Prayer Series 2.The School of Prayer
Prayer Series
“The School of Prayer”
Pastor E. Keith Hassell
Luke 11:1 NKJV “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’”
I. Our Example: Jesus Christ
A. Mark 1:35 NKJV “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”
B. Mark 6:46 NKJV “And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.”
C. Luke 5:16 NKJV “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”
D. Luke 9:28 NKJV “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.”
E. Luke 22:39-41 NKJV “Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed.”
F. Matthew 26:39 NKJV “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”
G. Hebrews 5:7 NKJV “Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear.”
H. Hebrews 7:25 NKJV “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
II. Our Teacher: Jesus Christ
A. “Lord”: We must look to Jesus as our Teacher in prayer
1. Jesus is the Master at prayer
2. Jesus is still in the ministry of prayer interceding for us
B. “Teach”: Prayer can be taught and therefore learned by anyone willing to ask and learn
C. “Us”: We must acknowledge our own need to pray
1. We must be willing to sign up in the Lord’s School of Prayer
2. We must be willing to show up for class—all of those who are faithful to attend will learn
D. “To Pray”
1. There is a difference between praying and saying prayers
2. The disciples knew the ritual of prayer. They wanted to learn the art of effective prayer as taught by Jesus.
III. Our Lesson: 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 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 which were known as “index prayers”. These index prayers contained a number of short sentences which suggested an item for prayer. They would recite a sentence and then enlarge upon it in their won prayer, drawing out some if 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. 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.
E. In his book The Jewish Background to the Lord’s Prayer, Brad Young states that certain ancient writings contain prayers of early Christians which are based upon the Lord’s Prayer and require about one hour to pray through. (Brad Young, The Jewish Background to the Lord’s Prayer (Austin, Texas: Center for Judaic-Christian Studies, 1984), p. 15 [taken from Larry Lea’s book, “Could You Not Tarry One Hour?” (Lake Mary, Fl: Creation House, 1987), p. 51.]
F. According to Brad Young, Acts 1:14 does not say that the disciples continued “in prayer” but literally the Greek says that they continued in “the Prayer” and supplication. He says that ancient literature often refers to the Lord’s Prayer as “the Prayer”.
IV. The Model Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)
A. No. 1: Prayer of Communion: “Our Father which art in heaven”
B. No. 2: Prayer of Worship: “Hallowed be Thy name”
C. No. 3: Prayer of Dominion: “Thy kingdom come”
D. No. 4: Prayer of Consecration: “Thy will be done”
E. No. 5: Prayer of Petition: “Give us this day our daily bread”
F. No. 6: Prayer of Repentance: “Forgive us our debts”
G. No. 7: Prayer of Release: “As we forgive our debtors”
H. No. 8: Prayer of Preservation: “Lead us not into temptation”
I. No. 9: Prayer of Deliverance: “But deliver us from evil” (or “the evil one”)
J. No. 10: Prayer of Praise: “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever”
V. The Ten Voices in the Model Prayer
A. No. 1: Voice of the son: “Our Father”
B. No. 2: Voice of the saint: “Hallowed be Thy name”
C. No. 3: Voice of the subject: “Thy kingdom come”
D. No. 4: Voice of the servant: “Thy will be done”
E. No. 5: Voice of the suppliant: “Give us this day our daily bread”
F. No. 6: Voice of the sinner: “Forgive us our debts”
G. No. 7: Voice of the sympathizer: “As we forgive our debtors”
H. No. 8: Voice of the sojourner: “Lead us not into temptation”
I. No. 9: Voice of the struggler: “Deliver us from evil”
J. No. 10: Voice of the soldier: “Thine is the kingdom, power and glory”
VI. Response to the Word
A. Acknowledge your need to pray
B. Sign up in Christ’s School of prayer
C. Show up for class (times of prayer)
D. Allow Christ to teach you the art of prayer