Scriptures of Focus:
Matt. 6: 7-10 NIV
“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Romans 9:16 NIV
“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
Today, I get so mad when I turn on the TV and hear man taking credit for what God does for man.
“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
I can’t stand when our government says they can control the virus. It seems everywhere I turn I hear man saying we are in control of this thing.
Well, this is not a thing it is a beast and it is from the devil. We can not predict this sickness; nor, can we control it.
“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
So, many people on TV predict where its going to hit next and when we will be healed.
Healings only come from creator God. Miracles are mercies from God.
Now, do we have to put feet on our prayers. Yes! We need to focus on the first commandment: to love one another.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
We need to wear our face masks, wash our hands, and social distance, but protection and cure will only be from the mercy of God.
“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
Several years ago there was a show on television called: “I Dream of Jeannie.” The show was about an astronaut: Major Roger Nelson, who upon returning to earth from a space flight, found himself marooned on a deserted island.
It was while he was on this island that he found a bottle which contained a female genie that he later named “Jeannie!”
The running plot of the series consisted of Major Nelson being involved in a relentless attempt to mask the antics of this genie who had sworn herself to do his every bidding and to fulfill his every desire.
All she had to do was blink her eyes and shake her head and his wish was her command! Compared to TV show now -this one seems to be innocent.
We need to guard our hearts. The concept of guarding our hearts comes from Proverbs 4:23-26.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
The I dream of Jeannie show is the predecessor of other shows like Charmed ones, Supernatural, and really bad ones like Walking Dead.
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see
The things that we see and the things that we hear can lead us into temptation. In fact, scripture teaches that if we will resist the devil, he will flee (James 4:7).
Now, Pator’s Bonnnies verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:22 abstain from every form of evil.
For every temptation God makes a way of escape.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Let’s get back to our lesson. Have you ever heard the expression “God blesses those he loves?” The other day I was talking to a friend about the about the general state of the people we run into on daily basis. In our conversation, we were both troubled over how, many people who claim to be the children of God, but they use God like their spare tire or genie. Some, act like God is some sort of Divine “bell-boy” who sits up in Heaven, waiting to answer their every beck and call! “Yes!” He said, “They think that God is a genie!” It is from that conversation that the inspiration for this sermon was formed.
I looked up the word “genie” in one of my dictionaries and it said that a genie is: “A supernatural being who does one’s bidding when summoned.” I thought about that definition and I have concluded that many people have a “genie concept” of God! They want Him to come whenever they call and they want Him to do whatever they want! Many of those of the “Name-it-and-claim-it” camp would have us to believe that the Lord’s only function and purpose is to bless us! Now, I don’t mind telling you that I am glad that the Lord is in the “blessing business!” but this is by no means His sole interest in the lives of His people!
Yes! The Lord is bountiful in His blessings, but I think we need to be reminded that He blesses us not primarily to serve our purposes, but rather to serve His! We can be so arrogant and naive; we think that everything is about us! But, it’s not about us; it’s about Him!
Even the blessings we receive are not about us! He blesses us so that we might be a blessing to somebody else!
He redeemed us so that His name might be glorified! In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord revealed to the prophet in chapter 36 His rationale for reviving Israel from amongst the nations. Listen to the message that was given to the prophet:
Ezekiel 36:19-24 NIV
“I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, These are the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave his land. I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. Therefore say to the house of Israel, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.”
So you see, my brothers and sisters, it’s not about us: It’s about Him! Consequently, we err when we look upon God as beholden to us! He doesn’t owe us anything: but we owe Him everything! He is not to serve us, we are to serve Him!
The Psalmist said this expressing God’s purpose for blessing His people:
(Ps. 100:3 KJV)
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Yes! Many so-called Christians today seemingly have forgotten just who God is! He’s God and He’s God all by Himself! He didn’t win an election to be God! He was already God! Hence, we can’t vote Him out of the office of “God-ship!” Even if we didn’t praise Him, He would still be God! You see, He’s God all by Himself and He doesn’t need anybody else to bolster His claim as God!
He’s the Alpha and Omega! He does whatever He pleases! Who can withstand Him?
Job would agree that God is not our genie and we can not manipulate Him, because Job said this in 23:13 NASB:
“But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.”
The NIV says, “He stands alone.”
The NASB says, “He is unique.” He’s in a class all by Himself! The Lord is not just one of many gods; He’s the one and only God!
The KJV says, “But he is in one mind.”
We need to get it settled in our hearts and minds once and for all that God cannot be manipulated! He is not some genie in a bottle; He’s the Most High God!
In Romans 1:16-17 Paul puts an end to the idea that God is elected or even like the Roman Empire. The gist of his argument was that God makes the choices and His decisions are based on His Sovereign will.
We need to submit total control of our lives to God.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
We are all God’s election. What does John 3:16 say? For that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Consequently, whatever we receive from the Lord is ultimately determined not by any human effort to persuade, but by His mercy in accordance with His will.
