Hollowed Be Thy Name – Almighty God is the Believers’s Father
The following is chapter Three of the Book – Grandpa Teach Me to Pray
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LESSON THREE
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
ALMIGHTY GOD IS THE BELIEVER’S FATHER
“Hello, Timmy boy, who’s your little friend?”
“Oh, Grandpa,” answered Sarah, Tim’s younger sister. “Tim came home so enthused and excited about what he learned that I decided that he wasn’t going to have all the fun. And besides, I learned the memory verse before he did.” And with that she repeated Ephesians 3:20, only when she got to the word him, she inserted (my heavenly father.)
“Now unto my heavenly father that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (+)
Grandpa applauded her effort and said, “Welcome, the more the merrier.”
Tim burst into the conversation by saying, “Grandpa, when we began to read the model prayer we started a verse or two above where the model prayer began. And you know what?”
“What?” Grandpa answered.
“From the beginning of chapter 6 verse one through the 18 verses Jesus referred to God as “Father” TEN TIMES.” (+)
“and..,” Sarah interrupted her brother, “he would always put a personal pronoun in front of Father, ‘Thy Father’ or ‘Your Father.’ Which means that Jesus really wants us to view or picture the Almighty God of heaven, not as some far off distant God who is busy running the universe, but he wants us to approach him as our father who loves us.”(+) “Hello, Timmy boy, who’s your little friend?”
“Oh, Grandpa,” answered Sarah, Tim’s younger sister. “Tim came home so enthused and excited about what he learned that I decided that he wasn’t going to have all the fun. And besides, I learned the memory verse before he did.” And with that she repeated Ephesians 3:20, only when she got to the word him, she inserted (my heavenly father.)
“Now unto my heavenly father that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (+)
Grandpa applauded her effort and said, “Welcome, the more the merrier.”
Tim burst into the conversation by saying, “Grandpa, when we began to read the model prayer we started a verse or two above where the model prayer began. And you know what?”
“What?” Grandpa answered.
“From the beginning of chapter 6 verse one through the 18 verses Jesus referred to God as “Father” TEN TIMES.” (+)
“and..,” Sarah interrupted her brother, “he would always put a personal pronoun in front of Father, ‘Thy Father’ or ‘Your Father.’ Which means that Jesus really wants us to view or picture the Almighty God of heaven, not as some far off distant God who is busy running the universe, but he wants us to approach him as our father who loves us.”(+)
“Kids,” Grandpa interrupted, “Let me add a little fuel to your excitement, Sarah, I see that you have your Bible with you. Turn to Romans 8:15 and read it
“For we have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear,” read Sarah, “but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father.”
Both young peoples eyes were focused on their Grandfather’s face waiting for his explanation. He began by saying, “This verse teaches the Spirit of prayer. Notice, whereby we cry, Abba which is the dearest term for father. Abba is not the formal term, Father, but the endearing term “Daddy.” (+) It is used like a little child looking up into her father’s face and pleading, ‘daddy please’.”
“Grandpa, that’s great.” Commented Tim.
“No, that is awesome, to think that God, our father really wants us to come to him in prayer,” injected Sarah. “And he wants us to begin our prayer one remembering that we are talking to our daddy.” (+)
FATHER IS USED 146 TIMES
“Kids, since we are discussing coming to God in prayer as our father may I ask you to use your computer.”
“Use our computer, Grandpa?” came Tim’s surprised inquiry.
“Why,” ask Sarah.
“Get your Bible program that your mom and dad used to check scriptural facts and to compare Scriptures.”
“And do what,” ask Sarah a little impatiently.
“Check on how many times the word of a derivative of the word ‘Father’ is used by Jesus.”
“Remember that in the Gospel of John Jesus is referred to as the Word.” (+)
“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 anything made that was made. John 1:1-3.” quoted Sarah.
“Grandpa, I never understood why they called Jesus, The Word.” said Tim.
“Words are used to express the thoughts and feelings of a person. Jesus was called the Word because he came to express the love and nature of God through his teaching and life. (+) He came to show the world what God was like through his daily life and teaching.”
“But back to my question,” said Grandpa. “How many times do you think Jesus referred to or called God his Father?”
“20,” came Sarah’s guess.
“More than that,” answered Grandpa.
“50,” said Tim.
“Double that number,” Grandpa said.
“100?” replied Sarah.
