Forgiveness is such an important truth and practice. Without God’s forgiveness, we do not have salvation or hope. In addition, without God’s forgiveness, we cannot forgive others. The forgiveness of God is amazingly wonderful and the foundation of our hope. Out of all of man’s problems, sin is our biggest. Only God can forgive sins and free us from the power of sin (Acts 2:38). Sin is so powerful. It plagues us with guilt, wearing down the joy and peace in life. When we sin, we have guilt and when others sin against us, we harbor bitterness and resentment. Sin is destructive wherever it manifests. We must understand we sin against the holy God and require His forgiveness.

In verse 4, right after teaching us to pray for our daily bread, Jesus teaches us to ask for God’s forgiveness. Just as we need daily bread, we need God’s forgiveness daily for our spiritual nourishment. This is because we sin daily. So understanding your fallenness and seeking God’s forgiveness is a sign of a healthy Christian who is receiving spiritual nourishment every day. In fact, the sign of a mature Christian is not a boastful righteousness but a daily humble seeking of forgiveness. The more mature Christians are, the more they realize how sinful they are and how much they need God’s forgiveness. Even though we are sinners, we can be confident in seeking God’s forgiveness. We are like the prodigal son, whose restoration began with his realization of his sin and seeking the loving compassion of his father (Luke 15:18,20). A mature Christian realizes we are like the prodigal every day.

What is forgiveness? The word forgiveness denotes to cut off, to separate, or to let go. To be forgiven by God means our sin is taken away, we are separated from our sin, and God no longer holds it against us anymore. Previously, we were separated from God because of our sins. But when we are forgiven we are with God and separated from sin. Like the scapegoat in Leviticus or as far as the east is from the west, our sins are sent far away (Psalm 103:12). How wonderful!

When God forgives, he commits to forget, never to revisit it again. In His grace, the omniscient God does not remember our sins (Isaiah 43:25). His forgiveness is absolute. His forgiveness is also abundant, coming first ahead of His wrath and in great amounts (Romans 5:20). His forgiveness is real and actual, not merely lip service. Look at Apostle Paul who was formerly a blasphemer and persecutor of the church (1 Timothy 1:13). How could he become an apostle and beloved child of God without real and true forgiveness (1 Corinthians 15:10)? Due to God’s forgiveness Apostle Paul was supplied with daily strength and motivation to serve God faithfully.

God’s forgiveness of our sins is eternal. You must know the forgiveness of God to practice forgiving others. How can our relationships be characterized by forgiveness?

God’s forgiveness is only possible through a sinner’s repentance. God is always ready to forgive anyone, anywhere. That’s why Jesus’ message from the beginning was repentance. Repentance is to turn from your sinful life and to hold onto Jesus with wholehearted devotion. Repentance is not mere lip service but a wrestling deep within the soul, a conviction born by the Holy Spirit. It is more than remorseful emotions, more than mental acknowledgement but a dramatic turning to God in the fear of God. In true repentance, you feel the wickedness and hopelessness of your sin before the Holy God while also realizing only Jesus can save you. True repentance is the work of the Holy Spirit transforming one’s soul from a desire towards sin to glorifying and worshipping Jesus.

Therefore forgiveness only comes through Jesus. If your repentance and forgiveness is 99.9% of God but 0.1% of your contribution, then you are damned (Acts 13:38-39). We contribute nothing to our forgiveness, we pay no part of the ransom or reparation. This is because God is holy and demands perfection which is only found in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:5). Only through Jesus can a sinner be forgiven.

God’s forgiveness is unlimited. There is no sin no matter how dark or how large that God cannot forgive. No person is too wicked or too lost. Jesus carried every single sin, past, present, and future, of every believer. Jesus cried out to God as forsaken while bearing our sins on the cross. He wasn’t forsaken for some of our sins but for every sin. Each and every one of those sins, no matter how bad, is completely forgiven. This was proven by Jesus’ resurrection. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be white as snow”. It doesn’t matter how wicked your crimes may be and how stained you are with guilt, God can make you new and clean. God is able to forgive and save.

God’s forgiveness is not measured by feelings. There is a huge gap between God’s forgiveness and your feeling of His forgiveness. Many people complain that they don’t feel forgiven even though they know they are. This is because they haven’t fully repented yet. What’s more important than feeling forgiven is believing and obeying because you are forgiven. God’s forgiveness is the truth and objective (1 John 2:1).

God’s forgiveness is immediate. God does not need time to evaluate before forgiving someone. There is no “grace period” or probation. The moment you repent you are forgiven because the Holy Spirit is there. The moment you repent you are forgiven and part of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15, Romans 8:1).

