Prayer & the Believer

NOTE: This information was gathered & accumulated over years, thru reading various material & setting under godly men. I do not take credit for this tool that has helped me, I can only take credit for gathering it together in a way that is beneficial to me & I hope others. I do not wish to plagiarize anyone’s individual work, but I am unable to express proper citation due to gathering various notes & scraps of paper from my own study that I have accumulated over the years. I am grateful for all those who have allowed God to use them to help use become better witnesses to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Disciples Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

A Model for a Lifetime of Prayer

Compiled from the Book

Hemphill, Ken.  The Prayer of Jesus. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.

Matthew 6:9-13   9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.  11 'Give us this day our daily bread.  12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.' 

We are called out by God to be in an intimate relationship with our Creator and Redeemer and to communicate with Him through prayer.  This prayer life is based upon our love and devotion for our God. A prayer is not to be done as a means to gain the approval of men, but is a lifetime means of communication with our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

v  Two points of prayer to keep in focus

1)     Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer

·        This is to be a constant activity

·        Requires sacrifice 

2)     1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing

·        This is to be based upon an ongoing relationship 

The Disciples Prayer, though it may be memorized, is an outline of how we are to communicate with our God.

 Verse 9

Pray, then, in this way:

            Not “If” you pray, but “When” you pray, pray like this

Our

            Not “my,” remember you are not alone --  pray for the saints

            Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this                                           in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Father

            The intimate nature of God

            God’s desire to be near us

            Abba meaning “daddy” an intimate relationship 

Ø  Come to Him with boldness

 who is in heaven,

            The transcendent nature of God

            He is beyond us in thought and reason, Untouchable

            Infinite vastness of the depth of God

Ø  Come to Him in humility

v  Petition: an earnest request made to a superior for some act to be  

Petition # 1 a request that God’s Name be Revered

Hallowed be Your name.

            Revere His Name – to esteem, to respect, to honor

Romans 10:13 "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men

by which we must be saved.

Ì  Names of God à Attributes to describe the indescribable                            

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)	Yahweh Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
El Elyon (The Most High God)	Yahweh Mekoddishkem                                (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
Adonai (Lord, Master)	Yahweh Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)	Yahweh Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Yahweh Nissi (The Lord My Banner)	Yahweh Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
Yahweh-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)	El Olam (The Everlasting God)
Yahweh Rapha (The Lord That Heals)	Elohim (God)
Yahweh Shammah (The Lord Is There)	Qanna (Jealous)

 Verse 10

 Petition # 2 a request that God’s Kingdom would come quickly

 Your kingdom come.

            Pray for it, desire it, and expect it.

            Knowing Jesus may return at any moment, should curb ones appetite for sin.

            Jesus will return to claim His own.

            Jesus will return to fulfill judgment upon the world.

 

Petition # 3 a request for the righteousness of God

Your will be done,

            Not “my” will be done, but “thy” will be done.

            Partial obedience is still disobedience.

            Submit your whole life to Him

On earth

            We live in a world of disobedience (imperfect)

 

as it is in heaven. à  In God’s presence

            Perfect obedience

            Complete obedience

 Verse 11

Petition # 4 a request for God to provide for this day’s needs

Give us this day our daily bread.

            Do not worry, but trust in God to provide you what you need right NOW

            Prayer for needs not greeds

 

Exodus 15 the God who provided manna and meat in the wilderness for Israel - provides today        

Matthew 6:25-34 do not worry, focus upon the kingdom

 

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him

Verse 12

 Petition # 5 a request for forgiveness

 And forgive us our debts,

            Sin interferes with our relationship with God

                        Know what you have been forgiven of

                        Confess your sins

                        Repent – turn to God and from sin

             Luke 7:36-48 Woman washing Jesus’ feet with her tears recognized her need for forgiveness           

Luke 18:10-14 the Pharisee and the tax collector -- know who you are before God

 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

            Sin interferes with our relationship with each other

            We forgive because we have been forgiven

Matthew 5:23-24

                        Seek out forgiveness of those you have harmed

            Matthew 6:14-15

                        There is a link between our forgiving others and God forgiving us

            Matthew 11:25-26

                        Forgive those who have harmed you

 Verse 13

 Petition # 6 a request for help during times of testing and temptations

And do not lead us into temptation,

James1:2-4

                        Joy in the midst of trials

            James 1:13-15

                        Do not blame God when you succumb to temptation and sin

                                                God does not tempt or cause us to sin

           

Petition #7 a request for God to provide a way of escape when temptation comes

but deliver us from evil. 

            1 Corinthians 10:13

                        You are not tempted beyond what you can handle

                        God will provide you a way of escape from temptation

            1 Peter 1:6-9

                        Your trials bring about a greater witness of God’s provision

 

 [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

 The final line in the Disciples prayer, though not found in the oldest of scriptural text is most likely taken from 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 to form a doxology, a formula for praise, as often found in the Old Testament.

