Francis Chan on Humility at the Desiring God Conference.

Pray like a Reformer Part 3, Avoid Vain Repetition (by Wretchedradio)

The Lord's Prayer is the greatest martyr on earth. Everybody tortures and abuses it; few take comfort and joy in its proper use (Martin Luther, A Simple Way to Pray).

Luther is referring to a mindless and irreverent use of the Lord’s Prayer. There exists a temptation to recite the words without concern for their meaning. To do so is to fall into the trap of vain repetition, which is a violation of Christ’s instructions on prayer, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do” (Matthew 6:7). In order to avoid this trap, we must gain a clear understanding of the words in the Lord’s Prayer.



Thankfully, Luther has provided us a helpful resource to aid our understanding. Below is his exposition of the Lord’s Prayer from his Small Catechism.


Preface: Our Father who art in heaven. God would thereby with this little introduction tenderly urge us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.

1st Petition:Hallowed be Thy name. God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also.

When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as the children of God also lead holy lives in accordance with it. To this end help us, dear Father in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, Heavenly Father.

2nd Petition: Thy kingdom come. The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.

3rd Petition:Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

4th Petition:Give us this day our daily bread. God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all wicked men; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

5th Petition:And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.

6th Petition: And lead us not into temptation. God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.

7th Petition: But deliver us from evil. We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.

Conclusion: Amen. I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and heard; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray, and has promised that He will hear us. Amen, Amen; that is, Yea, yea, it shall be so.

I pray that Luther's simple and memorable exposition will help you avoid the trap of vain repetition.

-Brainiac

Pray like a Reformer Part 2, the Lord’s Prayer (From Wretchedradio)

When the Disciples beseeched Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11: 1), Jesus taught them to pray what we now call the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; also Luke 11:2-4). When we desire to learn to pray, we can do no better than to return to Christ’s model as set forth in Holy Scripture.



Concerning the Lord’s Prayer, Luther said, “It is the very best prayer…It is surely evident that a real master composed and taught it”. He not only made use of this prayer but he also taught its use in A Simple Way to Pray.


Before we turn to Luther’s use of the Lord’s Prayer, allow me to review the structure of the Lord’s Prayer. It consists of three parts: a preface, six petitions and a conclusion. The preface is an address, it tells us to whom we are speaking. A petition is a request, appeal or entreaty, it tells for what we are asking. The conclusion is the end of the prayer, it finishes our prayer and enforces our petitions.

Preface: Our Father in heaven,
1st Petition: hallowed be your name.
2nd Petition: Your kingdom come,
3rd Petition: your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
4th Petition: Give us this day our daily bread,
5th Petition: and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
6th Petition: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [1]
Conclusion: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen[2]

Now then, here is a summary of Luther’s use of the Lord’s Prayer.

First, pray the Lord’s Prayer. Then choose a section and repeat it. As an example, let us take the first petition “Hallowed be your name”. Think about that petition, consider what it means and pray for that, both for yourself and for others.

“Lord, you have made your Name holy; I pray that you would keep it holy in me and in the world… etc.”

Next, consider how God grants that request, as well as what things may hinder it, both in your self and others. Pray for those things.

“Lord, may your name be kept holy by the pure preaching of your word. Grant that my thoughts and actions would glorify your Name…”

“May your people honor your Name…”

“May your word go forth over all the earth and your Name be exalted above all else…”

“May you convert or restrain your enemies, that they will either hallow your Name or be silent…”

Now you can move on to another section and repeat the same process: (1) consider what it means and pray for that, both for yourself and for others, (2) consider how God grants that request, as well as what things may hinder it, both in yourself and others and pray for those things. You can proceed through the entire prayer this way, or, if you desire, you can remain in one section until you are content. The point is not rigid formality or empty words, but rather learning to pray as Christ taught, with sincerity and according to God’s revealed will. Luther’s words are extremely helpful here,


You should also know that I do not want you to recite all these words in your prayer. That would make it nothing but idle chatter and prattle... Rather do I want your heart to be stirred and guided concerning the thoughts, which ought to be comprehended in the Lord's Prayer. These thoughts may be expressed, if your heart is rightly warmed and inclined toward prayer, in many different ways and with more words or fewer. I do not bind myself to such words or syllables, but say my prayers in one fashion today, in another tomorrow, depending upon my mood and feeling. I stay however, as nearly as I can, with the same general thoughts and ideas. It may happen occasionally that I may get lost among so many ideas in one petition that I forego the other six. If such an abundance of good thoughts comes to us we ought to disregard the other petitions, make room for such thoughts…The Holy Spirit himself preaches here, and one word of his sermon is far better than a thousand of our prayers. Many times I have learned more from one prayer than I might have learned from much reading and speculation.


Finally, remember, when we pray the Lord's Prayer, we are praying the prayer that Christians have prayed for two millennia, all the way back to the Disciples and even the Lord Himself. May God grant you a fruitful time in prayer today.

-Brainiac


[1] Note: Luther divides the Lord’s Prayer into 7 petitions, seeing the conjunction “but” in v. 13 as introducing a new petition. I, however, following the Westminster Confession of Faith, have divided it into only six petitions. So, for Luther the 6th petition is “Lead us not into temptation” and the 7th petition is “but deliver us from evil”, whereas my division renders the 6th and final petition as “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The difference is not essential and you can adopt whichever convention you prefer.



