Lord, Teach Us To Pray

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:   Luke 11:1-4

I.       Jesus is our example in prayer

          A.      Mark 1:35  Prayer in the morning

          B.      Mark 6:46  Prayer in the evening

          C.      Luke 5:15-16  He often withdrew to pray

          D.      Luke 9:28 Jesus had seasons of prayer

          E.      Hebrews 5:7  Jesus prayed with vehement cries and tears

          F.      Hebrews 7:25  Jesus ever lives to make intercession

II.      Jesus is our teacher in prayer (Luke 11:1)

          A.      “LORD”

                   1.       We must look to Jesus as our teacher in prayer

                             a.       Above all others, Jesus knows how to pray

                             b.       Jesus is now interceding for us

          B.      “TEACH”

1.       Prayer can be taught and therefore learned by anyone willing to ask and learn

          C.      “US”

                   1.       We must acknowledge our own need to pray

a.       We must be willing to sign up in the Lord’s School of Prayer

b.       We must be willing to show up for class---all those who are faithful to attend will learn

          D.      “TO PRAY”

                   1.       There is a difference between saying prayers and praying

2.       The disciples knew the ritual of prayer. They wanted to learn the art of effective prayer which Jesus knew

III.    The Model Prayer

A.      It was a common practice for disciples to be taught prayer from a master, teacher, or rabbi

B.      John the Baptist actively taught his disciples how to pray:  "as John also taught his disciples" (Luke 11:1)

C.      According to Burgess and Proudlove in their book, Watching unto Prayer, the Jewish rabbis were in the habit of teaching the people outline prayers that were known as "index prayers."  These index prayers contained a number of short sentences that suggested an item for prayer.  They would recite a sentence and then enlarge upon it in their own prayer, drawing out some of its implications and conclusions as well as applications.  No doubt the disciples were familiar with this type of prayer training.  So when Jesus gave them instruction on how to pray, he simply gave them an index prayer.

D.      Most probably the difference between John's teaching on prayer and that of Jesus was in the emphasis placed in the index prayer.

E.      Jesus, therefore, was not teaching a "verbatim prayer", but rather an "index prayer" or a "model prayer".  In it He placed emphasis upon important areas to be included in normal prayer.

IV.     Analysis of the Lord's "Index Prayer" or "Model Prayer"

A.      Prayer of Communion:              "Our Father which art in heaven"

          B.      Prayer of Worship:                   "Hallowed be Thy name"

          C.      Prayer of Dominion:                  "Thy kingdom come"

          D.      Prayer of Consecration:             "Thy will be done"

          E.      Prayer of Petition:                     "Give us this day our daily bread"

F.      Prayer of Repentance:               "And forgive us our debts"

          G.      Prayer of Release (Forgiveness):  "as we forgive our debtors"

          H.      Prayer of Preservation:              "Lead us not into temptation"

I.       Prayer of Deliverance:               "But deliver us from evil ("evil one")

J.       Prayer of Praise:                       "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory forever"

V.      The Ten Voices In The Model Prayer

          A.      Voice of the Son:                      "Our Father"

          B.      Voice of the Saint:                    "Hallowed be Thy name"

          C.      Voice of the Subject:                 "Thy kingdom come"

          D.      Voice of the Servant:                 "Thy will be done"

          E.      Voice of the Suppliant:              "Give us our daily bread"

          F.      Voice of the Sinner:                  "Forgive us our debts"

          G.      Voice of the Sympathizer:         "As we forgive our debtors"

          H.      Voice of the Sojourner:             "Lead us"

          I.       Voice of the Struggler:              "Deliver us"

J.       Voice of the Soldier:                 "Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory"