Love Your Enemies Part 1

You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

-Matthew 5:43-45 (ESV)

    This is one of the hardest commands of Jesus to follow. Did Jesus mean to say that as Christians, we have to be chummy with our opponents, critics, and detractors? How do we love people who don't like us?

   First, let's begin with what Jesus said. To "love your neighbor" is a command that is found in the Law ( see Leviticus 19:18) but to "love your neighbor and hate your enemy" is not found anywhere in the Old Testament cannon. DA Carson explains,

One cannot be absolutely certain how the slogan “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy” developed, but it is not difficult to make some reasonable guesses. If the text says, “Love your neighbor,” then surely, some might think, there is implicit sanction for not loving those who are not neighbors. That may not be logically sound, but it is understandable enough. And then it is only a small step to the conclusion that it is entirely appropriate to hate certain people, especially certain enemies.

-DA Carson, "Love in Hard Places"

    The social mores of that time allowed some forms of personal hatred as acceptable. It still holds true in today's society. Hatred along ethnic or racial differences is both an ancient and modern day evil. Some harbor hate on those who do not agree with their values or those who possess a different moral compass. Favorite targets of purportedly "Christian" indignation have been : homosexuals, atheists, abortionists, and evolutionists. A "Christian" extremist sect has threatened to hold a public burning of the Koran.

    Jesus, however, mandates something completely different, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." See how radical this is : not only should we love them but we should pray for them also! How very rare it is to find the names of our enemies in our prayer request list. This is not something that we naturally do.

    Why should we obey? Jesus pointed out that this is in keeping with our identity as children of the Father. In the ancient times, and even today to some extent, sons followed in their father's footsteps. For example, Jesus was a carpenter because his father was a carpenter. "Like father, like son,"is a familiar adage to us and this applies to the identity of a true Christian. DA Carson explains,

In a world where most sons ended up doing what their fathers did—bakers’ sons became bakers—the parallels between fathers and sons were often striking. One of the characteristics of the son in this sort of world is that he acts like his father. If you lie and want to kill, the reason must be that your father is the devil himself, for the devil was a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). Conversely, since God is the supreme peacemaker, then if you make peace, it is entirely appropriate that you be called a son of God (Matt. 5:9). So also here: if you love your enemies, then you are acting like God, and in this respect you are rightly called a son of God.

-DA Carson, "Love in Hard Places"

    Jesus said that the Father shows his example by causing the "sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." In other words, God does not restrict his providence to good people only, he also gives this blessing to the unrighteous. This is God's common grace: blessings that are given to all people, whether they are good or bad, but not part of salvation. Jesus himself loved his enemies and prayed for them while nailed on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)."


    Jesus continues on to say,

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers,what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

-Matthew 5:46-48 (ESV)

    What makes true Christians different from this world is the way they live out the love of God in their lives. They don't love only those who are like them, they also love those who are different and those who don't agree with their views and value system. It's a way of loving that is so radical, it stands out in this twisted and broken world.

    It's the love of the Father that we are showing to our enemies. As sons of God, we must love likewise. In the kingdom of God, no other kind of love exists. Jesus said, "You therefore must be perfect as the your heavenly Father is perfect." The bottomline is that we must aim for perfection with regards to our morality because, as sons of God, we bear the name of the perfect heavenly Father.

    We learned from this passage that one practical way of loving our enemies is to pray for them. And there's more which I will explore in future posts.

    Have a nice day!

A Prayer For Thanksgiving

    Almighty Father, we thank you that all that we have and all that we are comes from You (Acts 17:28). Our health, our lives, our intelligence, and our abilities were knit together by You even before we were born (Psalm 139:13-16). Thank you, Heavenly Father, that You watch over us and care for us (Matthew 6:26-31). You are our peace and You make us dwell in safety so that we can rest (Psalm 4:8). Your word is powerful! In You, the universe is upheld, all things are sustained, and all things endure (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:17). This world is not spiraling out of control for You accomplish all things according to Your will (Ephesians 1:11). Fire, hail, snow, frost, lightning, thunder, rain, and stormy wind are at your beckon (Psalm 148:8, Job 37:6-13). You use all things to fulfill your purpose - yes, even evil and suffering - for Your glory, and for our good (Romans 8:28, Proverbs 16:4). Human knowledge cannot fathom Your mind. We cannot counsel You about what's best for us nor can we blame You for our circumstances, because you are God from everlasting to everlasting, you are omnipotent, and you are the only All-Powerful, Almighty, Sovereign Lord.

    Yet, we easily forget your works and your abundant kindness (Nehemiah 9:26, Psalm 106:7,13). As we become satisfied, our hearts become proud and we forget You (Hosea 13:6). Forgive our forgetfulness and our ingratitude. We are not self-made people. What we have did not come from our own strength nor from the power of our own hands. It is by your power, Lord God, that we have this ability to create wealth (Deutoronomy 8:10-18). For what do we have that we did not receive from You?

    When things are going our way, we acknowledge your provision and care. Thank you, Lord, for your benefits. Yet, take them away when our pleasure and satisfaction rests on them. Teach us to be content with the wonderful things that we have already received in Jesus Christ. Remove our eyes from focusing on what we do not possess. We die from being dissatisfied of Your love and care and from these harmful desires for more riches. Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Our pleasure and our satisfaction rests in You because You will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). You are most glorified when we are most satisfied in You.

