Parkwood Baptist Church

By addressing God as Father,  Jesus brought God near and made Him more accessible.  He has made it personal by putting it in the context of relatioship.  We have been given the privilege of coming to our Creator as His children.  Then Jesus adds the phrase “who art in heaven”.  Why?

Maybe it’s because Jesus knows that we tend to take things too far.  Yes, God is our Father and we can enjoy an intimacy with Him that comes from being His children.  But, Jesus reminds us that the Father is still the God of Heaven…King of kings…Almighty…Sovereign Lord.  The phrase together gives us an important balance in our view of God.  We can be familiar with God but we must also have a reverence for God that lifts Him up.  It is the respect that the Bible calls the “fear of the Lord”.  God is God and He is worthy of our worship as our Lord and Savior.  Jesus, in this model prayer, makes God approachable while maintaining the holiness of He who sits on the throne.

Sometimes we can bring God down to a human level and make Him our “buddy”.   Our time with God becomes a “get together” instead of an act of worship.  Certainly we are blessed with the honor and privilege of coming into the presence of the Almighty God.  The Scripture tells us,

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

But, even in this verse, we are reminded that we are approaching a throne.  Addressing God as Father does not make Him our equal.  God is NOT human just as we are NOT God.  Our prayers can become much richer when we remember that balance.  John tells us alittle about heaven when he writes,

“In a loud voice they (thousands of  angels) sang, ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12)

We should run into God’s presence because He is our Father and we should bow before Him because He on the throne in heaven.

Today, as you pray through the Lord’s prayer, remember that the One who you are bowing before is not only your Father but your God…worthy of your worship.

“Our Father…who art in heaven”

The Lenten season is the 40 days and 6 sabbaths before the Easter celebration. So, there are actually 46 days. The Sabbath days were not counted because the Sabbath days already belong to the Lord and should always be a time of repentance, rememberance and renewal. Therefore, the Sabbath day is NOT a “day off” from our fast or Lenten committment.  If anything, it is a deeper awareness of what we are doing during this sacred season.

There are some things, however, that should be recognized about these special times during our journey.  First, the Sabbath is a day dedicated to the corporate worship of our God.  It is a day when we gather together and experience what the Bible calls “koinonia”, which refers to our communion or fellowship with fellow believers.  Scripture tells us,

“Let us not give up meeting together,  as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

You see, we are all in this together.  Yes, your Lenten committment is deeply personal, but our fellowship with one another will enhance your personal experience and encourage you in the journey.  It is vital to the christian’s life to gather as the Church…the Body of Christ to remember Christ’s sacrifice and celebrate His mercy with joy through repentance.

Another aspect of Sabbath is the concept of rest.  This does not mean “idle” but, more accurately, focus.  The Sabbath for us is a time set aside to step back and totally focus on our Lord and Provider.   We take a moment…a day to look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  We recognize and proclaim that everything depends on Him and not on us.  Sabbath is a regular time established by God to center ourselves on Him.  It is part of the original design of creation to schedule a regular day to re-focus…re-fresh…and remember that He is your Father and you are His child.

Today, on this first Sabbath day of Lent, pray the Lord’s prayer and re-focus on the Father who created you…loves you…and wants to take care of you.  And, if you have the opportunity…pray it with a friend as the Body of Christ.

By addressing God as Father we are revealing that we have an intimate relationship with the One who created us.  We are from god.  We are born of Him.  Jesus said in John 3 that we must be “born again” and He was speaking of the spiritual birth of those who believe in Jesus.  This new birth makes powerful personal prayer possible!  A communion with God that transforms our prayer life.

Lets face it…not all fathers are good.  There are many in this world that cannot appreciate calling God Father because of the shortcomings or even absence of their earthly father.  It is not enough to say that God is our Father…we must say along with Scripture that He is the Perfect Father.  He is the Loving Father who forgives, heals, restores and redeems.  He is a God who gives you what you need.  All human fathers fall short of perfection but this should not make us distrust our heavenly Father.  It should identify the need for One greater than ourselves.  One who will never leave us or forsake us.  One who will not disappoint us.  In the sermon on the mount found in Matthew Jesus said,

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

To bring our requests to God is to bring them to a loving Father who is gracious and always wants what is best for us!  The Apostle Paul said in Romans,

“If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for all of us, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31, 32)

After all He loved us so much “that He gave…” in order that we might experience being “born again” as His children.  The Gospel of John says,

“Yet to all that received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12)

Today, as you pray through the lord’s prayer, thank the Lord that He has made it possible that we would be his children.  Rejoice that He is your Father…the perfect Father who loves you and will never leave you.  This day He will be with you through whatever comes your way.

The way that we address someone in a conversation can often reveal something about the relationship.  The more familiar the address the closer the relationship.  Likewise, the more formal the language the more distant the relationship.  Those who are very close will even use “pet” names or nicknames when they are talking.  The word that Jesus uses here is a very familiar address.

Our Father.

Many of us, when we pray use other Biblical names for God that are much more formal.  Some out of reverence for God…others to deliberately keep God at a distance.  In the 21st century we will even use the term Father as a formal title.  Let me assure you that this was not the intent of Jesus on this occassion.  In fact, referring to God as your father was unheard of in the days of Jesus.  It was not used at all when addressing God.  It was considered disrespectful and blasphemus!  Scripture tells us that one of the key accusations at the trial of Jesus was that He referred to God as His Father.  Why would this term cause so much angst among the religious leaders of today?  And why does Jesus suggest that we refer to God this way?

Our Father

The word implies a familiarity and a relationship that was unacceptable in that day and still makes people uncomfortable today.  It is not possible to know God that intimately…is it?  God is a mighty ruler sitting on a throne above.   Separate and holy.  We can’t get that close to Him…can we?

