Sacred and Holy

Teach Us To Pray

The disciples watched Jesus and saw that prayer was a priority in His daily life, so they wanted to learn how to pray like Jesus.

When they came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Jesus responded with what we refer to as The Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰ Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

This prayer is not really a prayer to be recited. It is more of a pattern to be followed.

Have you ever noticed that the Lord’s Prayer beings and ends with praise. 

Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

v. 9 Our Father which art in heaven,

This is the one commonality we all have as followers of Christ.

We all have One Father, who is in heaven.

v. 9 Hallowed be thy name.

The word “hallow” (hagiazo), "to make holy" (from hagios, "holy"), signifies to set apart for God, to sanctify, to make a person or thing the opposite of "common". (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.

JHVH – LORD in all caps (actually capital L and small capital letters)

Jehovah is the most sacred, holy name of God.

When God wished to make a special revelation of Himself, He used the name Jehovah. In that name He revealed Himself as the true and eternal God. The One who is absolutely self-existent, the One who is unchangeable.

The significance and origin of the name Jehovah are brought out in God’s revelation of Himself to Moses at the burning bush. (Ex. 3:13-15)

Through centuries of oppression, the children of Israel had believed in God’s existence, but they had never experienced His presence.

When the Lord proclaimed to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM,” the name He used for Himself was considered by Hebrew translators too sacred to be spoken aloud. So they used the consonants YHWH or JHVH, which is read as Yahweh or Jehovah. The Jewish scribes refer to it as the sacred tetragrammaton, the unspeakable four letters.

To the Jews, the name JHVH became a name that kept God at a distant. But the more you study the name of God and understand the significance of JHVH, you realize the value of running to Him where you discover great truths about His character.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! …

[Hebrew] JHVH, Adonai

Adonai – speaks of relationship. Adonai speaks of His right to rule over us.

Adonai challenges every person who call God “Lord” to be willing to live in a way that demonstrates His Lordship.

To declare “He is Lord” must be done not only with our lips but also with our lives.

In the Old Testament there are nine names compounded with the name Jehovah. Each of these names is a revelation of the character and nature of God.

1. Jehovah-elyon: The LORD Most High.

Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

When God reveals Himself with this name, Jehovah-elyon, He is stating loud and clear that He is not one of many gods, but the one true, mighty and all-powerful God. 

2. Jehovah-tsidkenu: The LORD My Righteousness.

Jeremiah 23:6 This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

With this name, Jehovah-tsidkenu, God declares He is the sole pure righteousness in the universe. He is the only hope and the only source available to make us righteous.

Jesus Christ, our Jehovah-tsidkenu was substituted for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Again, by revealing Himself in this name He shows He is not one of many gods but stands alone as the one true, holy, righteous God. 

3. Jehovah-shammah: The LORD is There.

Ezekiel 48:35 “And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

In ancient times, the view of a personal God who desired regular contact and relationship with people was virtually unknown.

Just as in many cultures today, people would go to elaborate lengths to appease the distant gods they worshiped or worked to “win the favor” of the gods —even by sacrificing their children in fire as they did with the false god Molech. They believed that by doing these things they would have a fruitful harvest, be free from strife or be spared tragic death— but in no way did they expect this god to express love to them or to desire a personal relationship with them. These gods were unloving and uncaring—even cruel in their disposition.

Jehovah-shammah reveals God as a personal God.

In contrast, the one true God we worship showed Himself to be a permanently present, loving Father God who desires fellowship and a personal relationship with us. 

4. Jehovah-m’kaddesh: The LORD Who Sanctifies.

Exodus 31:13 This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

Jehovah-m’kaddesh declares the holiness of God.

We praise God because He not only takes away our sins and lives His righteousness within us, but He also breaks the power of sin over us.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Because God does this, we are assured victory over every evil and temptation when we keep our trust firmly in Him. God alone has power that tears down every stronghold of sin. 

5. Jehovah-shalom: The LORD is Peace.

Judges 6:23-24 But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” ²⁴ So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace.

Jehovah-shalom reveals God’s promise of peace.

Only this one true God we worship can bring peace over the deepest, darkest worries and fears of the human heart. 

6. Jehovah-rophe: The LORD Who Heals.

Exodus 15:26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Whether it be through miraculous healing or simply setting into motion natural healing processes in people, He is the healer, but His healing is much more than just physical healing.

God is the One who heals the sickness—sin—that leads to the second death. Through the stripes on Jesus’ back we are healed.

Jehovah-rophe reveals God alone is the compassionate healer of His people from their sin, sickness and disease. 

7. Jehovah-jireh: The LORD Will Provide.

Genesis 22:13-14 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.  ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Jehovah-jireh reveals God’s promise of provision. This name means “the LORD who sees,” “the LORD will provide.”

God sees every need we have or will have. He has already made a way for each need to be met. He is our source for all we have and ever will have, whether it be money, food, shelter, clothing, etc.

Our God alone holds in His hands the resources to meet every need we have or can possibly experience. 

8. Jehovah-nissi: The LORD My Banner.

Exodus 17:15-16 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.  ¹⁶  He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD.

God also promises security and victory for those who love Him. Jehovah-nissi speaks of God as a conqueror. It means “the LORD My Banner.”

God is our victory over all our enemies and oppressors. He goes before us against our enemies and defeats them.

We have victory over those who behave wickedly toward us, who speak evil of us or who oppose our ministry efforts. Knowing this, we should be able to find courage and strength to face every adversary with assurance of victory.

God alone has the power to defeat our enemies, to deliver us from evil and to free us from oppression. 

9. Jehovah-rohi: The LORD My Shepherd.

Psalm 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. ²  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³  he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Jehovah-rohi speaks of God’s guidance and tender care. It is God’s very nature to care for us tenderly and guide us in the right way.

