Recommitting to Prayer

About three weeks ago, we discussed prayer (see below post) and multiple people committed to trying to pray 3 times a day throughout Lent.  Many have mentioned that they, just like me, have struggled to get into this rhythm of stopping, breathing, and spending time with God.  Therefore since we are nearly exactly in the middle of Lent, we decided to recommit ourselves to this effort for the second half of Lent.  Why not join us and let us know your thoughts by adding comments below.

(Image courtesy: www.treasureschristianbooks.com)

I thought I would share a few comments that I have shared with others over the last few weeks with the hope that they may be an encouragement to you as you attempt to get into the practice of communing with God.  God Bless!

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' - which means, 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'  - Matthew 27:46

Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours at this point.  He had already been flogged, had nails put through his hands and feet, and has been insulted all throughout.  Why would Jesus make this proclamation at this time and be silent through everything else?  Have you ever wondered this? Well it is important to note that in Jewish tradition, the Passover lamb was slaughtered at the 9^th hour.  So you see, Jesus is our Passover lamb.  So at the ninth hour he became sin for us and was cut off from God.  For the first time (in all time), he couldn’t commune with God and the loneliness and abandonment he felt made him yell out. I think this gives us some appreciation for the blessing we have in being able to commune with God.  Jesus was cutoff so we wouldn’t have to be.  I know I want to value that.

This hymn is from Claudia Hernaman:

“Lord, who throughout these forty days for us did fast and pray,
Teach us with you to mourn our sins, and close by you to stay.

As You with Satan did contend and did the victory win,
O give us strength in you to fight, in you to conquer sin.

As you bore hunger and your thirst, so teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and chiefly live by your most holy Word.

And through the days of penitence, and through your Passion-tide,
Yes, evermore, in life and death, Jesus! With us abide.

Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering over-past,
An Easter of unending joy we may attain at last!"

God's Rhythm

Stewardship of time / The Daily office and the Sabbath

Men’s Breakfast

February 21, 2009

Community Bible Church

Referenced and Related Bible References:

• Genesis 2:1-2  - God creates the Sabbath
• Exodus 31:16-17  - Celebrate as a lasting covenant
• Deuteronomy 5:12-15 - Ten commandments
• Psalm 119:164, Daniel 6:10, Acts 3:1; 10:9 – observed by David, Daniel, the apostles
• Colossians 2:16-17  - Ceremonial law; fulfilled in Christ, no longer under the law
• Galatians 4:6-9 - Sons, Known by God and Know God. “Abba, father” – expressive of an especially close relationship to God.
• Psalm 1:2 - Delight is in the law, meditates on it day and night
• Psalm 119:9-11 - Hid your word in my heart
• Isaiah 65:1-2a  - God desires a closer walk with us.
• Mark 2:23-28  - Messiah, Lord of the Sabbath
• Genesis 5:24; 6:9 - Enoch and Noah walked with God
• Matthew 6:5-13 - The Lord’s prayer

What is prayer?         Fellowship/communion with God, Praising God, Knowing God, Experiencing our sonship, learning to abide, etc.

Types of prayer?

• Adoration         - acknowledging who God is
• Confession       - acknowledging what we’ve done and repenting, turning to God
• Thanksgiving    - acknowledging God’s love and what Christ accomplished
• Supplication      - asking to be more like Christ, interceding for others or ourselves

Why commune with God?

• Joy!
• Experience God (for Him)
• Peace
• Rest
• Forgiveness
• You are who you are with, or what goes in comes out
• Others…..

Story: Emily’s breathing, if human relationships can change us, what would happen if we spent time with the Prince of Peace?

How can we practically move toward a Gospel-centered prayer life that aims primarily at knowing God?                     Meditation and communion

Meditation is the blending of Bible study and prayer.  Not detached but meditation is praying the truth deep into your soul.  This shapes us, our thinking, our feeling, our actions.  It’s working out the truth.

St. Augustine on Meditation:

1.      Retentio – distillation of the truth of scripture.  Study and concentrate on a passage of scripture to simply understand it, so you see its truth.

2.      Contemplatio – “gazing at God through this truth”

a.       What does this tell me about God?

b.      If he is really like this, what difference does this particular truth make to how I live Today?

c.       Does my life demonstrate my knowledge of this truth?

d.      Lord, what are you trying to tell me about you, and why do you want me to know it Today?

Contemplatio is turning "knowing about" into knowing.

3.      Directio – delighting and relishing the God you are looking at.  Praise, confess and aspire toward him.

Why don’t we pray and meditate?

