Jesus Teaches Us to Connect with the Father

Today, we begin Luke chapter 11. Do you remember the first time that you wanted to learn how to pray?

For me it was probably early on in middle school or junior high. I was in my youth group and I felt this deep urge to want to know how to grow in my relationship with God. I knew in order to grow with God I needed to learn how to pray. I had always said the Now I lay me down to sleep prayer and I had always prayed over my food, God is great God is good let us thank Him for our food. But I wanted to learn truly how to pray.

In Luke 11, we find the disciples asking Jesus this same question that you and I have asked ourselves. Look at verse1.

Luke 11:1–4 NIV

1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”

Luke gives us a shorter version of the prayer than Matthew records in chapter 6.

So, anytime you get ready to go to the Lord in prayer, remember this prayer and use it in your prayer time. Here is a breakdown on what Jesus is saying to His disciples then and to us now.

1. Father

Notice the first thing Jesus did was He addressed God as father. For the people of that day this was unusual. This was an intimate family relationship and it was unknown to them. This means that we are to speak to God as to a loving heavenly father.

I love what N.T. Wright says when addressing this. He says…

Luke for Everyone The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1–13)

The idea of God as Father goes right back to the time when Israel was in slavery and needed rescuing. ‘Israel is my son, my firstborn,’ declared God to Pharaoh through Moses and Aaron; ‘so let my people go!’ From then on, to call on God as ‘Father’ was to invoke the God of the Exodus, the liberating God, the God whose kingdom was coming, bringing bread for the hungry, forgiveness for the sinner, and deliverance from the powers of darkness

When you think of your father, you think of provider. You think of the one who is your protector. You think of the one that can keep you from any harm. You think of the head of the household that works hard to provide for you.

When we go to the Lord in prayer, this is the image that we should all get of our heavenly father. Not a domineering figurehead, but a loving caring father that wants the best for His children. When we come to the Lord in prayer, we should approach Him as our father.

2. Hallowed Be Your Name

The word hallowed means “to be sanctified or set apart; to be praised; to be adored.” When we hallow the name of God in our prayer time, we are set apart, praising and adoring the name of God. The name of God is precious. You can look all throughout the Bible and you can see many names that God gives Himself. There are eight compound names of God in the Old Testament. When God wished to make a special revelation of Himself, He used the name Jehovah. It was in the name of Jehovah that God revealed Himself as the true and eternal God, the One who is absolutely self-existent; Who in Himself possesses eternal, permanent existence; and Who is unchangeable.

Psalm 102:27 NIV

27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

The meaning and origin of the name Jehovah are especially brought out in relation to Israel. One example that we see in scripture is God’s revelation of Himself to Moses at the burning bush.

Exodus 3:13–15 NIV

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

God’s name is a declaration that He will be what we need Him to be. Here are the 8 names that I told you about.

1. Jehovah - tsidkenu: Jehovah our righteousness

God the father sent His son, His only son, to the cross to die. By doing this, God made us right with Himself. So, He is Jehovah-tsidkenu, Jehovah our righteousness.

2. Jehovah-m’kaddesh: Jehovah who sanctifies

God the father sanctifies us. He has set us apart from the world and has made us holy. He is the God who sanctifies. He is Jehovah-m’kaddesh, Jehovah who sanctifies.

3. Jehovah-shammah: Jehovah is there

God the father is always there. He is Omnipresent. You don’t ever have to look for Him. He never leaves you. We are never alone because He is always by your side. Just like He was there in the midst of the fire with Shaddrach, Meshach, and Abednego He is Jehovah-shammah. He is Jehovah who is there.

4. Jehovah-shalom: Jehovah is peace

God is the father who is there in the midst of any storms that you may be going through. He is our peace. If you are dealing with the rough waters of life or if you are having a hard time during the week, just call on Jehovah-shalom. God is our peace.

5. Jehovah-rophe: Jehovah heals

Do you have a need? Are you sick in body? Are you sick in your mind? Does your heart hurt? Do you have a problem that you can’t answer? Call on Jehovah-rophe. God is our healing. He is the great physician. He can come meet your needs. Jehovah heals.