    When we experience loss and setback, spare us from the temptation to murmur and grumble. You have the right determine our circumstances even if it means taking us down to nothing. As you give and as you take away, blessed be Your Name (Job 1:21). Like Paul, sanctify us so that we will be content in whatever circumstances we are in by knowing how to live along with humble means and how to live in prosperity (Philippians 4:11-12). For even in times of wanting and suffering, your grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) and we can do all things by Your strength (Philippians 4:13).

    In You, we have everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from You (2 Corinthians 3:5). So on this Thanksgiving Day, we rejoice in you Lord! And we do so endlessly, not just once a year. For it is your will that we give thanks in everything and in all our circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Amen!

The Lord's Prayer Part 15: Warfare

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

 - Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

    The last petition in the Lord’s Prayer is two-fold. The second part clarifies the first with the word “but” giving us an idea on how they are connected. A better translation is “deliver us from the evil one”. This, of course, is Satan. Together, this petition recognizes human weakness to sin and the strength of an enemy that entices us to sin. It is a prayer for God to deliver us from satanic attacks that we are not able to withstand.

    There are two dangers when dealing with the evil one. First, we minimize Satan’s importance by failing to recognize that he has real spiritual power. Second, we overstate his importance by becoming very afraid of his power. There is no doubt that he is a powerful enemy. His tactics include domination (Acts 10:38, 2 Timothy 2:26), temptation, accusation (Revelation 12:10), and deception (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). Jesus, however, has already won against him through his death and resurrection. We are dealing with a defeated enemy.

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son..."

-Colossians 1:13 (ESV)

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

- Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV)

    Until Jesus Christ returns to take his rightful throne here on earth and Satan will be finally thrown into the abyss,  we will be dealing against this enemy daily. Thus we pray for our Savior to continue to keep us from falling into the enemy's schemes. We cannot have victory over Satan on our own. The battle is won through Jesus Christ.

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

-Jude 1:24-25 (ESV)



The Lord's Prayer Part 14: How to Pray About Temptation

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” - Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

   The Lord’s Prayer truly covers all our needs. First, it covers our physical and material needs as we ask the Father to give us this day our daily bread. Our spiritual needs are addressed as we ask the Father to forgive our debts. As you recall, we incurred this debt through our sinfulness. The next petition also addresses our sinfulness but this time we ask the Father for protection from future sins. The phrase “lead us not into” can be understood as a plea for God to keep us from falling into the hand, power, and influence of sin as we are tempted.

    The word temptation can mean either testing or trial. Trials are part of the Christian life. God sometimes allows trials to come to our lives as a means to developing persevering faith that leads to spiritual maturity and godly character.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

– James 1:2-4 (NIV)

    It can also mean as an enticement to sin. Now one thing must be made clear, this petition does not imply that God will tempt us and cause us to sin.

   

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

– James 1:13-15 (NIV)

    Notice the progression, temptation arises from our evil desire which leads us to commit acts of sin. Temptation abounds in many situations. The temptation to be proud and feel self-sufficient arises from success. Lustful desires can be aroused while browsing the Internet in the privacy of our homes and the urge to peek at an adult website pops up. The temptation of unbelief will come during times of great suffering. The temptation of self-righteousness arises as we point out other people’s flaws.

    This is why we must pray this petition every day. We must acknowledge our human weakness. We must recognize this daily battle against the sinful nature. We must realize that sin is not yet completely eradicated from our lives (Romans 7:13-25). By praying, we recognize that it is Jesus Christ who rescues us from giving in to temptation. He knows our weakness for he himself was tempted.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.  

– Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

    And indeed the Father will answer this prayer. The Bible assures us that there is a way out of temptation and that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

– 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

    The last thing to point out is that the heart of the one praying this petition must hate sin. The person who prays this also be doing all he can to avoid a situation whereby he is tempted. (Romans 6:1-2, Matthew 26:41). RT Kendall says, “You prove how strong you are not by how you cope when being tempted, but by seeing how far you can get from temptation.”

    Let this prayer of David be our prayer :

Who can discern his errors?  Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

-Psalm 19:12-14 (NIV)

The Lord's Prayer Part 13: The Most Difficult Prayer Request?

“…and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

- Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  

    - Matthew 6:14 (ESV)

    This is the 5th petition in the Lord’s Prayer. It is a plea that God will wipe away the debt that we have incurred by our sinfulness. We know that God forgives (Psalm 130:4) and that Jesus Christ paid for our debt with his own blood (Isaiah 53:4-6).  We need to pray for forgiveness daily because we continue to be flawed people. As we grow spiritually mature over time, we sin less. What makes this petition difficult is the declaration, “…as we also have forgiven our debtors,” that is attached after the plea. We are asking for forgiveness from the Holy God in proportion to the forgiveness that we give to those who have offended us. Astounding!

