SEVEN SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOUR FAITH

SEVEN SUPLIMENTS FOR YOUR FAITH

II Peter 1:4-7

Introduction:  Here is a story of someone who was in prison, yet did not let her imprisonment take away her resolve to be productive and succeed. Tonya Wilson, who is in prison for attempted first-degree murder after she served as an accomplice and driver during a gang shooting in Tacoma. While in prison Tonya applied herself, and worked towards a degree. In 2017 she graduated with high honors. Six of Wilson’s family members came to the prison to watch her graduate: three aunts, one sister, a cousin and her 84-year-old grandfather. “It’s so nice to have people who have been with me for so long and have had sustained faith in me, when I didn’t necessarily have it in myself,” she said. She will be released next year and wants to become a teacher, but she knows that’s a longshot.[1]

            Tonya, could have wallowed in self-pity, and resentment, but she ceased every opportunity to be productive, applied herself, and worked hard as a result she succeeded. Her story is a great example of determination, hard work, and success. God wants all of us to be productive and successful. Is there a path way that would lead us to productivity and success?

            Last week we looked at how the Apostle Peter encouraged the believers who were undergoing persecution and facing the wrong teachings from false teachers that threatened their very Christian faith. He showed them how God’s divine power has given them everything to maintain their faith and combat false teaching. Today we will see how just having faith in Christ is not an end in itself, and what would keep us from being useless and productive and become credible citizens of the society where we are called to exercise our faith. Peter gives the believers seven supplements to their faith.  II Peter 1:4-7.

            To paint a picture of what life was like for Christians during 70 A.D. It was a confusing time for Christians. Jesus was not among them anymore, he was taken up to heaven. The apostles were leading the Church. Christians were hated and persecuted for their faith. The foundation of Christian faith was severely attacked by scoffers, sceptics and false teachers. Christians living under such turbulent times must have been anchored by the Apostle Peter’s two letters.

            In his first letter Peter instructed Christians how to deal with persecution from both inside and outside the church. In the second letter he taught them how to grow up in the true knowledge of Christ so that they can discern and deal with false teachers and evildoers who have come into the church. He instructed the believers how to live a balanced life of faith and action. Let’s see how this combination of faith and practice works out in our daily living.

I. EXTRAVAGENT PROMISES:

            Vs 4 “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” Peter reminds the believers of the extravagant and precious promises that were given to them by God himself. All the promises of God are yes and Amen in Christ Jesus our Lord. The nature of these promises is that we might participate in the divine nature. It doesn’t mean that we will become like God, but we will be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

            All the promises of God are exclusively meant for His children. All those who believe in Christ become God’s children. Therefore, by faith we accept, appropriate and do our best to live according to the promises of God, in this corrupt and evil world.

            As we continue to put our faith to work, and hold on the path of obedience to God, when our life on this earth comes to an end, we will be ushered into the Kingdom of God to live with Him forever. That was and continues to be the hope of every Christian who might be undergoing persecution for their faith.

            What is the purpose of God giving us all these great promises and blessings? So that we can be self-sufficient and become indifferent to the sufferings of the world around us? No! These promises and blessings come with awesome responsibility. God’s grace calls the believers for total dedication. That’s what the words, “making every effort” mean. Salvation is a gift we did not deserve but God gave it to us and we received it by faith. That is just the beginning. Though, God has poured His divine power through His Holy Spirit into our lives, we are required to make every disciplined effort to supplement to our faith. We will be working on the seven supplements to faith in the next coming weeks. Today we may look at one of them

II. SEVEN SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOUR FAITH:(Vs 5-7)

            Vs 5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

            There is a huge market for “Supplements,” in the world today. There are more than 50,000 dietary supplement products marketed in the United States, and more than half of the adult population consume dietary supplements, with the most common ones being multivitamins. For those who fail to consume a balanced diet, the U.S. National Institute of Health states that certain supplements "may have value."[2] I am sure some of you may have some on your shelves.    Why are we so sold out on supplements? Because we believe they add to what may be missing in our regular diet, therefore our quality of life may be improved. The Apostle Peter recommended seven supplements that the early Christians must add to their faith for their spiritual well-being. Similarly, if we want to be healthy and live a productive Christian life we must also add the same seven spiritual supplements to our faith.

            The word supplement is to give lavishly and generously.  In Greek culture, the word was used for a choirmaster who was responsible for supplying everything that was needed for his choir. The word never meant to equip sparingly, but to supply lavishly for a noble performance.

We need to add these supplements lavishly to our faith. Let me share a few thoughts about faith.

            God has given us faith which is the basis of our lives. Faith is the first virtue for all believers who want to be productive. It is the first step in a long journey of productivity. Scripture tells us that only by faith we can please God. On the other hand, having faith in Christ is not an end in itself, but just the beginning. Listen to the advice of James, on faith and actions:   “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So, faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.” James 1:14-19.  These are powerful words, let’s pay attention to them.

            We Christians, for so long have been talking the talk, but it is time that we rise up and put our faith into action. Let’s show our love for God and for others not merely by words but through actions.

            That is one reason why as a church we are getting involved in reaching out to the Homeless in Taunton. Please join us and see your faith grow and come alive. I guarantee you that, you will be blessed as you go out and minister to the poor and the needy who are close to God’s heart. The apostle Peter was challenging the believers of that time to supply in abundance seven supplements to their faith so that they can live productive lives.  Let’s look at the first one:

I. Goodness: In other translation the word moral excellence is used. In classical Greek it meant the God-given ability to perform heroic deeds. It is the quality that makes someone to stand out as good. What is the basis for goodness? Where are we called to be good? What are the consequences when we try to do good? Peter gives us a framework in which goodness has to be put to work in first Peter. It has to do with knowing that we have been saved by the goodness of God, we have tasted that the Lord is good as Peter puts it. We have been given a new identity.

            1 Peter 2:9, “we are a chosen people a royal priesthood and a holy nation and God’s special possession so that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  Now with that awareness we are being sent into our troubled world. “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” I Peter 2:11-12.

            In essence, Peter is saying go live out the goodness of God right there in your office among gossiping, faultfinding, broken, lost, hurting, seeking, sometimes hostile co-workers, employees or bosses.  You are going to get some push back, they are surprised it says in Chapter 4:4 that you do not join them in their reckless and wild living and they heap abuse on you.   Peter goes to an extent to say that it is God’s will for us to do good, by doing so we could silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Part of doing good is to show proper respect to all.

            We are given quite a challenge, aren’t we?  But there is great purpose and meaning to be where you are as a child of God! “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10. Amen!

           

           

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[1] https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/joy-tears-as-19-inmates-in-states-prison-for-women-earn-college-degrees/

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_supplement

STAND STRONG: II PETER 1:1-4

STAND STRONG     II Peter 1:1-4

(Keeping Our Faith in a Pluralistic World )01/21/2018

            On Martin Luther King’s Day, I was in an ecumenical meeting organized by the Interfaith Clergy association in Sharon. It was sobering to hear how in some ways our country is regressing back to pre-civil right days. Poignantly, speaker after speaker encouraged the audience how we are to show up, stand up and count the cost in the fight against intolerance, bigotry, racism and Antisemitism. It was all about how we could achieve peace, happiness and prosperity if only we could be united and use all our resources for the common good of many.
            Though there is some truth in it, as a preacher of the gospel I was amazed by the lack of recognition of God in that effort. It is all about what I can do and we can do, but the truth of the matter is, can we really solve God sized problems with our feeble attempts without the help of God? I was saddened by the mere absence of recognizing the enormity of the problem and our inadequacy. I wondered, as a society why are we so adverse when it comes to seeking God.
            Whether we realize or not the world we are living in is becoming more and more pluralistic, where several “isms” such as atheism, syncretism, humanism, nihilism and pluralism seem to dictate to us how are we to live and conduct our affairs. In this context of a pluralistic society, how can we Christians stand strong, and boldly proclaim the Biblical truths? Such as:
            God is all powerful and He is ready to hear and deliver us when we cry out to Him for help. He so loved the world that he sent His only son Jesus Christ and who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting(abundant) life. Only by having faith in Christ, people can be saved etc. In the passage we read, the Apostle Peter was writing to the believers who were living in a hostile world, with conflicting ideologies that threatened their faith. II Peter 1:1-4
            Let me paint the picture of Christianity during AD 70. Christ had just died and rose again. A fledgling church began in Jerusalem and soon began to spread its wings to the rest of the world. Early Christians not only expected suffering but romanticized martyrdom. First Peter was written after July A.D 64 when the city of Rome burned. Initially, the Romans believed that Nero had set the city on fire probably because of his incredible lust to build.
            But Nero made Christians scapegoats, who were already hated because they were associated with Jews, and because they were seen as being hostile to the Roman culture. As a result, a vicious persecution against Christians began and soon spread throughout the Roman empire, touching places like Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, shaking the very foundations of Christianity. Is our present world any different than the world of early Christians?
            Let me paint a picture of persecuted Christians in our world today. “Christians today face worse persecution than at any time in history, yet the UN and the international community are largely ignoring them, Catholic Herald reports. In China, for example, Christians have come under increasing pressure as authorities try to force their religion to conform to Communist ideals. More than 2,000 churches have been demolished in the coastal province of Zhejiang, and police are still routinely detaining clergy.
            In Iraq, more than half of the country’s Christian population became internal refugees, while Syria’s second city of Aleppo, which until 2011 was home to the largest Christian community, saw numbers dropping from 150,000 to barely 35,000 by spring 2017 – a fall of more than 75 per cent.[1]  These are just only a few incidents, and there are much more going on in the world un noticed by the government and even by the media. How about in the US? We may not face such overt persecution but we have been engaged in an ideological warfare. The Christian faith has come under attack and has been found wanted.

            There have been numerous attempts to discredit the claims of Christ, inorder to devalue our Christian faith. In his book “Jesus Among Secular Gods” Ravi Zacharias notes how Richard Dawkins a very popular British atheist and the other of the God Delusion replied to a questioner in a gathering in Washington DC, on how one should respond to a person who believed in God, Dawkins replied saying, “Mock them, and Ridicule them.” In another interview, he said, “I am all for offending people’s religion. It should be offended at every opportunity.” Really?
            Intolerance, prejudice, disrespect, hatred and offense are all within the fruit of Dawkins’ philosophy. “On the other hand, we have another world-renowned British physicist and an atheist named Stephen Hawking, whose former wife Jane Hawkings was and is a devout Christian, an intellectual in her own right. Living side-by-side with one of the brightest minds in the world did not take away her deep belief in Christ and in the created order.”[2]
            What a fascinating testimony of Jane Hawkings? If Jane, could hold on to her faith in a culture where there is no regard whatsoever for God, we too can hold to our faith and succeed. The Apostle Peter wrote two letters, to the believers that were scattered all over the world. In the first letter Peter used Jesus’ own suffering as the cornerstone of his exhortation. His concern there was that Christians suffer as Christians not as lawbreakers.
            The second letter was written to take on a group of false teachers who were about to cause problems to the believers. He gave faith tools to the believers to stand strong in their faith and confront false teachers He encouraged the believers to take Jesus Christ as their sure foundation. Reading these two letters would help us glean principles to stand strong in our faith.

I. WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN CHRIST:
            The apostle Peter begins his letter with these words, Vs 1-2“Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the    righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Can you imagine what impact those opening verses may have had on the struggling, discouraged Christians community of the first Century?       Let’s look at a few truths from these verses: The faith we as Christians share today is the same faith that of the early apostles and Christ’s followers down through the centuries. It is precious! We did not obtain salvation by our good works, but His grace we have been saved. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith; therefore, we can stand firm on Him. Peter goes on to unfold what Christ has given to his people to live godly lives in a society that is becoming increasingly hostile and intolerant towards all those who want to sincerely follow Christ.
            Vs 3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Let me explain this verse: “His divine power” refers to Jesus Christ. Christ’s power as the source of all we need to live, persevere. Jesus has exhibited power all throughout his ministry. Luke 4:14, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.” Remember when the woman with the issue of bleeding touched the hem of his garment, “At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” It was the power of Jesus, that healed that woman. Mk 5:30. In Matthew 24:30, we read about Christ’s powerfully glorious return. “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”
            The same Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8. The apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that Christ was actually living in them. “For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you? 2 Corinthians 13:4-5
            How should we then live when we realize that Christ indeed is living in us by the power of His Holy Spirit? How should that truth effect the way we treat our bodies and relate with one another? Romans 8:10, “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” The Holy Spirit can give us the power to live our Christian lives vibrantly and productively. But it can only happen with determination. In Galatians 2:20 we read about Paul’s resolve. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
            Much can be said about Christ’s power, for now it is sufficient to know that Christ’s divine power has given as everything we need for life and godliness.  We don’t have to worry about our eternal salvation, Christ has given that to us, freely. Besides that, he also has given all the tools in our arsenal to stand strong, to grow in our faith, persevere under trails and to live God honoring productive lives. How do we know and learn to use all that Christ has given to us? All I want to say in closing is that, we can only know all that God has given to us and learn to exercise those tools through our (true) knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Knowledge is a key word in Second Peter. Amen















             

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[1] http://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/10/12/christians-facing-worst-persecution-in-history-report-says/

[2] Jesus Among Secular God, By Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale, 2017, page 19

REMAINING IN CHRIST

REMAINING IN CHRIST

John 15:1-7, 1/14/2018

Introduction: A teacher who quizzed a group of college-bound high school juniors and seniors on the Bible. The quiz preceded a Bible-as-literature course he planned to teach at the Newton (Massachusetts) High School, generally considered one of the best public schools in the nation. Among the most astounding findings he got from the students were: Sodom and Gomorrah were lovers. Jezebel was Ahab’s donkey. The four horsemen appeared on the Acropolis.

            The New Testament Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luther, and John. Eve was created from an apple. Jesus was baptized by Moses. The answer that took the cake was given by a fellow who was in the top 5 percent of the graduating class, academically. The question: What was Golgotha? The answer: Golgotha was the name of the giant who slew the apostle David.

            Isn’t it amazing how pitifully illiterate the younger generation is of the written Word of God? In a land filled with churches and chapels, temples and tabernacles, there is only an insignificant handful of fairly well-informed students of the Book of books. We have Scriptures in hardback, paperback, cloth, and leather. Versions and paraphrases too numerous to count, red-letter editions along with various sizes of print on the page. Bibles as big as a library dictionary and as small as one frame of microfilm, yet the years roll by as one generation after another pass on its biblical illiteracy.”[1]

            In order for us to avoid that embarrassment of Biblical illiteracy in the beginning of New Year we are encouraging you to read the Bible. It is not too late to pick up a One Year Bible reading plan and start reading, in one year you will complete reading through the whole Bible. 

More importantly, that you will continue to, abide or remain in Christ John 15:1-7

            One of the things we will discover in reading through the gospel of John is the boldness of Christ. He made several bold assertions about himself, one of such confident statements was, “I am the True vine…You are the branches.” This explains how Jesus chooses to manifest himself in our lives. How he wants us to develop a dependent relationship with him. How he wants us to remain in him so that we can bear much fruit for the glory of God. What does it mean to abide in Christ? How can we abide in Him? What does it look like to bear fruit for Him?

