we are hearers only. We have responsibility to be able to discern what we hear, and we can’t do that unless we have an uncompromising standard of measure. As Christians, our standard of measure must always be the Word of God.

In order to learn who God is and to train ourselves to distinguish between what is genuine and what is illusion, we must study the Word of God: in its entirety, in its full context, in light of what the scripture is saying. It cannot be the ‘gospel according to me’; it must be the Gospel as God has presented it in truth, in completeness, in entirety. Biblical ‘cut and paste’ can lead to death. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The writer of Hebrews corrects and exhorts us when he says, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

Are you equipped to discern good from evil? Do you trust anything outside of faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone for your salvation? Do you take time to study the Word of God and to pray or do you depend upon others to tell you what God's word says? If not, begin today to ask Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the scriptures so that you will not be confused or taken captive to false doctrine or false teachers.

After Easter . . .

As Jesus prepared His disciples for the events that were to follow the last supper, John 16:7-12 tells us that the disciples could not understand that Jesus must die and rise again. Instead of receiving what the Lord was giving them, they were overcome by grief. Yet Jesus encourages them saying, ”But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

In the days to follow, Jesus would continue to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:1-11

He is risen indeed! And what a joyous inheritance we have as sons and daughters of the Most High! When Pentecost came, a sound like a rushing mighty wind would blow in from Heaven, and the little band of believers would never be the same!! They were armed and on the way to fulfilling the Great Commission totally driven, directed, empowered and in submission to the 3rd person of the Godhead, Holy Spirit! The Spirit indwells us as we receive Christ as Lord today. We don’t have to wait.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The Spirit of God today is at will and at work in full power to bring the good news of the gospel to every nation. The history that began 4000 years ago for the people of God is still the good news for today! It is a message of salvation, healing, deliverance and hope for tomorrow! We can go as deep with Holy Spirit as our heart desires – the more we seek Him, the more we make Him a part of our daily decisions, the more we understand and the more effectual we are in the bigger purposes of God’s truth and plan for our lives!

And the very best news of all is that this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. We live in a corrupted world of limited vision – especially in spiritual places. Every prophecy about the Lord’s first coming has been fulfilled, and so will His second be!! Are you ready? Will you embrace the fullness of Jesus today and welcome Holy Spirit’s work in your life? Will you let Him lead, guide and empower you to live a life of kingdom vision? Will you pray that He will empower you to share the good news of Jesus and declare His word in your family, your neighborhood, and on the job?

If we receive Him as the early Church received Him, we can experience the same manifestation of Holy Spirit’s power, which resulted in believers who devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved!!

On Saturday

John 20:9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

Have you ever considered what life must have been like for the disciples on the Saturday? Just the week before Jesus had triumphantly entered the city to celebrate the Feast of Passover. Within a few short days, the world around them would swirl out of control. The soldiers would come to take Jesus away. He would be beaten beyond recognition and put on trial before Pilot. Fiery Peter, afraid of nothing, would deny Jesus. Other than John, there is no record that any of them would have accompanied Him to the cross. The agony that befell them must have been beyond endurance as the women anointed Him for burial. This end, or so they thought, was not what they expected. They did not understand that He must rise again. They couldn’t possibly understand that in this moment of utter darkness for them, the greatest miracle of mankind had been completed. Sunday was about to rise in victorious splendor!!

We simply cannot meet Jesus in our understanding. We cannot find him in the most intense search for knowledge, nor in doctrines established by man. We can only meet Him through a quickening of Holy Spirit in truth. We meet Him at our point of our need by grace alone through faith alone. We must cling to our hope in Him during those moments in our own lives where utter darkness may prevent us from seeing the bigger picture of God’s glory.

Jesus is not an abstract “God idea”, He is a living Lord, who yearns to bring all mankind into fellowship with Him. He desires to dwell with you, to be your King. Do you know this Jesus in a personal and life changing way?

It is my absolute joy to be able to share my favorite Easter devotional with you . . . From Max Lucado . . .

ON SATURDAY . . .