    This is a dangerous prayer because many of us struggle with forgiving others. Cheap forgiveness abounds. We dwell on offenses by reliving them in our minds.  We withold forgiveness and make the offender suffer for a while by avoiding them, greeting them with an icy reception, or by ignoring them. We bring the offense back up again to the offender or we bring it up to others. Be warned. Unforgiveness is a serious issue to Jesus Christ. He even provides further commentary in v.14. He points out that by forgiving others, our Father will also forgive us.

    Forgiving others is like cancelling or paying a debt in full that is incurred by the one who offended us. We let go of the demand for the offender to pay it back. We forgive because Jesus forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). The standard by which we forgive others is clear: forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13). If one cannot forgive, then Jesus is not ruler in that person’s heart. The problem with the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35) was that he did not reciprocate the mercy that was shown to him. Are we not like that all the time? An unforgiving heart cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer with authenticity.  The Lord does not withold forgiveness, rather he gives it freely.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."   -1 John 1:9 (ESV)

    So how do we so live so that we will truly reflect God’s forgiveness to us? Ken Sande, in his book The Peacemaker, says that when you say to someone, “I forgive you”, what you are really saying is that you will keep these 4 promises:   

1. I will not dwell on this incident.


2. I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you.


3. I will not talk to others about this incident.


4. I will not let this incident stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.

    How would our lives be like if God gave a cheap kind of forgiveness? There would be no hope for us. Praise God for his goodness and mercy. Forgiveness is central to the gospel. Christians are the most forgiven people in the world. Lord we pray, that we would become a people of grace, freely bestowing forgiveness to others.

The Lord's Prayer Part 12 : How to Pray for Your Needs

 

Photo by Suat Eman

"Give us this day our daily bread..."  - Matthew 6:11 (ESV)

    The priority of the Lord's Prayer is the Father's glory. We pray that his name will be treated as holy. We pray that his kingdom, which is Christ's rule in the hearts of men, would be made manifest. We pray that his will be followed here on earth as it is in heaven. Is God's interest really our number #1 priority? It's clear in the Lord's Prayer that the Christian life should be primarily about delighting in God and living a life that reflects his true glory.

    It is only in the 4th petition that we begin praying for ourselves. We are asking God to give, which implies that he owns something that we do not have. It's similar to a beggar asking for charity. Bread symbolizes everything that is necessary for our survival. It is said that man's basic need is food, shelter, and protection. Yes, God is the source of all these things (Psalm 104). Even more amazing is that God knows our need even before we ask him (Matthew 6:8). God provides for the needs of his children (Matthew 7:9-11) and he gives good gifts (James 1:17).

    The motivation behind praying for our needs is very important. Do we pray for our self-interests? Do we ask out of a desire to be richly blessed materially? This cannot be the motivation behind this prayer request because it would be inconsistent with the first three petitions. How can one pray for God’s kingdom when there is a strong desire in us to expand the kingdom of self? Jesus said,

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

    When Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life, he will meet your needs. That is the promise. It is true that many who do not follow Jesus Christ can meet their own needs and can be materially rich. This is the Creator’s common grace to his creation. However, the true Christian knows that attaining comfort in this world is not the ultimate goal. There is a much better life beyond this world and Jesus is the way through this life. For any profit gained in this world does not count for eternity.

“If we look like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we will look like the world, and that will not make Christ look great. He will look like a religious side-interest that may be useful for escaping hell in the end, but doesn't make much difference in what we live and love here. He will not look like an all-satisfying treasure. And that will not make others glad in God.”

- John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life)

    We pray for our needs so that we can live for His glory. God is faithful and willing to provide everything we need so that we will have the physical, mental, and emotional strength to live our lives according to his purpose and plans.

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. -Psalm37:25 (ESV)

    Another thing to note is the immediate extent of the needs that we are to ask for. “Give us this day” really means this coming day. In other words, at night we pray for our needs for the coming day. During the day, we pray for our needs for the coming evening. This is patterned after the Old Testament account of manna (Exodus 16:13-30). Manna was the food that God provided for the people of Israel while they were in the desert. This food came from heaven, was to be collected in the morning, and was to be eaten on that same day. When it was stored, it would spoil (except during Sabbath). The Israelites were literally depending on God day-to-day for their food. Those with refrigerators and pantries stocked with food that could last for weeks may not be able to identify with this kind of living. Yet, this petition reminds all of us to be thankful to God everyday because he ultimately is the source of all provision.

    Do we live to eat or do we eat to live? Food is for fuel; not to be full.

The Lord's Prayer Part 11 : A battle of the wills?

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

-Matthew 6:10 (ESV)

“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." (King David)

- Psalm 40:8 (NIV)

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (Jesus Christ)

-John 4:34 (NIV)

    Let your will be done is the third petition in the Lord’s Prayer. It is closely related to the first two and what connects them is the ending phrase “on earth as it is in heaven”. The Lord’s name is treated as holy in heaven but not on earth. Jesus Christ reigns in heaven but his rule on earth is not consummated until his return. In the same way, God’s will is followed in heaven but is frequently violated here on earth.

    This begs the question then that if God is sovereign so that his will is always accomplished then why is it that his will is not fully followed by man? The answer lies in the way God’s will is revealed in Scripture.

