First Baptist Church

Inviting and Accepting

9 West Main St. Earlville, NY 13332, Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Pastor

“KEEP THE THY BEFORE THE MY” (Matthew 6:9-10)

March 11, 2018

“Teach Me to Pray” Series – Part 2, March 11, 2018

By Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S “SPECIAL”: “A Vote Funny”

The pastor of a church decides that God is calling the church to a new vision of what it is to be and do. So at the elders meeting, he presents the new vision with as much energy, conviction and passion as he can muster. When he had finished and sat down, the senior elder called for a vote. All 12 elders voted against the new vision, with only the clergyman voting for it.

“Well, pastor, it looks like you will have to think again,” says the senior elder. “Would you like to close the meeting in prayer?”

So the pastor stands up, raises his hand to heaven, and prays, “LOOOOOOORD!…will you not show these people that this is not MY vision but it is YOUR vision!”

At that moment, the clouds darken, the thunder rolls, and a streak of lightning bursts through the window and strikes in two the table at which they are sitting, throwing the pastor and all the elders to the floor.

After a moment’s silence, as they all get up and dust themselves off, the senior elder speaks again. “Well, that’s twelve votes to two then.”

INTRODUCTION

Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of this month, and Easter is April 1st. To prepare our hearts for these special days, I have initiated a season of prayer every Thursday at 7 pm throughout this month. I really hope you can come – or take an evening a week to pray at home. But how do I pray? Is that foreign to you? For the several weeks, we are looking at a most familiar piece of Scripture where the Lord Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. It’s in there! TODAY: “Keep the Thy before the my”. PRAYER

#1—A FRESH RELATIONSHIP “Our Father in Heaven”

This is a most unusual expression that our Savior is sharing with his first disciples, children of the new kingdom. Why is it most unusual?

In the Bible, the word “father” appears 1103 times, 753 of which are in the OT. And only once in the OT, and quoted in the new, is God referred to as a “Father”. Illustration: David wanted to build a temple for the Lord’s ark, but Nathan the prophet said that David’s son – who wasn’t yet born nor thought of – would build it. And God through Nathan assured David that God would be a Father to his son. (2 Sam. 7:14). Paul quotes that expression in 2 Cor. 6:18 to show that because God is our Father, we are to live lives separate from the world’s ways and values.

Turn to John 20:17 – In Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene, He reports that “I have not yet returned to the Father”, and for her to tell the disciples, “I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Why is this unusual? Because He is now giving voice to a fresh relationship that is available for children of the kingdom – because of the resurrected Savior, His Father can now be their Father (and ours as well!). Wow.

And note that Jesus said to pray “OUR Father”. This is completely unheard of in OT Theology. In kingdom living, Jesus’ Father is ours as well. Double Wow.

We are reminded of the Father’s Home: “in Heaven”:

2 Cor. 5:1-4 our new dwelling as a result of a fresh relationship. “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.”

Phil. 3:20 our citizenship in heaven. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”

Heb. 11:16 our longing for an heavenly kingdom. “But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them”

Turn to: Rev. 5:6-14 The heavenly worship is the fruit of a fresh relationship.

#2—A FAMILIAR REMINDER “Hallowed be Thy Name”

You may remember these most familiar words which we found in 1 Peter 1:14-16 describing the relationship which a child of God has with his heavenly Father. Applying the words of Leviticus 11, Peter wrote, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God’s name is holy. His character is holy. He is altogether holy. There is no sin, no shortcoming, no imperfection in Him. And when we approach Him in prayer, we are approaching more than just another Facebook friend that you can follow or unfollow with the flick of your finger.

Because He is holy, we have a unique assurance that He will respond to our prayer in a way no person will – with an answer which is absolutely perfect to the need you petition.

There is a holy approach, and there is an unholy approach to God. But remember that it is not we who are innately holy – it is God Himself. He invites us to come as we are: “come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, “Jesus wrote. The invitation is there, the Lord Who is in Heaven is holy, and He wants us to come to Him.

#3—A FIXED RESOLVE “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done”

This is a most unusual way to finish this part of Jesus’ model prayer for His disciples. The first resolve is one of focus: “Thy kingdom come”. I read the other day that the richest woman in the US is the owner of Walmart. I don’t know her, never met her. I’m sure she worked hard. Perhaps she is related to Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton, who was a most honest Christian man. Yet her kingdom, for all intents and purposes, is Walmart. As Walmart succeeds, so does she. Her focus is the advancement of Walmart.