God’s forgiveness is promised. God is immutable which means He never changes His nature or His mind. He never breaks His promise. Man changes all the time and we fail to keep our promises. Before being the spark of the Reformation, Martin Luther was driven crazy by his guilt and obsession to be forgiven. He would constantly be in the confession booth, and the stress of guilt caused his body to fall sick. One time he climbed the stairs at St Peter’s Basilica on his knees, saying a prayer on every step, seeking forgiveness. When he had reached the top he questioned whether it had worked. Martin Luther had failed to realize God’s promise of forgiveness in Romans 1:17. “The righteous shall by faith” which means we are made righteous (forgiven) through faith in Jesus Christ. God promises to forgive and He never fails to. If God forgives then you are truly righteous.

God’s forgiveness is free. No cost to us. This does not mean it is cheap. God paid the ultimate price but He gives it for free to us because He is gracious and merciful. The gospel is freely offered to the poor (Luke 4:18). Just come and receive the grace of God (Isaiah 55:1).

God’s forgiveness is complete. There is no trace of sin left. God looks at a sinner and sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. They are white as snow.

You cannot buy God’s forgiveness. It cannot be earned. If you were to die tonight what can you present to God? We can only depend on God’s forgiveness. If you are forgiven, then you are surely forgiven completely and for all eternal. How can forgiveness be obtained? We must simply ask. If we are forgiven, then we forgive others.

God is transcendent and knows best how to deal with the daily needs of each believer. God is able to provide and continually ahead according to verse 3. Does this translate to gratitude toward God as we receive our daily sustenance? If we forget God, we do not demonstrate our trust and dependence on him. 

Why do we pray for our daily bread? Living in America, we often think we do not depend daily on our sustenance because food is readily available. Jesus, as a man, also needed daily food just as we do, and he prayed to the Father for provision and gave thanks. In the same manner, we must pray and depend on the Father in humility. Praying for our daily bread implies several things as we are under the whole counsel of God in Scripture.

Everything belongs to the Lord; nothing is ours. Every problem occurs with rejecting God’s ownership and thinking certain things belong to us (Psa. 24:1; 1 Tim. 6:7; Psa. 34:10). It is foolishness to think that everything is provided and blessed by God, which makes us stewards of his provisions (Lk. 12:18-21). So, it is God’s gift to us that we have our daily bread because without God providing it, nothing is guaranteed. 

Christians are pilgrims and merely sojourning through this world on our way to heaven. In our pilgrimage, there are a myriad of challenges believers face and go through. But through it all, we must have an attitude of needing our daily bread because this world is not our permanent residence. Prayer for sustaining our bodies to remove our worries and anxieties is all we need.

Praying for our daily bread is a sign of being a true Christian. Being poor in spirit is total dependence and faith in God regardless of our financial situation. Jesus practiced being poor in spirit (Lk. 22:42). As God’s people, their trust and reliance become directed only to the Father. Dependence on our efforts or anything through worldly means must be removed. 

Prayer for our daily bread is for the brethren as much as it is for our own needs. Jesus did not pray only for himself, but he prayed for everyone’s needs. Even though we pray in this way for God to provide the daily needs of our fellow believers, it does not condone laziness. Prayer is trust and obedience. They are not exclusive. Diligence must be a characteristic of all Christians (2 Thess. 3:10). Jesus exemplified prayer and obedience as he always acted according to his prayers.

Prayer for our daily bread is a sign of obedience. Jesus said to pray daily, not weekly or monthly. As we pray daily to God, it is in a way to test God. And as God provides daily, he exemplifies his daily faithfulness. Jesus knows that the Father is faithful and he desires each believer to experience the blessings of his faithfulness. His omniscience and omnipotence are directly related to his faithfulness as he knows each one’s needs and he is able to fulfill those needs. Consequently, Christians who obey and experience God’s faithfulness daily become content with whatever he provides (Phil. 4:12-19). 

Our daily bread belongs to God alone, so we are to pray continuously daily. Jesus commands us to pray in this way because God is our Shepherd and we are his sheep. Let us know our Shepherd more and grow in our dependence on him daily.

The Lord’s prayer begins with addressing God as our Father. Whenever we pray we must see God as our Father who is perfect, divine, holy, loving, and infinite. The first petition to our Father in heaven is ‘Hallowed be Your name’. God has many wonderful names and we worship Him according to His attributes. The second petition is ‘Your kingdom come’. This petition is actually the point of Jesus’ coming to earth, to bring the kingdom of God.

What is the kingdom of God?

First, the kingdom of God the Father is the same as the kingdom of Jesus the Son. Like the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Jesus is eternal and both the Father and the Son are working (2 Peter 1:11, John 5:17-18). It is very clear that Jesus claimed to be God the Son and with the same kingdom. All the different terms for the kingdom are just different ways to refer to the kingdom of God for different audiences.

Generally speaking, all of God’s creation is God’s kingdom because God is sovereign. He owns and rules over all things (Psalm 103:19). Narrowly speaking is the spiritual rule over the hearts and minds of those who submit to His authority. In other words, every Christian who has the Holy Spirit in their heart is the kingdom of God. The signs of a Christian are one who repents and believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ who obeys and honors God with their lives and follows the rules of God’s government. Before we are American or a citizen of any country, the identity of a Christian is a citizen of the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God also refers to the future millennial kingdom as it is mentioned in Daniel 2:44 and Revelation 20:4. This is the future nation where Jesus will be physically reigning on earth for 1000 years in Jerusalem and His eternal kingdom.

Jesus ushers in the beginning of the kingdom of God (Luke 11:20). By His miracles and gospel message He brought the kingdom of God from heaven to earth. The same applies to us, as we heard the gospel of Jesus and the Holy Spirit entered our hearts, then we entered the kingdom of God. That is why we trust and obey Him. We have nothing to fear in this world because our king is Jesus. He is the great and mighty King who stands strong which means we can also stand strong in any situation. So we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23) because He is our King. It is by denying ourselves and following Him His gracious and loving rule that is manifested in our lives.

We must remember what we all once were before we were in the kingdom of God. We were under the kingdom of Satan (John 8:44). Even if we were moral and upright on the outside, our true identity as sinners belonged to Satan, full of guilt and shame.

Kingdom of Grace

The kingdom of God has two aspects. The first is His power, His complete control over all things. An example of God’s power is in the life of Joseph (Genesis 50:20). He is the king who changes things according to His will.

The other aspect of God’s kingdom is God’s grace which is presented here by Jesus in ‘Your kingdom come’. The reality of God’s grace and redemption through the coming of Jesus. Jesus came to save the people from their sins. Jesus is the Messianic king who came to redeem God’s people for the kingdom. Why would Jesus give up His heavenly position, live a life of suffering, be betrayed by his own disciples, and die on the cross? So he could rescue and redeem His people. We didn’t deserve to be redeemed. This only happens by God’s grace. Jesus brings the kingdom of God, this was why He came.

Why is grace called a kingdom? Because, when grace comes, there is a kingly government set up in the soul. Grace rules the will and affections, and brings the whole man in subjection to Christ; it kings it in the soul, sways the scepter, subdues mutinous lusts, and keeps the soul in a spiritual decorum. – Thomas Watson

Jesus is the only way into the kingdom. There is no grace or hope with Jesus (Romans 9:3). Without Jesus there is no church. So the church must be like Jesus, bringing the kingdom of God into the world.

The priority of the kingdom in prayer

This petition comes as the second petition. It comes before our daily bread. True Christianity realizes the priority of God’s kingdom even before our needs and desires (Matthew 4:4). We seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first and then God will provide. The order matters. God’s kingdom is first because the kingdom is our eternal life. It is more important but also more valuable and wonderful.

Therefore it is our duty to pray for God’s kingdom to come. We must pray for the lost and salvation of sinners. Jesus did not come to bless us with wealth or fame. He came to redeem sinners. This is a fundamental existential truth in our lives as followers of Christ. Is food more important than the gospel? Ask yourself what matters most in your life. (Luke 9:25) It must be the kingdom of God and the gospel call. Do not be foolish and under the power of sin by living for this dying world (1 Timothy 6:7). Pray and live for the kingdom of God.

How do you know if you’re in the kingdom of God?

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – Romans 14:17. You must be righteous to be in the kingdom of God. However, none of us are righteous. Not even the cutest baby is righteous. Many people confuse being spiritual with being righteous. None are righteous and can approach God. The only way to be righteous is to have the righteousness of Jesus imputed to us (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can only be righteous in Jesus, and if we are righteous then we will also have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:1). Only the righteousness of Jesus brings peace with God and the peace of God. This is why the righteous man can experience the love of God in any circumstance. In fact, the love of God is felt more deeply the tougher the situation we are in because we realize the superiority of Jesus and His gift of righteousness.

The invisible kingdom made invisible

It is the Christian’s duty to make the kingdom of God visible to others. They do so by obedience. Jesus revealed the kingdom of God through His obedience. While Jesus was dying on the cross, during that moment of humble obedience, the centurion witnessed the kingdom of God. The Christian might seem meek and humble on the inside but they are fortified and strong as they follow the will of God in obedience. People can see the power and glory of the kingdom through our obedience. Obedience makes the invisible visible.

To obey we must have a heavenly preoccupation. We are pilgrims here and our home is heaven (Colossians 3:1). So we must keep looking heavenward. From the moment we are saved we are transformed. Our king is now Jesus, our lives are righteous and obedient, and our home is in heaven. Our work is to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19). Therefore we pray for God’s kingdom to come (Matthew 29:19).

When praying, we need to know who we are addressing; that is, God the Father. And if we want to pray as Jesus did, he emphasizes six petitions to be included in our prayers. Before making the petitions, Jesus begins his prayer to the Father and considers him as the most sacred. In other words, Jesus is praying that the Father’s name is to be hallowed and lifted up in honor through prayer. 