1. God’s efficacious will is the eternal, unchanging purpose concerning all things that he has made. This is absolute and is always fulfilled. When God said let there be light, it was created. Jesus commanded Lazarus to rise from the dead and Lazarus lived again immediately.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

-Isaiah 46:10 (NIV)

2. God’s preceptive will relates to his laws and commandments that he issues to regulate the behavior of his creation. This can be violated or disobeyed. For example, God’s will is that the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are followed but everyone has violated these commandments.

3. Lastly, God’s will is sometimes revealed as his basic inclination or disposition. He desires all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9) for example, but this will not come to pass. There will be men who will go to hell.
    Going back to Matthew 6:10, it makes sense then that the prayer must be asking for the Lord’s preceptive will to be followed here on earth. It is a prayer that expresses the surrendering of our will and the commitment to walk in obedience to God’s commands. It is a desire to see others follow Jesus Christ.

    God’s will is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2). Furthermore, God’s commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). Lord, not my will but yours instead. This is not a fatalistic attitude but a strong desire to follow God's will all the time. Fatalism is resigned to the inevitable and is not of faith Real faith hopes in God in times of trouble. We are assured that the Lord works everything according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11) and that everything works together for our good (Romans 8:28).

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 10: WHOSE KINGDOM?

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

– Matthew 6:10 (ESV)

    The second petition in the Lord’s Prayer is asking that Christ’s rule or reign will come here on earth. Whose kingdom? Christ’s kingdom, not my kingdom. Oftentimes, our attitude in prayer is that we tell God what we want and expect him to bless us by granting our desires. That is prioritizing our own interests above God’s interests.

    So what is this petition really asking for? More clarity can be gained when there is understanding in how the word “kingdom” is used in the Bible. In one example, it is used to describe God’s sovereign rule over all his creation. This is declared many times in the book of Psalms.

The LORD has established his throne in the heavens and his kingdom rules over all.

–Psalm 93:1-2 (ESV)

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

-Psalm 145:13 (ESV)

    If the Lord’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom then why is it that we are to pray for Christ’s kingdom to come? The answer lies in the other use of the word “kingdom” in the Bible. Shortly after David became king over Israel, he wanted to build a temple for the Lord (2 Samuel 7). David sought the counsel of the prophet Nathan. The prophet thought that this was a good idea but that same night, the Lord told Nathan that David was not to build the temple but one of his offspring would be granted that honor. Then the Lord made a covenant with David that his throne will be established forever.

When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.

-1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (ESV)

    God made an unconditional covenant with David by promising that the Messiah would come from David’s lineage and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever. God indeed kept his promise through Jesus Christ. Indeed, Jesus spoke of this kingdom during his public ministry.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

 -Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

    However, this announcement was misunderstood by many including Christ’s disciples. Many thought that Jesus was giving to Israel the fulfillment of the promise made by God with David. They thought that Jesus Christ was going to establish an earthly kingdom on whose throne sits a descendant of David and this king would bring about the liberation of Israel from Roman rule. What Jesus said completely confused them because they were expecting that the Messiah would be a political leader.

 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

-Luke 17:20-21 (ESV)

    Instead, the kingdom that Jesus announced is the kingdom of grace established by his death on the cross and his resurrection. It is Jesus Christ’s rule in the hearts of those who have repented from their sins and believed in his name. This kingdom is not yet completely revealed. It will be made fully manifest when Jesus Christ returns and rules visibly on earth (see Psalm 2, Revelation 11:15-18, Revelation 19:11-18). This is the time when the King of Kings shall take his throne and reign over what was given to him as an inheritance by the Father. I heard a pastor once say that history is HIS STORY. We are now at the point of history were we await the coming of Jesus. The question is are you ready?

    In Matthew 13, Jesus uses parables to describe the nature of this kingdom as it exists here on earth. These parables are summarized beautifully in a sermon by John Piper. This is worthy of reflection and careful investigation because we will then understand why Jesus asks us to pray for this kingdom.

The Parable of the Sower


First, the parable of the sower: verses 18-19, "Hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom . . . " four different things can happen:


1. Satan can snatch it;
2. the heat of trouble can scorch it;
3. the thorns of care can choke it;
4. or it can bear fruit in good soil.


The mystery here is that the Word of the kingdom—the gospel of the kingdom, "Our God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)—is not sweeping the whole world before it. It's here with power to save some—but three-forths of the kingdom preaching seems to be aborting. That was not expected to happen when the Messiah arrived to say, "The kingdom is at hand. Our God reigns!" This is the mystery of the kingdom.


The Parable of the Wheat and Tares


Then look at the parable of the wheat and tares in verses 24ff. "Another parable he put before them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.'" An enemy sows bad seed and wheat and tares grow up together. And Jesus says that's a picture of the kingdom. Sons of the kingdom (v. 38) and sons of the evil one side by side till the harvest—the day of judgment.


The interpretation is given in verses 37ff. Notice verse 41. At the end of the age it says, "The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire." This is the mystery of the kingdom—a kingdom existing for some time in this world with righteous (v. 43) and evil in it side by side until the consummation. This was not expected. The kingdom was to come with total power to destroy the wicked immediately and vindicate the righteous. But Jesus says it has arrived. There is fulfillment. But the consummation, the final separation waits for the second coming of the Son of Man (v. 41).