• Too busy, the only prayers we sometimes do are the urgent ones requesting help
• Too tired, after being too busy
• Other priorities seem more important at time.
• Feel that there is a barrier (emotional) that seems too big, too much work
• Sin
• Lack of discipline, resolve, routine
• Don't want to rush, waiting until can spend more time.

The Power of Full Engagement (book - see reference)

Two ideas:

• More stress not less; intervals in-between every 2 to 3 hours is ideal
• In intervals, focus on God 

If not, then a disaster hits and we don’t have the focus we need.  We need a rope.

(story from book in reference: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzaro)

• Book, A Hidden Wholeness, by Parker Palmer
  
• Farmers in the Midwest, prepared for a blizzard by tying a rope from the back door of the house to the barn as a guide.
  
• The blizzards came quickly and fiercely and were highly dangerous.
  
• When their full force was blowing, a farmer could not see then end of his/her hand.
  
• Many froze to death, wondering in circles, lost in their own backyard
  
• Meteorologists in parts of Canada and the Great Plains still counsel people to tie a rope to their back door
  

Would like to propose that, God has given us a rope in the daily office and the Sabbath that offer us a rhythm so powerful that they anchor us from the blizzards that blow in our lives.

Not legalize….free from the ceremonial laws…a gift .  Find what works for you

The root of the daily office and the Sabbath is stopping to surrender to God in trust.

This is not setting aside time to turn to God for something but to be with Someone.

Daily office has 4 aspects:

1.      Stopping – God is on the throne, trust him to run His world without me.

2.      Center – “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).  

Both difficult tasks

3.      Silence – is the practice of quieting every inner/outer voice to attend to God

“without solitude it is almost impossible to live a spiritual life” - Henry Nouwen

4.      Scripture – meditation, worship songs, reading through the Bible, etc. 

Sabbath

1.      Stop – embrace our limits

2.      Rest – replace with whatever delights and replenishes.

3.      Delight – “it was very good” Genesis 1:31 Benediction; In God, his creation, people, etc.

4.      Contemplate – heart of the Sabbath.  Pondering the love of God. 

Like a heavy snow day.  A “no obligation” day.

Exercise

Read Psalm 145

Meditate

1. What does this tell us about God, what does it reveal?
2. How can I praise him for and through this?
3. If he is really like this, what difference does this particular truth make to how I live?
4. Does my life demonstrate that I am remembering and acting out of this?
5. Lord, what are you trying to tell me about you, and why do you want me to know it now.  Today?

Discussion

1. Did the meditation help you see something in the scripture, you wouldn’t have normally?
2. What is one thing you could do to spend more time communing with God?
3. What support would you need in order to do this regularly?

Referenced or Reference:

• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzaro, Ch. 8 “Discover the Rhythms of the Daily office and the Sabbath”
• Prayer and the Gospel by Dr. Tim Keller
• The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
• The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

Image courtesy of: www.freecomputerdesktopwallpaper.com

Be Strong in the Lord

Ephesians 6:10-20

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%206:10-20;&version=31;

Related References

• James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”
  
• Isaiah 11:5 “ Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”
  
• Isaiah 59:17 "He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak."
• 1Thessalonians 5: 8 “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
  
• Matthew 16:18 "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Notes

• Belt of truth: the strength of our loins; and it girds on all other pieces of our armour, and therefore is first mentioned.

(image courtesy of:  www.preceptaustin.org)

• Breastplate of righteousness: The righteousness of Christ implanted in us is our breast-plate to fortify the heart against the attacks which Satan makes against us.
• Feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace: resolution to abide 

(image courtesy of:  www.preceptaustin.org)

• Shield of Faith: faith as it is the evidence of things not seen and the substance of things hoped for
• Helmet of Salvation: that is, hope, which has salvation for its object (1 Thess. v. 8)

(image courtesy of www.holyspiritinteractive.net)

• Sword of the Spirit: the word of God...
• Prayer: the battle is spiritual and must be fought with God's strength, depending on the word (sword) and on God through prayer.
  

Questions

1. We are encouraged to be strong in the lord, why? how?
2. What are we to stand strong against?  Does this mean that if we are doing God's will that we will never face conflict from other people?  (Note: No, if it is truely God's will, satan will use people and anything else he can to stop it)
3. What do each piece of armor represent and what does it mean to put them on?
4. What does it mean to "stand"?  Does it refer to only a defensive position, if so why are we given an offensive weapon in the sword of the Spirit?
5. What do you do to ensure that you always keep on praying and putting on the full armor of the Lord?  How can we help support you?

