The Fulfillment of the First Three Feasts of the Jews

There are so many more things going on during the Passover/Crucifixion timeframe than we ever get a chance to cover during the Easter season. In this post I'm going to share what I've called "The Fulfillment of the First Three Feasts of the Jews".

It is during Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread/Feast of First Fruits that the Crucifixion/Resurrection takes place. (For more information on the specifics of the Feasts see Leviticus 23)

We know “somewhat” what Passover is. It celebrates the final plague that takes place while the Israelites are in Egypt. (See Exodus 12-13 and Leviticus 23:5) A “lamb without blemish” was killed and the blood placed on the doorposts so that the Angel of Death would “pass over” their house. (Interestingly, being “Jewish” did not save them – only having the blood on the door. No matter what their race, if they did not have the blood on the door, they were subject to the same plague as the Egyptians.)

Passover is, of course, only a “foreshadowing” of Christ’s shedding of blood for the atonement of our sin. Jesus is the “Perfect Lamb.”

The Jews celebrated Passover every year on the fourteenth of Abib (or Nisan depending on pre or post exilic calendar name) which falls somewhere between our mid-March and mid-April. The Jewish calendar revolves around the lunar calendar – in other words, the phases of the moon. Each “new moon” constitutes a new month. Therefore, Passover can fall on any day of the week, depending on when the full moon occurs.

The Jewish “day” goes from sundown to sundown (remember Genesis 1:5 “And the evening and the morning were the first day”) therefore on (our) Maundy Thursday at sundown, Passover begins.

The next day (Friday at sundown) the Feast of Unleavened bread begins. (See Leviticus 23:6) This feast lasts 7 days. Leaven, in the Bible represents sin and evil. The unleavened bread in the New Testament represents the Body of our Lord. Part of the Jewish Passover ceremony includes burying a piece of the unleavened bread before the day of Passover is over, in other words, before sundown on Friday… and remember, Jesus was buried before sundown on Friday…

Jesus’ followers (those who were left at the cross) wanted His body taken down from the cross and buried before the Sabbath began (at sundown.) What they didn’t realize was that they were actually fulfilling the Feast of Passover by the shed blood of “The Lamb” and burying His sinless (unleavened) body before the day was finished. And for even more “fulfillment” – the “middle piece” of the loaf of bread is what is buried. Jesus is the “middle part” of the Trinity – Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

The next feast, “First Fruits” takes place on the Sunday following Passover. Since the feast of unleavened bread lasts 7 days, one of those days will be a Sunday. On that day is the Feast of First Fruits. The feast of “First Fruits” is when the Israelites would bring the first offering from the early crops of their spring planting to God. (See Leviticus 23:10-11)

In the year of Jesus’ death, “First Fruits” occurred 3 days after Passover. (Thursday at sundown began day one; Friday at sundown began day two; and Saturday at sundown began day three – three days in the ground - Matthew 12:40.) So, all three of these major celebrations – Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of First Fruits – all “happen” to take place back to back the particular year that Jesus was crucified.

Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 15:23 that Jesus is the fulfillment of this feast. Jesus is the “First Fruit” to be resurrected from the dead. Yes, others were “raised” from the dead, but only Jesus was “resurrected” and given His resurrected body. It was not just “any” day that Jesus chose, but the very day of “First Fruits”. He fulfilled the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, with the appropriate actions, and then finally He fulfilled “First Fruits”

And not only did Jesus fulfill these first three feasts, but He also presented a “First Fruits” offering to God. As Jesus hung on the cross, an earthquake occurred and graves were opened in Jerusalem. When Jesus was resurrected the bodies of “the saints” came out of these tombs. (Matthew 27:52-53.) Thus Jesus “showed the Father the early crops of what will be a magnificent harvest later on.” (From “The Seven Feasts of Israel” by Zola Levitt.)

We miss an important truth by calling our celebration “Easter” instead of “First Fruits” because “first” indicates that there will be others to follow. Paul did not call Him the “only” fruit, but the “First” Fruit. And anyone who believes in Him will someday be given a new life, too.

A Time of Preparation

God’s been speaking to me in the last few days… No, not audibly, just in the things I’ve been hearing.

• Saturday night, I heard Charles Stanley preach on “Obedience to God’s Word.”
• Sunday morning, while I was getting dressed for church, Jentezen Franklin was preaching on “Fasting.”
• Our Sunday School lesson was on Jesus’ fasting and temptation in the wilderness.
• The last verse of our closing hymn during the worship service said, “Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore; let the search for Thy salvation be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving Thee whom we adore, serving Thee whom we adore”.

And what is so chilling is that it came immediately after I was praying in my spirit, “Lord! What should I do? I have been praying to be more understanding and more patient in (this certain situation)… Is that right? Should I be praying that? Or should I be praying for strength to stand strong regardless of what others think? Lord! Tell me what to do!”

And I believe He did…

However, it’s not just a matter of “standing strong”; it’s a matter of preparation.

That Sunday School lesson was on my mind all Sunday afternoon. The actual lesson was on being strengthened in temptation, and how we should draw on the weapons that God has given us. But, I really got to thinking about the time of fasting and temptation itself, and I began asking the question, “Why did Jesus really go into the wilderness…?”

I know… the scriptures tell us that:

• “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry…” (Matthew 4:1-2) or
• “Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness, and He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan, and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.” (Mark 1:12-13) or…
• “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.” (Luke 4:1-2)

But, why did He have to go into the wilderness? I know that Matthew clearly says, “…to be tempted by the devil…” but was that the only reason? Was the sole purpose of going into the wilderness, just the testing that took place after the forty days? If that’s so, then what was He doing for forty days?

Both Mark and Luke imply that the testing was on-going during the forty days, but surely it wasn’t nonstop! Surely that wasn’t all that was happening. What else was He doing during those forty days?

This is what I think… I think that during those forty days, Jesus was preparing for His ministry. I think He was fasting and praying and in dialogue with the Father about what kind of ministry He was to have; exactly what He was going to do; and exactly how He was going to do it. I think it was (in today’s terms) a “strategic planning session.”

This was, for all intents and purposes, “a fast in preparation for a new ministry.”

And, I think He was being tempted every step of the way in that preparation, not just after the “fast” was over.

We’ve heard all kinds of sermons on these three temptations. These include:

• A comparison to 1 John 2:16 with “The lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes; and the pride of life…”
• A comparison to a “slippery slope” by their being “not so bad”, “a little worse”, or finally, “off the deep end.” (Literally!)
• Or being a “progression” by their being “reasonable” (after all He was hungry); being “plausible” (the scriptures did say what Satan said they did, sorta); and being expedient (this would speed things up, ya know…)

And, I’m sure you’ve heard many other possibilities such as their representing “economic, socialistic, political” or “physical, spiritual and psychological” temptations or maybe even others. But, the more I thought about it (with the mindset of ministry preparation) the more it seemed to be something else as well. The writer of our lesson hinted at another set of possibilities, and this really seemed to fit in with what I was “hearing.”

Just what kind of ministry was Jesus to have in these next 3 short years? Would it be one in which everyone’s physical needs were to be met? Would it be one in which “signs and wonders” would have sovereignty? Would it be one in which “the ends would justify the means”?

I think the temptations reflected the very issues that Jesus struggled with in the wilderness. Just what would be the balance between meeting people’s needs, doing miracles, and getting it all done in the right amount of time? That was the struggle.

I wrote a “snippet” a few years ago that I thought would make a nice chorus to a song. It went:
“He took
No shortcuts.
He said
No ‘yeah, buts’
He was
All God and All man, all the time.”

But, what does this have to do with what God has been saying to me? Just this: Whatever God is calling you or me to do, there has to be a time of preparation. And I think that time must be spent in prayer and fasting. That’s what I’ve heard, and that’s what I’ve been called to do.

But, no matter what we’ve been called to do, throughout the preparation period we’ll face temptations on “how” it should be done that we’ll have to work through until we get a clear picture of the path. And how do we see that path? “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…” And we all know that the kind of “lamp” this scripture speaks of, only lights one step at a time… but, that’s another sermon for another day!

But now think about this…Once Jesus was past the 40 days, and the “last ditch efforts” of Satan, was it all smooth sailing from then on? Luke tells us in verse 13 that, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him… until an opportune time.” (emphasis added)

No, Satan still tried to tempt Him all along the way (remember His saying to Peter, “Get behind me Satan”?) And we’ll face temptations all along the way as well. We’ll face times of struggle and doubt. But we can prevail because Jesus went before us and was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

Because He did, we can.

Fast and pray, and listen for His voice in your time of preparation.

Commentary on Psalm 94

Psalm 94 is another of those (what I call) "sleeper Psalms" - that is - one of those "jewels" that we often pass over in our haste.

We have our favorites - the 23rd Psalm; Psalm 42, and 27 and 9 and 119, etc. We're also familiar with and love Psalm 100, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands..." (just can't get away from those "memorized" KJV Psalms!)

In my research I’ve found many things about Psalm 94: it is the “Wednesday” Psalm (“A Psalm of David for the 4th day of the week” – Albert Barnes); it is a part of a group called “Kingdom Psalms” (J. Vernon McGee); it’s “The Consolation of Prayer under the Oppression of Tyrants” (Keil & Delitzsch) and it’s “An appeal to God against oppressors” (Adam Clark.)

Some say that David wrote it, but others say it was written much later… I don’t really know, but for me (as per my book "Studying the Psalms with a Simple Heart”) Psalm 94, I think, is a picture of a "relationship prayer." Let me explain.

