Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain

In Revelation 5, the One who sits on the throne holds a scroll in His right hand, a very important scroll, sealed with seven seals. This scroll contains His sovereign decrees for the destiny of the world, His plan for judgment and redemption. Who is worthy to open this scroll and to break its seals (and thus put it into effect)? The question goes out to all the universe, and NO ONE is found who is worthy and qualified.

John weeps greatly because no one is found. What would happen to God’s plan and all His promises? Would sin and death and Satan win? Is there any purpose to the suffering that Christians are going through? Is there any ordained end to human history? John had very good reason to weep!

Then John is told to stop weeping? Why? Because the triumphant, ascended Christ now enters onto the scene. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the rightful one to rule over God's people forever--and He has overcome the enemies of God and His people!

When John turns to see this victorious Lion, He sees Him instead as a Lamb standing as if slain (or slaughtered). But He is no helpless victim. He is all-powerful (7 horns) and all-knowing (7 eyes), sending out His Spirit into all the earth just as He had promised His disciples. Through His sacrifice, He has conquered and rules from heaven above.

And as the worthy One, He takes the scroll from the right hand of the Father--to break its seals and put into effect God's decress for judgment and redemption. And when He takes the scroll, the entire universe breaks out in praise...PRAISE OF THE LAMB.

This praise begins with the new song of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

This Christmas...let us worship the Lamb that was slain!

Jeff Ryan
Calvary Bible Church
Rogers City, Michigan

Praying Together

Recently, during our Wednesday night Bible Study, I preached a series of messages on prayer. This series was in response to some questions about prayer that the men in our church were struggling with. One of the questions involved praying together corporately. As a result of my searching, I realized that there does not seem to be much written about corporate prayer that is practical in nature. I hope this blog will help believers to think more deeply about how to practice corporate prayer and encourage more of it.

The fact that believers should pray together can be demonstrated in many ways, but Paul’s command that men everywhere should pray seems to suggest corporate prayer (1 Tim. 2:8). The apostolic church modeled it (Acts 2:42, 4:23ff). Finally, the Lord’s Prayer uses no singular pronouns in its petitions (Matt. 6:9-13). Thus, corporate prayer is commanded and modeled by both the early church and the Lord’s Prayer.

Praying together of course means more than just being present in the same space. We should pray together with the same purpose. The phrase “in one accord” (Acts 1:14; 2:1, 46; 4:24) points to this truth. “In one accord” means literally with the same passion, with one mind, purpose, or impulse. [1] To pray together in one accord means to share the same purpose. While there may be other minor purposes that believers can unite around, the overarching purpose for which we do everything including prayer and under which all minor purposes are subsumed is God’s glory. Praying together necessitates sharing the same purpose especially the glory of God.

So how do we accomplish this in a practical way? First, we should actively think and listen while others are praying. This can be accomplished by saying, “amen”[2]or “Yes, Lord” either in one’s heart or audibly. JI Packer warns, “When another person is praying aloud, the temptation is to do no more than passively listen, but the proper task is actively to think and pray in our heart along with the leader, making the petitions our own as we hear them spoken. To form and maintain this habit takes effort, but we are not joining in according to the will of God, save as we labor to do this.” [3] Another writer comments, “[A] biblical theology of prayer teach[es] we who sit in the church pew, or folding chair, or stadium seating, or couch…to listen intently to the person leading prayer, while repeating to God, ‘Yes, yes, that person speaks for me and all those around me.’”[4]

Secondly, we can also use the same words, i.e., praying pre-written prayers (the Lord’s Prayer, other scriptural prayers, or hymns). Most Christian seem to be opposed to this thinking that only spontaneous prayers are truly spiritual; however, this cannot be proven either biblically or historically. The Bible nowhere forbids praying form prayers. In fact, Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer seems to using the Lord’s Prayer in this manner: “When you pray, say.”[5] In addition, the church has traditionally used the Lord’s Prayer as form prayer. Certainly, there have been abuses with repeating the Lord’s Prayer and other written prayers, but we should not allow the abuse of a healthy practice to discourage from the practice altogether.

Not only can the Lord’s Prayer be used in this manner, but there are other biblical prayers believers should make use of by making the words our own. For example, Psalm 51 can be used as prayer of confession, and Habakkuk 3:2 is an excellent prayer for revival.

The Bible directs believers to practice corporate prayer with the same purpose, the glory of God. I have suggested two ways believers can practically accomplish this by actively participating when others pray and often by using the same words in prayer. Please, visit the links cited in the notes, and feel free to offer any feedback. The above ideas are my initial thoughts on a subject upon which I would like to expand my thinking.

Pastor Jeremy Lee

Twining Baptist Church

[1] BAGD
[2] See 1 Cor. 14:16 where this is not commanded, but it is the practice of the church, which Paul is affirming.
[3] Paker, JI and Carol Nystrom. Praying Finding Our Way through Duty to Delight (IVP 2006) pg. 256 italics mine
[4] Hamilton, James M. Jr. and Jonathan Leeman. A Biblical Theology of Corporate Prayer. available @ http://www.9marks.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598014%7CCIID2386892,00.html
[5] Luke 11:2 NKJV

Other links:

Dunlop, Jamie and Papu Sandhu. Corporate Prayer: God’s Power Creates Unity “Living as a Church”—Class 4 available @ http://www.9marks.org/CC/article/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598014%7CCIID2414278,00.html

Luther, Martin. Larger Catechism available @ http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/large_cat/files/large_catechism17.htm

Reciting the Prayer Jesus taught His disciples and creeds

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our
daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
(Matthew 6:7-13 NKJV)

Here it is “do not use vain repetitions”. Well at least don’t be repetitive. This is why we don’t recite the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray in our worship services. These words will become commonplace and we have been warned about being repetitious. We will not recite this portion of Scripture. Could it be it sounds too high church?

Sometimes we recite the Psalms, or read the dark black and the lighter words from the back of the hymnal, this is fine. As for Matthew 6:7-13 no way! Christian assemblies who don’t recite Matthew 6:7-13 interestingly don’t usually recite the Creeds either.

I wonder what’s the real objection for not praying the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, or the Creeds? It’s not the prayer nor the creeds; it must be the person reciting. He is in disagreement with the statements below evidently.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and
earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. [See Calvin] The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The following is used by permission of David Dee, pastor of Christ our Life Church, Curran, Michigan.This is a part of the constitution of this assembly of believers and is directly quoted from it. Here is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray:

As we go throughout our life as a Christian on Earth in this present World, wanting and needing to know and experience the character and capabilities of God in our moment by moment walk with Him as our Creator, Lord and savior;-remember that Jesus has taught us to pray in such a way so that as we “hallow” our Heavenly Father’s Name, we will always be able to trust and rest in the “fullness” of the true and real “meaning” of all that God is, and all that God does, in our life as His Child!

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV) "Jehova-Nissi” The-Lord-Is-My-Banner (Exodus 17:15)

Hallowed be Your name. (God’s character is holy).

Your kindom come. “Jehovah-shammah” The-Lord-is-There (Ezekiel 48:35)

Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. “Jehovah-shalom” The-Lord-is-Peace (Judges 6:24)

Give us this day our daily bread. “Jehovah-Jireh” The-Lord-Will-Provide (Genesis 22:14)

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. “Jehovah-Rapha” The-Lord-Who-Heals (Exodus 15:26)

And do not lead us into temptation, “Jehovah-ra “Ah” The-Lord-Is-My-Shepherd (Psalms 23:1)

But deliver us from the evil one. “Jehovah-Tsidqenuw” The-Lord-Our-Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. God’s capabilities are kingly, [God is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords]; - and, God’s capabilities are all powerful, and infinitely glorious.

Now folks, really what is the problem? The prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray is not the problem.

The argument that either is vain or repetitious is unacceptable, remembering: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You" (Psa. 119:11).

Really, this is about the dumbest statement of a Christian “I have repeated it so often it (the Word) has become commonplace and has lost it’s meaning.” If anyone feels reading Scripture repeatedly looses it’s power and effectiveness check out Hebrews 4:12 and Psalms 119:11.

In public worship, please, find another argument for omitting the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray and the lack of reciting the Creeds.

Ken Clouse