“I still want you to look it up for yourself but in order to illustrate and emphasize God as your Father, I will tell you now. Jesus referred to God as his Father either directly or indirectly a total of 146 times in the Gospel of John. (+) The reason I want you to look it up yourself is to see that figure is accurate and to see the different ways and times that Jesus referred to God as His Father.
“No doubt he was emphasizing what he taught the apostles in the model prayer in order to get that fact into their minds. They would think of God as their Father
instead of thinking of him JUST as God.” (+)
“Another reason, no doubt, God is seeking fellowship with his children as is attempting to get them to look up to him and rely on him as children rely upon their dad.” (+)
“146 times, that is almost unbelievable,” commented Tim in wonderment.
“Jesus is really working to get His point across and teach us to learn and accept that God is our Father,” remarked Sarah. (+)
COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE
“Tim, you were going to say something your mother taught you, “ reminded Grandpa.
“Oh yes, mom pointed out a Scripture that states that God wants us to come boldly unto the throne of grace…,” stated Timmy.(+)
“Throne of grace is where God hears our prayers,” explained grandpa to Sarah who had a puzzled look on her face. “In fact, the rest of the verse explains why we are to come to the throne of grace-that we may attain help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Our father wants to hear from us and help us.” (+)
HELP IN TIME OF NEED
“Sarah,” said Grandpa, “I’m sorry, but what does it mean? We may attain help in time of need?”
“It probably means that God is always there to help – in every situation and problem,” offered Tim. “I read a scripture where Jesus said that men ought always to pray and faint not.”
Sarah answered, “I believe that God answers prayer, but that statement sounds like God somehow or another helps people especially when they are praying. Is that right?” “That’s exactly right Sarah. Sometimes a Christian just doesn’t know which way God wants him to go, or he gets into a trial and is really hurting. He doesn’t know what or who to believe. It is here that God, your Father, gives someone to help you in time of need.” (+)
“Someone like you, Grandpa? I know you really have helped me — many times,” said Tim.
“God may use me or your parents or someone else, take your pastor or a friend, to help you. But God offers greater help than humans can give.”
“Really Grandpa, who?” ask Sarah.
“The Holy Spirit,” answered Grandpa. “You see, no human can see the innermost thoughts of a person. They cannot see the hurt or the fear or pain a person may be experiencing; But God can.”
Many times we don’t know what to pray for or we don’t have the words to express our inner feelings. But your Heavenly Father sees your thoughts, your
indecision, yes and even your confusion and he dispatches someone to help. (+)
“I believe what you are saying and I believe it,” commented Tim. “But is there a clear Scripture which states that?”
“Good boy, Tim,” congratulated Grandpa. “Always turn to the Bible for the foundation of truth or doctrine. Sarah, turn to Rom. 8:26-27.”
Sarah read, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
After Sarah finished reading, Tim stated, “Wow! Grandpa. Everything you stated are right there in those two verses.”
“Helpeth our infirmities,” quoted Sarah.
“We don’t know what to pray for – but the Holy Spirit makes intercession (pray for us) according to the will of God (+) (gives direction in the will or to the will of God),” explains Grandpa. He continues by saying, “With groanings which cannot be uttered means the Holy Spirit takes our inner hurts, tears and problems as if they were really his – and presents them to our Father – WE OBTAIN HELP IN TIME OF NEED.”
“Grandpa, what a lesson! God wants us to approach him by calling him Father – -.”
“Daddy,” injected Sarah. “And then when we really need help He sends the Holy Spirit to help us.”
“Especially in our prayers,” added Sarah.
“Especially in our prayers!” explained Grandpa.
“I’m going to memorize these two verses,” stated Tim.
“Me too,” echoed Sarah.
“That brings us to what our lesson is about today. It concerns our attitude when we approach God in prayer. (+) What should be one’s attitude in coming before God at the throne of grace in prayer?” inquired Sarah.
THE PROPER ATTITUDE
“Kids notice the statement, ‘our father which art in heaven.’ What is the next statement?”
Both Sarah and Tim answered in unison, “Hallowed be thy name.”
“What do you think that means, ‘Hallowed be thy name?’” Grandpa pauses and allows his question to sink in.
In a split second both of the young people hands shot up.
“Does that mean the attitude that one should have when they approach God in prayer?” inquired Sarah. (+)
“Earlier in the chapter Jesus told of his disciples that when they prayed that they should enter into a private place and shut the door. Isn’t that a commandment to make prayer special by getting alone with God and showing reverence to Him?” asked Tim. (+) “Grandpa, isn’t that kind of like Moses when he met God at the burning bush and God told him to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground?” offered Sarah.