No matter what decision, choice or difficulty we face. God is our wisdom, our way maker and our guide. He alone sees the big picture. 

Only someone greater than we are and greater than our current situation can inspire our worship.

Only the creator of the universe, the Lord, meets all the qualifications. 

Though He is majestic and often mysterious, He is knowable. He chooses to be known by you. 

He has done everything He can on His part to have a relationship with you. 

He is worthy of worship because He alone is the Lord, the one, true, almighty God.

Matthew 6:9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

God is holy. Here are nine descriptions of who He is. Nine reasons to celebrate, venerate, and esteem Him as Holy.

What does all this mean? Jesus was teaching that our prayer should start with thanking God for Who He is.

1. Jehovah-elyon: The LORD Most High.

2. Jehovah-tsidkenu: The LORD My Righteousness.

3. Jehovah-shammah: The LORD is There.

4. Jehovah-m’kaddesh: The LORD Who Sanctifies.

5. Jehovah-shalom: The LORD is Peace.

6. Jehovah-rophe: The LORD Who Heals.

7. Jehovah-jireh: The LORD Will Provide.

8. Jehovah-nissi: The LORD My Banner.

9. Jehovah-rohi: The LORD My Shepherd.

Psalm 105:1-4 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. ² Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. ³ Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

"IF" by Mark Batterson

A Modern Day Book of Wisdom

I just finished reading Mark Batterson’s new book “IF.”

My first impression is that this book is a Modern Day Book of Wisdom.

With 30 Chapters, it could easily become one of those books that you read a chapter a day.

Each chapter is filled with nuggets of wisdom and encouragement.

Mark does an excellent job, painting the picture of our God who loves us more than anything.

Each Chapter of “IF” is a Mark Batterson commentary on Romans Chapter 8, a.k.a. The Great 8.

My favorite Chapter would have to be Chapter 12, “The Scenic Route.”

A couple of my favorite quotes from Chapter 12:

“Anything less than God-sized goals constitutes a lack of faith.”

 “Your job is simply this: ‘keep in step with the Spirit.’”

“You are someone else’s miracle. All you have to do is let the Spirit lead and obey His prompting.”

IF is filled with nuggets like those I found in Chapter 12.

At times some of the stories seem repetitive, perhaps that’s only from reading so many of Mark’s other books.

Even in chapter 30 I found myself making notes.

IF is a book that will hold your attention to the very end.

In fact, once you begin reading you’ll have a hard time finding a place to stop!

All About the Grace

Let's have a short talk about grace.
Many people believe that when you live under grace, it is a license to do whatever you want to do.
You know, like grace is a big cover-up.
When we treat the Grace of God like a big cover-up, we cheapen His Grace!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in The Cost of Discipleship, "Cheap grace is grace we bestow upon ourselves... the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship...
Costly grace is the gospel which must e sought again and again... it is costly because it cost a man His life, and it is grace because it gives man the only true life."

The Grace of God is unmerited favor, but not just unmerited favor.

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹² It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

The Grace of God when it comes into your life:

1)    Gives you the DESIRE to do God’s will.

2)    Gives you the STRENGTH to follow through with it.

God's Grace will empower us to have the desire to do what is right.

God's Grace will empower us with the strength to follow through with our decision.

Think of God's Grace like this:

G = God’s love flows through us.

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

R = Redemption comes to us from Christ through grace.

Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

A = Abundance of power to keep us for Christ comes through grace.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Though the law showed us how to live to please God, it can do nothing to empower us to live for God.

We are saved through grace and we are kept in Christ through the abundant grace God provides.

C = Changes come to us through grace.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

When you allow God’s grace to grow in you, you cannot help changing. Your attitude, words and actions are transformed.

E = Extravagant and Endless resources for kindness and service.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

What we freely receive we freely give to others.

Through grace, we have an endless resource from which we can draw to produce good works of kindness.

We want to serve God with all that is in us — not to earn our way to heaven but out of obedience that comes from a grateful heart.

Because I live under God's Grace, I live in such a way as to honor Him because of all He has done for me.

God's Grace is unmerited favor. It cannot be earned. It is a gift.

A free gift that cost Jesus everything!

Walking by Faith

Have you ever really thought about what it means to walk by faith?
Do we really have faith?
We have faith for some things, you know like, "I had faith in this chair I'm sitting in." I had faith that it would hold me up! Or, "I had faith the switch on the wall would turn on the light."
Everyday we do things and never once worry about will it happen like it is supposed to.

But then, there are bigger things. You know, times when you must decide to live by faith or to hold back in fear.

I wonder how many times we choose not to do something or go somewhere that God has planned for us because we are afraid?

Recently I was listening to a podcast by Steven Furtick, during the message he said, "I would rather stand before God as a failure than one who was afraid."

This comment has really stuck with me. Paul told Timothy, "God has not given us a spirit of fear..."; the writer of Hebrews said, "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

Which word defines my life? Faith or fear?
Do I really walk by faith, or am I more likely to let fear keep me from trying something new or going somewhere different?

I recently read Tommy Barnett's book, "There's a Miracle in Your House."
The following quotes come from his book:
"The greatest hinderance to walking by faith is trying to be fail-safe."
"In the making of every miracle are faith, obedience and the willingness to take a risk."

I read both of these statements and realized how great they are. I've shared them several times with different people. Then suddenly the other day I felt the Lord say, "Hey Dummy, those were for you too!"
I had been so focused on encouraging others that I almost missed what God was trying to do in me.

Then I heard that statement from Steven Furtick.

I have decided I will be one who walks by faith, even if sometimes that step of faith ends in failure.

What is God asking you to take a step of faith and do? Are you willing to risk everything?

Take that next step of faith, even if you can't see where the next step is. You'll be glad you did!