"Give Us This Day"-- The Prayer of Faith

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

 

When I was in grammar school, we prayed this every school day.  I am proud to say it was the United States of America saying to the Lord Jesus Christ, "We really appreciate you and the prayer you gave us."  No?  Well, I think somewhere along the line this was once in American thinking.  Then came O'Hara.  She hated Jesus Christ and His Church, and a new generations of Americans agreed with her.  Remember, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."  I question the, "good men," in that quote.  Do "good men" really do nothing?

 

But I digress.  This is not the thought which I woke up with this morning.  As I pray for my family, one of the things I pray is the prayer of Jesus.  I have noticed for years that our Lord did not teach us to pray, "Give us enough guaranteed food for the rest of our lives," nor, "Give us this month," nor even, "Give us this week."  Remember what happened to the manna when they kept if for more than a day.  Now we used to can and still do a little freezing of the summer corn we get.  That is not the point.  The point is any hoarding mentality which is motivated by fear and unbelief.  It drives the "guaranteed jobs" and "guaranteed income" demands of Americans.  Fear and unbelief, the two always go together.  Where unbelief is, there fear is sure to follow.  Later in the chapter, Jesus tells us, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'"  Here is the equation-- Unbelief=Worry+Fear.   

 

In April of 1986, we stepped out "in faith" to serve the Church in Eastern Europe.  We had no "guaranteed income," no regular pay check.  We had just bought a new house and had our three children in a Christian School, which meant tuition.  Some would call it irresponsible living.  This is in no way a boast.  I know my great frailty.  But Oswald Chambers once said that the way to live in Jesus Christ is to "obey with reckless abandon."  If it were I who were telling you today not to worry, you would still have plenty reason to worry.  It is our Lord Jesus Who tells us-------------- "Therefore do not be anxious (worry) for tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care for itself."  Remember, the prayer is, "daily bread." 

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for "daily" everything.  Amen.

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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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"And My Life"

"Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. (Jesus)

"18 year old, Peter Torjesen, when he heard the call to evangelize China on that day, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"  I have shared this witness before.  I have it written on my online calendar and move it from week to week to keep it ever before me. 

Many evangelicals believe that Jesus saves us "through faith,.. not of works, lest any man should boast."  But let me tell you; life itself is "by faith not of works-------------------lest any man should boast."  Jesus sends us out into life in general, not just the mission field, with the command, "But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you."  Faith, obedience accepts this and lives accordingly.  Peter's commitment that day was an incarnation of "seek first the kingdom of God"----------------------------------- "and my life."

Father, in Jesus' Name,--------------- "and my life."  Amen.
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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"See...The Word of God"

"O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah." (Jeremiah 2:31, ASV)

Yes, you read it correctly, "see...the word of God."  The word translated by some as, "consider," or, "heed," is the Hebrew word for, "see."  When we hear and "see...the word of God," it is incumbent upon us to worship and obey.  I have asserted many times that The Word of God is not primarily print on a page, but "living and active (powerful), and sharper than any two-edged sword."  This is the One Whom John saw in the Revelation--- "....And out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.  AND WHEN I SAW HIM, I FELL AT HIS FEET AS DEAD."

Any theology which is just "made up," is false doctrine.  I did an extensive paper in seminary on the "Word of God Theology."  The source was the "God-Breathed" Word, and substantiated by such great early Church Fathers as Ignatius and Irenaeus. While I was challenged greatly by the professor and fellow students, the professor admitted to its historic veracity.  But this morning I have had another confirmation of a great man of the Church concerning my Word of God
theology.  As it "happened," I have been reading a book entitled, The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers.  Listen to this: "The only way the words of God can be understood is by contact with the Word of God.  The connection between our Lord Himself, who is the Word, and His spoken words is so close that to divorce them is fatal."  I am indeed in good company!

"....So close that to divorce them is fatal"---- what a powerful warning to the twenty-first century Church.  The temptation faces you and me every day to "neglect so great a salvation."  Don't do it.  The "so great a salvation" which is ours is only in Jesus Christ and His Words.  If you attempt to bolster that salvation by any other means, be it ever so "spiritual," you are making a "fatal" mistake.  Embrace Jesus.  Embrace His Words.  The literal translation of Moses' warning and encouragement to the Jews in Deuteronomy 32:47 is, "For He is not a vain word for you; because He [is] alive, strong, can cause you to live!!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I have an answer for those who taunt and reproach me, for I lean on, rely on, and trust in Your word."  Amen.
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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Jesus Is Not, "Christ Back There"-He Is, "Christ In You"

"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may be with you for ever, (even) the Spirit of truth....He abideth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you desolate (orphaned, fatherless):  I will come to you." (John 14:16-18-- ASV)

 

Notice, "another Comforter."  Jesus had been the, "with you," Comforter.  With the coming of Pentecost and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Jesus was to become their, "in you," Comforter.  Pentecost was not only the "birth of the Church;" it was the birth of the, "Christ in you," reality.  His Presence is not a place, or a feeling, or arbitrary.  His Presence is, "He abides with you, and...in you.  I will not leave you"!    

 

The "What-Would-Jesus-Do," brand of Christianity has a faulty premise.  It suggests a sort of "copy cat" religion.  That is Islam, Buddhism, New Age, and all major religions of the world.  Jesus does not teach us that we are "the light of the world" by copying  His life.  That would be  nothing but "works" which is driven by ego.  Jesus teaches us, "I am [your] Life;" hence, the Church is only "the light of the world" to the degree Jesus is living and reigning in the Church and the Church is living obediently in Jesus.

 

The "faith of Jesus" (Christianity) is an, "in you," faith, not just a faith of Christ walking the Judean Hills 2000 years ago.  "WWJD" is Jesus "back there."  Conversely, the words of our text, "shall be in you," is Jesus in me, present in the Church, here, now.  The ASV is the best translation of Gal. 2:20, "I live in [the] faith, (the faith) which is in the Son of God."  The only way I can "live in" such a faith is not by looking back to His earthy walk 2000 years ago.  It is living in Jesus and Jesus living and reigning in me, now, here, eternally.  It is as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together in union with him."

 

If the faith of modern Christians today is that of copying the Life of Jesus, they allow the enemy to rob them of the glory of the Church, "the hope of glory," i.e., "Christ in you."  If you and I go out in any given day and try to "act" like Christians, we will fail.  If, however, we choose to live, "whether we are awake or asleep, we...live together in union with Him"---------success!

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, live in and through me today, but may the "in" be not be overshadowed by the "through."  Amen.

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* I will be meeting with a representative of the "Volunteers for Israel" program this coming Sunday, August 9

* Up to date prophetic news at: www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

 

 Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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