The Language of Spiritual Friendship

The Language of Friendship

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdoms on Earth

Christians and Governments
Text: Rom. 13:1-7

Sermon statement
Christians are to take care of the Kingdom of Heaven and let God take care of the kingdoms on earth.

Introduction

On 9th July, Bersih 2.0- a coalition of NGOs and opposition political parties held a massive rally at the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. This is held in check by the Malaysian police with tear gas and water cannons.

The Bersih 2.0’s manifest is
“Only when elections are clean and fair, can citizens be real masters of their own destiny and expect holders of public office to act accountably and effectively.”

BERSIH started out as the Joint Action Committee for Electoral Reform, which was formed in July 2005, and the coalition’s objective was to push for a thorough reform of the electoral process in Malaysia.

Bersih 2.0′s call consist of 8 points. In summary, they are:

1. Clean the electoral roll
2. Reform postal ballot
3. Use of indelible ink
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
5. Free and fair access to media
6. Strengthen public institutions
7. Stop corruption
8. Stop dirty politics

Many Christians took part in this rally.

This is a good opportunity for us to re-examine what is the relation of Christians and the government of the countries they are staying in. The apostle Paul gives us some quidelines.

Romans 13:1-7
RO 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

RO 13:6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Context of Romans 13:1-7
 Written by Paul in Corinth to the Christians in Rome in the winter of AD 56/57.
 Roman government still persecuting Christians.
 Many of the Christians in Rome have been exiled (leaving behind their homes and business).
 Nero is the emperor.
 Emperor worship still taking place.

If you think this is only Paul’s view, Peter gives a similar view.

1 Peter 2:13-17
1PE 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Jesus did not come to overthrow the existing political order in spite of the prevailing view at that time that the Messiah will be a political leader. Jesus came to herald in the kingdom of heaven amongst the kingdoms of earth. It must be in this context that we understand Paul and Peter views of government and authorities over us.

Rom. 13:1-7: This passage teaches five vital principles concerning the Christian’s response to the government:

A. The Government is

1. by divine decree (v.1b).

2. an institution of God (v.2a).

3. serves to promote good (vv.3b-4a) and restrain evil (v.3a, 4b).

B. The Christian is

4. to submit through their conscience (v.5).

5. to pay taxes and whatever is due to the government (v.6,7).


1. Government is by divine decree (v.1 b.)

v.1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

First Paul says that human government is ordained by God for the benefit of society. In whatever forms it exists, civil authority derives directly from God.

6 types of government:

i. Perfect government will only come when Jesus the King returns to establish His Kingdom in all its fullness.
ii. Just government is possible where full participatory democracy is in bloom so that people elect good leaders and replace them as necessary.
iii. Mediocre government takes place if less than the best people are chosen to rule.
iv. Ineffective government happens in places where rulers are changed too frequently or the people are ungovernable for some reason.
v. Corrupt government develops when rulers assume public office mainly for private gain.
vi. Wicked government ensures when those in authority are particularly wicked, unjust and oppressive.

Like marriage, it is a universal institution of God, regardless of place, culture, race or any other circumstances.

There is no civil authority except from God. No matter what forms it takes, no matter where it is, no matter what ideology, no human government that has existed, existing or will exist , all government are under the sovereign authority of God. The entire world, everything in the heavens, on earth and under the earth are subject to the Creator. Without exception, the power that any person, group or society may possess is divinely given. How well or poorly this power is used is another matter. Paul’s point here is that this power has only one source – God.

Yet in his divine wisdom, God has permitted Satan to have vast but limited power over the world and the affairs of men. And this include governments. Many if not most government are under the influence of Satan and are a means of promoting and perpetuating satanic activity. Governments like other institutions on earth at this moments are under powers, principalities and dominions.

Governments have authority by divine decree. The autocratic, ruthless and demonic regimes of Adolf Hilter, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Tse Tung were no exceptions. The equally ruthless empires of ancient Assyria and Babylon were no exceptions. The Roman empire, ruled by caesars who declared themselves god are no exception.

2. Government is an institution of God. Rebellion to Government is rebellion against God (v.2a)

v.2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

The logical conclusion we can draw is that since government is an institution of God. Any rebellion against a government is a rebellion against God.

The seriousness in which God takes rebellion is illustrated in the book of Numbers. God has chosen Moses not only to be the law-giver but also to be the human leader of Israel to lead them from Egypt, through the wilderness to the Promised land.

Numbers 16: 1-3 Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebelled against Moses and Aaron. “ With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who has been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”…v.13 “Isn’t enough that you have brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord over us?” They are questioning Moses and Aaron’s authority. And God was so angry that “the ground under them split apart and swallowed Korah’s men and their household and fire came out of the Lord and consumed 250 rebels”.

The next day, the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. They were still defiant. The Lord then send a plague which killed 14,700 people (v.49). Had not Aaron made atonement, the whole community would have perished!

God takes seriously any rebellion against those who challenge His appointed authority.

3. Government serves to promote good (vv.3b-4a) and restrain evil (v.3a, 4b)

vv.3,4 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Paul then described the purpose of government. The government has a dual purpose- to promote good and restrain evil. Government is the God ordained vehicle to promote good and restrain evil in human society.


i. Promote good

To promote good is to promote order. The opposite of order is anarchy. Anarchy means there is no rules and everyone does whatever they want. Look at Indonesia when the government could not maintain order- the killing and raping, the destruction of properties. Look at Bosnia and Kosovo. Judges 21:25 “ In those days Israel has no king; everyone did as he saw fit “(NIV)

ii. Restrain evil

In order to promote and protect the good in society, human government must punish evil. Consequently, those who do what is evil have reason to be afraid. Because the sword is an instrument of death, the weapon here symbolized the right of civil government to inflict punishment, including the death penalty for crimes that deserve it.

To restrain evil, there must be a code of law that applies equally to everybody, rich or poor, black or white, educated or illiterate. No one can be above the law.

Interestingly, rulers are called God’s servant. This means that our Prime Minister is God’s servant whether he knows it or not and he is carrying out God’s divine purpose whether he acknowledges it or not.

4. Christian to submit through conscience (v.5)

v. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

Does vv.1-4 means that Christians must submit to whatever government they are under – whether good or bad?

Submit versus obey

v.5 comments on the above section on government. Here Paul is saying that the authority given to human government is not absolute. Submission is based on conscience. Conscience here refers to the Christian’s knowledge of God’s will and purposes.

When Jesus was asked a trick question about paying tax, He replied, “ Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17)

So what are the limitations to the authority of human government?

When it is contrary to God’s law. Disobedience to God’s Word.
When rulers give orders which are contrary to God’s law, for example, by ordering the killing of newborns (Exodus 1)

Exod. 1:17-20
17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"

EX 1:19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."

EX 1:20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

Dan. 1:12-15
DA 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."

DA 1:11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.


DA 1:15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

DA 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

Acts 4:18-20
AC 4:18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Christians must say: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)


5. Christian is to pay taxes and whatever is due (v.6,7)

vv.6,7 This is also why you pay taxes, for authorities are God’s servants, who gives their full time in governing. Give everyone what you owe him; if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor then honor.

No one enjoys paying tax. But taxes are part of everyday life and we as Christians must pay our taxes.


When God established the nation of Israel, He also instituted a taxation system:

i. Tithe or a tenth (Lev 27:30) This tithe is given to the support of the priestly tribe of Levite which had no land allocated to it and has no support. It is also called the Levite’s tithe.
ii. Annual Festival Tithe. Used for sacrifices, for supporting the tabernacle and then the temple, for cultivating social and cultural life, and for fostering national unity (Deut. 12:10-19)
iii. Triennial Tithe. Levied every three years (about 3.3% per annum) to help the aliens, the orphans and the widows.
iv. Annual half-shekel Tax. Levied on every male Israelite twenty years and above as a contribution to the Lord.(Ex 30:14)
v. At the end of every harvest, Jews were required to leave some of their crops unharvested, allowing the remainder to be gleaned by the poor (Lev 19:10)
vi. Every seventh year, cultivated land is to be left fallow. Whatever crop that comes up is to be left for the poor and what remained was left for livestock to each.

The total of all these six taxes, all of which are mandately amounted to 24% per year. The taxes are for governmental administrative costs, religious costs and social welfare.

Lessons for us

Titus 3:1-2
TIT 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

1 Thess. 4:11-12
1TH 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

We as Christians are required to give the government their due.

i. Taxes
ii. Services

Some government may require some additional services. Singapore have compulsory national service for their youth. Malaysia requires all doctors to do three years of compulsory service after their housemanship.

iii. Prayers

We are required to pray for our government whether we like it or not. Jeremiah in writing to the Jews in exile in Jer. 29:7-9

7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.

iv. Nation building

And work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray to the Lord for that city where you are held captive, for if Babylon has peace, so will you.” (NLT)

Mind you, this is the Babylon that destroyed the Temple and carried them into slavery and exile. Yet Jeremiah did not ask them to rebel or pray for God’s vengeance on Babylon. Instead he asked them to pray for the prosperity of Babylon.

iv. Election

The new element that we now have which Paul and the Roman Christians do not have is called participatory democracy. Abraham Lincoln’s dictum of a government by the people, of the people and for the people is now everywhere embraced, in theory if not in practice. In a democracy, we have the awesome privilege of choosing those who rule over us.

What about socio-political activities?

If we are to discern history, different governments except for the prefect government carry within them the seeds of their own destruction. All the great empires fell. Assyrian, Babylon, Rome, the Third Reich, USSR and certain form of Chinese communism all crumpled under their own corruption and evil. Is that due to the actions and street demonstrations of their people? Maybe.

I believe more in a sovereign God who lift up and destroy nations in his own perfect timing. As a student of history, I sometimes think that people movement that causes regime change by means of anarchy causes more harm and hardships to the people themselves, often innocent people. I also see that given enough time, most evil regimes will fall by the weight of their own corruption.

I often find that as Christians, we are often selective in reading and obeying the Scripture. We often take what we like and disregard what we do not. Take for example the Bersih 2.0 rally. I wonder how we can apply Romans 13:1-7 if we take part in it.

 The call for a clean and transparent electorate is good
 It is plainly an illegal gathering
 It brought the nation capital to a standstill causing inconvenience to thousands and loss of income to many
 It might have led to violence, injuries, deaths and destruction of properties
 The Agong has already responded
 The public is already aware of the issues due to the actions of the government
 Indications that it is subject to manipulation by others with their own agenda

What is the Christian ethical response to this rally? What will Jesus do (WWJD)?

