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“Prayer Lessons from Jesus,” Part 8

If you’ve been with us these past 7 weeks, you know that we’ve been making our way, phrase by phrase, through that amazing passage of scripture that we call, “The Lord’s Prayer.” I have thoroughly enjoyed our study and your comments have indicated that you have as well. Because of that, I came to the final phrase of the prayer, last week—“For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever”-- with mixed emotions. I was blessed by the journey but sad to see it end.So, I decided to come back to the prayer one last time because I realized there was still one more word to explore. Any guesses about what that word might be? That’s it. “Amen.”

Now, I realize that at first glance that may not seem like much of a basis upon which to build an entire sermon. After all, how much meaning can there possibly be in a single word? Well, I suppose that all depends upon what that word is and the circumstance in which it’s spoken.

--I’m thinking for instance of the time that I asked that beautiful blonde woman sitting over there to marry me. Which is a whole other story in and of it self. But, as I recall, when she finally got around to answering my question, her one word response pretty well changed the rest of my life.

--I’m also thinking about all of those times when I walked through the front door of my home feeling like a total failure as a pastor only to hear my daughter squeal with delight, “Daddy!!!” and instantaneously all was well with my world.

So, the truth is that the right word spoken the right way at the right time came be incredibly powerful. And this little word, “Amen,” has the potential to be one of those words.

So, let’s take a closer look at it. And I want to begin by defining the word and talking about some of the ways in which it has traditionally been used. First, the definition. The word, “Amen,” most literally means, “So be it.” Or, “let it be so.” And through the years it has been added to the end of all kinds of important pronouncements as a way of emphasizing the truth or the validity or the importance of whatever preceded it. And so we pray,

“Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. Amen. So be it. May this always be so.”
“Our Father in heaven, your will be done. Amen. So be it. May this always be so.”

The “Amen” serves as a kind of exclamation point emphatically declaring that we believe that the preceding statement is not only true, it’s important; it’s significant and it matters greatly to us. So that’s what the word means. Now, let’s talk a little bit about how it’s been used through the years.

While the word “Amen” frequently pops up in Christian circles, today, it’s important to know that the practice of saying “Amen” did not originate with Christians. The earliest use of the word in the scriptures occurs deep in the Old Testament, all the way back in the book of Numbers where the procedure for dealing with an unfaithful wife was described. After the priest pronounced his judgment upon the woman she was then expected to validate and accept the punishment by saying, “Amen.” “So be it.” “Let it be as you have said.” “Amen.”

Later, in the Old Testament we see that the “Amen” becomes a way for a group of people to ratify a covenant between themselves and God. In 1 Kings, for instance, David announces his appointment of his son Solomon as the new King, and the people respond, “Amen!” So, the “Amen” was a way for all of the people to verbally sign their names to this new agreement.

And shortly thereafter we begin to see that the “Amen” has become, primarily, a way for the people to express praise and honor to God.

1 Chronicles 16:36 says, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said, ‘Amen’ and ‘Praise the Lord.’”

And again in Psalm 72:18-19 we read, “Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.”

So, I think it’s exciting for us, today, to discover as we explore the Old Testament that this little word, “Amen,” has been an integral part of the life of God’s people for a very long time. It started in Old Testament times, continued through New Testament times and we continue this practice and tradition to the very day. Which prompts the question: “Why?” What’s so special about the word, “Amen?” What is it about this little word that has allowed it to play such a significant role in our faith and worship practices through the centuries? I think we can point to at least 3 reasons.

To begin with, it strengthens our connection to God’s family. It conveys to us a sense of belonging. Whether the word is spoken at the end of a prayer, the end of a song or the middle of a sermon, saying “Amen” is a way for all of us to participate in, connect with and feel accepted by God’s family.

The first avenue of ministry that the Lord provided for me was music. I was in Southern California, the Jesus Movement was in full swing and by the time I was 17 I was singing in various Christian venues… coffee shops, concerts and churches…3-5 times a week. And one of my most memorable experiences occurred the first time I sang in a black church. In fact, let me clarify that a little bit--a full-tilt boogie gospel black church. Let’s just say that it didn’t take long for me to realize that they did things a little bit differently than I had been used to.

I’d been invited by the pastor to sing two songs and at the appropriate time I walked up onto the platform, guitar in hand, and looked out into a sea of faces and was keenly aware of the fact that mine stuck out. And I sensed that they had noticed that as well. I sang my two songs and then as I turned to return to my seat in the congregation the pastor called me back and asked me to sing another song. So I did. Then asked me to sing another song. So I did. Then he started calling out specific song requests. One of his requests was that great old gospel song, “Precious Lord, Take my hand.”

