Author: Don Guthrie

In the last week of His life, the  Lord was standing by a fig tree that had shriveled  as a result of His curse.  It represented Israel, barren of fruit, dried up and cast away from the purpose of God (for now).  Almost without warning, the Lord added this word, “whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in Heaven will also forgive you.” (Mark 11:25)  Was He still thinking about the tree?  Probably.  Jesus knew that nothing in all of life will make us more useless and fruitless  than unforgivenss.  Nothing will shrivel our spiritual strength faster than hate harbored in the heart. Remember, God’s standard is His own forgiveness, full and free, not half-hearted and grudging.  If God is Love dare we pray less?  Friend, as you pray today are you loving your enemies?

If we call God “Father”, shouldn’t there be clear indications that we are truly His children?  Yes!  We ought to be able to point to His discipline.  “for God deals with you as sons; for what son is there that the father does not discipline?” (Hebrews 11:7)   We should have evidence of His moral influence, a strong family resemblance.  “Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1)  We should be obedient–especially with regards to other members of our family.  (1 Peter 1:22-23)  When we call God our Father it must be more than a word choice.  It must be an indication of a true relationship!  If God is Father then we must be sons and daughters.

When we call God “Father” as Jesus taught us to do , what evidence do we have that it is so?  It is a privilege that does not belong to everyone.  “We have God as our Father”, said the Jews in John 8:41.  Jesus denied it.  “Your Father is the Devil” (John 8:44) So, how do we know that we are His children?  We look for obvious signs.  A true child of God “crys Abba Father” (Romans 8:15)  Fervency in prayer (cry) and intimacy in relationship (Abba) are indicators.  A true child is “born of the Spirit”. (John 3)  He is led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14) and has the witness of the Spirit within himself (Romans 8:16).  There are other indications which we will name tomorrow.  For today, when you call God “Father” what evidence can you see that you are truly His child?

When you pray, do you EXPECT God to deliver you?  When you say the words “Deliver us from evil” (for yourself or for others) do you ANTICIPATE HIS RESCUE  from sin or depression or confusion?  Paul did.  Even in prison,  he was confident that his own prayers and those of others would cause God to act in His behalf.  “In this I rejoice, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers”.  Sometimes, God leaves the problem in place and supplies strength to face it. This is deliverance too.  He “spreads a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. (Psalm 23)  The problems stay but God invites us  to come and sit and eat and rest and find strength for a battle that needs to be fought.  When you pray, do you expect God to come to your rescue?

Is it hard for you to forgive?  Even knowing that it is a prayer requirement of Christ, does it grate on you to let someone off “scott free” after you have been hurt?  It may help to remember the promise of God. “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves.  Leave that to God.  For it is written, ‘I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it” says the Lord”. (Romans 12:19)  To release the right to repay those who wound us is a Christ-like action.  “Christ did not retaliate when He was insulted.  When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even.  He left His case in the hands of God who always judges fairly.” (1 Peter 2:23)  As you pray today, will you do what He did?

Dr James Rosscup is a professor at Master’s Seminary.  One semester (true story) he had a student who depended on his wife to type his papers.  One evening the student called to ask for an extension on a paper due the next day.  His wife was in the hospital and he hoped Dr. Rosscup would relax the standards and allow him to be late this one time.  But the standards were set and Dr. Rosscup would not accept the paper if it was late.  “Where do you live?” he asked.  A short time later, he arrived at the student’s home took his place at the keyboard and typed the paper for him. (Nancy Guthrie, The One Year Book of Hope)   What a beautiful picture of Christ’s work.  The standard (holiness) is unchangeable.  Unattainable for us, He comes to do it for us and in us.  When you pray today “Father forgive us” will you remember that the way He does so is to have the Savior type your paper?

In Matthew 17 (our verse for this week), Jesus says “this kind does not come out but by prayer and FASTING”.  If prayer is grasping the invisible world, fasting is letting go of the material one.  “In nothing are we more clearly connected with the world of the senses than in our need for food and our enjoyment of it.” (Andrew Murray)  It is only in the life of moderation, temperance and self-denial that we discover time or strength for all that prayer can mean.  This is NOT legalism.  I know that some versions do not include this verse in the Bible.  However, the long testimony of our Lord is that He was willing to give up anything, do without anything (time, food, approval of others etc) in the pursuit of a vibrant and powerful relationship with His Father.  As we grow in Him, may we learn the same willingness.  I will see you in a few hours as we worship the One from whom we learned the power and practise of prayer.

We are talking this week about faith and prayer, how prayer strengthens faith, how faith strengthens prayer.  Partners.  Remember, our faith is in God not it prayer itself. So, when you pray are you aware of the Lord’s presence?  Do you feel HIM stretching your trust, requesting a release of your inborn reluctance and resistance?  All believers still have residual unresolved sin (the natural man).  It is not a bad sign when you feel the struggle as you pray.  Good sign actually.  The most common mistake is to look for “magic words” that can be said to gain God’s favor, without going through the difficult process of learning trust.  It is in listening to Him and loving Him that trust is developed.  What we get when we pray is a real conversation with God.  What we get from this conversation is more faith.  What we get from more faith is more power as we pray.  Personal note–later today we will gather in memory of our friend and brother, Dr. Chuck Musfeldt.  Your prayers for the family, for the bus driver and for all who knew this man of God will be appreciated.  My love to you.

This week we are thinking about belief as an essential ingredient in powerful prayer.  In Matthew 17:19-21 Jesus tells the disciples that their spiritual failure is due to unbelief.  Even with a small amount (mustard seed size),  nothing is impossible.  “This kind comes out only by prayer”, the Lord says.  Prayer and faith are partners.  When we pray, our fellowship with Him increases our trust.  When we trust, our prayers receive God’s attention and power.  Faith needs the life of prayer to grow strong.  Prayer needs the presence of faith to serve with strength.  We do not fail because the power is unavailable.  Even with stubborn problems and mountain size difficulties, we fail because we do not pray or we do not believe when we do.

“They suppose they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7)  Danger!  Just saying the Lord’s prayer, even 365 times, will not automatically accomplish the will of God nor add power or peace to your life.  Without faith, we will not be  heard.  Meaningless is the word Jesus used to describe such activity. (see Matthew 6:7, full verse).  The “power” of prayer rises from the quality of your relationship with God.  The quality of your relationship with God rises from your faith!  This week, we are thinking about believing prayer.  As you pray this morning, ask yourself, “what do I BELIEVE the Lord will do as a result of this request?”.  What are my expectations? What are His expectations of me, and which direction would my prayers go if I surrendered to His influence?  NOTHING holy or helpful  comes from a prayer that does not connect your heart to God in honest and vulnerable trust!