Lord, Teach Us To Pray Series

Imagine with me for a moment that you’re one of Jesus’ disciples. You’ve been following him around for a little while now and you’ve seen him do some pretty incredible things…you’ve seen him heal crippled people, you’ve seen him cast out demons, you even saw him speak life into a dead guy. You’ve not only watched him walk on water, you’ve witnessed him command storm clouds to go away. You’ve watched him bring peace to chaos, and you have seen his love melt unlovable hearts. And on this particular day, you’re in a quiet place with Jesus, and you have the opportunity to ask him anything about anything. There are no limits, in this moment, to ask him to teach you anything. It’s just you and him. What are you asking him to teach you? “Lord, where should I invest my money? Jesus, teach me to be a better spouse or parent? Jesus, show me again what it looks like to love unlovable people?”

Now, this is not a make-believe situation – it actually occurred in the gospel of Luke and the disciples were with Jesus privately and asking him to teach them something. And of all the amazing things they could have asked Jesus to teach them, only one thing is recorded: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

Turn with me this morning to Matthew 6 as we kickoff a brand new series called Red Letter Prayers where we’re going to spend some of the summer months looking more closely at the prayers of Jesus as they’re recorded in the Gospels. The disciples witnessed Jesus do some amazing things, but what stood out to them that they desired to replicate was the WAY Jesus prayed. It was not unusual for Rabbis to compose prayers for their disciples to recite. But the disciples, having witnessed Jesus’ prayer life up close and personal, knew that prayer was more than just the reciting of words…and so they asked Jesus to teach them HOW to pray.

There’s a strange little verse in Revelation 5:8 that describes a golden bowl that is full of the prayers of the saints. This indicates that God is listening to our prayers and that he’s storing them up. I’m not exactly sure WHY he’s storing them up, but I think it’s probably a good idea to fill that bowl up to the brim, Amen? But if I’m honest this morning, here’s the problem – I feel a little unqualified to stand up here and teach on prayer. In fact, chances are, you feel the same way because a recent Pew Research Study shows us that only 2% of respondents were “very satisfied” with their prayer life. That was the disciples…they weren’t satisfied either. And so their prayer is our prayer, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

And so the first prayer that we’re going to explore, is probably Jesus’ most familiar prayer – we call it the Lord’s Prayer. And so let’s read it starting in Matthew chapter 6 verse 5:

Matthew 6:5-13

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."

There have been thousands of definitions and clever quotes to describe prayer over the years. One of our favorites comes from one of our favorite authors, Paul Tripp: "Prayer is, in itself, a recognition that something exists in the world that is greater and more glorious than you. Prayer is meant to remind you that your little world, filled with your little plans, is not ultimate."

That smacked me right in the face when I read it this week. I’ve said this before, that I am a big fan of me, that left to myself, I think I’m a pretty big deal and that I have life all figured out. But do you know what happens when I think my plans are best and I start building my own little kingdom? My prayer time begins to fizzle, because I have it all figured out and I don’t really think I need much help. But WHEN I pray, prayer reminds me that God is much more glorious than I am…and that my little world, filled with my little plans, is not ultimate. And that’s exactly what Jesus reminds us when he gives us this model prayer.