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What is Prayer and Why Pray?(Part 2)

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Matthew 6:11 – The Lord’s Prayer

Last week we looked at the first three petitions in Matthew 6:9 and 10 which focus on the glory of God. Today we’ll take a deeper look at the first of the second three petitions which focus on our personal needs.

Matthew 6:11 (NKJV)
Give us this day our daily bread.

Now that we have put God’s interests first we come to present our own needs. By doing it in this order we acknowledge our dependence on Him for everything.

“Our daily bread” – what does it mean or what does it stand for?

It’s not just talking about food for our physical body but also food for our spiritual well-being. We are also putting our other physical and personal needs at His feet. We know that our Lord will provide for all our needs.

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What would that look like in practice?

Continue reading “What is Prayer and Why Pray?(Part 2)” →

What is Prayer and Why Pray? (Part 1)

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Matthew 6:9-10 – The Lord’s Prayer

The way I understand prayer is that it’s a dialogue between God and I. It’s talking to Him, petitioning God, asking for help and a need.

Is there a right or wrong way of praying? Definitely not!

A prayer can be as short as a cry for help:

“God, please help!”

or longer with thanksgiving, praising God, and petitioning Him for a need we have in our or someone else’s life.

A while back I looked at the Lord’s Prayer. And I believe that it can be used as a guideline, like a framework for how to pray or, as some say, petition God. Reciting the Lord’s Prayer as is covers all the petitions as well.

There are six petitions in the Lord’s Prayer. The first three, in Matthew 6:9 and 10 focus on the glory of God; and the second three, in verses 11 to 13, focus on our personal needs.*

Continue reading “What is Prayer and Why Pray? (Part 1)” →

What Has Philippians Taught Us?

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Here’s a Recap of the “DO and DO NOT” from the Book of Philippians

Today I would like to summarize what we’ve learned from our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth in the Book of Philippians.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Let’s look at all the instructions God gave us to live a humble and fulfilling life.

We’ll start with what to DO and follow with what NOT to DO.

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DO and DO NOT – Book of Philippians 4:9

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Today we are finishing our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth in the book of Philippians.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Philippians 4:9 (NKJV)
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9(NLT)
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Paul is another example for us to follow. He practised what he preached! He was persecuted and put into jail but never renounced his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul stood tall because he knew God’s promise to him:

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DO and DO NOT – Book of Philippians 4:8

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Think Positive

We are still in the last chapter of Philippians with our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:8(NLT)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

What a wonderful instruction! And it says it all.

How can we fix our thoughts on the positive and not wonder off into the negative world around us?

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DO and DO NOT – Book of Philippians 4:6-7

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We are still in the last chapter of Philippians with our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7(NLT)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

What stands out in those verses?

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DO and DO NOT – Book of Philippians 4:5

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We are now starting chapter four of Philippians with our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Philippians 4:5 (NKJV)
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:5(NLT)
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

The Thesaurus defines
– gentleness as kindness, tenderness, peacefulness, calmness; and
–considerate as thoughtful, kind, understanding, caring, selfless.

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DO and DO NOT – Book of Philippians 3:17

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We are still in chapter three of Philippians with our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Philippians 3:17 (NKJV)
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

Paul is encouraging all believers to follow his and any true brother and sister in Christ’s example on how to follow Christ.

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DO and DO NOT – Book of Philippians 3:13

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We are still in chapter three of Philippians with our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Philippians 3:13 (NKJV)
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

The New Living Translation puts it this way:

Philippians 3:13 (NLT)
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

What is Paul talking about when he says, “I have not achieved it”? Perfection! We won’t be perfect until we are with the Lord. In the meantime however, as soon as we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God sees us as righteous in His eyes because the sacrifice of His Son has cleansed us forever.

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DO and DO NOT – Book of Philippians 3:3

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We are continuing in chapter three of Philippians with our study on how God expects us to conduct ourselves during this life on earth.

I believe that the Book of Philippians is a God inspired guideline for our walk and being in this world. And just as a reminder, the Book of Philippians is not the only book in the Bible to give advice for life. We have to take the whole of Scripture into consideration and it’s important to keep all of it in context.

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV)
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

This verse contains another “rejoice”, a word we examined last week in Philippians 3 verse 1. However, this time “rejoice” has a different Greek translation –see *G2744- meaning more like “glory”, even akin to the word “boast”.

William MacDonald describes “rejoice” and “have no confidence in the flesh” as follows in his commentary titled ‘Believer’s Bible Commentary’:

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