Second in a series of sermons on selected “I am” statements from the
Gospel of John. This sermon was preached at Hebron Baptist Church on
February 24, 2013 by Pastor Joe Alain.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12
Opening/Introduction
What do the Fangtooth Fish, Pacific Viper Fish, Vampire Squid, and Giant Tube Worms all have in common? They spend their entire lives at ocean depths that would crush us (some over 2 miles), they live out their entire lives in total darkness. Maybe that’s why they don’t look very happy! Deep sea creatures are designed to live in these harsh and dark conditions, human beings are not! We need light to live! The darkness is an alien world to us. We were made by “the Light” to live in the light.
Even when we desire to be in the dark, it’s so we can better appreciate the light. So we sit in a darkened movie theater to better appreciate the dazzling lights and effects of the film. Or on dark nights we gaze into the night sky and we are able to behold the spectacle of light in the sky. The darkness accents the light, helps us to see it better.
We were made by “the Light” to live in the light. Early on in life many of us exhibited tendencies to be afraid of the dark. I can remember as a child sleeping on a bunk bed afraid of the dark shadows cast by the tree in my window. I was thankful for a night light. Light comforts us. Even today, a well-lit parking lot puts us at ease, while we become a little edgy in dimly lit parking lot.
1. The Claim
“I am the light of the world.” In John 8:12, Jesus makes another astounding claim, here he claims to be “the light [not “a” light] of the world.” That Jesus made this statement when and where he did again was no coincidence. The time was the Festival of Tabernacles (see Jn. 7:2). This was one of the three great Jewish feasts, the other two being Passover and Pentecost. The Feast of Tabernacles (Hebrew, “Sukkot”) is called The Feast of Booths and commemorates the time that Israel lived in booths in the wilderness during their forty years of wandering. The feast occurs in late September to early October and lasts for seven days.
Jesus’ brothers had wanted him to make a grand entrance at the feast, but Jesus refused to go (7:3-4). Later Jesus went secretly (7:10). We’re told that the Jews were expecting that he would come and they were looking for him (7:11). Jesus was the topic of discussion among the pilgrims attending the feast (7:12-13). They would all see him soon enough.
The setting was the temple treasury. Clearly the Temple Treasury would be a busy place, with a constant flow of worshipers coming and going. On the evening of the first day of this feast, there was a ceremony called The Illumination of the Temple. William Barclay offers the following description:
“It took place in the Court of the Women. The court was surrounded with deep galleries, erected to hold spectators. In the centre four great candelabra [Menorah] were prepared. When the dark came the four great candelabra were lit and, it was said, they sent such a blaze of light throughout Jerusalem that every courtyard was lit up with their brilliance. Then all night long, until cock-crow the next morning, the greatest and the wisest and the holies men in Israel danced before the Lord and sang psalms of joy and praise while the people watched. Jesus is saying: “You have seen the blaze of the Temple illuminations piercing the darkness of the night. I am the Light of the World, and, for the man who follows me there will be light, not only for one exciting night, but for all the pathway of his life. The light in the Temple is a brilliant light, but in the end it flickers and dies. I am the Light which lasts for ever.”
The phrase “light of life” can mean either the light which issues from the source of life or the light which gives life. When Jesus claimed to be “the light of the world,” he meant both. He meant that . . .
(1) He is the very light of God come among men. He is the . . .
God who the Psalmist describes, “He wraps himself in light” (Ps. 104:2).
God who John describes, “God is light; in him there is no darkness” (1 Jn. 1:5).
God who Paul says, “Who lives in unapproachable light.” (1 Tim. 6:16).
Jesus is God! He is the source of life!
Because Jesus is God, He is the one who gives men life.
(2) He is the light which gives men life. He is the one . . .
John speaks of in John 1:4, “In him [i.e., Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of men.”
Paul speaks of in 2 Cor. 4:6, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
So the claim Jesus makes is the claim to be the source of life – God Himself and the God who gives life. And He is God from the very beginning (see Jn. 1:1-3).
The claim of Jesus is followed by . . .
2. The Invitation
“Whoever follows me.” If the claim is true, then the invitation makes sense, for the invitation is to “follow” Jesus with one’s whole life, and only God is worthy of that kind of allegiance. To be a follower of Christ is to give oneself body, soul and spirit into the obedience of the Master; and to enter upon that following is to walk in the light!
When we walk alone we are bound to stumble and fall because we are walking in the dark. We are prone to go in the wrong direction because we cannot see clearly the path. But when we follow Jesus the “light,” we find that he is a sure guide for he alone possesses the map to life. Only Jesus has the eternally updated GPS coordinates for your life! To follow him is to walk in safety through life and afterwards to enter into glory.
Have you ever tried to find your way in a dark place, on a dark path? Maybe you didn’t have a flashlight but someone with you did. So they took the lead with the flashlight and you walked alongside them, or just a little behind them. You were close enough to the light that you could see the path. If you lingered back to far the light would have been too distant to help you, the path would have immediately become dark again. People who follow Jesus, who stay close to Him, they are the ones who stay on the lighted path. If the path you are walking on is too dark, then you’re too far from Jesus for He is the light to your path. It’s time to step into the light. And you remain in the light as you follow Jesus.
The invitation is followed with . . .
3. The Promise
“Will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Darkness is hard to understand. There are different types of darkness. Sin is a type of darkness in the Bible. Our fallen sin nature is attracted to that darkness. This explains our love of the darkness even when it’s the darkness of sin that is seeking to destroy us. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (Jn. 3:19-20). When we follow Jesus (“the light”) we will have power over sin that keeps us off the lighted path.
The light of Christ drives out the darkness. We were made by “the Light” to live in the light. To followers of Jesus, Paul says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled” (1 Thess. 5:5-6). And 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us us that we have been “called” out of “darkness into his wonderful light.”
There is another type of darkness that is overcome by the light. The spiritual battles that we endure are a type of darkness. Anxiety, fear, persecutions, struggling relationships, depression, spiritual attacks, these bring a heaviness, a darkness to our soul. And sometimes the darkness seems to win. Country star Mindy McCready, after a decade of reckless relationships, arrests, and addictions, tragically took her own life this past week leaving two sons, a 10 month and a 6 year old. Her boyfriend, David Wilson took his life about a month before on the same porch in Heber, Arkansas. These events sadden us even when we do not know the people personally because we see how the darkness overcomes and destroys people’s lives. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10). We will never know what goes through the mind of a person in these kinds of situations, but we know there is a great darkness and a sadness of the soul that is very real and present.
Following Jesus is no guarantee that the path will always be sunny and easy, that there won’t be any spiritual battles, that we won’t stumble and wander in the dark sometimes. The path of Jesus, “The light of the world” was one of suffering and led ultimately to a cross of darkness. But when we do follow Christ the light the darkness does not seem as overwhelming, we know with all the assurance of God that the darkness will not overcome us. If it’s sunny outside it doesn’t seem as cold. And the faintest light is able to drive out the darkness. Following Jesus keeps the darkness at bay, for we are walking in “the light of life.” When we follow Jesus we experience God’s promise, the promise that David in the Old Testament came to realize after a period of darkness. He said in 2 Sam. 22:29, “You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” (See also Ps.18:28). Stay close to the light and the darkness will not overtake you for the Lord will turn your darkness into light.
You were made by “the Light” to live in the light. You were not meant to live in the crushing depths of the cold darkness, you were made for the light. Are you living in the light? Jesus made a statement in John 12:35 that still applies today. “Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before the darkness overtakes you.” The darkness doesn’t have to overcome you, but you do have to step into the light, and live in that light! You can begin that journey today by making a step of faith. Let “the Light” shine in your hearts, to bring you the knowledge of salvation. You were made by “the Light” to live in the light.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Only You Satisfy (John 6:35)
A sermon preached on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, LA
Scripture Reading: John 6:25-59 (Focal Verse, John 6:35)
“‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.’”
Introduction:
It’s an obvious fact that we must eat to live. Hunger, like the lighted gas pump icon in your car is your body telling you it’s time to stop and refuel. And regardless of how full and satisfied you are after a meal, it won’t be very long before you have to eat again. In South Louisiana we take our eating pretty seriously. Many of our neighbors are celebrating Lent (which began last Wednesday). Lent is a time of prayer, reflection, and fasting, but only in Louisiana could we take that solemn celebration and make it about food! So during the season of fasting, we’ll eat twice as much seafood!
But there is another kind of hunger that we also instinctively have, it’s a spiritual hunger. We are created in “the image of God,” (Gen. 1:26) we are spiritual beings. God has set eternity in our hearts (Eccl. 3:11).Our spirit must feed to live and there is no physical food that can satisfy that need. Evidence of this spiritual hunger is present in every human being. We have a longing to know our purpose in life, why we are here. Where did we come from? Where are we going? We long for internal harmony and peace, we long to be accepted, to be loved, to be forgiven, to relate to people in healthy ways, to belong, to be fulfilled in life. These intangibles, things you cannot acquire in the physical world are real needs that we have. And they are real needs that can only be met by Jesus who is the bread of life.
Life Application: To believe in Jesus (“the bread of life”) is to experience a full and meaningful life on earth and to be with God forever.
(Read John 6:35). This is quite an amazing statement at face value. Jesus claims to be “the bread of life.” People familiar with the Bible will immediately see a connection with this statement with other similar “I am” statements in the Bible. The first occurrence of this “I am” statement is found in Exodus 3:14. Moses was being sent by God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt but he was worried that they would not receive him. He wanted to know who was sending him, on what authority was he coming to them with a plan of deliverance? “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God disclosed His name to Moses as “I am,” meaning “I will be what I will be,” a designation of deity.
So when Jesus used the expression “I am,” it was no coincidence and it was not without a specific purpose. Jesus claimed that He was the LORD! That Jesus claimed to be God is an issue in the Bible that you just cannot get around. Everything hinges upon the truthfulness of His statement. Only God is worthy of worship, only God can forgive sins, only God can change a life, only God is worth committing your life to. So Jesus claiming to be God is no small matter. That the people he first spoke this to understood what Jesus meant is clear from the context because later in the conversation they said, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (v.42). The argument made by C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel and others is appropriate in this text. Jesus is either the Lord, a Liar, or a Lunatic! Jesus Himself gives us no other way of viewing Him, there are no other options.
Equally astounding is Jesus’ claim to be “the bread of life.” He and He alone is able to satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul. “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3). The account that precedes our passage was the feeding of the 5,000, the miracle of the loaves and fishes. This feeding met their immediate physical need, but what about the spiritual needs? Jesus said the people “looked” to him (notice it doesn’t say they believed) because they “ate the loaves and were filled” (v.26). To them Jesus was some sort of “food-pantry Messiah,” able to meet their physical needs, but to most that was the extent of it.
But now after satisfying their stomachs, Jesus turns their thinking towards their spirits. “Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (v.27). That they did not understand this is obvious for they said, “What can we do to perform the works of God?” (v.28). Man is always looking for a way to save himself, to “do” something. Because this spiritual hunger is a part of our human nature, we naturally seek to have this need met in nature, what we can touch, see, experience. So in this quest for meaning, for this hunger to be met, we fill our life with earthly substitutes.
Substitutes that Will Not Satisfy: Materialism (1 Jn. 2:15-16), relationships (Matt. 10:37), the love of money (Matt. 6:24), a career, job, work, self (Lk. 9:23-24), success, even religion (Matt. 15:8-9). But these “idols of the heart” (Ezek. 14:3-6) will not quench the hunger and thirst for God. They cannot satisfy. They still leave us empty.
In the movie, The Pirates of The Caribbean, Captain Barbossa and his crew have found the chest of Cortez containing 882 pieces of Aztec Gold, but now they are cursed men, they are the undead. Explaining the curse Barbossa describes finding the gold and coming to grips with the curse he and his men were under. “We took them all [i.e., the gold pieces]! Spent ‘em, traded ‘em and fritted ‘em away, for drink and food and pleasurable company. But the more we gave them away, the more we came to realize. The drink would not satisfy, food turned to ash in our mouths, nor the company in the world would harm or slake our lust. We are cursed men . . . compelled by greed, we were. But now, we are consumed by it.” “For too long I’ve been parched of thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I’ve been starving to death and haven’t died. I feel nothing. Not the wind on my face nor the spray of the sea.” “We are cursed men.” Earthly substitutes for God will not satisfy.
If this is our condition, where do we find satisfaction for our spiritual hunger and thirst? “Jesus tells us, ‘This is the work of God – that you believe in the One He has sent” (v.29). Instead of “doing” something to meet the need we have, Jesus said God is the one who does the “doing,” He is the one who meets our need.