John didn’t know on that Friday what you and I now know. He didn’t know that Friday’s tragedy would be Sunday’s triumph. John would later confess that he “did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from the dead” That’s why what he did on Saturday is so important.

We don’t know anything about this day; we have no passage to read, no knowledge to share. All we know is this: When Sunday came, John was still present. When Mary Magdalene came looking for him, she found him.

Jesus was dead. The Master’s body was lifeless. John’s friend and future were buried. But John had not left. Why? Was he waiting for the resurrection? No. As far as he knew, the lips were forever silent and the hands forever still. He wasn’t expecting a Sunday surprise. Then why was he here?

You’d think he would have left. Who was to say that the men who crucified Christ wouldn’t come after him? The crowds were pleased with one crucifixion; the religious leaders might have called for more. Why didn’t John get out of town?

Perhaps the answer was pragmatic; perhaps he was taking care of Jesus’ mother. Or perhaps he didn’t have anywhere else to go. Could be he didn’t have any money or energy or direction … or all of the above. Or maybe he lingered because he loved Jesus.

To others, Jesus was a miracle worker. To others, Jesus was a master teacher. To others, Jesus was the hope of Israel. But to John, he was all of these and more. To John, Jesus was a friend. You don’t abandon a friend??? Not even when that friend is dead. John stayed close to Jesus.

He had a habit of doing this. He was close to Jesus in the upper room. He was close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was at the foot of the cross at the crucifixion, and he was a quick walk from the tomb at the burial.

Did he understand Jesus? No. Was he glad Jesus did what he did? No. But did he leave Jesus? No.

What about you? When you’re in John’s position, what do you do? When it’s Saturday in your life, how do you react? When you are somewhere between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God??? or do you linger near him? John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around on Sunday to see the miracle.

[He Chose The Nails] Max Lucado
Copyright [Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000]
Used by permission

Who is Your King

For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24.

Samuel had served the Lord righteously as priest, prophet and judge He loved God, and he obeyed what the Lord directed him to do. The Bible teaches us that Samuel’s sons did not walk in his ways, however, which gave justification in the eyes of the people to ask for a king over Israel. When the people of God cried out for a king, it must have grieved Samuel’s heart. Surely it grieved the heart of God, who desired to rule over his people, but the people insisted on a king that they could see.

God would appoint Saul, a humble young man as Israel’s first king, but like so many who start out strong in the Lord, Saul’s focus would shift to ‘self’. As power and prestige increased, King Saul struggled with doing what was right in his own eyes and in his own might. Instead of focusing on God’s direction and authority, Saul began to react compulsively to the circumstances around him. It wouldn’t be long before jealousy and greed and feeding the sinful aspects of his character would rob Him of the Spirit that God allowed to fall upon Saul.

At the King’s coronation, Samuel wanted to wash his hands of the whole issue. Samuel was old by this time. He’d warned the people of Israel to honor God and do right in the eyes of God. He told them of the consequences they would experience in serving an earthly king. But as Samuel confronted the people of Israel and the King, Samuel says something here that grabs my attention. As he addressed the King of God’s nation, the ruler over His people, Samuel said . . . “far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (Selah, pause and consider) Over and over the scriptures teach us that God is the one who ordaines the earthly kings upon their thrones. Sometimes those kings are righteous rulers and the people are blessed. Sometimes they used as agents of God’s judgement and wrath. But in any event, we are commanded to pray for them. Note that Samuel says here that it is a sin in God’s eyes not too pray for God’s people and their leader(s).

The USA cannot be separated from Israel spiritually; neither can she be separated from the Roman Empire politically. While we grieve for the current state of nation, we must recognize the rebellion and mockery against Jesus Christ and the Judeo Christian values our country was founded on within the powerful halls of our rulers. Like a spinning top, we whirl toward an abyss of our own making. Like an elephant in the living room, we try to pretend it isn’t there, but everyone knows that is there and shuffles around it. I am concerned that if the United States does not repent as a nation and seek the face of the sovereign God that made us such a uniquely blessed nation, the trials that we encounter today will pale in scope to those ahead of us.

