Lord, Teach Us To Pray

(Luke 11:1)

By: Keith McNeely

            Jesus’ disciples wisely realized their need to learn to pray, emphasizing our opportunity to learn from the Lord on this vital topic as well.  Notice the simple, yet sublime lessons Jesus here teaches on prayer.

            “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Luke 11:2) Jesus addressed the Father as “Our Father” indicating the family concept. While growing up I could, and would, make most any request of my earthly father. Looking back, I realize he was one on whom I could depend, likewise, our heavenly Father is dependable. Further, “Hallowed” is a word showing respect; thus, Jesus teaches us to depend on, and respect our heavenly Father in prayer.

            “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven” Of course, the kingdom is synonymous with the church (Matthew 16:18-19). Today we can continue the sentiment the Lord suggested in our prayers by continuing to pray for the continued wellbeing and expansion of His Kingdom.

            “Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (Luke 11:3, 4).  Jesus here advises that our prayers have a regular and recurring flavor, and when they do they will deal with our daily needs. Our daily needs are not complex, but rather simple, yet Jesus implies that our Heavenly Father has interest in even our simple, every day needs.

            We thus can learn three short lessons to remember as we endeavor to learn to improve our prayers: first, to keep them simple and to the point; second, to honor God; and third to be based on our needs (bread, forgiveness and deliverance).

There are Different Kinds of Works

By: Garland Robinson

            There are six classes of works in the New Testament. They are vastly different in nature and results.

            There are works of the flesh. These are works associated with or pertaining to the flesh. They are carnal – immoral and wicked deeds that men do. Some of these are listed in Galatians 5:19-21. There are a number of such lists in the New Testament. Doing these works prevent one from going to heaven.

            There are works of Satan or works of darkness. We read of these in 1 John 3:8 and Romans 13:12. These are works that originated with Satan but are performed by man.

            There are works of the Law of Moses. These works do not justify in the sight of God (Romans 3:20). They were never designed to save from sin. They were to identify, magnify and condemn sin.

            There are works of moral goodness. These are works of righteousness that men do (Titus 3:5). The world recognizes these as worthwhile and helpful to others; but, these works, of themselves, have no power to save from sin.

            There are works of man’s righteousness (Romans 10:1-3). They were designed by man to draw one closer to God. Traditions of men were often held in higher regard than God’s law. The Jews trusted in them to save, but they could not. Man cannot please God by doing his own work(s).

            There are works of God. These are works that God designed and commands that men do. They are sometimes called “works of faith” (1 Thessalonians 1:3) or “faith which worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6). Even “faith” is called a work of God (John 6:29). Faith is God’s will, His work. It is a work He commands man to do. Man did not design it, God did. A living, active, genuine, saving faith entails all of God’s requirements in order for one to be saved: repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:83), confession of Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10) and water baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). Man is saved by working God’s works.

            Men are saved by the works of God (James 2:17-26). God offers salvation to all men (Matthew 11:28-30; Titus 2:11-12). Man’s part is to accept and comply with the works that God has commanded we do. When performed in faith, they are well “pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22)

Blessed Assurance

By: Gary Stanton

            How truly pitiful it is for some not to have that “Blessed Assurance”. The question that comes to mind is, “Does God want man to have blessed assurance or not”? If it is God’s will for us to have blessed assurance, but somehow it is beyond our ability, then we must question the power and ability of God to do what He wants to do. On the other hand, if it is not God’s will that we have blessed assurance, then God’s goodness is impugned and man is left to roam aimlessly on the sea of despair. God does desire that man have blessed assurance, and God has the power to see that man has it. The book of 1 John could be called the book of “Blessed Assurance.” The book contains many of God’s assurances unto man. Let’s notice the assurance that God has given man in 1 John.

            We can know God. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3). We can know God if we are willing to know God. Anyone who chooses not to know God is in a hopeless position, a position surely without blessed assurance. We can have a knowledge of God if we will do what God says, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4)

            We can know that we are in Christ. “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked” (1 John 2:5, 6) There should not be any doubt as to whether or not we are in Christ. We can know for sure that we are in Christ when we do what His word says.

            We can know that we are saved. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). God does not expect us to go through life not knowing if we are lost or saved. He has made it possible for us to know that we have eternal life. Eternal life is a gift of God which He gave unto man by means of His Son (1 John 5:11-12). The gift of eternal life is given to those who are obedient unto God (2 Thess. 1:7-9; 1 John 1:7). We can know now that we are saved, we can know now that we have done what God commanded us to do, and we can know that we have done that with the right attitude. It is not arrogance to say that we know that we have eternal life when we have done what the Lord commanded in order to be saved.