Insights Magazine: March 2014 by Insight for Living Canada

MARCH 2014

In this issue

8 3

Strengthening Your Grip On Prayer charles r. swindoll

6 What Should I Do for Lent? robyn roste

How do I pray for my enemies?

11 When a Couple Prays Together dr. dave currie 14 Q & A steve johnson

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Copyright ÂŠ 2014 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Insights is published by IFLC, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NASB. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by IFLC staff. Printed in Canada.

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8 Jesus' Easter Prayer For Us steve johnson

by charles r. swindoll

should tell you up front that this is not going to be your basic religious-sounding statement on prayer. Sorry, I just don’t have it in me. No, I’m not sorry. To be painfully honest with you, most of the stuff I have ever read or heard said about prayer has either left me under a ton-and-a-half truckload of guilt or wearied me with pious-sounding clichés and meaningless God-talk. Because I didn’t spend two or three gruelling hours a day on my knees as dear Dr. So-and-So did… or because I wasn’t able to weave dozens of Scripture verses through my prayer…or because I had not been successful in moving mountains, I picked up the distinct impression that I was out to lunch when it came to this part of the Christian life. Maybe you’ve had a similar experience. Let’s see if there is something I can say that will help put prayer in a better light for you. Hopefully, you will see rather soon that it isn’t authentic prayer you’ve been struggling with but rather a caricature, a distortion, a pitiful imitation of the genuine item. Religious people in Jesus’ day took their cues from the leaders of the synagogue—the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the scribes. Didn’t they believe in prayer? Yes, indeed. They had a saying, “He who prays within his house surrounds it with a wall that is stronger than iron.” They only regretted they couldn’t pray all day long. And it was this intensity that caused prayer to degenerate from a flowing spontaneity to a rigid, packaged plan, dispensed routinely by the religious leaders. Prayer changed from privilege to an obligation. From pleasure in God’s presence to man-made requirements.

Strengthening Your Grip on Prayer continued from p. 3

Is it any wonder prayer had lost its value? As it degenerated into an insignificant routine marked by overt hypocrisy and meaningless terms, coupled with a judgmental spirit, prayer hit the skids. Such high expectations that became impossible for the common person to achieve resulted in the entire act becoming a fleshly display proudly performed by the religious showmen. This explains why our Lord took them to task in His immortal Sermon on the Mount. In that sermon, Jesus makes three strong statements (all of them negative) as He suggests a plan to follow if we want a satisfying and God-honouring prayer life.

DON’T BE HYPOCRITICAL (Matthew 6:12, 5, 16). Jesus reserved some of His strongest reproofs for hypocrisy. It is safe to say He despised it. The comment He repeats (for the sake of emphasis) is that those who do their thing to be seen get all the reward they will ever get now. He makes it clear there will be nothing gained later. Rather than making a cheap show of it, Jesus says: “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6 NLT). Prayer is never something we do to be seen. It loses its whole purpose if it becomes a platform to impress others. It is a private act of devotion, not a public demonstration of piety. According to Jesus, it belongs in the closet of our lives, an act done in secret.

DON’T USE A LOT OF REPETITION (Matthew 6:7-8). Christ never saw prayer as pleading or begging or hammering away at the throne of God. No, the Father

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“When you and I pray, we change, and that is one of the major reasons prayer is such a therapy that counteracts anxiety.”

knows His children; He knows what we need. Therefore, there is no reason to think that connecting with Him requires special words excessively repeated. Now, let me be even more specific. Today, just as in Jesus’ day, there is no part of the Christian life more in need of freshness and spontaneity than prayer. Whether it is prayer from a pulpit, prayer at a church group gathering, prayer before meals, or prayer before a meeting, meaningless repetition abounds! Tired, overworked words and phrases keep returning. Break loose from those old bromides! For starters, I dare you to pray without using “bless” or “lead, guide, and direct” or “help so-andso” or “Thy will” or “each and every” or any number of those institutionalized, galvanized terms. I dare you! Try listening to new Christians pray. I’m referring to those who are fresh from birth—who haven’t learned “how to do it” yet, thank goodness. They talk to God like He’s their friend, they use street terms anybody can understand, and they occasionally laugh or cry. It’s just beautiful. Or when you pray before meals, have each person at the table give thanks in prayer for each specific food dish being served. The point is clear: guard against meaningless verbiage.