In the Jewish culture, names had much more meaning as it was all the person was. God’s name is equated with his person and nature. It is his name we put our trust in him because of who he is (Ps. 9:10). An example is Jehovah Jireh, which means the Lord will provide. When Abraham had faith in God to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering to the Lord, he provided a ram who had his horns caught in the thicket of the bush that would take the place of his son (Gen. 22:13). 

The first petition begins with being occupied with the knowledge of God’s holiness. Beginning with this understanding will increase our confidence in the Lord as we pray. Holiness means to be set apart. When the prophet Isaiah saw a vision of God, his holiness caused him to say, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!” Even the seraphim demonstrates God’s holiness as they covered their face, and feet and flew with their wings in his presence (Isa. 6:1-2, 5). “God’s holiness embodies the mystery of his awesomeness and causes us to gaze in wonder at him as we begin to comprehend just a little of his majesty” (R.C. Sproul).

If we do not understand God’s holiness in prayer, we profane his name and take him lightly and too casually. When Moses did not believe him and treated God as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, God’s judgment came down on him and Israel (Num. 20:12-13). In addition, prayerlessness is also dishonored because the redeemed are liberated to pray unceasingly to the Father.

The second petition is to hold the Father’s holy name in awe. Unfortunately, many take the name of the Lord’s name in vain. Whether it is by using God’s name as a curse word or making careless swearing by his name, we must carefully consider using God’s holy name in vain. In contrast, we esteem the Father’s holy name in awe in worship and prayer. 

In whatever we do, we can worship God as we have been delivered from our sin to worship him and pray (Acts. 2:42). Worship includes adoration to God as we bless his holy name and lift him up on high as he alone is worthy. In prayer we not only address the holy Father, but prayer always leads us to confess our sins and repent for he is faithful to forgive (1 Jn. 1:9). God also shows his power to make us righteous as we repent.

Moreover, as we hold God’s holy name in the highest esteem, our prayers will become preaching to ourselves for our edification. And as we pray in this way, we are emboldened. 

The third petition is to approach prayer in personal holiness. Only holy people can pray in the way Jesus taught. “Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God” (Jerry Bridges). Every Christian is holy because they have been justified by the Holy Spirit. But ongoing personal holiness is only possible when Christ is sanctified in their hearts. 

“The righteous man in James 5:16 is right with God practically in His daily life, whose ways please the Lord. If we walk not in separation from the world, if we deny not self, strive not against sin, mortify not our lusts, but gratify our carnal nature, is there any wonder that our prayer life is cold and formal and our petition unanswered” (A.W. Pink).

How can Christians continue to grow in holiness? Christ is able! And believing in him who saved us from our sins can help us as there is nothing too difficult to overcome.

One of the greatest gifts God has given to the world is fatherhood. A good father who raises their children well is a wonderful blessing to their family and to society. It has been said that a lack of fathers in the black community is a leading cause of the issues they face today such as gangs, violence, and crime. Fathers are important to each family and to society at large because of what they provide and do. It is amazing that Jesus when teaching His disciples to pray starts with ‘Father’.

The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray because they see Jesus work in all aspects of His life through prayer. Jesus is always praying. So Jesus tells them, “When you pray”. Prayer is the sign of a believer. A Christian can pray anytime in any situation. When you pray, you are to “say, ‘Father’”. Prayer is coming before God as a son before their father. The word “father” here has a sense of sweetness and closeness. There are so many grand words we can attribute to God but there is a special relationship captured in the word, “Father”. God is omnipotent, sovereign, holy, omniscient, infinite, sovereign, full of glory, and most of all, God is our Father.

Prayer is so important to our Christian life, yet it is often theologically misunderstood. Prayer is not just about getting what we want. It is the unfathomable privilege of communing with the sovereign God of the universe. Prayer brings the believer into the presence of God so we submit to His will and see His glory.

Some progressive Christians are teaching that everyone is a son of God. In one sense it is true because God is the Creator and all things find their source in God. But here in the Lord’s Prayer, God is the Father of those who have a saving relationship with Him. Only believers who are loved by God and love God can call God their Father (John 8:42,44). You must have received Jesus Christ, the son of God, and been adopted through the Holy Spirit, to be a child of God (John 1:11-12, Romans 8:14-15). If you are Christian, then you know God is your Father. Other religions might try to portray their gods as fathers, but they are false idols with no love or compassion. The God of the Bible is full of love, mercy, and kindness. He is our loving Father and, as His children, we are to be like Him.

