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| Articles for 07/22/2003: |
| WHEN WE PRAYby Barry M. Grider |
| THE CHARACTER OF NOAH by Glenn I. Hitchcock |
Archived articles. |
WHEN WE PRAYBarry M. Grider |
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There is no greater privilege than entering the throne room of God and praying. Prayer is talking to God. Acceptable prayer must be made through Jesus Christ, our Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5). Since Jesus understands God and man He is ideally suited to serve in this position. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:14, 15). It is Jesus who pleads the case of the child of God before the Father (1 John 2:1), and the Father always hears the Son. While on earth Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 18:1). Our Lord did not mock, but answered, their request. He believed in prayer. "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" (Mark 1:35). Since Jesus prayed, he expected His followers to pray. He did not say "if" but, rather, "When you pray" (Matt. 6:5). When we pray we must pray in faith, if prayers are to be answered. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him (1 John 5:14,15). Furthermore, it is not enough to be sincere or persistent in our prayer lives, we must also maintain the proper attitude and motives. All Christians should spend much time in the "closet" praying alone to God. However, it is good for Christians to pray together. We have been given the authority by our Lord to pray whenever we assemble. Paul states, "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" ( 1 Tim. 2:8). James wrote, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). According to Paul’s statement in First Timothy 2, only men are authorized to lead prayer in the public assembly. What are some good principles to follow when leading the congregation before the throne of grace? In the context of the model prayer in Matthew 6, Jesus taught his disciples to: 1. Avoid praying to win the approval of others (vs.5-6). Jesus spoke of those who only cared for the praises of men. He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation" (Matt. 23:14). 2. Avoid praying to impress others. Sometimes a brother will say, "I cannot lead a public prayer." In other words, he is saying, "I am not a public speaker." I would agree that leading a prayer in public can be a more difficult task than praying in private. However, the more you pray in private, the more comfortable you will become praying in public. Also, never forget that while you are leading the prayer on behalf of the brethren, your prayer is directed toward God. 3. Do not pray like heathens (vs. 7,8). Heathens repeat themselves over and over hoping to appease the wrath of God. However, the children of God do not have to appease His wrath, Jesus did that for us at the cross. We do not have to beg God for anything, for we are his children and he knows our every need (Heb. 4:16). 4. Pray in accordance with the will of God (v. 9-13). 5. Be concise in your prayers. Have you ever noticed how short is the model prayer? I realize some who pray lengthy prayers are very sincere. However, Jesus connects lengthy public prayers with Phariseeism ( Matt. 23:14). Furthermore, when leading the prayer before communion, be specific about that purpose. 6. Pray clearly whereas you can be heard. Since you are leading others to the throne of grace, you should pray so that all can "amen" (be in agreement) when you have concluded. 7. Pray with a clean heart. Do not stand and lead the people of God if you are not on speaking terms with their Father (Psm.66:18). 8. Pray reverently. Remember, you are approaching the God of heaven. Never forget to offer exalted praise and adoration unto His holy name. Our prayers ought to reflect our spiritual maturity. A brother who consistently uses trite, worn out statements when addressing God or a brother who enters into his prayer in a flippant manner, is indicative of one who needs to grow in his relationship to God. Remember God answers prayer. Let us take advantage of it! |
THE CHARACTER OF NOAH
Glenn I. Hitchcock
Notice how Noah’s character contrasts with the world he lived in. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:8-9). Noah was righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. In the midst of this immoral society, Noah stood out. Notice what we read about him.
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is the first time the word "grace" is used in the Bible and Noah did not earn God’s blessing...he was given God’s favor. Without grace Noah could not have been saved from the destruction of the world. God’s grace benefited Noah. First, God revealed His intentions to Noah (6:13,17). Second, God gave commands to Noah that, if the obeyed, would save him and his family (6:14-16). Third, God promised Noah salvation form the flood (6:18). The grace extended by God was not "cheap grace," but included hard work by man in obeying God. Also, careful attention to detail to what God had said and how He had said it was essential. We are living in a world where folks have disregarded God’s details; such action is not the means of obtaining the grace of God. Further, the complete judgment of God against all that was evil and sinful is expressed. Noah trusted God. In so doing, Noah stood alone in grace and favor with God.
Noah was a just man. To be "just" means to live a righteous life and to treat others in a fair and just way, despite the circumstances. It means to be upright, honest, and virtuous, never to cheat or steal from others. Noah lived a just and moral life both before God and man. Noah’s righteousness exceeded that of the people. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Noah’s mindset was to do only that which God wanted him to do. He allowed God’s standards to effect and direct his life. Noah was unafraid to live differently from the status quo. What a lesson for Christians! The child of God is to live that holy and just life that is different from the world (1 John 2:15-17). The Christian life is a constant that is not robbed by circumstances. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phillippians 1:21).
Noah was a perfect man. The Hebrew word for perfect is to be without blemish or to be blameless, to be moral, a person of purity, of integrity, of honesty; to be whole and complete. Not that he was sinless (9:24), but that there were no blatant faults. He was a man of moral integrity among his generation. In that godless society, no one had any charges against Noah. We can conclude that he had a good relationship with his friends and neighbors. No one wondered if Noah was dealing honestly with them. They knew his ethics were solid. No one had to question whether Noah was cheating on his wife. They knew Noah was committed to her. No one questioned Noah’s methods. They know he was not seeking to manipulate them. No one questioned Noah’s sincerity. They may have questioned his sanity, but not his heart. Jesus expects His church to be perfect (blameless) when He delivers it to God the Father, "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27).
Noah walked with God. Noah’s conduct and his walk of life are emphasized. The same thing was recorded about Enoch; it is the essential element we need. Noah’s walk with God was threefold. First, it was a walk that continued individually. Second, it was a walk that persevered a family. Third, it was a walk in contrast to the disobedient world. The present generation could use a change of heart so we can walk with God instead of walking with the world. It requires a change of attitude. The imaginations and thoughts of the heart cannot be evil continually while yet we expect to walk in God’s favor. We must have a walk of life that corresponds with our profession. Note that when the Christian walks with God, it is also a circumspective walk. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:11-16). The circumspective walk of the child of God is about an awareness of one’s surroundings. Christians should behave like Noah by walking with God through a very dark and dying world.
How can we find grace in the eyes of God? By being just, perfect, and walking with God. Character does matter with God! May we be encouraged by the example and life of Noah.