Month: September 2021

Luke 11:1, NKJV

One very important aspect of any intimate relationship is effective communication. Believers communicate with God daily through prayer without ceasing.  Therefore, not only must our prayers be continuous but effective also. Effective prayers align with the will and nature of God (Scriptural-based) and not with our self-centered will and nature. There’s a popular idiomatic expression based on the word that says “If you pray, why worry, and if you worry, why pray.” Apostle Paul told the Philippian believers to not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let their requests be made known to God. When we pray, we pray in the name of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples in John 14:13-14 that whatever they asked in His name, that He would do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Jesus said that if we ask anything in His name, we can have it. So when believers pray according to God’s will, there’s no limit to our prayers being answered.

At the beginning of Luke 11, we find Jesus “praying in a certain place.” If Jesus prayed, we know we must pray too. Jesus prayed regularly, even at His baptism (3:21). Jesus’ disciples wanted a prayer life with the Father that emulated that of His. When Jesus ended His prayer, one of His disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (v.1b). What a powerful prayer request! There was no greater teacher to whom such a request for instruction could be made. The disciples had heard Jesus pray many times. They were certainly aware that His prayers were heard and never went unanswered. Scripture declares that “a wise man will hear and will increase learning.”

Notice two things about His disciple’s prayer in this verse – short and specific. God’s word is to be practical application in our daily living. The disciple’s request was according to the will of God, and his prayer was answered; Jesus taught them what we call “The Modal Prayer” or “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is an example of how to pray so that we will have effective communication with the Lord. Brothers and Sisters, Give God glory!

Deuteronomy 8:2-5

As the Israelites were poised to enter the land of promise for which God had been preparing them, Moses charged them to “remember.” They received the divine call to remember all of God’s past acts of redemption, and especially how He delivered them from Egyptian bondage (4:10; 8:2). Believers today are called to remember how we have been delivered from the bondage of sin. God will have us to go through wilderness experiences so that He might humble us and test us. On this walk of faith God wants to know what’s in our heart and whether or not we will obey Him.

 Moses reminded the Israelites of how gracious God had been in dealing with them in the wilderness as good reasons why they should obey His commands (vv. 3-5).   He humbled them by letting them go hungry, and then fed them manna, a food that was previously unknown to them and their ancestors. This taught them that man can’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (v.3). We might think that because we have all the material possessions we want or need, we are living. However, the Lord let Israel know that bread gave them physical life, but trusting Him and obeying His word gave them spiritual life.

 He reminded them that in forty years their clothes didn’t wear out, and their feet didn’t blister or swell (v.4). Jesus taught his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry. The Lord feeds the birds of the air, and clothes the lilies and the grass of the field; therefore, He will feed and clothe us. Moses told them to consider that just as a parent disciplined a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good (5). Our heavenly Father’s love for us is steadfast just as it was for Israel. He loved them and took them through a wilderness for forty years to humble them that they might learn to depend on Him. The humble child does taste the grace. Our heavenly Father chose Israel and proved His providence. He never left them nor did He ever forsake them. He performed many miracles to deliver them from Egyptian slavery, brought them through the Red Sea on dry land, fed them manna, and led them on foot through a wilderness in which He tested them for forty years. Let us accept our wilderness training without mumbling and grumbling. God wants to humble us and prove us for His use and glory.

Deuteronomy 8:1-2

God never does anything haphazardly. Everything has a purpose. He allowed the children of Israel to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Now that they are about to enter the promise land, Moses urged them to look back over their wilderness experience and remember how God had brought them all the way. Also they were to remember God’s past acts of redemption – how He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They were warned to “Be careful to obey all the commandments I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord promised to give your ancestors” (v.1). Like the children of Israel, we too must never forget how the Father redeemed us from the bondage of sin.

The journey through the wilderness was to humble God’s chosen people. The humble child tastes the grace. He tested them to “prove their character” (“to know what was in their heart,” KJV), and to find out whether or not they would obey his commands (v.2). Our all-knowing Father knew their heart, but His children must be tested. God cannot use us when we are stubborn and full of pride. However, He can use us when we are broken. Several Sundays ago Pastor Gregory Clayton (my pastor) preached “Broken and Blessed.” One thing he said was that sometime God has something for you, but He has to move something out of your life first.” God had to move pride out of the heart of the children of Israel. He broke their spirit of pride, and they were still blessed. Pride can hinder your remembrance of how God brought you. They would enter the promise land, receiving all God had promised if they were completely obedient to His word and kept all His commandments. Moses commanded them to remember how the Lord had brought them all the way these forty years through the wilderness. Do not forget! The Lord has brought you all the way.

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus, followed by a great crowd, was headed steadfastly to Jerusalem for that final Passover. He and his 12 disciples came to Jericho. As they were leaving, blind Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside asking for alms, which was not unusual at this time (v.46). When he heard that the passer-by was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, saying “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me” (v.47). Maybe he heard those in the crowd talking about this miracle-working Jesus who had previously healed a man who had been born blind or had heard about the many other miracles he had done. Remember, Bartimaeus was blind not deaf.

Bartimaeus was sharply reprimanded by many, telling him to be quiet.  Isn’t that just like the devil to try to block children of God from crying out to God?  Bartimaeus believed that Jesus had the power to make him see, so he cried out even louder, “Thou son of David, have mercy on me” (v.48). Even though the nation of Israel was blind to the Messiah’s presence, here was a blind Jew, who had true spiritual sight. Like Jesus’ disciples, many of us today can see physically but are spiritually blind.

Bartimaeus got Jesus’ attention. Jesus stopped and commanded his disciples to call him. They did, saying to him, “Be of good comfort, rise; he is calling you” (v.49). He threw aside his outer garment, got up, and came to Jesus. Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted him to do for him. His request was specific: “Lord, that I might receive my sight” (v.51b). And Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way; thy faith has made you whole. Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way” (v.52). Bartimaeus was desperate to see. One situation in our life might be more desperate than another. So, call out to God in desperation like Bartimaeus; you will get God’s attention and by faith receive what you want and need. Give God glory.

Matthew 6:25-34 (AMP)

Have you ever worried about material things God promised to provide? Perhaps you haven’t, but I have. Scripture says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Thank God we learned to trust Him and not depend on our own wisdom. We recognized more and more the absolute necessity of trusting our Creator, the One who promised to meet all our needs. Here Jesus taught the disciples not to worry (“take no thought,” KJV) about anything (vv. 25-34). We are to pray and petition the Father with thanksgiving, and continue making our specific requests known to Him in every situation (Philippians 4:6, AMP, paraphrased).

We are commanded to not worry about our life, what we will eat or drink, or about our body, what we will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing (v.25, paraphrased)? Our heavenly Father provides for all of His creation. “The birds of the air don’t sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns; yet our heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Aren’t you worth much more than they (v. 26)? Which of you can add one moment to his life by worrying” (v.27). He asked them why they were worried about clothes. “The lilies and wildflowers grow; they don’t labor, nor do they spin (v.28), and not even Solomon in all his glory dressed himself like one of these (v.29). But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith (v.30)! Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear’ (v.31)? For the Gentiles seek all these things; your heavenly Father knows that you need them (v.32). But first and most importantly, seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you also (v.33).

So do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (v.34). If, at any time, we do fall short and worry, stop right away and pray in the name of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will help us. Worry is Satan’s device to distract us from spiritual blessings. Don’t worry or be anxious; God promised to provide.