From the Pastor
We have now come to the conclusion of The Lord's Prayer. Obviously each of the petitions and this prayer, in its entirety, mean very much to each and every Christian. The conclusion is no different. It too means a great deal to everyone who believes it. As you are fully aware, it goes like this: "For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen."
Attached to the conclusion is a poignant doctrinal point that states, "This (the conclusion to the Lord's Prayer) means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen, means 'yes, yes, it shall be so.'"
Yes, it shall indeed be so. So, now what? What do we do now that we've explored the introduction, the seven petitions, and the conclusion to the Lord's Prayer? I'll tell you what we do next by way of an example via a story about a former elder of mine in Colorado.
I first met Howard Slavens in 1996 when I was flown out to Colorado to be interviewed to begin a new congregation. He was the head of the call committee and an elder who became the chief general manager of Family of Christ's first building project which was only 1.9million dollars. Howard is a very intelligent, savvy man who had been through a couple of tours of Viet Nam; had many conflicts in his life, and had retired from the communications giant QWEST. He had a distinct manner about him that emanated, "Don't mess with me."
However, that outward demeanor was nothing more than a front that was broken whenever God humbled him.
Now Howard had a simple, yet profound faith. When he needed to pray deeply about something he had a formula that I want to share with you.
We had a crisis in the building project and Howard, being the general manager of the project, was personally, financially, and in his mind, spiritually invested in this new church. After the crisis passed he shared with me that he had prayed The Lord's Prayer. I congratulated him and asked him, "That's it? You just prayed The Lord's Prayer and nothing else?" "Yes!" He replied. Then he continued by saying, "For the last 48 hours all I've prayed is The Lord's Prayer, over and over and over again." I was awake for 48 straight hours and when I finished with reciting The Lord's Prayer, I'd say it over again."
Now that's what I call a deep faith! He simply prayed the best and most perfect prayer over and over and deeper and deeper again and again for 48 straight hours. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he did just that. Wow!
I think we could take a lesson or two from ol' Howard. Being that we've come to the end of The Lord's Prayer, how about we go back to the beginning and pray it again. That's my challenge for you. Start it over and see if you receive a deeper, richer meaning when you pray it again. Look at it in depth. Study it diligently. Learn it inwardly. Share it liberally. Pray it meaningfully. God promises that you will be blessed by it. "Yes, yes, it shall be so." Now, let us worship . .
-Pastor Joel-
Email me at jsund@redeemerwayzata.org !