SEEKING HELP FROM THE LORD JESUS

“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1 NKJV).

The disciples were wise to go to the Lord Jesus about the matter of prayer. No one could teach them better about praying than the Lord Himself. From this request of the disciples asking the Lord Jesus about prayer, we want to note the stimulation for the request, the superiority of the request, the specifics of the request, and the support for the request.

Stimulation for the request - “As He was praying . . . when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him.” It was the praying of the Lord Jesus that stimulated the disciples’ request to be taught about prayer. This exhorts believers to live in such a way that it will stimulate others to live a godly, dedicated life. Does our service for God inspire others to serve? Too often God’s people are examples of deficiency, not devotion.

Superiority of the request - “Lord, teach us to pray.” We often ask the Lord things that we do not need. But one thing we need above many other things is to know how to pray. It is one of the greatest needs of God’s people. The inability to pray right is a real problem among believers. Most of the prayers made at church are inexcusably defective.

Specifics of the request - “Teach us to pray.” This request can be looked at from two standpoints. First, it speaks of the ability to pray. We need to be taught how to pray. We need to be taught what it is to pray, when to pray, and for what we should pray, “For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought” (Rom. 8:26). Second, it speaks of the attitude to pray. We do not pray enough. We need to be instructed and inspired to pray more. Simply put, “teach us to pray” is a fundamental need of every believer.

Support for the request - “As John also taught his disciples.” John had taught his disciples to pray, and now the Lord’s disciples wanted Him to teach them to pray. We need more men like John the Baptist who will teach their followers about prayer. Too often church folks are taught more about promotion than about prayer by their pastors’ words and actions.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing!”

Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)

German Theologian, Author, Hymn writer, and Professor

Word Study

Fables

In 2 Tim. 4:4 we read, “and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (NKJV).

“Fables” is the Greek word muthos (μῦθος= moo'-thos). Muthos refers to fictional tales in contrast to true accounts and represents manufactured stories that have no basis in fact. We get our English words myth, and mythology from this word. The Greek and Roman world abounded in stories about so-called “gods” which were nothing more than human speculations that tried in vain and in error to explain the world’s origin, and life’s purpose! Every New Testament use of muthos carries a negative connotation and refers to legend, fable, and fiction.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“And the angel said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10 KJV).

Did You Know…

It was Joshua, and not Moses who actually led the Israelites into Canaan (Josh. 1:2).

Bible Quiz

After clearing the temple of the money changers, what did the Lord Jesus accuse them of doing?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to the Book of Galatians, what does the apostle Paul say that Abraham’s two wives represented? Two covenants (Gal. 4:21-31).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“SERVANT”

"Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” (Isa. 42:1 NJKV).

1. Meaning – SERVANT speaks of the Lord Jesus as the One who never fails to accomplish the will and purposes of God.

2. Insights – The Lord Jesus, although He was God, laid aside His divine prerogatives, and took the humble position of a servant and was born a human being (cf. Phil. 2:7-11). The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, is God’s Servant, and He takes great delight in Him. It is through the ministry of this Servant that God will accomplish His great plan of salvation for this world. God chose Him, God upholds (supports) Him, and enabled Him to succeed in His mission. Because of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, one day there will be a glorious kingdom, and God will “bring justice to the Gentiles.” This perfect Servant never fails to accomplish the will and the purposes of God. God’s Servant, the Messiah, faithfully completes all the work He had been given to do (cf. Luke 13:32; John 17:4).

Did You Know – Christian History

Mary Anne Hearn was born December 17, 1834, in Farningham, Kent, England. She was a British religious writer of poetry, biographies, prose and hymns.

Hearn (or “Polly” as she was called) was from a poor family and she struggled to acquire an education. Partly because of her own interest in outdoor nature, not in books; partly because her godly parents would not place her in a secular school; and partly because she had to take over the housekeeping at twelve years of age when her mother died.

In spite of these hindrances, Hearn persevered, studying early in the morning and late at night. She began writing religious verses and had the thrill of seeing one published. From verses, Hearn branched into short articles. Eventually she became a regular contributor to the Baptist weekly Christian World and editor of the Sunday School Times. What is more, Hearn became a teacher herself.

Hearn was a teacher who believed in involving herself in the lives of her students and visited each of them at home every week. Although she became well-known as a hymn writer and author, a lecturer beloved by English Baptists, Hearn remained simple and approachable. Her students adored her. Everyone wanted to be around her because she took a deep delight in life and an interest in the hurts of others. In spite of her teaching duties, Hearn somehow, she managed to keep up with her literary work. She wrote under the pen-name Marianne Farningham. When her works were collected, they amounted to twenty volumes. Best known of all her writings were the hymns, “Just as I Am, Thine Own to Be,” “Friend of the young, Who lovest me,” “To consecrate myself to Thee,” “O Jesus Christ, I come.” By the time of her death on March 16, 1909, Hearn had become one of the most loved women in British Baptist life.

A Little Humor

Ten-year-old Tommy was failing math. His parents tried everything to get him to do well in school, but nothing worked. Finally they enrolled him in a Catholic school. From his first day, the boy spent every night poring over books. When his first report card came, he had received an A in math. “Son,” his father asked, “what made the difference in math class? The nuns? The textbooks?” “Dad, I had never taken math seriously before,” the boy admitted. “But when I walked in and saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew this place meant business!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“When we are walking in our own way, we are actually running from the Lord!”