I REMAINING IN CHRIST

            Jesus reminded his disciples repeatedly about the importance of abiding in Him. In Greek the word Meno was used, it has a range of meanings: To abide, dwell, keep watch, endure, persevere, to stand firm, or steadfast, to remain alive, to remain etc. In English “remain” means; “continue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have ceased to exist.        Jesus wants us to abide or remain in Him because His Word endures forever. Consider these passages: Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

            God’s word will accomplish what He desires and achieves the purpose for which it is sent. God’s word is all powerful, to change the hard hearted, break the yoke of bondage, heal the sick, raise the dead, set people free from addictions, perform miracles, lead a skeptic to faith, encourage a troubled heart, comfort the grieving, encourage the fearful, lead the seekers and give hope to the hopeless. When I say God’s word whom am I talking about, is it the Bible?

            In the same Gospel of John 1^st Chapter we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”  In Vs 14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Who was John talking about here, it was none other than Jesus.

            Jesus is that all powerful, ever enduring, all convincing, all protecting, all providing and all convicting word of God. In the passage we read, Jesus is calling us to abide in Him, in other words study the Word. Jesus is personally not in our midst today, you and I can never know what Jesus is like, his person and work and his call on our lives without the Holy Scriptures. That is why it is important that we pick the Bible and start reading it reverently and with anticipation as it contains the very words of God. The more you read the more you will come to know God.

            The Apostle Paul an ardent reader of the ancient Hebrew scriptures, someone who was trained by a Harvard professor of his time, writing to his young disciple Timothy about the power and inspiration of Scriptures. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 

            I can testify firsthand how God’s word has changed my perspective, pursuits and gave purpose in life. I can build a strong and compelling argument on the power, and the impact of God’s word, or I can share the stories of changed lives by God’s word, but none of that is going to do anything to you, but when you begin to believe and put your trust in God, and His word, and appropriate his promises, apply his teaching then your life will be radically transformed.

II. HOW DO WE REMAIN IN CHRIST?

            In John 15: 7 we read, “If you abide (remain) in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Here Jesus is laying a path way of success and giving us a key for answers to our prayers.  What does it mean for us to remain in Him and let his words remain in us? Last fall we spent eight weeks studying the ten traits of a healthy disciple. One of the traits is that, “The healthy disciple pursues the daily disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and reflection in the quietness of one’s personal prayer closet.” Many would agree without hesitation the importance of discipline in life.  We know that discipline is indispensable if we want to succeed in any field of life.  A well-disciplined life is a well-ordered life.

            When we talk about the daily disciplines of prayer, bible study we can learn a lot from observing the lives of devoted Muslims. Recently I was given a book titled, “Seeking Allah & Finding Jesus,” it is the story of Nabeel Qureshi a devout Muslim, how he encountered Jesus by intensely studying the Bible. It is a fascinating story, if you want to understand and know what Muslims, believe, their traditions and how to share the gospel with them, I highly recommend this book. By reading it I was freshly challenged about my spiritual discipline of reading God’s word.  Let me share how disciplined the Muslims are when it comes to reading the Quran.  

            Muslims believe that every single word of the Quran was dictated verbatim by Allah, (An Arabic name for God) through the Archangel Gabriel, to Muhammad.  They believe that the Quran has always been exactly the same word for word, dot for dot.  Muslim parents teach their children to recite the portions of the Quran daily. By age six they will have read and recited the whole Quran which contains 114 chapters.  From that time every year during the thirty days of Ramadan they read the entire Quran. Can you imagine what a difference that would make if only Christians are as devoted and disciplined as Muslims when it comes to reading the Bible?

            I want to give a challenge to us this morning, how has been the discipline of your Bible reading? Is it about time that you take the bible from the shelf, dust it off and start reading it daily? Why daily? As how bread is food for our body, God’s word is food for our soul. Jesus said, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. How are we feeding your souls today? A few practical ways to read and apply the Bible.

