The  Messiah's Secret - The Lord's  Prayer

   Our Father in heaven , hallowed be your name

Your kingdom come your will be done on earth

as in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. 

Lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

During this time we had 'The Lord's Prayer' as a meditation in two ways: pictures and words on the screen and the prayer sung from a CD. Prepared by our Worship Leader.

A frame of another cube.

With each of these boards there was a verse from the Lord’s Prayer and one or two pictures that related to the readings: Hebrews 12: 18-29.   Luke 13: 10-17

The children came to the front of church and described the pictures that they had stuck on the board and the adult with them related to us all, the pictures with the Lord’s Prayer and readings.  Matthew 6: 9-13 

When you look at the contents of the Lord’s Prayer it embraces our Christian way of life, in our humanity.

In the prayer we are touched by the nearness of God, we give thanks as he upholds the structures that provide the practical requirements for daily living. The importance of forgiveness. The awareness of our faith being tested and as children of the kingdom of God applying Jesus’ victory over the devil and his activities.

1/   Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as in heaven. 

The pictures on the board: Moses and the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. A family representing the church. Pictures of people. Universe. Light. Tell the World about Jesus. 

God is our Father; he loves us and cares for us. We are allowed to call God, Father or daddy, a very personal term. 

The Chorus ‘Abba Father’ beautifully describes our relationship with God our Father.

“Abba Father, let me be Yours and Yours alone, May my will for ever be ever more your own. Never let my heart grow cold, never let me go. Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone.” Mission Praise No 3 Dave Bilbrough, Thankyou Music,

*The Israelites could see the smoke and fire surrounding the upper reaches of Mount Sinai. God was almighty and awesome and even Moses trembled with fear. Israel’s relationship with God was reverential.

2/ Give us this day our daily bread.

                                           

The pictures on the board: Loaf of bread (2). Moses in conversation with God. Grapes and figs. Jesus feeding the 5,000 people. Evangelism –sowing the seeds of the kingdom. A wheat field. Hope reaching out in mission. A bird.

On the Israelites wilderness journey God provided manna (bread) daily from heaven. God feeds daily the birds and all living creatures. Jesus in his prayer asks God to give us this day our daily bread.

Jesus is the bread of life; Jesus said that his words were spirit and life

3/ Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

The pictures put on the board: God would provide a lamb, Jesus on the cross. The prodigal son embracing his father. The empty tomb.

God our Father knows that we will fall into sin, the pictures express the forgiveness we received when we first turned to Jesus and the ongoing forgiveness that is ours in Jesus.

We ask Jesus to forgive us, when by our words and actions we fail to walk in his love. We revere God by keeping his word. Jesus said that if we love him we should keep his words to us, by loving one another.

*In the true story of the Israelites Exodus from Egypt they held God in high esteem and tried to be obedient to his commands. Moses interceded on behalf of the people and God forgave those who rebelled against him. Exodus 14: 10-16.  17:3-7

 In our reading the Israelites before they approached the mountain had to consecrate (set apart) themselves by washing their clothes. Even then they were held back from going closer to the presence of God.

*Debt to God

The first-born redeemed for 5 shekels.

“Every first-born man among your sons you shall redeem.” Exodus 13: 1,13.

“Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast . . . . nevertheless the first-born of man you shall redeem, . . . .And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.” Numbers 18: 15, 16.

“And the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.” Luke 2: 22-24.

*Our Redemption through Jesus’ Passover

The Hebrew people at the start of their wilderness journey were instructed by God that only the people who were circumcised could eat the Passover Meal, they were a sanctified people, set apart by God’s covenant with Abraham, and the many Gentiles who accompanied them out of Egypt could not participate in the meal. These were the people who had connections with the descendants of Jacob but were not circumcised.

This gives insight into Jesus’ words concerning sanctification.”I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth, as thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth.” John 17: 14 – 19.

The words of Jesus in his prayer spoke of his disciples being in the world but not part of it.

Jesus - The Passover the Lamb of God laid down his life for us for the forgiveness of sins. In repentance and faith Jesus releases us from the bondage of sin and the devil.  The blood of Jesus written on the door posts and lintels of our hearts sets us free from all that stands against us.

The Holy Spirit the sanctifier acting on the word, Jesus. -  We are sanctified, set apart for the righteousness of God dwells in our being; we are in the world but not a part of it.

“You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you.” John 15: 3, 4.

 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6: 20.

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6: 11

*In the second part of this verse "as we forgive those who sin against us." 
Jesus asks us to forgive those things were other people have offended or hurt us. Jesus does not want his church to condemn people and bring them under judgement and punishment.

*Moses was a judge among the people of Israel. The people brought their disputes to him for his judgement believing that God would speak through him.