The Parable of the Mustard Seed


Look at the parable of the mustard seed in vv. 31-32, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."


The mystery of the kingdom is that the kingdom came in Jesus like a mustard seed and not a military coup. It will some day be a huge and mighty tree. But the mystery is that the kingdom has come into the world without the cataclysmic transformation most expected.


The Parable of the Fishing Net


Skip down to the last parable of the chapter, verses 47-50, the parable of the fishing net.


Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire.


The mystery of the kingdom, again, is that as the net—the power of the kingdom—draws men into its sway, it draws good and bad. Only when the net is up on shore at the close of the age will the good and the bad fish be separated.


Notice carefully: the separation described here is not between the fish which didn't get caught in the net of the kingdom and those which did. That's not the point of this parable. The separation here is between two kinds of people who are swept into the net of the kingdom. One kind is kept. The other is cast into the fire.


So the mystery of the kingdom is not only that the kingdom is at first limited in its scope and its effect in the world (it's a mustard seed), but also the mystery of the kingdom is that the people who come under the power of God's kingdom are, as we say, a mixed bag. Some are true disciples. And some are hypocrites.

    The 2nd petition in the Lord's Prayer prays for the success of this kingdom here on earth. When we become part of this kingdom, its advance becomes our priority. The passion for this kingdom comes from a heart that is fully surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ. We pray that the benefits and blessings of this kingdom will be enjoyed by others and by nations. We pray that the message of the Gospel will be preached to the whole world. We long for the hastening of Jesus Christ’s return.

    Lord let your kingdom come, not mine. Rule over my heart today and forevermore.

   Amen!

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 9: THE #1 PRAYER REQUEST

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

 –Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

    The very first thing that Jesus teaches us to pray for is not our needs nor the needs of others. Instead, Jesus teaches that we should first pray that God’s name will be treated as holy. Very few of us (including myself) would ever put this as the top priority in our prayer list.

    Now, God’s name is already holy (Isaiah 57:15). Even the angels in heaven cry out in praise saying, “Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” However, God’s name is not treated in the same way here on earth. Today, “Oh My God!” or OMG is a common expression of surprise when a person is wowed by someone or something. Sometimes God's name is used as an expletive. The name of Jesus Christ is spoken as profanity. Its use in this manner is prevalent in our culture today. It certainly is not said in worship and adoration. It is not even a cry of prayer. It is desecration of the name of God.

    God’s name is tied to his reputation. He reveals his nature through his name. He is Elohim, the only God, the God over all gods, and the source and creator of all things. He is Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God who took Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. He is the God who loved the world that he sent his only Son to die for our sins. It is a name that speaks of God’s power and glory. Jesus promised this when we pray and call out his name:

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

-John 14:13 (ESV)

    So the first petition then pleads for His name to be set apart in people’s hearts and minds and lives (including ourselves) as the infinitely great and beautiful and valuable reality that it truly is. Let's not use his name lightly in our conversations. Let's demonstrate the proper respect of God's name. Let's make God look good in our speech.

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 8: THE FATHER NEVER LOSES A LIGHTNING BOLT!

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 

–Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

    I was watching the movie Percy Jackson and the Olympians recently with my kids. The story goes that Zeus loses his lightning bolt and is threatening a war if it is not found. What strikes me is that, although great and powerful, these gods living in Olympus are also limited and flawed. Zeus, for example is limited by his omniscience, because he cannot find his lightning bolt and he doesn’t know who stole it! These gods are also lonely and want to be with humans. Some of them procreated with humans and sired demi-gods. And they are prohibited by Zeus to be with their children for fear that they will wish to become human in order to experience the love and affection of their human partner and children.

    Compared to the God of the Bible, these gods of Olympus are losers! Unlike Zeus, the Almighty God never loses a lightning bolt!

How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.

He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.

Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.

This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

His thunder announces the coming storm;  even the cattle make known its approach.

-Job 36:26-33 (NIV)

    Unlike Zeus, the Father loves his children and desires to gives them everything they need to live. The Father has given us the gift of prayer so that we can talk to him. Truly the greatness of our God is incomparable!

    The phrase “in heaven” is meant to communicate that the Father is far above us in majesty and greatness. It does not convey this erroneous concept that prayer is us talking to God who is far away. We think that there exists a great gulf of space between us here on earth and the God in the heavens. So our prayers must travel through this great distance. That's not the point at all.

    “Our Father in heaven”, it is a declaration of God’s greatness. Jesus is then teaching us that we approach the Father not just with affection but also with reverence because the Father is great and glorious. Be careful then to address the Father with a sense of familiarity. Also come to the Father in worship. Be in awe of his majesty. God is both personal and majestic! Our personal lives are finite, limited and weak. Our God is infinite, limitless, and powerful! God is personally concerned for us and treats us with love and compassion but we must never lose sight that He is the creator of the universe and that he is sovereign over all!

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise,  in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

-Psalm 48:1 (NIV)

For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

-Psalm 95:3,6 (NIV)

    I wrote earlier that my God never loses a lightning bolt! It serves as a personal reminder to me that I must avoid making God small when I pray. He is already great and glorious and does not need us to make him look greater. However, we must declare his true greatness as we pray. Far be it, that we limit him with our minds as we lift up our requests.