            Approach God’s word with reverence and respect as it is precious and Holy. Choose a quiet place and a time, prayerfully open up the Bible and ask God to speak and guide you through the passages of scripture. With the illumination of the Holy Spirit discover life changing truth and principles. Ask God again to give you the grace of obedience to apply those truths and principles in your life and strength to live accordingly. If you practice this daily discipline of reading, praying, and meditating God word then you are indeed abiding in Christ.

            Let me close with this analogy from the parable of the soil and the seed. Our life is like the good soil and the seed is the word of God. When we accept Christ as our personal savior He plants the seed of salvation in us. We will nurture that seed through holding on to the Word, dwelling in it through our daily reading. That seed will grow and bear much fruit through our obedience to the truth.  Coming back to our theme verse, Jesus said, “If you abide (remain) in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

            Bearing much fruit for God means, letting Jesus shine through all the aspects of our lives. It means, loving our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, and forgiving them as Christ has forgiven us. It means sharing the good news of the gospel with our friends, neighbors and at our work place. All that, and much more can only be accomplished as we abide in Christ. My hope and prayer is that we will cultivate a well-disciplined life of reading The Bible daily in 2018.

           

                       

           

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[1] (Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc.)

PRAYING

PRAYING…  Matthew 7:7-11

          A true story: Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff. In spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took a hold on the rope, and started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda’s eye and knocked out her contact lens.

            Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn’t there. Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it.

            When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff. She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

            Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it!

            When she told her father the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don’t know why You want me to carry this thing. I can’t eat it, and it’s awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I’ll carry it for You." We need to remember these words when we are asked to do something that we feel is too heavy for us to do and or carry. "God, I don’t know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it’s awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will."

            God is our heavenly father who wants His children to come boldly to him and ask him to do anything in prayer, in the story it was finding a lost contact lens. What have you lost, that you need help finding it? What do you need restored in your life? What questions do you need answered? What miracles are you expecting? We will be joining in a 21 Days of Prayer initiative of CONVERGE, praying, for ourselves, our Church, our conference, our country and the world.

What better way to start the New Year than by PRAYING…? Matt 7:7-11

            On this first Sunday in 2018, we are looking at a portion of the first message ever delivered by Jesus Christ primarily to his disciples, famously referred as the sermon on the mount. After encouraging the disciples to cultivate, “The Beatitudes,” he reminded them of their ongoing relationship with the world, with one another above all with God

            He taught them, how to approach God through prayer. He said, pray then in this way, “Our father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.” This shows the kind of relationship that God desires to have with his children. He expects his children to relate to him as their heavenly father. Let’s keep this in mind as we explore the verses from Ch 7:7-11. 

I. ASK…SEEK…KNOCK

            Vs 7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Ask… Seek…Knock. Greek present imperatives are used here, indicating continual asking, seeking and knocking. In the Amplified version it reads, “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking reverently and the door will be opened to you.” This is to emphasize the fact that our prayer shouldn’t be a one-time thing, but should be persistent and constant.

            This reminds me of the wrestling match that Jacob had with the angel of God all night. When the angel said, let me go, for the day is breaking, Jacob said, I will not let You go unless you declare a blessing upon me. (Genesis 32:36). God spoke through Isaiah, what kind of attitude Israelites needed to have in prayer. “I’ve posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. Day and night, they keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember. They are to give him no peace until he does what he said, until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise.” Isaiah 62:6-7. When it comes to prayer, we need to develop such tenacity.

            There’s a supposedly true story of a Welsh woman who lived in a remote valley in Wales. She went to a great deal of trouble and expense to have electrical power installed in her home. However, after a couple of months, the electric company noticed she didn’t seem to use very much electricity at all. Thinking there might be a problem with the hookup, they sent a meter reader out to check on the matter. The man came to the door and said, "We’ve just checked your meter and it doesn’t seem that you’re using much electricity. Is there a problem?" "Oh no" she said. "We’re quite satisfied. We turn on the electric lights every night to see how to light our lamps and then we switch them off again."