God does the work of salvation, we are to “believe in the One He has sent” (v.29). And who might this “One” be? Jesus, who is “the bread of life” (v.35).
Three Tremendous Truths about Salvation
1. Salvation is God’s work and gift to man (6:27-29)
But man fails to grasp this because the world despises grace. Man wants to naturally contribute to his salvation, but Grace means I come to Jesus just as I am, I humbly bow before God a sinner in need of a savior. It’s easy to see why the Jewish leaders were offended by what Jesus said and who he claimed to be.
The cross offends my pride, it’s a stumbling block, it shows me my true self (See 1 Cor. 1:22-24). It’s not surprising that people have always been attracted to a pseudo-Christianity where you are encouraged to pick and chose what you like, and set aside troubling things like the cross. It’s not surprising that people still want to make Jesus a good man, and dress his teaching up with some positive self help principles. The real Jesus is too demanding!
Jesus’ audience still wants to see a sign “so we may believe You” (v.30). Had they not just seen “The Sign” of all signs in the miracle of the loaves? Had they not seen evidence multiplied over ten times that Jesus was the “One”? But what about you? Have you not seen enough of God’s grace and mercy and goodness in your life to save you ten times over? Has God not brought to you the truth repeatedly? Are there not countless reminders everyday of the reality of God? No amount of signs and wonders or human reason will convince people whose hearts are hard and prideful. Jesus has just told these knuckleheads what to do, to “believe in the One He has sent” (v.29), but what are they doing? They are still looking for another way, a way of escape. But there is no escape! “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Heb. 2:3).
In an attempt to escape, they employed the tactic of “let’s get him sidetracked on some religious controversy.” So they bring up the history of their “fathers” (v.31). The manna that rained down from heaven in the wilderness was bread miraculously provided by God for the Israelites (Ex. 16:4; Ps. 78:24). But Jesus turned the discussion of bread to the giver of “real bread from heaven,” the bread that satisfies the soul. This “bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (v.33). Jesus says that this “bread of God” is a person, “the One.” And who could that be but Jesus, the one who is telling them these words.
Salvation has never been in a religion, or a ceremony, or in something that you do, but it’s always been in a person.
2. Salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ (6:33-35)
In the Old Testament people were saved looking forward. Today we are saved looking backwards. But on both sides salvation has been provided by “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Rev. 13:8). Still thinking only of earthly bread, they said, “Sir [not Lord], give us this bread always!” (v.34). It’s at this point Jesus makes the astounding claim of our text, “I am the bread of life” (v.35).
Jesus is “the bread of life,” our salvation. His hearers could have experienced this amazing promise of salvation but Jesus explains why they did not. “You’ve seen [some Mss omit “Me”], and yet you do not believe” (v.36). What did they see? They saw God in the flesh at work in the world, they saw God’s miracles, they listened to God’s Word, they have had many opportunities to believe but they have refused to do so. Their problem is not a knowledge problem, it’s a heart problem. It is not that they cannot believe, they are unwilling to believe.
To those who have come and who will come in the future, there is a tremendous promise of security in verse 37. Jesus “will never cast [us] out.” God will never forsake His children. God’s desire, His plan is to have a family, and He desires us to be with Him forever. God in Christ will “lose none” but will “raise them up on the last day” (v.40). Instead of this being glorious good news, “the Jews started complaining about Him because He said: I am the bread that came down from heaven” (v.41). The Jews could accept a teacher, a Rabbi (v.25). They could accept even a prophet, a miracle worker, but they could not accept Jesus as God, as Lord.
3. Salvation is available to all who will believe in Jesus (6:44-51)
We come to Christ when “the Father . . . draws” us. But the question is, how does God draw people? The same word for “draw” is used at John 12:32-33. “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.” There is a magnetism in the cross of Jesus. The cross exposes our sinful condition but we are drawn by the cross because Jesus points us to reconciliation with God the Father. In Jesus all souls become clean, forgiven.
The people Jesus was speaking to were drawn (v.44) but they were not saved. Jesus said that they had “the prophets,” they were “all taught by God” (v.45). Their problem was not knowledge, they did not believe God’s Word. They had the truth but they refused to even be open to the possibility that Jesus could have been God, and as a result of their obstinance they did not come to Jesus to be saved. Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14, ESV). They were not saved because they “could not” come (they were “called”), it was because they “would not” come (thus, they did not believe and become “chosen”). Salvation is available to all who will believe in Jesus.
Bread is good for one thing, to be eaten (v.51). Bread is not for display, it is food for life. Jesus reminds the Jews that their fathers ate the bread (the manna) in the wilderness but that they still died (v.49). The bread that he is speaking of is bread given “so that anyone may eat of it and not die” (v.50). But they said, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (v.52). Jesus did not soften His demand but pressed even more deeply. “I assure you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves” (v.53). The question is, “Is Jesus serious here?” “Is He advocating canibalims?” “How does one ‘feed’ on Jesus (v.57)?”
Clearly, Jesus is saying that we partake of the body of Christ, his flesh and blood by faith, by believing in Him, the major theme of this entire passage repeated at least six (6) times (vv.29, 35, 40, 47). To believe in Jesus is “to accept as true, genuine, or real” that Jesus is who He claimed to be – the bread of life – God! To believe in Jesus is “to have a firm conviction” in His ability to save, to reconcile me with the Father, to raise me on that last day.
What is the result of belief in Jesus? “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.” Impossible? No, it’s good news and it’s available to all who will come in faith to Jesus Christ. It’s not enough to know about Jesus, to sing about Him, to admire Him. But do you know Him? Have you believed in Him? “‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.’” To believe in Jesus (“the bread of life”) is to experience a full and meaningful life on earth and to be with God forever. Only Christ satisfies! Are you satisfied?
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Scripture Reading: John 6:25-59 (Focal Verse, John 6:35)
“‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.’”
Introduction:
It’s an obvious fact that we must eat to live. Hunger, like the lighted gas pump icon in your car is your body telling you it’s time to stop and refuel. And regardless of how full and satisfied you are after a meal, it won’t be very long before you have to eat again. In South Louisiana we take our eating pretty seriously. Many of our neighbors are celebrating Lent (which began last Wednesday). Lent is a time of prayer, reflection, and fasting, but only in Louisiana could we take that solemn celebration and make it about food! So during the season of fasting, we’ll eat twice as much seafood!
But there is another kind of hunger that we also instinctively have, it’s a spiritual hunger. We are created in “the image of God,” (Gen. 1:26) we are spiritual beings. God has set eternity in our hearts (Eccl. 3:11).Our spirit must feed to live and there is no physical food that can satisfy that need. Evidence of this spiritual hunger is present in every human being. We have a longing to know our purpose in life, why we are here. Where did we come from? Where are we going? We long for internal harmony and peace, we long to be accepted, to be loved, to be forgiven, to relate to people in healthy ways, to belong, to be fulfilled in life. These intangibles, things you cannot acquire in the physical world are real needs that we have. And they are real needs that can only be met by Jesus who is the bread of life.
Life Application: To believe in Jesus (“the bread of life”) is to experience a full and meaningful life on earth and to be with God forever.
(Read John 6:35). This is quite an amazing statement at face value. Jesus claims to be “the bread of life.” People familiar with the Bible will immediately see a connection with this statement with other similar “I am” statements in the Bible. The first occurrence of this “I am” statement is found in Exodus 3:14. Moses was being sent by God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt but he was worried that they would not receive him. He wanted to know who was sending him, on what authority was he coming to them with a plan of deliverance? “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God disclosed His name to Moses as “I am,” meaning “I will be what I will be,” a designation of deity.
So when Jesus used the expression “I am,” it was no coincidence and it was not without a specific purpose. Jesus claimed that He was the LORD! That Jesus claimed to be God is an issue in the Bible that you just cannot get around. Everything hinges upon the truthfulness of His statement. Only God is worthy of worship, only God can forgive sins, only God can change a life, only God is worth committing your life to. So Jesus claiming to be God is no small matter. That the people he first spoke this to understood what Jesus meant is clear from the context because later in the conversation they said, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (v.42). The argument made by C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel and others is appropriate in this text. Jesus is either the Lord, a Liar, or a Lunatic! Jesus Himself gives us no other way of viewing Him, there are no other options.
Equally astounding is Jesus’ claim to be “the bread of life.” He and He alone is able to satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul. “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3). The account that precedes our passage was the feeding of the 5,000, the miracle of the loaves and fishes. This feeding met their immediate physical need, but what about the spiritual needs? Jesus said the people “looked” to him (notice it doesn’t say they believed) because they “ate the loaves and were filled” (v.26). To them Jesus was some sort of “food-pantry Messiah,” able to meet their physical needs, but to most that was the extent of it.
But now after satisfying their stomachs, Jesus turns their thinking towards their spirits. “Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (v.27). That they did not understand this is obvious for they said, “What can we do to perform the works of God?” (v.28). Man is always looking for a way to save himself, to “do” something. Because this spiritual hunger is a part of our human nature, we naturally seek to have this need met in nature, what we can touch, see, experience. So in this quest for meaning, for this hunger to be met, we fill our life with earthly substitutes.
Substitutes that Will Not Satisfy: Materialism (1 Jn. 2:15-16), relationships (Matt. 10:37), the love of money (Matt. 6:24), a career, job, work, self (Lk. 9:23-24), success, even religion (Matt. 15:8-9). But these “idols of the heart” (Ezek. 14:3-6) will not quench the hunger and thirst for God. They cannot satisfy. They still leave us empty.
In the movie, The Pirates of The Caribbean, Captain Barbossa and his crew have found the chest of Cortez containing 882 pieces of Aztec Gold, but now they are cursed men, they are the undead. Explaining the curse Barbossa describes finding the gold and coming to grips with the curse he and his men were under. “We took them all [i.e., the gold pieces]! Spent ‘em, traded ‘em and fritted ‘em away, for drink and food and pleasurable company. But the more we gave them away, the more we came to realize. The drink would not satisfy, food turned to ash in our mouths, nor the company in the world would harm or slake our lust. We are cursed men . . . compelled by greed, we were. But now, we are consumed by it.” “For too long I’ve been parched of thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I’ve been starving to death and haven’t died. I feel nothing. Not the wind on my face nor the spray of the sea.” “We are cursed men.” Earthly substitutes for God will not satisfy.
If this is our condition, where do we find satisfaction for our spiritual hunger and thirst? “Jesus tells us, ‘This is the work of God – that you believe in the One He has sent” (v.29). Instead of “doing” something to meet the need we have, Jesus said God is the one who does the “doing,” He is the one who meets our need.
God does the work of salvation, we are to “believe in the One He has sent” (v.29). And who might this “One” be? Jesus, who is “the bread of life” (v.35).
Three Tremendous Truths about Salvation
1. Salvation is God’s work and gift to man (6:27-29)
But man fails to grasp this because the world despises grace. Man wants to naturally contribute to his salvation, but Grace means I come to Jesus just as I am, I humbly bow before God a sinner in need of a savior. It’s easy to see why the Jewish leaders were offended by what Jesus said and who he claimed to be.
The cross offends my pride, it’s a stumbling block, it shows me my true self (See 1 Cor. 1:22-24). It’s not surprising that people have always been attracted to a pseudo-Christianity where you are encouraged to pick and chose what you like, and set aside troubling things like the cross. It’s not surprising that people still want to make Jesus a good man, and dress his teaching up with some positive self help principles. The real Jesus is too demanding!
Jesus’ audience still wants to see a sign “so we may believe You” (v.30). Had they not just seen “The Sign” of all signs in the miracle of the loaves? Had they not seen evidence multiplied over ten times that Jesus was the “One”? But what about you? Have you not seen enough of God’s grace and mercy and goodness in your life to save you ten times over? Has God not brought to you the truth repeatedly? Are there not countless reminders everyday of the reality of God? No amount of signs and wonders or human reason will convince people whose hearts are hard and prideful. Jesus has just told these knuckleheads what to do, to “believe in the One He has sent” (v.29), but what are they doing? They are still looking for another way, a way of escape. But there is no escape! “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Heb. 2:3).
In an attempt to escape, they employed the tactic of “let’s get him sidetracked on some religious controversy.” So they bring up the history of their “fathers” (v.31). The manna that rained down from heaven in the wilderness was bread miraculously provided by God for the Israelites (Ex. 16:4; Ps. 78:24). But Jesus turned the discussion of bread to the giver of “real bread from heaven,” the bread that satisfies the soul. This “bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (v.33). Jesus says that this “bread of God” is a person, “the One.” And who could that be but Jesus, the one who is telling them these words.