DON’T HARBOUR ANYTHING AGAINST ANOTHER (Matthew 6:14-15). Before God will forgive us, we must be certain that our conscience is clear. If I want cleansing, I must be certain that things are right between myself and others (Psalm 66:18). Prayer includes praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition, meditation, and confession. In prayer, we focus fully on God, we capture renewed zeal to continue, we gain a wider view of life, and we obtain an increased determination to endure. As we strengthen our grip on prayer, it is amazing how it alters our whole perspective. When you and I pray, we change, and that is one of the major reasons prayer is such a therapy that counteracts anxiety. Prayer was never intended to make us feel guilty. It was never intended as a verbal marathon for only the initiated. Real prayer—the kind of prayer that Jesus mentioned and modelled—is realistic, spontaneous, down-to-earth communication with the living Lord that results in a relief of personal anxiety and a calm assurance that our God is in full control of our circumstances. Charles R. Swindoll serves as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

by robyn roste

ver the years my commitment to daily fitness has waned. So when a friend invited me to join a 30-day challenge I leaped at the opportunity. I was surprised at how easy it was to stick with it. But once the challenge ended, I slipped back into old habits. Try as I may no matter what goals I set I struggled to muster the motivation to exercise on my own. With the season of Lent upon us I’m more than a little tempted to declare a 40-day workout challenge for myself. But something makes me hesitate. I wonder if this decision is deep enough— you know, spiritual enough to be a Lenten sacrifice. How do you choose what to give up for Lent anyway? Deciding what to give up for Lent isn’t something to do on a whim. It should take honest reflection and prayer. If I say “I’m going to exercise every day for Lent,” but don’t think through why, then

I’m missing the point. This leaves me at risk to make Lent about achieving my goal on my own strength instead of relying on God to show me what He wants to develop in me. After some research and thought I’ve concluded the important part of the sacrifice isn’t what I’m giving up but what it represents in my life. I asked myself questions like, is this getting in the way of my being loving and self-sacrificing? Is this a barrier in my life? Is God asking me to change in this way? It’s interesting because what I first thought was a shallow choice turns out to be a call from God to further combat laziness in me. I didn’t see that before. Now I see exercising as an invitation from God to become a deeper person. And I would never have recognized it if I didn’t sit down and ask “is this what I should do for Lent?” Robyn Roste is the Living Bridge Media manager at Insight for Living Canada.

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This flow chart is intended to help you think through what you should sacrifice for Lent. Think of the item or action and then answer the yes or no questions, following the prompts. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a difficult exercise but it will take honesty and reflection on your part. May this process draw you closer to the Lord!

by steve johnson

he time had finally come. Jesus finished a last supper with His disciples, where He shared His heart and some final words of exhortation. As they left the room Jesus looked at the sky and prayed. He prayed for Himself (John 17:1-5), and for His apostles (17:6-19). And then He did something, which should be at the core of our reflections as we go into this Easter season: He prayed for us. Think of it! On the eve of His crucifixion, with the world’s sins weighing on His heart, Jesus took time to pray for us down through the ages, for all who would receive Him as Saviour. What He didn’t pray for is as significant as what He did. Jesus didn’t pray things we usually pray for like health, wealth, or happiness. Instead, with His death at hand, He prayed three things for us— things nearest to His heart as priorities for our lives and prayers.

Harmony Among Us (17:21-23). First, Jesus prayed for all who believe in Him to be marked by harmonious unity. Why is Christian unity so important? So the world will know God sent Jesus (17:23). The essence of what it means to be a Christian lies in the fact that we are united with and in Christ. Therefore, we are living

advertisements that Jesus is who He says He is. It is inconsistent to claim unity but display disunity among believers. Unity isn’t natural or easy. It takes the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which is evidence of Christ’s saving work. This is why unity between believers is such a powerful testimony and why Jesus prayed for it. However, unity doesn’t require uniformity. Just because we don’t think the same way on every account doesn’t mean believers should be divided. Above everything else we are to preserve our unity (1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 1:27; 2:1-4; 1 Peter 3:8). Let this phrase from St. Augustine be our guide. “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” Heaven For Us (17:24). Second, Jesus told God that His will was for us to be with Him in Heaven, so we can behold and share in His glory. In the New Testament, there are two Greek words that are translated "to will." The first is thelo, which means “to purpose.” It’s used for the will of God, which is unalterable and firmly fixed. It’s the decree of the sovereign God and will come to pass. The other word is boulomai, which means “to have a wish or a desire about

“On the eve of His crucifixion, with the world’s sins weighing on His heart, Jesus took time to pray for us down through the ages, for all who would receive Him as Saviour.” In John 17:24 thelo is the word used. Jesus is saying, "I am declaring my purpose is for everyone who receives Me to be with Me in Heaven and behold My glory." In other words, if we are saved we are going home. What assurance and comfort!