    How do we make God small in our prayers? In the book Knowing God, author JI Packer points out 3 ways :

1. Wrong thoughts about God.

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

–Isaiah 40:25 (NIV)

    Sometimes our thoughts of God are too human just like how the gods of Olympus are portrayed in Greek mythology. This is where we go astray. Because we ourselves are limited and weak, we then imagine that God also must have weaknesses at some points. We think that he is much like we are and fail to truly grasp the reality of his infinite power and wisdom.

2. Wrong thoughts about ourselves.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD;  my cause is disregarded by my God"?

- Isaiah 40:27 (NIV)

   In suffering, we sometimes think that God has abandoned us and has not heard our prayers. JI Packer says [1],

“God has not abandoned as anymore than he abandoned Job. He never abandons anyone on whom he has set his love; nor does Christ, the good shepherd, ever lose track of his sheep. It is as false as it is irreverent to accuse God of forgetting, or overlooking, or losing interest in the state and needs of his own people. If you have been resigning yourself to the thought the God has left you high and dry, seek grace to be ashamed of yourself. Such unbelieving pessimism deeply dishonors our great God and Savior”

3. Our slowness to believe in God’s majesty.

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

–Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)

    This is a rebuke to us from God. He is saying how ignorant we are of him and how we are so slow to understand that that he is sovereign, all knowing, almighty, and limitless. Has he grown old or tired? Of course not! Therefore, let’s know the reality of the Father’s greatness as we pray. Let us remove from our thoughts anything that put limits on him. What a wonderful privilege it is to be children of the great, glorious, almighty, majestic God!

   There is no competition here – Zeus is a loser!

[1] JI Packer, Knowing God, pp. 78-79

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 7: THE PRIVILEGE TO CALL GOD FATHER

    According to Scripture, there are two fathers and two kinds of children. God is the heavenly Father. This father is perfect and seeks the good of his children even when he disciplines them. Those who have the right to call him Father are those who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ. As a new creation, saved by grace through faith, the children of God delight in Him and cry out, “Abba, Father”! They follow God’s will and obey his commands. The other father is the devil. He is the father of those who want to carry out his evil plans. He is called the father of lies. This father is deceitful, enslaves his children, and leads them to destruction. There is no affection in this relationship but only fear.

   “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

      – 1 John 3:10 (ESV)

    The Lord’s Prayer assumes that the petitioner has a relationship with the Father. This prayer is not for the benefit of the entire human race. It is of no benefit to those who do not believe. They are only empty words if uttered by one whose heart is not ruled by Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Prayer is exclusively for the children of God.

    When Jesus taught this prayer, he was making a radical departure from the religious tradition of that time. To refer to God as father was offensive, especially to the Jews. They threatened to take his life. They did not know him despite all the miracles Jesus had done. Jesus healed a paralyzed man beside the pool and yet they were angry at him for healing on a Sabbath.

    “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

    -John 5:18 (ESV)

    This was all according to the purpose and will of the Father to the praise of his glorious grace. Through Jesus, we enjoy the blessing of adoption as sons and daughters of the Almighty God. It is by the grace of God, that we can address him as Father in prayer.

    So as we pray to the heavenly Father, let us remember that this privilege came at a great cost to himself. It truly is love so amazing.

    “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are….”

     - 1 John 3:1 (ESV)

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 6: THAT FIRST WORD “OUR”

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. –Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

  After Jesus points out the wrong approaches to prayer by the religious hypocrites and pagans, he gives us the model in which we are to frame our prayers. It is therefore supremely valuable that we study in depth the model prayer that our Savior has given to us.

   The prayer begins with an address. Our prayers are directed to our Father who is in heaven. Then follows a series of petitions or requests: hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our debts, and lead us not into temptation. What this means to us is that our petitions should harmonize with the petitions found in the Lord’s Prayer. These petitions are certainly in God’s will because they came from Jesus Christ. What needs and requests do we lift up to the Lord? Before we ask, it is helpful to first test how it agrees with Lord’s Prayer petitions. When we align our requests to the Lord’s Prayer, we can be confident that we are praying in God’s will.

   The first word, “our”, should not be overlooked. This cannot be referring to universal humanity because not all men have that father-child relationship with God. We enter into that relationship by adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). The gospel of John says,

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” - John 1:12 (ESV)

   Therefore, the word, “our”, signifies the universal brotherhood of those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It points to the amazing and comforting truth that God is the perfect, heavenly Father to all his children. He is the perfect Father because we are all heard equally, blessed equally, and disciplined equally. God does not play favorites! He does not hear the prayer of one over the other because he loves that person more than the other. That is what an earthly father might possibly do, but not God. All too often, we fail to see God as the perfect Father because of our experience with our earthly fathers. We have individual needs, struggles, desires, and blessings but the Father’s love is always the same to all.

   One other thought with the word “our” is that we ought to pray for the needs and interests of our fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Oftentimes, our prayers are always self-centered. I wonder how our prayer requests will change if we always consider the good of others. How would it change us? I believe that it will result to a more compassionate heart, more sensitivity to the needs of others, and spur action to help the unfortunate. We change and become Christ’s hands and feet.