I began the song, accompanying myself on the guitar and all of a sudden the pianist joined in. Then the organist joined in and shortly thereafter the drummer. Suddenly I was leading a band and the congregation was flat out rockin’. And as the song ended an enormous woman sitting in the front pew jumped up, turned around to face the congregation and in a huge, booming voice yelled out, “He may be white…but he’s got soul!” And everybody in the building responded, “Amen! Amen! Amen!”

And just like that I knew that I’d been accepted. I still stuck out…but I knew that I belonged there. I knew that I was welcome there. I knew that we were all part of the same family. That’s the power of this little word, “Amen.” When we say it right, all of our differences are set aside and we stand before God as one people. His people. No one is less important than anyone else. No one is more important than anyone else. We are a family of equals. Brothers and sisters…united by Christ…and welcomed by God into His family.

And God’s people said, “Amen.” So be it.

It’s amazing the way that a single word can strengthen our connection to God’s family. And that’s not all that it does. It also provides us a way to affirm our commitment to live the kind of life that our Father wants us to live—to live by our Father’s standards; to live according to His will and instructions; to live a distinctly Christian lifestyle that builds up and strengthens the family and delights the Father’s heart.

You see, folks, when we say, “Amen,” at the end of our prayers we are saying, “Everything I’ve just prayed is not only true but it is specifically true for me. I not only agree with what I’ve just prayed, I am voluntarily binding my life to these words. And I pledge before God and everyone listening that I will live in a way that is consistent with these words.”

So, what exactly are we committing ourselves to when we say “Amen” at the end of The Lord’s Prayer? Well, let’s review the prayer.

--“Our Father in heaven, hallowed (or, “holy”) be your name. Amen.”
“Father, You are altogether pure and holy and the passion of my life is to reflect Your holiness in all that I am and all that I do. Father, I want You to know that this child is going to run from anything that might in any way reflect badly on Your name and I will pursue with my whole heart those things that bring You the glory that You deserve. And, Father, you have my Amen on that. So be it.”

--Let’s move on to the next phrase: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Amen.”

“Father, my heart’s desire is to live my life in the very center of Your will and purposes. I freely and fully yield every dimension of my life to you: my work, my marriage, my family, my leisure, my money. Father, I give it all to you for the building of your kingdom. And, Father, you have my Amen on that. So be it.”

--And what about the phrase we looked at last week: “Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power and the glory for ever. Amen.”

“Father, it’s not about me, it’s all about You. My life is all about You. So, I’m not going to let myself get distracted by the things of this world. Father, You will never have to fight for my attention. You will never have to compete for my affection. Nothing in this world will crowd You out of first place in my life. You are today and will always be the unrivaled Lord of my life. And, Father, you have my Amen on that. So be it.”

Every time we say, “Amen” we renew our commitment to live the kind of life that our Father wants us to live.

And God’s people said, “Amen.” So be it.

It’s amazing the way that a single word can strengthen our connection to God’s family and affirm our commitment to live the kind of life that our Father wants us to live. I think it’s important to note that this little word, “Amen,” also declares our confidence in the power of prayer. Every time we close our prayers with our “Amen” we are boldly declaring that we genuinely believe that prayer works. That God wants us to pray. That He has taught us how to pray. That He hears us when we pray. And that He has both the desire and the ability to answer our prayers.
Folks, here’s the bottom-line: there’s no reason to say “Amen” if you don’t believe in the power of prayer.

--If prayer for you is just wishful thinking then say so. Don’t say, “Amen,” at the end of your “prayer.” When you get to the end of your “prayer” say something like: “These are my requests and I hope they come true.”

--If prayer for you is simply a way to articulate the way you’d like to see things somehow work out in your life then say so. Don’t say, “Amen,” at the end of your “prayer.” When you get to the end of your “prayer” say something like: “These are my requests and it sure would be great if they happened.”

But, folks, if you are directing your prayers to your Heavenly Father who loves you and delights in hearing from you and longs to pour out His blessings on you and has the power to do so then, by all means, close your prayers with a confident “Amen.”

“Father, I’ve prayed this prayer as Jesus taught me to pray. And I know he wouldn’t mislead me. So, I say ‘Amen.’ So be it.”

“Father, I know that You love me and that You know all of my needs, so I bring them to you confident that Your answer will be what’s best for me and what furthers Your will. So I say, ‘Amen.’ So be it.”

“And Father, I don’t offer this prayer in my own name. I offer this prayer in the name of Jesus who is, according to Revelation 3:14, the living Amen. Father, my confidence in prayer is not in me. My confidence is in Jesus and I’m praying in His name. And that’s why I say, ‘Amen.’ So be it.”

“Amen” is our bold declaration that we believe that God hears and answers our prayers.

And God’s people said, “Amen.” So be it.

It’s amazing to think that one little word can say so much. No wonder, “Amen,” has been so vital to our Christian faith from the very beginning to this very day.