            Why didn’t this woman make more use of her electricity? She believed in electricity, she believed the promises of the electric company when they told her about it she went to a great deal of trouble and expense to have her house wired for it, but she didn’t understand the potential of electricity in her home, and so she used its power sparingly.”[1] Similarly, there are people who use prayer very much the same way. They believe in prayer. They know of the promises God has made. They’ve even read and heard stories about answered prayers, but they use prayer’s power sparingly or give up soon before they see a breakthrough.

            Jesus illustrated this attitude of never giving up in prayer, in this parable. “In a certain city there was a judge who neither reverenced and feared God nor respected or considered man.  And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary. And for a time, he would not; but later he said to himself, though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect or have consideration for man, yet because this widow continues to bother me,

            I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me. Then the Lord said, listen to what the unjust judge says! And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? Luke 18:1-7This parable illustrates the fact that God answers persistent and constant prayers. But what kind of things can we ask God for?  

II. WHAT ARE WE TO ASK GOD IN PRAYER?

                Very early on in his ministry Jesus encouraged his disciples not to worry about three basic needs of all human beings, and they are food to eat, water to drink and clothes to wear. He assured the disciples that their heavenly father know that they need them and He is eager to provide those needs. In order to drive this point home, he asked them to consider the birds of the air how they don’t sow are reap, yet your heavenly father feeds them.

            Here is crucial lesson we all need to learn. If God could take care of the birds he can certainly take care of us his children. It is generally believed, especially in the field of medicine, that if a medicine works to cure a certain disease in animals they conclude that it would also work for humans. Similarly, if depending on God works for the animal kingdom, it would work us humans too. How do I know this dependency on God is working for animals?

            Psalm, 104 talks about how God is taking care of the basic needs of the animal world. Vs, 10-13, “God makes springs pour water into the ravines, they flow between the mountains giving water to the beasts and the wild donkeys.” Vs 14-15, He causes vegetation to grow for the cattle and all that the earth produces for man to cultivates, that he may bring forth food out of the earth, and wine that gladdens the heart of man.”

            Vs 21, “the young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.” Vs 27, “these all wait and are dependent upon You, that You may give them their food in due season.”  Vs 28-29, “When God gives food they gather it up from his hands. When he hides his face, they are troubled and dismayed. When he takes away their breath they die and return to their dust.” What an incredible lesson we can learn just by observing the animal world.

            Coming back to our passage, Jesus draws a parallel between human parents and our heavenly father by saying, Vs 9-10, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  Bread and fish were the basic staples of the Galilean diet. Most Jewish fathers were dependable providers for their children. When I joined YWAM in 1985 for the first time in my life I learned the truth that I can trust God for my survival. Example: God giving me bread.

            Back to our passage, in Vs 11, we will notice a shift taking place. Jesus was lifting the focus of his disciples from earthy and physical things to heavenly and spiritual things, Vs11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

            The emphasis here is, “how much more.” Jewish teachers (and some Gentiles) often used analogy arguments from “lesser to greater. When it comes to asking in the Bible we need to keep in mind that asking is not demanding, but it is begging. It is often, a lesser appealing to the greater or a lowly to the higher, a weaker to the powerful. The seeking is by the inferior from the superior, by a beggar from the giver, by the child from the parent by man from God.

            As we enter into our 21 Day of prayer focus, let’s remember that Jesus is inviting us to ask him anything in prayer and he will do it for us. Therefore, let’s boldly and confidently come before him in humility and reverence, not in a demanding way, remind him of his promises.

            In Philippians 4:6-8 we are told how are we to bring our prayers to God. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In 2018, like little children we will boldly come into our heavenly father’s presence through prayer. May we experience his power to heal, to provide, and to protect us in a fresh and renewed way. Let’s grow in our praying, recognizing that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Amen!

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[1] https://soundfaith.com/sermons/52355-the-power-of-persistent-prayer