6. Jehovah-jireh: Jehovah’s provision shall be seen

We talk about the provision of God quite a bit. I know we understand what provider means, but I believe it goes one step further than just providing for us. If you look up the word provision in Webster’s dictionary this is what you get.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Provision

a: the act or process of providing

b: the fact or state of being prepared beforehand

c: a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency: PREPARATION 〈made provision for replacements〉

So, think about it this way, before you ask, God has already prepared for you before you even ask. He has taken it upon Himself to go before you and meet your need before you even ask. So, when you ask Jehovah-jireh, He has already gone before you and provided what you are needing. He is our provider.

7. Jehovah-nissi: Jehovah my banner

The Hebrew word for banner is degel, which means standard or flag. In the wilderness each tribe was marked by its own banner. There is another word in Hebrew for banner which is nes. It means ensign or banner. This is usually employed to designate a rallying-standard. Look at Isaiah 11:12

Isaiah 11:12 NIV

12 He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.

This is talking about the Messiah, Jesus, raising up a standard or banner. Verse 10 of Isaiah 11 is referring to Himself as a banner.

Isaiah 11:10 NIV

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Exodus 17:15 NIV

15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.

God is our rallying point. He is the place that we run to. He will lead us into victory against the enemy. He is Jehovah-nissi. He is Jehovah my banner.

8. Jehovah-rohi: Jehovah my shepherd

David paints us a beautiful picture of the Lord as our shepherd.

Psalm 23:1–6 NIV

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

He is Jehovah-rohi. Jehovah is my shepherd.

In our prayer time, after we have hallowed the name of God, we are to declare, ‘your kingdom come.’

3. Your Kingdom Come

If you remember the last few weeks I have been telling you that Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. He knows His time is coming. There is an order that must take place. The Israelites understood that the Messiah was coming to establish God’s kingdom here on earth, but before this could happen, Jesus would have to go to the cross and die for the sins of the world. Jesus has to be that permanent sacrifice.

Ever since Adam and Eve were exiled from the garden of Eden, the Israelites have been trying to find their way back to the presence of God. Adam and Eve were in the presence of God in the garden. Moses set up the tabernacle where the presence of God would be with them while they were in the wilderness. God would establish His temple where the presence of God would dwell. But at this point only the high priest would be able to go into the Holy of Holies where the presence of God dwelt. Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem so that He could fulfill the promise from God. Jesus would be the ultimate sacrifice and open the way for everyone to be saved, both Jews and Gentiles. And the moment that Jesus died, the veil that hid the holy of holies, where only the high priest could go was torn open and now you and I can go straight into the presence of God.

And someday in a not too distant future, God will bring us a new heaven and a new earth, where Eden will once again be and we will dwell in the presence of God forever. If that doesn’t make you want to be a Christian than I don’t know what will.

So, it is important that when we pray, we pray your kingdom come.

The next item that Jesus taught the disciples to pray was…

4. Give Us Each Day Our Daily Bread

Bread is something that each of us here in the states don’t think much about. Sure, we like to eat it and it makes a sandwich better, but it is not the first thing that we reach for when we think of a meal. Most Americans are probably thinking about meat. Give me a big ol steak or a nice chicken breast. However, in Israel everything depended upon the wheat and barley harvest, “bread” was in a peculiar sense “sacred.” All life was seen to be dependent upon the grain harvest, this in turn depended upon rain in its season, and so bread was regarded as “a gift of God.” It was a daily reminder of God’s continual and often undeserved care.

So, when we pray, give us each day our daily bread, we are asking God to provide for our daily needs.

There are three elements that you need on a daily basis in order to survive. Those are food, shelter, and clothing.

So, when you pray, you need to pray, God provide for me what I need to continue life today. And pray that over your family as well.

What was the one thing that God provided for the people as they were wondering in the wilderness? Manna. Everyday God would provide manna from heaven. It was what sustained them. Jesus called Himself the bread of life.

Proverbs 30:8 NIV

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Each day you need to pray and ask God to supply your basic needs.

Remember He is Jehovah-Jireh my provider. And you are asking for His provision every day.

5. Forgive Us Our Sins, for We also Forgive Everyone Who Sins Against Us.

How many of you, when you do something against someone, like to be forgiven for it? How many of you, in knowing that you were a sinner, like the fact that Jesus died for the forgiveness of sin? So, if you have been forgiven by your father in heaven and others have forgiven you, why wouldn’t you forgive someone that has done something to you. The forgiven sinner must forgive others.

Do you remember this text from a few weeks ago?

Luke 6:37 NIV

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Then remember I followed it up with verse 38.

Luke 6:38 NIV

38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

When you show a readiness to forgive others, that is a good indication that you have truly repented of your sins. If you can’t forgive those that have done wrong to you, then maybe you have not truly repented of your own sins. Maybe you haven’t experienced the love that God has for you. Because once you understand the love that God has for you then you in turn can learn to forgive those that have done you wrong.

Forgiving others springs from Christ’s forgiveness of us.

Colossians 3:13 NIV

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

When you pray, say forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Don’t get up with unforgiveness on your heart. Don’t go to bed with unforgiveness on your heart.

6. And Lead Us Not Into Temptation.

When you look at parallels with ancient Jewish prayers, it would suggest that “lead us not into temptation” means “let us not sin when we are tempted” rather than “let us not be tempted.” You are not asking God to keep you from temptation, you are asking God to keep you from sin when you are tempted.

Even Jesus went through a temptation period. Remember Him spending 40 days in the wilderness. He faced 3 temptations.

You are going to face trials and temptations as you go through this life. It is how you face those trials and temptations that count. You want God to help you when you go through them. Each day you need to pray lead me not into temptation. Help me not to sin Lord as I am going through temptation.

Now look at verse 5.

Luke 11:5–8 NIV

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

Hospitality was a crucial obligation; the host must feed the traveler who has graced his home by coming to spend the night. For the most part homes would have used up their day’s bread by nightfall, but in a small village people would know who still had bread left over. It was important for a person to serve a guest a fresh unbroken loaf as an act of hospitality.

You and I wouldn’t think much if someone came and knocked on the door because we have several bedrooms in our homes and the children would be asleep in a back room, but in Jesus time, these were one room houses and they would all sleep on the floor or in the same bed in the same room. So the persistent pounding on the door would awaken the children.

Notice that verse 8 uses the words shameless audacity to describe the man’s persistence at knocking at the door. Showing a lack of shame the man pounds on the door until the father inside opens the door because the man is desperate for bread in order to save face to his guest. And of course because of his persistence, the father inside is eager to open the door.

So, our father in heaven is much more willing to hear the cries of His children. God hears you when you cry out. God hears you when you are persistent. God wants to meet your need and God wants you to come to Him and let Him visit you where you are.

Then Jesus finishes His teaching to the disciples on prayer in verse 9.

Luke 11:9–13 NIV

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

In all 13 verses, Jesus has painted us a beautiful picture of what a relationship with the Father should look like. He concludes by telling us, “don’t stop asking, don’t stop seeking, and don’t stop knocking.” Your father is a good, good, father. He wants to answer your prayer. He wants to meet your need. He wants to help you in His will. And He has sent the Holy Spirit to come and walk beside you to help in all you do.

John 15:26 NIV

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

So, our God is a loving Father who understands, He cares, He comforts, and He willingly gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

Let’s pray

This morning what do you want to ask the father? What need do you have that the father can give you? This morning I want you to come and receive what God wants to give you. We want to ask you to come to the front this morning and we want to pray for you.

James says in James 5:14-15

James 5:14–15 NIV

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

So, this morning if you have a need we want to pray for you. If you are dealing with sin in your life we want to pray for you. God wants to heal you this morning. Come and let the Father in heaven touch you.