As someone who truly loves the nation of Israel and considers it my spiritual home, I am heavily burdened by what is happening in and around her today, and especially by the pressures that the United States continues to place upon her. A careful analysis of the timing of some of the most costly tragedies in recent American history remarkably coincide with our nation’s attempts to force Israel into giving up her land. Last week, she was globally and arrogantly rebuked by the United States because she announced 1600 new apartments for residents living in East Jerusalem and the opening of a synagogue. The roadmap for peace, or land for peace venture calls for East Jerusalem to be established as a Palestinian capital. How many Christians know that East Jerusalem is the City of David, and that it is here where the Temple Mount, the Mt. of Olives and so many sacred, holy places to not only the Jews but Christians are located? Do you know that if you are a Jew or a Christian that you cannot take a Torah or a Bible to the Temple Mount area and that you are forbidden to pray there? Do you know that the West Bank is Judea and Samaria? Did you know that Jews cannot enter the holy cities of Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jericho because they are Palestinian cities?

As Jesus entered the holy city upon that donkey so long ago, the palms were spread out and the people praised Him. As he prepared His disciples for what was ahead and told them what to watch for, he lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” Are we different as a nation than the Israel of Christ’s time?

We are living in amazing times. God is giving us opportunity to see the church arise in truth and passion. Unfortunately for many, man does not come to God in humility unless He is broken. The persecuted Church is on fire throughout the world. But then persecution always brings the glory of God doesn’t it? Today in the midst of the Muslim countries, an awakening is gaining momentum mightily with visions of Jesus visiting young Arabs and bringing them truth and hope in Christ who died for them instead of Allah who demands that they give up their lives by taking the lives of others. In China, it is said that a million people a day are being added to the underground church.

What will it take for the Western Church to wake up? Must we be broken? People, we must pray for our nation. We must pray that that God will move mightily in the halls of those who rule over God’s people. We need to pray that righteous leaders arise. We need to repent before God. We need to pray that God’s will is done through his appointment to the nation’s highest offices. We need to pray for Benjamin Netanyahu. He is a righteous man. We need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for her protection. We need to pray that the United States cease and desist its demands that Israel abandon her land.

If we do not, we sin against God and disobey His commandments. In spite of what is right in our own eyes, that is what the Bible teaches. God’s vision in Ephesians 2 is for 1 new man in Christ ~ Jew and Gentile. Paul says, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”

Those same people who spread the palms before the Lord on the Palm Sunday would deny Him in front of Pilot and cry out for Barrabas to be freed. Yet, Christ would lay down His life for them anyway. He was well aware of the entire picture. He was fully aware of the horrible price for the blood that He alone could provide for atonement. He also knew that one day, He would return again to assume His rightful place as King of all the earth!! And His throne will be in the Holy City! His subjects will be those who determine to believe Him, determine to obey Him, determine to surrender what was right in their owns eyes for what God desires.

Jesus was an observant Jew. The Church of Acts was a Jewish church. American Christianity has not replaced Israel. Please pray God’s mercy over the United States in our rebellion, even as Israel rebelled, and for the peace of Jerusalem.

Pattern for Prayer Part 2

By Ben Godwin, Silver Cup Ministries: www.bengodwin.org (used with permission)

The Power of Prayer
John Wallace wrote, “Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.” Prayer places all the resources of heaven at your disposal. The value and power of prayer is immeasurable. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) The scriptures are replete with examples of how prayer turned the tide in the favor of God’s people:

• The cry of Israel moved God to deliver them from slavery in Egypt—Exodus. 2:23.
• The prayer of Elijah shut up the rains for three and a half years. Then, when he prayed again, God restored the rain—James 5:17-18.
• The desperate prayer of Hannah produced a son—I Samuel 1:12-20.
• Prayers of repentance spawned a city-wide revival in Nineveh and postponed the judgment of God—Jonah 3:8-10.
• The New Testament church was birthed out of a prayer meeting—Acts 1:14.
• Prayers of Jesus and the apostles healed the sick and raised the dead.
• The prayer of Paul and Silas brought an earthquake to a Philippian jail—Acts 16:25-26.

