Comments on: It’s The Lord’s Prayer, not Yours http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/ Researching the Word of God for the Will of God Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:17:07 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Terry Ciesielski http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Terry Ciesielski Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:54:39 +0000 http://brownbible.com/?p=2097#comment-219 Dave, I suggest very strongly that you leave clear instructions, right now, as to what you would like to be said at your funeral. In my "living will" which is all I have as I haven't written a big old legal will yet, I have listed the scripture readings I want to be read, and I have asked that the gospel be presented, along with the idea that I have reached my lifelong goal. Also, I've asked that if I have hurt anyone, they would forgive me, and have asked that it be said that i forgive everyone who has done me any sort of harm (hopefully I'll take care of that before I go). Lastly, I also ask that the people attending my funeral don't fight with each other, but forgive and try to mend any broken relationships. That way at my death I'll still have one last chance to touch people's lives with the message of Christ. Dave, I suggest very strongly that you leave clear instructions, right now, as to what you would like to be said at your funeral. In my “living will” which is all I have as I haven’t written a big old legal will yet, I have listed the scripture readings I want to be read, and I have asked that the gospel be presented, along with the idea that I have reached my lifelong goal. Also, I’ve asked that if I have hurt anyone, they would forgive me, and have asked that it be said that i forgive everyone who has done me any sort of harm (hopefully I’ll take care of that before I go). Lastly, I also ask that the people attending my funeral don’t fight with each other, but forgive and try to mend any broken relationships. That way at my death I’ll still have one last chance to touch people’s lives with the message of Christ.

]]> By: Dave http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/comment-page-1/#comment-216 Dave Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:17:48 +0000 http://brownbible.com/?p=2097#comment-216 I never mock those that do it but simply do not agree with it, and I keep that private. My wife's aunt died a month ago, and they recited that prayer during the funeral service that to me fills in the gap. However, if it comforts them then so be it as it is completely harmless. My funeral I hope will be a different story. I would like the prayers and comments directed to the fact that I am with Christ and not a group reciting a prayer that has nothing to do with me lying there stiff. I think prayer should relate to what is before you, but I do not care or worry that others prefer some type of ritual at the death of a loved one that is harmless and makes them feel better. I never mock those that do it but simply do not agree with it, and I keep that private. My wife’s aunt died a month ago, and they recited that prayer during the funeral service that to me fills in the gap. However, if it comforts them then so be it as it is completely harmless. My funeral I hope will be a different story. I would like the prayers and comments directed to the fact that I am with Christ and not a group reciting a prayer that has nothing to do with me lying there stiff. I think prayer should relate to what is before you, but I do not care or worry that others prefer some type of ritual at the death of a loved one that is harmless and makes them feel better.

]]> By: Ken Brown http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Ken Brown Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:06:08 +0000 http://brownbible.com/?p=2097#comment-215 Hi Terry, Yes, I understand and would never deny a dying person of whatever was comforting to him. One's final moments are not the time to be confronted with the above article. In those situations you deal with, reciting the Lord's prayer or the 23'rd Psalm or whatever blesses is certainly the thing to do. Still, how much more comforting it would be for that individual if he had been previously taught that all his sins had already been forgiven, paid for by Jesus Christ; rather than going into that moment wondering if he had been forgiving enough of others to be cleared of his own transgressions. You do a great work for our God and His children. God bless you. Hi Terry,
Yes, I understand and would never deny a dying person of whatever was comforting to him. One’s final moments are not the time to be confronted with the above article. In those situations you deal with, reciting the Lord’s prayer or the 23′rd Psalm or whatever blesses is certainly the thing to do. Still, how much more comforting it would be for that individual if he had been previously taught that all his sins had already been forgiven, paid for by Jesus Christ; rather than going into that moment wondering if he had been forgiving enough of others to be cleared of his own transgressions.
You do a great work for our God and His children.
God bless you.

