By Pastor J.D. Link

agf-blanco.com

    I encourage you to read Matthew 6:5-13 carefully.  In this section of Scripture, Jesus first shows us how we are NOT to pray; and then He shows us how we ARE to pray.  Commonly known as The Lord’s Prayer (though it really the disciple’s prayer), it is given to us by Jesus as a pattern for us to follow in praying to our Father in Heaven. Before we get into The Lord’s Prayer, let’s first take a look at what Jesus said we should not be doing concerning prayer. 

    Jesus starts out by saying, “When you pray” - not “If you pray”. Prayer is not optional in the Christian’s walk.  It is not a suggestion.  We are to do it.  Assembling together with the Brethren; reading the Bible; living righteously; giving tithes and offerings; making disciples - and praying - among other things, are just standard procedure for the Christian.  We shall call upon The Lord and pray to Him (Jer 29:12-13).  Men ought always to pray (Lk 18:1, Eph 6:18, Philp 4:6).  We are to continue in prayer (Col 4:2), and pray without ceasing (1Thess 5:17).

    Next, Jesus points out that hypocrites love to pray - in public.  Are you only a “prayer warrior” in public?  Then you are a hypocrite.  Don’t you just hate it when a long winded blow-hard hijacks a prayer meeting? They go on and on with all of their flowery, big words - and they are praying only with themselves, not to God our Father (Lk 18:11-12). Or, there are people who pray as a covering for their unrighteous lives.  Like the Pharisees, they do evil - and then pray for a pretence (A show - Mt. 23:14). Save your long winded prayers, and walk righteously.

    Why do hypocrites love to pray in public?  To be seen of men. Their praying isn’t about God - it’s about them.  God knows the heart of man.  Men do lots of things for show.  Most people are man pleasers, instead of God pleasers.  Our prayers should be from the heart.  Honest prayers.  Pure prayers. Not for exhibition (Mt 23:5, Lk 16:15, Jn 5:44, 7:18, 12:42-43).  Believe it or not, some men even preach Jesus just to argue; instead of wanting to see lives changed (Philp 1:15-17).  Don’t assume because someone prays or preaches, that it is of sincerity. We should do what we do for Jesus, and esteem others higher than ourselves (Col 3:17, Phip 2:3-4).

    In Mt. 6:6, Jesus said that we should go into a private place to pray. We should pray to God in secret, that He may reward us publicly. You see, secret prayer is what is real.  When you pray, and there is no chance of being seen - you totally open up and humble yourself before God.  This is also when you can really hear from God.  If you are too busy to pray, then you have your priorities wrong.  Prayer was important to Jesus.  He made time (Mt 14:23, 26:36) for it, and so should we.  If you’re not hearing God’s voice, I suspect you’re not spending much, or any, time in prayer. When you do, you get sensitive to His voice, and you will hear.

    In verse 7, Jesus specifically says not to use vain repetition in prayer like the heathens do.  Yet, so many Christians do this very thing.  They repeat the same thing over and over again. That is pagan!  God is not deaf, nor does He need you to wake Him up!  Quit driving God, and yourself, crazy with worthless, repetitious prayers!  If I was God, I would dread to see some Christians coming to pray! Notice these two instances of heathens crying out the same thing over and over again for hours (1Ki 18:26, Act 19:34). 

Why do so many Christians “Cry out, and beat down the doors of heaven”?  Do they think God is a scrooge Who has them locked out; and perhaps if they beg enough He might give them a goody? God already knows what we need (Mt 6:8, Ps 38:9), and we know He hears us (1Jn 5:14-15).  Will He not freely give us all things (Rom 8:32)?  Have we not been blessed with all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3)?  We are joint heirs to the Kingdom. We are blood covenant children of God!  Do children beg? Must children plead?  Or do children come boldly unto the Throne with confidence - totally accepted (Heb 4:16, Eph 1:6)?  We don’t pray to get God to hear us, or to inform Him of our situation - He already knows.  We pray, because God told us to.  We pray, because in humility we acknowledge we need Him for all things, and that He is the great gift giver.  Our prayers should be thanksgiving, acknowledging the abundant blessings He has given to us, and that He is going to give. 

What about Lk 11:5-13 & 18:1-8?  Isn’t the stubborn “friend” and unjust judge like God?  No!  Those are contrasts - not comparisons.  God is Love.  God is just.  Even as a human, I wouldn’t be rude to my friend and tell him to go away empty handed!  Is God unjust?  No!  He avenges “speedily” - not after weeks of begging, He finally gives in. That’s not God!  There is much more to say on this, but Lord willing, we will continue next week.  Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!

A Pattern For Prayer, Part 2

By Pastor J.D. Link

agf-blanco.com

I encourage you to read Mt 6:5-13 carefully.  Last week we began to talk about God’s pattern for prayer that He laid out for His disciples, commonly referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer”. We saw that: 1. We are commanded to pray. 2. We are not to pray like hypocrites, just for show. 3. We are not to pray like heathens, endlessly repeating the same thing. 4. We are to go into a secret place alone to pray. 5. God is not a stingy friend or unjust judge - He hears and answers.  Let us get into God’s Word.

    As we examine the Lord’s prayer, I want to first point out in verse 9 that Jesus said to pray “in this manner”; not “in these exact words”.  It is certainly not wrong to pray this prayer word for word; but it is given as a pattern, or outline, for prayer.  Many lost people say the Lord’s prayer as a religious incantation everyday by rote memory - and it profits them nothing (I know, because I used to do it).  If you pray it word for word, make very sure it’s from the heart, and that it is in Jesus Name.

    The Biblical example of praying includes: praising and worshiping God; giving God thanks; intercession; confession of sins; supplication (petition); and confirming (or speaking) God’s Word.  All of these are present in the Lord’s prayer, which of course makes it the perfect outline.  This is not to say that this pattern must be followed completely every time you pray.  There may be instances when you simply do not have time to go through this whole pattern - and God understands that.  However, this is a rule, or guide, for praying in your set asideprayer time everyday - and should be followed whenever possible.

    There are seven petitions in the Lord’s prayer: the first three are on behalf of God’s cause, and the last four have to do with our needs.  Like the Ten Commandments, God comes first (1-4), and we come second (5-10).  Thy Name be hollowed.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.  Give us our daily bread. Forgive us our debts.  Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil.  Our prayers should always be God focused - God first - God centered.  If all you ever do is come to God like He’s a cosmic slot machine or Santa clause, always wanting that cursed trinity (me, myself, & I) to get goodies -  then it’s time to grow up and start praying the way Jesus taught. 

    Notice that the Lord’s prayer is a prayer of intercession.  Many people don’t realize that our daily prayers should always include us interceding for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.  “Our” Father.  Give “us our” daily bread.  Forgive “us”.  Keep “us”. Deliver “us”.  We must “die daily”.  We must be more concerned for our brother’s welfare.  We must esteem others higher than ourselves.  Those of us who are all wrapped up in ourselves make a really small package.  May we all be challenged and encouraged to look beyond ourselves and see the world through God’s eyes.

    God is our Father.  He is not mother God or mother earth.  He is not feminine.  He is Father God.  True, He is ascribed some maternal qualities like nurturing and nourishing; but this in no way makes Him a female or an “it”.  This not intended as an insult against women; but just a warning against the error of goddess worship. 

    The Lord’s prayer starts and ends with praise and worship. This is the set pattern.  Your name is holy!  You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory! For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory now and forever!  We are to come praising and leave praising!  He is worthy!  He is good! He answers our prayers!  We are not to come whining.  We are to come worshiping.  His eyes are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers.  He tells us to call to Him, so He can show us great and mighty things.  His eyes scan the earth, looking for someone on who’s behalf He can show Himself strong.  He says “Ask, and you shall receive”.  He says, “You do not have, because you do not ask”.  He says, “Believe, and you shall have what you ask for”. 

Let us step out in faith and pray to our Father.  Let us do it the way Jesus taught us.  Let us have a heart to pray to our Father.  Let us receive His goodness.  Lord willing, We will continue this next week.  Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!

A Pattern For Prayer, Part 3

By Pastor J.D. Link

agf-blanco.com

This week will close our three part series on The Lord’s pattern for prayer given to us, His disciples.  In part one we covered what prayer is not and how not to do it.  In part two, we looked at how we should pray by dissecting the Lord’s prayer.  This week we will look at a couple of examples of prayer in the Pauline Epistles, as well as examining practical examples of how to receive answers to our prayers.  Let’s get into God’s Word.

    In Ephesians chapters one and three, the Apostle Paul prays for the saints at Ephesus.  Since these prayers are inspired by God, or “God breathed”, then we should pay attention to what Paul said.  Note that in Eph 1:16-19 and 3:16-21, Paul is not telling these Christians to cry out, beg, and bombard the doors of Heaven. No, he prays that they would understand, comprehend, & know who they are in Christ; and what they have in Christ.  That they would be rooted and grounded in love and strong in their inner man. That they would have wisdom and revelation knowledge of God. That the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened.  That they would know the resurrection power that works in them. 

    You see, many Christians pray with the attitude that God is holding out on them.  They often see God needing to be “moved”. God already moved in the person of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago.  We don’t need to move God.  We need to understand the finished work of Christ. We need to get knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of what He has already done.  We need to know that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ.  All the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ.  He freely gives us all things.  We need to reach out by faith and receive what God has already done by grace. 

So how do we receive answers to our prayers?  Well, we cannot earn anything from God; but we do have to operate according to His principles.  There are principles laid out in The Word of God that must be followed in order to be able to receive from God. Let’s look at some of these: 1. You must believe He hears you (1Pt 3:12, 1Jn 5:14-15).  Our God is the living God, and He does hear His children.  2. You must believe He rewards you.  Did you know that expecting a reward from God is not only acceptable; it is actually commanded (Heb 11:6)?  God promises rewards for seeking Him with all of your heart (Mt 7:7-8, Jer 29:12-13, 33:3). Expect a reward!

We must pray according to His will (1Jn 5:14).  How do we know His will?  By knowing His Word (Jn 15:7).  When we know God’s Word, we know God.  When we come to know God, we come to know His will.  When we know His will, we do what He says - and then we receive answers to our prayers (1Jn 3:22-23).

We must also ask in faith.  God will not rebuke us for asking; but we must ask believing and receiving by faith the answer.  If not, we should not expect to receive anything from God (Jam 1:5-8, Mk 11:22-24).  Our God is not a need God, He is a faith God. Need does not unlock the treasures of Heaven - faith does.  Many people are using the wrong key.  God has already given; but have you humbled yourself and obeyed His principles in order to receive? Whether you like gravity or not, it is still a law; and you have to function accordingly.

    Finally, you must ask in Jesus Name (Jn 14:13, 16:23). It is only in His name that we are able to receive from God. Why? Because it is only by Him and through Him that we even have access to God (Jn 14:6, Act 4:12).  Our acceptance by God is totally dependant on Jesus.  “In Jesus name” is not just a tag to end a prayer.  It is our credentials to be heard, so to speak.  He is our intercessor.  He is in the Father and is one in being with the Father.  You can’t skip Jesus and have the Father; it is not possible.  That is why we must come to the Father in Jesus name.

    I pray this series on prayer has blessed and encouraged you, and helped transform your prayer life. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!