The Christian Path: Speaking With God
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When you became a Christian
When you became a Christian
You entered into a relationship with your Creator
You entered into a relationship with your Creator
Like any relationship, communication plays a significant role
Like any relationship, communication plays a significant role
God speaks to us in the Bible and we listen
God speaks to us in the Bible and we listen
God also listens to us as we speak to him in prayer
God also listens to us as we speak to him in prayer
“Prayer”: talking with God about anything and everything
“Prayer”: talking with God about anything and everything
Joyous — privilege — natural
Joyous — privilege — natural
As a new Christian, you may be asking, “How do I pray?”
As a new Christian, you may be asking, “How do I pray?”
Jesus’ disciples asked him the same question
Jesus’ disciples asked him the same question
“Lord’s Prayer” (Matt 6:9-13)
“Lord’s Prayer” (Matt 6:9-13)
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
6:9a — “Pray like this”
6:9a — “Pray like this”
Not intended to be mindlessly repeat it like some magical incantation
Not intended to be mindlessly repeat it like some magical incantation
Basic structure/content
Basic structure/content
Room for flexibility
Room for flexibility
“Our Father in heaven”
“Our Father in heaven”
Prayer starts with a proper view of God
Prayer starts with a proper view of God
Who he is
Who he is
“Father”
“Father”
“Abba”
“Abba”
Not a Swedish pop group
Not a Swedish pop group
Family term for the father 1
Family term for the father 1
Teaches us to approach God with familiarity
Teaches us to approach God with familiarity
He cares for us as a father cares for his children
He cares for us as a father cares for his children
“In heaven”
“In heaven”
Never forget that “Our Father” is also the God who created/sustains all things
Never forget that “Our Father” is also the God who created/sustains all things
Merely spoke, and galaxies came into existence
Merely spoke, and galaxies came into existence
Teaches us to approach God with astonishment, trembling, reverence, awe
Teaches us to approach God with astonishment, trembling, reverence, awe
Pray with this mix of familiarity and reverence
Pray with this mix of familiarity and reverence
First half — Prayer focuses, first and foremost, on God
First half — Prayer focuses, first and foremost, on God
Not clear in translations — three imperatives calling on God to act
Not clear in translations — three imperatives calling on God to act
Not for our benefit but for his — his glory — he is praised/honored
Not for our benefit but for his — his glory — he is praised/honored
1. ”Hallowed be your name” — May your name be hallowed
1. ”Hallowed be your name” — May your name be hallowed
“Hallowed” means “holy” — sinless
“Hallowed” means “holy” — sinless
God is holy — calling on God to act in such a way that the world sees he is holy — sinlessness, perfection
God is holy — calling on God to act in such a way that the world sees he is holy — sinlessness, perfection
In all I (don’t) say and do — you be held up so all can see your holiness — name be revered
In all I (don’t) say and do — you be held up so all can see your holiness — name be revered
2. “Your kingdom come” — May your kingdom come
2. “Your kingdom come” — May your kingdom come
Not earthly realm (Pontius) — but a kingly rule in the lives of his disciples
Not earthly realm (Pontius) — but a kingly rule in the lives of his disciples
Calling on God to exercise his kingly rule in me — expand throughout the world
Calling on God to exercise his kingly rule in me — expand throughout the world
Exactly what will happen eventually — Jesus return — Every knee will bow …
Exactly what will happen eventually — Jesus return — Every knee will bow …
3. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”
3. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”
God’s will — purposes; desires — are always done, perfectly, in heaven
God’s will — purposes; desires — are always done, perfectly, in heaven
Pray with Jesus — “Not my will but yours be done”
Pray with Jesus — “Not my will but yours be done”
No surprise — being a Christian means it is no longer all about me
No surprise — being a Christian means it is no longer all about me
“I have been crucified with Christ …”
“I have been crucified with Christ …”
“Deny yourself …”
“Deny yourself …”
Biblical prayer begins with God - putting him first As we pray “our Father in heaven,” we fade into the background Become consumed with God and his glory — praised for who he is … Prayer begins with worship