The Father is approachable. As a believer, it is easy to enter into His presence. God is approachable because He never leaves you. Remember Jacob who was able to meet God in the middle of the wilderness. It shows God never leaves His chosen and He approaches us first so we can approach Him. If you have the desire then no matter what state you are in, God is ready for you (Luke 15:20). It doesn’t matter if you are a poor and smelly prodigal, the Father is waiting to embrace you and kiss you. Think about Jesus on the cross, the lowest point in history, carrying the sins of man, naked and bloody. While in that dire situation, He cries out to God (Matthew 27:46). Would God receive Jesus at this moment? Yet Jesus calls God, “Father” and surrenders His spirit (Luke 22:46). We know the Father heard Jesus’ prayer because God raised Him from the dead (Luke 24:5-6, Galatians 1:1). A prayer-less life is inexcusable when we have such a Father who is so approachable. We say “Father” in every circumstance whether in thanksgiving or need of help.

Our Father is mighty. He is a strong protector who is full of power and authority. Jesus came to earth as the son, and as a man, he was in constant need of the Father. Therefore Jesus prayed to the Father in His piety because Jesus knew God the Father was mighty to help Him (Hebrews 4:16,5:7). In the gospel of John, John says no one has seen God, except Jesus who is “in the bosom of the Father” and explained Him (John 1:18). One of the primary things we learn from the miracles in the Gospel of John is how mighty God is. God is truly all-powerful and able to do all things (John 42:2, Job 42:2). By faith, which is a gift from God, we know God is powerful and able to answer our prayers. However, we are warned by James to not contend with God in prayer but we are to ask in faith (James 4:2). Earnest prayer in faith calls God “Father” and submits to the Father’s will joyfully.

Our Father is relational. To be a father, he must have children. God’s children are adopted by Him (Ephesians 1:5). Adoption is central and core to Christianity. What a blessing to be adopted by God and call Him Father. This is our true joy. A Christian who does not pray still acts like an orphan. J I Packer says you do not understand Christianity at all if you do not God as Father. We are adopted and made co-heirs with Christ, one day to be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17). Though we are not worthy and deserving, we are adopted to the highest privilege and position based on God’s grace. How much grace we have received! So as children of grace, we show grace to the world.

Conclusion

How do you view the Father? Do you realize how good it is in your Father’s house? (Luke 15:17) Realize how good God is and how He gives good gifts. You are a co-heir with Jesus Christ! This is why it is joyful and exciting to pray, because we get to call God, “Father”. The eternal, everlasting God is our Father which means everything in our life is changed. Nothing will be the same because He loves us with everlasting love.

In part one of the current series on what prayer is, Pastor Paul has preached on three points. They are prayer is communication, prayer advances the Christian into another realm, and prayer is a gift for the children of God. In today’s text, three additional points will be covered on what prayer is as Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray.

Prayer is a primary weapon against Satan. In our minds, there’s a spiritual battle constantly happening. But we can also pray continuously in our minds and hearts. This is why Satan hates those who pray, and he is also afraid of those who pray. The Christian must pray unceasingly as the Holy Spirit continues to strengthen and equip us. 

In the church, it is important to pray for one another. We are all on the frontlines of spiritual warfare. What helps tremendously in our battles against the flesh, sin, the world, and the evil one is prayer.

When we pray according to the will of God, that is true prayer. The Apostle Peter denied Jesus three times because he depended on his own will and thinking rather than seeking the will of God in prayer. This command is a common occurrence in Scripture (1 Jn. 3:22, 24). Those who seek obedience to God’s word will pray God’s will more often than not. In other words, how much you’re closer to the Bible determines how much you pray and if it’s according to the will of God. And when God answers prayer, God will be glorified.

A high view of God and his word produces a man of obedience and prayer. As we draw nearer to the Lord and his word, we will 

Prayer is fellowship with God. There is a great calm in the hearts of those who commune with God through prayer. And in fellowship with God, we learn more about his love for us. 

Private prayer and fellowship with God also result in our desire for public prayer and fellowship with the saints. If we fail in private, how can we expect to be successful publicly?

Prayer is essential and Jesus did not ever hesitate to teach his disciples how to pray. The disciples asked Jesus how to pray because they witnessed the power and success of Jesus’ own prayers. It was his prayer that helped him overcome the constant persecution and trials he faced throughout his ministry.

Jesus shows there is no replacement for human fragility, and he was not an exception (Heb. 5:7). Jesus was truly man and he bore the title of “man of sorrows”. “Just as we live in dependence upon the Father and his provisions, so did Jesus Christ” (Phil Newton). If this was true of our Lord, how much more should we pray as we are nothing but dust and clay (Gen. 2:7)? Knowing this, why don’t some Christians pray? Idolatry and worldliness deter some from praying. 

Prayer is essential because it is a hallmark of a true Christian. Even though we might neglect certain things, prayer is not one of them. One thing all believers have in common is a prayerful life. Jesus knew he prayed to the living Father as we should (1 Thess. 1:9).

“I do say this. That not praying is a clear proof that a person is not yet a true Christian. They cannot really feel their sins. They cannot love God. They cannot feel themselves a debtor to Christ. They cannot long after holiness. They cannot desire heaven. They have yet to be born again. They have yet to be made a new creature. They may boast confidently of election, grace, faith, hope, and knowledge, and deceive ignorant people. But you may rest assured it is all vain talk if they do not pray” (J.C. Ryle).

Christians are the temple of God where prayer is always occurring. In other words, true Christians pray. God gifts every believer with the ability to pray in the Spirit to him. Christians are not only able to pray to God but they are also commanded to pray unceasingly (1 Thess. 5:16). Therefore, a life of prayer is a hallmark of all believers as they become the temple of God when they are saved.

As Christians, one of the first things we do is give thanks to the Lord for our salvation. Thanksgiving is one of the key aspects of the Christian life. Even a Christian’s death is full of thanks because they pass into glory. Giving thanks is not only natural but also commanded by God. Jesus was always giving thanks to the Father as He obeyed (Matthew 14:19).

Giving thanks is an act of obedience. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t have the word always, but we can assume that we must always be giving thanks. In 1 Thessalonians 1:2 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul says he is always giving thanks for them. Just prior to this passage, the apostle says to rejoice always. Therefore giving thanks must be our continual habit, giving thanks in everything. Thomas Watson once said, “Every time we draw our breath, we suck in mercy”. Every breath we take is a mercy from God and for which we should be grateful.

One reason we should always be thankful is because God is always working. From Genesis 1, in the beginning, God has been working. Jesus explains that both He and His Father are always working (John 5:17). So every day is a miracle. God is working as our Shepherd who doesn’t slumber or sleep (Psalms 121:4). He is leading, saving, and delivering His people (Psalm 23:4). He is Lord over all things, sovereign, holding everything in His hands (Colossians 1:16). He sustains the universe and nothing happens without His care. In this fallen world, we are powerless against the spiritual powers, but God is Lord and working.

God’s work is loving. Like a mother taking care of their children, God will not forget you (Isaiah 49:15). He is always loving and caring for you. His love is not minimal but goes above and beyond. His work on earth, especially His death, shows the length of Jesus’ love for His own (John 13:1). His love and care are constant, demonstrated by His interceding for us (Romans 8:34). We are safe because God is constantly working for us.

What must we be thankful for? In everything. There is not one thing that cannot be excluded from giving thanks to God. Both the good and bad. Just today, we heard news that Conrad Mbewe’s son passed away. He gave thanks for his son who has entered into glory. Even in sickness, tough times, poor times, in everything, we give thanks. We can give thanks for everything because God loves us. The God who loves us causes everything. We can’t quantify or explain why certain things happen but we know God causes it (Romans 8:27-28). “To those who are called according to His purpose”. “Those who are called” are the Christians and God has His purpose for them. One example we can think of is Joseph who was sold as a slave. Joseph endured many hardships until His word came to pass (Psalm 105:17-19). However, we must understand, that until God’s purpose was fulfilled, God sustained and refined Joseph. So God causes all things and He is providing His care until His work is done. We might not know what’s happening but we can trust God in everything.

Another reason we can trust God in everything He causes is because He is good (Psalm 103:8-14). God is slow to anger and does not accuse us. He doesn’t deal with us according to our sins as we deserve. Instead, he removes our transgressions completely and forgives us. He shows compassion to us who do not deserve it. He is so good and gives good gifts (Matthew 7:11). His goodness is intrinsic, His nature, His essence. God is love and God is good. This is most demonstrated by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of punishing us, He poured out His wrath and punishment upon His beloved Son (2 Corinthians 5:21). His goodness and love are freely shown to us (Romans 8:32). Therefore we thank God always in everything.

“For this is God’s will for you”. It is God’s will for us to give thanks. The will of God has nothing to do with non-Christians. God’s will is not a law but it’s a gift of God (Isaiah 46:9-10). There are six key things associated with God’s will in the New Testament.

• God wills everybody to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
• God’s will is for the Christian to suffer for sanctification (1 Peter 4:19)
• God’s will is for Christians to be submissive to authorities (1 Peter 2:13)
• God’s will is to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18).
• God’s will is for you to be holy (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
• God’s will is for you to be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

So we can see how important God’s will is and how important giving thanks is. Giving thanks is Christ-likeness, following the will of God. It is very significant and impactful. The Israelites were unable to enter the promised land because of their grumbling (Numbers 14:29-30). They did not give thanks. Only Josh and Caleb who were faithful, thankful, and trusted the Lord were able to enter.

The will of God is our partnership. The will of God designs and we obey with thanksgiving. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). The Lord works in our lives for sanctification and we respond with thanksgiving. Our thanksgiving brings glory to God. In tragedy, it is hard to give thanks, but when we practice faith and worship and give thanks, it glorifies God. We honor God and lift up His name when we give thanks (Psalm 50:23, Job 1:21-22). So we are commanded to give thanks in everything so that God be glorified. This is God’s invitation to us to enjoy and partake in His goodness, His love, and His salvation.