I see, in this Psalm, a picture of a person (one who has a very deep relationship with God) having a conversation with Him. There is a vast difference between "just praying words" and "sharing in dialogue" with your Heavenly Father.

You can tell, when someone's praying, if they "know" Him or just "know about" Him. (Even with those who aren't comfortable "praying in public" - you can tell if they know "Who" they are talking to or not!)

The psalmist here "knows Him."

As you read the psalm you can see it alternate between the person talking to God, talking to "the wicked" and talking to himself. And, if you've ever been in a time of intense prayer with God, you've done the same thing.

For sake of clarity, the “prayer” portion will be in yellow bold; the “self-talk” will be in red; and the rebuke to the “wicked” will be in orange. (The “version” is NASB)

He begins with a prayer - a cry for help from God (verses 1-7).

Psalm 94:1-7 “O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.
How long shall the wicked, O LORD, How long shall the wicked exult?
They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; All who do wickedness vaunt themselves.
They crush Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage.
They slay the widow and the stranger And murder the orphans.
They have said, ‘The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.’”

Then he speaks to the "situation" which plagues him (verses 8-10)

Psalm 94:8-10 “Pay heed, you senseless among the people; And when will you understand, stupid ones?
He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?
He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, Even He who teaches man knowledge?”

He "rehearses" it in his mind… (verse 11)

Psalm 94:11 “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath.”

…before going back into conversation with his Father (verses 12-13.)

Psalm 94:12-13 “Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD, And whom You teach out of Your law;
That You may grant him relief from the days of adversity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked.”

Then he reassures his own heart (verses 14-17)

Psalm 94:14-17 “For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?”
(I tell ya) If the LORD had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

And then returns to "prayer" for the next 4 verses (18-20)

Psalm 94:18-20 “If I should say, ‘My foot has slipped,’ Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree?”

Verses 22-23 become an "affirmation of his faith" as he again "talks to himself", reinforcing his strength and belief in God and His power.

Psalm 94:21-23 “They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.
But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought back their wickedness upon them, and will destroy them in their evil; The LORD our God will destroy them.”


When you are in "prayer conversation" with God, there is an "ebb and flow" to the prayer, and I wonder... in the times that you are "talking to yourself" is that God's Holy Spirit speaking to you?

You know... I think it just might be!

Father, we pray for the discipline, to take the time to have a "conversation" with You. I believe Lord, that You desire to communicate with us, but You can't (won't) do that if the conversation is all one-sided; if we just "throw words" at You...

May we, instead, "listen" Lord - even as (from our perspective) our minds drift from the prayer, to the situation, back to the prayer, and then to "talking to ourselves".

May we listen for Your words in all of that as (perhaps from Your viewpoint) You "hear our words, then show us the 'current reality', then hear us again, and give us encouragement..."

May we learn how to converse with You, our Father.

And Lord, we pray too, for those who don't really "know" You; those who know all about You; all about Your Word and all about Your Son, but who just don't have the relationship to be able to cry "Abba, Father..." We lift them Lord, and pray that in Your mercy and grace, You'll call them unto Yourself.

We lift this prayer this morning, in Jesus' Holy and Perfect Name - Amen.

New Study Available!

We just finished a 4 week study on Paul's First Missionary Journey titled, "Goin' Down a New Road".

We taught this as a Sunday night service at the Huckleberry Springs Church building. (Huckleberry Springs UMC merged in 2007 with Riverdale UMC to form the French Broad UMC, but the building is still being used, and hoped by many to open again some day... anyway...)

This is how we promoted the study:

Are you at a new stage in your life?
Are you finding yourself facing things
that you never thought you'd face?
Come along as we begin a 4 week series titled
"Goin' Down a New Road"
based on Paul's First Missionary Journey.

Paul found himself in places, doing things, and facing struggles
that he'd never even dreamed about!
Learn about the People, the Path, the Plan and the Persecution
of his first journey, and see how his struggles might just be similar to your own!


If you'd like a copy of this study e-mail me and request a copy. It includes the manuscript that I taught from as well as a study guide for each week's lesson.

Several folks had asked about getting a copy, so I thought I'd post it here as well.

If you'd rather have a "hard copy" or a CD of the study, the cost is $5.00.

(Ask about other studies we have available.)

Is the Bible Relevant to Today's Life?

Biblical Relevance?

The headlines read:

Terrorist Attacks Continue

Economy in Ruins

Many Losing Jobs and Homes - Moving to Find Work

People in Despair

Lack of Faith in God Evident

These are not headlines from your local newspaper. They are from (if there was one) “The Bethlehem Times” during the 12th century BC, during the time of the setting of the book of Ruth.

I recently heard someone on the Bible Broadcasting Network begin a series on the book of Ruth, (95.3 if you’re in the Knoxville, East Tennessee area or http://www.bbnradio.org/ ) and I realized, “You know, I’ve never really delved into the book of Ruth!”

I’ve studied and written about Esther, but not Ruth - and since I’ve started this study, I’ve been amazed at what I’ve found. You think prophecy describes today? You should read the opening chapter of Ruth.

You might title the book of Ruth, “How Difficult Times Affected One Family.”

I’m convinced that Elimelech (whose name means “God is my King”) really believed what his name signified. But, he was a “devout” man, caught in desperate times.

If you could ask him, he would tell you, “No, I didn’t want to move to Moab, but I had to provide for my family. Ya gotta do what you gotta do, you know…” And so he went…

Little did he know that he would never set foot back in his hometown again; nor would his sons…

I intend to write a more in-depth study on the book of Ruth, but my number one goal as a Bible teacher is to give you (what I call) “the ‘want-to’s”.

I want you to “want to” read this for yourself.

If you’ve never studied the book of Ruth - or it’s been a while - read it today. Watch how God’s Hand of providence directed this one family, during a time of national unease, to fulfill His Will.

The key for us is this: He’s done it before… He’ll do it again… Look for it!


Father, I lift up those reading my blog, or on my mailing list. The older I get, the more I realize that every… single… person… has areas of their lives that desperately need prayer. And so I ask, Lord, hear the cries of their hearts - those spoken cries, those unspoken cries, and those cries that don’t even have words to bring them to light.

You promised that Your Spirit would connect with our spirit and take our groans and utterances right to the Throne of Grace - and so we pray for that very thing.

Fill us with the assurance of Your Presence as we live in these increasingly difficult times. And lead us to make right decisions, based on Your Promises and Your Word, and not on what we “think” we need to do to provide for our families.

Help us Father, to remain steadfast and faithful, and to seek to know You better through Your precious Word.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Conversion Isn't a "One-Time" Event

Isn't it funny how we use words differently inside and outside of the Church?

When we say the word "conversion", if we're "inside" the church, we immediately think of "salvation."

But, if we're "outside" the church, we may more readily think of something like "conversion van" for instance. We think more of something that has been altered or changed in someway to make it useful for another purpose.

A recent S.S. lesson was on Saul's conversion, and it got me to thinking that, in actuality, conversion is a long drawn-out process, that involves a lot of changes.

For instance, the men we call the disciples were converted from their "jobs" to "followers of Christ." Then they were "converted" to disciples, then apostles, Church Fathers, and then most of them, to martyrs.

Actually the opposite of conversion is stagnation. When we stop changing, and growing, we are useless.

In Philippines 3:12-14 (NLT) Paul says, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

In my own life, I've undergone many "conversions." First I was a child, a daughter; then a student, (then a believer) an employee, a wife, a mother, a business owner, a writer a caregiver, a mother-in-law, and a teacher. And now, I am undergoing yet another "conversion" for which I am in daily prayer.

What about you? Have you undergone "conversion" in the "Biblical" sense? That's first and foremost. But then, what about in the fuller sense of the word? Are you undergoing conversion?

If not, are you in danger of becoming stagnant?

Father, I lift up those who genuinely seek conversion; those who seek to so change daily as to serve You in the fullest sense of the word; those who "forgetting the past, are looking forward to what lies ahead."

I pray Lord, that they... we may press on to reach the end of the race, and receive the heavenly prize for which You, through Christ, are calling us.

In Jesus' Name - Amen.

What a Difference a Word Makes!

Psalm 42 is very familiar to many people, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” (“Oh yeah, that one…”)

As I came to read this Psalm again, I found that at sometime in the past, I had titled this Psalm, “A Prayer for a Dead Church.” And indeed it certainly reads like a lonely faithful one’s prayer for their troubled church.

But what really caught my eye this time (and this is a wonderful argument for reading from several translations) is the subtle differences in 2 verses that, at first glance, appear to be identical. This is how it reads in the NASB.

Verse 5 says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.” (Remember, the words in italics aren’t there in the original Hebrew.)

And verse 11 says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”

As I was reading this, it was the little word “yet” in verse 11 that jumped off the page at me. It changes the whole tone of the verse from “wishful thinking” to a firm belief; from encouraging “self talk” to expectant hope; from “someday maybe” to “once again, for sure.”

As I read this Psalm in several different translations I saw that in many of them this verse doesn’t change. “So why,” I thought, “does it change in the NASB…?

I found that the Hebrew word for “yet” is the same as the word for “shall again”. So, is it “subjective?” Is it the translator’s whim as to which word to use?

No, it has to do with “tenses” (which is waaaaay over my head) that determines how the “tone” of the verse is translated from the Hebrew.

Therefore, the two verses really are different. We really can go from “wishful thinking” to a firm belief. We can go from “encouraging self-talk” to expectant hope. We can go from “someday maybe” to “once again, for sure.”

When our souls long for the “seemingly absent” Presence of the Living God, we can know that we will again rejoice in the comfort of His care.

But there’s one more thing that the word “yet” means. It also means “in spite of.” When we use the word this way we are saying, “No matter what it ‘feels’ like, I still have the assurance of God’s Presence, and no matter what happens, I will praise Him. For He helps how I look at things, instead of how things look to me, and He is my God!”

I pray for you today, to know God’s Presence, and His assurance in spite of the condition of the world around you.

In spite of your job security, in spite of your checking balance, in spite of the last doctor's report; proclaim with the prophet Habakkuk, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet (I imagine him saying with upraised fist) I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (Emphasis added!)

Who Has Whose Hand?

When we see an adult, with child of 5 or 6 years old, holding hands as they cross the street - we know who is holding whose hand.

But add 50-55 years to that scene - and now, who has whose hand?

I remember clearly a pastor we had once mentioning during a sermon something about God being at Jesus’ right hand. Now, we all know that Jesus is at God’s right hand, and I know he saw my puzzled look because as we made eye contact, I saw a slight smile come across his face as he continued talking about God at Jesus’ right hand…

Until… he got past the crucifixion, past the resurrection, and to Hebrews 12:2 where he read, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And then I understood.

God was on Jesus' right hand in mission, and Jesus is on God's right hand in Glory!

That’s been nearly 15 years ago, and I still think of it. (I have notebooks full of notes from his sermons!) I’ve also thought of it several times this year as I’ve studied the Psalms. It’s amazing to me the number of times David has said, “You (God) take my right hand…” (Psalms 16:8; 73:23; 109:31 for example) and then the times he has said, “Let me (David) take Your (God’s) right hand…” (Psalms 17:7; 18:35 for example - actually there are some 35+ Psalms that mention God’s right hand…)

And so we ask, “Who has whose hand?”

Sometimes David has God’s right hand, and sometimes God has David’s right hand… what’s the difference? It’s certainly not that when God has David’s right hand (the hand of strength) that David is “taking care” of God.

It’s the fact that sometimes God is the strength at our right hand (putting us to work) and sometimes He comforts and protects us by keeping us at His right hand (when we’re too weak to work.)

It’s always God’s strength and salvation, it’s just that sometimes He holds our hand, and sometimes, He allows us to hold His…

At least this is my understanding of it…

As Jerry Clower used to say, “Ain’t God Good!”


God, my Father, my Strength, and my Deliverer, take my right hand and lead me into battle… and then, when the battle looms large ahead of me… may I take Your right hand in comfort and protection.

Oh God, this is almost too much for me to understand. I can’t quite wrap my mind around it.

Oh the depths of Your Word - and the heights to which it takes me - it’s dizzying, and at times, gives me cold chills and almost takes my breath.

As I meditate on Your Word, sometimes a warm wash of clarity comes over me, so much so that I scarcely breathe and don’t want to move, afraid that I may lose that understanding that is barely touching my fingertips…

Oh the wondrous joy of Your precious Word! Thank You for the treasure I hold in my hands!

It Begins and Ends With Faith, Which Begins and Ends With the Word

2Peter 1:3-4 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.
And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. (See 1 John 2:16)

1:5-7 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

1:8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT) (emphasis added)

Remember this: "Nothing happens unless you read The Word!"

When we read God's Word we find promises, and according to F.B Meyer, "The promises excite the faith, and faith reckons upon the fulfillment of promise." (F.B. Meyer from June 9 Daily Devotion.)

The word "reckon" means "to count on" or "believe in" as in "you can count on that" - "you can "believe in that".

In other words - the promises excite the faith, and the faith counts on, or believes in, the fulfillment of the promise.

Verses 5-7 then present us with a royal staircase to become a "useful" Christian - or "Christ-follower." Each "step" takes us closer to being productive and useful. But, the first step on this staircase must begin with faith.

And how do you get faith? Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. (NLT)

Everything starts with reading the Word! When we read the Word it gives us the promises, which in turn excites the faith - and the faith believes in the fulfillment of the promise. And, you get faith from hearing the Word, and (as teachers) we are to: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2Timothy 4:2 (NLT)


Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (NLT) Everything begins and ends with The Word!

The 23rd Psalm

As we come to “Week 23” (in our “one Psalm per week” study) we come to Psalms 23… What more can one say of the Twenty-Third Psalm…? It is probably the very first scripture many of you memorized. Even if we haven’t “formally” memorized it, still many know it by heart - having heard it so many times.

Psalm 23 A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The 23rd Psalm is probably the most paraphrased scripture of all - seems like everyone wants to write their own version of it (and I am no exception…

http://prayerlogue.blogspot.com/2006/09/psalms-23.html ).

We’ve heard it as prayers, hymns, and sermons. (I’ve even read an Indian version of it.) Truly, what more can be said…

The commentators are in disagreement as to whether David wrote this while hiding from Saul, or running from Absalom, or as an aged King looking back over his life, reminiscing of when he was a young shepherd-boy.

However, as I've spent more time studying this Psalm, I began to learn more about (or maybe imagine) David's “mind-set” as he came to write this Psalm.

Who of us has not said, “Lord! Why do I have to go through ‘this’? Why can’t I just ‘do what I do?’” This particular week's study came after a difficult week for me, as I found myself saying, “Lord! Why can't I just go cane my chairs, and frame my pictures? Why do I have to go through all ‘this’?”

And I could just see David, sitting alone on the side of a hill, with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands saying, “Lord! How I wish I could just go back and tend sheep! I don't want to be king anymore. I just want to mind my own business. I just want to be a nice, quiet, simple shepherd...”

And knowing how the mind works and how God directs (well, directs my mind, anyway) I could see David’s mind coming around from “I just wish I could be a shepherd again...” to the realization of, “You know... The Lord is my Shepherd... I shall not want…” Or as the NLT puts it, “The LORD is my shepherd I have all that I need…”

As the Psalm continues, if we sit in such a place, or allow ourselves to sit with David in the midst of a very frustrating time, we can follow his “train of thought” as he remembers his days as a young shepherd-boy, and watch as his mind begins to “connect the dots.”

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” David says as he remembers directing the sheep to the places where the grass was tender and sweet. “He leads me beside the still waters” as he visualizes the very streams he used to frequent.

I think it is at this time that the “light bulb” comes on and David begins to see the link between “here” and “there.” As he remembers the quiet times of being a shepherd, he can’t forget the difficult times, either. He reflects on the fact that even such an “idyllic” life was filled with hardship and dangers.

We have such a tendency to think back on “the good old days” and never remember the hardships - but now, David does - and he truly makes the connection.

“He restores my soul” Not only does He meet my physical needs; He is concerned about my soul. We oftentimes think God is only concerned about our souls and not our physical needs - but God, Who made us, knows our every need - and meets every one of them.

He “restores” my soul. In the mist of my depression or despair, He brings back to me, my joy, and encourages me.

David, now “gaining steam” in his revelation, sees that not only does God “bring back” to me my joy, but “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.”

The word “restore” tends to remind us of something from the past, while “leads me” turns our eyes to the present and the future.

David seems to realize that (doggone it) the things that he is doing are “right”. This “path of righteousness” may be difficult - but it is the “right” thing to do.

How many times have we “done what is right” and been criticized for it? No, the “path of righteousness” is not easy, but God leads us there “for His Name’s sake” - for the very witness of His Holy Name.

However, one translation puts it this way: “You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.”

Whether God does it “because of” who He is (it is His “nature” to be “right”) or does it “to show” who He is (as a “witness” to His Name) still He is the One doing the leading. We may never really know “why” things happen - but as long as we stand for what we believe to be right - I believe - God will use it to Glorify Himself!

In my mind’s eye, as I am watching David’s faith being restored, and his heart quickening with understanding, I imagine him leaping to his feet with arms uplifted as this personal affirmation of faith now becomes a prayer to God!

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

“It doesn’t matter what I’m going through,” he says. “I can be in the deepest, darkest pit of my soul (internally) or be in fear for my life (externally); still I will not be afraid of the outcome, because I know - YOU are with me!”

“I know,” he continues, “that You have all the ‘equipment’ needed to take care of me.”

David remembers how he carried both a rod and a staff when caring for the sheep. The rod is used both for discipline and for protection. It can be used when “stronger” direction or discipline is needed, and to ward off predators. The staff, on the other hand is used when just a “gentle” nudge is needed to correct the course.

And both of these should bring us great comfort as well. There are times when God needs to discipline us with a “stronger” hand. And there are times when a “gentle nudge” is all we need. Our comfort comes in the fact that He is God. As the song says, “When through firey trials thy pathways shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design, thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine…”


Then, I think, David looks around at his circumstances, spreads his arms and says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”

He says in essence, “Here I am in the midst of all these trials, and yet, You had Samuel anoint me king. I’ll admit, it may not look like it just now, but I will be king. You said it would happen, and I believe it will. I am just so blessed!”

And we must look around us and say the same thing. “Here I am in the midst of all these ‘enemies’ and yet, Christ died for me and has promised me life with Him eternally, and “anointed” me with His Spirit. It may not look it just now, but I AM a child of the King; and I DO reign with Him. I am SO blessed - “exceeding, abundantly, above, all I can ever ask for, or even dream up!”