The Jews expected Jesus to be like Moses, but he did not judge people: when the two brothers came to Jesus to settle their dispute over their inheritance. Jesus responded by saying, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" Luke 12:13, 14.

The woman caught in adultery was not condemned by Jesus. He asked those who brought her before him asking him to make a judgment over her under the Law of Moses. Jesus’ response “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” John 8: 3-11.

4/ Lead us not into temptation.

The pictures on the board: The cockerel. The hen. The barren landscape. The open door.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that God will discipline us by gently showing and convicting us when we are not listening to his words.

God will test our faith as a result we strengthened and our faith increases.

*The temptation must have been very great to disobey Moses and God. The people of Israel were not to set foot beyond the designated area on the Mount Sinai.

5 Deliver us from evil.

On this board: The tank relating to war. The boat rescuing merchant seaman taken hostage at sea. Jesus praying for the lady bound for 18 years with the spirit of infirmity. The life changing experience of the cross and that’s expressed with the caterpillar being changed into a butterfly.

In our gospel reading the lady had been bound by Satan for 18 years and Jesus healed her releasing her from the spirit of infirmity.

The number 18 is mentioned twice in these verses 10 - 17.
The significance of the number 18

18 made up of 3 sixes 666.

666 are associated with Satan’s activities in the Bible.(see blog God the Mathematician) 

At the beginning of Chapter 13: 4 Jesus said, "Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worst offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." 18 people of Jerusalem who were killed when the tower fell on them, unless they repented 
The 18 who were killed when the tower fell on them, came under judgement because of Israel's sin. The fig tree that bore no fruit, again symbolized Israel's sin. The tree was given a reprieve for a year hoping that the gardener's tender loving care would help it to produce fruit  

In Jesus’ compassion he gave them the sign of Israel’s reprieve when he released the woman from Satan’s bondage with the spirit of infirmity. It also is prophetic of the restoration of Israel in the last days when Jesus returns. 

Applying Jesus’ victory over the devil and his activities.

The Lord’s Prayer has been used as a sword in releasing a person from Satan’s afflictions and bondage.

The power of forgiveness in bringing healing to soul and body, the prayer of deliverance from the spiritual activities in peoples’ lives and homes. Truly an amazing prayer.

6/ For the kingdom the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

This last sentence was added between 1^st and 2^nd Century. The church calls it the ‘Doxology’ a sentence of praise. The King James Bible includes this last sentence in Matthew 6: 13.

The pictures express worship and mission. People singing and praising God. A passport. A disciple in conversation with a man pointing the way to find Jesus.

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Everything on the board includes what the Church is about: worship, praise, healing and communicating the gospel so that people come to know Jesus by having faith in him.

 The churches praise in this Doxology re-enforces that the kingdom message, that there is great celebration in heaven over each person who accepts Jesus as their Saviour.

Good news

On Wednesday I heard from my sister who worships at a Pentecostal Church in Manchester that a revival has begun in South Wales. The outpouring began in April of this year in the  Victory Church, Cwmbran, Wales. 

The Messiah’s Secret – Treasure in Heaven 

Readings Hebrews 11: 1-3. Luke 12: 32 – 40

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12: 32- 34. NIV Bible

The congregation were in two teams each purse was opened as the questions were answered. The contents were either treasure that will be kept in heaven or moths (3) 

All the purses had sweets and gifts, the treasure purses had items from magazine cut outs relating to Christian ministry. The 3 purses with the moths had no magazine cut outs. In each purse a number of points scored and were added up to produce a winning team. 

The treasure are the things that we do willingly for others, we do for Jesus. These things will never fade and are kept safe in heaven.

Treasure Hunt (teaching the little ones to identify and the purpose behind these pieces of church furniture)

A picture was cut into four parts each part placed in connection with a question: 

Where do we read stories from the Bible? The Lectern (Eagle). Where babies are baptised - The Font. 

Where we receive Communion- Communion rail. 

Where the stories of Jesus are expounded - The Pulpit/reading desk. 

On the back of the four parts of the picture each had a gift.The picture was of Jesus.

Jesus the treasure of the kingdom of heaven.

Message 

We can do ‘face-time’ or skype people using technology, we can put the numbers in that connect us to a friend or relative to where they live on our planet and we see them on the screen of the phone where they are at that moment in time and have a conversation with them. It is amazing technology, we know how it works through satellite, wireless and cable.

God’s technology is to give us his kingdom not by just being linked or connected by prayer, but for his kingdom to be actually within us.

So how does it work? It works by faith, everybody has this element of creation faith. In this realm of faith there is a battle going on; it’s were people are searching to connect their faith to something. 

