• A 30 Part Study Of Prayer Keys During Our ...

  Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 4, 2011 (message contributor)

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  Scripture:  Luke 11:5, Luke 11:1

  Tags:  Prayer, Prayer How To

  Denomination: Baptist

A 30 part study of prayer keys during our Wednesday night prayer meetings? You may think it will become boringly repetitive. No, No, NOOOO!

During this study, we will hear how Mary, Queen of Scots, feared the prayers of John Knox more than the combined armies of Europe. We will hear Jonathan Edwards’ prayer before the First Great Awakening. We will hear how a sickly David Brainerd, dying of tuberculosis, with his back turned to Indian warriors intent on killing him, overcame because his face was turned to God.

In modern times, we will hear about how Helen Roseveare, missionary to Zaire, is brought to tears as God answers a little girl’s prayer for a dying infant.

These illustrations and many more will be worth being here for the series. Of course, the greatest illustration of the need for prayer and the power of prayer is Jesus himself.

For three years, the disciples learned by hearing Jesus preach and teach “as one who has authority.” They heard the sermon on the mount preached by the Son of God. They heard him condemn self-righteous Pharisees and encourage a woman caught in adultery to “go and sin no more.” The disciples heard Jesus command the wind and waves (and witnessed their obedience). They heard him forgive sins. I suspect that they somehow knew the sins were forgiven.

For three years, the disciples learned by watching Jesus do the impossible. They saw him heal the deaf, the blind, the lame, and the sick. They saw him feed 5,000 men plus women and children with a boy’s lunch. They saw him cast out demons. They saw him raise the dead.

Incredibly, they did not ask Jesus to “teach us to teach and preach with authority.” They did not ask Jesus to “teach us to feed a multitude with a little.” They did not ask Jesus to “teach us to overcome disease, demons, and death.”

Jesus was God incarnate. His divine power was beyond human comprehension. But the disciples noticed something he did that they could learn.

Luke 11:1 - One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us... to pray.”