Grandpa answered, “Who is the teacher in this class? Both of your questions are very good. Hollowed be thy name is dealing with the attitude that a person should have when he approaches God in prayer. Hallowed be Thy name, or may your name be revered, or may your name be held holy or honored.” (+)
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IT SHOWS HONOR TO GOD
Hallowed be thy name shows honor to the superhuman ruler of the universe. (+) It is more than a subject of a kingdom coming in to the throne room of his human king. Hallowed be thy name is acknowledging the absolute supremacy of God who is holy and over all. (+)
IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE GREATNESS OF GOD
“When Jesus tells us to address the supreme God of heaven as our “father” or “daddy” and then comments, Hallowed be thy name that is and expression of love, praise and submission.”
THY NAME
“Kids, let’s stress, ‘Thy Name’ from a different view point. We found that John stressed Father a total of how many times in the Gospel of John?”
Both young people spoke enthusiastically at about the same time, “146 times.”
“Now, lets give a few names or titles of Jesus, which are found in the Bible. (+) I will illustrate by giving the first.”
“Jesus is called, ‘The Word’.”
Quickly Tim stated, “He is ‘Saviour’.”
“Good,” complimented Grandpa.
“The Rose of Sharon?” Sarah ventured.
“Good,” echoed Grandpa.
“He is the Alpha and Omega.”
“The Lilly of the Valley.”
“The Author and Finisher of our Faith.”
“He is the Bright and Morning Star,” stated Sarah.
“The Chief Shepherd,” was Tim’s next title
“The Bridegroom,” said Sarah.
“OK kids, you get the point. There are countless titles or names for Jesus.”
“But Grandpa, we just got started,” Sarah protested. “He is the Friend of Sinners,” she concluded.
“You’re absolutely right. There are many, many different titles or names to describe Jesus. But how many names in the New Testament are there for God?” (+) Grandpa just sat there while the children thought.
“He is called Jehovah,” said Sarah.
“But that is in the Old Testament,” added Tim.
“Hallowed be THY Name,” quoted Grandpa. “Kids, it seems to me that God is striving to get his children to center in on one name. ‘Father’.” (+)
“He is trying to help us to believe in God more than just in a Theological sense. He is attempting, by the absence of other titles, to get His children to focus on the fact that He is our Father.”
“Grandpa, do you mean that now we believe in God, the Father – as the title instead of a person?” inquired Sarah.
“Yes, Sarah, that is exactly what I believe God is trying to emphasize and get into His children’s hearts – ‘I am not just a Title – I am your Heavenly Father’.” (+)
IT SHOWS HUMILITY
“To me, the expression, ‘Hallowed be thy name’ shows the attitude one should manifest as he comes to his father in prayer, he should come humbly,” instructed Grandpa.
Tim added, “Grandpa that is what the pastor preached on last Sunday. He said, ‘God gives grace to the humble’.” (I Peter 5:5-6)
“But he resisteth the Proud,” added Sarah.
Grandpa began to close the lesson by saying, “we have dealt with some very important principles concerning the Model Prayer which God gave to his disciples to follow…”
“They were given to us to follow also, weren’t they, Grandpa?” interrupted Tim.
“But in our next lesson we will come to the heart of the Model Prayer.”
“Is that, ‘Thy kingdom come’?” asked Sarah.
“That is your homework assignment in preparation for our nest lesson, but let me close this lesson by saying you will never get your prayers answered unless one learns to come in a humble way into the presence of your Heavenly Father. (+) But there is nothing that reveals the praise, reverence and love as the simple approach Jesus give….” Our Father which are in Heaven… “HALLOWED BE THY NAME.”
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A VIVID EXAMPLE OF THAT NEED – GOD’S BRILLIANT PLAN TO REACH FALLEN MAN
God's Brilliant Plan to Reach Fallen Man
A VIVID EXAMPLE OF THAT NEED
Jesus gave a vivid example of the need of Holy Spirit in the Apostles lives. Please consider this vivid lesson of the need for God’s divine power as illustrated by Jesus surprising command. The Apostles had been part of all the lab sessions where Jesus demonstrated the principles of training soul-winners and disciplers; BUT AFTER ALL OF THAT TRAINING JESUS WOULD NOT LET THE APOSTLES GO.
After all the great teaching message’s on the Beatitudes, The Sermon on the Mount, The Parables, and the coming future kingdom; JESUS WOULDN’T LET THEM GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.
After all the pressurized moments of standing before hostile crowds and religious leaders and demonstrating to young apostles how to face hostilities with calmness and faith; HE WOULD NOT LET THEM GO. He said, “TARRY.”
The apostles had the Bible college training behind them. They were graduates BUT JESUS WOULDN’T LET THEM GO! (+)
Thousands were dying each day with many of them going to hell; BUT HE WOULDN’T LET THEM GO. (+)
WHY?
WHY WOULDN’T JESUS LET THE APOSTLES GO? THE ANSWER: THE DISCIPLES WERE NOT FULLY EQUIPPED YET.
Jesus knew that with all their Bible knowledge, with all their training in the mechanics and materials of disciple-making, and with the goal of preaching the gospel to every creature that they were not equipped to go yet – they needed two more principles to be embedded into their minds and souls before they were equipped to go. (+)
TARRY IN JERUSALEM UNTIL YOU ARE ENDUED WITH POWER
Luke first records this command for the disciples to tarry or wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit in Luke 24:49 and again in Acts 1:4. (+) Jesus knew it would take the divine power of God to make the divine plan of God successful. THE WAITING ALSO EMPHASIZES THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING WITHOUT THE ENERGIZING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BUT IN CHRIST THEY COULD DO ALL THINGS.
ANOTHER COMFORTER
In John 16:7, Jesus said it was necessary for him to go away (back to heaven) but if I depart I will send Him to you.” Jesus in the body of man could only be in one place at a time.(+) He needed to be with every disciple all of the time.
- Jesus promised never to forsake or leave a person.
- Jesus promised to give wisdom to any who ask.
- Jesus promised to give grace for every occasion.
- Jesus promised to illuminate the minds of believers.
- Jesus promised to give supernatural power for service and soul winning (to every believer at the very same time in multiple places).
As a man he couldn’t do it, but through the Holy Spirit He was able to minister and help any believer, in any place, in any way the believer needed help.
That is the reason that Jesus said He had to go away but He would not leave them comfortless (orphaned) but the comforter (Holy Spirit) would abide with them always. John 14:16-18. Again in John 14:26.
JESUS HAD TO TRANSFORM THE APOSTLES IN AT LEAST FOUR AREAS
FIRST, the apostles were fearful followers that must be transformed INTO FEARLESS LEADERS. (+) Often times these young preachers were afraid. They were scared to death as they fought hopelessly against the severe winds and high waves. Jesus combated their fears and calmed the sea by saying. “Peace be still.”
Toward the end of his ministry when word was sent that officials were planning to kill Jesus, as Jesus prepared to go to the graveside of Lazarus, the Apostles were scared but Thomas said, “Let us go and die with him.”
The apostles fled like timid men when the mob came to arrest Jesus and hovered like scared rabbits behind locked doors during his entombment. There were other occasions where it was obvious that the apostles were fearful followers. THEY MUST BE TRANSFORMED INTO FEARLESS LEADERS. Therefore, the command, “TARRY…UNTIL YOU ARE ENDUED WITH POWER.”
After fasting and praying for ten days and nights, the apostles emptied themselves of selfish ambitions and their self-centeredness and became empty vessels which the Holy Spirit could fill and control. (+) NOW THE FEARFUL FOLLOWERS BECAME FEARLESS LEADERS. They were threatened and whipped as they fearlessly risked their lives in preaching the Gospel and training their converts. They had been transformed so well that they could inject the same boldness and confidence into their followers.
SECOND, the apostles must be transformed from powerless followers into powerful men of strength and ability as leaders. Again the command, “Tarry, until you are endued with power.” These powerless preachers who could not cast a demon out of a young boy (Matthew 17:20) were now transformed into men of boldness (Acts 4:31) and of “great power gave the apostles witness.” (Acts 4:33). They were later referred to as men who had “turned the world upside down” as they lead the assault against the gates of hell to “set the captives free.” THEY BECAME FEARLESS LEADERS.
THIRD, they had to be transformed from men who were overwhelmed by the huge task (to every creature in all the world) to men who looked to the sky, expecting His coming. In the final service that Jesus conducted before His crucifixion, He comforted His disciples with words which they would rehearse over and over again. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:1-3. No doubt the words, “I WILL COME AGAIN…that where I am, there ye may be also” rung in their ears for the rest of their lives.