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 5 : PRAYING TO THE FATHER WHO ALREADY KNOWS

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

                                                                                                –Matthew 6:8 (NIV)

   In the previous verse, Jesus instructs us to not pray like the pagans who heap up empty phrases to their gods in order to plead their plight and obtain their favor. Jesus says that we should not be like them for the Father already knows what we need before we ask Him.

   Matthew 6:8 is an astounding statement! Jesus connects two of God’s revealed nature in relation to prayer: His omniscience and His fatherhood.

   David speaks of God’s omniscience in this way:

1 O LORD, you have searched me

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

                                                                                             -Psalm 139:1-6 (NIV)

   If God knows the most intimate details of our lives, then logically He knows what we need. Therefore, prayer is not about informing God about something that He doesn’t know. It is not about urging Him to get up and start doing something about this problem that we are having.  It isn’t about making him respond favorably to our request. He already knows! Therefore, praying with an overabundance of words is not necessary. It doesn’t matter how knotted our problems are. He understands our situation more than we ever can. Now because He is our Father, God will meet that need for our good. He is not obligated to look out for our interest. He looks out for us because He is our perfect heavenly Father.

   John Piper says,

   This verse is a great encouragement to remember that God is not disinclined to do you good. He is a Father, not a mortgage holder. And as a Father he is up on what you need as his child. And as a Father he is very eager to give it.


You can tell that this is the meaning of this verse by comparing the same phrase in [Matthew 6:31–32] Do not be anxious, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.


The point is: since he knows your need, you don't have to be anxious about your need. [This] implies that he is the kind of Father who loves to meet the needs of his children for the asking.

                                                                                                                                       - John Piper

   This is the essence of Matthew 6:8, that God knows what is good for us. He does not give anything to us that will harm us and lead us to do evil. His answers to our prayers are always for our benefit. Indeed, Father knows best. Now this begs the question – if God already knows what I need before I even ask Him, then what is the purpose of prayer?

   Here is what John Calvin says,

   But if God knows what things we have need of, before we ask him, where lies the advantage of prayer? If he is ready, of his own free will, to assist us, what purpose does it serve to employ our prayers, which interrupt the spontaneous course of his providence? The very design of prayer furnishes an easy answer. Believers do not pray, with the view of informing God about things unknown to him, or of exciting him to do his duty, or of urging him as though he were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray, in order that they may arouse themselves to seek him, that they may exercise their faith in meditating on his promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into his bosom; in a word, that they may declare that from Him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves and for others, all good things. God himself, on the other hand, has purposed freely, and without being asked, to bestow blessings upon us; but he promises that he will grant them to our prayers. We must, therefore, maintain both of these truths, that He freely anticipates our wishes, and yet that we obtain by prayer what we ask.

                                                                                                                          -John Calvin

   God wants us to participate in accomplishing His purpose here on earth. We participate by praying and Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer as the manner in which we are to pray. Our prayers do not change God’s mind. Our prayers will change the world. That is why the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) because God, in His sovereignty, chooses to respond to our prayers. Prayer also changes us as it helps us to discern God’s will for our lives.

    When we do not pray, we deny the sovereignty of God. When we do not recognize that God knows best, we glorify our self-will, our self-sufficiency, and our own wisdom. When we insist that God must also consider our opinions in how He should meet our needs, then we deny His omniscience. I am glad that God’s will for my life is perfect for me and that spurs me to pray and seek His will in all things.

   Therefore, we should pray and not give up just like the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). We should pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and present our requests to God (Philippians 4:6).

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 4 : DO NOT PRAY LIKE THE PAGANS

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. – Matthew 5:7

    Previously, Jesus said that we should not pray like the Pharisees who prayed in public in order to demonstrate their piety and gain the admiration of men. Jesus points out another wrong way to pray but this time with the type of prayer that Gentile nations practiced.

    Gentile or pagan prayer involved babbling. One translation calls it “using vain repetitions” while another describes it as “heaping up empty phrases”. The intent is that by using elaborate words their prayers will be heard by the gods or goddesses that they worship.

    It is still being practiced today.  Here is how Ceisiwr Serith describes it in his book titled A Book of Pagan Prayer and I paraphrase his instruction on how to pray here :

    Prayer consists primarily of words. You can speak them loudly, softly, silently, or in a sing-song voice accompanied by a rocking motion in order to add rhythm to your words. You can pray the same prayer over and over again and it is okay if you start slurring what you say. It isn’t necessary to pay attention to each word because it will block feelings and spirituality. Pay attention to a word that jumps out of your prayer because it may be an insight planted by the god or goddess into your mind. Now the prayers can become even more alive if a relaxed posture, rhythmic motion, dance, music or gestures are added to the words. All this is done in order to invite the presence of the deities (gods, goddesses, and ancestral spirits) and obtain a favorable response from them.

   The pagan approach to prayer has influenced even Christian prayers today. There are religious institutions that advocate repetition of the Lord’s Prayer as penance for sins committed. There is centering or contemplative prayer. It all sounds so spiritual but its form is no different from pagan practices as described by C. Serith.

