Pastor Caroline - When You Pray

 

When You Pray

 

Matthew Chapter 6 verse 6 in the Good News Bible says;

(6) But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

 

Here in the book of Matthew we read about Jesus and His ministry. Today I’d like to focus on His teaching about prayer found in Matthew Chapter 6 verses 5 to 14. You may wish to read all these verses. I want to use verse 6 as my point of writing today.

 

Jesus said, when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

 

When we think about prayer many of us see it in different ways according to our religious background, culture and upbringing. I personally like to pray before I get out of bed in the morning, and many times all day long, and before I close my eyes and sleep. I like to give thanks for my meals, a special visit with someone, a blessing from the Lord, in agreement with someone for prayer and / or in intercession for another.

 

Our instruction here from Jesus is to find a private place. We don’t have perhaps a special room to close ourselves into but we can find a place where we can be alone with God.

Perhaps you have a favourite chair you like to sit in when you pray, or out on your back deck under the stars, perhaps a drive in the car, (don’t close your eyes), or in front of the fireplace, a park bench or stroll in the woods. Maybe a walk by the river, brook or lake brings you close to God. You see what I mean – your chosen private place. A place without distraction or disturbance.

Just breath. Just sit.  Close your eyes and enjoy this special quite time with the Lord. Appreciate His presence around you. Remind yourself of the greatness of our Lord and all that He created, including you.

 

Lift your prayers, thoughts and petitions to the Lord. Start your conversation, (prayer), with however you feel comfortable addressing the Lord of all creation. Perhaps using the Psalms to start you in prayer is a good place to begin. Or maybe you have a favourite prayer book with prayers for every occasion and you like to use that to talk to God. Just starting a conversation with, “Hello Lord, I’ve come to spend some time with you”, brings you into His presence. However you begin, God is listening and loves to hear from you.

 

Prayer does not need to be long and drawn out, but rather personal and genuine. It should be from the heart in thanks and praise to Father God who created you. A single word, Abba, meaning Father, somehow draws us close to His heart. When I say, Abba, Abba, I immediately stop whatever I’m doing and take a posture of prayer. I am so thankful He is my Heavenly Father.

 

In our personal prayer time we recognize and acknowledge our relationship with the Lord. We appreciate being in the family of God and we should tell others of the benefits and fulfilment we have in Christ. Some of us will pray out loud, others quietly, some in song or just sitting with an instrument giving praise to the Lord. Each one of our individual ways of prayer are totally acceptable to the Lord. Our prayer life will mold and shape our spiritual walk with the Lord. There is no limit to our prayer time and no certain way to pray. Prayer is our love language with the Lord and comes from our heart. When we love God we want to spend time with Him, in His presence. And we pray because we know God loves to hear from us. We are His children and like any parent we love to hear from the kids. There is so much to say about prayer but today I just wanted to bring your attention to the scripture I opened with. It is the assurance to us that God is listening; for His word says: And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

 

Our reward, or at least mine as I speak for myself, is the comfort and peace I sense around me when I am in prayer. I feel as if God is giving me a wonderful hug that expresses His love to me. This closes the distance between Him and I as He gathers me up in His arms. I am blessed beyond measure, and I pray you are as well. Take time to pray, for it will be the most precious time you ever spend.

 

Next Wednesday, August 17, I will be on vacation so there will not be a writing. There will be a writing on August 24.

 

Enjoy your time with the Lord.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 20

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TO SEEK

TO SEEK

One of the universal characteristics of humans is that we are always seeking after something. Many people seek power, prestige, or presence. Some seek knowledge, education, position; others wealth, influence, riches or some combination of the above. Still others seek to enhance talents of some sort or other - singing, music, woodworking, sports or some other activity in which they excel. Whatever it may be, we all seek something, and we are willing to spend years training to obtain that which we have been seeking.

However, it may well be that the most important aspect of life we don’t seek nearly as often as we should because “…There is none who seeks after God” (Romans 3:11). Why is it that we will spend so much energy in seeking that which seems to satisfy our earthly needs but very little when it comes to the eternal? It seems that God spends time in seeking us rather than the other way around. Even in Genesis, God was there in the garden trying to seek out Adam.

“And they head the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God…Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’”

(Genesis 3:8-9)

Even back in Genesis, God was doing the seeking and this was emphasized even further when Jesus said: “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). If God is doing all the seeking, does that mean we should just sit back and wait for Him to find us?

No; not at all. The problem lies in the fact that: “…Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;” (1Corinthians 1:22) and “they did not seek it by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone” (Romans 9:32). As a result “…I [God] was found by those who did not seek Me…” (Romans 10:20).

Those who seek God by signs or by wisdom will never find Him or be found by Him. For as it says: “…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). See, we are told to: “Seek me [the Lord] and live” (Amos 5:4) and to “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). Most of the time, however, people merely “…seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:21).

So if God is seeking us and we should be seeking Him, how come it seems that we so infrequently meet each other? Is it because we spend too much time seeking signs and wisdom rather than just having faith? Or is it because we tend to hide, as did Adam, whenever we think God might be approaching? As God has said: “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

In Deuteronomy 4, the Lord warned the Hebrew people about idolatry and acting corruptly and doing evil “[f]or the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God”(4:24). But He also said that even in an idolatrous nation if “…you will seek the Lord your God...you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul” (4:29).

God is seeking us, and at the same time we should also be seeking Him by faith. If we are truly doing that then we will find Him, outside the door, waiting for us to open it for Him.  it is something that more of us should really think about doing.