Biblical prayer begins with God - putting him first As we pray “our Father in heaven,” we fade into the background Become consumed with God and his glory — praised for who he is … Prayer begins with worship
Our opportunity to express total dependence on God for everything
Our opportunity to express total dependence on God for everything
Self-reliance is not a Christian virtue — sin
Self-reliance is not a Christian virtue — sin
God does not help those who help themselves — helps those who turn to him
God does not help those who help themselves — helps those who turn to him
4th imperative — dependence for physical needs—“Give us this day our daily bread”
4th imperative — dependence for physical needs—“Give us this day our daily bread”
Yes, God is concerned about the details of our lives — mundane, boring
Yes, God is concerned about the details of our lives — mundane, boring
What kind of friend would he be, if he were not interested
What kind of friend would he be, if he were not interested
Point is not that we pray for food and nothing else
Point is not that we pray for food and nothing else
Dependence on God for physical needs — clothing, shelter
Dependence on God for physical needs — clothing, shelter
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Notice — wants to give us our needs, not our greeds
Notice — wants to give us our needs, not our greeds
Daily bread, not yearly bread — no trust
Daily bread, not yearly bread — no trust
5. Dependence for spiritual needs — “Forgive us our debts …”
5. Dependence for spiritual needs — “Forgive us our debts …”
Jesus is thinking of sin as a debt we owe to God
Jesus is thinking of sin as a debt we owe to God
Payment for that debt (“forgiveness”) comes only from God
Payment for that debt (“forgiveness”) comes only from God
“Forgive us our trespasses …”
“Forgive us our trespasses …”
Note the relationship between God forgiving us, and us forgiving others
Note the relationship between God forgiving us, and us forgiving others
Point is so important it is elaborated on after the prayer — vv 14-15
Point is so important it is elaborated on after the prayer — vv 14-15
You will be sinned against — friend, coworker; pastor; elder; people in church
You will be sinned against — friend, coworker; pastor; elder; people in church
Temptation: cross arms — in pride — “I’m right; they hurt me”
Temptation: cross arms — in pride — “I’m right; they hurt me”
Not forgive — they’re not sorry
Not forgive — they’re not sorry
Only person we really hurt is ourselves — if we do not forgive; God ≠ us
Only person we really hurt is ourselves — if we do not forgive; God ≠ us
Eph 4:32 — no one nailed me to the cross — I nailed; “Father forgive”
Eph 4:32 — no one nailed me to the cross — I nailed; “Father forgive”
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Sign of my true repentance
Sign of my true repentance
Matt 18:21-35
Matt 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Parable paraphrased
Not an easy thing, but a necessary thing
Not an easy thing, but a necessary thing
Sixth/final imperative—“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
Sixth/final imperative—“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
God does not tempt anyone with sin (James 1:13)
God does not tempt anyone with sin (James 1:13)
We are dependent on God to resist the power of sin and evil (One)
We are dependent on God to resist the power of sin and evil (One)
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood …”
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood …”
Cry out to God for protection
Cry out to God for protection
Leave you with two practical suggestions
Leave you with two practical suggestions
1. “Speaking with God” — healthy communication is always a dialogue
1. “Speaking with God” — healthy communication is always a dialogue
Mind wandered; guilty — Tozier
Mind wandered; guilty — Tozier
Start by reading
Start by reading
Listen for promptings of God’s Spirit — encourage; convict
Listen for promptings of God’s Spirit — encourage; convict
Stop and pray — talk; ask
Stop and pray — talk; ask
Quiet — listen — I am a little hard of hearing spiritually
Quiet — listen — I am a little hard of hearing spiritually
End in a focus, extended time of prayer
End in a focus, extended time of prayer
2. Memorize it
2. Memorize it
Not to mindlessly repeat
Not to mindlessly repeat
Times when you just can’t find the right words
Times when you just can’t find the right words
Pray the structure — paraphrase — adding the specifics of your life
Pray the structure — paraphrase — adding the specifics of your life
Close with reciting the Lord’s prayer, then I will show you what I mean