Our Father

These words of instruction from Jesus say…Yes!  Yes, you can know God that way!  Yes, you can get close to Him and “commune” with Him.  It is a relationship that Jesus came to make possible through His death and resurrection.  This prayer can be prayed this way because of Jesus.  He not only teaches us to pray this way but He makes it possible.  I don’t just know God…I am related to Him.  I am His child.  Jesus is telling us that true meaningful prayer is preceded by a relationship.  To call God Father is to acknowledge that you are under His care and authority.

Our Father

Today, rest in the truth that you are a child of God and He is your Father.  And if you cannot say that for certain then come to Him now and give your life to Him and you can call out with those who know Him…

Our Father!

When you want to know how to do something you ask an expert.  In other words, you find someone that knows how and you ask them to teach you.  That is exactly what was behind Jesus giving us this wonderful prayer.  The disciples were no strangers to praying.  As practicing Jews they prayed frequently.  They prayed in their homes and in their synagogues.  They prayed for the sick and their neighbors.  But, Luke 11:1 tells us that when they saw and heard Jesus pray they knew there was a difference.  When Jesus prayed there was a certain passion…intimacy that was there.  I’m sure they could probably sense a power and confidence that they knew was missing in their personal prayers.  When Jesus prayed it was more than just a religious ritual or discipline…it was an encounter with someone that He knew!  So, it makes sense that these religious “praying” men came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”  Or, probably more accurately…”Teach us to pray like YOU pray!”

To Jesus prayer was communion with His Father.  It was part of the fabric of His life.  In His ministry we see Him go from talking to the disciples to talking with His Father almost seamlessly.  During the final weeks and days leading up to His crucifixion prayer is a major source of encouragement and strength to Jesus’ life.  In fact, it was an essential ingredient to His obedience during His suffering.  So it only makes sense that the disciples would ask the One who was the expert.  And…it only makes sense as we meditate on Jesus’ sacrifice for us that we also sit at the feet of the Master and ask…”Lord, teach us to pray.”

Jesus responded with a model prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer.

Today, take time to pray this familiar prayer.  Pray it slowly and intentionally.  Slow it down and pause with each phrase.  Then ask God to inspire you and your prayer life over the next few weeks as we meditate on these things.

“Oh God, teach me to pray.  I  pray but I want to know how to pray like you.  Draw me into your presence in a way that transforms my prayers and draws me closer to you.”

The Lenten season is a tradition practiced among the earliest Christians as they prepared their hearts for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.  The 40 days has many parallels in the Scripture but the most significant for this practice was the 40 days Jesus spent in the wildernesses fasting and praying before starting His ministry.  Therefore the early church used the 40 days (and 6 Sabbaths) prior to Easter to fast and pray.  It is a time of repentance for the believer and a time to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ.  This is practically done by abstaining from something or adding something on a daily basis to your regular routine.  The goal is that each time you “do” that extra thing or “not do” that which you are fasting from, it brings Jesus into your thoughts.

This blog will provide daily thoughts through Lent and I hope will be a meaningful part of your preparation for Easter.  This year we will take a journey through The Lord’s Prayer. Hopefully, you will gain some insights as we meditate on this prayer each day until we celebrate the Easter event. My prayer for you is that you will also discover some ways to enhance your personal prayer life.  Some might even incorporate the prayer into your regular prayer times.

Most importantly, I pray that this journey together will draw you closer to God and that you would learn more about Him and that your relationship would deepen.  I believe that this prayer Jesus gave us is rich with blessing.  Over the next 40 days together I want to challenge you to read through…pray through the Lord’s prayer and each day we will look at an aspect of the prayer and how it applies to us.  So…here we go…let’s pray.

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.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Why Do We Give?

-From David Plunkett, Stewardship Committee

Why do we give away our money? An amazing number of us do, you know.  Ninety-five percent of American households give money to charity.  In 2013, we gave away $335 billion of our hard-earned cash.  In Fairfax County, VA, alone we gave away $1.2 billion for an average contribution of $3,527 per county resident.  Churches capture about 31 percent of that giving which would mean about $1,100 is the average contribution to churches.  Giving by the 531 members of Parkwood in 2015 averaged about $2,000 per member, raising a total of slightly less than $1.2 million.  I don’t know about anybody else, but I can think of a lot of stuff to spend $2,000 on.  So, why did we give that money away instead of buying more stuff for ourselves?

Giving is one way our lives reflect God’s image. God, in Genesis, gives humanity a front-row seat for viewing His marvelous universe.  He plants a garden for our use and gives us the animals of the Earth, asking only that we care for His creation.  God does not ask us to give Him anything in the first chapters of Genesis.  Yet, within a generation Cain and Abel are making offerings to God (Genesis 4).  God does not ask for sacrifice until late in Abraham’s life (Genesis 15).  That request comes after practices of altar sacrifice (Genesis 8:20) and the tithe (Genesis 14) are already established.  So, I guess one reason we give is that it is an inherently human condition because we are made in God’s image.

What, then, does that say about the 5 percent of households who never give anything, even to secular charities? Only 4 percent of adults report being atheists or agnostics.  So, it seems unlikely that all those stingy households are made up of non-believers.  In fact, non-religious people give away a little over 1 percent of their income, a rate not much different than some religious givers.  It emphasizes Pastor Mike’s point that we can give without being a Christian, but we can’t be a Christian without giving.  Would it surprise you to know, however, that almost 13 percent of mainstream Protestants never give anything to the church?

If giving is an innate part of human nature, then why don’t some people feel the impulse to give? The question I started with comes around — just turned around to face the real issue.  Why is it that some of us don’t give, and, more importantly, why are there Christians who don’t give to support the church?  It is a question I hope we can wrestle with through a series of thought exercises, stories and Biblical reflections.