Key Take-Aways from Temptation of Christ Study

Christ Tempted

(Image courtesy of LaShawnBarber.com)

§         Three Categories of temptations: 

1. Hunger (physical) and in Jesus case the misuse of power
   
2. Power and wealth
   
3. Instant acclaim

§         Fully God and fully man, Although “God cannot be tempted by evil…” – James 1:13; but Jesus “Who, being in very nature^[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature^[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—        even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

• Why was he tempted? - To sympathize and to save
1. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15
2. Righteous Jesus, died not for his sins but ours.  He was the perfect lamb.

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” – Romans 5:19.

Our Temptations

• We too like Jesus are tempted in many of the same ways. 
• Some allowed by God to sanctify us; some brought upon ourselves (James 1:14)
• God doesn’t allow us to be tempted beyond what he has equipped us to bare

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Our Response

• Prayer  - commune with God (strength to withstand the evil ones advances)
• Knowledge and Obedience to God’s Word      - Knowing your are God’s adopted son and responding to the knowledge of that Love by obedience to his Word.
• Community – with others that model and encourage
• Repentance – when we do fail, we must understand that we are not accepted because of our actions but because of His.  Turn and follow Him.  

On Repentance, Dick Weidenheft gave a very timely sermon this morning.  You can find it here within the next few days:

http://communitybiblechurch.org/audio/

Temptation of Christ

Luke 4:1-13    (Matthew 4:1-11)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=4&version=31

Notes

Mathew Henry’s Commentary on Matthew 4:1-11 (similar to Luke 4:1-13)

Concerning Christ's temptation, observe,

I. The time when it happened: … Immediately after the heavens were opened to him, and the Spirit descended on him, and he was declared to be the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world, the next news we hear of him is, he is tempted; for then he is best able to grapple with the temptation.

Note, 1. Great privileges, and special tokens of divine favour, will not secure us from being tempted.

Nay, 2. After great honours put upon us, we must expect something that is humbling; as Paul has a messenger of Satan sent to buffer him, after he had been in the third heavens.

3. God usually prepares his people for temptation before he calls them to it; he gives strength according to the day, and, before a sharp trial, gives more than ordinary comfort.

4. The assurance of our sonship is the best preparative for temptation. If the good Spirit witness to our adoption, that will furnish us with an answer to all the suggestions of the evil spirit, designed either to debauch or disquiet us.

... After we have been admitted into the communion of God, we must expect to be set upon by Satan. The enriched soul must double its guard. When thou has eaten and art full, then beware. …

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc5.Matt.v.html

Deutronomy 8:3

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

 

Jesus' point is that physical needs must be met God's way, not our own selfish, short-cut way. We're tempted, of course, to steal, to cheat, to fornicate, to lie, to provide a quick fix for our physical hungers. God is able to supply our needs, but we must wait on him and seek to do things his way. Just because we CAN work miracles doesn't mean we should in any given circumstance. Bread -- physical fulfillment -- is not more important than God's Word and way. (http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/4_1-13.htm)

Three temptations

1. The lust of the flesh – the temptation of hunger
2. The lust of the eyes – the temptation of power and wealth
3. The pride of life – the temptation of instant acclaim

The same temptations we face but Jesus, although tempted, did not sin.  This scripture highlights his flawless character.

Questions

1. When did this event take place in Jesus’ life?  What preceded it?
2. How was Jesus tempted?  How did he respond?
3. Why was Jesus susceptible to temptation?

"God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone" - James 1:13

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” - Philippians 2:7

4. Why was he tempted?
5. How are we tempted in ways that fall into these 3 categories?
6. How are we able to respond like Jesus did?

(Prayer, Fasting, God’s Word)   Ephesians 6:11-18

Dick Wiedenheft
Jan 31, 2009 Men’s Breakfast @ Community Bible Church

"An investment that pays”

Matthew 25:14-30


(Some of the insights here are thanks to a talk I heard by Michael Breen recently at a 3d ministries training event – http://www.3dministries.org/)

(Image courtesy of http://www.netminsitry.com/)

I recently learned a new insight on this well-known parable which really opened it up.

Just a few observations about the story. Then a few questions for us to discuss. Then draw some practical conclusions.

Observations.
1. This master was very rich.
1 talent = 10-30 years wages. Between $1/2 million and 3 million.

2. This master was trusting and generous.

The fact that God includes us in his business of advancing his kingdom at all is a huge honor and responsibility.

And everything we receive is by God’s grace.

Granted the servants received money according to their abilities, but it was still God’s choosing to give it to them.

