How firm is your faith in prayers? Jesus learnt us to be very firm! - The Lord’s prayer- part 7

Core text:

For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13 MKJV)

This text reminds me of the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9. Here it’s all about God being praised and about His goodness!

This part of the Lord’s Prayer starts by addressing God and then talks about the kingdom of God. This is the end of the Lord’s Prayer. But in the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer we also read about the kingdom of God, then flows the physical needs of the people. This is like “Give us our daily bread” in Matthew 6:11. After that we read about the forgiveness of sins in Matthew 6:12. This is about the brokenness of people and need for forgiveness.

Now at the end of the Lord’s Prayer we read the same words as stated, by Jesus, at the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer. This last part acts as a testimony about God. He is the owner of the kingdom. He is the powerful one and He is almighty. All glory to Him and He will be forever!

It is because of the power of God that He can provide for us. For example the verse that says, “our daily bread” in Matthew 6:11. With the ending of the Lord’s Prayer we tell God that we not only know that He is powerful but that we are certain that He will provide for us on earth.

In other words, it’s all about the firmness of our faith and the Word of God!

Till next time!

Who can test Christians? God or the devil? - Lord’s Prayer part 6

Core verse:

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. (Matthew 6:13 MKJV)

The word temptation refers to the future. Who can lead Christians into temptation? Can God test us? Or does the devil try to trick us?

Before we start answering these questions, I must point out that this is not a license to commit a sin! Over the years some people thought that only the devil (or evil) one can let us commit sin and then by praying “lead us not into temptation” cleanses a believer from the presence of the devil, (as they understood), which means that no action can be a sin because the devil is not there to make them commit a sin. This is of course not the modern interpretation of the Bible. Jesus said: “Go, and sin no more”. (John 8:11 MKJV)

Who can lead us into temptation?

·         God? “Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one”. (James 1:13 MKJV) God doesn’t test us!

·         The devil? Yes, “The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: 'God will give his angels orders about you. They will catch you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.' “Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, 'Don't try to test the Lord your God!' “(Matthew 4:6-7 CEV). The devil has a reputation to tempt people.

Pray with me:

Lord, lead me in such a way that I don’t walk into the traps that the devil prepared for me. Teach me your will so that I can avoid the devil and all evil. Help me that I can withstand the tests of the devil.

Till next time!

How Jesus taught us to pray- Lord’s Prayer part 3

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10 MKJV)

In the previous two posts we discussed how Jesus taught us to pray. It was about how Jesus approached a prayer, it was a way that gave all honor to God. Now we continue with the last entry to this part of the Lord’s Prayer. It is still about God and His will.

The last part of Matthew 6:10 are about Gods ground. God’s kingdom is perfect in heaven, but evil in still on Earth. That is why we should pray that God’s will must be done on Earth. This is not for the sake of God. If He wanted His will on Earth He would put it here. I mean God is the almighty one! No, it’s for our sake.

We don’t always know what Gods will is. In fact it is sometimes very possible that we may ask God for things that He doesn't want to give us. In other words we may ask for things that we shouldn't get, for our own sake. God may for example know that something you ask for is not the best for you. God may have better things in store for you. That better things is Gods will. Now God know what is best for you. That is why we should rely on His will and pry that “Your will be done”.

 If we ask for something in prayer and it is not Gods will, then this part of the Lord’s prayer will make up for it. Because in Matthew 6:10 we acknowledge that Gods will is the best for us.

Share your thoughts on Gods will!

Till next time!

How Jesus taught us to pray- Lord’s Prayer part 2

Your kingdom come… (Matthew 6:10 MKJV)

Where is Gods kingdom? Isn't it in heaven and why do Jesus tell us to pray for it? Isn't God just going to establish His kingdom on Earth at the second coming of Jesus?

Christians and churches around the world pray the Lord’s Prayer in different languages. It is probably one of the most prayed prayers around the world. But do you know what it means? Do you know why Jesus included “Your kingdom come” into the- Lord’s Prayer?

The main reason that Jesus included “Your kingdom come” into the Lord’s Prayer is because the Earth is a disputed part of Gods kingdom. You see, evil still exist on Earth and the devil is still busy trying to lure people away from God.  

“Your kingdom come” in the- Lord’s Prayer, means that a believer is transformed into a soldier for God. When we pray the “Your kingdom come” in the- Lord’s Prayer we acknowledge that we are going to oppose the evil in this world and focus on to promote the kingdom of God in this world.

Till next time!

How Jesus taught us to pray- Lord’s prayer part 1

Therefore pray in this way: Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Matthew 6:9 MKJV)

This is how Jesus taught his followers to pray. It can be seen as an example prayer. Everyone can pray it. But sometimes if we say the same prayer over and over it becomes a meaningless string of words that come out of our mouths.

It is of vital importance that the example prayer must stay important to us. We should know what we say or ask for when we pray the example prayer. I mean, if the example that Jesus gave us becomes meaningless, then where can we learn from? In this post and those to follow I am going to talk about the example prayer that Jesus gave us.

Jesus addresses the Lord as “Father”. This was not the normal way of talking to God in the ancient times, as the Jews did not address the Lord as Father! But Jesus is the Son of God and out of that intimate relationship Jesus calls the Lord “Father”.

Christians today also believe that we are children of God. Christians also talk to God as the “Father”. The following may sound familiar: “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost”. It is general knowledge of every Christian that God is also their Father.

But of course that makes Jesus our brother, our next of kin! That is perhaps why some Christians greet each other as brother and sister in Christ.

But God is still holy, “Hallowed be Your name” is the words that Jesus used to talk to God. Even though He is holy, he is still our Father in heaven. He is thus our holy father in heaven; we must still have respect for the Father as God the holy one or God the almighty one.

What can we learn from the first part of the “Lord’s prayer” prayer?

·         God is the father of Jesus.

·         God is the father of his followers.

·         Jesus is our next of kin.

·         But the Godhead is still holy!

We continue with the example prayer next time!