What Are You Now?

[alon]

I found a small booklet which is a collection of short writings and sermons on prayer by John Wesley, 18th cen English cleric, theologian, and evangelist. He was the founder of the modern Methodist movement, though I think they've slipped some since his time. His writings are almost Messianic, which I find a lot of the older Christian writings, and even some of the newer ones where pastors are trying to get churches to return to their roots. Anyhow, I thought I'd share n edited version of his opening essay. He starts with a scripture:

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

"The question is not anything else: What are you now? Is the Spirit of adoption now in your heart? ... Does [the Holy Spirit] now dwell within you? ... does the Spirit of Christ and of glory now rest upon you, or has the light that was within you become darkness again? To you I say "You must be born again." You have read what are the marks of the children of God. All who do not have these on their souls ... must needs receive them or without doubt they will perish eternally."

This sounds a lot like what most of us as Meshiachim believe. Many of us were attracted to the Messianic movement because we saw what was lacking in todays churches vs. what they had only scant decades ago, let alone 2 centuries ago.

Just thought this was interesting.  

[alon]

Continuing in the booklet on prayer, excerpts from John Wesley, 

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

He who best knew how we ought to pray has here delivered to us a most perfect and universal form of prayer. This prayer consists of three parts- the preface, the petitions, and the conclusion.

The preface:

“Our Father which art in heaven”- lays a general foundation. It comprises what we first must know of God before we can pray in confidence. It likewise points out to us the faith, humility, and love of God and man with which we are to approach God.

“Our Father”- good and gracious to all: Creator, preserver. Not my Father only, but the Father of the universe.

“Which art in heaven”- filling heaven and earth and beholding all things; superintending and disposing all things.

The second portion of this prayer consists of six petitions:

“Hallowed be thy name”- may You be truly known by all. May You be duly honored, loved, feared, by all in heaven and in earth.

“Thy kingdom come”- may Your kingdom come quickly and swallow up all the kingdoms of the earth!

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”- may all do Your will.

“Give us”- O Father (for we claim nothing of right; only of Your free mercy) “this day”- (for we make no thought for tomorrow) “our daily bread”- all things needed for our souls and bodies.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”- give us, O Lord, redemption in Your blood; enable us freely and fully to forgive.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”- whenever we are tempted, do not allow us to be overcome or to suffer loss, but make a way for us to escape.

The conclusion:

“For thine is the kingdom”- the sovereign right of all things that are or ever were created “the power”- the executive power, whereby You govern all things “the glory”- the praise due from every creature for Your power, Your wondrous works, and the mightiness of Your kingdom, which endures through all ages, even “for ever. Amen.”


Now, here is a breakdown from my Artscroll Transliterated Linear Siddur on the Amidah, the Standing Prayer said by observant Jews since the Babylonian exile:

“Shimoneh Esrei has three sections: (a) In the first three blessings we pay homage to God ... ; (b) in the middle section of thirteen (originally twelve) blessings, we make our requests; (c) in the last three blessings, we take leave, expressing our gratitude and confidence in our Master's graciousness.”

Notice that Wesley’s is the same outline as the Lord's Prayer:

Homage:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.

Requests:
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

Acknowlegment:
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever.

Amen.


It was common for a rabbi to give his disciples a shortened version of the Amidah to say in those times they could not lay tefillin and say the entire prayer. Yeshua’s disciples were observant Jews; they knew how to pray. But this shortened version of the daily liturgical prayer was what they were asking for. He gave them what we know today as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

There are other similarities here with Wesley’s theology and Jewish tradition. Jews typically say “Our Father” and not “My” Father, as they are much more focused on community. Also as Wesley says He is “filling heaven and earth,” where the Hebrew sages tell us His presence at the same time sat on the Mercy Seat, yet filled the universe with His presence.

In many ways we don’t even realize today, early Christian theology, the theology that founded America was a lot closer to Judaism. Not necessarily Rabbinical Judaism as it is today, the Judaism of the 3rd cen CE and later; but that of the 1st cen CE (the time of the Christ) and earlier.

[garrett]

Thanks for sharing this. I generally include this in my morning prayers too...I get up extremely early, which can cause a lot of brain fog. It's nice to have this as part of my "liturgy" every day, before my prayers venture into more personal requests, acknowledgements, conversation, etc.