Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Luke 11:1–4 ESV

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Historical Context

Today’s message…this model prayer…this elementary teaching from Jesus to his disciples then and now; must be taken with the Crucifixion and Resurrection in view.

This occurs in what is described as Jesus’ Northern Ministry while he’s moving around Caesarea Phiippi, Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee. He will minister in Judea and Perea before he enters Jerusalem for the final time. In the timeline of Jesus’ ministry, this falls

after the Good Samaritan parable, “who is my neighbor”. (profound teaching)

right after Mary & Martha’s encounter. Two personality types focused on different aspects of worship.

just before the rejection of him as Messiah begins to ramp up from more than just the Pharisees.

I wanted you to know that because that’s where we are now…Next week is Palm Sunday - the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem and the following week is the culmination of his Passion - His resurrection.

Background

Scripture records that Jesus was a man of prayer. Process that: the Son of God, the Word of God with flesh on, had a prayer life that the disciples wanted to know more about.

Though we don’t have record of the content of many of his prayers…we know that they moved the disciples significantly…so much so that one of His disciples asks the astounding question, “Lord, would you teach us to pray.”

(Luke records) they had seen him pray...

at his Baptism (Luke 3:21)

at the choosing of His disciples (Luke 6.12)

alone (Luke 5.16, Luke 9.18)

with people around (Luke 9:28-29)

Later, he would pray

for Simon (Luke 22:32)

before his betrayal in the garden (Luke 22:40)

on the cross Luke 23:46)

When the disciple made this request, I don’t think it’s because he had never prayed before. Prayer was a regular part of Hebrew tradition and expressions of worship. But there was something so distinct, so personal, so kingdom-oriented about the way Jesus prayed, he knew he didn’t have the fundamentals down from Christ if he wanted to touch Heaven like Christ did.

By the way - If you see someone disciplined in an area that you need help in, you should go to that person and say, “hey, can you teach me anything about that?” That’s the beauty of this multi-generational church we call West Cabarrus.

Stephen Hooks writes, “A surprising number of Christians never do develop a healthy prayer life. Prayer is often reduced to little more than a polite formality before meals, or a hasty word at the end of the day, or a last resort, when they have nowhere else to turn.”

Transition

We have a command from God to pray.

We have a need to pray to spend time with our Father, and petition Him for the things He’s told us to ask for.

Jesus has the prescription. He has given all the components necessary to transform our prayer life, to remold our minds, the shape our worldview, to set a watch over our lips and a guard over our tongue, to set the stage for revival…

Are you intrigued?

Mom / Dad - does your prayer life need life?

Student - do you want to be a part of something bigger than what you currently know now?

Brother / Sister - if every prayer you prayed in the last 30 days was answered,

would God’s Kingdom be advanced any?

would there be any new Christians?

would there be less unreached people groups?

would Jesus have come back?

OR would just have more stuff, less stress, no suffering, and an even better lot in life?

I’m not saying that to be harsh…but church, we need to pray together.

Personally / West Cabarrus -

Our friend, our brother needs healing.

Our missionaries need love and support.

We have never been in this situation before NOR have we ever had an opportunity like this before.

Your pastors are leading as a team like never before.

This time is so strategic,

we need missionaries and pastors called and sent from this congregation,

we want to see families restored through this congregation

we want to see children and students radically saved and equipped to reach their friends with the Gospel fo Jesus Christ

there are defenseless babies lives at stake that God will use this congregation to stand in the gap for

we need stronger burdens for those around us that need Jesus

we need personal revival so that we can be spent for the Lord’s pleasure.

we need corporate revival at WCC!

WE NEED TO PRAY. On behalf of your pastors, I am calling the church to prayer this week.

If you’re our guest this morning, yes…this feels like family business. But it’s bigger than that - this is the way Jesus prescribed for everyone to pray. There are some important elements that should mark all Christians prayer life everywhere. You are in the right place!

If you happen to be here this morning and don’t yet know Jesus Christ - the only God - as your Savior and Lord, stay with me. This is for you too…I’ll show you how in just a few moments. You are in the right place!

BACK TO TEXT...

Luke 11:1–4 ESV

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

THE FIRST LESSON FROM THE TEACHER OF PRAYER 101.

1. Your Name is Higher!

Father, hallowed be your name. - Your Name is Higher

Psalm 8:1 ESV

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Psalm 9:10 ESV

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 66:4 ESV

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

Psalm 135:13 ESV

Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.

Proverbs 18:10 ESV

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Psalm 124:8 ESV

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 115:1 ESV

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Prayer 101: Prayer starts with worship. It recognizes that our God and King is stronger, mightier, bigger, better, Higher.

Philippians 2:10 ESV

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Esther soaked in oils for weeks and weeks for one night with the King.

BGEA prepped for days and days because former presidents would be on the property. They had the names, Drivers License #s and SS#s of everyone working the event.

Jesus is instructing us start with worship and humility in prayer! …before we even get to list our requests!

2. Your Will is Better!

“Father, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.”

His will involves submission.

Matthew 12:50 ESV

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

John 8:28 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

His will calls for the salvation of souls!

Matthew 18:14 ESV

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

His will will advance the Gospel!

Matthew 24:14 ESV

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

His will may take us through suffering.