I myself do not have a ready answer to this. How to reconcile Rom.13:1-7 and participation in a rally such as this? Honestly, I have no idea what Jesus would have done. What I can do is to continue to think and pray about it. Hopefully the Holy Spirit will grant me wisdom when someone decide to organise a similar rally in the future.

Conclusion

Romans 13:1-7 gives us some indication of the relation of Christians and their governments.

A. The Government is

1. by divine decree (v.1b).

2. an institution of God (v.2a).

3. serves to promote good (vv.3b-4a) and restrain evil (v.3a, 4b).

B. The Christian is

4. to submit through their conscience (v.5).

5. to pay taxes and whatever is due to the government (v.6,7).

It teaches that government is not a necessary evil that we Christians have to endure. It is appointed by God and is part of His divine plan. Christians are to take care of the Kingdom of Heaven and let God take care of the kingdoms on earth.

Soli Deo Gloria

What is Spiritual Formation?

Praying the Jesus Way

Praying the Jesus Way

Matthew 6:5-8

Praying the Jesus Way

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

Sermon Statement

Praying the Jesus way requires us to be real (authentic) pray-ers, totally committed to the act of praying. This act of praying is in communion with God, and in asking Him for our needs.

Sermon Text (Matthew 6:5-8)

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  6 But when you pray, go into your room (closet), close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Introduction

Prayer is a complex yet simple subject. Prayer is complex because there are so many layers of truth about it. There are numerous books on prayers and there are also conferences and workshop you can sign up to learn about prayer. Yet prayer is simple because it is a relationship with God. So simple that even children can do it. So complex that even theologians cannot understand it.

Some disturbing truths about prayers

• Not all prayers is good and pleasing to God

The teaching of the Pharisees includes a prayer with these words: “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast not made me a gentile, … a slave, … a woman” which is quite disturbing on many levels.

• Time spent in prayer is not necessary well spent

Prayers that include telling God what to do, teaching God about himself asking for impossible things such as asking God to reverse time.

• God answers the prayers of Christians and non-Christians
• For a Christian, praying should be as natural as breathing

Reformed and Anglican theologian J.I.Packer writes about this in his book, Growing in Christ:

“It is not too much to say that God made us to pray; that prayer is (not the easiest, but) the most natural activity in which we ever engage; and that prayer is the measure of us all in God’s sight.”

How to Pray the Jesus Way

• He begins by asking us to be real (authentic) pray-er (v.5)
• He describes the place for us to pray (v.6)
• He describes the wrong way to pray (v.7)
• He tells us the way (v.8-13)

Real (authentic) Pray-er (v.5)

• Avoid praying like hypocrites

The word hypocrite is a word taken from the Greek drama. It is an actor who covered his face with a mask as he portrayed a character which is a false character, not like who the character really is. We call it “putting on a false front.” It hides our real character.

Hypocrites in the New Testament often describe a person who makes a pretense of holiness while hiding their true nature.

In true prayer as Jesus is teaching it, we must not be hypocrites because true prayer must be REAL. Hypocrites are not real.

• Hypocrites is always marked by the flesh
• Hypocrites are self-centered

Self-promotion, courting public opinion, condemning others

• Hypocrites glorifies in a reputation of holiness rather than being holy

(Prov.12:22)

The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. 

(Prov. 15:8)

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. 

Closet Praying (v.6)

• In closet prayer we get away from people
• In closet prayer we get away from the world
• In closet prayer we get away from other distractions
• In closet prayer we set aside our mental distractions
• In closet prayer we prepare our hearts for communion

There are two keys to closet praying. One is the preparing our hearts. We need to get away from people, the world, different types of distractions so that we can prepare our hearts.

Ezra is so highly regarded by the Jewish rabbis that they suggest that if God have not given the law to Moses, He would have given it to Ezra. These rabbis ranked Ezra second only to Moses. Why such a high ranking? Ezra 7:10 gives us a clue.

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel (NKJ).

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (NIV).

The second key to closet prayer is also setting time aside to pray. It is so easy not have time to pray because our schedule is so full. We need to make an intentional effort to set aside block of time every day so that we can pray or what is called closet prayer. Martin Luther is well known to have said he was going to have a busy day ahead so he had to set aside three hours to pray!

We must intentionally set aside time for prayer. Abraham, Moses, Daniel and Jesus of Nazareth are all busy people. The biblical record shows that they are also men of prayer.

Genesis 18: 22

The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD

Exodus 3:1-3

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.  3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

Daniel 6:10

 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed

What about the Christians?

• Charles Simeon devoted the hours from four till eight in the morning to God.
• John Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer. He also began at four in the morning.
• Luther said: "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer."

What about Public Prayers?

The teaching here is not against public prayers. It is against hypocrites who make a show of being holiness by their praying. Public or corporate prayer is an important part of  spiritual life of the church as is private prayer an important part of our spiritual life.

o       Jesus called the Temple his “Father’s house” and a “house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13)

o       Jesus prayed in the sight of others (Lk.3:21; 10:21; 11:1)

o       Early church had public meetings (Acts 4:24-31; 12:5-12)

o       Paul talked about his prayers (Col. 2:1; Rom. 15:30; Rom. 9:2)

The Wrong Way to Pray (v.7)

• Avoid praying like pagans

• Use idle, mechanical or “magic” words
• Use of secret or power word
• mantra
• Vain repetitions or long and verbose

True or authentic prayer is often brief. I love this story about John Hyde of India also known as “Praying Hyde.”  John Nelson Hyde (November 9, 1865-February 17, 1912) was an American missionary who preached in the Punjab.

