Lord, Teach Me to Pray!

Week #1

Lord, Teach Me to Pray!

I want to begin by saying that this is a class, which I am not very comfortable in teaching. That is because I do not consider myself one who has a vibrant, healthy and flourishing prayer life. If there is such a thing as a prayer life. In reality, prayer should be something that is a steadfast and unceasing activity in our lives. Yet, as we will see in our study, Christ’s example to us, was that there are certain times when it is to be focused and formal.

So, for the next 12 weeks or so, we will be considering the prayer which Christ used to teach his disciples to pray.

I should apologize if I offended anyone, by saying I was keeping the topic secret, because I didn’t want people to avoid the class, given the topic. I should have not projected such an opinion on you. However, I can say that as I’ve been convicted over the state of my prayer life, I also have concerns over the general health of the prayer lives of the majority of our members. I may be amiss, in that concern, and I may be partially responsible for such an issue, if we as a church are weak in our fervency of prayer. But I hope this will class will embolden us to greater fervor, persistence and effectiveness in our prayer lives.

Matthew 6:5–15 ESV

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“When you pray. . .”

It seems to be an assumption that we will pray.

We are advised, commanded and encouraged to pray throughout the Scriptures.

James 4:2-3 “2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”

James 5:13-16 “13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

1 Th 5.17 “17 pray without ceasing,”

So Jesus says, “When you pray. . .”

Is there a specific time we should pray? What is Christ’s example to us?

Mk 1.35 “35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

Lk 4.42-43 “42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.””

Lk 10.21-22 “21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.””

Mt 11:25-27 “25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Mt 26:36-44 “36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 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.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”

Jn 11.41-42 “41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

One of Christ’s longest recorded prayer is in Jn 17:1-26.

Mk 14.36 “36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””

. . . do not pray like the hypocrites!

Matthew 6:5 ESV

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Do not pray to be seen by others

Do not settle for a lesser reward

Pray in your room

Matthew 6:6 ESV

6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:1 ESV

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Is this a reason to avoid going to Prayer meeting?

How do we reconcile this with the fact that Jesus regularly prayed in public?

Was He being prideful? Was He neglecting His own advice?