Matthew 26:39 ESV

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:42 ESV

Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

His will invokes faith:

2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV

as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

God’s will starts with your relationship with him.

It starts with the Great Commandment:

Mark 12:30–31 ESV

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

and bleeds into the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

HIS WILL IS BETTER

because it’s His not ours - He’s perfect and knows everything.

because it’s about others, not just us.

because it will lead us places that we would normally avoid - even painful places - but it is for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose.

3. Your Provision is Enough.

“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread,”

PERSONALLY

Give us what we need…not more than that. Hear the wisdom of Agur in Prov 30.8-9

Proverbs 30:8–9 ESV

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Matthew 6:31–34 ESV

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Can you imagine God hearing requests for a bowl of rice for a family from one side of the world and luxurious car or home from the other side? Our prayers shouldn’t be so consumer driven. He reminds us of that here.

For West Cabarrus…give us what you need to do your will!

- He will give wisdom generously to us for this season…and until Christ returns.

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

- He will provide for us to reach the nations

Psalm 57:9 ESV

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

Psalm 96:10 ESV

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

- He’s Able to do so much more...

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

4. Your Forgiveness is Needed

“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,”

Remember, this model prayer is for those who are following Jesus.

As is...

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We need to ask the Lord to keep us sensitive to our own sin. Bitterness, Gossip, anything that causes disunity.

In our membership covenant that all active members of WCC have signed as a confessional document, the first thing we commit to is:

I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH...

- by acting in love toward other members

- by refusing to gossip

- by following the leaders

When Joshua was taking Israel across the Jordan without Moses, he called the people to set themselves apart in prayer because they had not “passed this way before” and the LORD was about to do wonders among them.

Joshua 3:1–5 ESV

Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

WE HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE…if you have unconfessed sin in your heart, deal with it before it deals you out!

5. Your People Forgive!

“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.”

Proverbs 10:12 ESV

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Proverbs 17:19 ESV

Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

1 Peter 4:8 ESV

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

John 13:35 ESV

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We show the world that we are forgiven when we are quick to forgive.

Romans 12:10 ESV

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Galatians 5:14–15 ESV

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:23 ESV

and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

I don’t know what this looks like for you:

call someone, text, write visit

step across the aisle

But there is too much at stake right now and there is no place for harboring unforgiveness in your heart against ANYONE. Christ cried out for the forgiveness of his tormenters ON THE CROSS.

6. Your Leadership is Essential

“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

The leading of the LORD always takes us the right way to people, to advance His Kingdom, for HIS glory!

Moses found himself about to embark on an impossible journey. As he was in the tent of meeting, the LORD said, it’s time to go. Moses began to plead with the LORD...

Exodus 33:13–16 ESV

Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Personally, we need the LORD to lead us out of the temptation

of thinking that this world is all about us.

of preferring ourselves and our agenda over His

of only loving those that are like us

of a sense of entitlement in multiple “i”- and “selfie” generations

from being too comfortable with our Christianity

toward anything that would take away from glorifying Christ

We don’t just want to avoid temptation - we want to be led into righteousness!

Unless the Lord leads, we don’t want to do it!

Psalm 127:1 ESV

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

SUMMARY

Do you want to pray?

This is Jesus basic teaching on the form and structure.

HIS NAME IS HIGHER

HIS WILL IS BETTER

HIS PROVISION IS ENOUGH

HIS FORGIVENESS IS NEEDED

HIS PEOPLE ARE FORGIVERS

HIS LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL

Church Family. Brothers & Sisters. Not only should these elements overwhelmingly mark our prayer lives…this kind of praying will change us - praying like Jesus will make us more like Jesus.

WE NEED THIS KIND OF PRAYING

in our quiet time.

in our family time.

in our small groups.

in our church.

If we’ve ever needed it before, we sure do need it now!

CALL TO RESPONSE

LET’S STAND TOGETHER

IF YOU’RE HERE AND YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS PERSONALLY, THE WAY THE BIBLE DESCRIBES HIM AS A PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD, I’d like to bring something to your attention. You may have done a lot of looking toward Heaven and talking, but you haven’t actually prayed until you’ve repented of your sins and followed Jesus.

All of the instructions on prayer, are to His Church…His Followers. Not just those who can do religious talk.

This creator God that knows everything about you; every word you’ve ever spoken, every thought you’ve ever had; every deed you’ve ever done…the stuff you thought noone saw - this God saw it, heard it…and He loves you with an everlasting love.

But He loves you too much to leave you in your sin. So he sent His only son Jesus Christ - the only sinless one to walk the face of the earth - as a man to bear all of your sin and shame on cross.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus Christ paid your death sentence in full on the cross - then proved it when He rose on the third day from a borrowed tomb.

Come this morning, if you’d like to start “praying”…to start walking in obedience to the God that loves you.

CHURCH FAMILY

The Lord is calling us to prayer.

This week we will pray as a Church family. Unified and in one Accord.

I’m going to ask every one of you to come to the foot of this stage - like it’s an altar.

Come and pick up your prayer guide for this week.

COME DOWN THE MIDDLE AISLES AND RETURN UP THE SIDES PLEASE.

As you move back to your seat…let’s start the first step together as we life high the name of Jesus with this song.

Then we’ll close in prayer.

TRANSITION TO WORSHIP TEAM FOR JESUS, WE LOVE YOU