“The American evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman told about meeting John Hyde. Knowing Hyde’s power in prayer, Chapman asked the great prayer warrior to pray for him. For five minutes they knelt together and Hyde did not utter a word. Then he lifted his face to heaven and utters just two words, “O God.” He relapsed into silent meditation for some time and then began to pray. Chapman said that Hyde prayed such a prayer for him as he had never heard before, and that God answered the petitions of that prayer in such a way that permanently changed his ministry. Hyde took time to have the glory of God fill his soul so that when he made his request it was effective because it was a prayer of faith.” (Alan Cairns, The Lord’s Prayer, Belfast: Ambassador Publications, 2004, 67)

• Alteration of consciousness
• Do not empty our mind like Buddhist meditations
• Cause a trance like in 1 Kings 18:25-29 concerning the challenge of Baal priests and Elijah on Mount Carmel.

This is a power encounter. There have been no rain on Samaria (Northern Kingdom) for three and a half year and the challenge is whose God is more powerful. Yahweh or Baal. The more powerful one will of course make rain when called upon by their followers.

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”  26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”  28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.  29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Praying the Jesus Way (v.8ff)

• Prayer is fellowship with God
• He will gives us what we need
• Prayer is asking
• Asking must be specific
• He will restores what is lost
• He restores our souls
• He restores the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)
• He restores the peace we have lost through sin
• He acknowledges that we are His people
• He gives us a foretaste of the Day of Judgment

David equate God’s refusal to answer his prayer with God’s rejection on Judgment Day (Psalm 28:1) ^

To you I call, O LORD my Rock; Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

Isaiah 3:10

Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

Conclusion

How then shall we pray?

Praying the Jesus way requires us to be real (authentic) pray-ers, totally committed to the act of praying. This act of praying is in communion with God, and in asking Him for our needs.

Soli Deo Gloria

The Rainbow of Prayer

The Rainbow of Prayer

The Dynamic Activities of the Lord’s Prayer

“Pray then like this…”

Text: Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11: 2-4

The rainbow of prayer

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

Sermon Statement

Praying the Lord’s Prayer is approaching God in a direct and intimate way; adoring the Creator and the Almighty; acknowledging His work and worth in praise and worship; accepting from God’s one’s own situation as He has shaped it; admitting sin and seeking pardon; asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others; and adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin.

I.                   The Format of the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord's Prayer is the model of prayer that Jesus taught us, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.  It is presented here in traditional and modern language:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen	Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Now and for ever. Amen

We always assume that the doxology is part of the Lord’s Prayer. However reading Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11: 2-4 shows otherwise.

Matthew 6:9-13	Luke 11:2-4
MT 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray:   " `Our Father in heaven,   hallowed be your name,   MT 6:10 your kingdom come,   your will be done     on earth as it is in heaven.   MT 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.   MT 6:12 Forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors.   MT 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,   but deliver us from the evil one. '	LK 11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say:   " `Father,   hallowed be your name,   your kingdom come.   LK 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread.   LK 11:4 Forgive us our sins,     for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.   And lead us not into temptation. ' "

Sermon on the mountain	Sermon on the plains
Audience: Jews	Audience: Gentile
The Righteousness of God supersede our behaviour	The Grace of God to save
“how you should pray” in the Sermon on the Mount	“when you pray” in response to the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray

In some ancient and many later MSS of Mt. 6:13 a doxology follows. In the AV it reads, ‘For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’ Although the most authoritative MSS do not have the doxology, it has been used in the Christian church from the earliest times (cf. the Didache and the Western Text [Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (696). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.]

II.                Comments about the Lord’s Prayer

• the Lord’s Prayer is Jesus’ message of the kingdom of God summarized in prayer form. Tertullian called it the ‘epitome of the whole Gospel’ (breviarium totius evangelii) and St Augustine the source of all other prayers. [Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. (2005). The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed. rev.) (1001). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.]

• It should be noted that our Lord (when teaching his disciples this prayer) did not say, ‘we must pray’ but ‘you pray’. The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer which he taught, not one which he used. He does not appear ever to have used the expression ‘Our Father’ in such a way as to include his disciples with himself  [Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (696). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.]

• It is in a plural form rather than individual. The first person singular pronoun is not used anywhere in the prayer. We say, “Our Father, … give us … .” This prayer is meant for a community. It may profitably be used by an individual, but it is not meant as an aid to private devotion. It is a prayer to be said by God’s people; it is the prayer of the Christian family.

• The Lord’s Prayer seems to be Jesus’ synopsis of various Jewish prayers of the time. The first two sentences: “Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come,” echo the language of the Jewish prayer, the Kaddish. It begins: “Magnified and hallowed be his great name in the world … And may He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and in your days … quickly and soon.” The third, “Your will be done,” is similar to a prayer of Rabbi Eliezer (about A.D. 100): “Do Thy will in heaven above and give peace to those who fear Thee below” (Babylonian Talmud, Berakoth). The petitions in the Lord’s prayer also echo ancient Jewish prayers.

• The first, “Give us our bread,” is akin to the first benediction of grace at mealtime. “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who feedest the whole world with thy goodness …; thou givest food to all flesh.… Through thy goodness food hath never failed us: O may it not fail us for ever and ever.”
• The second, “Forgive us,” echoes the Eighteen Benedictions, 6: “Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned against thee; blot out our transgressions from before thine eyes. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who forgivest much.” The accompanying phrase, “as we also have forgiven,” reflects the Jewish teaching found in Sirach 28:2: “Forgive the wrong of your neighbor, and then your sins will be forgiven when you pray.”
• The third petition, “Lead us not into temptation,” is similar to a petition in the Jewish Morning and Evening Prayers. “Cause me to go not into the hands of sin, and not into the hands of transgression, and not into the hands of temptation, and “not into the hand of dishonor.”
• The final words, “Hallowed be thy name,” “Thy kingdom come,” and “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” constitute a prayer for the final victory of God over the devil, sin, and death. It is possible that they were also understood by the early Christians to be a petition for God’s rule in their lives in the here and now. [Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (Rev. ed.].) (414–415). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.]

• There are two components in the Prayer. One is directed towards God, and the other is directed towards ourselves and others.
• The ‘thou’ petitions of the Lord’s Prayer focus on God and implore God to act so as to achieve his purposes in the world. The first petition (hallowing God’s name) is further explicated by the second (coming of God’s Kingdom) and the third, found only in Matthew (doing God’s will). God’s ‘name’ is synonymous with God himself; the first petition invokes God to make his holiness manifest to the world by ushering in the final day of salvation. To concretize this, the disciples pray, ‘Thy kingdom come,’ and, ‘Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Here, God is called upon, as part and parcel of his holiness, to establish his kingly Rule in splendor over all nations and (in Matthew) to exercise his will here on earth with as much freedom from opposition as he presently exercises it in the sphere of his heavenly abode.
• The ‘we’ petitions focus on the physical and spiritual needs of the disciples. The petition for bread is a request for the necessities of life. Traditionally translated (in Matthew), ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ it is more accurately rendered, ‘Give us today our bread for the morrow.’ At the basis of this petition is the notion that the disciples pray for the necessities of life that they require ‘today’ in view of the fact that ‘tomorrow’ God’s splendid Kingdom will come. The petition for the forgiveness of debts, or sins, is an appeal that God, as Father of the disciples, will graciously forgive them their sins and so enable them to forgive one another. The final petition in Luke (not being led into temptation), which is supplemented in Matthew by the petition for deliverance from evil, is a plea that God so guide the disciples through life that their relationship to him as Father may never come into jeopardy and that they may be preserved from Satanic evil of every kind. [Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary (1st ed.) (576). San Francisco: Harper & Row.]

• In its original form, the Lord’s Prayer probably comes from the earthly Jesus himself. One indication of this is that the version in Luke essentially reappears in Matthew. Another is the Jewish and Aramaic character of the prayer.
• the Lord’s Prayer parallels in important respects the Kaddish and the Eighteen Benedictions—Jewish prayers apparently in use, in their oldest forms, in the synagogue worship of Jesus’ time
• behind the Greek word for ‘Father’ is the Aramaic abba. Jesus himself apparently addressed God as abba (cf. Mark 14:36), thus establishing a custom that was continued even by Greek-speaking Christians (Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:15).
• behind the Greek for ‘debts’ and ‘sins’ is choba. Choba means ‘debt’ or, in a religious context, ‘sin’ or ‘guilt’; thus, in Aramaic, forgiveness of ‘debts’ (Matt. 6:12) is the same as forgiveness of ‘sins’ (Luke 11:4). [Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary (1st ed.) (575). San Francisco: Harper & Row.]

III.             The Seven Dynamic Activities in the Lord’s Prayer

Jesus meant the Lord’s Prayer to be a template or pattern of all types of prayers. Hence we can learn much from this prayer. J.I.Packer, a well known theologian identifies seven distinctive activities in the prayer.

“As analysis of light requires reference to the seven colors of the spectrum that make it up, so analysis of the Lord’s Prayer requires reference to a spectrum of seven distinct activities: approaching God in adoration and trust; acknowledging his work and his worth, in praise and worship; admitting sin, and seeking pardon; asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others; arguing with God for blessing, as wrestling Jacob did in Genesis 32 (God loves to be argued with); accepting from God one’s own situation as he has shaped it; and adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin. These seven activities together constitute biblical prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer embodies them all.” [Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (157). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

J.I. Packer has suggested seven activities. However I would like to modify them and suggest these distinctive dynamic activities as the seven As of the Lord’s Prayer.

1. approaching
2. adoring
3. acknowledging
4. admitting
5. asking
6. accepting
7. adhering

The Lord’s Prayer	Dynamic Activities
Our Father in heaven, (Matt.6:9b; Lk.11:2b)	approaching God in a direct and intimate way
hallowed be your name. (Matt.6:9c)	adoring Creator and Almighty
Your Kingdom come, (Matt. 6:10a; Lk.11:2c)	acknowledging his work and his worth, in praise and worship
your will be done, on earth as in heaven (Matt. 6:10b)	accepting from God one’s own situation as he has shaped it
Give us today our daily bread. (Matt 611; Lk. 11:3)	asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. (Matt. 6:12; Lk.11:4a)	admitting sin, and seeking pardon
Lead us not into temptation, (Matt. 6:13a; Lk. 11:4b) but deliver us from evil. (Matt. 6:13b)	adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin

1. Approaching God in a direct and intimate way

Some hold that the prayer should be understood in the spirit of Ezekiel 36:23: “I will honor my great name that you defiled, and the people of the world shall know I am the Lord.” In this view God himself is asked to ensure that his name is honored. But it seems more likely that we have here a prayer that men will come to have a proper reverence for God. A change in the attitude of sinners is in mind, rather than an action of God.