 1 Chronicles 29:11-13  ¹¹ "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  ¹² "Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.  ¹³ "Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

Compiled from the Book

Hemphill, Ken.  The Prayer of Jesus. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.

Worship for the Believer

  NOTE: This information was gathered & accumulated over years, thru reading various material & setting under godly men. I do not take credit for this tool that has helped me, I can only take credit for gathering it together in a way that is beneficial to me & I hope others. I do not wish to plagiarize anyone’s individual work, but I am unable to express proper citation due to gathering various notes & scraps of paper from my own study that I have accumulated over the years. I am grateful for all those who have allowed God to use them to help use become better witnesses to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 100:1-5  A Psalm for Thanksgiving

¹ Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
² Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing. 
³ Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 
⁴ Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 
⁵ For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Worship

1 Chronicles 16:23-31  ²³ Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.  ²⁴ Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.  ²⁵ For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.  ²⁶ For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.  ²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.  ²⁸ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.  ²⁹ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the LORD in holy array.  ³⁰ Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.  ³¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."

“To worship God is to ascribe the proper worth to God, to magnify His worthiness of praise,

or better, to approach and address God as He is Worthy.”

Donald S. Whitney

 What does God say to us about Worship

·        Old Testament

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make for yourself any idols.

3. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.                         (Exodus 20:1-11)

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

·        New Testament

Matthew 22:37-38 YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;  ²⁹ for our God is a consuming fire.

Believers are to Worship God in their everyday Lives?

Romans 12:1-2  

I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

v  Worship is lived out through the Head, the Heart and the Hands of the Believer.

 

Worship is Focusing on & Responding to God 

·        General Revelation  --  How God reveals Himself in His Creation, Nature 

Romans 1:20  ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Ø  General Revelation shows us there is a Creator-God

·        Special Revelation   --  How God reveals Himself thru the Word of God, the Bible 

2 Timothy 3:14-15 ¹⁴ You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,  ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Ø  Special Revelation tells us how to have a relationship with that Creator-God

 

v  Worship is about being Theocentric/Christocentric, God/Christ centered.

“The Glory of God is always the issue”

Gordon L. Borror 

Psalms 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 

“Your view of God is the most important view you have, and to the extent your view of God is distorted…to the extent, your life is out of focus.”

Gordon L. Borror

Worship is to be done in Spirit & in Truth

John 4:23-24 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

·        Worship in Spirit

Only a person indwelt by the Holy Spirit can worship God (1 Corinthians 12:3).

The Spirit reveals God to us, and teaches the truth of Scripture.

Worship of God in the Spirit begins through a Personal Relationship with Jesus 

·        Worship in Truth

Worship must be in accordance to the Truth of who God is as revealed by Scripture

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Worship on Earth is an Extension of Worship in Heaven 

Revelation 4:8-11  ⁸ And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."  ⁹ And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,  ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  ¹¹ "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."

Worship is to be expected both Publicly & Privately

·        Public Worship (Ekklesia - Assembly - Local Church)

Hebrews 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.                       

v  Believers are to meet together as a Body that they might worship God together.

Ø  In our Praise                                       

Ø  In our Prayer

Ø  In our Preaching                                 

Ø  In our Response

·        Private Worship (Individual - Family- Home)         

Matthew 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 

v  Believers are to spend private time alone with God.

Ø  In Reading, Studying, Meditating upon God’s Word

Ø  In Prayer and In Praise to God

Public Worship should fold into our Private Worship; 

And our Private Worship should fold into our Public Worship

                       

 

 

The Lord's Supper for the Believer

 NOTE: This information was gathered & accumulated over years, thru reading various material & setting under godly men. I do not take credit for this tool that has helped me, I can only take credit for gathering it together in a way that is beneficial to me & I hope others. I do not wish to plagiarize anyone’s individual work, but I am unable to express proper citation due to gathering various notes & scraps of paper from my own study that I have accumulated over the years. I am grateful for all those who have allowed God to use them to help use become better witnesses to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 10:15-17  

¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. ¹⁶ Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread

The Lord’s Supper

“Breaking of Bread -- Communion”

What is the Lord’s Supper?

 The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. (Baptist Faith & Message 2000)

• Where Baptism is the initiating ordinance of the Christian Life into the Church

• The Lord’s Supper is an ongoing ordinance of the Christian Life within the Church

 

Why Observe the Lord’s Supper?

v  It is commanded by Jesus

Luke 22:19 ¹⁹ And when [Jesus] had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

v  The Apostles continued it

1 Cor 11:23,25 ²³ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread… ²⁵ In the same way He took the cup also after supper

• Observing is not watching but Participating in the Lord’s Supper

 

What are the Elements of the Lord’s Supper?

v  The Bread

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

• Represents the incarnate (made flesh) Body of Christ Jesus 

• It is a reminder of Christ’s broken body unselfishly assumed
  & given for the forgiveness of sin

 

v  The Cup

1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

• Represents the Blood of Christ that was poured out that a new covenant
  may be made between God and man

• Without the Blood: There would be

§  No forgiveness and cleansing from sin

§  No relationship with God

§  No transformation of the Heart

§  No Salvation
 

What does the Lord’s Supper Proclaim?