The day came when Jesus was taken from them and He ascended back into heaven. They stood motionless and stared aimlessly up into heaven. Suddenly, two angels spoke words which would cause the apostles to always keep their eyes focused toward heaven. They said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
In Acts 1:3 the wording of “being seen of them forty days” seemed to indicate that Jesus would suddenly appear in their midst with a start and after a period of time disappear just as quickly. He seemed to appear and then disappear on several occasions during the 40 days. No doubt he helped them focus their eyes toward heaven by saying, I’m going away but one of these days just like the past 40 days you men will be working for me and suddenly – I will materialize in a physical body just as I have during the past few days. They were transformed from men whose focus was on the events of this world to men whose focus was upward to the skies – WATCHING FOR THE IMMINENT SECOND COMING OF THEIR LORD.
FOURTH, They must be transformed from men who walked by sight to men who would walk by faith. They had heard all his great teachings and “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” but they still walked by sight. They were used to seeing Jesus with them.
They had seen all of his miracles and deeds and had great confidence in his power and ability, but now he was gone and they still had a tendency to walk by sight.
They had been taught that although Jesus wouldn’t be with them in bodily form any longer but he would be there in the invisible form of the Holy Spirit. His bodily absence made them feel shaky and uncertain in their walk for Christ.
THEN JESUS GAVE THEM ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING IN LEARNING TO TRUST HIM BY FAITH. (+) They were taught and convinced that the promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” was true.
How were they taught? How were they transformed from men who walked by sight (fear and trembling) into men of faith and power?
Again, the wording in Acts 1:3 “BEING SEEN OF HIM FORTY DAYS” indicates that Jesus would suddenly burst into the sight of the apostles and teach them things about the coming kingdom and then just as suddenly disappear. He would appear at various times, reinforce the principle about the millennial reign and then vanish. He was there bodily, then he wasn’t there bodily but he reassured them that he was with them all the time whether in the body or in the Spirit he was there – this happened until they comprehended – JESUS IS ALWAYS WITH US, whether we are together or separated by miles of distance He is with us.(+) Just as we depended on Him to lead us for 3 ½ years we can depend upon Him now. The only difference, we could see him bodily then; but now we cannot see Him bodily but He is with us now just as much as He was with us then. (+)
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A STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES THEIR FAITH
It is one thing to believe something theologically but it is quite another to believe it in trusting faith with one’s life hanging in the balance. (+)
A man would demonstrate his skill and balance by pushing a wheelbarrow several hundred feet across a dangerous gorge while the unpredictable winds were blowing. The man would often do tricks while he was pushing the wheelbarrow across the gorge.
Huge crowds would cheer as he did so. He would ask the crowds if they thought he could push the wheelbarrow across the wide chasm again?
The crowd would cheer and chant “yes, yesss!”
Then he would silence them by asking if anyone believed he could do it enough to become his passenger in the wheelbarrow(+). HE HAD NO TAKERS.
It was one thing to believe the man could push the wheelbarrow across but it was an entirely different matter to trust him with their lives.
WHAT WAS THE SECRET TO THE GREAT BOLDNESS AND POWER OF THE APOSTLES faith in the invisible Christ? Their faith grew to where they would get into the wheelbarrow and let Jesus push them across even though he was no longer visible to the human eye. (+)
They learned this great principle and were transformed from men who walked and lived by sight into fearless men. WHO CONQUERED BY FAITH. THEY WERE EMBOLDENED AND MOTIVATED BY THE ENERGIZING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (+)
These apostles learned this lesson so well that they taught and wrote in the Bible how that Jesus was still on the earth, NOT IN A LIMITED FORM OF A HUMAN BODY BUT IN THE UNLIMITED PRESENCE OF THE BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT. Now, to live within and to give grace and strength to every believer in all places of the earth AT THE SAME TIME.
What a difference the presence of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, makes! Dear friend, accept this important fact and live your life in the light that he is literally with you and will never leave or forsake you. He will empower you just as much as your faith will trust him to empower you.
Please memorize the last phase of the great commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus states; (a literal translation) “I will be with you perpetually, on every occasion until the very close and consummation of the age.” (+)
That is Jesus’ lingering promise to every believer!
BELIEVE IT!
ACT UPON IT AND LET HIM DO GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS THROUGH YOU!!
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“Penny, Not Even a Nickel, Just a Penny”
“Penny, Not Even a Nickel, Just a Penny”
October 19, 1929 – February 20, 2012
This greeting was made hundreds of times as Penny would introduce herself to a new friend. Since she never met a stranger, everyone was a friend. This salutation would generally provoke a laugh and Penny had added another person who accounted Penny as “my friend”.
She was hardly bigger than a penny when she was born a 2 ½ pound preemie on October 19, 1929 the day the stock market crashed. She was blessed to have been born into the humble, Christian home of Samuel and Lula Wunnerburger. Their love for the Lord produced nine outstanding Christians. I was particularly blessed to become part of this large family who loved and followed Jesus. I was part of their number for sixteen years and never witnessed anything which would tarnish the name of Jesus. Penny was considered by this her family as the cream of the crop.
I never heard one single member of them call her by her nickname. It was always “Lurene” or aunt Rene. When they referred to Lurene or Aunt Rene it was always with fondness and love.
Penny’s first bed was an apple crate which was placed on the door of their large cookstove in the kitchen. Her family would heat stones and place them in the apple crate. God in his wonderful grace helped Penny survive a severe winter in their little wooden home, near Austin Texas.
At the age of five she travelled around 300 miles from the hill country of Texas to the cotton fields of west Texas, in a covered wagon. She and her mother with her smaller brother and sister slept under the wagon. The rest of the family slept under a tarp which had been thrown over a small tree. Her father and older siblings worked odd jobs as they travelled in order to feed the family. Penny caught a cold which developed into double pneumonia and spent one month in the hospital at San Angelo, Texas.
At the age of twelve she was wonderfully saved in Mason Texas. When she was seventeen she surrendered to go as a missionary to Mexico. It was during this time Penny experienced something which influenced her for the rest of her life.
It was Hunger
On more than one occasion the family had no food to eat. It was during one of the darkest days of depression which America ever experienced. It was not uncommon for her parents and others to go several days without food. Penny remembered becoming ill when she finally had food to eat.
This later caused her to start a food bank through her church when she lived in Irving, Texas. Later, when I became Pastor in Bernalillo , NM she started a food bank, and at her funeral some thirteen years later a report was made that an average of 27,884 pounds of food had been distributed every month for 13 years. In addition to families in and around Bernalillo they now give food to six Indian reservations. Hundreds of people have been influenced to accept Christ.
During our sixteen years of marriage Penny and I attended many home mission conferences where struggling missionaries would present their needs. It was not uncommon for Penny to write eight to ten checks ranging from $25 to $100. When we returned home it would take two or three months to get over her compassionate giving. Her heart would be touched by these sacrificial servants of God as we attend two or three suck meeting a year. In addition she was an ardent tither and missions giver through her church.
As we travelled she often would rejoicingly praise the Lord for his goodness. She could not get over the blessing of the Lord in her life and on our ministry. She would often exclaim,
“Just think of all the things that God allowed me to do. All the wonderful people I’ve got to meet! Oh, how I praise God that he has allowed me to travel in all the beautiful states (37 in all) see the beauty of Canada, Mexico and the Philippians. If I was only 10 years younger, I would go to the Philippines as a missionary, But the best part is the hundreds of souls we have gotten to see saved.”
Penny was faithful in visiting people for the Lord way past her 82nd birthday. The last time she went out with her visitation partner, Katie Allison, was five Saturdays before her promotion to heaven February 20th.
She loved and prayed faithfully for her family every single day. There were 54 people on her prayer list plus her pastor and church family. She was defiantly a prayer warrior. The prayer retreat she started for women while she was a missionary in Mexico will have its 21st Annual meeting in September, 2012. Penny went to Mexico as a missionary after her first husband died when she was 62 years old.
There were two unusual answers to Penny’s prayers. i was one of them! My first sweetheart and wife went on vacation to heaven after we had been married for 41 ½ years. Since I immersed myself in preaching I was a happy single man who never considered remarriage. That is, until Penny taught two groups of women to keep a prayer journal and pray for Particular requests by name. She called that “Praying Retail, not Wholesale”.
I had no idea that at a mother daughter banquet at Central Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas that Wanda Casias had the women give Penny a gift. The gift was a pair of men’s pants. Penny was instructed to put the pants on her bed posts and ask God to fill them with a husband. Penny agreed to do that if the women would pray specifically that God would fill the pants with Dr. James Wilkins. The ladies got out their prayer journals and wrote, “God, fill Penny’s pants with Dr. James Wilkins.” Wanda got the group in Mexico praying, “Fill Penny’s Pants with Dr. James Wilkins.”
