When we are expecting guests most of us go out of our way to make sure that their visit will go well. If the person visiting is an important person, we will make sure every detail is taken care of so that the VIP will be pleased. In our text, we read the familiar story of Joseph and Mary and no room at the Inn. For many years, the arrival of the Messiah was prophesied, but the world was unprepared. Mary and Joseph had no reservations and the world had no expectations. The owner of the manger did not have a lot to offer, but he did have something to offer the new born king. Our lord is not looking for the most talented preacher or the most energetic worship leader. He is not only seeking the most dedicated Sunday school teacher or praise singer. He wants each and every one of us. The question is will each of us make room for the King? Are our lives too full to have room for God? We may say that "I will never do that", but what occupies our time. Does our prayer and devotion time give way to soccer practice, birthday parties or Sunday afternoon football? What is the center of our focus? Has that focus shifted from God to something else? Is there room in our life for a king? In Matthew 25 we read the story of the 10 virgins waiting on their bridegroom. Five of them were prepared, and five were not. The five that were unprepared returned to find the door closed. They wanted in, but because they had not done was was necessary to prepare for the coming of the King, they missed their opportunity. Bro. Long asks: Have we done what is necessary to prepare for the coming of our King? Have we built a relationship with Him? Have we made room for Him?

When we are expecting guests most of us go out of our way to make sure that their visit will go well. If the person visiting is an important person, we will make sure every detail is taken care of so that the VIP will be pleased. In our text, we read the familiar story of Joseph and Mary and no room at the Inn. For many years, the arrival of the Messiah was prophesied, but the world was unprepared. Mary and Joseph had no reservations and the world had no expectations. The owner of the manger did not have a lot to offer, but he did have something to offer the new born king. Our lord is not looking for the most talented preacher or the most energetic worship leader. He is not only seeking the most dedicated Sunday school teacher or praise singer. He wants each and every one of us. The question is will each of us make room for the King? Are our lives too full to have room for God? We may say that "I will never do that", but what occupies our time. Does our prayer and devotion time give way to soccer practice, birthday parties or Sunday afternoon football? What is the center of our focus? Has that focus shifted from God to something else? Is there room in our life for a king? In Matthew 25 we read the story of the 10 virgins waiting on their bridegroom. Five of them were prepared, and five were not. The five that were unprepared returned to find the door closed. They wanted in, but because they had not done was was necessary to prepare for the coming of the King, they missed their opportunity. Bro. Long asks: Have we done what is necessary to prepare for the coming of our King? Have we built a relationship with Him? Have we made room for Him?

Many people say that they do not know how to pray. They need to be taught. When trying to learn how to pray, prayer itself is the best teacher. We can talk about prayer, but the best way to learn how to pray is to pray. Prayer is just word; simple language, but the worth of prayer is much more than simple words. Prayer connects us with a limitless supply of blessing from God. When we pray, it connects us to something greater than our sin, or someone's sin against us. Prayer connects us to forgiveness. Nothing releases our heart and life like forgiveness. The answer to life's failures is forgiveness. When we pray, we connect ourselves to that power. When we pray, it connects us to hope. Hope that not matter what our failures or mistakes may be, God provides a way out. Prayer connects us to the right kind of leadership in our lives.

Prayer reveals to us that God is not afraid to be associated with our failure. People who are rich do not usually associate with poor people. However, the Lord of lords, and King of kings is not ashamed to identify with us. Prayer reminds us that God is approachable. Prayer affords us in our weakness, the opportunity to fellowship with His love and His holiness. Prayer will help keep us humble. We are reminded that we are all sinners. It reminds us to look at our own sins before we look at other people's sins. Prayer enables us to have more understanding, more tolerance of others and we have more patience with people.

Through Jesus' teaching in this prayer, we learn:

Let go, and let God

Forget and move on

We need our lives to be led.

We learn to live an empowered life

Many people say that they do not know how to pray. They need to be taught. When trying to learn how to pray, prayer itself is the best teacher. We can talk about prayer, but the best way to learn how to pray is to pray. Prayer is just word; simple language, but the worth of prayer is much more than simple words. Prayer connects us with a limitless supply of blessing from God. When we pray, it connects us to something greater than our sin, or someone's sin against us. Prayer connects us to forgiveness. Nothing releases our heart and life like forgiveness. The answer to life's failures is forgiveness. When we pray, we connect ourselves to that power. When we pray, it connects us to hope. Hope that not matter what our failures or mistakes may be, God provides a way out. Prayer connects us to the right kind of leadership in our lives.

