The Barnabas Strategy (Encouraging men of faith)

Prayer is widely considered the primary basis for the spiritual life and the go to weapon for spiritual warfare. Then why wouldn’t we make the most out of this invaluable resource? I am a type A personality in a culture that fosters busyness. For years, I was guilty of prayer neglect and/or treating prayer as another bullet point on my “to do” list. I’m glad to say this is no longer true for me. Let me share some of what I have learned from my prayer life, personal study of the Bible, and the wisdom of true prayer warriors like Derek Prince (Secrets of a Prayer Warrior).

NOTE: Prayer is more than a conversation; it is an experience of the Lord Almighty and is worthy of a focused time of quiet preparation and reflection. After all, we are approaching the One who is all powerful (more so than a million suns), all knowing (anything less than brutal honesty is insulting), and all present (totally accessible).

JESUS ON PRAYER: Matthew 5-7 shares Jesus’ great teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. The section on prayer opens with a brief tutorial (Mat 6:5-9a), “And when you pray…” Clearly, prayer is not optional. The transition into the Lord’s Prayer is “Pray then like this…” which is instructional and commanding:

—Our Father in heaven: This is a relational greeting and a reminder of the Father’s divine nature. One scholar comments that because of the Trinity, we have the privilege of calling the Lord of the universe, “Father.” The Bible describes our heavenly Father using the word hesed (one of my favorite Hebrew words). Hesed is “wrapping up in itself all the positive attributes of God: love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty–in short, acts of devotion and loving-kindness that go beyond the requirements of duty,”  (Bible scholar Darrell L. Bock).

(TO BE CONTINUED with praise—“hallowed be your name” )

Until next time, rest in the unequalled hesed of our Father in heaven. Blessings to all… Ron Bellomy

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

Before we move forward with our spiritual preparations, let’s examine an important issue: Why do we experience the chaos we acknowledged last week? One significant cause can be traced to the beginning in the Garden of Eden where we find original sin.

The more serious implication of original sin was not disobedience (which was sinful) as much as it was the desire to be like God. The serpent (Satan) tells Eve, “For God knows that when you eat of it (forbidden fruit) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:5, ESV). Since then, the human desire to be self-made gods has been a major factor in human suffering and societal turmoil. Ironically, this defiance does not deify us or even make us more than we are. To the contrary, it makes us less than we were created to be while initiating chaos.

Rejecting the complete sovereignty of the one true God, (Yahweh) means there is no firm basis for truth because truth (in ultimate terms) means whatever is consistent with the will (and Word) of God. Without God, there is no objective source for truth. There is no standard for morality, stability or even reality. Only relativism remains. (In cosmic terms, this is a demonic attempt to return to the chaotic void; see Gen 1:2). As a result, the “truth” is often determined by lesser serpents masquerading as leaders and foolish manipulated squawkers who shout “hosanna” at triumphal parades and “crucify him” just a few days later. These so-called leaders and squawkers may have their day, but they have in their very nature the seeds of their own destruction:

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil… Therefore, … as dry grass sinks down in the flame, their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isa 5:20; 24), ESV; see also Rom 1:18).

In contrast, Christians must embrace the Holy One of Israel more closely than ever, even as we reject the relativistic messes in our culture. (Fence sitting is no longer a viable option. ) We know the ultimate reality and expression of truth. “Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life… (Jn 14:6, ESV). This truth never changes (see Mal 3:6 & Heb 13:8). and is the foundation for our reality (see Mat 7:24-27). To echo the hymn, on Christ the solid rock (we) stand. All other ground is sinking sand. Thanks be to God! Amen.

NOTE: From this shared understanding of reality, we can move forward. The next installment will share tips to increase intimacy with God as we revisit the Lord’s Prayer.

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy