Date of message: 21 February 2003
Subject: The Family Prayer - Amen
Shalom, Boker-tov (good morning),

Jesus taught His disciples the Family Prayer, as found in Matthew 6: 9-13 (New King James Version).
Our Father
Who is in Heaven,
Holy is 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.
This week, let us look at what it means when we end the prayer with "Amen". One small word and yet it is so meaningful. For one, "amen" is an Aramaic word meaning "I agree" or "so be it" and it is usually not to be taken lightly.
When a person prays and he is joined by another, whatever that person prays for and the other agrees with the request, there is unity in the prayer and this will strengthen the request. The Lord Himself spoke of this when He promised His disciples that where two or three Believers gather together to pray or to have fellowship, He will be there in the midst (Matthew 18: 20).
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
It thrills me to be reminded that this promise from the Lord applies for a Christian couple. The smallest denominator for the promise is two. Praise the Lord.
The apostle Paul wrote to reassure us in 2 Corinthians 1: 20 that all the promises of God are to be found in Christ and in Him there is total agreement and therefore we are able to receive these promises to the glory of God.
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Now what are some of these promises that we stand to benefit through our Lord Jesus Christ?
1. The greatest blessing that we can ever receive from Jesus is this - God is no longer counting our sins against us; instead He has clothed us with the righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Colossians 3: 13)
2. Because His Son Jesus Christ bore His wrath on the cross and for a brief moment lost His position of pre-eminence we now stand to inherit the place of honor that was His before He came to die for us. We are now given the right to become joint-heirs with Jesus in the Kingdom of the Father. (Ephesians 1: 4- 6)
3. As sons and daughters of the Father, naturally the blessings that were given to Abraham are now available to us. It is there for our plucking and our enjoyment. (Galatians 3: 14).
4. In fact Paul went further to encourage the Church of Ephesus that God the Father has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1: 3)
What would the Father not give us His children? Nothing! Paul encouraged us in Romans 8: 32, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
Indeed great is our inheritance from the Father because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. And that is the reason why we can agree in prayer with the person who prays alongside us. And we have this great assurance that the Father hears us when we agree in prayer for He has declared so. The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much. (James 5: 16).
Have you believed in Jesus, the One Who had died for you and taken away your sin? The Bible teaches that it is only to those who have believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior who will enjoy this victory we have in Jesus. Our blessings come to us because of our position as children of the Most High God and we are able to enter into His awesome Presence and enjoy His blessings to us.
Why not take this opportunity to receive Him and join us as children of the Lord. The Bible tells us that we become children of God the moment we believe in Jesus and welcome Him into our hearts. Read John 1:12 and be comforted. The Lord does not lie. For Him, whatever He speaks comes to pass and He had promised us in the Bible that those who have put their trust in Him will not be condemned but have passed from death into life (Romans 8: 1). Pray this simple prayer of faith and invite Him into your heart and immediately you will experience the peace coming your way.
Our Heavenly Father, thank you that You love us so much You sent Your only Beloved Son Jesus into this world to take our place and to die for all our sins.
Lord Jesus, thank you that You came, You obeyed the Father, You died for all on the cross, You conquered death and You rose again on the third day. And now, because of Your death and resurrection, we, who believe in You as our Lord and Savior, will no longer have to die but we receive Your eternal life. Come into my heart, I pray, and make my heart Your home.
Thank you that what You have accomplished for us on the cross has qualified me to become a child of God the Father. Thank you that I am eternally forgiven, greatly blessed, highly favored, deeply loved and completely protected in the Lord and in Your most precious Name, Yeshua Ha' Meshiah, I pray. Amen.
If you have prayed that prayer for the first time, welcome to the Family of the Father (and it is a very large universal family). It is important that you are not alone facing your personal trials but that you can obtain good help wherever you are. Why not take the time to find your own local Christian family (local church) and worship the Father together? You will be greatly encouraged when you meet together to worship the Father, for fellowship and for the study of the Word of Christ.
Start receiving the blessings of the Father as you walk with Him in faith. It is your inheritance in Christ and He wants you to start enjoying these blessings right now and there is more from where they come from.
The Lord blesses you and keeps you,
The Lord makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and all your loved ones,
The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and gives you His shalom peace.
Numbers 6: 24 - 26
Have a blessed week ahead, Shavrou-tov
Shalom,
Andrew L W Lee
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