Jesus' Model On Prayer Series

Jesus’ Model of Prayer

JCC 03.01.10 pm Session 2

Luke 11:1-4

Teach us to pray

Their request is, "Lord, teach us to pray; give us a rule or model by which to pray, and put the words into our mouths.’’

It is Jesus Christ alone that can teach us

By his word and Spirit, he show us prayer

"Lord, teach me what it is to pray

Lord, excite and quicken me to do it

Lord, direct me what to pray for

Lord, give me grace and ability to pray effectively, that I may serve You adequately in prayer

Lord, teach me to pray in proper words

Give me a mouth and wisdom in prayer that I may speak as I should and teach me what I shall say.’’

Jesus never intended us to use repetitive words

He gives a pattern for prayer, and only a pattern

There is a pattern or model for house, but each one differs from another

62 words total in this model

We can use too many words

Matt 6 the same model given 2 years earlier, two sentences longer

For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever amen

The fact that He repeats it here shows how important it is

The fact that He does not repeat it the exact same way as in Matthew shows that it was not to be used as a precise ritual or magic formula for prayer

Just offer up a few sentences

Not hours

You are not talking to impress others

Quote: To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to man. Not power with men, but power with God is the first thing." (Murray)

It’s not for everyone else’s benefit

Just share simply and honestly the struggles or requests you have

Or are you communicating a message to others in your prayers?

Some use prayer to say what they want to say to someone, but giving it a ‘God agrees with me’ attitude

Some use prayer as a preaching platform

I’m sure we’ve all heard prayers that are mini sermons in themselves

Discipline yourself and look to the father when you’re praying

Ask yourself, ‘is, what I’m going to say out loud beneficial to the church and is it what God want me to pray?’

Repeating is out and many words is out

He spoke against it

Matt 6:7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words

Not repetitive, but along these lines

We call it the Lord’s Prayer, but it wasn’t His prayer

It’s not ‘the Lord’s prayer’; he has never sinned, so he wouldn’t say forgive me my sins

The prayer is also said in the plural, not singular

Prayer belongs among the people of God

Jesus assumed that His people would be praying together

It’s a model for the church to use corporately

It is just a model, a framework or scaffolding for us to build on

If it’s coming from your heart, then use it, but otherwise it’s just a model and not a ‘set in stone’ prayer

Repeating things don’t mean it’s right

Ecclesiastes 5:2: God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.

How many times have you heard praying and you want to just say ‘amen’ to shut them up?

We all can repeat like a parrot, but it’s not our heart words

Who says we have to close our eyes, fold our hands etc?

We can call him father, if we are believers ABBA

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

The Spirit teaches us in prayer to come to God as a Father, with a holy humble confidence

Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

Heaven, a real place where His throne is

Praying before the throne

If you have a relationship do you realise you can enter the throne room of Heaven itself?

The adoption is common both to Jews and Gentiles

The Jews call him Abba in their language

The Greeks call him pateµr in their language

Because in Christ Jesus there is neither Greek nor Jew

His Name is a most holy thing

Come to the Father, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit

1. Thy kingdom come

We’re saying, You rule Lord

He sent the disciples out saying tell them the kingdom is here, and it shall be in you

The same is true today

How can we use this as a model?

What does Jesus want us to learn from this?