   This kind of praying is clearly wrong. First of all, Jesus did not teach us to pray in this manner and we will see this clearly when we unfold the Lord’s Prayer. Second, God isn’t deaf and doesn’t need us to do anything in order to gain His attention and favor. He already knows our thoughts, attitudes and our emotions (Psalm 139). Lastly, in Matthew 5:8, our relationship to our Father is so close that He already knows what we need even before we ask Him!

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 3 : PRAYING IN PRIVATE

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  - Matthew 6:6 (NIV)

   As Christians, we are asked to bear witness to the world of our commitment to Christ and not hide it. We are to be the salt and the light to this world (Matthew 5:13-16). We are to show to the world our unity so that they will believe in Jesus Christ (John 17:23). There are three things though that we are to do in secret: giving to the needy (Matthew 6:1-3), fasting (Matthew 6:16-18), and prayer.

   This passage does not prohibit public prayer. Jesus condemned prayer done as a public performance. He called such practice as hypocrisy. This passage also does not say that we should only pray in our rooms. We can pray anywhere and at anytime. The point is to not pray in order to impress the audience with your piety, to get human applause, to gain admiration, and to be rewarded by men.

   Let us rather pray in a way that pleases God. Our prayer has an audience of one – God and God alone. When we pray with believers in church or when we pray in public areas remember that it is not to be a display. The promise is that God will reward those who pray with pure motives and a pure heart. God’s blessing is, by an infinitely wide margin, more satisfying and lasting than man’s reward.

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 2 : HOW NOT TO PRAY

   “Lord, teach us to pray…,” the disciples asked (Luke 11:1). Being with Jesus all the time, they were witnesses to his prayer life and habit. It became clear to them that there was a link between Jesus’ commitment to prayer and his extra-ordinary ministry. There is no better teacher than Jesus Christ himself. Hence, just like the disciples, let Jesus teach us how to pray.


   Moving back to Matthew’s account in chapter 6, it is interesting that Jesus made some prefatory remarks before teaching them how to pray. Jesus begins with a negative comparison.

5"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” -Matthew 6:5 (ESV)

   There is no doubt that these hypocrites were the Pharisees who were the religious leaders in the Jewish society at the time of Jesus. They were the religious fundamentalists in those days focusing on strict observance of the Jewish laws, ceremonies, and traditions. Jesus denounced them as being hypocrites because they often made a public display of their moral living, good deeds, and piousness while neglecting the heart or motives of the actions. It was a fake form of godliness, phony, and fraudulent.

   The disciples were living in this cultural and religious environment. They were familiar with the religious system and probably accepted it without much thought. No surprise then that when they followed Jesus, it turned their worldview upside down. He was completely different! His prayer life was opposite to that of the Pharisees. It was something that they had never seen before. He would pray alone. He would pray all night. By witnessing how Jesus prayed, they realized their own ignorance, misconceptions, and lack of knowledge about prayer.

   How about us today? Are we also hypocrites? As a leader, I fall at times into this kind of practice. When asked to publicly pray, I try to show my piety by composing and saying aloud great, religious sounding statements that elicit “Amens” and “Hallelujahs” from those who hear me. I measure the effectiveness of my prayer based on the number and intensity of responses I get! After all I am the leader and must be “leader-ly” when I pray – not like those immature, bumbling prayers from those who are terrified to pray in public. In prayer meetings, we sometimes use loudness and cries as the barometer of prayer effectiveness. The more shouting and crying going on, the better we feel!

   I don’t know how much of it is fake and how much of it is sincere repentance and coming from real burdens that drive people into desperation and cry out to God for help like David’s prayers in the Psalms. Take heed of Jesus’ warning in Matthew 6:5. Prayer is not a show where we are the stars.

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:5-13) PART 1

    As far as I can recall, I have never heard a sermon on the Lord’s Prayer. Yes, I’ve heard the prayer recited many times in church but I have never heard it expounded on and taught in-depth in order to teach and equip believers. A disciple asked Jesus, “Lord teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1), and Jesus gave them this prayer, hence the name “The Lord’s Prayer”. The more accurate title really should be “The Disciple’s Prayer” because it was given to us by Jesus to in order to teach us how to pray correctly.

  Prayer is essential to a believer’s spiritual life. Therefore, a believer should learn how to pray and the logical starting point must be the Lord’s Prayer. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. It isn’t surprising then that there is a lot of confusion, wrong application, prayerlessness, and teaching of “prayer styles” that are not Biblical. The Lord’s Prayer has been relegated to mindless recitation or a doxology to be sung at the end of the service. Even worse, it has become to some a prayer to be repeated several times in order to pay penance for sin. Ignorance and lack of knowledge of the great truths found in the Lord’s Prayer has led to wrong theology and wrong application. Conversely, the right theology leads to right application and right thinking.

    This is the next topic in our Tuesday Bible Study group. We’ll go through and unfold Matthew 6:5-13 verse by verse. I will blog about what we learned, the points of discussion or debate, and what truth was revealed to us that night.  At the end of our study, my hope is that our desire to pray will be stimulated and that we will understand what a great privilege it is to pray to the one true God.

    These are the main references that I have used for my preparation :

1. The Prayer of Our Lord by RC Sproul
2. The Lord's Prayer by RT Kendall