Numerous other examples could be cited. The power of prayer has and can literally change the course of history. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Pointers for Prayer:

• Pray periodically: “And when thou prayest…” (Matthew 6:5) Notice Jesus said when not if you pray. Make prayer a habit that you engage in periodically throughout your daily routine.

• Pray without pretense: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” (Matthew 6:5) Motives matter to God. The purpose of prayer is not to impress people or appear religious but to draw close to and make a spiritual connection with the God of the universe.

• Pray in private: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy father which is in secret: and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:6) Corporate prayer is desirable at certain times and there is much power in having others agree with you in prayer (Matthew 18:19). But the real secret to prayer is secret prayer! The word translated closet in the above verse is from a Greek word meaning “bed chamber”, a place where husband and wife share intimacy. A married couple will say things in private they would never say otherwise. Likewise, when you get alone with God, you will share things out of your heart that you wouldn’t with other people in earshot.

• Pray differently than pagans: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6:7) Some religions incorporate the use of chants that are repeated over and over for extended periods of time. Jesus called this “vain repetitions.” This does not mean that it is wrong to pray repeatedly about a certain need. For instance, Elijah prayed seven times for rain. Paul prayed three times for God to remove his thorn in the flesh. Even Jesus prayed the same prayer three times in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus simply wanted us to avoid memorized, mechanical prayers that don’t come from the heart.

• Pray with persistence: After Jesus concluded the pattern prayer in Luke 11, He told the Parable of the Friend at Midnight. In the story, a man has a guest show up unexpectedly and he comes to his neighbor’s house to borrow food to feed him. The neighbor initially makes excuses and refuses to help him, but the friend persists. Eventually, the neighbor gives him what he needs. The point is simple—if persistence pays when requesting a favor from a reluctant friend at midnight, how much more does persistence pay when petitioning a willing God? Jesus followed the parable up with this famous verse, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9)

• Pray with precision: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15) Prayer, like archery, involves aiming at and hitting a target! The target in prayer is the will of God. James explained a common cause for unanswered prayer, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3) God will not answer prayer that is inconsistent with His will. The way to know the will of God is to stay immersed in the Word of God. Jesus stated, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) Notice the conditional term “if.” For if we truly abide in Him and His Word abides in us, we won’t want anything that is contrary to His will. Let God’s Word guide your prayers like arrows to the bullseye of His will. This will increase your effectiveness and eliminate wasted time praying for the wrong things.

F. B. Myer astutely observed, “The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.” James added, “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:2) The words of an old hymn are fitting, “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” May we all develop a greater discipline for daily prayer. May we all follow the pattern for prayer that Jesus provided. May we all utilize this key to the resources of heaven and realize how powerful an ally is this priceless gift called prayer.

Pattern of Prayer: Part 1

Pastor Gene and Pastor Dan are gracious to allow me to share devotional thoughts with my church family through Heart to Heart. My soul purpose in my writing to is to encourage and support our church family in the mysteries, the power, the intimacy that grows between us and God, and the blessing that comes through developing a practice of prayer and leave a legacy of my love for Christ to my grandchildren. As I consider all the Lord has taught me and those truths that are precious and passionate to my heart, I pause in gratitude understanding that every word quickened in my heart has taken root because of seeds planted somewhere along the way. The majority of the seeds continue to be planted through the Word of God, yet every day I continue to grow and learn because seeds of sweet revelation and understanding planted through the gifting and revelation and insights freely shared by those who love God and are the called according to His purpose!

As our church enters into the first full week of praying collectively as a body of Christ for our city . . . and as we join with thousands throughout the nation praying for their cities and for our nation . . . it comes as no surprise to me that God would point me to a wonderful study in prayer and make the highways smooth to share it with you! In the next few weeks, I will be sharing an article called “A Pattern of Prayer” with you, written by Ben Godwin, Silver Cup Ministries. Ben has graciously allowed me permission to share his insights on the Pattern of Prayer. You can learn more about Ben and his ministry at www.bengodwin.org . It is my joy to share. . .

