Lord, Teach us to Pray!

Luke 11:1-13

Introduction

Do not read all of the Scripture… segment it

I learned the Lords Prayer from Football

Jesus “was praying in a certain place” (v. 1). A disciple saw him and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray” (v. 1). That request reveals to us that prayer is not something learned automatically. Prayer is not natural. Effective prayer has to be taught and learned. There’s no shame in not knowing how to pray or feeling uncomfortable in prayer. There’s only shame if you don’t ask to be taught and as a result spend years of your Christian life ineffective in prayer.

3 observations….

Jesus Explains the Pattern for Prayer. (Luke 11:2-4)

Explain

That’s the pattern: first pray for God’s kingdom, then for man’s needs. This pattern keeps us from wandering all over the place in prayer or from simply praying the same things. This structure gives us direction.

“When you pray” - indicating that prayer is something that we should do frequently! Daily!

Pray for God’s Kingdom

Father, hallowed be your name

Personal

Reverence

Your kingdom come

Let heaven invade this world!

Let my will align with your will!

Pray for your needs (three things for yourself (1) daily bread (2) forgiveness of sins, (3) protection from temptation)

Give us each day our daily bread

To trust God daily was important in this day … most people were hired only one day at a time

Isreal in the wilderness…

Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us

Some believe this is the single declaration given by God at salvation…

No… Why - Calling God Father is personal indicating the the person praying this prayer already has a relationship in which they can call God Father!

this is a petition to God that is meant to be repeated as needed…

Why? To keep our fellowship with God unhindered by sin

1 John 1:8–9 “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ‘

Notice the 1st is ongoing… As we have forgiven…

one who does not forgive others may actually be revealing that they may have never really known God’s forgiveness

Vertical - Horizontal

Zachaeus

Stephen - Lord, do not hold this sin against them!

Lead us not into temptation

Guide my life today… my thoughts…

When you pray this kind of prayer you are essentially saying… God go before me and give me the wisdom to walk the righteous path before you…

Jesus gives His disciples a model of prayer that should be prayed daily!

ACTS - Loosely Goes with this Model

Jesus Emphasizes Persistence in Prayer. (Luke 11:5-10)

Explain

Two parables…

The scene is that of a Palestinian home in which the family are all asleep in one room—perhaps the only room in the house—and probably all on one mat. The father could not get over to the door and slide back the heavy bolt that bars it without waking up his family. In such a situation no one would be happy to respond, especially in the middle of the night. Nevertheless the man does respond to his friend at the door

The man knocking on the door is in desperation… Its urgent…

The parable would thus mean that just as the man in bed would respond so as not to incur shame (for having refused the needs of a visitor to his community), - so God will always do what is honorable and consistent with his character.

If you go to a friend in need even though it is at the worst possible time… he will still do it even if its because he does not want you to think less of him… you came to him in need… begrudgingly he will meet your need

Contrast to what Jesus says God the Father will do!

ask and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock and it will be open to you!

Jesus is saying there is never a time where God is inconvenienced by you… He never sleeps… He is never burdened by your requests!

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened…

Jesus got to the point of his parable: Ask God. Seek something from God. Knock expectantly at God’s door. Admit you are in a position of need and helplessness. Depend on the Father’s goodness and love. If a human fearing shame will open the door, certainly the loving Father you pray to will open the door and provide what you need

Illustration

Last night… I was praying… I heard a knock

When our A/C went out

Some of us never experience God answering our prayers in this way because we do not pray… you don’t ask - you don’t receive… you don’t seek - you don’t find…. you don’t knock the door remains shut…

Jesus Tells Us to Expect Provision from Prayer. (Luke 11:11-13)

Explain

Note

There are two steps in the argument: (1) God is our heavenly Father (v. 13) and will do no less for his children than would an earthly father; (2) God is perfect and will do “much more” than sinful man would.

As a Father God delights to give His children to answer their prayers!

Failed Cycle

Meagan - Prayed… Lord.. Please remember us and our desire to have a baby, a family

Same day

Phone Call

Then cut everything in half…

Invitation

How then should we pray?

Personally

Confidently

Expectedly