feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)
Dearest family,
As we get in to our new series on that non-negotiable aspect of prayer that is ASKING, we are first trying to establish a “theology of asking.” All truth must be founded and grounded in who God is. So before we ask God about anything, or for anything, what is it about God that validates our asking? What is it about God that assures us about our asking? In what way is our asking of God premised on the attributes of God? Or to put it another way, how does our communication actually relate to his character. Let’s keep this simple and to the point. I mentioned a couple of important starting places, that we could describe as the doctrine of God, and the doctrine of man.
First of all, we looked at three important characteristics of the nature of God.
By his nature God registers and receives what we ask for. He is a transmitter, he speaks, but he is also a receiver, he hears. One of the sections of scripture that is most populated by asking is, not surprisingly, the Psalms. It is there that we discover one of the great descriptions of God, one of the most marvelous names for God. In Ps. 65:2 – “O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.” In other words, God, by virtue of his personhood, exists to be receptive to what we ask. In his nature, he is the one who hears what we ask. Divinity is eternally wired for our asking. Our asking is in vain if God does not hear, so the psalmist’s description of God’s nature, “O you who hears prayer” is essential truth. God is a receiver to those who ask. He hears! If you think about it, all spiritual life is premised on the fact that God has ears to hear. You bank on it. There is no salvation, no prayer, no nothing if God does not hear. Scripture affirms that God hears:
“Does he who implanted the ear not hear “ (Ps.94:9) “his ear is not dull to hear” (Isa. 59:1)
The deliverance of the futures of two great nations that determined world history is couched in the words “God heard the boy crying…” (Gen. 16:11) referring to Ishmael and “God heard their groaning, and remembered his covenant” (Ex.2:24) referring to enslaved Israel. A NT example: “ the cries of the workers reached God’s ears” (Jms. 5:4)
The conviction and relief that God hears is presented in so many ways: people talk about the “ears of the Lord” (1Sam.8:21), “my cry came into his ears” (Ps.18) Give ear O Lord (2Kgs. 19:16), You hear O Lord (Ps.10:17), may your ear be attentive (2Chrons.6:40), incline your ear to me (Ps.17:6), listen to my cry (Ps.5:2), bow down your ear (Ps.31:2), his ears are open (Ps.34:15) give ear to my words… to my prayer… to my voice (Ps. 5:1, 17:1, 141:1) hear me when I call (Ps.4:1) hear me in the day of trouble… hear me speedily…. (Ps.20:1, 143:7)
Nowhere is the assurance of God’s hearing more emphatic than in the repeated testimony of Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb: “Father I thank you that you have heard me. I knew you always hear me!” (Jn.11:42) Do you catch the confidence and joy and relief and gratitude and love in this statement?
This encourages asking. No one expresses this joy better than John in his first epistle that Bo is currently teaching from: (5:14) “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” The second characteristic we looked at was this:
By his nature God is a rewarder of those who ask aright. “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6) This is important. It is not just about believing that God exists but believing that he exists to both hear and to reward those who ask of him. God will not allow those two things to be separated: that he lives and that he listens. This is precisely what separates the true God from false gods. He is a living and listening God, they are dead and deaf idols. God receives and is responsive to what is heard. He is not impassive and implacable. From this truth alone, that God exists to hear what is asked of him, we can infer the other attributes, and his mercy and grace. This speaks of his desire to respond, but also his need to be asked. Specifically in scripture God invites people to ask of him. (Check out the example I gave in Isaiah 7 when God invited Ahaz to “ask for the moon.”)especially his love
The third characteristic I will deal with again when we look at Jesus’ teaching on ASKING but it needs to be mentioned in our foundational “theology of asking”:
By his nature God is a Father to those who are his children by adoption through faith in Jesus Christ. God is the one who hears and God is the one who rewards. We have seen that both of these attributes give confidence (the very word John used) to our asking. But there is a third descriptor. Here we have a confidence that is born and nurtured and experienced in filial relationship and trust. It is the most natural thing in the world for children to ask the father. Is not this precisely the attribute that Jesus most emphasizes when it comes to asking? If earthly fathers will give their sons what they ask, “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Lk.11:13) And how does the prayer that Jesus taught as a model for all our asking begin? “Our Father…” How did Jesus always ask? “I will ask the Father…” (Jn.14:16) You can understand why any lack of conviction about or trust in God’s fathering, whatever its source or root, is in such need of healing, because it is such a hindrance to the assurance of intimate asking.
So let’s summarize. As we get in to this series on asking I am trying to establish a theology of asking which requires that we be rooted it in the doctrine of God. It has its validity because of the nature of God. I have suggested three aspects of God’s nature that irrefutably establish the possibility of our asking (he hears), the desirability of our asking (he rewards) and the confidence of our asking (he is our Father) The key word is confidence! The atoning work of Jesus has opened up a new and living way for us and as Heb. 10:19 tells us “we have confidence” with this access, with “full assurance of faith” , to ASK!