Prayer reveals to us that God is not afraid to be associated with our failure. People who are rich do not usually associate with poor people. However, the Lord of lords, and King of kings is not ashamed to identify with us. Prayer reminds us that God is approachable. Prayer affords us in our weakness, the opportunity to fellowship with His love and His holiness. Prayer will help keep us humble. We are reminded that we are all sinners. It reminds us to look at our own sins before we look at other people's sins. Prayer enables us to have more understanding, more tolerance of others and we have more patience with people.

Through Jesus' teaching in this prayer, we learn:

Let go, and let God

Forget and move on

We need our lives to be led.

We learn to live an empowered life

Paul writing in 1 Timothy 3:15 says something that seems out of place about behaving oneself in the house of God. Paul was addressing a spirit and an attitude that can develop in people who become comfortable in the way the conduct themselves in the House of the Lord. We should always come into the house of God with a spirit of remembrance. There are truths that must be repeated often. Our world is trying to undermine our standards and beliefs. Sometimes these attitudes can infiltrate the church. Bro. Hughes comes tonight to remind us of some things that should be in the foundation of our lives. The word of God is being picked apart and edited by so called religious people. Bro. Hughes declares that if God's word says "Thou shalt not", that is what will be preached from our pulpit! In Ephesians, we are given a comparison to God's love for the church as that of a man's love for his wife. Bro. Hughes reflects that all the blessings and support in his life have come through the church. We need to remember God's deliverance. In our text, God reminds Israel of how they had been delivered and protected for 40 years. God was the one that made a way. He didn't just bring them out, He directed their steps through terrible places and impossible situations. He reminds them that they were living off of His provision; His water, His manna, His quail that fed them. They came to the promised land, but failed to go in. God did not abandon them, but led them back into the wilderness and continued to provide for them. God does not let our setbacks be the end of the story, but He will lead us back to the gates of the promised land. Our failures are not the end of the story. He did all of that in spite of their murmuring, complaining, and unbelief. What Israel was in the physical, the Church is in the spirit. God kept blessing Israel, and He will continue to bless His church. We do not have a right to come into a place that has offered us so much peace, love, provision and support with an attitude. We do not have a right to come into this church with a sense of entitlement. We owe the church a debt that we cannot pay. We should come into the church with a sense of remembrance for all that He has done. Think about where we would be if it were not for the church.

Paul writing in 1 Timothy 3:15 says something that seems out of place about behaving oneself in the house of God. Paul was addressing a spirit and an attitude that can develop in people who become comfortable in the way the conduct themselves in the House of the Lord. We should always come into the house of God with a spirit of remembrance. There are truths that must be repeated often. Our world is trying to undermine our standards and beliefs. Sometimes these attitudes can infiltrate the church. Bro. Hughes comes tonight to remind us of some things that should be in the foundation of our lives. The word of God is being picked apart and edited by so called religious people. Bro. Hughes declares that if God's word says "Thou shalt not", that is what will be preached from our pulpit! In Ephesians, we are given a comparison to God's love for the church as that of a man's love for his wife. Bro. Hughes reflects that all the blessings and support in his life have come through the church. We need to remember God's deliverance. In our text, God reminds Israel of how they had been delivered and protected for 40 years. God was the one that made a way. He didn't just bring them out, He directed their steps through terrible places and impossible situations. He reminds them that they were living off of His provision; His water, His manna, His quail that fed them. They came to the promised land, but failed to go in. God did not abandon them, but led them back into the wilderness and continued to provide for them. God does not let our setbacks be the end of the story, but He will lead us back to the gates of the promised land. Our failures are not the end of the story. He did all of that in spite of their murmuring, complaining, and unbelief. What Israel was in the physical, the Church is in the spirit. God kept blessing Israel, and He will continue to bless His church. We do not have a right to come into a place that has offered us so much peace, love, provision and support with an attitude. We do not have a right to come into this church with a sense of entitlement. We owe the church a debt that we cannot pay. We should come into the church with a sense of remembrance for all that He has done. Think about where we would be if it were not for the church.

