Matthew - The Lord's Prayer, Part 1

In today's study from Matthew 6:9-14, we continue to look at what is called The Lord's Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

vv.9-14 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)   Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  (14)  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Now the Lord instructs the disciples on how to pray with what has been improperly titled “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is actually the “Disciples Prayer” for the Lord said, “After this manner therefore pray ye,” (v.9).   The “ye” would be them and not him.

Topical Message “Prayer”

Now, I would like to start a topical message on the issue of prayer today for the church. Let’s take a closer look at the “Lord’s Prayer”.

I. Definition of Prayer

Prayer may best be defined as “having fellowship with God.” It is more than simply talking to God, but rather talking with God. It implies a two-way give and take.

II. Elements of Prayer

Looking at the model prayer that was given here by Jesus, we find that prayer includes ten elements.

1. A Personal Relationship with God: “Our Father”

2. Faith: “in heaven”

3. Worship: “Hallowed by thy name”

Worship means to honor and love as a deity.   It is to regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion or to revere. David felt this part of prayer to be so important that he appointed a select group of men who did nothing else in the temple but praise and worship God (cf. 1 Chr. 23:1-5; 25:1-7).

In the book of Revelation we are told that there are four special angeles who exist solely to worship God! Revelation 4:8 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Jesus spoke of worship when speaking to the Samaritan woman. John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God desires to be worshiped by us.

4. Expectation: “Thy kingdom come”

This kingdom is that blessed millennial kingdom spoken of so much in the Old Testament (cf. Isa 2:2-4). We should live in the expectation of the kingdom being established today. We should want it to be established today. However, for us, it will begin with the Rapture of the Church.

Once while Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, he was asked, "What would you do if you were suddenly told you would die at sunset today?" He replied, "I would finish hoeing my garden." Would we have that kind of attitude if we knew today would be our last?

According Gallup, “The belief that Jesus Christ will return to earth someday is held by 62 percent of all Americans” (cf. Luke 12:31-40).

Should Women Be Ordained? - Part 7

This is part seven in a series on what the Bible says in regards to the ordination of women in the church. Again, instead of rewriting what I believe has already been well laid out, I am sharing Dr. Jim Feeney’s writings on the subject for your edification. You may disagree, and that is your right, but please be able to point to the Bible for your reasons and not the culture.

Argument #7: “My wife is called ‘pastor’ because I’m the church’s pastor and she shares those pastoral burdens as my wife.”

A Biblical Response: I pastored local churches for 22 years and never called my wife “pastor”. Did she share with me behind the scenes all the joys and heartaches, the stresses and blessings, of my pastoral role? Absolutely. But did she share with me in the performance of those pastoral duties? Not at all. Being married to me, a pastor, did not make her a pastor. Similarly, being married to me, a former pilot and Air Traffic Controller, did not make my wife those things. As one of my sons correctly pointed out, if a woman marries a helicopter pilot, that doesn’t make her a helicopter pilot. My God-given call to teach and lead men did not confer that call upon her, because that would violate the command that a woman is not to teach or have authority over men in the church (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:15). My pastoral ordination in 1980 did not extend pastoral ordination by association to my wife. Nor should it.

•• The New Testament apostles’ wives were never called apostles. There is no New Testament instance of an elder’s wife becoming or being called an elder herself. In fact, one of the qualifications of being an elder is being “the husband of but one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6).

•• The process leading to the ordination of a male pastor involves much training, preparation, and practical experience. This process includes such things as:

• helping him discern that he is indeed called by God

• getting him involved in extensive biblical and practical training

• seeking the wisdom, counsel, and approval of his church elders

• often serving a substantial internship

But then often without his wife having done most or all of these things, some churches will just automatically call them “Pastor Joseph and Pastor Mary”. There is no biblical support for this.

What the Bible Says about Divorce, Part 2

Today, we continue to see what the Bible truly says in regards to the issue of divorce and what it doesn't.

Can you get a divorce, remarry, and still be in the will of God? I believe that the answer is yes as long as there are scriptural reasons. I believe that there are three clear reasons given in the New Testament for a justifiable divorce: they are Adultery, Desertion, and Death.

The Misunderstanding

Unfortunately, there are many who hold that no matter the reason for divorce, one can never again remarry because of Old Testament Mosaic Law. That is not true because we are not under Old Testament Mosaic Law. Christ fulfilled the Law so that we do not have to, remember. We are under the New Covenant of Grace. However, some will point to Romans 7:1-4 to make their point.

Rom 7:1-4 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?  2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  3  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.  4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

In this passage, Paul is illustrating a doctrinal truth that we are free from the Law because we have died to our flesh and are now free to remarry Christ. He is making a doctrinal illustration and using marriage as an example. He is not saying that once divorced a person can never again remarry.

Three Justifiable Reasons

That being said, let’s look at the three justifiable reasons given in the New Testament. Let’s look at the easy one first.

Death

1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

This passage clearly states that once one partner has died, the other is free to remarry. However, it must be “in the Lord.” In other words, they cannot be “unequally yoked.”

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Now, let’s look at the second reason.

Adultery

Remember that in the Old Testament, once adultery took place, the offending party was put to death. It was a pretty open and shut case! However, we do not live in the Old Testament anymore. We cannot kill our cheating partners. That would cause us to break man’s law. So, instead of stoning, divorce is the only option that we have under the New Testament.

However, I do not believe that divorce should be the first option. God wants forgiveness and reconciliation to take place if possible. However, if that is not possible, divorce becomes the only option. In that case, I believe that the offended can remarry while the offender cannot. I believe that once adultery takes place, it divides the "one flesh" of the marriage (Gen. 2:24) and creates a new one (1 Cor. 6:16). Again, God would prefer forgiveness and reconciliation.

