Some More Thoughts On Prayer

 During my last post, we discussed our prayer life. Its importance and basically how to pray. The more I thought about it and prayed about it, the more I felt drawn to provide additional information to help you formulate your own prayers.

In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus teaches us what our approach to prayer should be. Prayer should be personal, not showing off to the public how spiritual we are. Still pray in public, but don’t make a big deal out of it. Prayer is private when praying in public, pray in your head or softly to yourself. God sees you and rewards you accordingly. Prayers should not be repetitious. Two things to keep in mind here: first, don’t keep saying the same thing over and over again. Telling God you are a sinner fourteen times in the same prayer is not necessary. Second, long-winded and fancy words don’t impress God. Finally, God knows what you need before you ask for it, but He really loves hearing it from you.

In Matthew, we find this, Matthew 6:9–13, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”

This version is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. In Luke 11:2–4 – there is a shorter version that is presented in the context of Jesus praying, after which a disciple asks him to teach them to pray. In each account, Jesus presents this as the foundation for prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is not in the Old Testament; it is a New Testament teaching from Jesus. It is not a rigid formula to be recited, but a model for prayer—a framework for approaching God with reverence, dependence, confession, and trust.

Here are some of the prayers I pray pretty much daily.  Sometimes all of them. Sometimes just one or two of them. This is not to say any of my prayers are better than yours or that God hears my prayers more than yours. These prayers are the words that God has given me over the years to help me articulate what I want and desire in my walk with Him. I offer them, so you might draw some inspiration to craft your own appeals to God.

“Lord, bless the people that can’t do what I do; my work is for them.”

“Lord, I surrender me, my heart, my mind, my body, my soul, my thoughts, words, and emotions. I submit to your will in my life.”

“Lord, I pray to don the full armor of God this day. So that I may stand against the Evil One. So that I may stand against the powers, principalities, the rulers, and forces of darkness, the wickedness in high places, and unclean spirits. And my own sinful nature. I ask in your name, Jesus.”

“Father God, I pray for my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild and their families. I pray for my siblings, nieces, and nephews, my in-laws, and my friends. I pray that you would guide, protect, and direct them. I pray that you would put godly men and women into each of their lives so that they would hear your word and be drawn closer to you.  I ask in your name, Jesus.”

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, maker of the heavens and the earth. By you, through you, and for you all things were created. And I belong to you. You called me out of the darkness, you called me into the light, and you called me to walk with you. And I want to walk with you. I will trust in you with all my heart, and I will not lean upon my own understanding. But in all my ways I will acknowledge you, as you direct my paths. I aspire to lead a quiet life. To work with my hands, to mind my own business. So that I may walk towards those who are on the outside, just as you commanded, lacking nothing. Lord, I pray that you would forgive me my sins. I turn and repent of all the things I have done, said, and thought that grieve You. I also ask forgiveness for those things I have failed to do or say. Restore me to your righteousness so that I may walk in your will, your way. “

Even the Holy Spirit prays for us.  In Romans 8:26, it says, “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Your prayer is to God. It's from you, your heart, your soul. Your prayer is your thanks for what's been done for you; it's about what you want/need, not only for yourself but also for others, too. It is the sorrow and repentance for what you have failed to do. Prayer is the hope you have, knowing you have been forgiven and can move on in your walk with Jesus. Until next time,

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

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Pray Without Ceasing

  

What's your prayer life like? Is it like, “well, I say amen just loudly as the person next to me when my overseer prays in church on Sunday,” or do you say the same prayer over and over again because that's what you were taught to do? The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians (1 Th 14-18), “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Pray without ceasing? What does that even mean? I'm not a monk or a nun. I don't have time to pray. I can't pray at work; people will think I'm nuts. I'll pray when I really need help. Besides, God said He knows what I want and need. Sound familiar? Is prayer important? Is it necessary? YES! It is an integral part of our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. First, it is the conversation we hold with our loving Lord. God loves to hear from us regularly. The Bible says, ”Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16). Other verses to check out: Hebrews 5:7, 1Timothy 1:2-3. Secondly, prayer is part of your worship to God. In Romans, it is addressed as part of our bodily sacrifice as our reasonable service to God. In the book of Revelation, it says, “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne (Rev 8:3).

Now that we know prayer is important. So, how do I pray? Simple, just talk. Talk to Jesus. Your words aren't important; thankfulness and acknowledgement of God are. You wake up in the morning, “Be with me today, Lord.” Get a promotion at work, “Thank you, Lord.” You sit down for a meal (especially in a restaurant), “Thank you, Lord, for this meal.” There's a whole bunch more on prayer, more than I can get into here. It heals, it strengthens, it helps others. Investigate the power of prayer for yourself. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  Your prayers acknowledge that Jesus is part of your life. As you do this regularly, you will find that your gratitude for Jesus will grow. Soon it will be second nature. Now you are praying without ceasing. Until next time.

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

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Our Turn

  

Ritual

noun

1. A ceremony in which the actions and wording follow a prescribed form and order.

2. The body of ceremonies or rites used in a place of worship or by an organization.

3. A book of rites or ceremonial forms.

(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.)

Picture this: every Sunday morning, all across the western world, people gather and listen to a person preach, teach, cajole, scream, shame, and manipulate the word of God. The word of God is shredded, processed, and packaged into small bite-sized uncontextualized verbal goo slathered over with music, lights, and, sometimes, fog machines. Congregations, by and large, sit contentedly and will do it all again next Sunday, thinking they're good with God. Sound like your church? Non-believers see the same thing and want nothing to do with it. Is that you?

