Living From the Lord's Prayer
March 5, - April 23, 2017
Get In the Zōn!
April 16, 2017
Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017 Living from the Lord's Prayer, Part 7 Revelation 1: 4-8, 17-18 The ancient hold of death and Satan upon us has been broken. The fear that plagues us has been taken by Christ the Savior. And now people are getting into the Zōn. They are repenting of their sins, giving their lives to Christ and being washed clean by his blood. Even though it looks like the world has gone mad, the gospel is still powerful. Countless captives are being rescued from the grasp of the evil one. People are leaving fear and entering the Zōn, the life of the risen Jesus. Lapsed Christians are now returning to the Lord in contrition, stepping back into the Zōn, stepping away from themselves and into Christ. Let us say "No" to Satan and sin and "Yes" to Jesus with all our hearts. Let’s get in the Zōn!
Deliver Us from Evil
April 9, 2017 • Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson
"Deliver Us From Evil" Living from the Lord's Prayer, Part 6 Gerrit Dawson Ephesians 6: 10-13 It’s the biggest story ever. The most important story. The truest story. That’s why we tell it every year. So we can feel it again and believe in Jesus more and more.
Forgive Us As We Forgive
April 2, 2017 • Rev. Gerrit Dawson
I pray “Forgive us our sins,” and look to the merciful God that showed himself in Jesus. But that’s not the whole line, is it? Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. God’s forgiveness of me seems to be linked to my forgiveness of others. Yikes! Just in case we think Jesus didn’t mean this, right after he gave them the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus clarified, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6: 14-15). If you forgive, God will forgive you. If you don’t forgive others, God will not forgive you. At this point, we start to get a bit desperate. We start dancing. He can’t be serious, can he? Matthew 18: 21-35
Your Will Be Done
March 19, 2017 • Rev. Gerrit Dawson
Augustine did not know peace. He did not know love. He did not know God. That is, until he gave his heart to Christ. He yielded his will to God’s. And so he could pray, In your service is perfect freedom. You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. In your service is perfect freedom. Seeing the results of surrender motivates us to yield more. But still we have to struggle with what is called the gravitational pull of our own will. There is a downward tug that always tells us, “Do what you want. Be free. Don’t let God crush the life out of you.” That, of course, is a lie. God’s will gives life and freedom. But how do you counter that powerful force of your will? The answer is so simple. Ask for help! Ask the Holy Spirit to create the ability to yield your will to his will. Psalm 143: 10 provides the perfect daily prayer, Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit Lead me on level ground!
Your Kingdom Come
March 12, 2017 • Rev. Gerrit Dawson
To pray, “Your Kingdom, let it come” is a life changing prayer. It means first that we recognize this world is not all http://right.this right now is not the kingdom. I see suffering. I see brokenness. I see lostness and need and chaos and madness and violence. And it is not all right. It is not the way it should be. So I pray for the Kingdom to come. God bring your rule of peace and forgiveness and love and grace to this broken place. And suddenly I realize this prayer is involving my life. He sends me to the suffering ones, to receive them in his love as if I am receiving the King himself. Isaiah 65: 17-25