Desertion

The third justification for divorce is desertion. This is never mentioned by our Lord but by the Apostle Paul.

1Co 7:12-15 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.  13  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.  14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.  15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

Here is a case where a husband or a wife gets saved and the unbelieving spouse decides to leave. Paul said, “Let them go!” Paul recommends that the deserted spouse remain single (1 Cor. 7:27). But he also tells us that it is not a sin if he or she remarries (1 Cor. 7:28a). Again, the only condition on the remarriage is that the deserted spouse marries a saved person.

Warning

Notice what Paul says in 1 Cor. 7:28, "such shall have trouble in the flesh," (1 Cor. 7:28). In other words, you’d better spend a great deal of time in prayer before you even think about remarriage. You need to look deep before you leap because there are consequences for everything (1Co 7:32-35).

Real Reasons for Divorce

In conclusion, I am going to suggest to you that a good marriage takes work. It is not for the fainthearted. We must all leave, cleave, and weave.

The five causes of divorce that is most often given include 1. Money; 2. Sexuality (adultery); 3. In-Laws; 4. Breaking fellowship, and 5. Parenting differences. However, in all honesty, I believe that the two real reasons for divorce are selfishness and immaturity.

Should Women Be Ordained? - Part 6

This is part six in a series on what the Bible says in regards to the ordination of women in the church. Again, instead of rewriting what I believe has already been well laid out, I am sharing Dr. Jim Feeney’s writings on the subject for your edification. You may disagree, and that is your right, but please be able to point to the Bible for your reasons and not the culture.

Argument #6: “God is moving mightily in our time! These are special times. How can we hold back the anointed women preachers and teachers?”

A Biblical Response: The Book of Acts records highlights of the activities of the early Church in the first century. God was moving mightily then, too! And in those spectacular spiritual times recorded in the Book of Acts every single named fivefold preacher and teacher was a man. Every one. Despite the fact that those were clearly “special times”, we saw no women pastors, no women elders or apostles or other leaders and pulpit ministers of the early Church.

Matthew - Almsgiving and Prayer

In today's study from Matthew 6:1-8, our Lord speaks on the issues of almsgiving and prayer.

Almsgiving and Prayers

vv.1-8 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  (2)  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  (3)  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  (4)  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.  (5)  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  (6)  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  (7)  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  (8)  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

In this chapter, Jesus begins to instruct the disciples on the right motive and method for giving alms and praying. Alms are voluntary gifts to aid the poor and needy. We see examples of this in Acts 3:2-3 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;  3  Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. Also in Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Wrong Motives

The wrong motive for almsgiving and praying is to be seen of men. Hypocrites would go so far as to sound a trumpet, stand in the synagogue or stand on the corner of a street to pray or to give something to the poor so that men would notice them (v.2, 5). That was their motive and their reward was solely the recognition they received from the men who saw them (v.1, 2, 5). They lost their reward from God when they done this (v.1).

Right Motives

The right motive for almsgiving and prayer is for the Father and Him alone. The right method, therefore, for almsgiving is in secret (v.4). The giver wasn’t even supposed to account for his gifts; so that the left hand wouldn’t know what the right hand was doing (v.3). The right method for prayer was also in secret (v.6), without vain repetitions (v.7), and with forgiveness for those who had trespassed against him (v.12). That way, the Father would reward him openly and forgive him as well (v.6, 14, 15).

The Lord’s Prayer

vv.9-14 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)   Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  (14)  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Now the Lord instructs the disciples on how to pray with what has been improperly titled “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is actually the “Disciples Prayer” for the Lord said, “After this manner therefore pray ye,” (v.9).   The “ye” would be them and not him.

Contextual Interpretation

Now we have to remember that Jesus Christ was sent to the people of Israel. It was not until well after His ascension that Christ sent Paul to the Gentiles, who were not under the Law of Moses. This prayer was for the Jews who were under the Law of Moses to pray. Therefore, it is not necessarily ours to pray. For example, when the prayer says, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven ....", it is alright for us today to pray for that, but understand that it has a different meaning for us than it did for the Jews who were under the Law of Moses. We can pray for His kingdom to come, but we know that for us, that means we will be raptured, and that God's will regarding the tribulation and the setting up of the kingdom will be fulfilled afterwards. In other words, we have a slightly different perspective of the kingdom from that of the Jews in Christ's day. The same could be said of the other statements in the prayer as well.

Topical Message “Prayer”

Now, I would like to start a topical message on the issue of prayer today for the church.

Mary, Queen of Scotland once said of John Knox, the found of the Presbyterian Church, “I fear John Knox's prayers more than an army of ten thousand men.” Thomas Lye once said, “I had rather stand against the cannons of the wicked than against the prayers of the righteous.” Let’s take a closer look at the “Lord’s Prayer”.

I. Definition of Prayer

Prayer may best be defined as “having fellowship with God.” It is more than simply talking to God, but rather talking with God. It implies a two-way give and take.

II. Elements of Prayer

Looking at the model prayer that was given here by Jesus, we find that prayer includes ten elements.

1. A Personal Relationship with God: “Our Father”

The word “Our” signifies the believer’s brotherly relationship between himself and all other Christians. While the Bible nowhere presents the universal fatherhood of God, it does declare the universal brotherhood of believers because the word “Father” signifies the relationship between God and the believer. He is not everybody’s Father.

John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

You are either a child of God or a child of the devil.

2. Faith: “in heaven”

Jesus said in Joh 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  2  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.  3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. That takes faith to believe in that promise. And Paul declares in Hebrews that without this element in our prayers, they are useless. The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

What is faith? Websters defines it as “a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.  It is a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.” The Bibles defines it in Hebrews 11:1 as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.