Hearts in Us (17:25-26). Third, Jesus prayed that our hearts would be filled with God’s love and expressed in our lives to the world. This kind of love is God's demand for us as His children (1 Corinthians 13:18). In fact, Jesus said our love would be a sign to the world that we belong to the Lord. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). This is a love the world can’t duplicate. It’s produced by the Holy Spirit in our hearts as born-again children of God. Who but God could produce within us a love for others? There is so much dividing us— background, social and financial standing, race and creed. The love of God in our hearts as His children is the best witness to the world of the truth of the Gospel. Easter is a time for special reflection on what Jesus endured for us. It’s because of His death and resurrection we are heavenbound. With the Cross in view, Jesus prayed we would be united together with love. Is your life an answer to His prayer?

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something.” This word is used of God's desires that may or may not come to pass depending upon our actions. For instance, boulomai is used in 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” It’s not God's wish that any perish. However, for this to be realized all men must receive the Lord.

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Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.

ON THE AIR IN APRIL

Strengthening Your Grip ESSENTIALS IN AN AIMLESS WORLD Anything goes!

This attitude characterizes life in today’s culture. Though we never run out of things to keep us busy, we have allowed life’s essentials to slip right through our fingers. Strengthening Your Grip aims to help us find biblical direction on issues we face every day.

UPCOMING MESSAGES INCLUDE:

Strengthening Your Grip on Priorities Strengthening Your Grip on Encouragement Strengthening Your Grip on Purity Strengthening Your Grip on Money

by dr. dave currie

hat does a couple praying together look and feel like? Here’s the target I am proposing.

Couple prayer is a husband and wife who, being honest with God and with each other, join together regularly, in spite of their marital imperfections or personal brokenness, to humbly reach out to Him for strength, direction, and perspective. They go to God as one. They want His will for their lives and family. Marital prayer is a step of faith the two of you take together. Remember, you are both naked before God—He sees all and knows all—so worry less about your words. Get over yourselves. Admit you need the Lord in your lives (Proverbs 3:56). He knows you need Him far more than you do. Get your hearts right before Him. Your prayer together is an act of surrender to the God who is there, the God who cares for you and responds to you.

THE BENEFITS OF PRAYING TOGETHER Let me try to convince you to start with my top 10 benefits of praying together. Here’s what it could do for your marriage.

You’ll hear and understand the heart of your spouse. It will bring you a growing emotional connection. I met a man in his sixties who had never prayed with his wife. He took my challenge to start praying with her that night. The next morning he said, “I heard her heart. I know it will allow me to get closer to her. I am so excited.” That’s the truth. When a Couple Prays Together continued from p. 11

You’ll face your stresses together at the deepest level. Whether it’s life or family problems, admitting them and asking God for wisdom and help is a good thing. We are called to give Him all our worries and cares because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). It’s called crisis intimacy. You’re in this together.

You’ll keep heading in the same direction as a couple. Unity is a good thing. Build according to His plan, maintaining a shared commitment toward a better marriage. “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…” Psalm 127:1.

You’ll have a better chance of staying close to the Lord. A soft heart is a responsive heart. A sinful heart separates you from God. By keeping surrendered to Him, you can more easily hear and do what He wants you to do as a partner, a parent, and a person. Hebrews 3:12 calls us to watch out for each other for “a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”

You’ll show love for your spouse as you pray with and for him or her. You know your spouse’s needs and concerns. Love is lifting them up to the Lord and in so doing, helping to carry the burden (Galatians 6:2).

You’ll enjoy the sense of being anchored to God with your lives. There is something bigger going on than just the two of you. God is with you. He’ll never leave you and knows all you are facing. Let Him be the anchor for the soul of your marriage, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19).