I didn’t know anything about this. I had not seen Penny in almost two years. I had never thought of her in a romantic way. At the close of a seven day fast God placed Penny in my mind in such a way that I called her. Within a short time we were married. We went on a honeymoon which lasted 16 years. Then she got her work done here on earth and went on vacation in heaven. She expects me to join her soon.
Generally each week Penny would get in her car and drive around the community, stopping in front of people’s houses to pray for them. This no doubt contributed to the 300 plus conversion we witnessed in the 2 ½ years while pastoring in Bernalillo, NM.
The shocking answer to one of her prayers, came shortly after we were married. The Southside Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas had just been locked out of their property. God had moved on my heart to help them recover the church property. I heard of a Southern Baptist layman, by the name of Mike Yal who may be willing to help. I needed $10,000 to be able to give FDIC who had repossessed the property as a down payment in order to buy the facility back from them. I approached Mr. Yal and after prayer he graciously consented to five me the $10,000.
When he asked me who I wanted for him to make the check payable to I asked him to represent New Testament Ministries and buy of the property and put the deed in his companies name, Which he did.
When the he church was unable to make the $2500 per month payment . God gave Mr. Yal the ability to make the payments for a year. By that time Penny and I were married and Southside Baptist had called me as pastor.
I presented M. Yal a plan where he would place the title back into the church’s name. The plan was for me to find 50 churches or individuals to give me $50 per month for one year which would generate the $2500 mortgage payment. It was a joyful day when we were able to pay the first mortgage payment made by the church in five years. The church was unable to make a mortgage payment for three years because FDIC had lost the mortgage papers. The church had legally stopped foreclosure for about one year. Then Mike Yal had made the payments for a full year. Five full years without making a payment. During that period God had used his facilities to educate 150 school children and save hundreds of souls. All of this was truly a miracle in itself but there was even a greater miracle to come. In Penny’s prayer journal there was one request which seemed unlikely to ever happen. Her request was, “Dear Lord, Send someone to pay the whole mortgage off.”
Mike Yal and his and his sweet wife, Valarie were the top producers in the Dominos Pizza Corporation. God moved on their heart to go into full time ministry. Mike was able to sell several of his pizza places. He called me to come by his office. He said he had good news for me. The good news was in the form of a $217,560 check which answered Penny’s prayers and paid off the mortgage in full.
I believe by relating these few facts about Penny you can see how fortunate I was that God gave her to me.
She suffered with poor health the last three years of her life. Even though she suffered severe pain at time she was faithful to church and to the visitation program. The last soul she won in personal work was when she was 81 years old (about a year before her departure).
Penny suffered the effect of Alzheimer’s for over three years. The way we dealt with that horrible illness may help someone else. First, we did not give in to the disease. We trusted the Lord, if it be his will that he would heal her. We put legs in our prayers by having her continue her Christian service. She continued going visiting in the homes each week, weather permitting. She continued to travel with me to the extent she had to have a nurse on our last three week trip to the West Coast.
Each day I would have her read audibly four chapters from God’s living Book, the Bible. Each night I would spend at least one hour playing some game in which she would exercise her mind, which she generally won.
Thanks to God’s goodness and mercy she was able to communicate and live a happy life until the last week of her life.
During times when she was suffering pain she went on to the church services. She would say, “I can hurt at church as well as I can hurt at home.”
She believed that her main job was taking care of and pleasing her husband. Regardless of how she felt each morning she would get up, put on a beautiful dress. put her make-up on. She said she was an ambassador of Christ and the wife of Dr. James Wilkins. In her last few months she suffered with Alzheimer’s and was almost totally dependent on someone else to take care of her. God gave me grace to do so. In fact He helped me to count it all joy to do so.
But Penny had a problem. She realized that she was going to die and who would take care of me?
About two weeks before she died as she worried about that. God in His goodness gave me a simple little illustration which calmed her concern. I said, “Penny when you go to heaven you will pass from down here where we are time creatures, into heaven where there is no counting of time. It will be like the people at our church. The husband drops his wife and family off at the church’s front door and then drives to the rear parking lot to park the car. When you get to heaven go on in and hug your mom and dad. Hug Sammie (her 19 year old who was murdered) Hug John and Wanda, (her two best friends who were martyred in Mexico). Tell them, “Jim just went to park the car, he will be here in a couple of minutes. God impressed the truth to her heart and she never worried again.
