Lord Teach us To Pray 1

I. Introduction

A. New Series on Prayer. Do we have a culture of prayer?

B. In Luke 11 we see the disciple’s request “Lord teach us to pray.” Of all the things to request the disciples noticed this to be the key to Jesus’ ministry.

Prayer is the work and ministry is the fruit of the work. Rick Atchley.

C. Matthew 6:9–13

D. The first verse deals with an understanding of who we are talking to.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important things about us.” AW Tozer

Your perception of any relationship shapes the dialogue: How you perceive them and how you think they perceive you.

II. The Awe of our Father

A. “Our Father” - God has always wanted to be related to as Father.

Jesus referred to God as Father always except for one time, while he was on the cross. Here he says not just “his” Father but “ours.” It’s an invitation for all. Yet it was always there..

Jeremiah 3:19 (NIV) “I myself said,“ ‘How gladly would I treat you like my children and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’ I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me.”

In my opinion the greatest threat to modern society is fatherlessness and it is an epidemic.

The strategy of the enemy is to pervert that relationship to indirectly pervert your thoughts of God. The strategy of the enemy used to be abusive dads, now it’s absentee.

Only when you relate to God as Father will your prayers be powerful. The father-child interaction is just different.

B. “Hallowed” - God has always been holy and is to be feared.

Hallowed means that someone is so sacred, other, and different than what is known or common. A complete other category full of power and mystery. He is so holy!

Revelation 4:8 (NIV) “8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’  who was, and is, and is to come.” Repetition can’t be annoying when you’re actually experiencing the holiness!

The response is reverence, awe, and yes fear.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” This word is an intimate experiential knowing of God. The foundation of that “knowing” is fear.

What is the fear of the Lord? It’s not being afraid.

Exodus 20:20 (NIV) - “20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Contradiction here or two kinds of fear? The afraid fear and the holy fear.

“Fear is not being scared of God, it is being terrified of being away from Him.” John Bevere

Best definition of Hell: Without God is total chaos.

Exodus 20:21 (NIV) “21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”

Afraid people remain distanced because they have something to hide. People of holy fear approach because they can’t stand the thought of not being with God, even if they are exposed.

How does holy fear change our prayers? When we don’t fear God we reduce him down to our level and our prayers reflect that of a powerless religious routine.

III. Conclusion

A. How does your view of God need to change so your prayers change? Do you need the understand and experience more of the intimacy of the Father or the awe of God?

B. If you would join me on you knees as we recite the Lord’s prayer together?

Matthew 6:9–13 (NIV) “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,  but deliver us from the evil one.’”