A Conversation based on Matthew 7:7-11

Father: “It is my will that you eat lunch today.”

Son: “Okay, so at lunchtime can I ride my bike instead of eat lunch?”

Father: “No. That is not my will.”

Son: “But if I ride my bike, I can go somewhere to be fed.”

Father: “But if you trust that I want to feed you, you need not go anywhere else. Just ask for lunch and I will give it to you.”

Son: “Very well. Since your will is that I eat lunch today, please feed me.”

Father: “Wonderful! Here is a fish and some bread!”

Son: “Wow. You actually answered my prayer!”

Prayer is Alignment

E. Stanley Jones: “Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God.”

This Week's Things...

Some "things" I've stumbled across this week...

• Something that got me all emotional (Bernie Blakely emailed this to me).
• Something that pictures grace wonderfully (and it involves football!).
• Something that if ever sold, I would never buy.
• Something that is long overdue.

Here’s a snippet of thought heading into the message on Sunday from 1 John 5:14-15:

1 John 5:14-15

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

The word “ask” here is the Greek word aiteō. There are many words that paint the picture of prayer in NT Greek, but John chooses a word which is consistent with the picture God wants to impress upon His children. As we take in the meaning of these verses, we see why this word was chosen. One of the helpful tools I have on my shelf above my computer is R.C. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament. Trench shows us the distinction between the Greek synonyms aiteō and erōtaō – both of which can be translated similarly:

“The distinction between aiteō and erōtaō is as follows. Aiteō is the more submissive and suppliant term. It is consistently used to refer to an inferior’s seeking something from a superior (Acts 12:20), of a beggar’s seeking alms from a potential donor (Acts 3:2), of a child’s seeking something from a parent (Lam. 4:4; Matt. 7:9; Luke 6:11), of a subject’s seeking something from a ruler (Ezra 8:22), and of a man’s seeking something from God (1 Kings 3:11; Matt. 7:7; James 1:5; 1 John 3:22). In classical Greek, erōtaō never means “to ask” but only “to interrogate,” or “to inquire.” Like rogare (inquire), erōtaō implies an equality between the one who asks and the one who is asked – as a king with another king (Luke 14:32) – or if not equality, than a familiarity that lends authority to the request.”

Fascinating, isn’t it? And Trench isn’t through just yet. Check out the theologically weighty nugget which follows:

“It is noteworthy that Jesus never used aitein or aiteisthai to refer to himself when speaking to God on behalf of his disciples, for his is not the petition of the creature to the Creator but the request of the Son to the Father. Jesus’ consciousness of his equal dignity and prevailing intercession appears whenever he asks (or declares that he will ask) anything of the Father, because he always uses erōtō or erōtesō, and asking on equal terms (John 14:16; 16:26; 17:9, 15, 20), and never aiteō or aitēsō.”

Wow.

Some "things" for this week...

• Something that one church has written which helps clarify the Bible’s distinction between deacons and elders. Worth reading!
• Something that made for a touching and appropriate parable.
• Something that is one of the coolest tools to assist in verse memorization – a verse card maker! Try it!
• Something that summarizes the essential truths of discipleship! These biblical axioms really ought to be at the heart of our disciple-making efforts at church. Don’t be surprised if you see these reappear in another venue. Foundational Tenets of Christian Discipleship (by Dennis Rogers): Listed below are some core foundations of biblical discipleship. Though not exhaustive, this list highlights what Scripture teaches about what it means to be a follower of Christ.

1. Christian discipleship is the ongoing transformation of an individual's becoming like Jesus in character and purpose as he grows in intimacy with Him (see Matt. 5:48; Eph. 4:13-15; Phil. 2:5).

2. Christian discipleship addresses every dimension of life. It is concerned not only with doing the right thing in every circumstance but also with doing the right thing for the right reason (see Phil. 1:27).

3. Christian discipleship is progressive in nature. When someone stops growing in intimacy with Christ, he ceases to be healthy in his discipleship (see John 15:4).

4. Christian discipleship is a work of grace. It is the Holy Spirit who transforms life, not someone who tries to be good. The term disciplined grace describes this process. While God transforms, a believer's spiritual practice creates the transforming environment in which the Holy Spirit works (see Phil. 2:13; 1 Tim. 4: 7-8).

5. Christian discipleship always manifests itself in ministry to others. Every Christian has been spiritually gifted for the purpose of service (see 1 Pet. 4:10).