[2] Note: If you are using a version other than the King James, the conclusion of Mt. 6:13 will be “Amen” rather than “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”. Luther did not include the longer conclusion in his Catechism, but the Westminster Catechism does; therefore, I have chosen to include it. Here again, I leave it to the reader to decide which convention to adopt.

Here I Kneel, Learn to Pray Like a Reformer (Part 1)

A great article on prayer for our own spiritual growth and reflecting our dependance on God.



Brainy Yakking: Here I Kneel, Learn to Pray Like a Reformer (Part 1)
by Wretchedradio.com

Martin Luther, the instigator of the Protestant Reformation, is known for his famous dictum, “Here I stand.” However, before Luther could stand before the papists in Worms, he needed to kneel before his father in Heaven. And though he is known for his work as a Reformer, it was Luther who declared that the business of the Christian is prayer. And for Luther, business was good.

So respected were his prayers that a good friend, Peter the Barber, asked Luther to teach him how to pray. Luther responded with a short instructional booklet called, A Simple way to Pray, in which he told his friend “I will tell you as best I can what I do personally when I pray”. Thus, Luther has provided instructions for praying like a Reformer. And over the next couple of days, it is my aim to summarize for you Luther’s instructions on prayer, that you too may pray like a Reformer.

First, observe several general considerations about prayer.

1. Pray privately
There is certainly time and place for public prayers, but here Luther discusses finding a private place to pray quietly.

2. Pray first and last
Luther urges prayer first thing in the morning and last thing at night. “It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night.”

3. Pray twice
We pray both in our prayers and in our work. Quoting Jerome, he says, "‘He who works faithfully prays twice.’ This can be said because a believer fears and honors God in his work…Faith transforms work into prayer.” Interestingly, Luther also notes “On the other hand it is also true that the work of an unbeliever is outright cursing and
so he who works faithlessly curses twice”.

4. Pray habitually
“We must be careful not to break the habit of true prayer and imagine other works to be necessary which, after all, are nothing of the kind. Thus at the end we become lax and lazy, cool and listless toward prayer. The devil who besets us is not lazy or careless, and our flesh is too ready and eager to sin and is disinclined to the spirit of prayer.”

5. Pray eagerly
We do not want half-hearted or insincere prayers. Luther says, “It is of great importance that the heart be made ready and eager for prayer.” He then asks, “What else is it but tempting God when your mouth babbles and the mind wanders to other thoughts?

6. Pray attentively
“A good and attentive barber keeps his thoughts, attention, and eyes on the razor and hair and does not forget how far he has gotten with his shaving or cutting. If he wants to engage in too much conversation or let his mind wander or look somewhere else he is likely to cut his customer's mouth, nose, or even his throat. Thus if anything is to be done well, it requires the full attention of all one's senses and members, ‘He who thinks of many things, thinks of nothing and does nothing right.’ How much more does prayer call for concentration and singleness of heart if it is to be a good prayer!” [Teachers take note of Luther's consideration and knowledge of his audience, in this case, Peter the Barber]

7. Pray briefly, frequently and fervently
Luther cautions, “Take care … not to undertake …so much [at once] that one becomes weary in spirit. A good prayer should not be lengthy or drawn out, but frequent and ardent”.

8. Pray confidently
“Mark this”, says Luther, “You must always speak the Amen firmly. Never doubt that
God in his mercy will surely hear you... Do not leave your prayer without having said or thought, ‘Very well, God has heard my prayer; this I know as a certainty and a truth.’ That is what Amen means”.

May God grant you a fruitful time in prayer today.

-Brainiac

Commanded Gifts

At first glance the title of this post seems almost like an oxymoronic statement. What do you mean by commanded gifts? A gift is something given freely and not commanded of the receiving party to do. Its kind of like saying terms like boneless ribs or self help group. It just does not make sense. But when speaking of commanded gifts from a biblical perspective it becomes another story. So in terms of salvation I want to just discuss some of those aspects in a quick intro post. I may develop some of these points later or all of them depending on time. Lets begin to look at the gift of salvation from a biblical perspective....

Act's 13:48 says, "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed."

The verse above simply states that all those who believed were appointed to do so. But then why are they commanded to repent and trust in Christ if they were appointed to eternal life? Well this is where the commanded gifts come in. Lets look at those two terms of the same coin, repentance and faith in Christ....

Repentance the command....

Mark 1:14-15, "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Repentance the gift...

Acts 2:24 "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."

Faith the command....

John 11:25 "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live"

Faith the gift...

Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God"

Here we have on display the loving pursuing God who grants to His children the wonderful gifts of salvation NOT based on anything deserving in themselves but based on a sovereign God's choosing. None of these gifts are meritorious in themselves (for we have nothing to boast about) but they come handed down to us from the father of lights in whom there is no Shadow or turning. Interesting to see just how God's commands and grants our ability to do those commands by His great power.

C.J.'s Words of Wisdom

C.J. Helps put things in perspective by "Making Calvary your Landmark".

"Make this a priority in your spiritual disciplines. Dwell on some aspect of Christ and him crucified as revealed in your daily Scripture reading. Use your supplemental reading to refocus your gaze on the cross. Like Paul, resolve to know nothing except Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2)."


Read article here