God's Prodigal Family: Father (Luke 15:11-32 (LD 51)

It is easy to judge the younger brother and to let him live with the consequences of his actions.  It might be touching to think that the father still hosts the banquet for the younger brother.  You can almost have a sentimental feeling that the father is a really good father.  The parable hits home when the father explains to the older brother why this banquet is so significant.  It also hits home when the father has to pursue the lost son.  Which son is really the lost son in this parable?  What is the significance of the father going out to meet with each of the sons?

Reprioritizing Our Position (LD 50; Matthew 6:25-34)

Asking the Lord to give us our daily bread could be another way of asking the Lord to make me more successful.  In other words it is the desire that we want to be successful.  The problem that we have as humans is looking beyond this world and believing that our Heavenly Father is more than looking down upon us, but is actually caring for us.  So, when we ask the Lord for our daily bread what are we exactly asking the Lord to provide?

Wanting God’s Will (Ephesians 6:5-9; LD 49)

This is one of the requests of the Lord’s prayer that we can rattle off without really considering the implications of it.  What does it mean that we really want the Lord’s will?  This is basically saying that we no longer desire to live by our will, but by the will of our father in heaven.  So, how do we live by the will of the Lord seeking to honor the Lord?

Wanting the Lord’s Kingdom (Psalm 122; LD 48)

When we talk about the Kingdom of God we normally associate the Kingdom of God as being something that is present here and now.  So, if the Kingdom is present here and now then why would we ask the Lord for the Kingdom to come?  The Lord will establish His kingdom despite any forces that may stand against it.  So, what does it mean that we ask for the Lord’s kingdom to come?

The Absurdity of Prayer (Psalm 50 (LD 45)

Our catechism moves from the law of God that we obey out of gratitude to teaching us about prayer.  It does seem a bit strange that as Calvinists we would pray and that our confessional documents would have strong language regarding the necessity of prayer.  Why pray if everything is determined?  What can prayer do for us in our Christian life?  Do we pray to change the will of God or do we pray for another reason?

Lead Us to Life (1 Peter 5:8 (LD 52)

It is rather strange to ask the Lord not to lead us into temptation because we are sinners who follow our sinful desires quit well.  We also believe and affirm that God cannot sin.  If God cannot sin, and we are sinners why would we then ask the Lord not to lead us into temptation?  It seems that we are more than capable of finding and following temptation ourselves.  So, why do we pray such a request, and why even ask the Lord such a thing when really it is our call to walk the straight and narrow in Christ?  Right or is there more to this request?

The Kingdom of Suffering and Forgiveness (1 Peter 3:13-22 (LD 51)

The call for us to suffer and forgive those who offend us is a rather difficult challenge.  We as humans want to make sure that we get our pound of flesh.  We think that those who offend us must pay the price or we might want be scared that they will make a habit of offending us.  So, why do we ask for forgiveness and ask that we would forgive others?  What could possibly motivate us to want to fulfill this radical request?

“Your Will be Done” (Luke 22:42 (LD 49)

We are creatures who have our own desires, convictions, and goals.  It is not natural for us as fallen creatures to put another’s will ahead of our own will.  If this is true then how can we pray, “Your will be done?”  How can we want the Lord’s will over our own will?  Is the Lord requiring something of us that is beyond our capabilities?  Does the Lord even know how difficult it is to desire such a thing? How do we know that our high priest who resides in the glory of heaven knows such a struggle?

Your Kingdom Come (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (LD 48)

The Lord is the king who rules over heaven and earth.  He is the one who triumphs and has while continuing to manifest His might, His power, and the strength of His hand.  So, if this is true then why would we ask that His kingdom would come if He is strong enough to establish it?  What does the resurrection have to do with this request?  Why would the resurrection be so essential for the Christian life?

“Magnify the Lord: Hallowed be Your Name” (Luke 1:46-56 (LD 47)

Our God is the standard of holiness.  We cannot make God any holier than God already is in Himself.  So, if God is one who is everything that is holy then why would want God to make Himself more holy as we pray, “Make holy your name?”  Mary invites us to join together in making the Lord’s name holy.  Is she out of line or is there a basis for such a request?

“Our Father in Heaven” (Luke 11:11-13 (LD 46)

Our human inclination is to think that God dwelling in heaven makes Him distant from us.  However, when Christ teaches us to pray the force of addressing God as our Father in heaven seems to be a blessing.  So, why is it good that our Father is in heaven and not on an earthly visible throne?

Why Pray if God is Sovereign? (Romans 8:26 (LD 45)

The Lord is a God who rules over all things.  He is king over the heaven and the earth.  He is the one who orders and controls our destiny.  So, if this is all true then why pray?  It is not like you are going to change the mind of a God whose mind does not change.  It is not like you are going to inform Him of something that He does not already know.  So, why is prayer so necessary and significant for the Christian life?

Pray Unceasingly

Pastor Jared Beaird fills our pulpit this morning as Pastor Paul Lindemulder is over in Missoula exchanging pulpits after our classis meeting. http://missoulaurc.com

Lead and Deliver Us (Matthew 6:13; LD 52)

One of the greatest temptations we have in this life is to rely on ourselves to arrive at the goal of heaven.  We think that there are strategies we can take or maybe works we can do to please the Lord in our strength.  How do we know that we should be relying on the Lord in everything that we do?  How do we get through this age if we are self deceived and struggle in sin?  What does the request for leading and deliverance teach us about our frailty as humans?

This Day Our Daily Bread (Luke 11:3; LD 50)

When we think about the Christian life it is easy to think that the Lord just wants us to pray about the spiritual issues we might be having.  I mean the Lord is busy so why would he care about the evil flesh?  How do we know that the Lord wants us to be physically healthy?  Is it wrong for us to request that the Lord care for our physical needs?  How do we know that the Lord really will care for our physical needs?  How are these physical needs even a spiritual concern?  So, should we place before the throne of God our physical needs and burdens?

Your Will Be Done (LD 49; Matthew 6:10)

You do not have to travel far to find the cynics who do not want to consider the Lord’s will.  As fallen human beings we really think that our will is going to give us something that is greatly beneficial.  After all it is easy to dismiss God’s concern because He seems so distant.  So, why is it essential that we want the will of the Lord?  How can desiring His will over our will be something that is really beneficial for our daily walk?  How do we know that God really cares or is able to act on His concern when we are so fallen and broken in this age? 

Your Kingdom Come (Matthew 6:10; LD 48)

When you read the Old Testament one of the great hopes is that when the Messiah arrives the kingdom will be fully established.  It is clear that when Christ walks this earth that the kingdom of God is at hand, but there is still something that is not finished.  If the kingdom has come with Christ entering history then why do we pray, “Your Kingdom Come” if that kingdom is already here?  How can we rest in Christ’s work if the kingdom is not fully here as Israel expected?

Is Wisdom Really the Answer? (James 1:5-8; LD 45)

When we face trials in this age the last word we think to describe them is, “joy.”  When we face those trials we generally pray for strength, healing, grace, or any of the above.  However, James tells us to ask for wisdom.  Why would we want wisdom to get through a trial?  I thought wisdom was the thing that you gained after a trial.