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Amen
both dealing with the word "Amen." The authors are the Apostle Paul and John Piper. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 (RSV) All the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why we utter the Amen through Him, to the glory of God. -- Paul the Apostle "AMEN" IS OUR YES TO FUTURE GRACE "Amen" is a full and precious word in times of prayer. It doesn't mean primarily, "Yes, I have now said all this prayer." It means primarily, "Yes, God has made all these promises. Amen means, "Yes, Lord, you can do it." It means, "Yes, Lord, you are powerful. Yes, Lord, you are wise. Yes, Lord, you are merciful. Yes, Lord, all future grace comes from you and has been confirmed in Christ." "Amen" is an exclamation point of hope after a prayer for help. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN [I had to read this part several times.] When we come to the end of our prayers and say the simple words, "In Jesus' name, Amen," we are really saying two Amen's. When we say, "In Jesus' name," that is God's Amen to us. All his promises are Amen in Jesus: Jesus Christ is God's Yes and Amen at the end of our prayers. Then when we say, "Amen," this is our Yes and Amen back to God for his. Which means that our Amen, and the prayer it supports, is our Yes to God's Yes to us. It is a commitment from our hearts that we will now live by faith in the Yes of God's guaranteed future grace. -- John Piper, FUTURE GRACE, Multnomah Books, 1995. John Piper is pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Do I hear an "Amen"? Have a great week, Chip Stam |