So why are most churches like this? Some will say that the church is a business, defined by money, personal agendas, power, and fame. All true, in some instances. Now, to be fair, the vast majority of Overseers (Pastors, Priests, Elders, and Deacons) are genuinely sincere about bringing the lost to Jesus. But what changes? What gets twisted, overlooked? There's only one reason the church of today is the way it is...You. Believers are the church, not the Overseer, not the building; it's you and me. This is what many churchgoers want from their church. They want something quick, easy to digest, nothing challenging or convicting, an event they can schedule and move on to the rest of their day. It makes them feel good about themselves. It is a ritual with no thought, no soul-searching, nothing genuine or sincere, and most importantly, no personal life changes.

Many Overseers walk a fine line between getting people in the seats just to hear the word of God and keeping them returning. Hence the compromise. I hasten to add that there is nothing wrong with the music, the lights, or even the fog machines per se, as long as they are subordinate to the word of God! When the ritual becomes the event, in my opinion, it's time to leave, and I did.

So what are we believers and non-believers left with? God wants us to fellowship.

Hebrews 10:24-25 is one of the most direct verses encouraging fellowship:

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Also check out Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:3, Galatians 6:2, and Proverbs 27:17. Our loving Father wants us to gather. It is a vital, transformative practice in our Christian life. Are there churches that are true to the word of God? Yes, there are! But you have to look diligently. You have change your mindset, attitude, and genuinely seek a church and a fellowship that teaches the whole word of God, in context. That means book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Some of you may object to that, tough. Take it up with God. That's how the Bible was written, and that's how it should be taught.

But first and foremost, pray. Pray and find out where God wants you. Pray and ask for forgiveness for your attitude. Pray to go deeper in your walk with Him.

God will meet you wherever you are at, right now, today. We'll get into it next time.

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

G

Timothy The Overseer

The first and second epistles of Timothy provide insight as to what the Lord is looking for in an Overseer (Priest, Pastor, and Elder). Timothy was born in Lystra, a city in Lycaonia (modern-day Turkey). Timothy had a Jewish mother, Eunice, and a Greek father, making him culturally bilingual and able to function comfortably in Jewish and Gentile communities. Both his grandmother, Lois, and mother were devout believers, and Timothy was taught the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).

Timothy first appears in scripture in Acts 16: 1-5. Paul and Silas (Paul's second missionary journey around 50–52 AD) are passing through Lystra, and the church there brought Timothy to Paul's attention. Scripture says he's already a disciple when Paul encounters him and is well spoken of by the brethren of both Lystra and Iconium. To help Timothy gain acceptance among Jewish communities, Paul has him circumcised, despite his Greek heritage, demonstrating cultural sensitivity without compromising doctrine (Acts 16:1–3). Timothy was later ordained by the laying on of hands by the presbytery and Paul, who described him as his “beloved child” and “true son in faith” (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2).

According to Biblehub (https://biblehub.com/topical/t/timothy.html), “Throughout Paul’s ministry, Timothy served as a trusted co-worker, traveling with him to Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. He was sent on important missions, such as encouraging the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:2) and helping manage affairs in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:10–11). His name appears as a co-author in several of Paul’s epistles, including 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon.“ Additionally, both Biblehub and Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Timothy) state that, “After Paul’s release from Roman imprisonment, he left Timothy in Ephesus around AD 64 to oversee the church and combat false teachings. Paul wrote 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy to guide him in leadership, doctrine, and personal conduct. In 2 Timothy, Paul’s final letter, he urges Timothy to remain faithful, endure hardship, and “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), expressing deep affection and concern for his spiritual son. According to tradition, Timothy became the first bishop of Ephesus and was martyred around AD 97 during a pagan festival worshiping the goddess Diana. He was beaten and stoned to death for opposing idolatry.

In 1 Timothy, Paul lays out the foundational truths for an Overseer.
   Teach in Love from a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5)
   Be knowledgeable of scriptures and sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:7)
   Pray for all men (everyone) (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
   Acknowledge that there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2: 5-6) (Only! My emphasis- calling on dead people in prayer to help you is called divination and necromancy- Deuteronomy 18:9–12 provides one of the clearest and most comprehensive prohibitions:
"When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who... practices divination, tells fortunes, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD..." Other scriptures to check out: Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Leviticus 20:27, and 1 Samuel 28.)

Next, Paul lays out the qualifications for being an Overseer,
   Be blameless, a man with one wife (polygamy was common during the 1st century), moral, upright, good behavior, hospitable, and able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2)
   Not a drunkard, violent, greedy, covetous, quarrelsome, but gentle (1 Timothy 3:3)
   Rules over his family (but not as a tyrant) (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
   Not a new Christian (1 Timothy 3:6)
   Have a good testimony (1 Timothy 3:7)

Paul then goes on to lay out the qualifications of a Deacon,
   Reverent, limits alcohol consumption, not a liar, not greedy (1 Timothy 3:8)
   Faithful with a good conscience(1 Timothy 3:9)
   The position is a tested one; they were nominated from within the body of the church and selected when they were judged to be blameless (1 Timothy 3:10)
   Have one wife (1 Timothy 3:12)
   In addition to the man being judged for the position of deacon, his wife and family were also looked at (1 Timothy 3: 11)

Elder is another position mentioned in scripture. Primarily, they were overseers, who oversaw other overseers (the term used in some translations is bishop); however, Paul speaks of them being paid once they reach that position (1 Timothy 5:17-19). So how do you (if you are an overseer) stack up with what the bible says? Christians, how does your pastor, priest, elder, or deacon stack up with what the bible says? All we have to do is look at today's headlines to find that out. So does the Bible address the failures of our Overseers? Sure does (1 Timothy 5:19-20), “19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. “

Until next time.

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.