Some people experience the sense of having been in a place before and assume it’s a previous life, as a result they may turn and put their faith in re-incarnation. 

Some people believe in UFO’s or others may say I’ve seen a ghost so they turn to spiritualism. 

So the battle ground for people’s faith is in the world. The robber who steals a person’s faith is the devil, he will distract, confuse and lie, so that a person does not come to faith in Jesus.

Faith in Jesus

God has made it so that we are able to enter his kingdom now, and we enter through faith in Jesus. In the New Testament many of the people who came to Jesus to be healed were asked by Jesus did they have faith in him. The only requirement was to have faith in him.

The Bible says faith – is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1. 

Faith is like: when we are poorly we go to the doctor, he examines us and prescribes the treatment for his diagnosis. 

We have gone to the doctor in faith having the assurance and conviction that he/she will give us the medicine that will make us better.

Faith to believe that in his love, Jesus bore our sins upon the cross and healed our broken relationship with God and as a result, the Lord our God has poured his love, the treasure of the kingdom of God into our hearts.   

Jesus said, “In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you.” 

“If a person loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 20, 23.     

The Holy Spirit of God’s kingdom acts on the words about Jesus, bringing into fruition Jesus’ abiding presence in the heart and mind as a result the Christian bears the fruit of his kingdom.  

After entering into the kingdom of God we become its’ Ambassadors with the mind of Christ and our behaviour following the Lord’s life and teaching.

“God the Father will glorify me, for he will take what is mine; and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said he will take what is mine and will declare it to you.” John 16: 14, 15. 

Isaiah wrote of the kingdom of God, having been given the knowledge of it through prophecy. "The wolf will lie down with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the yearling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox." Isaiah 11: 6, 7. 

The Kingdom of God is where compassion grows like trees and where flowers bear the fragrance of joy and their seeds of truth are scattered. Its’ pathways are of patience and peace and the atmosphere, the substance of it is completely made up of love. 

Fear and worry are not there in the kingdom, unless a window is opened to let them in, like the moth that ravages the clothes. Fear and worry eats away at our faith.

We remove the fear and the worry as we take our problems to Jesus and leave them at the foot of his empty cross, leaving them there. Trusting and believing that Jesus will help us. 

Faith without works is dead wrote the Lord's brother James. 

Two years ago, I must admit that I was anxious as to whether we were right in having a Mothers Union (M.U) bric - brac Stall on Rawtenstall Market. We were raising funds for the M.U Relief Fund and I was asking myself as Rossendale's M.U Deanery Leader were we living by faith? 

The day before the event, while I was sorting and pricing up the items these words that are in our reading popped into my mind, "Sell your possessions and give arms." I was relieved and delighted at the same time that the Lord had answered our prayers. We were doing it for the right reasons. 

Our hope is that our inheritance in Jesus is kept safe in heaven for us. 

Jesus gave us the example in his parable of the man who went to his friends house at midnight, getting him out of bed to supply him with a loaf of bread to feed his quests who had arrived unexpectly." His friend at first was not too pleased at being disturbed, but he gave his friend the loaf. Luke 11: 5-8 

Some of he things that will last for eternity, the list is endless: When we have responded to our neigbour's need: the emergency and the errands etc. The times when we have prayed for their family and friends. The opportunities to tell them about Jesus. 

The Treasure that is stored in heaven.

There is an old saying, “You brought nothing into the world, and you can’t take anything out.” We can’t take our money or possessions with us when we die, but what we have in Jesus, we did not have it when we were born.

What we have in Jesus, we take with us when the Lord calls us home. It’s the treasure of the kingdom of God, the abiding presence of Jesus, the love of God in our hearts, his kingdom on the earth as it is in heaven. 

Judgment Seat of Christ. 

After the Lord calls out his church and we come before him for rewards, not punishment. The treasure that will never fade away will be a blessing to us: like the drink given to quench some one's thirst, the words of comfort when we ministered to a person in their time of suffering. Corinthians 3: 13.                          

Making a purse.  

A piece of cardboard cut out in the shape of a purse 16 inches / 10 inches. Two pieces of material cut slightly larger than the cardboard. Sew the two pieces of material together leaving the top opening and one side unstitched to allow cardboard to fit inside. Place the cardboard inside. Stitch up the side. Using a strip of foil glue it to the top opening.  

Another piece of foil to make the clasp into a small diamond shape. Decorate with bows and ribbon, cut out and glue on to purse 'Hello Kitty' and 'Wally.' Pictures of moths and treasure boxes with words: love , joy and peace inside the lids.                                      

The purses were attached with split pins to a large (recycled) cardboard sheet covered with lining paper, and a blob of glue on the back of the cardboard to keep it the pin in place.