]]> By: terryciesielski http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/comment-page-1/#comment-213 terryciesielski Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:32:40 +0000 http://brownbible.com/?p=2097#comment-213 By the way, I have found that with the very elderly and dying, saying these words, just as saying the old KJV 23rd Psalm, provides a level of comfort that transcends their meaning. I think it has to do with the familiarity of a beloved tradition, giving a connection with the past and a centering, calming effect. When I am with dying people, usually I have known them and discussed the Gospel with them, and I feel secure that their relationship with our Lord is firm and alive. Often their family members will have differing religious backgrounds, and the words of the "Lord's Prayer" or Psalm 100 give everyone some common ground, something they can all say together, helping to draw them closer. This is so needed at times like that. Please understand, i am not negating anything you've said in your article. It's just one of those things.... By the way, I have found that with the very elderly and dying, saying these words, just as saying the old KJV 23rd Psalm, provides a level of comfort that transcends their meaning. I think it has to do with the familiarity of a beloved tradition, giving a connection with the past and a centering, calming effect. When I am with dying people, usually I have known them and discussed the Gospel with them, and I feel secure that their relationship with our Lord is firm and alive. Often their family members will have differing religious backgrounds, and the words of the “Lord’s Prayer” or Psalm 100 give everyone some common ground, something they can all say together, helping to draw them closer. This is so needed at times like that. Please understand, i am not negating anything you’ve said in your article. It’s just one of those things….

]]> By: Dave http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/comment-page-1/#comment-212 Dave Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:11:28 +0000 http://brownbible.com/?p=2097#comment-212 What's the matter Ken?? You don't like hearing the Lord's prayer prayed at every funeral service and so on??? :) I do know Catholics and Lutheran's love praying this prayer at events that makes no sense to do so. It would be like me visiting a sick person in the hospital needing prayer, and I pray that God will bless my dinner later that evening. I could never figure what that prayer has to do with some dead dude in a coffin, but many will pray it. I still remember back at Bible college that some guy panicked in a church when called upon to pray for the evening offering. He stood up and said, "God, thank you for this food" that got a snort of laughter out of me. That is how I view those praying the Lord's prayer at odd events. Some pray it every night before going to bed. What’s the matter Ken?? You don’t like hearing the Lord’s prayer prayed at every funeral service and so on??? :) I do know Catholics and Lutheran’s love praying this prayer at events that makes no sense to do so. It would be like me visiting a sick person in the hospital needing prayer, and I pray that God will bless my dinner later that evening. I could never figure what that prayer has to do with some dead dude in a coffin, but many will pray it. I still remember back at Bible college that some guy panicked in a church when called upon to pray for the evening offering. He stood up and said, “God, thank you for this food” that got a snort of laughter out of me. That is how I view those praying the Lord’s prayer at odd events. Some pray it every night before going to bed.

]]> By: terryciesielski http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/comment-page-1/#comment-180 terryciesielski Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:09:06 +0000 http://brownbible.com/?p=2097#comment-180 P. S. , Sorry about the typos. I can never seem to catch them all. P. S. , Sorry about the typos. I can never seem to catch them all.