My conversation with my friend about God being a genie in the bottle; also, made me question: “where is the faith of people if God is their genie?” The question of faith is a factor that is all too often overlooked today! The ultimate controlling factor is not our faith; it’s His will!
You see, you can’t use your faith to change His will, but rather your faith should be grounded in His will!
This brought me to another point! Jesus warned against using vain repetitions in prayer, because this was the tradition of the pagans and the Pharisees. Back in those days, the pagans believed that they could influence the gods by speaking incantations; the Greek word is babbling!
Too many of us think that our God is an “Open-says-o-me” God! No! No! My brothers and sisters, no matter how much faith you may think you have, your faith cannot change the sovereign will of God! Many are making the mistake today of having “faith in faith!”
But if you want to please God, you must have faith in God! Jesus said that many felt that they would be heard for their much-speaking; however, the Father knows what we need, even before we ask Him! (Matthew 6:8 is where we find that thought.)
Therefore, He said that we ought to pray in the following manner:
Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Say “Our Father.” By saying “Our Father” we are acknowledging our relationship with God! Now, it should be remembered that Jesus was teaching this prayer to His disciples. Hence, because of their relationship with Jesus, God was their Father. Only those who have been born again can say along with the disciples: “Our Father!” Heaven denotes His dwelling place. Again, God is not our genie in the bottle. “Hallowed be thy name!” The Lord’s name is holy, it’s sacred, and it’s not to be taken lightly or even spoken in vain! -says the ten commandments!
Notice that the first petition is not about us! The first petition is not a personal request for a blessing!
The first request is a petition for the realization of His kingdom! The first request is for the realization of the rule and reign of God!
When we pray as Jesus taught His disciples, our first desire will not be for the Lord to do something for us, but rather that His will be established in our lives! It’s not, “May my blessings come!”
God is not a genie! We can’t just ask and get our desires. That’s only good enough for Mr. Nelson on the “I dream of genie” show.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
The first petition is, “Thy kingdom come!” Now how is the Kingdom realized? The very next sentence explains how: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” How is God’s will done in heaven? In heaven, His will is done perfectly! In heaven, there is no compromise about the will of God!
In heaven, God’s will is done completely! In heaven, there are no questions asked concerning His will! Everything is according to the will of God! God wanted us to see that the first petition is in search of His will and not a genie in the bottle wish!
No angel dares to ask Him why He does what He does! His will is supreme, His will is sovereign! And then, in heaven, His will is done to glorify Him!
There are no angelic “glory-hounds” in Heaven!
In Heaven, it’ all about God, all the time! So the child of God’s prayer should be for His will to be done on earth in the same manner in which it is done in Heaven! To glorify God!
So, we are requesting that God’s rule and will come down to earth. His will is done perfectly! God’s will is done completely! Everything is according to the will of God!
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
It is only after all God’s business is taken care of, that personal petitions enter into the prayer! The principle Jesus would have us to learn is to seek first the kingdom of God!
Matthew 6:33 King James Version
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
When you seek the kingdom first, you will recognize the fact that the Lord is not a genie! When you seek the kingdom first, you will recognize the fact that He promised to take care of your business, only after you have taken care of His!
We don’t have any problems after the will of God is done. This should limit our requests, because our plans really don’t matter.
When you seek first the kingdom, you will come to realize that unless your business is His business, your business is not really worth dealing with!
- When we seek the Kingdom first, we will realize that He is the Potter and we are the clay!
- We will quit trying to fit Him into our life and agenda and recognize the fact that there is no life outside of Him!
- When we seek first the Kingdom, we will quit trying to force God into our image and recognize the need for Him to mold us into His image!
- When we seek first the Kingdom, we will realize that the God we serve is not a genie!
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
God is not our genie and He does not always do what we want when we want it. However, in verse 12 we see one verse that when prayed God will always accept. He will always accept our apologies.
In fact Psalm 100:3 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalms 103:11-13 KJV
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a farther pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
This type of prayer puts us in the right relationship with God. It is the first step in salvation, but a must in our Christian walk.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We want God’s reign for ever and ever. We want his power and glory for ever.
Verse 13, informs us that God will make a way when there is no way. God will deliver His children from evil! It is the kingdom of God not the kingdom of a genie! It is the power of God not a make believe genie in a bottle. It’s God’s glory not ours!
This sermon is entitled: “God is not my Genie” because when men seek to make a genie out of God, the idea is nothing more than a vain imagination! We can’t manipulate God: He’s God and He does what He wants to do with or without our cooperation!
We can’t bribe Him, because whatever we have, He gave it to us!
We can’t blackmail Him, because He was doing just fine before we were ever created!
We just need to acknowledge that He is God and that He is God all by Himself! It’s not His place to accommodate us, but we will be blessed as we give Him the first place in our lives!