2. Adoring of the Creator and Almighty

3. Acknowledging his work and his worth, in praise and worship

4. Accepting from God one’s own situation as he has shaped it

5. Admitting sin, and seeking pardon

The petition about forgiveness differs slightly in the two accounts. In Matthew it is “Forgive us our debts,” while Luke has “Forgive us our sins.” Without question it is the forgiveness of sins that is in mind, but the Matthean form sees sin as an indebtedness. We owe it to God to live uprightly. He has provided all we need to do this. So when we sin, we become debtors. The sinner has failed to fulfill his obligations, what he “owes.” Matthew goes on to say, “as we also have forgiven our debtors,” and Luke, “for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” The tense in Matthew indicates that the person praying is not only ready to forgive but has already forgiven those who have sinned against him; in Luke, that he habitually forgives. Further, he does so in the case of every debtor

6. Asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others

The traditional understanding, “daily,” seems most probable. But however we translate it, the prayer is for the simple and present necessities of life. Jesus is counseling his followers to pray for necessities, not luxuries, and for what is needed now, not a great store for many days to come. By confining the petition to present needs Jesus teaches a day-by-day dependence on God.

7. Adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin

IV.             Lessons for us

1. Prayer depends on a relationship with God

We need to have a knowledge and attitude about God if we are to pray to Him. If we do not believe that He exists or that He is not good, why should we pray to Him? If we do not believe that He listens and answers, why bother to pray?

Prayer develops out of intimacy with God. As Teresa of Avila has shown us in her book, The Interior Castle, each level of intimacy with God brings on a deeper intimacy of prayer.

J.I.Packer writes,

“Say …” Did Jesus just intend that they should repeat the words, parrot fashion? No; but that they should enter into the sense. “Say,” we might say, means “mean!” This prayer is a pattern for all Christian praying; Jesus is teaching that prayer will be acceptable when, and only when, the attitudes, thoughts, and desires expressed fit the pattern. That is to say: every prayer of ours should be a praying of the Lord’s Prayer in some shape or form.

[Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (156). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

2. Prayer is a ‘natural’ action

Prayer should be as natural to us as breathing. Every breath we take brings in life saving oxygen into our bodies. Our bodies need oxygen if we are to survive. We not need to think about breathing because it is so natural to us. Prayer should be like breathing. It should be so natural to us that we do not even think about praying. We just do it.

J.I. Packer again comments:

“It is not too much to say that God made us to pray; that prayer is (not the easiest, but) the most natural activity in which we ever engage; and that prayer is the measure of us all in God’s sight.” [Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (156). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

3. The Lord’s Prayer is a useful template for our prayer life

There will not be much development in our prayer life unless we understand the Lord’s Prayer. Until we understand each lines of the prayer, we will not be able to make progress. J.I.Packer urges:

“So the Lord’s Prayer should be put to service to direct and spur on our praying constantly. To pray in terms of it is the sure way to keep our prayers within God’s will; to pray through it, expanding the clauses as you go along, is the sure way to prime the pump when prayer dries up and you find yourself stuck. We never get beyond this prayer; not only is it the Lord’s first lesson in praying, it is all the other lessons too. Lord, teach us to pray.” [Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (157–158). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

V.                Conclusion

To pray the Lord’s Prayer is approaching God in a direct and intimate way, adoring the Creator and Almighty, acknowledging his work and worth in praise and worship, accepting from God’s one’s own situation as he has shaped it; admitting sin and seeking pardon, asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others, and adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin.

Soli Deo Gloria

A People Apart

A People Apart

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

A People Apart (Jer. 35:14)

Sermon Statement

Christians are a people called apart for God because they are a people who are saved by God, who knows the Word of God, who loves the people of God, who loves those who do not know God, who lives their lives with integrity, who experiences joy, and who are free.

Text (Jeremiah 35:14)

Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. (NIV)

Background (Jeremiah 35:1- 18)

JER 35:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 "Go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD and give them wine to drink."

    JER 35:3 So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons--the whole family of the Recabites. 4 I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the men of the Recabite family and said to them, "Drink some wine."

    JER 35:6 But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: `Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.' 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, `Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' So we have remained in Jerusalem."

    JER 35:12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, `Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?' declares the LORD. 14 `Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers." But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16 The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.'

    JER 35:17 "Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.' "

JER 35:18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Recabites, "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' 19 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.' "

Note: Who also has the Lord promise will never fail to have a man to serve him? David

The obedience of the Recabites is held in contrast to that of the Judeans (v. 12-16). An object lesson was shown to the Judeans of a people who stand apart from other people because of their obedience. Wine is a common drink of that period.

I.     The test of the Rechabites (vv 1–11)

A.     The Lord’s command (vv 1–2)

B.     Jeremiah’s obedient response (vv 3–4)

C.     The test (v 5)

D.     The testimony of the Rechabite lifestyle (vv 6–10)

E.     The reason for the Rechabite presence in Jerusalem (v 11)

II.   Prose oracle against the Israelites (vv 12–17)

A.     Contrast between the Rechabites and faithless Judah (vv 12–16)

B.     The word of judgment (v 17)

III.  An oracle of promise for the Rechabites (vv 18–19)

(Keown, G. L. (2002). Vol. 27: Word Biblical Commentary : Jeremiah 26-52. Word Biblical Commentary (194). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.)

Who are the Recabites?

• The Recabites were a nomadic clan (35:7-10) descended from “Jonadab [or Jehonadab] son of Recab” (v. 6)
• assisted Jehu in exterminating Baal worship from Israel (2 Kings 10:15-27).
• They were related to the Kenites (1 Chron. 2:54-55) who descended from Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro (Judg. 1:16).
• Evidently Jonadab rejected a settled way of life for the life of a nomad, and his lifestyle became the norm for his clan (Jer. 35:6-10).
• The four prohibitions of the Recabites
• shall not drink vine
• shall not build a house
• shall not sow a seed
• shall not plant or own a vineyard
• They traveled in the wilderness of the Negev (Judg. 1:16; 1 Sam. 15:6)
• Some scholars suggest that they were iron-monger, artisans dealing with iron or even makers of chariots
• They possess the ‘family secrets’ of iron making and to keep this secret within the family, they are forbidden to drink vine and become nomadic.
• They were forced to move to Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar threatened Judah in 598 BC. (Jer. 35:11).
• They are a people apart yet forced to live in urban Jerusalem.

Jeremiah invited the Recabites, including Jaazaniah, into one of the side rooms in the temple. These rooms surrounded the temple court and were used for meetings, storage, and as priests’ residences (1 Kings 6:5; 1 Chron. 28:12; 2 Chron. 31:11; Neh. 13:7-9).

The particular room Jeremiah entered belonged to the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah. Nothing is known about Igdaliah except that he was a man of God- a term usually used to describe a prophet (cf. 1 Kings 12:22; 2 Kings 1:9-13; 4:21-22). The room occupied a prominent position, next to the room of the officials and over the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. Maaseiah was one of three ”doorkeepers“ for the temple. This was evidently a high position because those holding it were singled out by the Babylonians for judgment along with the chief priests (cf. 2 Kings 25:18-21; Jer. 52:24-27). Into this august company Jeremiah brought the rough, nomadic Recabites.

(Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1179). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

A People Apart

Jeremiah knew that the Recabites do not drink wine but purpose invited them to an important function room and in front of the religious authorities of Judah, offered the Recabites wine! Of course they refused.

The Recabites were then used as an object lesson to the Judeans of a people who are faithful in obeying their founders as contrasted with the Judeans who are not faithful in obeying their God.

Eugene Peterson, writing in his excellent book, Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at its Best (Downers Grove IL: InterVarsity Press, 1983 p. 142) notes,

The essence of Jeremiah’s message is this; “You also have a father who has commanded you to live in total relationship to him. You know that he has set you apart to a live of love. Why don’t you live in response to it? If you think it is because ordinary, mortal human beings can’t do it, think again. The Recabites are ordinary, mortal human beings and they have been doing it for 250 years. You also have a way of life that requires a certain disciplines to maintain its character. The disciplines involve you in making specific decisions about the way you live: regular worship, faithful prayer, tithing and caring for the poor, moral conduct and the pursuit of righteousness. Now, why don’t you do it? If you think that it is too rigorous a life for ordinary mortal human beings, think again. The Recabites are ordinary mortal humans, and they have been doing it for 250 years.

Christians are also a people apart. Christians are called to be faithful to their God. The characteristics of the Recabites are that (1) they do not drink wine, (2) do not build houses, (3) do not sow a seed, and (4) do not plant or own a vineyard. What about Christians? What set Christians apart from the other people? The Recabites are so named because they followed the teaching of Recah, their founders. Christians are son  named because they follow Christ.

Here are seven characteristics that set Christians as a people apart. Unlike the Recabites whose distinguishing characteristics are negative and consists in “Thou shall not,” Christians as a people are full of positive features. Christians are

1.      people who are saved, worshipful and prayerful

2.      people who knows the Word of God

3.      people who loves the people of God

4.      people who loves those people who do not know God

5.      people who lives their lives with integrity

6.      people who experience joy

7.      people who are free

1.      People who are saved, worshipful and prayerful

John 3:17-21

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

(a) People are saved by the work of Christ on the cross

Christians are people who have come into the light and have seen the truth. That Jesus Christ, God himself can into the world to die for our sins so that we can be forgiven by God. That is why the Holy Communion is so meaningful. Each time we partake of the bread and wine, we are reminded that God has saved us though the death of his son.

(b) People who are saved by Christ are a worshipping people.

Christians worship because we know how awesome our God is. It is beyond our finite minds to understand him. This God we worship is beyond time; that is why the past, present and future is open to him. This God we worship knows every particle in the know universe and yet even aspect of our lives. I used to have discussions with my friends that because of the quantum theory which things exist in two states, God cannot be all knowing. My also is to ask why not? Why can he know the existence of both states?

(c) People who are saved by Christ are a praying people.

The all powerful, self-sufficient God wants us to talk to him. Prayer is our conversation to him. We really need to move beyond our ‘shopping list’ type of prayers to contemplative prayers where we can learn to contemplate on his holiness.