Most bible scholars agree that our text was written by David. David was a man of great experience and love. The songs written in the first part of the book of Psalms deal with a particular time in David's life. They were written during a time when he was under great pressure due to the actions of his son Absalom. These were days that were unexpected and unwanted. At this particular point in his life, David had many enemies and he didn't know who all of them were. Some were his closest friends. Many who had been loyal to David had turned against him. David faced many foes some of which were in his own family. By reading the Psalms, we see that David most certainly wrestled with many fears. Most believe that our text was written on the second or third day of David's escape from Israel. He had to do something. He know the only thing he could do was talk to God. He was not sure of what the next day might hold, so David prayed. As he prayed, David became aware of the fact that he was a blessed man. It began to dawn on him that all of his gifting, talents and opportunities could not do for him what he needed in his current situation. He realized that the only place he could find what he needed was the house of God. No other place can give to us what the house of God can. So David went to the house of God and began to pour out his petition to God. This verse implies that David had options and choices. No one is forced to come to the house of God. After evaluating his options, David decided that the best thing he could do was to be in the house of God because that was his best hope.

So what did David find in the house of God that was so attractive. It was not the programs or the music. He found fellowship there. There were others there that were just like him. The enemy will tell us that we are alone, but when we come to the house of God, we are brought into a fellowship with others who are facing the same things we are. We are not alone. He also found that there was a message of the past. He found encouragement in the past, but it wasn't his past. It was God's past. David defines for us that church should be a place where we can come celebrate the things that God has already blessed us with. God has shown himself repeatedly that He is able to deliver, He is able to make a way, He is able to do what no one else can do for us. So David came to the house of God not to review his past, but His past. This story is not about us, but about Him. The only place we will find what we need is in the house of God. This is a place of healing and help. More than anything, David found mercy in God's house that was more than enought to cover his failures.

Most bible scholars agree that our text was written by David. David was a man of great experience and love. The songs written in the first part of the book of Psalms deal with a particular time in David's life. They were written during a time when he was under great pressure due to the actions of his son Absalom. These were days that were unexpected and unwanted. At this particular point in his life, David had many enemies and he didn't know who all of them were. Some were his closest friends. Many who had been loyal to David had turned against him. David faced many foes some of which were in his own family. By reading the Psalms, we see that David most certainly wrestled with many fears. Most believe that our text was written on the second or third day of David's escape from Israel. He had to do something. He know the only thing he could do was talk to God. He was not sure of what the next day might hold, so David prayed. As he prayed, David became aware of the fact that he was a blessed man. It began to dawn on him that all of his gifting, talents and opportunities could not do for him what he needed in his current situation. He realized that the only place he could find what he needed was the house of God. No other place can give to us what the house of God can. So David went to the house of God and began to pour out his petition to God. This verse implies that David had options and choices. No one is forced to come to the house of God. After evaluating his options, David decided that the best thing he could do was to be in the house of God because that was his best hope.

So what did David find in the house of God that was so attractive. It was not the programs or the music. He found fellowship there. There were others there that were just like him. The enemy will tell us that we are alone, but when we come to the house of God, we are brought into a fellowship with others who are facing the same things we are. We are not alone. He also found that there was a message of the past. He found encouragement in the past, but it wasn't his past. It was God's past. David defines for us that church should be a place where we can come celebrate the things that God has already blessed us with. God has shown himself repeatedly that He is able to deliver, He is able to make a way, He is able to do what no one else can do for us. So David came to the house of God not to review his past, but His past. This story is not about us, but about Him. The only place we will find what we need is in the house of God. This is a place of healing and help. More than anything, David found mercy in God's house that was more than enought to cover his failures.

Jesus taught principle before He taught power. In the sermon on the mount, he begins that message with what we call the beatitudes. They are check points for us to align our life with. The beatitudes are principles that we must understand before we can understand the power of God. We live in a world that wants power, but is not interested in principles. Jesus taught that we cannot know is power until we embrace His principles. This prayer that the world knows as the Lord's Prayer, is Jesus teaching us how to pray. More than just things to say, this prayer is a model of a pattern of thinking that will lead to the most effective prayer. These four verses touch on all aspects of human life. It encompasses the past, present and the future. It offers answers for every area of need in our lives. When we pray, we gain things that we cannot receive anywhere else. They cannot be learned in a class or from a book. They can only be received when we humble ourselves before God. Many people look at prayer as an obligation. Bro. Hughes suggest that we look at prayer as a gift. We cannot afford to NOT pray. There are too many benefits to prayer to ignore them. If we could ever see what it wrapped up in prayer, we would pray all the time. We can never rise above the level of our prayer. All the issues that are contained in life are dealt with in prayer, and it is through prayer that God equips us to handle these issues. Without prayer, we will attempt to deal with the issues of life from a strictly human perspective. This causes many of the frustrations of life simply because we do not practice prayer.