Salvation has never been in a religion, or a ceremony, or in something that you do, but it’s always been in a person.
2. Salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ (6:33-35)
In the Old Testament people were saved looking forward. Today we are saved looking backwards. But on both sides salvation has been provided by “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Rev. 13:8). Still thinking only of earthly bread, they said, “Sir [not Lord], give us this bread always!” (v.34). It’s at this point Jesus makes the astounding claim of our text, “I am the bread of life” (v.35).
Jesus is “the bread of life,” our salvation. His hearers could have experienced this amazing promise of salvation but Jesus explains why they did not. “You’ve seen [some Mss omit “Me”], and yet you do not believe” (v.36). What did they see? They saw God in the flesh at work in the world, they saw God’s miracles, they listened to God’s Word, they have had many opportunities to believe but they have refused to do so. Their problem is not a knowledge problem, it’s a heart problem. It is not that they cannot believe, they are unwilling to believe.
To those who have come and who will come in the future, there is a tremendous promise of security in verse 37. Jesus “will never cast [us] out.” God will never forsake His children. God’s desire, His plan is to have a family, and He desires us to be with Him forever. God in Christ will “lose none” but will “raise them up on the last day” (v.40). Instead of this being glorious good news, “the Jews started complaining about Him because He said: I am the bread that came down from heaven” (v.41). The Jews could accept a teacher, a Rabbi (v.25). They could accept even a prophet, a miracle worker, but they could not accept Jesus as God, as Lord.
3. Salvation is available to all who will believe in Jesus (6:44-51)
We come to Christ when “the Father . . . draws” us. But the question is, how does God draw people? The same word for “draw” is used at John 12:32-33. “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.” There is a magnetism in the cross of Jesus. The cross exposes our sinful condition but we are drawn by the cross because Jesus points us to reconciliation with God the Father. In Jesus all souls become clean, forgiven.
The people Jesus was speaking to were drawn (v.44) but they were not saved. Jesus said that they had “the prophets,” they were “all taught by God” (v.45). Their problem was not knowledge, they did not believe God’s Word. They had the truth but they refused to even be open to the possibility that Jesus could have been God, and as a result of their obstinance they did not come to Jesus to be saved. Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14, ESV). They were not saved because they “could not” come (they were “called”), it was because they “would not” come (thus, they did not believe and become “chosen”). Salvation is available to all who will believe in Jesus.
Bread is good for one thing, to be eaten (v.51). Bread is not for display, it is food for life. Jesus reminds the Jews that their fathers ate the bread (the manna) in the wilderness but that they still died (v.49). The bread that he is speaking of is bread given “so that anyone may eat of it and not die” (v.50). But they said, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (v.52). Jesus did not soften His demand but pressed even more deeply. “I assure you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves” (v.53). The question is, “Is Jesus serious here?” “Is He advocating canibalims?” “How does one ‘feed’ on Jesus (v.57)?”
Clearly, Jesus is saying that we partake of the body of Christ, his flesh and blood by faith, by believing in Him, the major theme of this entire passage repeated at least six (6) times (vv.29, 35, 40, 47). To believe in Jesus is “to accept as true, genuine, or real” that Jesus is who He claimed to be – the bread of life – God! To believe in Jesus is “to have a firm conviction” in His ability to save, to reconcile me with the Father, to raise me on that last day.
What is the result of belief in Jesus? “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.” Impossible? No, it’s good news and it’s available to all who will come in faith to Jesus Christ. It’s not enough to know about Jesus, to sing about Him, to admire Him. But do you know Him? Have you believed in Him? “‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.’” To believe in Jesus (“the bread of life”) is to experience a full and meaningful life on earth and to be with God forever. Only Christ satisfies! Are you satisfied?
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Monday, February 4, 2013
Living the Lord's Prayer (Part II)
A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana on February 3, 2013 by Pastor Joe Alain.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:9-13
That the disciples had a great desire to learn how to pray (see Lk. 11:1), tells us (1) that they realized just how dependent they were on the strength and wisdom of the Lord. (2) and how they were also encouraged to learn how to pray because Jesus’ prayer life was so dynamic and effective. Jesus was a man of prayer and consequently a man of purpose and peace. The disciples saw Jesus’ example and were saying, “Lord, we want what you have, but more importantly, we need what you have!”
Last Sunday we began to explore what we call “The Lord’s Prayer” or “The Disciple’s Prayer,” since Jesus is teaching the disciples how to pray in response to their request (Lk. 11:1). Following is a review of what I shared in last week’s message on the nature of prayer.
1. Prayer is a relationship. Believers know God as “Our Father in heaven.”
2. Prayer is an expression of faith. In prayer we acknowledge God’s reality, that we are trusting in Him, and that we receive from “Our Father” in prayer.
3. Prayer is an ongoing dialogue. Prayer is a conversation with God.
4. Prayer is learned. We’re all beginners in prayer, we’re children. However, prayer is a spiritual discipline that can be cultivated. This is why Jesus provides a “How to” model for praying.
We also identified two models of prayer that Jesus said to avoid.
1. The Hypocrite’s Prayer (6:5)
2. The Heathen’s Prayer (6:7)
Both of these models lack authenticity, they are not based on a personal relationship with God. In prayer we are to be real, genuine, honest. Relationships are built on honesty, not deception. So it is with our relationship with God.
After teaching us how not to pray, Jesus then gives us the specifics of how to pray. What does Jesus say about how to pray?
“This is how you should pray:”
1. Pray that God’s name is honored (6:9b)
The word “hallowed” means “to make holy” or “to treat as holy.” God is holy, he is pure, he is separate from sin, he is glorious and mighty. This very hour in heaven the angels are singing to the Father with joy singing “Holy, holy, holy,” praising the One who is worthy of all praise and adoration. The Father is holy and his name is holy. The “name” has to do with character. God’s names reveal His being, His character. So to hallow God’s name is to honor or praise His character, His attributes, His person, who He is. Prayer begins with an acknowledgment of God, an honoring of God for who He is.
How can we hallow, honor God’s name? How do we bring glory to God’s name? To honor God’s name means we will . . .
(1) Take God seriously (Ex. 20:7). The third commandment tells us to not take God’s name in vain (i.e., lightly) (Ex. 20:7). To honor God’s name means we are taking God seriously, we are not taking Him for granted, we are not living our lives as if He did not exist.