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You’ll have a softer, more forgiving heart. Face it. You can’t expect God’s forgiveness if you won’t extend it to your spouse. Go to God either relationally connected or asking Him to help you reconnect. Since you can’t play games with God, why not quit playing games with each other. If you walk in the light of the Lord, you’ll have fellowship with each other (1 John 1:7).

You’ll keep humble as people and as a couple on your knees. We do need God to make sense out of life. Tell Him so. Fight your human nature that strives for independence from God. Remember, prayer is the two of you as creatures humbly kneeling together before your Creator. He is sovereign.

You’ll defeat the enemy who wants to divide you. The Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for a couple to devour (I Peter 5:8). Through your sincere and alert prayers together, you unleash the power of God in your lives and marriage. The enemy cannot touch you with his schemes.

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You’ll prevent your own divorce. Couples with a shared faith and common spiritual values are amongst those who enjoy a longer, more satisfying marriage. Research from a 1997 Gallup Poll by the National Association of Marriage Enhancement showed that couples who pray together daily have less than one per cent chance of experiencing divorce. Go figure. God does have a plan—pray together.

“A family that prays together stays together.” This may appear to be just an old familiar saying but could it be true? It seems so. Dr. Dave Currie is the president at Doing Family Right.

er togeth r e y a "Your pr is an act of surrender to the God who is there, the God who cares for you and responds to you."

by steve johnson

How do I pray for my enemies? The prompt for this question is Jesus’ radical statement in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” This statement is radical for three reasons. First, it’s radical because it goes against the natural, sinful, inclination of our hearts, which is to hate those who hate and mistreat us. Loving our enemies requires a response fundamentally opposite to how the world responds to enemies. Second, it’s radical in its opposition to the religious leaders of the day. Based on a twisted understanding of Scripture, the Pharisees felt they had the right and duty to hate their enemies. This was another example of Jesus’ teaching opposing the Pharisees’ teaching.

Finally, it’s radical because Jesus goes to the heart issue. This isn’t simply about praying for enemies. It’s about loving them and becoming more like our Heavenly Father. This is a heart issue. To pray for God to bless and shower goodness and grace on those who have mistreated us points to the Cross and our need for a heart transformed by saving grace. The key to loving our enemies is to consider God’s love for us. Christ died for us when we were still God’s enemies (Romans 5:10). He loved and forgave us and commanded us to do the same (Ephesians 4:32). How can we refuse to love our enemies when God loves us? When we love and pray for our enemies we are acting like our Heavenly Father. He showers the just and the unjust alike with good things. Even those at enmity with Him are recipients of His goodness and grace. As His children we are to reflect His image in our love for others—even our enemies.

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There are two groups of enemies we are to pray blessing for. The first is enemies who are unbelievers. First and foremost, they need the blessing of salvation. We should pray for God to show mercy and for their spiritual blindness to be removed (2 Corinthians 4:4). We should also pray they will see and repent when they recognize God’s kindness toward them (Romans 2:4). There are examples of these prayers throughout the New Testament (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34; Romans 10:1; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). The second group is enemies who are Christians. In Luke 6:28 Jesus’ command to “…bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” applies to Christians who hurt us too. How do we pray for God’s blessing on them? One way is to pray the pronouncements of blessings in Scripture. It includes praying the following. • That peace and joy from God would fill them (Romans 15:13) • For unity of heart and mind with other believers (Romans 15:5,6) • To be preserved from evil, kept from falling (Psalm 121:7,8; Jude 1:24,25) • For growth in sanctification and holiness (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 12:2)

• For protection of hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7) • That God would meet all their needs (Philippians 4:19, 20) • For their love to others to abound (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13) • That God’s grace would be with them (Philippians 4:23) • That they would experience the presence of God (2 Corinthians 13:14) • That they would experience comfort from God (2 Thessalonians 2:16,17) • For them to abound in good work (2 Corinthians 9:8) God uses our prayers to accomplish His purposes in the lives of others. This makes them significant and our obedience essential. God will give us a sincere love for our enemies if obeying Him is what we truly desire. Who are your enemies? Do you love them? Do you pray for them? If you are someone’s enemy, how do you want them to pray for you? I hope this helps. - Steve Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.

THIS MONTH’S FEATURED RESOURCE

PRAYER An Invitation to Meet With God How can prayer become an integral part of your daily life? Drawing from Scripture, Dr. Malcolm Gill of Insight for Living Australia answers this question and explains how the discipline of prayer strengthens our relationship with Christ. 15

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