Pastor Caroline - The Whole Armour of God

Pastor Caroline - God Is Not Like Man

 

God Is Not Like Man

 

In Numbers Chapter 23 Verse 19 in the Good News Bible we read;

(19) God is not like men, who lie;

He is not a human who changes his mind.

Whatever he promises, he does;

He speaks, and it is done.

 

Aren’t you glad that the standards of God are so above man’s? I am encouraged when I read God is not like men, who lie; as it tells me that God will stay true to His word. When I read in His word for example: I will never leave you nor forsake you, I can count on God because this statement is found in many books of the Bible in both the old and new Testaments. You can take time to examine them on another occasion. I just know when God promises something I can count on Him, and I do.

 

He is not a human who changes his mind. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow as we see in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 8. He was, is, and will forever be, God!

In His holiness and wisdom God never needs to change His plans to suit our needs. He is able to grow us to a level where we allow His spirit to guide us rather than us depending on ourselves and our finite mind.

 

Whatever He promises He does. Psalm 145 Verse 13 in the Good News Bible reads:

Your rule is eternal, and you are king forever. The Lord is faithful to his promises and everything he does is good.

God promises to give us protection, strength, wisdom, power and to answer our prayers. He also promises to meet our needs, to be with us always, and the gift of eternal life, taking us to be with Him when we die. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour; one day we will leave this old sinful world and be with the Father forever more. I love the promises of God. John 3:16 to me is the most powerful promise and our invitation to eternal life.

 

Whatever He promises, He does; He speaks, and it is done. When we spend time with God, growing our faith, we learn of His ways. When we wait on Him, being patient, for an answer to prayer, we realize God offers us an opportunity to believe in His word. When we are faithful to God, He is faithful to us. To put our assurance in Him is to rest, and / or stand on the promises of God. We believe these promises will one day be fulfilled, and many have been already; and as we wait; we serve an awesome God. We serve a risen God. He promised a Saviour and Jesus came to redeem us and offer us the gift of salvation. A promise given and a promise fulfilled and this is naming only one.

 

He speaks and it is done.

In Hebrews Chapter 9 Verse 15, again in the Good News Bible we read:

(15) For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in effect.

 

We truly are blessed in and by the word of God. He is not like men, who lie, he is not a human who changes his mind. Whatever he promises he does; He speaks, and it is done.

So says the word of God.

 

Praise the wonderful and holy name of the Lord. Spend some time in His word today and enjoy your time together.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 19

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE BRIDE

 THE BRIDE

No matter which way you look at it, the Bible is a unique book. In reality, it’s not one book but 66 books; written by about 40 plus authors over approximately a 1000 to 1500 year period and yet it all fits together much as a single text. If one accepts its’ teaching, it gives reason for our existence and purpose for being here as well as our need for responsibility and accountability to the being who established us on this earth.

Now if one does not believe in God, then none of this really makes much sense, for as the Bible states: “…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But if one does have faith in God, then the purpose and meaning of existence is made clear. In addition, the Bible shows how man’s pride and independence led to mankind’s fall from the grace of God. However, it also shows that if man can swallow that pride and become more dependant again on God, the mercy and grace of God can be regained once again.

The Bible shows time and time again how the love of God is paramount and remains even through all our shortcomings. From beginning to end, the Bible relates a love story and marriage between God and His people.

In Genesis, God defines marriage in this way: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). This same statement is essentially repeated again in Matthew 19, Mark 10, 1 Corinthians 6, and Ephesians 5 indicating how important this concept is to the Biblical story. Any couple who has been happily married for a period of time knows what this means, how one can feel for the other, can often anticipate the other’s feelings and often complete their thoughts. They often act as one and when one passes, it is not infrequent that the other soon follows.

The Bible, as a whole, relates the relationship of God to mankind as to that of a couple in love. Initially, God had a relationship with the Hebrew nation, but as with most early relationships, it was an on-again, off-again kind of situation because: “…they [Israel] have rejected the word of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 8:9); “Israel has rejected the good…” (Hosea 8:3). And then God came in the form of a man to His chosen people only to be rejected once again. “‘I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me…’” (John 5:43). “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

So Jesus developed His own chosen people by simply finding those who would follow Him: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). He still says the same to us today and by this means has developed His ekklesia or congregation. This He has treated as a future bridegroom would treat his bride according to the Jewish custom of that time. Once a betrothal had been made, the couple would be treated as married and the groom, leaving the bride to be with her family, would then go and prepare a home for them, returning later to take his bride back to their new dwelling. And did Jesus not do exactly the same for His followers?

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, 

I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,

and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”

(John 14:2-3)

And so it is, at the time of Christ’s return, in Revelation we read of the church, the bride of Christ, bring made ready for the event. 

 

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage 

of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and

bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are called to 

the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are

the true sayings of God.”

(Revelation 19:7-9)

Now it may seem strange to consider a congregation as a bride but does this not reflect the meaning of us being “In Christ” and “of Christ” being in us. We essentially become one flesh with Him; the same way the first husband and wife did in Genesis 2:24. The Bible always refers to the true followers of Jesus as being in Christ.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.

(2 Corinthians 1:21)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 6:23) 

So by this means we become children of God along with Christ Himself: “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

When we become followers of Christ we first are betrothed to Him and then eventually become one with Him forming a type of divine marriage. We also, in addition, become joint heirs with Him of all that is His. 

And that is truly a very great deal to think about.