Prayer is important. Prayer exists for every Christian as they are internally transformed by the Spirit of God to practice a life of prayer. But what is prayer according to Scripture? There are six aspects to prayer according to Luke in today’s text. The text is one of only two prayers of Jesus recorded in Scripture; the other being Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus did not hesitate to teach prayer when anyone asked as prayer is a gift from heaven. 

Prayer is to speak consciously to God with a definite aim. Christians talk and commune with the living God who is able to respond. Prayer’s aim is to worship the living God. Every time the word ‘prayer’ is mentioned in Scripture, it involves worship.

What is prayer?

Prayer is communication. God allows every Christian to approach him in prayer to talk with him. Prayer is a two-way street where both parties must be engaged or there is no true conversation that takes place. In order to have better communication with the Lord, Christians must grow in their knowledge of the Word of God. God does not reveal anything beyond Scripture. God continues to reveal his will and helps the believer to understand. 

Communication cannot occur between the living and the dead. God is not dead but alive. He is eager to communicate with the believers and seeks them to be his worshippers. God is ready to incline his ear to anyone who is also yearning to pray to him.

Prayer is the door to pass into another realm. Jesus showed this during his baptism as the Father and Spirit communicated to him from heaven. Isaiah also experienced this when his spirit entered heaven and saw the vision of God. In prayer, God takes the believer into another realm as it was for the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:2-4). In addition, the Lord gives confidence to the Christian; that is, through faith in order to receive his mercy and find grace for help at the time of need (Heb. 4:16; Ac. 16:25). Without faith, prayer is merely wordplay. 

Prayer is a means to benefit the children of God. Prayer exists because God wants to bless the believer. The children of God know they are sinners, rescued by grace alone, and trust in Jesus Christ alone. So, when a child of God prays to their God, he always listens. Christians have a love for Christ that encourages them to pray more because it increases their communication with the object of their faith and love.

Moreover, the children of God benefit from his blessings as he freely gives them everything they need (Rom. 8:32). God does not withhold the best as he did not even spare his own Son, Jesus Christ. And is through prayer that God gives blessings to those that ask him (Matt. 7:11). Jesus paid the price for believers to receive the privilege to pray and thereby become partakers in the blessings of God. Jesus not only paid the price for every Christian’s salvation, but he continues to intercede on behalf of the believer so that they can freely pray and continue to receive God’s blessings.

We are in the third and final part of this series while learning from Mary and Martha. One thing to remember is that Mary and Martha are both Christians and they are expressing their love for Jesus in different ways. Martha was trying to serve Jesus but the way she served and her heart in that service was misplaced. She allowed other things to bother her and cause her to worry. She was driven by herself and not by God’s will. Her priorities were her own and not the Lord’s.

“Only one thing is necessary” Jesus defines the essential, as the one thing that is not just better but singularly needed without comparison. Jesus clarifies that one thing is supremely necessary. Now in the church, there is a diversity of believers. Some love studying theology while others don’t like reading but instead prefer serving with their bodies. Unfortunately, many churches prioritize a Martha-style service while ignoring their members’ devotion to holiness and truth like Mary. An emphasis on devotion, holiness, and listening to God’s word is needed in our churches once again.

What is necessary? If someone is sick and dying then they need a doctor (Luke 5:31). What we need most as sinners is Jesus’ word. Mary’s proper view of her own sin resulted in her need for Jesus. She understood whatever manual service she offered was worthless. Only Jesus could help her get away from her depravity and He alone could give her a new life and a new heart. Only Jesus could save her from the wrath of God (Ephesians 2:3). We are all dead in our sins, without hope, joy, or power. Only a guilty judgment and a terrifying punishment of hell waits for the sinner who remains in their sin (Hebrews 9:27). The tragic thing is that all of us as sinners are deceived by our own hardened hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) and under the power of sin (Romans 3:9). Because of sin, our relationship with God is broken, we are enemies of God in need of reconciliation. Eventually, we will fall to our last enemy which is death. Only Jesus can save us from our sins, our deceitful hearts, impending death, and final judgment.

Because Mary knew her situation and how Jesus saved her from despair, she respected and honored Jesus. Her salvation drove her to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen. Martha also knew Jesus saves but tried to serve the Savior in her own way. Mary chose the good part. The knowledge of salvation in her head had also settled in her heart and resulted in devotion. She truly understood the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:35-36) and loved the Lord with all her heart. She had found her treasure and gave up everything else for the good part (Matthew 13:44).