6. Christian discipleship was intended by Christ to be reproductive. Those who follow Jesus' life and teaching will be prepared to eagerly share their faith experiences and to invest themselves in the spiritual nurture of others (see Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:2).

7. Christian discipleship is centered in the life of a local church, where the fellowship of other disciples encourages, teaches, and safeguards the believer's discipleship process (see Heb. 10:24-25).

Words that Hymnify 1 John 5:6-12

In 1746 (30 years before there was a United States of America!) Charles Wesley penned the following hymn. A beautiful way to think about 1 John 5:6-12!

Spirit of faith, come down, reveal the things of God,

And make to us the Godhead known, and witness with the blood.

’Tis Thine the blood to apply and give us eyes to see,
Who did for every sinner die hath surely died for me.

No man can truly say that Jesus is the Lord,
Unless Thou take the veil away and breathe the living Word.
Then, only then, we feel our interest in His blood,
And cry with joy unspeakable, “Thou art my Lord, my God!”

O that the world might know the all atoning Lamb!
Spirit of faith, descend and show the virtue of His Name;
The grace which all may find, the saving power, impart,
And testify to all mankind, and speak in every heart.

Inspire the living faith (which whosoever receive,
The witness in themselves they have and consciously believe),
The faith that conquers all, and doth the mountain move,
And saves whoever on Jesus call, and perfects them in love.

This Week's Things...

Now here are some “things” I’ve come across the past few days:

• Something that is going to cause more problems for Christian, gospel-centered counseling and church-based counseling.
• Some awesome pics! By the way, one night last week after family prayer, my son Benjamin remarked before bed: “It’s amazing that God can be our friend and He is the Creator of everything!!!” We had just watched some of Shark Week on Discovery channel and we had finished praying by praising God for His wisdom in creating even sharks!
• Some quotes from one of my favorite preachers of all time which get me fired up about preaching!
• Some incredible curriculum for children’s ministry (and its free!)
• Something that separates – dare I say his name (gulp) – Calvin from some Calvinists!

The Transforming Power of Faith

God is at work here in the lives of His people. I am excited to arrive at 1 John 5. Here is what we’ll be talking about on Sunday:

¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

⁴ For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

(1 John 5:1-5 ESV)

The first 5 verses take some thought to see the connections John (and the Holy Spirit) were making. But when these connections are perceived, wow, does the light come on! In my reflection, I was reading a commentary and the following stood out:

“So God calls us to a life of faith, demonstrated by love for him and for one another, by obedience to his commands and by victory over the world. As we exercise that faith, we find that it works. God keeps his promises, and fulfills his Word. As we believe that when God says ‘Do this’, or ‘Not that’, he knows what is best for us, we do what he says, trust him with the consequences and prove him to be true. When we are living that way, the world cannot trap or deceive us. This sort of faith is the only way to victory. When we think carefully about them, at root all our defeats are failure of faith; failures to trust or obey, or both. The potential, God’s dynamic, is always on supply. What faith does is to connect my situation to God’s resources, rather like plugging my electrical machinery into the power circuit. Only then will the light of God’s truth overcome the darkness of this world’s lies, and the warmth of God’s love expel the coldness of this world’s self-centeredness.” (David Jackman, The Message of John’s Letters, p. 144)

Can’t wait for Sunday!

Gospel-centered Questions

From the eBook Fight Clubs: Gospel-centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson at Resurgence...

“Here is a list of questions that are intended to get at heart motivations and

drive us to the gospel. This is a provisional list. I hope you will improve

upon it.

1. What are you desiring more than anything else?
2. What do you find yourself day dreaming or fantasizing about?
3. What lies are you subtly believing that undermine the truth of the gospel?
4. Are you astonished with the gospel?
5. Where have you made much of yourself and little of God?
6. Is technology stealing attention from your family?
7. Is work replacing your spouse’s place in your heart?
8. Where do your thoughts drift to when you enter a social setting?
9. What fears are paralyzing your heart from enjoying God?
10. What consumes your thoughts when you have alone time?”

Some 'things' for this week...

Here are a few things I hope will provoke your thinking and encourage your hearts...

• Something that challenges me and gives me hope as we step forward (this is a must read!)
• Something that reminded me of Jesus’ words in John 15:18-22 (though one should keep in mind John 16:33!).
• Something that reminds me of why I love the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”