2.      People who knows the Word of God

Matt. 4:4

MT 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

Jesus mentioned that in response to the temptations of Satan. Not too long again, Christians are known as people of the Book. You know who called us that. The Muslim. Unfortunately, Bible literacy has gone down so much that many still times the sentences “God helps those who help themselves” come from the Bible. The Reformation started the trend of translating the Bible into the people’s own language so that people can read and understand the Bible themselves, not just the clergy and the scholars. We shall be celebrating the 400 years anniversary of the King James Bible next year.

3.      People who Loves the People of God

One of the observations made by many people is how Christians ‘love on another.’ Of course, I am aware that there are problems in the church and Christians are suing each other in the courts. However, one of the distinguishing marks of Christians is their love for one another. I am privileged to be in a church where there is this Christian love. Often it is not apparent, but anything, should anyone in this church get into trouble, people are mobilized into service, counseling, giving aids, giving money, visitations and prayers. I am very impressed by the Ladies Fellowship and the Cell Groups in this. I am also impressed by individual Christians who will go out of the way to help others.

John 13: 34 Jesus said

  JN 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

People will know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ if we love one another. Love for one another is the mark of being a Christian.

4.      People who Loves Others

Matt. 5:43

MT 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

5.      People Who Lives with Integrity

Matt. 5:33-37

MT 5:33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your`No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Here Jesus is teaching his disciples to keep their words. Deliver what you promise. No need to talk too much. Walk your talk. Christians are always aware that they are living in the world but they are not part of the world. That’s because their perspective is different. The world wants Money, Power, and Sex. Christians want in Faith, Love, and Hope. This is the straight and narrow path Jesus talked about. Christians have always sought to live lives of honesty, integrity, and according to their conscience.

6.      People Who Experiences Joy

John 15: 9-11

JN 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Jesus was teaching his disciples. If we remain in Jesus’ love, then we shall have joy. Joy is different from happiness. Happiness is transient. I remember the happiness I feel when I bought my first BMW 520. The sleek design and the smell of new leather. Wow. It is heavenly. There is a special feeling when you drive around in a new BMW. You feel that everyone is looking at you. After a few days, it is just another car.

I remember the joy when I married almost 30 years ago. Despite all the up and downs in a marriage the joy is still there. How much so is the joy of Jesus who said that his “joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

7.      People Who are Free

John 8: 32-35

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

    JN 8:33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

    JN 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

(a)   New Covenant

Unlike the Israelites who are under the Mosaic covenant, we Christians are under the new covenant. The prophet Jeremiah taught a lot about this covenant. This new covenant is not about obeying a set of eternal rules and regulation. God has now written his laws into our hearts and conscience. We know what is right or wrong

(b)   Choices

a.      Reject God

God has allowed us to choose to obey him or not, as he has allowed us to choose to be saved or not. Imagine a being with all the power in all creation allowing his creatures free-will! Imagine such a being allow his creatures the choice to reject him. And even when they have accepted him, he still allows the choice to disobey him. It is a high sign of respect to be allowed freedom.

Most of us who are working know that there is a hierarchy of authority in any company and the lower you are in that hierarchy, the less freedom you have. The reverse is true. The higher you are in the hierarchy the more freedom. God has turned it upside down. All levels of the hierarchy have equal freedom. The cleaners have equal freedom as the executives.

b.      Choose God

Choosing God is a choice. Choosing God is privilege given to us and nobody can take that away from us. They can take away our status, our properties, or dignity but they cannot take away our freedom to choose God.

I am often touched by this story that I have heard but I cannot confirm whether this is a true story or not. It was about group of Christians in Africa that was captured by a regime that hated Christians. These Christian are placed in the middle of a stadium to starve to death as a lesson to others who want to become Christians. There a young man among the Christians who is a musician. He decided to lead the captured Christians to sing hymns to praise God. All day and night, sounds of singing can be heard from the compound. The captors were upset about the singing and ordered the young man not to sing. The young man disobeyed and continued to sing. The captors decided to cut off the young man’s tongue. They observe closely to see what the young man will do. They say the young man mimic playing a guitar and singing though there was no sound from his mouth. The captors were upset and decided to cut off both his forearms above the elbow. They then watched what the young man will do. The young man stood up in the centre of the group and swayed his body as if he is singing in worship of the Lord. The captors were so furious that they cut off the young man’s head and throw it into the crowd of captive Christians to discourage them. Instead the next day, they find the Christians singing even more enthusiastically. When they we to investigate found the young man’s head. The expression on the face of the young man at the time of his death was that of a man full of joy and expressing this joy by singing to God. Not even death can rub this young man of his choice to follow God.

Lessons for us

We need to be a people apart. The Recabites followed the 250 years old commands of their founder, a man, their forefather – Jonadab Ben Recab. We follow the eternal commands of Jesus who is more than a man. He is also a God. We become a people apart by

(1)   Saved, worshipful and prayerful

a.       Set time for personal prayer

b.      Read a devotional book

(2)   Study the Word of God

a.       Read the Bible

b.      Read books about books of the Bible

c.       Memorise parts of the Bible

(3)   Learn to love one other Christians

a.       Do something for one Christian

(4)   Learn to love one other non-Christians

a.       Do something for one non-Christian

(5)   Live each day with integrity

(6)   Receive joy in our lives

(7)   Exercise your freedom to Please God

Soli Deo Gloria