(2) Trust in His name (Jn. 1:12; Acts 4:12). This means we will have faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(3) Grow in our understanding of His name (2 Pet. 3:18). As we grow in our understanding of God, our prayer life/relationship will deepen.
(4) Praise His name (Ps. 8:1; 9:1-2; 34:1-3; Heb. 13:15).
It is good to begin our times of prayer with praise for some aspect of God’s character represented in His names. For example, He is . . .
Jehovah Jireh . . . “The Lord will provide” (Gen. 22:14)
Emmanuel . . . God with us! (Isa. 7:14)
Jesus . . . God come to save us from our sins! (Matt. 1:21)
(5) Live a life that honors His name (Matt. 5:13-ff.; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). Praying that God’s name is honored means we will seek to live our lives in such a way that we bring honor to His name. As children of God we bear “Our Father’s” name, we bear the name “Christian.”
Our enjoyment in prayer, our effectiveness in praying, our relationship with God in prayer is all connected with how we live our lives. “My living effects my praying, and my praying effects my living.” As Jesus described him, the hypocrite can pray eloquently, impressively, and not give it any thought to being real and living holy, because the hypocrite is not talking to God, he’s talking to himself and others. The pagan, the person without Christ can pray long formulas mumbling repeatedly for days on end, not concerned about living holy before God because there is no connection with the living God. The line is dead. But Jesus says “When you pray,” it will be different because you have knowledge of the “Father in heaven” through Me. Your living does effect your praying, but your praying also effects your living.
2. Pray that God’s kingdom will come on earth (6:10)
The kingdom of God is “His rule.” The coming of our Father’s kingdom will bring about the full reign of God when it is ultimately consummated at the end of time. To ask for God’s kingdom to come on earth implies that it is not fully here yet. So we are praying, longing for that final establishment of God’s rule over all His creation.
We as followers of Jesus live in the tension of the kingdom being present in the ministry of Jesus and among us who call Him our King. Where there are followers of Jesus, there is the kingdom in part. But it’s not fully hear yet, so we are to pray for it to be fully realized. This is pretty radical when you consider what we’re praying for. We’re praying for God’s kingdom and will to be done not only among us, but in all the earth, among every people group, in every nation!
The question is, “how does God’s kingdom come?” The second phrase of verse 10 tells us. God’s kingdom comes when and wherever His “will” is done “on earth as it is in heaven.” Where you find God’s will being done, you will find the kingdom. When a Dad and Mom love one another, treat each other with respect and show the fruit of the Sprit in their home, there is the kingdom. When parents love their children by teaching them the things of God so they will come to know the Lord and love Him, there is the kingdom. When an employer treats his employees the way that he would seek to be treated, with honesty, integrity, there is the kingdom. When nations deal with their problems at the negotiating table, choosing to be peace makers rather than the battle field, there is the kingdom. When a community has concern for the least among us and seeks to minister God’s love in tangible ways, there is the kingdom. When and wherever you see God’s will being done, there is the kingdom.
We live on planet earth (well most of us do), but the problem from our perspective of being in Christ is that we see much in our world that does not look like God’s kingdom. We see heartbreak, families in disarray, strife, works of the flesh – the effects of sin. So we pray for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” But implied in praying for this is our willingness to carry out God’s will on earth.
Are we satisfied with all of the “heaven” on earth that we see? In our family? In our community? Are we satisfied that young people are killing one another, that people wander in sin without direction and without any hope, that our society is moving farther away from God, that fewer people fear God, that Christians make such little impact in our culture, that injustice and wickedness is increasing? If not, then we must pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth, that His will be done, and let it begin in me! If we do long for God’s kingdom, we will pray, “Lord, Your holy will be done in my life, my family, my home, church, community, country, world.” If God’s kingdom is going to come on earth as it is in heaven, if God’s will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven, it will begin with those who hallow, who honor His name.
Have you noticed that all of what Jesus has said about prayer so far is God-centered. Prayer is first directed vertically, to “our Father in heaven” (6:9). Only then does prayer move in the direction of making personal requests. Prayer is so much more than reciting to God our grocery list of needs. God-honoring prayer will begin with honoring Him as holy in all of my life and praying for His kingdom to come and His will to be done in my life first, then the world.
There is no question that we need help from God. “Our Father” understands that and He has given us permission to ask Him to meet every possible need we will ever have.
3. Pray about our daily needs (6:11)
Your Father knows that you have needs. He knows that you need food on the table, clothes on your back, shoes for your feet. He knows you need a roof over your head, a car that runs, and a job to sustain all of these needs. Most people do not consider daily needs very spiritual. They see nothing particularly spiritual about paying the mortgage or rent, washing dishes, or fixing a leaky toilet. But for the Christian, these daily routine matters provide ongoing evidence that God is at work in our lives and He cares deeply about every detail of our lives.
Aside from the fact that God does meet our needs, the immediate “take away” from praying about our daily needs, is that we are released from worry. Jesus refers to anxiety or worry five times in the short passage that follows closely after the Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:25-34). As children do not worry about what they will eat, or where they will sleep (unless we as adults project our anxiety upon them), so we can live a worry-free child-like existence. This doesn’t mean that we will live a “trouble free” existence, but we can live a “worry free” one. This is the kind of relationship that God invites us to experience when we pray about our daily needs. What are you anxious about? What keeps you up at night? What pressing daily need do you have? Bring it before your “Father in heaven” and experience His peace that surpasses all human understanding.
The other side of this request is that praying for our needs makes us keenly aware that God is the source of our blessings. This in turn makes us grateful to God for His blessings. People that pray about their needs are grateful people. In prayer we realize that God has been faithful, he has provided our needs and we are reminded that every thing we have is a gift from God. People that pray much, give thanks much.
4. Pray for forgiveness (6:12)
Debt is a concept we all understand. We worry about debt, we work hard to get out of it, sometimes it keeps us up at night. But when is the last time your sin kept you up at night because you realized that you were in debt to God? Sin is always serious and it drives a wedge between us and our “Father. Clinging to sin and seeking His kingdom cannot happen at the same time.
For us to honor His name, we desperately need the freedom of a clear conscience. One of the sweetest blessings in life is to live with a clear conscience. You say, “how is this possible?” God has provided a way for us to be forgiven, to be released from guilt. And this promise is for all wh will pray for forgiveness. However, our confession of sin needs to be specific (1 Jn. 1:8-9). “Anything less than full disclosure always brings less than full release.” A wise man once told me when I was a young Christian, “Be sure to keep a low ‘Sin Account.’” What he meant was that I needed to make sure that I did not let sins accumulate in my life. Instead, I needed to keep a “0" balance by seeking God’s forgiveness and cleansing immediately and daily. I discovered that in Jesus not only am I “sin debt” free, I can free because of God’s provision in Christ!
In asking God for forgiveness, it is assumed that we will forgive others, “as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Does this mean that forgiveness is conditional? Those who are willing to forgive (release) others show that they have been truly forgiven (see Matt. 18:21-35). A true experience of grace makes us gracious toward others who have wronged us. When we refuse to forgive, we are the ones held captive.
5. Pray for protection from evil (6:13)
Ken Hemphill says, “The quickest way to make this request a reality . . . is to realize that we can make no headway in holiness without God’s constant provision. Not only are we no match for our adversary the Devil, but we cannot even trust ourselves for help in keeping our lives clean.”
Temptation is the pull of our own lust, which leads us to sin. When we pray for protection from temptation, we are asking God to protect us from situations that would test our vulnerability. As you start your day, ask God to keep you far away from compromising situations as possible. These situations might included the gossip at the office, ungodly internet sites, or situations that would compromise your integrity.
You know the sins that cause you the most trouble. You know the warning lights when you’re in the wrong place with the wrong people. Pray to be kept from these situations and you will find strength from the Lord to avoid these situations. When Jesus was tempted He quoted Scripture (Matt. 4:1-11). What Scripture could you quote when dealing with specific temptations? Whatever your weakness is, there’s an “ap” for that (i.e., God has provided a Word from Scripture to help you).
Our living effects our praying, and our praying effects our living. Do you need freedom from worry about our needs? Do you need a clear conscience? Do you need strength in temptations? Then pray and keep on praying to your “Father in heaven.”
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:9-13
That the disciples had a great desire to learn how to pray (see Lk. 11:1), tells us (1) that they realized just how dependent they were on the strength and wisdom of the Lord. (2) and how they were also encouraged to learn how to pray because Jesus’ prayer life was so dynamic and effective. Jesus was a man of prayer and consequently a man of purpose and peace. The disciples saw Jesus’ example and were saying, “Lord, we want what you have, but more importantly, we need what you have!”
Last Sunday we began to explore what we call “The Lord’s Prayer” or “The Disciple’s Prayer,” since Jesus is teaching the disciples how to pray in response to their request (Lk. 11:1). Following is a review of what I shared in last week’s message on the nature of prayer.
1. Prayer is a relationship. Believers know God as “Our Father in heaven.”
2. Prayer is an expression of faith. In prayer we acknowledge God’s reality, that we are trusting in Him, and that we receive from “Our Father” in prayer.
3. Prayer is an ongoing dialogue. Prayer is a conversation with God.
4. Prayer is learned. We’re all beginners in prayer, we’re children. However, prayer is a spiritual discipline that can be cultivated. This is why Jesus provides a “How to” model for praying.
We also identified two models of prayer that Jesus said to avoid.
1. The Hypocrite’s Prayer (6:5)
2. The Heathen’s Prayer (6:7)
Both of these models lack authenticity, they are not based on a personal relationship with God. In prayer we are to be real, genuine, honest. Relationships are built on honesty, not deception. So it is with our relationship with God.
After teaching us how not to pray, Jesus then gives us the specifics of how to pray. What does Jesus say about how to pray?
“This is how you should pray:”
1. Pray that God’s name is honored (6:9b)
The word “hallowed” means “to make holy” or “to treat as holy.” God is holy, he is pure, he is separate from sin, he is glorious and mighty. This very hour in heaven the angels are singing to the Father with joy singing “Holy, holy, holy,” praising the One who is worthy of all praise and adoration. The Father is holy and his name is holy. The “name” has to do with character. God’s names reveal His being, His character. So to hallow God’s name is to honor or praise His character, His attributes, His person, who He is. Prayer begins with an acknowledgment of God, an honoring of God for who He is.
How can we hallow, honor God’s name? How do we bring glory to God’s name? To honor God’s name means we will . . .
(1) Take God seriously (Ex. 20:7). The third commandment tells us to not take God’s name in vain (i.e., lightly) (Ex. 20:7). To honor God’s name means we are taking God seriously, we are not taking Him for granted, we are not living our lives as if He did not exist.
(2) Trust in His name (Jn. 1:12; Acts 4:12). This means we will have faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(3) Grow in our understanding of His name (2 Pet. 3:18). As we grow in our understanding of God, our prayer life/relationship will deepen.
(4) Praise His name (Ps. 8:1; 9:1-2; 34:1-3; Heb. 13:15).
It is good to begin our times of prayer with praise for some aspect of God’s character represented in His names. For example, He is . . .
Jehovah Jireh . . . “The Lord will provide” (Gen. 22:14)
Emmanuel . . . God with us! (Isa. 7:14)
Jesus . . . God come to save us from our sins! (Matt. 1:21)
(5) Live a life that honors His name (Matt. 5:13-ff.; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). Praying that God’s name is honored means we will seek to live our lives in such a way that we bring honor to His name. As children of God we bear “Our Father’s” name, we bear the name “Christian.”
Our enjoyment in prayer, our effectiveness in praying, our relationship with God in prayer is all connected with how we live our lives. “My living effects my praying, and my praying effects my living.” As Jesus described him, the hypocrite can pray eloquently, impressively, and not give it any thought to being real and living holy, because the hypocrite is not talking to God, he’s talking to himself and others. The pagan, the person without Christ can pray long formulas mumbling repeatedly for days on end, not concerned about living holy before God because there is no connection with the living God. The line is dead. But Jesus says “When you pray,” it will be different because you have knowledge of the “Father in heaven” through Me. Your living does effect your praying, but your praying also effects your living.
2. Pray that God’s kingdom will come on earth (6:10)
The kingdom of God is “His rule.” The coming of our Father’s kingdom will bring about the full reign of God when it is ultimately consummated at the end of time. To ask for God’s kingdom to come on earth implies that it is not fully here yet. So we are praying, longing for that final establishment of God’s rule over all His creation.
We as followers of Jesus live in the tension of the kingdom being present in the ministry of Jesus and among us who call Him our King. Where there are followers of Jesus, there is the kingdom in part. But it’s not fully hear yet, so we are to pray for it to be fully realized. This is pretty radical when you consider what we’re praying for. We’re praying for God’s kingdom and will to be done not only among us, but in all the earth, among every people group, in every nation!
The question is, “how does God’s kingdom come?” The second phrase of verse 10 tells us. God’s kingdom comes when and wherever His “will” is done “on earth as it is in heaven.” Where you find God’s will being done, you will find the kingdom. When a Dad and Mom love one another, treat each other with respect and show the fruit of the Sprit in their home, there is the kingdom. When parents love their children by teaching them the things of God so they will come to know the Lord and love Him, there is the kingdom. When an employer treats his employees the way that he would seek to be treated, with honesty, integrity, there is the kingdom. When nations deal with their problems at the negotiating table, choosing to be peace makers rather than the battle field, there is the kingdom. When a community has concern for the least among us and seeks to minister God’s love in tangible ways, there is the kingdom. When and wherever you see God’s will being done, there is the kingdom.
We live on planet earth (well most of us do), but the problem from our perspective of being in Christ is that we see much in our world that does not look like God’s kingdom. We see heartbreak, families in disarray, strife, works of the flesh – the effects of sin. So we pray for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” But implied in praying for this is our willingness to carry out God’s will on earth.
Are we satisfied with all of the “heaven” on earth that we see? In our family? In our community? Are we satisfied that young people are killing one another, that people wander in sin without direction and without any hope, that our society is moving farther away from God, that fewer people fear God, that Christians make such little impact in our culture, that injustice and wickedness is increasing? If not, then we must pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth, that His will be done, and let it begin in me! If we do long for God’s kingdom, we will pray, “Lord, Your holy will be done in my life, my family, my home, church, community, country, world.” If God’s kingdom is going to come on earth as it is in heaven, if God’s will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven, it will begin with those who hallow, who honor His name.
Have you noticed that all of what Jesus has said about prayer so far is God-centered. Prayer is first directed vertically, to “our Father in heaven” (6:9). Only then does prayer move in the direction of making personal requests. Prayer is so much more than reciting to God our grocery list of needs. God-honoring prayer will begin with honoring Him as holy in all of my life and praying for His kingdom to come and His will to be done in my life first, then the world.
There is no question that we need help from God. “Our Father” understands that and He has given us permission to ask Him to meet every possible need we will ever have.
3. Pray about our daily needs (6:11)
Your Father knows that you have needs. He knows that you need food on the table, clothes on your back, shoes for your feet. He knows you need a roof over your head, a car that runs, and a job to sustain all of these needs. Most people do not consider daily needs very spiritual. They see nothing particularly spiritual about paying the mortgage or rent, washing dishes, or fixing a leaky toilet. But for the Christian, these daily routine matters provide ongoing evidence that God is at work in our lives and He cares deeply about every detail of our lives.
Aside from the fact that God does meet our needs, the immediate “take away” from praying about our daily needs, is that we are released from worry. Jesus refers to anxiety or worry five times in the short passage that follows closely after the Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:25-34). As children do not worry about what they will eat, or where they will sleep (unless we as adults project our anxiety upon them), so we can live a worry-free child-like existence. This doesn’t mean that we will live a “trouble free” existence, but we can live a “worry free” one. This is the kind of relationship that God invites us to experience when we pray about our daily needs. What are you anxious about? What keeps you up at night? What pressing daily need do you have? Bring it before your “Father in heaven” and experience His peace that surpasses all human understanding.
The other side of this request is that praying for our needs makes us keenly aware that God is the source of our blessings. This in turn makes us grateful to God for His blessings. People that pray about their needs are grateful people. In prayer we realize that God has been faithful, he has provided our needs and we are reminded that every thing we have is a gift from God. People that pray much, give thanks much.
4. Pray for forgiveness (6:12)
Debt is a concept we all understand. We worry about debt, we work hard to get out of it, sometimes it keeps us up at night. But when is the last time your sin kept you up at night because you realized that you were in debt to God? Sin is always serious and it drives a wedge between us and our “Father. Clinging to sin and seeking His kingdom cannot happen at the same time.
For us to honor His name, we desperately need the freedom of a clear conscience. One of the sweetest blessings in life is to live with a clear conscience. You say, “how is this possible?” God has provided a way for us to be forgiven, to be released from guilt. And this promise is for all wh will pray for forgiveness. However, our confession of sin needs to be specific (1 Jn. 1:8-9). “Anything less than full disclosure always brings less than full release.” A wise man once told me when I was a young Christian, “Be sure to keep a low ‘Sin Account.’” What he meant was that I needed to make sure that I did not let sins accumulate in my life. Instead, I needed to keep a “0" balance by seeking God’s forgiveness and cleansing immediately and daily. I discovered that in Jesus not only am I “sin debt” free, I can free because of God’s provision in Christ!
In asking God for forgiveness, it is assumed that we will forgive others, “as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Does this mean that forgiveness is conditional? Those who are willing to forgive (release) others show that they have been truly forgiven (see Matt. 18:21-35). A true experience of grace makes us gracious toward others who have wronged us. When we refuse to forgive, we are the ones held captive.
5. Pray for protection from evil (6:13)
Ken Hemphill says, “The quickest way to make this request a reality . . . is to realize that we can make no headway in holiness without God’s constant provision. Not only are we no match for our adversary the Devil, but we cannot even trust ourselves for help in keeping our lives clean.”
Temptation is the pull of our own lust, which leads us to sin. When we pray for protection from temptation, we are asking God to protect us from situations that would test our vulnerability. As you start your day, ask God to keep you far away from compromising situations as possible. These situations might included the gossip at the office, ungodly internet sites, or situations that would compromise your integrity.
You know the sins that cause you the most trouble. You know the warning lights when you’re in the wrong place with the wrong people. Pray to be kept from these situations and you will find strength from the Lord to avoid these situations. When Jesus was tempted He quoted Scripture (Matt. 4:1-11). What Scripture could you quote when dealing with specific temptations? Whatever your weakness is, there’s an “ap” for that (i.e., God has provided a Word from Scripture to help you).
Our living effects our praying, and our praying effects our living. Do you need freedom from worry about our needs? Do you need a clear conscience? Do you need strength in temptations? Then pray and keep on praying to your “Father in heaven.”
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