The Kingdom Emphasis
.... Prayer is a time for both listening and speaking to God, and Jesus provided a concise model for the ‘agenda’ of this meeting (Matthew 6:9-13). Our previous posting addressed the opening item, which is a glorious appreciation of our relationship with the Father. Essentially it addresses the honor, praise and thankfulness that we should always show Him.
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.... At some point after this opening ceremony, you will begin to feel that a point of transition has been reached -- that God is ready to move on with the discussion. And this will bring us to the next item on His ‘agenda’:
.... At some point after this opening ceremony, you will begin to feel that a point of transition has been reached -- that God is ready to move on with the discussion. And this will bring us to the next item on His ‘agenda’:
.... "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
(Matthew 6:10)
.... After opening your prayer, but before discussing your personal requests, God wants you to discipline yourself to consider His priorities (Matthew 6:33). He always has something in mind for you that will help you grow. For now, if you are a fairly new Christian, He may simply want to focus on your getting to know Him better, but eventually He will include other things.
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.... For example, He may soon want you to share the gospel with someone at work, so He might prompt you to start praying for them now. This would be the place in your prayer for doing so. Or possibly He'd want you to encourage a friend or family member. If you are faithful in smaller tasks such as these, He will eventually give you greater things – even an area of special concern, a stewardship which is referred to as your calling. If you show Him that you are a faithful person, He could work through you in mighty ways!.... "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"
(Matthew 25:21)
.... God has a special role for each and every one of us, and you will eventually discover His role for you. Be it large or small, it is something you should discuss with Him regularly during this part of your prayer, always attempting to know His will so you can continue following Him. You may also intercede for other Christians in support of their callings during this time. And sometimes, these concerns will naturally intertwine.
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.... Thus, your calling is one part of a much bigger picture that includes the callings of all other Christians, even those from generations past. Ultimately, everything God does is designed to complete His will on the earth in preparation for His return..
.... Finally, once you believe that God has spoken to you about something He wants to do, or if He has shown you something He is willing to do for you, then you should shift your approach in addressing it. You should no longer persist in asking for it, because asking again is a back-door way of saying you don’t believe He’s acknowledged it after all. Why keep asking, if He has already answered? Instead, if you really believe He has issued the decree, then you should respond with a continued faith over it, praying for the manifestation of His word to come, that it may be done on earth as it is in heaven.
.... Finally, once you believe that God has spoken to you about something He wants to do, or if He has shown you something He is willing to do for you, then you should shift your approach in addressing it. You should no longer persist in asking for it, because asking again is a back-door way of saying you don’t believe He’s acknowledged it after all. Why keep asking, if He has already answered? Instead, if you really believe He has issued the decree, then you should respond with a continued faith over it, praying for the manifestation of His word to come, that it may be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Daily Bible Reading: Acts 22
posted by loren at 12:30 AM
5 Comments:
Let’s consider the example of Jesus once again. He constantly resorted to the Father in prayer. But Why? First, it was simply to spend time with the Father. But second, He was constantly submitting Himself and His calling to the Father. Remember that Jesus Himself knew everything, and even so He said: "whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak." (John 12:50)
By
loren, at 10/09/2005 7:05 PM
Hi Loren,
I like your discussion about prayer. You are a good writer and your blogspot is a thing of beauty.
One thing ... you said "If you show Him that you are a faithful person, He could work through you in mighty ways!"
I always find it so glorious to remember that even when we are not faithful, God will still use us. (Jonah, Gideon etc...) I just say that because I love the fact that the Lord doesn't ananlyze us at all times to determine whether we are His sons or not, whether we are thinking right or not ... He accepts us even when we fail or have bad attitudes. I LOVE THIS ABOUT HIM!!!!
(not that I'm trying to say we should go ahead and try to fail or embrace a bad attitude just because of His goodness i.e. Romans 6:1))
Bless you, Loren
By
Rose~, at 10/10/2005 11:58 AM
Hi Rose,
Thanks for the encouragement, and praise the Lord!
I meant that thought, primarily, in the sense of faithful stewardship:
"everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."
(Luke 12:48)
Therefore, before requiring much of us, He looks for our basic faithfulness in smaller things, to make sure He's not giving us an impossible task:
"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability"
(Matt 25:15)
If we can't handle those smaller things, it is too early to entrust us with something greater:
"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?"
(Luke 16:10-11)
But the same concept exists in other places, such as studying the Scriptures. This might apply to a preacher, for example:
"Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
(Mark 4:24-25)
God is there for us in all situations, even when we are unfaithful. But a 'calling' is the other side of that coin. Are WE going to be there for HIM? Only He can prepare and sustain us in this, and He seems to work His way up to it.
Hope that clarifies my thoughts.
By
loren, at 10/10/2005 12:24 PM
Shucks! You're right. I'm always looking for the easy way out! (not always). Maybe that is why someone might get stuck in a certain place in their spiritual life or their "calling" ... and then not move ahead.
Thanks for the call to greater faithfulness. My pastor had sort of a challenging message yesterday, too. (Maybe God is trying to tell me something.)
By
Rose~, at 10/10/2005 1:34 PM
Thanks Loren. I will pray for some more of my co-workers as you had put.
Also loved the quote so true in understanding the decrees of God. You said "Instead, if you really believe He has issued the decree, then you should pray for the manifestation of His word to come, that it may be done on earth as it is in heaven."
By
Shawn, at 10/10/2005 6:55 PM
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