Jesus Teaches About Prayer

Matthew 6:5,6. Some people, especially the religious leaders, wanted to be seen as ‘’holy’’, and public prayer was one way to get attention. Jesus saw through their self-righteous acts, however, and taught that the essence of prayer is not public style but private communication with God. There is a place for public prayer, but to pray only where others will notice you indicates that your real audience is not God. Some have concluded that Jesus’ directions about private prayer call into question all public prayer. Jesus’ own practice indicates this wasn’t his intention. The Gospels record Jesus at prayer both privately and publicly. Again, Jesus was drawing attention to the motives behind actions. The point really wasn’t a choice between public and private prayer but between heartfelt and hypocritical prayer. When asked to pray in public, focus on addressing God, not on how you’re coming across to others.
Matthew 6:7,8. Repeating the same words over and over like a magic incantation is no way to ensure that God will hear your prayer. It’s not wrong to come to God many times with the same requests, Jesus encourages persistent prayer. But he condemns the shallow repetition of words that are offered with a sincere heart. We can never pray to much if our prayers are honest and sincere. Before you start to pray, make sure you mean what you say.
Matthew 6: 9. This is often called the Lord’s Prayer because Jesus gave it to the disciples as a model for them (and us) to keep in mind as we pray. Jesus provided a pattern to be imitated as well as duplicated. We should praise God, pray for his work in the world, pray for our daily needs, and pray for help in our daily struggles. To what extent do you use the items in the Lord’s Prayer to guide your own prayer times?
The phrase ‘’Our Father in heaven’’ indicates that God is not only majestic and holy, but also personal and loving. The first line of this model prayer is a statement of praise and a commitment to hallow or honor, God’s holy name. We can honor God’s name by being careful to use it respectfully. IF WE USE God’s name lightly, we aren’t remembering God’s holiness.
Matthew 6:10,11. The phrase ’’Your Kingdom Come’’ is a reference to God’s spiritual reign, not Israel’s freedom from Rome. God’s kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham, is present in Christ’s reign in believer’s heart and will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and earth. ( Revelation 21:1 ).
When we pray ‘’Your Will Be Done’’, we are not resigning ourselves to fate, but praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world as well as in the next. And how does God accomplish his will on earth? He does it largely thru people willing to obey him. this part of the prayer allows us to offer ourselves as doers of God’s will, asking him to guide, lead and give us the means to accomplish his purpose.
Matthew 6: 11,13. When we pray ‘’Give us today our daily bread’’ we are acknowledging that God is our sustainer and provider. It is a misconception to think that we provide for our needs ourselves. We must trust God daily to provide what he knows we need. God doesn’t lead us into temptations, but sometimes he allows us to be tested by them. As disciples, we should pray to be delivered from these trying times and for deliverance from Satan and his deceit. All Christians struggle with temptation. Sometimes it is so subtle that we don’t even realize what is happening to us. God has promised that he wont allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear ( 1 Corinthians 10:13 ). Ask God to help you recognize temptation and to give you strength to overcome it and choose God’s way instead.
Matthew 6: 14,15. Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness, if we refuse to forgive others, God will refuse to forgive us. Why? Because when we don’t forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. God ‘s forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means. It is easy to ask God for forgiveness, but difficult to grant it to others. Whenever we ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves, ‘’Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?


Forgiveness is giving up the right to punish another person…………

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GZ

Nehemiah Returns To Jerusalem

Nehemiah 1: 1. Nehemiah wasn’t the first of the exiles to return to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel had led the first group back in 538 B.C., more than 90 years earlier. Ezra followed with a second group in 458 B.C., and here Nehemiah was ready to lead the third major return to Jerusalem. When he arrived after a three month journey, he saw the completed temple and became acquainted with others who had returned to their homeland.
But Nehemiah also found a disorganized group of people and a defenseless city with no walls to protect it. Before the exile , Israel had its own language , king, army, and identity. At this time it had none of these. What the Jews lacked most was Leadership, there was no one to show them where to start and what direction to take as they tried to rebuild their city. As soon as he arrived he began a back to basics program. He helped care for the peoples physical needs by setting a fair system of government and rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall’s. He also cared for their spiritual needs by rebuilding broken lives. Nehemiah is a model of committed, God-honoring leadership and this book contains many useful lessons for today.
Nehemiah 1: 2. Nehemiah was concerned about Jerusalem because it was the Jews’ holy city. As Judah’s capital city, it represented Jewish national identity, and it was blessed with God’s special presence in the temple. Nehemiah loved his homeland even though he had lived his whole life in Babylon. He wanted to return to Jerusalem to reunite the Jews and to remove the shame of Jerusalem’s broken down walls. This would bring glory to God and restore the reality and power of God’s presence among his people.
Nehemiah 1:4. Nehemiah broke down and wept when he heard that Jerusalem’s wall’s still had not been rebuilt. Why did this upset him? Wall’s mean little in most present day cities, but in Nehemiah’s day they were as essential as we would consider electrical power or a police force. They offered safety from raids and symbolized strength and peace. Nehemiah also mourned for his people , the Jews, who had been stifled by a previous edict that had kept them from rebuilding their walls. Nehemiah put all his resources of knowledge, experience, and organization into determining what should be done. When tragic news comes to you, first pray. Then seek ways to move beyond grief to specific action that helps those who need it
Nehemiah 1:5. Nehemiah fasted and prayed for several days , expressing his sorrow for Israel’s sin and his desire that Jerusalem would again come alive with the worship of the one true God. Nehemiah demonstrated the elements of effective prayer, praise, thanksgiving, repentance, specific request and commitment. When God’s people pray , difficult decisions fall into proper perspective , and appropriate actions follow.
Nehemiah 1: 11. Nehemiah was in the unique position to speak to the King. He was the trusted cupbearer who ensured the safety and quality of the King’s food and drink. Nehemiah was concerned, prayful and prepared as he looked for the right opportunity to tell the King about God’s people. Each of us is unique and capable of serving no matter what our position. Just as Nehemiah used his place as the King’s trusted servant to intercede for his people, we can use our present positions to serve God. Nehemiah prayed for success in this venture, not just for the strength to cope with his problems. Yet the success he prayed was not for personal advantage, position or acclaim. He requested success for God’s work. When God’s purposes are at work , don’t hesitate to ask for success.


How often do you ask God for help when under pressure?


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GZ