]]> By: terryciesielski http://brownbible.com/rev-ken-brown-articles/biblical-considerations/it%e2%80%99s-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-not-yours/comment-page-1/#comment-179 terryciesielski Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:05:46 +0000 http://brownbible.com/?p=2097#comment-179 Dear Ken, "Reciting" ther "Lord's Prayer" over and over must be rather an annoyance to God, for the reasons you state above, if you are reciting instead of praying. Praying the IDEAS in this prayer modeled by Christ is, on the other hand, very sound and practical. Ask God to help you remember that his name is holy, and that he is our Father, and that his dwelling place is in heaven where we soon shall be. Don't let people use his name as a swear word around you today. Ask for his kingdom (which is "at hand!") to make its appearance. "My kingdom is not of this world," Jesus told Pilate in John 18.36. Ask for his will to be made known to you, so that you may do it. You can find his will in his Word. I wouldn't worry about making anyone else do his will until I was sure I was doing it myself, but I do ask that his will be done in matters where I have no personal control, as in our government, the situation in Haiti, things like that. If everyone did his will here on earth we would have a taste of what it is like in heaven, but as long as humans are fallen, we will not see his will perfectly carried out. Asking God to supply what we need for the day reminds us that he is the source of everything we have and everything we are. Better to ask him for our daily needs than to try to plan things out for ourselves. As a friend said to me, "We plan -- God laughs." Although as Christ's modern-day disciples we are indeed forgiven, I think it is still a good idea to ask God to help us forgive others. We are called to do this: "As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3.13 ESV). We, as fallen human beings, do not do this naturally; we need the Holy Spirit's help ("Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2.7). I think we need not ask God to "Lead us not into temptation." It's what he does for us while we are being tempted that is of importance. Remember that in any temptation, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1Corinthians 10.13) Ask him to show you that way of escape. Ask that he lead you AWAY from temptation. Ask that temptation will make your faith stronger. And as for asking God to deliver us from evil, this is something we need to do all the time. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Keep Satan away from us. Help us to recognize evil when it approaches so that we can arm ourselves with spiritual armor and with the great sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. (As an aside, how much DO we really recognize evil when we see it? Think about TV, for example Just because something is funny does not mean it is not evil.) And finally, whether the world knows it or not, all glory DOES belong to God, all power DOES emanate from him, and his mighty kingdom DOES belong to him alone. It is good to remember these things and to praise him for them. I don't need to think about how good I'll look in front of other people -- God gets the glory in the end. I don't have to worry about having the strength to get things done -- God's strength will be sufficient. And I look forward to my eternal home -- the everlasting kingdom of God. May his grace be on you today, and may your eyes be opened ever wider to see his power at work around us. Dear Ken,
“Reciting” ther “Lord’s Prayer” over and over must be rather an annoyance to God, for the reasons you state above, if you are reciting instead of praying. Praying the IDEAS in this prayer modeled by Christ is, on the other hand, very sound and practical.

Ask God to help you remember that his name is holy, and that he is our Father, and that his dwelling place is in heaven where we soon shall be. Don’t let people use his name as a swear word around you today.
Ask for his kingdom (which is “at hand!”) to make its appearance. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus told Pilate in John 18.36.
Ask for his will to be made known to you, so that you may do it. You can find his will in his Word. I wouldn’t worry about making anyone else do his will until I was sure I was doing it myself, but I do ask that his will be done in matters where I have no personal control, as in our government, the situation in Haiti, things like that. If everyone did his will here on earth we would have a taste of what it is like in heaven, but as long as humans are fallen, we will not see his will perfectly carried out.
Asking God to supply what we need for the day reminds us that he is the source of everything we have and everything we are. Better to ask him for our daily needs than to try to plan things out for ourselves. As a friend said to me, “We plan — God laughs.”
Although as Christ’s modern-day disciples we are indeed forgiven, I think it is still a good idea to ask God to help us forgive others. We are called to do this: “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3.13 ESV). We, as fallen human beings, do not do this naturally; we need the Holy Spirit’s help (“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2.7).
I think we need not ask God to “Lead us not into temptation.” It’s what he does for us while we are being tempted that is of importance. Remember that in any temptation, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1Corinthians 10.13) Ask him to show you that way of escape. Ask that he lead you AWAY from temptation. Ask that temptation will make your faith stronger.
And as for asking God to deliver us from evil, this is something we need to do all the time. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Keep Satan away from us. Help us to recognize evil when it approaches so that we can arm ourselves with spiritual armor and with the great sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
(As an aside, how much DO we really recognize evil when we see it? Think about TV, for example Just because something is funny does not mean it is not evil.)
And finally, whether the world knows it or not, all glory DOES belong to God, all power DOES emanate from him, and his mighty kingdom DOES belong to him alone. It is good to remember these things and to praise him for them. I don’t need to think about how good I’ll look in front of other people — God gets the glory in the end. I don’t have to worry about having the strength to get things done — God’s strength will be sufficient. And I look forward to my eternal home — the everlasting kingdom of God.
May his grace be on you today, and may your eyes be opened ever wider to see his power at work around us.

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