Prayer Series

SERMON—PRAYER—Luke 11:1-13

TEXT

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." 2 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 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ " 5 Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 "Then the one inside answers, `don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

INTRODUCTION

As we study the parables of Jesus, we can see how He used the parabolic method of teaching on different subjects.... Mostly on the theme of the kingdom of heaven, but also in response to questions by His disciples and even His Enemies... One such parable was told in response to a question related to Prayer. Jesus had been praying in a certain place – Luke 11: 1. When He ceased praying, one of His disciples asked: "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples" and in answering that request, Jesus did three things... He first told them "how" and "what" to pray for. He then told a parable to stress a crucial element in "how" to Pray and he followed up by elaborating on what the parable was designed to illustrate. The parable is known as "The Friend At Midnight" and it is recorded in Luke 11:5-8 in it we find Jesus illustrating the importance of "persistence in prayer"

[Let’s begin our study by noticing that].

JESUS’ PRAYING PROMPTS A REQUEST

HE HAD BEEN PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE - Luke 11:la

In the gospels we see glimpses into the prayer habits of Jesus. Rising early to pray in a solitary place - Matt 1:35. Often withdrawing into the wilderness to pray - Luke 5:16. Praying all night in preparation to selecting His apostles - Luke 6:12-13. His beautiful prayer recorded in John 17. His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane’. Mat 26:36-44. His prayers on the cross – Mt 27:46; Luke 23:34,46

Undoubtedly His example had an impact on those who saw Him Praying

A disciple wants Jesus to teach them to pray - Luke 11:lb. Even as John had taught his disciples! Certainly this Jewish disciple knew how to pray in some sense, but understood that Jesus had so much more to teach him. [We may know how to pray, but we can always learn more from The Master of prayer].

JESUS ANSWERS BY TEACHING A MODEL PRAYER. Commonly referred to as "THE LORD’S PRAYER"... Recorded here in Luke 11:2-4. Also in His sermon on the mount - Mt 6:9-13

The words (Mt 6:9) "This, then, is how you should pray: suggest, "The Lord’s Prayer" is a PATTERN and not a liturgy that must be recited every time we pray. Here we begin to learn the "how" and "what" of prayer. "How" to pray would include "simplicity" in prayer The words "this then" in Mt 6:9 connects what follows with what was said before - Mt 6:7-8 Jesus’ pattern for prayer is an "illustration" in contrast to the "many words" used by the heathen. In the prayer itself, note the brevity of words - Luke 11:2-4. We learn the "what" of prayer should include such things as: Reverence for God and His "Name" (i.e., His Being and Character) - Luke 11:2. Praying for the progress of God’s Kingdom and Will on the earth -Luke 11:2. Asking for physical necessities - Luke 11:3. Also, our spiritual needs... Forgiveness of sins as we forgive others- Luke 11:4. Protection and deliverance from evil - Luke 11:4 In His sermon on the mount, Jesus chose to follow His pattern prayer with an emphasis on forgiving others (Mt6: 14-15). But on this occasion, He has a different concern in mind. So He follows with a parable...