The Lord’s Prayer is how Jesus told the disciples to pray.
The Lord’s Prayer leaves nothing out.
While Jesus prayed, He prayed for those who heard Him so they could believe.
He knew the Father always heard Him.
The Lord’s Prayer is still often a forgotten prayer.
When you’ve said it all, don’t forget to add this prayer.
Or, before you’ve said anything, say this prayer.

Jesus said, After this manner, pray ye:
Our Father, who art in Heaven...

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 1 John 3:1

We are precious to God. We are His children. He is our Father. That is a beautiful concept.
This is not a worldly honor, nor is it an honor the world can relate to.
We, who know we are God’s children, belong to Him and He is our Holy Father.

But when the fulness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 
And because ye are sons,
God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Galatians 4:4-6

God that made the world and all things therein,
seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 
Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing,
seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Acts 17:24-25

Once it dawns on us that God rules the world, then, it is easier to believe He will hear each prayer
and that He has the capability to do all things.
Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing is impossible for Him.
He can orchestrate the whole, entire world and is concerned with every single part of it.
His capabilities are astounding and endless and far beyond our comprehension.
We only understand in part.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! Romans 11:33

Hallowed be Thy Name…
God is Holy.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:
the whole earth is full of His glory. Isaiah 6:3

Our world is not holy. Our world is filled with filth and wickedness.
The people on Earth do not serve the Lord, therefore His spirit is pushed aside,
even by some who believe in Christ Jesus.
Mingling with the world is common-place.
People do not make God Holy or not. He is Holy and if we want to fellowship with Him,
we have to let Him cleanse us.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.
Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. John 13:8

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
It is with Jesus’ redemption that we are able to fellowship with the Holy Father.
There is nothing we can do to cleanse ourselves apart from Jesus.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God,
He stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them,
and were washing their nets. And He entered into one of the ships,
which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.
And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 
Now when He had left speaking, he said unto Simon,
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night,
and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net. 
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes:
and their net brake. 
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship,
that they should come and help them.
And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,
Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 
For he was astonished, and all that were with him,
at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee,
which were partners with Simon.
And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him. Luke 5:1-11

We see how Jesus introduced Himself to Peter and Andrew and James and John. Now, let’s jump ahead to after Jesus was crucified before He was resurrected. This was the third time He had shown Himself to the disciples after He had been crucified. They did not recognize Him at first.

Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee

After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias;
and on this wise shewed He Himself. 
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus,
and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee,
and two other of His disciples. 
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.
They say unto him, We also go with thee.
They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately;
and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore:
but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
They answered Him, No. 
And He said unto them,
Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.
They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it
for the multitude of fishes. 
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.
Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him
(for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 
And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land,
but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there,
and fish laid thereon, and bread. 
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes,
an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many,
yet was not the net broken.
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.
And none of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art thou?
knowing that it was the Lord. 
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed Himself to His disciples,
after that He was risen from the dead. John 21:1-14

Similarities and Differences:

The net brake the first time He told them to let down their net.
The net did not break the second time.
The significance of the net is baffling, breaking the first time and not the second.
It was an important detail but I don’t quite know why. Maybe the Lord will tell you?

Jesus said, Let down your net on the right side, both times.
This was after a good amount of time without catching anything.

The Lake of Gennesaret was the first time, the second time was the Sea of Galilee.

The first time, Jesus said, Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.
Jesus did not say that the second time. They already knew they had a mission.
He had instilled that during their time together, and likely,
put His desire for their lives in their hearts, as they allowed.
The second time was when Jesus asked Simon Peter if he loved Him and said, Feed My Sheep.

Peter told the Lord what he thought even at the beginning of their relationship.
This was one of those times when Peter did not have the faith,
but he did what Jesus asked out of obedience:
Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon,
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 
And Simon answering said unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night,
and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net. 
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. (Luke 5)
The second time, Peter didn’t argue or doubt. He knew to do what the Lord said.
Although, it came naturally, since Peter did not recognize it was the Lord,
even after He had used the same sentence to Peter
after he had spent much time trying to catch fish to no avail.

The ships began to sink the first time, not the second.

Very distinct numbers were given of the fish in the boats the second time, one hundred, fifty and three, but not the first, scripture says: a great multitude of fish. No exact number.
It’s rich in its meaning as the contrast of both instances are about catching fish.
The first they had no clue, the second was after they had caught the fish/sheep
and Jesus told him to Feed My Sheep.
If we just helped people to get saved, but did not do anything more, that is not helpful.
They need to be fed and nurtured and loved and cared for just like the Lord would do if He were here.

I believe this will be one of those stories that the Lord adds to our understanding as time goes on.
Or that we will have to be content with no knowing until we meet Him and He teaches us more.
Either way, there are always treasures in scripture that some see and others don’t or that due to personalities, some things are more interesting to one person but the other is more interested in something else. That just fits into the one body concept where we all are unique and all have our places. None is wrong or right, but each is serving Christ to his or her own ability and talents.

There it is again.
Affliction or suffering in order to teach us.

I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right,
and that Thou, in Thy faithfulness hath afflicted me. Psalm 119:75

That scripture is similar to this one:
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction:
Proverbs 3:11

When we are suffering or being afflicted, it is very difficult to think of much else.
The wicked do not get disciplined.
Discipline is reserved for those who have chosen to follow Jesus.
While He loves the world, He allows the wicked to do what they do, or so it seems.
Jeremiah cried out on how it appeared to him that the wicked did not suffer.
Righteous art Thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee:
yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments:
Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? 
wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Jeremiah 12:1

While Jeremiah felt that way, as did David at times and other persons in the Bible,
here is what God’s word says:
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,
whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Isaiah 57:20-21

While it seems like the wicked prevail and have it easy, that is not the case.
Maybe for the time-being, but their day is coming.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at him: for He seeth that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow,
to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Psalm 37:12-15

As hard as it is, accept what is given to you from the Lord,
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 
But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

Take your lumps. They are good for you.

The Bible teaches us in many ways how the Lord fights our battles for us.
He also tells us that we are to resist the devil.
He will have to flee from us if, that is if, we have submitted to God.
We make our choices and sometimes those choices are several times a day,
to choose God’s will and not our own.
The battle we are fighting and hopefully conquering is an on-going process.
Hence we have the Put on the Full Armour of God instructions in Ephesians.

Prayer, fasting, following God’s word and His commandments will help us stay on track.
Learning His word, asking for wisdom and discernment, staying in touch with Jesus,
meditating on His word and loving the truth and fearing God will all make that battle easier.
As we are not really the ones who fight, but God fights for us.
Another battle we must not forget is our own battle with our flesh.
God can and does help us win that as well.

Scriptural References:

The Full Armour of God
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Ephesians 6:10-17

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:13

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:8

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world:
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:9

For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
Deuteronomy 20:4

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Here Satan comes with the enticing.
I also found out this week I need a new water well on my property.
A new well can cost up to $50,000 when all is said and done and can even go higher.
My old well is old. it is not fine. it’s more than 15 years old.
The other day I was talking a shower and dirt was mixed the water.
I can survive without a newer car, but not without clean water.
It’s a bad time to buy a newer car.
It’s brown and I want a brown model just like mine, newer and with far less miles.
But I just had to look. A brown beauty, shiny and much newer tempting me.
It reminded me of when King David counted the armies when the Lord told him not to.
It’s still a bad time to buy a car when I don’t need one.
It would be cheaper than the well though, says the devil on my left shoulder.
And what could it hurt, just a few hundred dollars a month?
Better to give that to the ministries that are trying to save souls.

It’s tough when we get off track, when we allow ourselves to get off track.

I like nice things.
It has always been a struggle of mine.
What I haven’t done yet is ask God for wisdom.
I’ll do that.
I’ll take a break and come back when I have some wisdom from God above.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him. James 1:5

The flesh wants what it wants.
It is a struggle to say no to ourselves.

Here is the wisdom I got:

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost,
whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:28
The car has been on a lot for a month.
I will first see what the well ends up costing.
Then, I will take a look at all my finances and see if there is sufficient room for a new car, too.
I really want a newer model in brown, just like this one that is available now.
Isn’t this one of the fruits of the spirit? One that I am not good at?
Self-control. Ah yes, not so good at that one. Not like I’d like to be. Nothing like Jesus.
Onward.