A Pattern for Prayer: Part 1
By Ben Godwin (used with permission)

Prayer is a valuable asset to the believer. As such, prayer should be our first resource not our last resort. It is the key to the heart of God that unlocks all of the resources of heaven.

President Abraham Lincoln during the dark days of the Civil War era stated, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” Prayer enables us to tap into a supernatural power source when human effort is insufficient. King David expressed it this way, “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:1-2)

On one occasion, Jesus’ disciples approached Him with a simple request, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1) In response, Jesus gave them a pattern prayer (a sample, a model, an outline), not so much to be memorized and recited repetitiously or mechanically, but as a guide to the proper method of approaching God. We will examine that prayer a little later.

What is prayer?
Simply put, prayer is talking to (the act of communion with) God. Prayer doesn’t have to be lengthy, fancy or shrouded in religious verbiage, it just needs to be sincere and from the heart. God spoke to Moses and vice versa “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) A relationship is only as strong as its communication and our relationship with God is facilitated through prayer. Prayer, however, should be a two-way conversation—a dialogue not a monologue. Tennis provides a helpful analogy. You cannot play tennis with one player very well. Someone must return the ball once you hit it over the net. So it is with prayer. There should be give and take. Once we have poured out our heart to God, we should wait and be quiet in His presence and listen for His answer.

The Practice of Prayer:

Prayer should be as normal to the believer as eating and sleeping. The Reformer Martin Luther said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Prayer should not be just a crutch in a crisis, but a consistent lifestyle.

How often should we pray? The Psalmist David wrote, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray…” (Psalm 55:16) The Prophet Daniel had a similar regimen, “Daniel kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God.” (Daniel 6:10) Paul raised the bar even higher when he instructed us to “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) In other words, always remain in an attitude or mindset of prayer. So prayer should not only be a daily discipline but an open-ended and ongoing conversation between us and God.

The Purpose of Prayer:

The purpose of prayer is not to inform God for “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:8) Rather, it is to invite God to be involved in every aspect of our lives. The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew’s Gospel (6:9-13) is only 66 words long. In this pattern prayer given to His disciples, Jesus outlined several important purposes for prayer:

1. To perpetuate a relationship: “Our Father which art in heaven…”The term Father indicates a relationship. So prayer is a vehicle through which we can nurture and maintain close fellowship with God. We do not pray to a distant, impersonal force out in the universe, but to our intimate, loving, heavenly Father.

2. To praise God’s name: “Hallowed be Thy name…”The word hallowed means to make holy, to sanctify, to venerate or consecrate. Notice the prayer begins with praise. The proper way to approach God is with an attitude of gratitude. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise…” (Psalm 100:4)

3. To promote God’s kingdom & will: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven…”God’s will is for all humanity to be saved. His kingdom is His rule, dominion or authority. Prayer helps facilitate the fulfillment of God’s will and the advancement of His kingdom in the earth.

4. To petition God for personal needs: “Give us this day our daily bread…”Pay attention to the all-inclusive words our, us and we, used eight times in this pattern prayer. This is not a selfish, exclusive prayer; it is inclusive of the needs of others. Certainly we should present our own personal needs in prayer. But the key to having our needs met is often interceding for the needs of others— “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.” (Job 42:10)

5. To pardon us of sin: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…”A true prayer of confession garners forgiveness. However, our capacity to receive forgiveness hinges on our willingness to extend it. Jesus expressed this principle in the beautiful Beatitude, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

6. To prevent us from falling & protect us from evil: “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…”Either prayer will keep us from sinning or sin will keep us from praying! “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.…” (Matthew 26:41) Prayer keeps us strong in order to resist temptation and sensitive to the Holy Spirit to help us shun the very appearance of evil.

7. To praise God again: “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, amen.”Notice how this prayer starts and ends with praise. I call it a “praise sandwich” because the petitions are “sandwiched” between two periods of praise. So the proper way to pray is to begin with praise and finish with praise for what God has done and will do.

In the next post, Ben will lead us into a look at the power of prayer and offer practical pointers for those of you who would like to develop a deeper prayer life in A Pattern for Prayer: Part 2. Always remember that it is not eloquence in what you say that matters to God, but rather it the sacrifice of your time and your love expressed through your desire to know God better that touches His heart. Your father yearns to hear from you today. He yearns to call you friend!!

Seeking God for My City

My church is engaging in a prayer intiative to Seek God for the City 2010. We are encouraged to pray for revival and renewal in the hearts of God’s people. Revival is not a concept for the unbeliever, God’s grace poured out on the lost is “harvest”. Revival is for the Church. It is time for the Church to arise and awaken. America and Israel are the only nations in history that were established on faith and hope in the God of the Bible. America has been a primary vehicle in taking the message of the Gospel to the world. Yet, today America is facing a time of great challenge and the whole world is looking to see what will happen with us.

While most Christian’s don’t want to hear it, the Church in the West, the Church at home, has become lukewarm. The Emergent Church is writing a new Gospel. Wise seminarians are researching the scriptures for the errors they seek to find within them or greater wisdom than the scripture itself has to offer. Many new pastors today do not believe in the inerrancy of the Bible nor do they believe in the literal translation of primary essential doctrines of faith. Many eloquently teach that the “stories” of the Bible are largely symbolic. People flock to warm fuzzy churches in masses where they can count on hearing an uplifting message and great music. Funeral directors are sending every one to “glory”. People by and large do not want to hear about sin and they do not want to hear about hell. They are looking for a God who “fits” with their ideas rather than embracing God for who God is.

I am just finishing reading Deuteronomy, which is the final book of Moses and the law in the Old Testament. Next are the books of history. Every time I read God’s word, God gives fresh insight. Over and over in scripture, we see a cycle of Israel wherein 1) the people of God cry out for deliverance in the midst of rebellion and disobedience which ultimately leads them to captivity and oppression, 2) God raises a deliver and the people are restored to relationship with God , 3) the people soon forget God’s faithfulness and goodness and rely on their own wisdom and diligently follow their own sinful desires, 4) The blessings of God are withdrawn because of unbelief and rebellion, and the people of God again cry out for help in their captivity and rebellion.

There is very interesting scripture in the parable of the wicked vinedressers in Matthew 21. In it, Jesus says, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘ The stone which the builders rejected as become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

That new kingdom that Jesus spoke of was the Church. The Church was to bear fruit. I would submit to you that America was also in God’s vision as a new nation. America’s fruits and blessings came through her great sacrifice and through her faithfulness to God and to the Judeo Christian values that established this nation. Those national values; however resulted from the bottom up. A nations values directly reflect the values of its people. In spite of her great history and great blessing, America is in trouble. The Church is in trouble. Our families are in trouble. I would submit to you that America is in full force rebellion toward God today. The name of Jesus has become an offense in the same hallowed halls that used to praise Him!

To quote from the Quest study Bible, God wants us to understand something about him, and He works in ways so that we might know. But He offers even greater insight to us when we believe by faith. The Israelites (America) had seen many miracles, including their deliverance from Egypt. Yet their hearts remained unrepentant so that they could not understand or appreciate hat God had done for them. Though God offered them understanding, they didn’t receive it because of their stubbornness.

How about you today? Is God dealing with your heart? Is there a stubbornness that separates you from fully knowing and responding to the Lord? I know He is dealing with mine. As I cry out for my city, I cry out to God for me . . . Change me Lord! Give me the Heart of Jesus, Give me the vision of Jesus for my family, for my city, for my nation, Give me the determination and perseverance to gladly embrace your chastisement so that I might draw nearer to You and grow in obedience . . . because I love you, Lord, because of your faithfulness to deliver me, to restore me, to resurrect my soul. Pour out in me, Father, through Jesus, because of Jesus, in Jesus. Show me Your greater purpose. Pour out in your people, and pour out in this city. In You and You alone is our hope!