By now, David’s heart is bursting with fullness and joy (and I imagine, tears streaming down his face) and his prayer climaxes with clenched fists lifted heavenward in victory as he shouts, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

He knows that no matter what happens; no matter what he has to go through to get from “here” to “there”, God, and all of God’s goodness, will be with him. He knows that, as another song puts it, God will “Hold me close, till the storm passes by…”

“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Whether in the “physical” house, or the “metaphorical” house, he knows that he shall “dwell” there… forever!

One meaning of the word “dwell” is “to settle down and be at home” - or as someone put it, “to be comfortable.” But the Hebrew of the word has a much broader meaning as well. It means “there you are” in other words - wherever you find yourself - there you are!

And no matter where we find ourselves (as David says in another place, “Where can I go from Your Spirit, where can I flee from Your presence?”) no matter where we are, God’s “house”; God’s “dwelling-place”; God’s “family” is there. (Remember, Jesus was of the “house” of David.)

And, in God’s Grace, we shall “dwell in the house of the LORD forever” as well!

In Jesus’ Holy Name - Amen.

Maundy Thursday Devotion

Wade Out a Little Bit Deeper

St. Augustine, in speaking of the Gospel of John said, “It is shallow enough for a child to wade in, and deep enough that an elephant can swim…”

Our Scripture tonight is from John’s Gospel, chapter 13, verses 2-17. I’ll be reading from the New International Version.

(Read John 13:2-17)
13:2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. 13:3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 13:4 he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself.

13:5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.

13:6 Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.”

13:8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 13:9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 13:10 Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 13:11 (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is clean.”)

13:12 So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?

13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 13:15 For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you. 13:16 I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 13:17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Let us pray - Father, may Your Holy Spirit open our hearts to hear Your Word. In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Imagine the strains of “The Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah” - “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords - and He shall reign for-ever and ever (Hallelujah, Hallelujah)…”

Who among us can hear that music without tears and cold chills…

Now, imagine this Very God of Very God; this Creator of the Universe; this Almighty El-Shaddai of the Old Testament, now, takes His cloak off - the cloak without seam, for which soldiers would be gambling in a few hours; He takes it off, lays it aside and begins to wash His disciples’ feet…

What in the world, can this possibly mean?

We’ve talked before about taking Scripture literally and figuratively… Well this time, we need to do both. This is where St. Augustine would say, “Yes, understand it like a child… but don’t be afraid of the deep parts, either…

Jesus, as you know, was a Master storyteller. That’s why His parables are so effective. He has, it seems, a story for every occasion. This time however, instead of telling the story, He acts it out…

Let me set the stage for you…

The events of this night are recorded in all 4 Gospels - albeit from differing viewpoints, as any eyewitness accounts are. Therefore we need to combine the Scriptures in order to get the total picture.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we find the disciples coming into the city of Jerusalem to the home of one of Jesus’ followers where a guest room has been prepared for them to partake of the Passover meal.

When the time arrives for the meal, (about 7:00pm, by the way) Jesus and the disciples make their way to the Upper Room. The atmosphere is tense. The disciples know that something is different about this Passover, but they just can’t quite lay their finger on it. They’re tired, and dusty from the walk in from Bethany, and more than just a little on edge.

Over the past few weeks they’ve argued about “status” - about who is the greatest among them, and in fact, they’ll rehash that again this night as well. Normally when they come into a home where no servant is present to wash the dust from their feet, they would just wash one another’s, but not tonight. No one will take the initiative to do that tonight.

And so, stubbornly they just come to the table, with none of them, except maybe John, happy about where they end up sitting - again in relation to their “status” in their own eyes.

Get this picture in your mind. Jesus, knowing fully well what is about to transpire in the next few hours, literally has the weight of the world on His shoulders and there the disciples are sitting at the table, their feet dusty and dirty, grumbling about just which one of them is the most important to Jesus!

According to Luke’s version, Jesus then tells them that one of them will betray Him.

After the initial shock, and questions of “Is it I, Lord?” The conversation quickly turns to, “Well it couldn’t be me because…” And another one says, “Oh yeah, well it couldn’t be me either… and the arguments begin all over again.

At this point, without saying a word, Jesus rises from the table, takes off His outer garments and wraps the rough scratchy linen servant’s towel around His waist and begins to wash their feet.

Imagine their shocked faces as He silently moves from disciple to disciple, gently, carefully, washing their feet, and then drying them with the towel tied around Him.

There is so much more here than meets the eye initially. Jesus, who is fully One with the Father; Who was adorned with all the splendor of heaven, of His own free will, laid aside the Glory that was His, and put on humanity; and all the pain and suffering that fallen humanity brings with it; from the scratchy straw in the manger, to teething, to all the cuts and scrapes that little boys get. He got tired, and hungry and thirsty and wept as any other human being did - and in just a few hours… He would die… But then, He would put back on that Glory and sit back down at the right hand of the Father. And all of His own free will.

There’s a lot more to this analogy than we have time to get into, but the bottom line is - He became a servant so that we might be made royalty.

Well, He’s washing their feet, and He comes to Peter. And Peter says, “No way. You’re not washing my feet. But it was not humility that caused Peter’s protests - it wasn’t that he didn’t think he was worthy of having his feet washed by Jesus - it was pride - false humility and pride are just two sides of the same evil coin.

Peter was saying in essence, “Don’t You know who I am? I’m one of the leaders. I’m one of ‘inner three’. I’ve been on the mountain top with You. And You want to wash my feet? No Way!”

Jesus says, “Peter, you just don’t understand… if you don’t allow me to do this for you, you can have no companionship with Me…” And then in typical “Peter” fashion he says, “Then wash me all over, Lord! Wash me all over…” But he still doesn’t understand.

We know that Jesus is teaching humility and servanthood. In verse 16 He says, “A slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent, greater than the one who sent him…” The idea of being servants to others is normally the primary focus of this passage, but I think the main reason most folks don’t really understand this scripture is that they don’t want their feet washed. Most people would have no problem if they were the ones doing the washing or the serving - the one in control. But most of us just don’t want to be on the “receiving end” of the service. We don’t want to be the one “without control.”

I came to understand this when my Daddy was in the hospital. One day as I was feeding him he said, “I just hate for you to have to do this…” And of course I replied, “Daddy, I don’t mind.” Then he said, “Well, I do…” I made some remark about “having your feet washed…” But then, like Jesus said to Peter - I just didn’t understand.

While Daddy was in the hospital I was the one “doing” the serving. Then, as the time wore on and I became more and more exhausted, I began to “need” more and more help myself.

I didn’t want to be the one receiving the help. I didn’t want my “feet washed.” But I needed it. I could no longer do it all myself. And that’s when I really began to understand this scripture. Until you’ve been the one on the receiving end, you’ll never know how much an e-mail or phone call, even leaving a message, can mean; how much a meal can mean; how much a loaf of bread and an afternoon of talking can truly mean!

I began to understand that, yes, it is important to “be the servant” but it’s also important to understand humility and to “allow” another the “gift” of being the servant.

One cannot truly be a leader unless they are willing to be a servant. And one cannot truly learn to be a servant unless they are willing to receive service.

Peter didn’t think he “needed” washing - at least not by Jesus. Are you willing to admit that you “need” washing by Jesus? And then, are you willing to wash and to be washed by others?

Are you willing to forgive others, as you’ve been forgiven? You see, we must remember that among that group of disciples, was Judas… and Jesus washed his feet, too.

Let us pray…

Father, as we wind down these hours of Maundy Thursday, may we be mindful of what happens next. As Jesus leaves this meal, He has less than a hour or so of freedom left; and less than 18 hours to live. And yet, in this time of agony, He is still teaching, still caring, still washing His followers, and even Judas…

Oh God, may we do no less than serve our brothers and sisters, including Judas…

In Jesus’ Holy Name we pray - Amen.

Psalm 9 commentary and prayer

When I sent this as my weekly devotional (the prayer only) I titled it "For your struggle today" for seldom is there a day without some sort of struggle - some more difficult than others, to be sure - but as Glida is famous for saying, "It's always something!"

So also for any reader of this blog - in whatever struggle you find yourself today, may I recommend Psalm 9.

Since January 1, 2008, I've undertaken a study of the Psalms by doing 1 Psalm per week. (I know, I know... this is a minimum of a 3 year study - but hey, what else am I gonna do with my time!?)

Anyway, the study for this Psalm came during week 9, hence Psalm 9. As I began the week I noticed that there weren't many notes in my Bible on this one, indicating that I hadn't studied it much.

As I began the study, it was a little difficult to grasp, but I stuck with it. (Let me know if you'd like info on how I'm going about this, and what it's producing...)

An "issue" early in the week opened new insights into this Psalm. I learned that verses 9-10 became an "anchor" to hold on to in the midst of a storm.

Oh - one more thing... let me recommend a radio station (if you're in the East Tennessee area) 95.3fm or online at BBN Radio . This is good stuff - wonderful old hymns, and joyful praise. Don't fill your mind with the "garbage" of the world. Put good stuff in there!

It really spoke to my heart this morning with a beautiful version of "Great is Thy Faithfulness!"And now, Psalm 9...

Psalm 9: 1-20 NASB

Psa 9:1 For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
Psa 9:2 I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psa 9:3 When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You.
Psa 9:4 For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
Psa 9:5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
Psa 9:6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, And You have uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished.
Psa 9:7 But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment,
Psa 9:8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
Psa 9:9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;
Psa 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psa 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds.
Psa 9:12 For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Psa 9:13 Be gracious to me, O LORD; See my affliction from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death,
Psa 9:14 That I may tell of all Your praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.
Psa 9:15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
Psa 9:16 The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.
Psa 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God.
Psa 9:18 For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
Psa 9:19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You.
Psa 9:20 Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.


Commentary

Verses 1-2 gives us a statement of faith in the face of trouble. It is obvious when we read further in the Psalm, that he is in the midst of a struggle, but he begins with what it is that keeps him going - “I will… I will… I will… I will…”

Verse 3 is also a statement of faith in what “will” happen, because of what “has” happened in verses 4-6. Verse 3 is future, verses 4-6 are the past. They are examples of what the Lord “has” done before. So, there is no reason to think that He will not so act in the future - in “this” situation.

Verse 7 is again, a statement of faith of God’s dependability - of God’s faithfulness. And that faithfulness is fulfilled in how God will act in verse 8 - that is, with righteousness, justice, and fairness for all peoples.

Then verses 9-10 are the anchor to which all is tied. “Those who “know” (intimately) Thy Name… You will not forsake…” This brings on the faithful cry of verses 11-14.

Again the technique of “recalling the past to give ground to the hope of the future” is used in verses 15-16, then 17-18.

And the Psalm ends with the cry of petition in verses 19-20.

It can be diagramed like this: 1-2 faith, 3 future, 4-6 past / 7 faith, 8-9 future, [9-10 the anchor and 11-14 faithful cry] 15-16 past, / 17-18 hope/future, 19-20 petition.



The Prayer of Psalm 9

Oh God! I will lift up thanks to You with all my heart; with all that I am and ever will be; I lift to You. I will tell always of Your wonderful works, of Your miracles - both “explainable” and not (as the “world” looks at them) but I know, they are from You. And every memory triggers yet another, as I think of Your presence and Your providence in my life.

I will rejoice and take great pleasure in lifting up Your Name, and I will sing - always be singing, praises to You, oh my Father. No matter what else is going on in my life…

Oh God, when this present “struggle” is over (and I know it will be, in time) I will be able to look back and see how You worked it through for me. You have always worked, always been faithful, always have been in control.

For all the “works” that I am thankful for, there are a thousand more that I’m sure I’ve forgotten. The memory of that particular struggle is just gone… You have erased it.

But You Lord! You are ALWAYS there. You will ALWAYS be the only One to Whom we can turn. You are always “right.” You are always “just.” You ARE my place of refuge. There is no other place; there is no other One to Whom I can turn.

You are my “cleft in the rock.” You are my “shelter in the storm”. You are my “life raft in the shipwreck.” You are my salvation - my only salvation. And I “know” You Lord, or better yet, I am “known” by You. I have cried out, seeking, searching, and You have not ever left me alone; not ever! I can sing, with affirmation and arms uplifted, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand… all other ground is sinking sand!”

I will call on the whole world to praise You. I will be a witness every where I go. You ARE GOD! And You will not forget, nor neglect the cry of Your children.

I cry in the midst of this struggle, Oh Lord. You know what I am facing, what I have faced. Please use this so that I may have even more stories to tell of Your faithfulness.

I know Lord, the “enemy” cannot prevail. Your Word teaches that “whatsoever we sow, we will reap.” And that goes for evil as well as good. “He” or “it” will not prevail… it will not always be like “this.” I cry to You, I hold to You, You will put the “enemy” in his place…

I pray with the assurance of Your Holy Word, and in His Name - Amen.

Study on Prayer - week 4

As we come tonight to the 4th of our studies on Prayer, we’re taking a completely different track by looking at what is called “The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus” found in John 17. In my studies of this chapter, I really wish we’d done a 4 week study of this chapter like we did of Luke 15. There’s just so much here that we won’t have time to get into. So, this is going to just be an overview of the chapter.

As I told someone the other day - my desire in teaching is to give people the “want-to”! I want you to “want to” read and study God’s Word!

To understand what and why John wrote, you have to know when, and to whom he was writing. The gospel was written around 85 AD., about 10 years before John would be exiled to the island of Patmos. It was written in an era not so different from our own.

To the mostly Gentile-Christian men and women living in the (so-called) “modern” world around the Aegean Sea, the Temple in Jerusalem was just a pile of rubble. Fifty years, 500 years, or 2000 years - old fashioned is old fashioned, and the past is the past and they didn’t see how any of that related to them.

F.F. Bruce in his book “The Message of the New Testament” says, “The climate of opinion by which this generation had its thinking moulded was not greatly concerned about historical fact: eternal truth was the important thing. Historical fact was tied to time and place… and an insistence on historical fact obscured the universal relevance of eternal truth.”

In other words, “why do I need to know that Bible history stuff? Just tell me about Jesus!” Sound familiar?

That’s why John wrote. He said, in effect, “You DO need to know that “stuff.” John’s Gospel was very particular about the things it included. Many people feel that it is just a ‘fill-in” of the things the other gospels left out. No, everything written in it is there for a reason.

In John 20:30-31 he writes, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (Emphasis added)

This prayer that we’re studying tonight is called the “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. Do you know why? Do you know the function of a High Priest? Do you know what the “Day of Atonement” is?

We don’t have time to get into all that tonight (that’d make a good study in itself!) But, we do need to know a little. True, we can just read the scripture and see that Jesus is praying for Himself, His disciples, and for us, but unless we understand what His words mean, most of it won’t make sense to us.

On your handout I’ve included scriptures from Leviticus which explains what happens on the Day of Atonement, and from Hebrews which explains how Jesus is that Great High Priest. (By the way, it’s been said that Leviticus is the most “New Testament” of the Old Testament, for what it teaches about Jesus, and Hebrews is the most “Old Testament” of the New Testament for what it teaches of the fulfillment!)

Anyway, this is it in a nutshell - everything about the Tabernacle or the Temple in the Old Testament is just a “pattern” or you might say a “scale model” of Heaven. Everything about…everything, represents some aspect of God’s Holy City - the priests, the Levites, the utensils, the sacrifices, the altar, the incense, the veil - everything is a “likeness” of what will be. I don’t understand it all yet, I just know that it is.

In the Old Testament, the high priest offered the blood of the offering to God for the forgiveness of sin - his own as well as everyone else’s. He “interceded” for the people. And it was on-going.

In the fulfillment of this, Jesus is the High Priest, one completely without sin, interceding for the forgiveness of sin - done once and for all.

In this prayer, Jesus prays for that fulfillment in His own restoration to the Glory of Heaven, (it’s like He can’t wait to get home!) And He intercedes not only for the 11 disciples who are there with Him, but He also prays for us as well. And we’ll look briefly at just what He prays for (which, by the way, gives us an excellent model of how we are to pray for others!)

To set the scene for you…

It is Thursday night of Holy week. Jesus and 11 of His disciples have left the Upper Room in John Mark’s house, and are making their way toward the Kidron valley where they will cross over to the Mount of Olives where a garden with an olive press, called a “gethsemane”, is located (Instead of “The Garden of Gethsemane” it should be “The garden of the gethsemane - it’s a “thing” not necessarily a “place.”…). Jesus often stays here when He is in Jerusalem…

While they were in the Upper Room, they had participated in the Passover meal, what we call The Last Supper, and had their feet washed by Jesus, and then after that Judas left out, but the other disciples didn’t know why. After they sang a hymn they all left out. It was around midnight….

As they walked along, Jesus shared many things with them. He talked almost nonstop - like He has so much to say, in such a short amount of time… and indeed He does.

Then all of a sudden, as they come to the edge of the Kidron Valley, I think Jesus just stops! He lifts His hands toward heaven and just starts praying! I think it caught them off guard. Have you ever been around someone who just, all of a sudden, started praying? And not only that, but as He prays, He is praying for them!

Have you ever had someone pray, specifically, for you? How did it make you feel?

This is a prayer that was meant to be heard. Don’t let anyone tell you that Jesus taught against public prayer. He taught against “showy” public prayer. He taught against “insincere” public prayer, but against public prayer, just because it’s public? No, He never taught against that. There were several times when He prayed that He meant for the prayer to be heard!

Listen to the words of this prayer (read chapter 17) And imagine you’ve been walking with Jesus, listening to His words, and then He stops and begins praying…

I really wish we had time to study this prayer in depth - there is so much here! So we’ll just do a quick overview. First of all we can see that it has 3 parts.

~The first part (verses 1-5) has to do with Jesus’ relationship with the Father. The perspective of the prayer is like it’s from “the other side of the cross.” In other words, He is praying like it’s a “done deal” - like it’s already happened. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d think that it was being prayed after the Resurrection! But it’s not… and in just a very few moments we’ll find Him in the Garden on His face begging the Father to let this cup pass…

But that’s not so far-fetched… how many of us have been in situations where we knew the outcome was going to be victorious, but the meantime was hell? The worst part about losing my Mother was not her death, but the 6 weeks prior to that…

Second, Jesus prays for the disciples. Verses 6-19 gives us His intercession for them as He asks God to “keep them” - keep them (verse 11) in unity; keep them (or give them) (verse 13) joy; and keep them (verse 15) safe, or “from the evil one.”

And why does Jesus pray these things for them? (Verse 18-19) that they may be sent into the world, sanctified in truth…

Third Jesus prays for us. Verse 20 says “I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word, that they may be one...”

“…that they may be one…” Jesus also prays for our unity. One writer said that all the disciples were different, and all believers are different. He said there is a difference between unity and uniformity. Unity shows its best in diversity, but uniformity is threatened by diversity.