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. 
Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up at the last day. 
For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 
He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. 
As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me,
even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven:
not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead:
he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. John 6:52-58

There are many things Jesus said that were difficult to understand.
The disciples asked Him many times what He meant and He explained things to them later,
while they were alone, just like He does with us now
when we seek Him and ask Him for understanding.

After many of the disciples walked away:
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? John 6:67
Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
John 6:68

Some spiritual things are difficult to understand. It takes loving the truth, that is,
being able to submit to His words as truth because we might not understand all of His words
or even agree with all of His words, but we know He is God,
the Maker of Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Dry Land
and we know He knows more than we do.
It’s always best to bring our concerns before Him as He is God with all the answers.
We can trust that He will teach each of us and show us the truth.
If we reject His words and walk away, we will put ourselves in spiritual danger.

Like Peter said, Where shall we go?
There is no other God besides Him, there are no other answers to the issues of life and death.
Jesus is our only hope.

Jesus

Jesus

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: Philippians 2:9
Sweetest name I have ever heard. In other languages it is also a beautiful name.

Jesus has always been with God.
He has always been.
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said,
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14
He is the great I Am, just like God. Jesus was speaking in first person when He said that both times.
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by Him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8
Jesus, the Almighty.
There is no separation between Jesus and God. They are One.
I and My Father are one. John 10:30

Jesus was the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament.
Next to Him were Gabriel and Michael, but Jesus was the One who wrestled with Jacob.
He was also the One who stood in the way to stop Balaam’s donkey.
His reference is definitive.

Near and far, here and there, Jesus has always been there with us, no matter where we are.
No matter where anybody is. Jesus is there.
No matter where you go, He is there.

The mystery is solved. Jesus is God.
Jesus is Lord and no one can confess that without the Holy Spirit.
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:
and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 12:3

If you don’t understand, that is okay. Ask the Lord Jesus to open the eyes of your understanding.
If you seek Him you will find Him.
And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Jesus is marvelous and wonderful and full of riches those in the world cannot understand.

Since His word is Jesus, fully written with every attribute of God
in both the Old and the New Testaments, we can find His purpose, His meaning throughout.
In the beginning was the word and word was with God and the word was God. John 1:1

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35
That means we will always be learning of God’s word, through all eternity.
His word is all powerful.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. Psalm 29:4

While this is written in The Book of Revelation, this is a consideration for any words of God.
Always be careful with His word and treat it with respect and with the fear of the Lord.
First, we are told that we get a blessing for reading The Book of Revelation
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3
Then we are told that if we add any words, we will suffer greater than others who on the Earth at the time of the plagues prophesied.
For I testify unto every man
that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Revelation 22:18
Or, whosoever removes God’s word of this prophecy, God will remove his name from the book of life and other wonderful rewards those who have followed Jesus will experience.
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:19
In other words, take God’s word seriously.
Those who do not have very severe consequences that will become theirs.

Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

Do you excuse yourself?
from knowing His word and what He has said about each subject?
from aligning with His people?
from forgiving others?
from loving your enemies?

Do you excuse yourself?
from knowing what it means to have active faith?
from answering your neighbor’s knock and request?
from loving your spouse?
from loving your neighbor?

Do you excuse yourself?
from laying your burdens down at His feet?
from sharing the gospel?
from loving the unlovely?
from not being ashamed of Jesus’ words?

Do you excuse yourself?
from following His commandments?
from carrying your cross?
from accepting your lumps?
from walking on the narrow road?

If you excuse yourself without having talked it over with God,
let this be a reminder that each of us will stand before His throne,
just each of us, no one beside us. Jesus as our advocate, but His warnings are clear.
There are no easy outs.
He will not accept excuses.
He will not accept imitations of what He has asked of you.
Obedience is vital and will be greatly rewarded by our Savior.
He will present those who have followed Christ, the Way to the Father with great commends.
If excuses are given, they will not be received.

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12