So why is prayer so vital. What did Jesus teach us in the Lord's prayer? What was He trying to get us to understand? Prayer teaches us about relationships. When we go to prayer, we are not alone. He is with us. Prayer teaches us that we have responsibility too. This prayer teaches us that He has thought about all the areas of need in our life; Our needs, our failures, and our frustrations. Everything about our life has already been provided for. When we pray, we have the confidence that no matter what we circumstance or situation, God has it under control. Secondly, this prayer reveals to us how much God cares for us. He says "our daily bread" God will provide for our needs. We can trust God with our physical, emotional and financial needs. Bread can also be interpreted to mean the daily needs of life. God's provision is more than just the daily bread. He provides for all needs. Thirdly, this prayer reminds us that we must live our life one day at a time. He said "daily bread." This implies that we meets our needs for today and that He will provide tomorrow. This concept also implies that we should trust the unknowns of tomorrow to Him. If He can take care of today's daily bread, we can trust Him for tomorrow's bread too. If we will learn to pray in this way, we will learn to be satisfied with the provision that God makes in our life. There are a lot of frustrated people because they are not satisfied with the answer God has already given them. Until we learn to be satisfied with what He has given us, He will not give us anything else. When God give us something it is enough, we need to learn to modify our expectations. When we learn how to pray, it will lend balance to our life. It helps us remember the source of everything. There are no self made men. No matter what the accomplishment, man had to start with something. No crop has ever been grown that did not start with a seed. When we pray, we are reminded of the source of all of our blessing and provision.

Jesus taught principle before He taught power. In the sermon on the mount, he begins that message with what we call the beatitudes. They are check points for us to align our life with. The beatitudes are principles that we must understand before we can understand the power of God. We live in a world that wants power, but is not interested in principles. Jesus taught that we cannot know is power until we embrace His principles. This prayer that the world knows as the Lord's Prayer, is Jesus teaching us how to pray. More than just things to say, this prayer is a model of a pattern of thinking that will lead to the most effective prayer. These four verses touch on all aspects of human life. It encompasses the past, present and the future. It offers answers for every area of need in our lives. When we pray, we gain things that we cannot receive anywhere else. They cannot be learned in a class or from a book. They can only be received when we humble ourselves before God. Many people look at prayer as an obligation. Bro. Hughes suggest that we look at prayer as a gift. We cannot afford to NOT pray. There are too many benefits to prayer to ignore them. If we could ever see what it wrapped up in prayer, we would pray all the time. We can never rise above the level of our prayer. All the issues that are contained in life are dealt with in prayer, and it is through prayer that God equips us to handle these issues. Without prayer, we will attempt to deal with the issues of life from a strictly human perspective. This causes many of the frustrations of life simply because we do not practice prayer.

So why is prayer so vital. What did Jesus teach us in the Lord's prayer? What was He trying to get us to understand? Prayer teaches us about relationships. When we go to prayer, we are not alone. He is with us. Prayer teaches us that we have responsibility too. This prayer teaches us that He has thought about all the areas of need in our life; Our needs, our failures, and our frustrations. Everything about our life has already been provided for. When we pray, we have the confidence that no matter what we circumstance or situation, God has it under control. Secondly, this prayer reveals to us how much God cares for us. He says "our daily bread" God will provide for our needs. We can trust God with our physical, emotional and financial needs. Bread can also be interpreted to mean the daily needs of life. God's provision is more than just the daily bread. He provides for all needs. Thirdly, this prayer reminds us that we must live our life one day at a time. He said "daily bread." This implies that we meets our needs for today and that He will provide tomorrow. This concept also implies that we should trust the unknowns of tomorrow to Him. If He can take care of today's daily bread, we can trust Him for tomorrow's bread too. If we will learn to pray in this way, we will learn to be satisfied with the provision that God makes in our life. There are a lot of frustrated people because they are not satisfied with the answer God has already given them. Until we learn to be satisfied with what He has given us, He will not give us anything else. When God give us something it is enough, we need to learn to modify our expectations. When we learn how to pray, it will lend balance to our life. It helps us remember the source of everything. There are no self made men. No matter what the accomplishment, man had to start with something. No crop has ever been grown that did not start with a seed. When we pray, we are reminded of the source of all of our blessing and provision.