John Wesley said “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion. Therefore a man must find companions or make them.”

Then, in order to attain that “oneness”, Jesus prays for us to have the “glory” that He had. “What is Jesus’ Glory?”

First, Jesus’ Glory is the cross. Remember, Jesus never talked about being crucified; He spoke of being “glorified…” Therefore, our “cross” is our “glory.” Whatever it is that is our cross, is the thing that shows forth our glory. Now, we don't pray for difficult times, situations, or circumstances, but “when” they come (and they will come), then as Christ works in us, we show the glory that is Him in us.

Second, His Glory is His obedience to God. Philippians 2:8 says He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

And third, His Glory is His relationship to God. He prays in verse 24 that “they may be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory…” In other words, He wants us in Heaven - in Paradise - with Him…

~Another thing we can see in this prayer is how it follows the model that He gave us in the Lord’s Prayer.

In the opening phrases of the prayer, we see Him coming to God as Father in heaven and hallowing His name. In verse 6 He says that “I manifested Thy name” which means that He taught the disciples about God’s character and authority.

In verses 2-4 we see Him declaring “Thy will be done - on earth as it is in heaven.”

And in verse 14 we see Jesus asking for God to protect them from the evil one…

And in the closing verses we see Jesus affirming, “Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever…”

~And lastly, we see in this prayer of Jesus’, the model of how we are to pray for other believers. This prayer seeks the glory of God, even when the price is personal suffering. It affirms that whatever brings God’s glory is ultimately for our good - actually for our “best.” If you have a question about whether you should do something, ask yourself, “Does it bring God Glory?”

This prayer asks for divine protection not from suffering, but from Satan, from spiritual opposition, and from defeat. It seeks a greater unity among true believers, and looks ultimately for a reunion with our Lord.

When we pray for one another, in the way that Jesus prayed for us, we will have unity, we’ll have joy, and we will arrive safely in the Father’s arms - and that’s exactly the answer to Jesus’ prayer.

In closing, I want you to think about the hymn “In The Garden” because our next study will be Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. I want you to think about this week’s prayer and where it was that Jesus prayed it - just outside the Garden - just before taking on all the sin, of all mankind, of all eternity…



Study of Prayer - Week Four
Jesus’ “High Priestly” Prayer
AKA “The Real Lord’s Prayer”

Key statement: When we pray for one another, in the way that Jesus prayed for us, we will have unity, we’ll have joy, and we will arrive safely in the Father’s arms - and that’s exactly the answer to Jesus’ prayer.

Scriptures:
John 17 (read it every day - in different translations if possible)
Leviticus 16:3-34 (especially verse 30)
Philippians 2:9-11
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews chapters 8-9 (most important)
Hebrews 10:11-12
(Actually - it would be very helpful if you read the whole book of Hebrews. Read it in an easily understood version such as The New Living Translation.)

Questions:

Do you understand why this is called “The ‘Real’ Lord’s Prayer”? Do you understand why it is called “The High Priestly Prayer”?


Have you ever just “stopped in your tracks” (or dropped to your knees) and started praying? Have you been around someone who did?


How does it make you feel when you are in the presence of someone praying specifically for you?


Do you see portions in this prayer which follow the “model” prayer?



Can you see where Jesus is praying for you, individually, in this prayer? (As the song says, “When He was on the cross, you were on His mind…”)



How does it comfort you to know, that as He was on His way to the cross, He was praying for you?




Praying the prayer of Jesus - John 17

Father, as Jesus came to you on this night of His crucifixion, He was more concerned with us than He was with Himself. As He recounted all that He had done; as He was counting down the hours until His death, His eyes were still on Your glory and our protection; on Your manifestation and our understanding of it.

He seemed so anxious for us. He knew how hard it was going to be for us sometimes, but even with that, He didn’t pray for You to take us out of the world, but to protect us from the evil one. He so wanted us to know the fellowship and “oneness” that He had (and has) with You. He wanted it to be real in our lives, so that other lives may be touched as well.

And so, Father, we pray that prayer as well. The “world” doesn’t know You, but we know You through the person of Jesus Christ, and we pray that the love with which You loved Christ may be in us as He is in us.

In His precious name we pray, Amen.

Study on Prayer - week 3

We come now to the second part of our study of the Lord’s Prayer, what I’ve titled, “P’s in a Pod, Part Two: Things We Need God to Give Us”.

Last week we looked at the first part of the prayer in the “Things we need to give God” and we talked especially about the holiness of God. We looked at the first set of “P’s” by looking at God’s Paternity and Placement by saying “Our Father who art in heaven”; we looked at Praise when we say “hallowed be Thy Name.”

And, we saw that His Divine Providence took place when we say “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”

Praying that part of the prayer is extremely important; spending time in “worshipful” prayer - in a deliberate time of meditation and study - studying the attributes of God, is what gives us the “privilege” of praying this second part of the prayer

But I think, if we’re real honest, we’ll find that our prayers spend much more time in this “second” portion - in “the things we need God to give us” than in the “things we need to give God.” And yet, God is so gracious… and He keeps on giving us so much!

As we’ve noted, this “model” prayer is found in both Luke 11, where the unnamed disciple asked Jesus - in an urgent tone of voice - to teach them how to pray.

And, the “model” prayer is also found in Matthew 6, as a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He is teaching the “attitude” of worship, by teaching about fasting, giving, and praying - what is acceptable, and what is not…

With this study we’ll be focusing on the version found in Matthew as it is closest to what we actually say when we repeat “The Lord’s Prayer.”

(Matthew 6:9-10 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”)

Before we go on - think about last week’s handout? Did you “ponder” on those questions? What about the scriptures? Could you see the similarity between the OT prayers and the “model” prayer?

(and then verse 11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”)

And now we come to Provision. What do you think this means? The Message translates it as “Keep us alive with three square meals…” (That doesn’t really work for me…)

The Revised Standard Version says, “Give us to-day bread for the coming day…”

There are many ways to look at what “bread” means here - sorta like “it depends on what ‘is’ is…” There’s the bread of the Lord’s Supper, the bread as Spiritual food, and of course, bread as Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life…”

But, sometimes I think we try to get far too theological in reading the Bible. Sometimes we just have to read it with a simple heart. It means, exactly what it says - provision (whether food, or clothing, or housing, or healing) whatever we need “provided” - today.

One of the reasons the early church had a hard time understanding the meaning was that the Greek word which is used for “daily” is a word that for a very long time was found nowhere else in Greek literature - no-where! In fact, many people thought that Matthew had invented the word. Then, not too long ago a fragment of papyrus was found with this word on it. You know what it was? A woman’s shopping list. The things she needed for that day.

Give us this day our daily bread - give us the things we need for this day. Does that mean we sit back and wait for our provisions to just roll in? No, scripture also tells us that God provides for the birds of the air… but like I’ve always said, He doesn’t throw it in the nest for them…

Also notice Jesus does not teach us to say, “Give me this day my daily bread…” The world’s food problem is not with supply, but with distribution… One writer said, “Only when we’ve prayed the “us” with that as the focus, have we prayed it right…”

(Verse 12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” )

If we must understand the Provision of the prayer with a simple heart, then we must understand that the Penitence of the prayer exposes our sinful heart.

The theologian and commentator William Barkley said that “Before a man (or woman) can honestly prayer this petition, he must realize that he needs to pray it…

Now, I believe that most of us would readily agree that we’re sinners… but if pressed, and asked, “What sin did you commit today?” How would you answer? Anyone want to share how they sinned today? :-)

The trouble is, we all agree that the drunkard, the murderer, the burglar, and the adulterer are sinners, but… how do we recognize our own sin? We know that Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. And Romans 5:8 says that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners… but just what is sin? And how come in this prayer I have to ask to be forgiven in the same way that I’m willing to forgive? Ever think about that?

There are 5 Greek terms in the New Testament that relate to sin. Debt which is used here means a moral or spiritual debt or “owing.” Sin means missing the mark. Trespass is falling or slipping - more from carelessness than from intentional disobedience. (Notice that only these three words are used in The Lord’s Prayer.) Then there’s transgression which means crossing the line or going beyond limits prescribed by God. This one is more conscious and intentional. And then there is lawlessness, which is even more intentional and flagrant. It is direct and open rebellion against God and His ways.

Remember we said in the first week that this prayer is given to those who were (and are) already believers; who were (and are) already saved from the judgment, so the debts referred to here are those committed by us when we “owe a debt” to God, or “miss the mark” or “slip up.” And we all “owe a debt”, “miss the mark” and “slip up.”

And we have all been “owed” a debt. And we’ve all had someone “miss the mark” with us, or “slip up” with us…

But, for me, the word “trespasses” has the most impact - “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…” The reason is, when I think of “trespass” I think of “no trespassing” signs. And what that means is “no crossing.”

I may not think of anyone to whom I owe a debt, or against whom I’ve sinned, but I can certainly think of people I’ve “crossed” and especially of those who’ve “crossed” me, and in that regard, the prayer hits a little closer home.

Barkley again says that the literal translation is “forgive us our sins in proportion as we forgive those who have sinned against us. This is the only phrase of the prayer that Jesus gives further details about in verses 14 and 15. But note! This does not affect our salvation! This has to do with fellowship. It is our continued sinning that breaks our fellowship with God, and it is refusing to forgive another person that disrupts our fellowship with them.

Asking forgiveness implies confession. Feet that are not presented to Christ can’t be washed, and sins that aren’t confessed can’t be forgiven, or rather a better term might be can’t be “cleansed.” Our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, but if we don’t confess them, they can’t be cleansed or removed from us. We will carry the guilt and weight of that sin if it is not confessed.

To confess means to agree with, and when we confess our sins, we agree with God that they are wicked, evil and defiling, and have no part in those who belong to Him. It’s not easy to confess sins. Oh, we might say, “God, forgive me of my sins today.” Or sing the song, “If I have wounded any heart today, if I have caused one foot to go astray, if I have walked in my own willful way - Dear Lord, forgive.” But when it comes right down to naming our sins, not saying “if” I’ve done anything, but “as” I have done something; then it is much harder.

By the way, when I think of that song, I often think, “Yeah, if I have wounded a heart, or caused a foot to go astray, or walked in my own way, I know I can be forgiven, but what of the consequences of my actions? What about the one I hurt? What about the one I caused to falter? Because of my willful way, what’s going to happen to them? The consequences of our sins are extremely far reaching.

The last phrase of the prayer brings us to Protection.

(verse 13 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]” )

We have just prayed to be forgiven of our sins, and now we pray that we not return to the folly of sin, nor may we be tempted to do it. But, the Greek word for temptation is basically a neutral word, which means it has no connotation of either good or evil, as does our English word “temptation.”

We always think of something evil, or of doing something wrong when we hear the word “temptation” (I’m “tempted” to eat that last piece of cheesecake) but the root word means “testing or proving” which doesn’t have to be doing something wrong. (However, we seldom say, “I’m tempted to help someone today…”)

In Genesis 22, in the KJV it says that “God tempted Abraham.” But in nearly every other translation it says that he was “tested…” Testing something proves how strong it is.

1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

But, I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly want to know how strong I am! And so when we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” it is an appeal to God to place a watch over our eyes, our ears, our mouth, our feet and our hands - that in whatever we see, hear, or say, and in any place we go and in anything we do, He will protect us from sinning.

We pray that He will not allow us to go there because if we continually allow ourselves to be placed in tempting or sinful areas, it is only a matter of time until we give in.

And then, there’s that “evil one…” Nearly every commentary I read translates “deliver us from evil” as “deliver us from the evil one.” And believe me, there IS an “evil one.” He is not a cartoon character dressed in a red suit with horns, a pointed tail, and a pitchfork. The Bible tells us that he is like a roaring lion going about seeking whom he may devour. He is an accuser, and deceiver, and a liar - and he wants to destroy you…

Paul gives us the way to “stand” against the wiles of the devil - and that is by putting on the whole armor of God found listed altogether in Ephesians 6:10-18 - but really, it’s found all through out the Bible. (We don’t have time to go into what each piece is and how it is used at this time, but I do have an additional handout on that if anyone wants one. Just e-mail me and ask for the “Dressed for the Battle” handout.)

As we finish this part of our study on prayer, I want to share one more thing from the book that I began with, “A Pilgrim’s Guide to Prayer.”

If you pray this prayer seriously, then you see that it is not a “warm and fuzzy” prayer, but actually denotes a struggle, or a conflict.

Listen to the words:
If we pray, asking that God’s Name be hallowed - we are implying and admitting that it is not always so honored.
By praying “Thy Kingdom come” shows that it hasn’t come fully, yet. And sometimes, quite honestly, it looks like it’s not gonna happen anytime soon, either…

“Give us our daily bread” is there because of constant threats to our existence.

And “Forgive us” must be prayed because as David said, “My sin is ever before me…”

Crying “lead us not into temptation” (or testing) shows failure and ruin are out there waiting to get us and without God’s help, we’re bound to lose out in the struggle. And we all beg to be delivered from the evil one…

We saw in our first study that the unnamed disciple said, “Lord, teach us now to pray…” And for “such a time as this” we need to make that same request…

Our Father, teach us now to pray. In Jesus’ Name - Amen.


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Study of Prayer - Week Three:
“P’s in a Pod, Part Two: Things We Need God to Give Us”

Key statement: Our prayers spend much more time in this portion than in the “things we need to give God.” And yet, God is so gracious… and He keeps on giving us so much!

Scriptures to read this week:
Deuteronomy 8:3
John 6:31-51
Matthew 18:21-35
Psalms 66:18
Mark 1:12-13
James 1:13-14
Ephesians 6:10-18


Questions to ponder this week:
(*Hint* Take one question a day and “ponder” on it. Jot down your impressions and thoughts to reflect back on them later.)

P - Provision: Why do you think Jesus told us to ask for bread? Do you think He was talking about food in particular?



P - Penitence: Have you ever had to forgive anyone? Do you still hold it against them in your heart?



Which translation helps you understand the verse better - “debts”, “sins”, or “trespasses?”



P - Protection: Do you believe God, does indeed, “lead” us into temptation?



Does saying, “Deliver us from the evil one” make this statement easier to understand?




What do you do to avoid temptation?



Prayer:
Upon Sitting in the Mall Food Court

I see a young black woman feeding an apparently handicapped white man. I am at a distance and can’t tell if he’s blind, or just can’t feed himself - and so, I begin to pray…

Father, bless this young woman in her ministry, her servanthood. May she receive a great blessing from her service.

As I look at all these people, I lift them up. What are their joys, what are their fears? I am old enough to know that within each of their lives, there is some pain - either within their own life, or someone very close to them.

I pray for them, Lord. May they know You and Your care, and Your love.

As I look, I know that You know each one of them. You made them. You know their fears, their joys, their concerns, and most importantly, You know their hearts. Do they know You, Lord? Is this young woman’s servanthood out of love to You, or does she not recognize You yet? Has she not responded or even heard Your call yet? I pray that if she hasn’t, she will.

I see a young mother with little children. Do they know You? Are these children being raised in a Christian home, or what kind of environment will they grow up thinking is “normal.”? I pray for this family Lord. If they know You, that they’ll be strengthened for the trials to come as the children grow older. If they don’t, that they’ll hear Your call and come to know Your love.

Father, the colors and nationalities, the physical, emotional, financial and educational differences represented by these Your children are many. Their ages are many and their experiences are many. We are all different, we are all loved by You. And now, may we all love and live to serve You.

In the Name of the One who died for even the least of these, I pray… Amen


Betty J. Newman ©May 2004



Next week: The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus - John 17
(This is the real “Lord’s Prayer”. This is the one He prayed for us!)

Study on Prayer - week 2

Week 2: The Lord’s Prayer - “P’s in a Pod” Part 1 - Things we need to give God

For Christmas, 2006, Joe bought me a Chronological Bible. I had always talked about wanting to read a chronological version of the Bible - one in which all the events are written in the order in which they happened. So he got this for me.

The one I have is set up to be a “one-year” Bible. It’s broken down into daily readings, so that in one year you’ve read through the Bible.

The reading for October 19 happened to include Luke 11 - Luke’s version of The Lord’s Prayer. And as I read this: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (NIV) it jumped out at me that this was like “Peas in a Pod!”
“Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come” - this is praise;
“Give us each our daily bread” - this is provision;
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” - this is penitence;
“And lead us not into temptation” - this is protection! “P’s in a Pod!”

As I began to study it more in depth, I saw how it could be broken down even further, and we’ll get into that more as we go along, but that’s how this study came to be.

The “Lord’s Prayer”… Luke’s version and Matthew’s version are quite different. Matthew’s is closer to what we pray, but it has been argued by many that neither version was meant to be merely “recited.” As we said last week, there is a difference between “saying” prayers and “praying” prayers - it all has to do with “attitude.”

What is your earliest or your fondest memory of “The Lord’s Prayer”? (For me - as a child, we always prayed the Lord’s Prayer every night beside Mother and Daddy’s bed. Also hearing our own boys pray it for the first time in church.)

It can easily become rote - something that is said strictly out of habit. Now, a habit can be both a blessing and a curse - the “habit” itself, is neutral - it’s what it happens to be that is good or. bad.

A habit can be something that is so ingrained in us that it becomes a part of us; or it can be so ingrained in us that we do it without even thinking about it… I have a “good” habit of always praying every time I hear an ambulance - that’s just a part of who I am. But, I have a “bad” habit of biting my fingernails - I do it without thinking!

As we look in depth at what the Lord’s Prayer is, we also have to look at what it is not. For instance, it is not a “sinner’s prayer”, it is a “child’s or a believer’s prayer.” Jesus makes that very clear in the Sermon on the Mount. Most of chapter 6 of Matthew is spent teaching about “attitudes” of worship, including fasting and giving, as well as praying. This is teaching for the child of God, not someone who has not yet come to Him.

It is also not our Lord’s “personal” prayer. He never needed to ask for forgiveness. But, it IS a “model” prayer, and in that regard, He did model it when He asked for our forgiveness on the cross. And, by the way, we’ll look at other ways He modeled it when we look at the “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17, and Jesus’ prayer in the garden…

The prayer, as it unfolds is like a “funnel” in shape - from the largest (most universal and far reaching) to the smallest (most personal and intimate) and, as we are studying it in this series, it can be broken into two parts - “Things we need to give God”, and “Things God gives to us.”

First (as it should be) “Things we need to give God…”

For this week’s study we’ll be using Matthew’s version of the prayer, (Read Matthew 6:9-13.)

Matthew 6:9b “Our Father who art in heaven…”

This opening phrase says so much. It was scandalous for the Jews, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees, to even think about saying God’s name, let alone call Him “Father.” But this phrase gives us God’s “paternity” or our “personal relationship” in leading us to say “Our Father.” And it calls on our faith in God’s “position” by giving us His “placement” as “in heaven.”

However, the concept of God as “father” was not entirely new. Isaiah 63:16 and 64:8 speaks of God as the Father of Israel. And faithful Jews had known of God as their Father in several ways. They saw Him as Father of Israel, but they also saw Him in an even more intimate and personal way as their Spiritual Father and Savior. You can find that concept first used in Exodus 4:22 when Moses is receiving his call from God. God tells him, “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, "Israel is My son, My firstborn.” Well, if Israel is the “son” then God is the Father.

We also see it in the Psalms, such as Psalms 103:13 “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”
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But over the centuries, because of their disobedience to the Lord, most Jews had lost the sense of God’s intimate Fatherhood. Jesus reaffirmed to them what their Scripture taught and what faithful and Godly Jews had always believed: God is the Father of those who trust in Him.

AND, it is most likely that Jesus, speaking Aramaic used the term “Abba” which is an intimate form of “Father” closer to what we would call “Daddy.”

It’s interesting to note that Jesus used the title Father in all His prayers except the one on the cross when He cried “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” emphasizing the separation He experienced in bearing mankind’s sin.

To be able to go to God as our heavenly Father means many things to us. For example - it means the end of terrifying fear. Remember, the pagans feared their gods. However, the Hebrew word that is translated “fear” when it speaks of the “fear of God” means reverence or worship. It’s an entirely different word than the one that means to be afraid of.

Next, knowledge of God’s Fatherhood gives hope. If an earthly father (“normal” earthly father) will give help and protection to their children, how much more will God love and protect His children.

Also, knowing God as Father does away with loneliness. Everyone else may leave us, but God never will.

Then, knowing God as Father should settle the matter of selfishness. There is not, nor cannot be, anything selfish about this prayer because no where is there a “personal” pronoun. It is “our” Father, give “us” this day “our” daily bread, lead “us” not into temptation, and deliver “us” from evil. It is a prayer for the “family” of God.

As Paul wrote, knowing God as our Father brings us blessing in abundance. (Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”)

And, knowing God as Father settles the matter of obedience. Jesus gave up the riches of Heaven and was obedient, even unto death. Obedience to God is one of the supreme marks of our relationship to Him as His children. “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

Yet in His grace, God loves and cares even for His children who are disobedient. Remember how He provided for Adam and Eve - God gave first! And then there was Cain, and Abraham when he messed up, and Jacob when he was deceitful, and David in his sin, and… well, we could go on and on…

By allowing us, teaching us, and leading us to believe and say “Our Father” Jesus is indicating God’s eagerness to lend His ear, His power, and His eternal blessings to the prayers of His children.

Next: It teaches us “praise” or “priority” when we “hallow” His name.

Matthew 6:9c “…hallowed be Thy name.”

Hallow is an old English word which means holy. God’s people are commanded to “be” holy, but God is acknowledged as “being” (already is) holy. The Good News Bible translates it as “May Your holy name be honored.”

According to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, the word “name” has a significance in the Bible as meaning “authority” or “character.”


Everything Jesus did on earth manifested, or lived up to God’s name and His authority. When we sanctify Christ (or make Christ holy) in our hearts, we will also sanctify Him in our lives. We hallow his name when we acknowledge that He exists. We also hallow his name when we have and seek a true knowledge about him.

We must also have a constant awareness of His presence. To truly hallow His name and His authority, is to consciously draw Him into every daily thought, every daily word, and every daily action. David said in Psalms 16:8 that “I have set the Lord continually before me.”

We cannot worship or revere a God whose character and will we do not know or care about, or Whose authority we deny. To live in disobedience to His will is the same as taking His name in vain. It’s as bad as if we used the vilest profanity we could imagine.

And then, to hallow God’s name is to attract others to Him by our commitment, to “let our light shine before others in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify our father who is in heaven.”

Psalms 34:3 sums it up, “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!”

Next, in our “Pod of P’s”, The Lord’s Prayer speaks of calling for His Divine providence in mankind’s existence. Or as John MacArthur calls it, “The Program” and “The Plan.” (Somebody else saw “P’s in this Pod!” :-)

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Hank Hanegraaff’s book, The Prayer of Jesus” says, “One of the most comforting thoughts that can penetrate a human mind, yielded to the will of God is that He who has created us also knows what’s best for us.”

But let’s face it - whose kingdom and whose will are we most concerned with, most of the time? Our own, of course. How self-centered our prayers usually are, focused on our needs, our plans, our wants.

Even problems and issues outside of ourselves can cloud our concern for God’s Kingdom. It is our responsibility to pray for our families, pastors, neighbors, and worldly issues, but our prayer FIRST should be that God’s will be done in and through those people - that they would think, speak, and act in accordance with God’s will.

The Talmud, which is the book that contains the body of the Hebrew laws, says that “if a prayer does not name the kingdom of God, then it is not a prayer.”

The word “come” (as in Thy kingdom come) in the Greek is in an imperative tense - It could read Come! Thy Kingdom, or “Let Thy kingdom come Now!”

So, how does this kingdom come? It comes by conversion and by commitment.
First, it comes by conversion. As we pray for the salvation of souls, the kingdom grows.

And second, it comes by commitment. Those who already believe should respond to the rule of the Lord in their lives now so that He rules in them as He rules in heaven.

Then there is that matter of “Thy will be done…”

Notice, the prayer doesn’t say, “Thy will be known” it says “Thy will be done!”

It’s almost like saying “Amen” Do you know what the word “amen” means? It doesn’t mean “That’s all folks!” It literally means “so be it” or “may it be in accordance with the will of God.”

But, sometimes we don’t want to say “amen.” We don’t want to say, “So be it.” There is a tension between God’s sovereignty and man’s will. God is sovereign, but He gives us choices. God is sovereign, but He tells us to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Our prayer should be that every person and thing on earth be brought into conformity with God’s perfect will.

To pray for God’s will to be done, is to stand against the worldly idea that sin is normal and inevitable and therefore should just be accepted. To pray for righteousness is to pray against wickedness. And finally, to pray for God’s will to be done, is to pray (by extension) for Satan’s will to be… undone.

As we end this first section, “Things we need to give God”, we have looked at the first 5 lines of this prayer. Which is most difficult, or demands the most faith from you?

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We closed the study again this week with comments and questions, then prayer. And as always, I urge you to e-mail me with your comments and questions.

The following is the handout for week 2. I encourage you to read the scriptures, ponder the questions, and spend time in prayer and meditation with your Heavenly Father. He loves you SO much that He gave His Son to die for your sins!

To God be the Glory!
Amen

Next week: The Lord’s Prayer - “P’s in a Pod” Part Two - Things We Need God to Give Us.

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Study of Prayer - Week Two:
“P’s in a Pod, Part One: Things We Need to Give God”

Key statement(s): “Only those who received Jesus and believed on His name have the right to refer to God as ‘Our Father’.”

“And, how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening.” 1 John 5:14 The Message

Scriptures to read this week:
Psalms 31 (A prayer of Faith, written by David, probably as Saul sought to kill him.)
Isaiah 63:16
Romans 8:14-17
1 John 5:14-15
2 Chronicles 20:3-12

Questions to ponder this week:
(*Hint* Take one question a day and “ponder” on it. Jot down your impressions and thoughts to reflect back on them later.)

Do you see any parallels between Jehoshaphat’s prayer (2 Chronicles 20:3-12) and the Lord’s Prayer?
(Hint: V:6 - “Our Father, Who art in heaven, and Your will be done”; V:8 - “hallowed be Your name”; V:11-12a “deliver us from evil”; V:12b “Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory…”


Are there parallels between your prayers and the Lord’s Prayer?


P - Position: Does it seem radical to you to call God, “Father”? What about calling Him “Daddy”?


P - Praise: What other names of God can you recall from the scriptures? Do you see “authority” in them?


P - Providence: What does “The Kingdom of God” mean to you, and do you pray for God’s Kingdom to come?


Does it ever frighten you to pray, “Your will be done.”?


Do you see how these are “things we need to give God”?

Prayer: (From the book “One Minute Prayers” by Hope Lyda)

I know your name so well, Lord. I whisper it in times of sorrow. I hold it close when entering a place of fear. I shout its praise during times of celebration. You have carved it on my heart so that I will never forget the Creator of my soul. I do not go anywhere without being covered by your name, for it is powerful.

When I experience doubt, Lord, remind me that, “he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” You are all these things to me, Lord. Let me never to forget to call on You, the One who does not forsake me but leads me to higher places.


Another short prayer: “Oh Lord, Thy Will - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!”


The Hebrew Names of God

Elohim: Creator - Genesis 1:1
El Elyon: God Most High - Sovereign - Genesis 14:18-20
El Roi: The God Who Sees - Genesis 16:13-14
El Shaddai: The All Sufficient One - Genesis 17:1-8
Adonai: The Lord or “My” Lord - Genesis 15:1-2
Jehovah: The Self-Existent One - Genesis 3:3-6
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Will Provide - Genesis 22:14
Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord Who Heals - Exodus 15:26
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord My Banner - Exodus 17:15
Jehovah-Mekoddisheem: The Lord Who Sanctifies You - Exodus 31:12-13
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Is Peace - Judges 6:24
Jehovah-Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts - 1 Samuel 1:11
Jehovah-Raah: - The Lord My Shepherd - Psalm 23:1
Jehovah-Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness - Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah-Shammah - The Lord Is There - Ezekiel 48:35