Daily walk with God - Communication

Introduction

We are living in relationship with God

Covenant relationship

Citizens of Heaven

Children of the King

Living in relationship with God would require conversation.

Prayer - to speak to or to make requests of God—‘to pray, to speak to God, to ask God for, prayer.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 408. Print.)

Read the Word - God’s revelation.

Example of Prayer

Luke 11:1 (ESV)

1 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.”

Jesus modeled a prayer life.

Solitary time with God

Mark 1:35 (ESV)

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.

Seek guidance on decisions

Luke 6:12–13 (ESV)

12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

Refresh after day of ministry

Matthew 14:22–23 (ESV)

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

After teaching and feeding the 5,000

Prayed with His Disciples

Luke 22:39–40 (ESV)

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Was customary for Jesus to pray with his disciples.

Spontaneous time of prayer

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

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.

After the 72 return rejoicing

Jesus taught the Disciples to pray

Luke 11:1 (ESV)

1 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.”

Rabbis would teach the disciples how to pray as well.

Disciples goal is to be like their rabbi

“It was not unusual for Jewish groups to have their own prayer as a way of expressing corporate identity. Judaism had the Eighteen Benedictions and apparently John the Baptist had a prayer for his disciples as well.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

Teach us a specific prayer or how to pray?

Teaching on Prayer

Luke 11:2–4 (ESV)

2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Intimate Address (11:2): “Father...”

“God is addressed in terms of intimacy (Father). The original Semitic term here was probably Abba. The term is a little unusual in a personal prayer, especially as it lacks qualification. It is not the exact equivalent of “Daddy” (as is sometimes popularly suggested), but it does suggest a close, familial relationship.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

Worship (11:2): “May your name be honored.”

Hallow - to feel reverence for or to honor as holy—‘to hallow, to regard as holy, to honor as holy.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 744. Print.)

Your kingdom come - desire for the reign of God on earth.

Petition (11:3): “Give us our food day by day.”

Pray for our daily needs.

Each day - need for daily prayer. This prayer daily?

Confession (11:4a): “Forgive us our sins.”

Forgive - to remove the guilt resulting from wrongdoing—‘to pardon, to forgive, forgiveness (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 502. Print.)

Indebted - to commit a sin against someone and thus to incur moral debt—‘to sin against, to offend.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 773. Print.)

Seek God’s forgiveness and we forgive others.

Dependence (11:4b): “Don’t let us yield to temptation.”

Temptation - to endeavor or attempt to cause someone to sin—‘to tempt, to trap, to lead into temptation, temptation.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 774. Print.)

Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Our need for daily communication with God for everything we need.

Lessons from Prayer

Persistence in Prayer (11:5–10): Successful prayer demands persistence. We need to ask, seek, and knock in prayer.

Parable (5-8)

Luke 11:5–8 (ESV)

5 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, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 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’? 8 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 - a lack of sensitivity to what is proper—‘insolence, audacity, impudence, shamelessness.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 627. Print.)

“The lesson Jesus is teaching through this parable is to be persistent in prayer. This parable is not to illustrate God's reluctance to answer our prayers, but his willingness. This is called a contrasting parable. It is a fictitious account too highlight mankind's reluctance of God's willingness.” (Steve Dufano)

Luke 11:13 (ESV)

13 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!”

Ask, Seek, and Knock (9-10)

Luke 11:9–10 (ESV)

9 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. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

The three present imperatives in this verse (Ask … seek … knock) are probably intended to call for a repeated or continual approach before God. (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

With the teaching on prayer and the lessons on persistence in prayer, Jesus is emphasizing the need for continual communication with God (daily needs, persistence in asking…). We are now in a daily relationship with God and need steady communication with Him. We worship, petition, confess and depend on God daily.

Results (11:11–13): Successful prayer assures rewards!

Luke 11:11–13 (ESV)

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 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!”

Even sinful earthly fathers give good gifts to their children when they ask (11:11–12).

Evil - pertaining to being morally corrupt and evil—‘immoral, evil, wicked (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 753. Print.)

Affected by Sin.

Although we are affected by Sin, we still understand that we desire to do good not evil when our child is asking for something good. (vs. 13)

“The two questions of vv. 11–12 expect the answer, “No father would do this!” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

“what father from among you Jesus asks rhetorical questions to set up His closing remark about giving good gifts (Luke 11:13).” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

How much more will the heavenly Father give to his children when they ask (11:13)!

Our Heavenly Father is not affected by Sin or Evil.

Give Gifts and Holy Spirit

Matthew 7:11 (ESV)

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Gifts

James 1:16–18 (ESV)

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Holy Spirit

Acts 2:32–33 (ESV)

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

God is faithful and good to answer our prayers with what He knows is best for us. We can continually come to the Father to ask, seek, and knock with confidence that God will answer our prayers with good things.

Summary

“When we pray, we can bring any need to our heavenly Father at any time and as often as desired. However, prayer does not coerce a reluctant God, but is a submission under the loving arms of our Father who cares for us. Neither should we persist in prayer to force God to answer the way we want. We are in continual communication because we are in relationship with God and need Him. The best thing believers get in prayer is spending time with the Father and a growing relationship and dependence on God!”

Taking time to communicate with God. Take 2 minutes at ant time to pray.

Struggles at work.

Thankfulness of good things.

Comfort and rest.

Matthew 6:7–13 (ESV)

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.