3. Nothing we have is ours to keep.
We’re stewards for a time.

4. It was not hard to double your money in that day.
Interest rates were up to 50% at that time.

5. But there is risk involved.
It’s a lot of money to be risking (as the third guy reminds us).

6. There is a day of reckoning where
God will want to know what we’ve done with what he’s entrusted to us and then we give it all back.

7. God gets the return, but those who invest get a huge reward –
they gain the rich master’s confidence and get huge responsibilities.

They’re set for life.

Encouraging in a day when banks are failing and investments are unsure.

Dick Shares his Story
We had a bunch of money from sale of house in Canada. Don’t own a house now to reinvest it. Lost money on exchange rate bringing it to US. Hard to get much interest on it now. So I’ve experienced a bit of the pain and uncertainty of this economy.

This Bible story gives us perspective. This story is talking about an investment strategy which pays well and is sure.


Bottom line: God has generously given us a lot
and he fully expects us to invest it in a way
that will give him a return.
And he’s coming to settle accounts.

Questions:
1. What do you think the talents represent?
Answer: left purposely vague. (more then just money)
Jesus wants us to apply it everywhere.

But if we think what else we know about Jesus and what he thought, a clear primary application emerges.

One way of seeing this is looking at Jesus’ own example.

2. What did the Father entrust Jesus with?

3. How did Jesus primarily invest that?

I want to suggest to you that the primary way Jesus wants us to invest what God has given us
is by investing in the lives of other people, to help them be better disciples of Jesus.

After all, those were Jesus parting words to us:

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to obey everything I thought you and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and lo I am with you even to the end of the age.”

Key take-away: I suspect one of the main things Jesus will be counting on judgment day will be how many disciples we’ve invested in.

I submit to you:

Jesus is not interested in counting
-The money in our bank accounts.
-The cars in our driveway.
-Not even the numbers who show up to our church.

As much as he’s counting.
The disciples we’ve invested in, by teaching them to follow him.

Practical Conclusions:
Some kinds of capital that we can invest in other people (in order of importance)?

1. Spiritual capital
2. Relational
3. Physical
4. Knowledge
5. Financial

Spiritual – our need to spend time with God to have something to share with others.
Relational – opening our hearts and lives / befriending.
Physical – (related) being there / just making time.
Knowledge – Sharing what we know.
Financial – actually sharing what we have. Generously investing in others, even with our money.
So, two questions to leave you with:

A.) What men has God put in your life whom you could be investing in? Maybe sons? Maybe other men?

B.)What training do you need to get going?
(Maybe you need someone to invest in you first so you’re one step ahead).

Implications for Men's Ministry
Some guys who have a heard for leading this men’s ministry were talking the other night.

We felt one of the keys – is that the ministry is not just events.
It’s about discipling one another. In this sized group, but also smaller groups and one-on-one.

Men growing spiritually. Investing in one another.

Now, if you don’t know how to do that, and sense that you really need to know, and you’re willing to put in some time. One thing God has put on Terence and my heart, is to provide the training. Talk to us.

Exercise:
There are a number of barriers that can prevent us from disciplining.

TIME – I’m too busy to invest in others.
CAPITAL – I’m not sure what capital I have to share with others.
TRAINING – I don’t know how to invest in others.
PRIVACY – I don’t know who I can trust to get close to/open up to.
CONNECTIONS -- I don’t know who I could invest in.
AWKWARD – It feels awkward to set myself up as someone who could disciple another person.

1.) Pick the barrier you believe is paramount in your life?
2.) Read passage again. How does it equip you to overcome this barrier?
3.) What’s one step I could take to lower this barrier?
4.) Pray for one another.

God's Response to Our Wounds

Review

• We are all impacted by our parents. Their actions, their example and their love.
• Since they are imperfect (like us), we are wounded.
• These wounds leave us unsure about ourselves and afraid that we will be exposed as less then what we appear to be.
• They are a lie, that says we are unworthy or not valuable.
• Like any lie or half truth, it can cause us to respond incorrectly.
• Even Jesus needed to hear words of affirmation from his father.

You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. - Luke 3:22

God's Response
Galatians 4:4-7
"But when the fullness of time had come. God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." (ESV)

Joshua 1:9
"...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where you go."

Psalm 139:7-10
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Proverbs 3:11-12
”My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (NIV)

Hebrews 12:7
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

Proverbs 17:6
“The glory of children is their father” (NKJV)

Study Questions

1. What words or thoughts strike you in the verses above?
2. How has God affirmed you in a way your father didn't or couldn't?
3. What implications does this have on us, as fathers?
4. How can we pray for you as a father? For your son or daughter?