Matthew 3 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Matthew 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mat/3/1/s_932001

Meditate on verses 15-17.

 

But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit

 it at this time; for in this way it is fitting

 for us to fulfill all righteousness."

Then he permitted Him.  After being

baptized, Jesus came up immediately

 from the water; and behold, the

heavens were opened, and he saw

the Spirit of God descending as

 a dove and lighting on Him, and behold,

 a voice out of the heavens said,

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

 

When John tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized, Jesus said He needed to be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (v. 15).  The Greek word for fulfill is pleroo, and it means “to cause God’s will to be obeyed as it should be.”¹ God took pleasure in Jesus as He obeyed Him fully. 

 

Joseph, the wisemen, and Jesus—three examples of obedience to emulate as we continue reading Matthew, looking for Christ’s commands.  When you find those commands, ask the LORD to give you His heart to obey His will as it should be—wholeheartedly, faithfully, and quickly.

 

Pray Matthew 3:15-17 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, help __________ and me do what is fitting

 to fulfill all righteousness.  Spirit of God, You have descended

 on us and have lighted in us.  Father, we want to be

children in whom You are well-pleased.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

 

 

 

1.     www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4137&t=NASB

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Matthew 2 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Matthew 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mat/2/1/s_931001

Meditate on verses 12-14.

 

And having been warned by God in a

dream not to return to Herod, the magi

 left for their own country by another way.

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel

of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream and

said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and

flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for

Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."

 So, Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother

while it was still night and left for Egypt.

 

Joseph and the magi are great examples for how to obey God—unquestioningly quickly!  As soon as the LORD said, “Go!” they went without hesitation.  Delayed obedience could have resulted in deadly disobedience.

 

How would the LORD describe your obedience?  Ask Him to make you a quick-to-obey wise person who knows the LORD’s commands and does not hesitate to do them.

 

Pray Matthew 2:10-12 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, I have seen You, the bright

morning star (Revelation 22:16), and

 I rejoice exceedingly with great joy.

 I fall to the ground and worship You.

 I present to You the gift of my life. 

May ___________ give You their life and

worship You.  Help us hear when You

warn us and go the way You want us to go.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

Matthew 1 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Matthew 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mat/1/1/s_930001

Meditate on verses 20 and 24 and on Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20.

 

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to

 him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take

 Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her

 is of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as

the angel of the LORD commanded him and took Mary as his wife.

 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I commanded you."

 

The book of Matthew ends with Jesus’ command to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19).

And, He said the way to disciple a new believer was to teach them to obey ALL of His commandments (Matthew 28:20).  As you read and pray Matthew, look for Jesus’ commands.  You may want to underline them in your Bible and/or write them in a journal. 

 

Interestingly, the book begins with a command followed by obedience.  Joseph was commanded to not be afraid and take Mary as his wife (v. 20).  Joseph obeyed immediately (v. 24). 

 

Ask the LORD to help you read Matthew with obedient eyes.  Use the words from Matthew 1:20 and 24 to pray over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, help __________ and me hear You say, ‘Do not be afraid.’ 

Help us obey this first command in Matthew.

LORD, teach us to do all You command.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Deuteronomy 34 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Deuteronomy 34.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/deu/34/1/s_187001

Meditate on verse 5.

 

So, Moses the servant of the LORD

died there in the land of

Moab, according to the Word of the LORD.

 

Many things could have been written on Moses’ tombstone:

 

·      Moses: Survivor of Infanticide (Exodus 1:22-2:4)

·      Moses: Son of Pharaoh’s Daughter (Exodus 2:5-10)

·      Moses: Murderer of an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-14)

·      Moses: Herder of Sheep (Exodus 3:1)

·      Moses: Maker of Excuses (Exodus 3:10-4:14)

·      Moses: Leader of Israel (Exodus 32:34)

·      Moses: Prophet in Israel (Deuteronomy 34:10)

·      Moses: Performer of Signs and Wonders (Deuteronomy 34:11)

·      Moses: Disqualifier for Entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12)

 

But, instead God gave him this epitaph:  Moses: Servant of the LORD (v. 5).  Ponder God’s description of Moses, asking Him how He would describe you.  Desire to be His faithful servant.

 

Pray Deuteronomy 34:5, 7, and 9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, may ________ and I die as Your

servants, according to Your Word. 

Please let our eyes not dim, nor

our vigor abate as we serve

You to our dying day. 

Fill us with Your Spirit of wisdom.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 33 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Deuteronomy 33.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/deu/33/1/s_186001

Meditate on verses 3 and 29a.

 

Indeed, He (God) loves the people; all Your holy ones

are in Your hand, and they followed in Your

 steps; everyone receives of Your words.

Blessed are you, O Israel; who is like you, a people

 saved by the LORD!

 

As a Christian, you, too, are God’s holy one, saved by the LORD.   And while the blessings in this chapter were spoken over the tribes of Israel, they are great blessings to pray over those you love as well.  Treasure hunt this chapter for verses you would like to see the LORD fulfill in the lives of your loved ones.  Below are some we pray over our family.

 

Pray Deuteronomy 33:3, 12-16, 23, and 27 over yourself and those you love as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, thank You for loving _________ and me, Your people.

Thank You for making us Your holy ones and keeping us in Your hand.

May we follow in Your steps and receive of Your Words.

As Your beloved, let us dwell in security by You.

Shield us all the day and let us dwell between Your shoulders.

Bless our land with the choice things of heaven, with

the dew from the deep lying beneath, with the choice yield of

 the sun, with the choice produce of the months, with the best

 things of the ancient mountains, with the choice things

of the everlasting hills, with the choice things of the earth

 and its fullness, and with Your favor, LORD.

Let us be satisfied with favor

 and full of the blessing of You, LORD.

Eternal God, You are our dwelling place and

 underneath are Your everlasting arms.

Drive out the enemy before us.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 32 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Deuteronomy 32.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/deu/32/1/s_185001

Meditate on verses 2-4.

 

Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew,

 as the droplets on the fresh grass and as the showers on the herb. 

For I proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!

 The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just;

a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.

 

Interestingly, Moses’ last words were a teaching song.  He wanted the Israelites to remember God’s faithfulness and their past unfaithfulness, in hopes they would take his words to heart, observing God’s law and teaching it to their children because their lives depended on it.  Look for opportunities to teach God’s Word, even if it is with your dying breath because the eternal lives of others are at stake.

 

Moses’ final words began with a prayer for his teaching to impact his hearers like rain impacts vegetation, causing it to flourish, thrive, and reproduce.  It is a perfect prayer to pray over yourself when the LORD gives you the opportunity to speak about Him.

 

Pray it (Deuteronomy 32:2-4) now as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please let my teaching drop as the rain

and my speech distill as the dew, as the droplets on the fresh grass

and as the showers on the herb.  For I proclaim You name, LORD,

and ascribe greatness to You, God. 

You are the Rock!  Your work is perfect, for all Your ways are just. 

You are a God of faithfulness and without injustice. 

You are righteous and upright.

You are Jesus, in whose name I pray~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4  - Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Deuteronomy 31 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Deuteronomy 31.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/deu/31/1/s_184001

Meditate on verse 8.

 

The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you;

He will be with you.

 He will not fail you or forsake you.

 Do not fear or be dismayed.

 

The Israelites were led around the wilderness for 40 years by their faithful leader, Moses, but now he is about to die and will not be the one to lead them into the Promised Land.  Can you imagine the emotions running through the Israelite camp as it sank in that the biggest adventure of their life would be without the man upon whom they depended?  Moses reminded the people the LORD their God would cross ahead of them; He would go ahead of them; He would be with them (vs. 3, 6, 8).   God would be the Leader of Israel.

The same God who led Israel 3,500 years ago wants to lead you.  He is a faithful Leader who will never leave or forsake you.  Do not fear, even if a person you thought was leading has been removed from that role.  The LORD is the One who goes ahead of you in the journey. He is the One who will always be with you.

Pray Deuteronomy 31:6 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help _______ and me be strong and courageous.

Do not let us be afraid or tremble.


LORD, our God, thank You that You go with us

and will not fail us or forsake us.


Because of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell