Brotherhood of Faith

The God Question…

The answer is in the Lord’s Prayer.  His Son, Jesus, loves us so much that He gave us the answer in Matthew 6:9-13 Read it for yourself…

The Lord’s Prayer

“Our Father in heaven” …We Need to always acknowledge first and foremost who we are talking to.  He (God) is our heavenly Father.  We address Him with respect just as we should address our earthly father with respect.  He is the only true God who created all things in this universe, including us.  He loves us and we need to show our love for Him.

“Hallowed be your name”…We must see Him as being holy, sanctified, consecrated; worthy of praise, honor and glory!

“Your kingdom come”…We acknowledge His coming kingdom.  We pray that Christ will soon return and establish His earthly kingdom where we will reign with Him for eternity.

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”…We need to pray for His will to be done in our lives, so that we might bring glory to Him here on earth as He is also glorified in heaven.  We need to do things His way, instead of selfishly doing our own things to satisfy our own desires.

“Give us today our daily bread”…We should ask our Father each day to provide for our needs, just as He promised in His Holy Word.  His Word says that we do not have, because we do not ask.  Of course, we must first know God through His Son, our personal Lord and Savior.  If we do not know Christ, God will not acknowledge this request for our daily provision.

“Forgive us our debts (transgressions) as we also have forgiven our debtors (transgressors)”…This speaks about forgiveness among our associates, neighbors, friends, family and loved ones.  Any and all persons in our lives that we come in contact with in social or business situations are included as well.  If we can not forgive others, how can we expect our heavenly Father to forgive us?

Lead us not into temptation”…We need to ask our heavenly Father to help us recognize every evil thing, every temptation before us.  We need help to stay focused on our Father and see the evil that we might fall into, for what it really is, a trap set by Satan to bring us down to his level.

“But deliver us from the evil one”…Help us, dear Father, to steer clear of that liar and deceiver.  Let us see clearly the path that you want each of us to walk.  By the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, may we never stray from your will.

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever”…This last phrase simply emphasizes more praise and glory to God the Father…a glorious ending to a model prayer to God!

The Alpha and the Omega, the Author of Life, King of Kings, Bright and Morning Star, Redeemer, Savior, Princess of Peace, the Way, the Great I am! Our everything…

It is the Fall season once again which could only mean FOOTBALL is in the air. Everyone starts out on equal ground, 0-0. You feel good about your team’s chances this year. Nothing’s going to stop your team from finishing on top. It’s the same way we approach life’s ups and downs. We’re confident nothing is going bring us down because we’ve prepared for all that life has to offer. On the other hand, some of us have allowed doubt to come in or we begin to worry about what’s coming next in life. Worry, which is a type of fear, is the opposite of faith. Worry is so common to humankind. The young and old, the rich and poor, the learned and unlearned, the saints and sinners, and the faithful and unfaithful all have worries. And it seems that we worry about everything beneath the stars of heaven. We worry about our money, how we are going to get it, keep it, and spend it. We worry about other’s troubles as well as our own. The thought of some disaster is constantly plaguing our mind, with 80% to 90% of these disasters never taking place. I wonder if some are sitting up at night to plan out their worries for the next day. Worrying never lifted a single burden; it never dried a single tear; it never solved a single problem. There are two instances of things we should never worry about: the things we can help, and the things we cannot help. The Bible says in Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.　Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The Apostle Paul knew the subject of worry very well. Every journey he set out on to preach the Gospel should have given him reason to worry. For example, his thoughts could have been: How would the people of a particular town receive him? What would they say about him? Would they stone him, beat him? Or even worse, kill him? We should take Paul’s lead as in the Epistle to the Philippians 4:6 NKJV: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; In other words, Paul urged the Christians to “Be careful for nothing”, “Have no anxiety about anything” or “Don’t worry about anything.” Paul is talking about worrying, not forethought, but anxious thought. The apostle here is not forbidding a thought-out life by any means, but rather in yet another scripture he emphasizes his point in 2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV: For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

I have discovered three key points with regards to worry: 1) It is useless…This is the very point that Jesus was making in Matthew 6:27 NKJV, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” 2) It is hurtful…Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famed Mayo Clinic, once said, “Worry affects the circulation — the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system. Worry wears one out mentally and physically. 3) It is faithless…Worry indicates a weakness in our faith. Jesus describes one that worries in Matthew 6:30 NKJV: “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

But thanks be to God, saints, there is a cure. I stated it earlier, did you catch the scripture? Philippians 4:6, we should pray, redirect our thinking and put our faith in God. We ought to trust Him, that He will be with us. It’s really that simple, that is why faith in God always wins out!

We’re all familiar with the phrases, “This Just In…”, “Breaking News” or “We Interrupt this Television Program to Bring you is important Message”, these are headlines meant to grab your attention.  You are to take notice because something important is taking place.  Well, consider this message your APB (All Points Bulletin) or Public Service Announcement.  This message is intended for anyone that is unaware of Christ’s return.  I know what you’re thinking at this very moment, ‘You mean He was once here on earth?’ or ‘He’s coming back?’  Just as the epistles of the New Testament were written for Christians, this message is for new believers and non-believers alike.  Just like an old-time detective novel, I’m going to layout for you the Who, What, When, Why, Where and How.   

Who…Jesus of Nazareth, born into this earth by the virgin Mary, Who was the Pre-existent, Eternal, Creator of God, is coming back to earth again.

Matthew 16:27 NKJV: For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

John 14:3 NKJV: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Acts 1:11 NKJV: who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

What…The triumphant, physical return of its rightful owner and ruler to this planet:  Jesus Christ.

Revelations 19:16-19 NKJV: Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a   white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

When…Any time, probably soon!

Matthew 24:3-4, 14, 30, 34, 36, 44 NKJV:  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear  heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

James 5:7-8 NKJV:  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 

Why…Jesus will return to subdue His enemies, to rule and reign, to judge, and to reward believers for faithful service

 Revelation 22:12, 20 NKJV:  “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Where…Jesus will return where He left from, the Mount of Olives, in Israel.  When He returns, every eye shall see Him.

Acts 1:9-11 NKJV:  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

How…Jesus will return in person—instantly, as lightning flashes from the east to west

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NKJV:  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Brothers and Sisters in the faith, It will be a day just like today. Suddenly, without warning, Jesus will return. Those who are ready will go with Him, but those who are not will be left behind.

The great question everyone today must answer is simply this: ARE YOU READY? If Jesus comes today will you be ready to meet Him. There will be no time to GET READY. You must BE READY when He comes. Paul said, “I would not have you to be ignorant brethren…”

If you have never accepted Christ, you aren’t ready! If you are not living for Him, you aren’t ready! If you are thinking ‘I’ve got plenty of time’, then you are not ready!  Selah.