Both Martha and Mary made choices. Martha’s choice is actually easier and better in man’s eyes. Serving is practical and more visible in its impact. It is easier to measure our faithfulness by our service. However, Mary chose devotion, passion, and hunger for God’s word. She chose the good part by faith. It is by faith the Christian listens to God’s word and obeys (Hebrews 11:8).

Attributes of Mary’s faith:

• Faith implies resting. Mary rested in the work of Jesus Christ. In contrast, Martha was working to please Jesus.
• Faith trusts the atoning work of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.
• Faith trusts in Jesus alone. Jesus is the one who declared “It is finished” on the cross and is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).
• Faith also takes risks. It is bold and adventurous seeking God’s will and trusting in Him to conquer and overcome (Hebrews 11:27). A bold faith finds its source in God’s word (Joshua 1:8).

“Which shall not be taken away from her”.

The true Christian’s possession shall never be taken from him. He alone, of all mankind, shall never be stripped of his inheritance. Kings must one day leave their palaces. Rich men must one day leave their money and lands. They only hold them until they die. But the poorest saint on earth has a treasure of which he will never be deprived. – J. C. Ryle

Out of all the people in this world, it is only the Christians that gain. The unbeliever, no matter how rich or how powerful, will eventually lose everything. For the Christian, we gain Christ and we will have Christ forever. Even in death, the Christian will gain (Philippians 1:19).

How to choose the good part like Mary? Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor. To be more specific, we practice our love of God in corporate worship. Just as God called the people of Israel out from Egypt to worship Him, the church is called on Sundays to worship. The church is the body of Christ and we worship Christ our head. God enjoys true worship. Corporate worship is sitting at the feet of God listening to His word and offering your devotion to Him. The result of true worship is sanctification. The church, brothers and sisters, together in corporate worship is the most important and blessed service. It is the good part. Like the early church, let’s devote ourselves to the apostle’s teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

Today’s text shows the priority of priorities, which is to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. Only then can a person believe and follow after Christ as Savior and Lord. The setting demonstrates what discipleship looks like and the importance of devotion before service. The question all Christians need to ask is if they follow Jesus Christ. If they follow, they must seek God’s Word and seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first.

When Jesus arrived and spent time at Martha and Mary’s home, Mary showed what must be the highest priority as she “was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to his word” (v 39). Mary knew what was of utmost importance, which was to be near the Lord Jesus Christ and listen to his every word. Mary was Jesus’ disciple and she also showed her total surrender and love for the Lord no matter what the circumstances might be. 

Martha was distracted, encumbered, and preoccupied with something that was secondary mistakenly thinking that that would be pleasing to the Lord. Martha’s psychology is revealed in this text as Luke describes what is happening. Luke shows that Martha made the wrong choice as he begins verse 40 with ‘But’. Martha should have been entirely focused on the Lord and his words, but she “was distracted with all her preparations” (v 40).

Martha failed to focus on her relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. Martha emphasized her service more than her relationship to Christ. Martha’s mistake was thinking that she could improve her relationship with the Lord by doing work for him rather than listening to his words.

Martha’s distraction caused her to lose her sense of joy. She even complained to the Lord if he did not care that Mary was not helping her in all her preparations (v 40). If Christians fail to heed to God’s word, they will inevitably serve joylessly. When believers seek the Lord first, their joy remains in all circumstances.

Martha gently but wrongly accused Jesus. Martha accused the Lord as a careless God, which is a serious charge. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares about his sheep more than anything else. The Shepherd is always leading, fighting, caring, and praying for the sheep. But, Martha accuses Jesus that he does not care about Mary leaving Martha to do the serving by herself (v 40).

Martha failed to know the will of God. Martha says to Jesus, “Then tell her to help me” (v40). But the Lord Jesus responds by telling Martha that she is not seeking the Lord’s will in this situation. On the contrary, Jesus points to Mary’s love and devotion to the Lord. To know the will of God is related to a person’s holiness. Martha’s love for the Lord was mixed with her love for the world. 

Martha committed a sinful worry. Martha tried to figure out things herself rather than consulting with the word of God. She did not chase after consultation to increase her sanctification. Only if she sat at Jesus’ feet would she have avoided being worried.

Martha was bothered by many things. This attitude and heart manifested the tumultuous and turbulent worried heart that resulted in external agitation. The world and the things of the world unceasingly distract those who do not put the Lord first.

Martha’s biggest problem was that she could not pray biblically. Biblical prayer was impossible for Martha because she failed to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to his word. Prayer is another means of communion with the Lord for believers. Worship and devoted reading of God’s word to truly know God more is accomplished in continuous communion with him. But Martha’s vital issue was that she failed to heed God’s word, which led to unbiblical prayer. Moreover, prayer is an echo of what goes on in the heart.

In contrast to Martha, Christians must continually devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). This is the only way to avoid the same mistake that Martha made. Therefore, first things first must be total devotion to God’s word, then everything else will follow in submission to the Lord’s will and his glory.