Jesus, Teach Us How To Pray Series

JESUS, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY!  

Luke 11:1-13

Introduction

Leonard Ravenhill wrote, “The disciples never said, ‘Lord, teach us to preach.’ They never said, ‘Lord, teach us to do miracles.’ They said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Because they saw that Jesus’ power was in His prayer life.”

We all want to be stronger in our prayer life. The people who have the strongest prayer life will confess that prayer is still difficult at times. There are multitudes of books on the subject of prayer, but none can teach us to pray more authoritatively than the King of Kings, the Son of God, the Messiah Jesus Christ. In this text, Luke gives us an inside look at how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Luke has an emphasis upon prayer, with proportionally more references to that subject than any other Gospel. This emphasis continues in Luke’s second book, Acts, where the early Christian community is frequently presented as being engaged in prayer (see Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:31; 6:4).

I want Jesus to teach me how to pray!  Don’t you? In this text, I want us to ask Jesus to teach us about prayer!

1. TEACH US BY EXAMPLE (Luke 11:1)

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, just as John taught his disciples.”

Jesus Believed in and Practiced Prayer! Luke tells of the prayers of Jesus at his baptism (Luke 3:21), Before the choosing of the 12 disciples (6:12), At the time of Peter’s confession (9:18–20), On the Mount of Transfiguration (9:28, 29), As a motivation for cleansing the temple (19:45, 46), and During his agony in the garden (22:41).

We may wonder, why do these men raised in Judaism not know how to pray? Their parents had surely taught them. They had been in synagogue for many prayer services. Maybe they noticed that Jesus’ prayers are different. They recall John teaching his disciples to pray. No matter how advanced we may be in prayer, we want Jesus to teach us because he is the supreme example.

2. TEACH US WHAT TO SAY (Luke 11:2a)

Luke 11:2a He said to them, “When you pray, say…”

Words do not always come easily in prayer, and we have a desire to pray in an acceptable manner. God does not expect a magnificent speech when we pray, but we want to pray well. My friend Al used to thank God for our

“commodious facilities”! Just talk to God!

You will notice this version of the prayer is shorter than the more familiar one given in Matthew 6:9-13. We are going to remain focused on Luke’s version. A couple of observations as we make our way through the Lord’s Prayer:

-There is no magic in just repeating the words.

-When we feel weak in faith, these words are a lifeline to our broken hearts.

3. TEACH US TO PRAY TO OUR FATHER (Luke 11:2b)

Luke 11:2b “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.”

This is a prayer of relationship - we are children praying to a loving Holy Father, our Abba - Intimate Relationship.

This is a prayer of acknowledgement - He is holy, and we are sinful.

This is a prayer of submission - ‘your kingdom come’ - not my kingdom! This is a petition for the coming rule of God over all of humankind. Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.'” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

NIV footnote  has the third petition: “may your will be done on earth as it is heaven.” 

4. TEACH US TO PRAY FOR OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS (Luke 11:3)

Luke 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread.

This is a prayer of dependence - Many in the first century and today - live each day not knowing where the daily essentials will come.

This is a prayer of wider scope - dependence on God for food, for clothing, for shelter, for health, for everything we need on a daily basis.

5. TEACH US TO PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL NEEDS (Luke 11:4)

Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, or we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.

This is a prayer seeking grace - We are conscious of our great sin and need of forgiveness.

This is a prayer offering grace - We are willing to forgive others since we have been forgiven. We must forgive others as we have been forgiven. 

This is a prayer for strength, which expresses that we are in need of guidance, strength, and protection. Some see this as testing or trials. The Greek word translated as " temptation" does not always mean “enticement to commit sin.” It can also mean “testing” (as translated in Luke 8:13) or “trials” (as translated in Luke 22:28; James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6; 2 Peter 2:9).