The night she died she seemed unconscious. I bent over her and whispered, “Honey, don’t fight it, its is ok, I’ll be there with you soon.” About ten minutes afterwards she opened her eyes, looked at me and was gone.
The little 2 ½ pound preemie had proved to be a blessing to everyone she had met. I can hardly wait for the judgment Seat of Christ in order to see the rewards she will be given by her Saviour for the years of faithful and compassionate service.
Penny would often say,
“If you miss meeting me,
You have missed little,
If you miss meeting Jesus,
You have missed EVERYTHING!”
Price $4.00
The Great Commission According To Jesus – Lesson Four
$9.00
The Great Commission According to Jesus is a book which features all the words of Jesus pertaining to his commission or mandate to his church. These words will be studied over a period of six-weeks and were written to be used the six weeks prior to Faith Promise Commitment Sunday.
-Book Excerpt-
INTRODUCTION: The average Christian does not feel any sense of responsibility in carry out the Great Commission. Many members give some type of mission offering because of the Great Commission, but there seems to be very few believers who comprehend the magnitude of their personal responsibility to the lost world.
Matthew presented the PROCEDURE for the Church to follow in making and developing disciples for world evangelization. Mark tells us the METHOD that must be followed. The individual believer is to witness to those in his individual world. Luke stresses the MESSAGE that must be presented in order to make genuine believers. John presents JESUS as the Son of God. As the Son of God, Jesus felt the tremendous need of the lost. (+) Their hopeless plight and the consuming consequences if they die lost. When John presented his view of the Great Commission given by Jesus, he passed this individual responsibility on to the believer.
Years ago when D. L. Moody was first saved, he was presented to a Church board as a candidate for church membership. He was asked the question, “What has Jesus done for you in particular?” Young Dwight, who was nervous and untaught in the Scriptures, replied, “I know He has done a lot for us in general, but I cannot think of anything He has done for me in PARTICULAR.”
Apostle John’s account of the Great Commission attempts to take the responsibility of the believer out of the general category and make the individual believer feel his responsibility to a lost world in PARTICULAR.
A VIVID PRESENTATION OF THE COMMISSION
SUMMED UP IN THE QUESTION, “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?” John shows his insight into his job as a Christian by saying, “My job on earth is the same job God the Father gave His Son to do while He was on the earth.”
“AS MY FATHER SENT ME.”
Why did God the Father send Jesus into the world? Jesus answers this question in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The daily life of Jesus demonstrates why He came into the world.
He won Nicodemus, the woman at the well, Zacharias, the thief on the Cross, and hundreds of others daily.
He was teaching, developing, and encouraging others daily.
Jesus sacrificed His life. The whole life of Jesus was lived for the benefit of others. He finally gave His life of the Cross for others.
“EVEN SO SEND I YOU.”
This is very clearly stated. “I, Jesus, am sending you to do the same things and for the same reason that my Father sent Me.”
“EVEN SO” comes from the Greek, “Houtos Kai,” which means in the same manner or in the manner previously described or illustrated.
The Great Commission, according to John, simply bypasses laws, procedures, technicalities, and speaks directly to the believer’s heart. (+) “Whatever Jesus did in a given situation, is the same thing you should do.” Jesus was totally committed to the SAVING of lost souls and to the development of believers.
We need to die to self and present our body as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1)
$9.00
Mrs. Lurene “Penny” Wilkins Went to Be With the Lord
At 12:35 AM on Monday February 20, 2012 Mrs. Lurene “Penny” Wilkins went to be with the Lord.
Mrs. Wilkins had long been battling Alzheimer Disease.
Dr. James Wilkins has asked that instead of sending flower arrangements, a donation be given to the Valley Bible Baptist Church Building Fund. All donations that are received will be used to complete the new church auditorium. Valley Bible Baptist Church will dedicate a section of their new building in honor of Mrs. Wilkins with a plaque celebrating her life and all the wonderful things she did. Dr. and Mrs. Wilkins would sacrificially give to the building fund and (Mrs. Wilkins) desired that through its completion many souls would be saved.
To give a donation please contact contact Valley Bible Baptist Church at:
Valley Bible Baptist Church – Pastor Brian McMath
56 Arroyo Seco Circle
Espanola, NM 87532
505-747-6694
or
The “Donate Button” located on the right of this page.
(Please specify “building fund”)