Luke 11

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.”

“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

It was the regular custom for a Rabbi to teach his disciples a simple prayer which they might habitually use.

John had done that for his disciples, and now Jesus’ disciples came asking him to do the same for them.

“Father, Hallowed be your name”

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.

It begins by calling God Father.

I call Him Father…

(William Barclay) The very first word tells us that in prayer we are not coming to someone out of whom gifts have to be unwillingly extracted, but to a father who delights to supply his children’s needs.

I’m not going to break down this prayer

And remember this is not the Lord’s prayer but Jesus is teaching them how to pray…

I want to highlight the important movement!

Your / Give us / Forgive us / Lead Us

Whats are part in this prayer… “We ourselves forgive Everyone who is indebted to us.”

The Father is the center of attention...

The Father is the Source that we need…

Luke 11:5–8 ESV

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

(Impudence: Persistence)

God"s attitude toward His children is the opposite of the attitude of the friend toward his knocking neighbor.

God will not grant answers to prayer to avoid shame, as this man did. He will grant them unselfishly and lovingly.

Jesus" point was that if shame was effective with such a friend how much more eagerly shall the heavenly Father respond when His children make requests of Him.

God is more than the friend of disciples; He is their father.

Luke 11:9–10 ESV

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Everyone who asks of God will receive from Him…

In the context everyone is every one of His children ( Luke 11:13).

Jesus urged His disciples to pray.

Those who seek God’s attention and response in prayer will find it (cf. Jeremiah 29:12-13).

Those who knock on the closed door of God"s heavenly house will find that He will open to them and give them what is best (cf. Luke 11:7).

Luke 11:11–12 ESV

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Jesus is teaching us how to pray but it’s all focused on the “Father”

Luke 11:13 ESV

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Verse 13.....

Jesus is not giving out a prayer gift card!

When your focus is on the father…

Your appetite will be on the Father!

Your request will change…

Jesus is teaching prayer will produce an appetite for the greatest gift…

“How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!