1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

v  The Lord’s Supper is a Visual Sermon,

• Proclaiming the Message of the Cross---the selfless death of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins 

• Proclaiming the Imminent Return of the Lord Jesus 

 

Does the Lord’s Supper bring about Salvation? 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

• The Lord’s Supper provides no saving work by which a person
  may proclaim right standing before God 

• It is an outward expression of a believer’s testimony of faith
  in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior

• It is a personal proclamation to the body of Christ that a person believes himself
  to be in right standing before God

 

Who May Participate in the Lord’s Supper?

Acts 2:41-42 those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching
and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

v  Only those who have:      

1)     Accepted by faith Jesus Christ as their personal Lord & Savior

2)     Been scripturally baptized by immersion

3)     Joined in Fellowship with a Church and in good standing as a member

• Baptism is a symbol of the beginning of the Christian life 

• The Lord’s Supper is a symbol of the continuation of living the Christian life 

 

How Should a Believer Prepare Himself before Taking the Lord’s Supper? 

1 Cor 11:27-29 whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. ³⁰ For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.

1)     Only after a prayerful self-examination of one’s walk with the Lord

2)     After Confession and Repentance of sins have been made

• To take the bread or the fruit of the vine when a person is knowingly and willfully disobedient toward the commands of God is to risk bringing judgment upon one’s self

•  There are consequences for partaking in an unworthy manner
  both Physically and Spiritually

• It is better and more right for a believer to allow the bread and fruit of the vine
  to pass than to sear one’s conscience

 

What does the Lord’s Supper Represent?

v  It represents:

1)     A Believer’s Union with Christ

2)     A Believer’s ongoing Identity with the Savior as His committed follower

3)     A Believer’s ongoing spiritual growth

4)     The unity and fellowship of the Body of Christ, in the local Church (1 Cor 10:16-17)

5)     Accountability within the Church both personally & corporately (1 Cor 11:28)

6)     The Missionary spirit of the Church in its proclamation of the Gospel (1 Cor 11:26)

7)     The Church’s anticipation of the end of the age and coming Marriage Supper of the Lamb

(Rev 19:6-9)

Baptism & the Believer

 NOTE: This information was gathered & accumulated over years, thru reading various material & setting under godly men. I do not take credit for this tool that has helped me, I can only take credit for gathering it together in a way that is beneficial to me & I hope others. I do not wish to plagiarize anyone’s individual work, but I am unable to express proper citation due to gathering various notes & scraps of paper from my own study that I have accumulated over the years. I am grateful for all those who have allowed God to use them to help use become better witnesses to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Romans 6:2-8  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?  ³ Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  ⁴ Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  ⁵ For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,  ⁶ knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  ⁷ for he who has died is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him

What is Baptism?

It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to a believer’s faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper. (Baptist Faith and Message 2000)

The GOSPEL

1 Corinthians 15:3-4   ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

• When a Person Repents & Believes the Gospel 

• And by Faith Believes on Christ Jesus

Ø  Confessing Jesus as Lord & Believing God Raised Him from the Dead

§  They are Saved by Grace thru Faith

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Baptism is a Symbolic Act of Obedience

Colossians 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

 v  Baptism is a Visual Sermon of Christ’s Death, Burial & Resurrection 

Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

v  Baptism is a Public Profession of Faith.

Baptism does not “save you.” It is an outward expression of an inward change of the heart through faith in Christ Jesus as Lord & Savior. Only your faith in Him brings salvation. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

v  Baptism doesn’t make you a believer—it shows that you already believe.

• You’re Not any more Saved if you do
• You’re Not any less Saved if you don’t
  
  

Who should be Baptized? 

• Every person who has believed on Christ Jesus for the Salvation from Sin

Romans 10:9  If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved 

Acts 2:41 those who had received his word were baptized  

Why should a Believer be Baptized? 

1)     To Follow the example set by Jesus

Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

 

2)     Because Jesus commands that every Believer be Baptized

 

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

3)     It demonstrates that a person is a believer

Acts 18:8 many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. 

1 John 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 

 

Why be Baptized by immersion? 

1)     Because Jesus was Baptized that way.

Matthew 3:16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water

2)     Every Baptism in the Bible was by immersion.

Acts 8:38-39 they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water

3)     The word “Baptize” means to “live under water.”

Ø  The Greek word baptizo means “to immerse or dip under water.”

 

When should a Person be Baptized? 

• As soon as they have believed!

Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.  

There is no reason to delay.

As soon as a person Believes, they can & should be Baptized. 

If you attempt to wait until you are “perfect” or “good enough” you will never get Baptized. 

We don’t get Baptized because we are perfect or good enough. 

We get Baptized because Jesus commanded it.