Jesus is encouraging His praying disciples that the focus of all believers should not be THEIR kingdom, but His kingdom. Think this through – what a newfound freedom that gives the disciple who is no longer concerned with his advancement, but with the advancement of the Lord Jesus and His kingdom. Freedom. No pressure to be an earthly success. Simply a desire to be a pleasure to the King of kings.

But Jesus also reminds His disciples that a kingdom follower will be one who seeks the Father’s will in all things. How can we do this? There are at least two ways: first, by prayer, submitting all our goals and purposes before our wise heavenly Father. Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

But the second is perhaps a bit harder: by being sure that the direction we are heading is not in disagreement with the written Word of God. In 1 John 2:15-17, the apostle John wrote: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Such a disciple is living according to the revealed will of God as well as according to the operation of the internal Spirit of God Who never does anything contrary to the Word of God. What a privilege to pray according to God’s resolve!

CONCLUSION

Let’s review! In His model prayer for His disciples, Jesus gave a fresh relationship: the eternal relationship which He had been enjoying with His Father was now theirs by virtue of their relationship by faith in Jesus. And if that wasn’t enough, Jesus reminds them that His Father’s name is holy – that’s a good thing in light of all that is in this world which isn’t holy. And if THAT wasn’t enough, He then puts purpose to their prayer: the furthering of God’s kingdom, and the fulfillment of His will.

And that’s where the sermon title comes in. Note the placement that our Savior put with this. Each of these introductory words of prayer are Theo-centric! GOD-centered! Before Jesus continues with the personal requests which are introduced with the personal pronoun “my”, He makes sure that His disciples enjoy prayer because it is first of all “Thy” centered – fixed upon the Father Himself.

We need to keep the “Thy” before the “my”.

One last thought. Our Savior’s model prayer – given as an answer to the disciples’ request to teach them how to pray – is written NOT for all people. It can only be prayed by faith by one group of people in this world. You know that MANY religions and denominations have this prayer as part of their worship. We do here, too. BUT it can only be given in faith by those who love Jesus as Savior. No one else. It is exclusive for those who are children of God by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior for my sins. Have you prayed this prayer? Did you pray it from a platform of faith or from a platform of empty religion? Big difference. The answer is the answer of your eternity. Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? Then enjoy the sweet intimacy that He invites us to have with Him in prayer!

close in prayer

First Baptist Church

9 West Main St. Earlville, NY 13332

Inviting and Accepting

Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Pastor

BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE (Matthew 6:5-8)

By Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford

TODAY’S “SPECIAL”: “Johnny Didn’t Do It”

The visiting church school supervisor asks little Johnny during Bible class who broke down the walls of Jericho. Little Johnny replies that he does not know, but it definitely is not him.

The supervisor, taken aback by this lack of basic Bible knowledge, goes to the school principal and relates the whole incident.

The principal replies that he knows little Johnny as well as his whole family very well and can vouch for them. And if little Johnny said that he did not do it, he, as principal is satisfied that it is the truth.

Even more appalled, the inspector goes to the Regional Head of Education and relates the whole story.

After listening he replies: “I can’t see why you are making such a big issue out of this: just get three quotes and fix the wall!”

INTRODUCTION

Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of this month, and Easter is April 1st. To prepare our hearts for these special days, I have initiated a season of prayer every Thursday at 7 pm throughout this month. I really hope you can come. But how do I pray, in public? Is that foreign to you? For the next several weeks, we are going to look at a most familiar piece of Scripture where the Lord Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. It’s in there! TODAY: 3 elements of Spirit-filled prayer. PRAYER

#1 FIND A MENTOR, BE A MENTOR (Luke 11:1ff)

In our text we are soon introduced to what has traditionally been called “The Lord’s Prayer”. But the context is prefaced by a request made by Jesus’ closest disciples. Luke 11 tells the rest of the story: the disciples had observed how John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray. Now they wanted Jesus to do the same for them. We need to find a mentor to help us pray. And when we learn how to pray, we need to encourage others.

One of the greatest “old salt” writers on prayer was a fellow named E.M. Bounds. I encourage you to look up his books. There are about 8 in the series on prayer. And he wrote them at a time before TV, radio, phone – you know, those times when all one had to do was learn of Jesus! And Pastor Bounds did!

Not in our hymnbook is an old hymn, “Teach Me to Pray”. The song, copyrighted in 1925 was written by Albert Simpson Reitz who lived from 1879-1966. Listen to the heart cry. This is what Jesus is talking about here:

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;

This is my heart-cry day unto day;

I long to know Thy will and Thy way;

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

Chorus:

Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me.

Constant abiding, this is my plea.

Grant me Thy power, boundless and free.

Power with men and power with Thee.

#2 DO NOT IMITATE THE WORLD (Matt. 6:5)

They know not – or might not know – Jesus!

Illus.: I distinctly remember a prayer a local “pastor” prayed at my brother-in-law’s graduation. It was an exceptionally hot Sunday afternoon when the “pastor”, honored to be asked to give the invocation, prayed “and Lord, please keep the ladies’ mascara from running.” His platform to influence the students for eternity had been wasted.

Written prayers are nice – and many old saints used to write their prayers (and we still have them). But this is an intimacy between you and God alone.

Key phrase here describing them is: “love to be seen” as professionals, not as servants of the King of Kings.

Are their “giants of prayer” that have influenced you? For me, Stewart D. from nearby West Eaton. Nearing 100, when he prays publicly, his prayers are full of Scripture as to Who he is approaching. “all mighty, all wonderful, most high God; all righteous, all powerful.” – all from the scriptures. He knows to Whom he is praying. Imitate heart-felt prayers.

#3 BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE (Matt. 6:6)

Illus.: The KJV says we are to pray in our “closets.” Let me tell you about the “Tom P. Syndrome”. Tom was a straight A student. Eagle Scout. Ultimate Doctoral Candidate. Yet when he was first saved, taking the Bible literally, he would pray in his closet. His mom could never find him when he was praying! Is that what is meant here?

You are not praying before the ones you are with. You are praying to the Lord. Alone. In fact, that is a good motto for one’s Christian walk & life. Perhaps Tom had it right – he was praying before an audience of One. As are we!

CONCLUSION:

REMEMBER: THE FATHER DOESN’T WANT YOUR WORDS; HE WANTS YOUR HEART (Matt. 6:7-8)

Illus.: When my dad was alive, I tried to call down to Florida at least once a …. Month! I thought that was quite the work on my life. After all, Dad was 47 years older than I. He was going to be around forever. But then one day I learned that his health wasn’t what it should be, and that his days were numbered. Guess how often I called then? And I made sure that at the end of every call he and I would exchange the words, “I love you.” In fact, those 3 words are the last ones I ever heard him speak this side of eternity.

Our Heavenly Father already knows your needs, your wants. Those may be important to you. Your needs may be overwhelming. But in the most intimate moment possible in eternity, the Father wants to hear you.

Will you talk with Him today?

Will our church talk with Him today? This week?

Or is it possible for a church to exist without ever talking with the Father?

Close in prayer

First Baptist Church

9 West Main St. Earlville, NY 13332

Inviting and Accepting

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

“NEVERTHELESS” (Exodus 16:26-28)

February 18, 2018

TODAY’S SPECIAL

A “Memorial Funny”

An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers.

In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, “They wouldn’t take me out while I was alive, I don’t want them to take me out when I’m dead.”

INTRODUCTION

If you have been reading your Bible for any length of time, or even if you are just starting to develop a habit in the Scriptures, there is a word that you may have come across and paid little attention to. The word is the subject of today’s message. “Nevertheless”. God places this word at timely moments. In fact, in the NIV He purposely puts in there 40 times (27 in OT, 13 in NT). In the Old King James, it Is there 97 times; and in my New King James, some 118 well-placed transcriptions of the Hebrew and Greek languages are found. It is an important word. Let’s find out the pattern of its use.

PRAYER

THE PATTERN OF “NEVERTHELESS”:

#1. A DOCTRINE (v. 26)

* This is a Biblical principle that the Lord is desiring for those who call Him Father and Lord. This is not a man-made teaching; rather it is a God directed pattern upon which God desires His child to govern his or her life. * Any and all doctrines are designed for the good of God’s people. They are not a hardship; rather, they encourage one simple word: trust! Trust that the Lord is ALWAYS true to His Word! * In v. 26, the doctrine is the law of the sabbath as regarding working and food. We are introduced in verses 1-26 to God’s provision for the people of Israel while they are wandering between Egypt and the promised land of Israel. * Note what we glean from these first 25 verses:

A. The timing (v. 1) is 45 or so days after leaving Egypt. The people are grumbling (v. 2) because they have no food.

B. What is the difference between v. 3 and v. 26? In verse 26, they are wandering in the wilderness. In their reflections in v. 3, they are…SLAVES! They are not free. They are not working for a living – they are working for the State of Egypt and for the Pharaoh’s pleasure. But by v. 26, they were once again reasoning that it might have been a good thing to be a slave!

C. In v. 4 we are introduced to God’s provision, “bread from heaven.” Do you remember the conversation in John 6? The people of Jesus’ day were harping that they were already God’s people, they were followers of Moses, and how that MOSES had provided them bread in the wilderness. Do you remember Jesus’ response? (1) My Father provided that bread; and (2) I am the Bread of Life. We know from the NT description that Exodus 16 is a test to show that the provision of manna is an earthly picture of the big picture of the Father’s provision of His own Son! And we are today invited to TRUST Him! Do we? And where can we show we trust Him? His Word! Deut. 8:3 quoted in the NT!

D. In v.16 we learn the weight of the provision: the people are to collect an “omer” per each person in the household. Most footnotes show than an “omer” weighs about 3 pounds. You have an household of 5 people, you collect 15 omers of manna; 3 people? 9 omers. And everyone was completely filled – IF they did what God directed. Look at v. 18 – God’s provision brought contentment!

E. And on the 6th day (v. 23), they were to gather double as much. This is so they could enjoy a sabbath rest. The 6th day was a purposeful season of work – they were not to do on the sabbath what they could have done the day before.

ILLUSTRATION

I remember my first pastor and what his family did on SATURDAY. The pastor would gas up the vehicle so he wouldn’t have to do that on Sunday. His wife would do all the shopping so that there would be no need to shop on Sunday. IN FACT, as late as the 70’s most stores were closed on Sundays! Gas stations seemed to be always open. In just a short time, times changed. WHY? Because part of the mindset is that if we work more, we have more. (that’s being simplistic – I know there are exceptions. BUT ask some of the older folk in our congregation – and you will find that many of the wives DID not work, because they were content with the provision the husband made – and they lived accordingly!

* This was a good doctrine – a test by the loving Heavenly Father. He would faithfully provide. And He wanted His people to trust, and in their trust, obey.

#2. A DECISION (v. 27a)

* This is the place of the crossroads – a place where two roads meet and one must decide which road to travel

* We are introduced to the key word, “nevertheless”. The word SHOULD NOT be there. The verse SHOULD say, “and the people willingly trusted the Lord and obeyed Him.”

* Our key word is a decision word. It is the word at the crossroads which says, “God is testing me. He is giving me a choice, to trust or to go my way. There is something in me which does not understand His test. Perhaps I should test the waters before fully trusting Him.”

* OK, perhaps we’re being too harsh on the Israelites. So then, put yourselves in their shoes and be honest. God says, “I will provide all your needs. You say, “I NEED A 75 INCH FLAT SCREEN TV LIKE MY NEIGHBOR HAS.” So you go and put the TV on credit – and can’t pay it off for 10 years. In the meanwhile, a kid puts a shoe through the TV, the very item you thought you must have. You are stuck, because…you didn’t trust at the crossroads.

SO THE DECISION LEADS TO…

#3. A DISOBEDIENCE (v. 27b)

* “Some” – it is fortunately only “some” – but it is ALWAYS “some” who fail to respond in faith to the test.

* What did they do? They went out on the Sabbath to gather bread. The bread wasn’t there. God said it wouldn’t be there. So then why did they go looking for it?

* There is an old adage, surely not original with me: partial obedience is absolute disobedience. These people went through the rituals of faith, but not the trust.

* Did you catch that? And could that ever be you? How easy it is to go through faith’s “rituals”: to be in church, to serve in various places, but for what? To get God’s brownie points? OR because you love and trust the Lord? These few Israelites were disobedient.

AND THAT DISOBEDIENCE ENDS UP WITH:

#4. A DISAPPOINTMENT (v. 28)

* Read v. 28 with a hankie in your hand – not for you, but for God’s tears. Can you hear His tears in His words, “How long will you refuse to keep (obey)…?”

* How long? That means that this disobedience is ongoing until the heart goes back to where it began – with the doctrine, the principles of God’s Word that a loving Heavenly Father is encouraging His children to follow and obey.

CONCLUSION

So let’s wrap this up. We began with a doctrine, a principle of God’s heart. God loves to instruct. Yet His instructions are also a test to obedience. And the heart at the crossroads hungers to satisfy both directions of the test.

And God wisely introduces that crossroads with the word “nevertheless.” Look for it throughout the Scriptures.

Some choose to disobey. It is easy to go through the motions of faith; some choose to say “no” to God and feel no remorse while at the same time hurt the cause of Christ that He has called His church to fulfill.

And finally, there is one aspect we often ignore: God’s tears of disappointment. His “how long”.

This week, maybe even today, God will test each of us with the choice to follow and obey His doctrines, His principles of true living in Christ. May that test raise the Heavenly Red Flags of Decision, Disobedience, and Disappointment BEFORE we get to the crossroads and regret the decision we make.

OH may “nevertheless” not be a part of our walk with Jesus this week!

Close in prayer