Talking to God

 Our Father Prayer

Welcome today, come in. Good to see ya.

Congregation arrives...

Please stand...

Congregation stands...

"Goodwill to you, goodwill to me, goodwill to all, peace on earth. Amen." "God be with you."

Congregation "Also with you."

Please be seated.

Today I want to talk about the Church's teachings on women wearing pants. In 1860, our great leader, Father Notta Real Person, said women need to honor their husbands and God. They shall wear dresses and cover their heads. Men should wear trousers, and honor their wives. So saith the Lord. Please stand...

Congregation stands...

"Goodwill to you, goodwill to me, goodwill to all, peace on earth. Amen." "God be with you."

Congregation "Also with you."

Congregation sits.

I understand that we have gotten away from these traditional teachings of Father "Person", and society may see things differently. But we know that God doesn't care about society. If you follow what the Church says on this manor, you will be just fine. You are all absolved of your sins. May you have a great week.

Congregation stands...

"Goodwill to you, goodwill to me, goodwill to all, peace on earth. Amen." "God be with you."

Congregation "Also with you."

Congregation leaves, shaking hands on the way out...

Back to Football, BBQs, shopping, life in general...Until next week.

What just happened? "What? What do you mean? I went to church." Really? "Of course. I went to church and learned about God, and I feel good. I was forgiven for my sins. I prayed. What do you mean what just happened?" What did you actually learn? What Bible passage did you actually read? You prayed? "Yes of course I prayed. Grace to you, grace to me, grace to all, peace on earth. Amen. What are you not getting here? I'm a good person. I go to church every week."

Do you know people like this? Have you been people like this? You have people that go to church every week. They do what Jesus said to do. They Pray the "Our Father Prayer" three times. They go home. Again, it seems nothing works out. Why? They are saying the prayer that Jesus Himself taught us to pray? Right?

Well, no. Not exactly. Did Jesus give us the "Our Father Prayer?" in Matthew 6? Of course. But what was He actually telling us? You see, He was teaching us how to Pray, by teaching us the formula. He was giving us an example of HOW to Pray. He never meant for us to simply repeat it, in the hopes that we would be heard by God, and God will do whatever we asked Him. As a matter of fact, right before He gave us this example, He said THIS.

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

He goes on to say, not, pray this prayer, but

"After this manner therefore pray ye."

He tells us that this is the formula. This is an example. "After this manner" or, to resemble in appearance, character, behavior, etc. or, to follow as an example. Keep in mind, He just said, "when ye pray, use not vain repetitions." So was Jesus telling us, Say the "Our Father Prayer" and all will be good? No. He was saying, this is how you should pray.

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:"

But what does it mean? Let's break it down, shall we? First,,,

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Stop. Have no other God before God. Jesus tells us when we pray, we should start off, recognizing God, first as our Father, our Daddy, and we need to recognize His Godhood. We should praise Him. Thank Him. Honor Him. Let Him know we understand that it is not about us, but His Will. Put Him first in our lives.

See the very first Commandment is "Have no other God before God." Jesus tells us we should "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." So of course it makes sense that Jesus tells us the very first thing we should do when we pray, is worship Him and give Him the honor He deserves.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Stop. Jesus is telling us that we must rely on God, and not ourselves, to meet our daily needs. He just tells us right before this prayer example that, "for your, Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him." Jesus then goes into great detail explaining this truth.

"Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Again, He tells us "for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Fear not. Your Daddy will meet your needs. Know that He is with you always. Thank Him for meeting those needs. Have faith He will.

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

Stop. What is He saying here? Forgive those that have sinned against you. Those that have abused you. Mistreated you. Used you. Forgive any that you have a cause to forgive. Why? In explaining the prayer example, Jesus starts out with this.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you::"

Be careful child of God. Jesus tells us plainly.

"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Remember, when Peter asked our Lord, in Matthew 18:21-22

"Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

And in Mark 11:25 

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

As we have discussed before, there is absolutely nothing you could possibly even dream up, that is worthy to be compared to what God can do to these people. The most powerful words you could ever use against them are "I forgive you." Why? because then they are in God's hands. You are forgiven of all those Sins you are worthy of Hell for, and they are out of your hands, and control, and are now God's. Never forget...

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19

If you give in to your anger, it can lead to hate. You could lust after the desired end of another person. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Do not let it take you. Forgive. Besides all that, what have you, or what do you, still do, daily, that is worthy of damnation? Trust me. There is a list. Mine is REALLY long. Do not fool yourself.

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:"

Did you know that God will never test you with Sin? We read this in James 1:12-15

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

What Jesus is in essence saying here, is ask your Father, to protect you from yourself. What He is saying is that you need to strengthen yourself in truth and righteousness. Strengthen your spirit, to overcome the temptations of the flesh.

The devil never screams. He whispers. He reminds. He allows you to feel. Were or are you addicted to Porn? Have you overcome it? Now, you are walking through the Mall with your Family, and right there in front of you, is a teenage girl in one of the skimpiest little outfits you ever saw. Now you can't get the image out of your head. Or recovering from Drugs? All of a sudden, out of nowhere, you smell it. You taste it. Perhaps you have a dream about doing it. What happens? Now you can't get that image out of your head. If you give in, you may go right back into the bondage of the sin you have overcome. Did the devil make you? Nope. You did it. All by yourself.

So Jesus tells us to be ever vigilant. Spend time with your Father. Ask Him to give you the strength to overcome. To be steadfast. He wants a relationship with you. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. One of the best things you can do next to reading the word is prayer. 

Sometimes, people think about prayer as this holier than anything, grand procedure, that one must be skilled with the knowledge of how to do it. Well, no. Not exactly. All we need to do is follow Jesus's own formula. God already knows what you are going to say before you say it. More on that next time. 

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!!