The point about the nature of man can be precisely expressed. If my first point in this assembling of a theology of asking had to do with the nature of God that invites us to ask, then my second point has to do with the nature of man that insists we should ask. Simply put, man’s nature is creature in relation to God’s nature as Creator. Therefore, by definition, there is a creational dependency of man upon God. This dependency is specially communicated in our need to ask, which speaks of our creaturely limitations and needs, but of God’ s largesse and provision as Creator. Because we are not God, and are finite and limited and ignorant and powerless, our nature insists that we ask! It’s really interesting that in the NT, probably the only prayer which is treated with disdain and not responded to is the prayer of the Pharisee in the parable of the publican and Pharisee. (Lk. 18:10) Through Jesus here, we are getting nothing less than God’s take on things. The prayer is treated as an aberration of humanity for one reason – he asked God for nothing. This reinforces asking as an expression of our dependence on God, on necessary humility, and on a trusting submission to his will. Pharisees don’t ask! The lack of our asking presumably means we are doing fine and have need of nothing. We get so used to self-management. We don’t inquire of the Lord. God’s nature invites us to ask. Our nature insists that we do. Not to ask is to both deny our nature and to defy His nature. Do you see how important asking is both to God and to us?
Pastorally yours,
Stuart
http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)
Announcements
NEWCOMER’S CLASS: We held a Newcomers Class last Thursday, but are aware that some may not have been able to attend. Therefore we are considering a make-up class. Please e-mail ben@christourshepherd.org if you would be interested in attending.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY: The Monthly Evening Bible Study for October will be on Friday the 23rd, from 6:30- 8:30pm, including dinner. Theme for this study and discussion: Balancing Community and SelfSufficiency. Host is Tritia Yuen, contact her at tritiayuen@gmail.com if you have any questions.
PARENTING CONFERENCE: NCC is hosting a parenting conference at Ebenezers Coffehouse (201 F St. NE) on Nov. 14 from 9am - 3:30pm. It will be a simulcast conference by Focus on the Family brining together a team of parenting experts. To purchase tickets ($25/ person), mail a check, made out to National Community Church, to Grace Brown, 723 11th St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 and your tickets will be mailed to you.
BABY SHOWER: Ladies, you are invited to a Baby Shower for Abigail Knutson, Sunday Nov. 1 from 3 - 5pm at Lou Rajack’s home. Come ready to shower baby Ethan with scripture and prayer. RSVP to Lou, 703-573-1046 or lou_rajack@hotmail.com. Contact Kristi at 202-379-8930, if you would like to contribute towards a group gift.
JOY AT WORK: Join Jerry Herbert and Nyack College, DC for workshops on Nov. 14 & 21 and explore realistic, biblical ways to enjoy and find meaning in your work. Workshops cost $50 separately or $75 for both. Contact Charity Haubrich at 202-220-1330 to register or learn more.
STUDENT FELLOWSHIP: If you are a graduate student and would like to meet other Christian graduate students on campus for fellowship and encouragement, please contact Kevin Offner (koffner@verizon.net) who ministers to graduate students in the Washington, DC area with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
CALL FOR POETRY: If you have written a poem about the advent season, joy, or any of the women in the lineage of Christ, please consider submitting it for inclusion in the Women’s Advent Tea. Email inquiries or submissions to Abigail Kutson at abster268@msn.com.
For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.
To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/ or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.
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ROOM FOR RENT: Large room available Nov. 1 for CF with 2 females + 1 cat. Nice house at 6th and E Streets, NE. $734/month + utilities. Possibility of furnished or short-term. If interested, contact Liz at lizzokennedy@gmail.com.
Jesse Tree Workshop: Amy Herbert will be holding the next Jesse Tree workshop on Saturday, November 7th from 9am-12:30pm. The deadline for registration is October 23rd. Please contact her at amyherbert@verizon.net for detailed information.
ROOMMATE/ROOM WANTED: CF in mid-20s looking for 1 or 2 CFs to share a 2 or 3 bdr apt./ house in the city, preferably on Capital Hill. Would like to start lease Nov. 1 or later. If interested, contact Ani at ani.shahinian@gmail.com.
EVENING OF HEALING PRAYER:
The Evening of Healing Prayer will be held on Tuesday, October 27th at 7:30 PM. This prayer service is open to all those currently attending a COSC homegroup. Individuals may sit and pray silently or schedule a 30 minute prayer appointment. If you would like to participate you must call Deborah at 202-544-9599 by end of day Monday