Reading: Luke chapter 11 verses 1-13.
Ill:
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson went on a camping trip.
• As they lay down for the night,
• Holmes said, "Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see."
• Watson said, "I see millions and millions of stars".
• Holmes asked, "And what does that tell you?"
Watson replied,
• "Astronomically,
• It tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.
• Theologically,
• It tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant.
• Meteorologically,
• It tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.
• What does it tell you?" asked Watson.
• Sherlock Holmes replied; "Somebody has stolen our tent."
Sometimes we miss the obvious in life!
• When it comes to evangelism;
• One of the obvious things we can easily over look is prayer!
• If I’m honest I am much better at talking to people about God;
• Than talking to God about people!”
Quote
“In evangelism there is no point talking to people about God;
Until first you have talked to God about people!”
I want to use as a springboard for our thoughts this morning:
• The Lord’s prayer (although technically the Lord’s prayer is John chapter 17) in Luke’s gospel.
• This really is the disciples prayer e.g. verse 1b: “Lord teach us to pray”
(1). The priority of prayer (verse 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”.
Question: What do you think of when someone mentions John the Baptist?
Answer:
• His habitat (surroundings not the shop)
• Raised in the solitude and loneliness of the desert.
• His clothes; He wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.
• This was not a fashion statement; but in the desert this was all that was available.
• His food: He ate locusts and wild honey;
• Once again this was not some sort of special diet, he simply ate what he could find.
• His message: he had a unique style (ill: fire & brimstone):
• Quote: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath!”
• His unusual practice: He is known throughout history as John the Baptist;
• Not because he founded a denomination but because he baptised Jewish people (shock!)
• His death: Beheaded at the whim of a young teenage girl aided on by her mother;
• His death was sordid & violent, the very opposite of the man himself.
Now John the baptiser is one of my favourite Bible characters:
• I have a folder at home full of sermons on John the baptiser;
• Yet I have not got one entitled; “The prayer life of John the baptiser!”
• I did not realise until I started preparing this sermon;
• That to the disciples of Jesus; they remembered him as a man of prayer.
• In fact as I strain my brain, apart from here in Luke chapter 11;
• I cannot remember any of the gospels recording the fact John the baptiser ever prayed.
• Yet he obviously he did and the disciples of Jesus took note of the fact;
• That John taught his disciples to pray and they felt they were missing out on something.
Ill:
• Don’t forget John was a "miracle baby," filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born,
• And yet……………………… he had to pray.
• He was privileged to publicly introduce Jesus the Messiah to Israel,
• And yet……………………… he had to pray.
• Jesus said that “John was the greatest of all the prophets” (chapter 7 verse 28),
• And yet……………………… he had to pray.
• If prayer was that vital to a man who had these many advantages,
• How much more important it ought to be to us who do not have these advantages!
Maybe this is one of the secrets to John’s powerful and effective evangelistic ministry:
• He was a man of prayer;
• And as a result God worked in him and through him!
Verse 1 is interesting, and worth noting:
• John had taught his disciples the value of prayer;
• And Jesus' disciples observed this and they too wanted to learn how to pray better.
• Notice: They did not ask Jesus to teach them how to preach like John.
• They did not ask Jesus to teach them how to do great signs & miracles;
• They asked Him to teach them to pray.
• They realised that this was a priority for any disciple of Jesus Christ.
One the greatest arguments for the priority of prayer in the life of a Christian;
• Is the fact that Jesus himself was a Man of prayer.
• And his disciples noticed that.
Ill:
• Scan just through Luke’s gospel you will see that:
• Jesus prayed at His baptism (chapter 3 verse 21),
• Before He chose the Twelve (chapter 6 verse 12),
• Before He asked the Twelve for their confession of faith (chapter 9 verse 18),
• And at His Transfiguration (chapter 5 verse 29).
• The disciples knew that He often withdrew and prayed alone (Luke chapter 5 verse 16),
• And they watched and took notice of this;
• And they too wanted to learn from Him this secret of spiritual power and wisdom.
Quote:
• How we learn:
• 1% through taste
• 1.5% through touch
• 3.5% through smell
• 11% through hearing
• 83% through sight
Quote: Chinese proverb
“Tell me; I’ll forget.
Show me; I may remember.
But involve me and I’ll understand.”
• The disciples of Jesus watched him and wanted to emulate him;
• And so they asked him to show them that they might learn!
Application:
Prayer is a discipline:
• It takes time out of a busy day;
• It takes effort from a tired or lazy mind.
• There is a cost to be paid;
• But the rewards will more than make up for any personal inconvenience.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT PRAYER IS A TWO WAY THING:
• We not only talk to God;
• But in the quietness, God is able to talk to us.
Ill:
• Elderly man who had a growing suspicion that his wife was becoming hard of hearing;
• His wife protested of course that her hearing was perfectly okay.
• One morning he decided to try out a small test;
• He was in the kitchen, his wife was in the front room and the door was open.
• So he shouted; “Ethel, would you like tea or coffee with your breakfast?”
• And just as he suspected there was absolutely no reply.
• So he moved to the door way and tried again; “Ethel, would you like tea or coffee?”
• Once again there was silence.
• So he actually went into the room;
• And stood right behind the chair where his wife was sitting reading the newspaper;
• Once again he said: “Ethel, would you like tea or coffee?”
• His wife replied; “For the third time Albert I’ll have coffee!”
If we want to hear God’s voice:
• We must become a listening people;
• Waiting on God as well as informing God.
Ill:
A missionary magazine printed this short notice.
“The former director general of …particular magazine… was standing down, was retiring. He will now continue to serve the Lord in an advisory capacity”.
• We must become a listening people;
• Waiting on God as well as informing God.
As we pray for people and situations:
• We need to pray through situations; ‘pray until we pray’ so that;
• We go beyond formalism and unreality & our prayers become real & conversational.
Quote Hymn from Golden Bells 650
• We need to pray through situations; ‘pray until we pray’ so that;
• We go beyond formalism and unreality & our prayers become real & conversational.
(2). Pattern for prayer (verse 2-4).
“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.'”
Ill:
• 2x2=4 story.
• “Daddy, what’s a two!”
• How easy it is to recite these words and not really mean them,
• But of course that can happen just as much when we sing and speak!
• The fault lies not with the conversation, song or the prayer;
• But with us, the one who used words only!
I don’t have a problem with Churches or individuals who repeat this prayer on a regular basis:
• But the principle here is that this is a ‘pattern prayer,’
• Given to us by Jesus to his people as a help, to guide us in our own praying:
(a). relationship (verse 2):
“Father, hallowed be your name”.
It is good to remind ourselves that when we (disciples of Jesus Christ) pray,
• We talk to not to some impersonal deity;
• But to our heavenly Father.
Ill:
• I lost count this week of the number of times I was interrupted by my children;
• As I have tried to get my work done.
• Although at times I may have been irritable and rushed them away;
• More often than not I will stop for a few minutes and give them my attention.
• A loving father should have time for his children’s requests or needs.
• Normally come at the most awkward or most inconvenient times.
We have a heavenly father who always has time for us:
• In our evangelism we need to remember that prayer is not just reserved;
• For those times, when we draw aside on our own and storm heaven with our requests.
• We need to heed the advice of Paul in the shortest verse in the New Testament;
• “Pray without ceasing” (Greek shorter than “Jesus wept”).
• Times of instant, spur of the moment praying;
• Alongside a daily planned out time of prayer.
• Individual prayer;
• Alongside corporate, collective prayer.
We have a God who delights in the prayers of his people:
• And if ever there was a kind of prayer that;
• Like a package contains the words ‘special delivery’ and fast tracks to its destination,
• Then it would be prayers for the lost, the unconverted.
• Given that the salvation of humankind is at the top of his list of priorities!
(b). Responsibilities (verse 2):
“Your kingdom come.”
• Key to effective praying in our evangelism;
• Is to honour God's kingdom by doing God's will.
• Quote: Matthew’s gospel we have the additional phrase
• “Your kingdom come. Your will be done”.
Ill:
• James chapter 5 verse 16b:
• “The prayer of………………is powerful and effective.
• The prayer of the professional evangelist – No!
• The prayer of the unprofessional evangelist – No!
• The prayer of the Christian who knows their Bible well – No!
• The prayer of the Christian enthusiastic to share their faith – No!
• The prayer of those with courage and the gift of the gab– No!
• The prayer of those who have read all the right books on evangelism– No!
• James chapter 5 verse 16b:
• “The prayer of righteous man is powerful and effective.
Ill: Then James continues in chapter 5 to give the example of Elijah:
• “Elijah was a man………………………..”
• “Elijah was a mighty prophet of God….…”
• “Elijah was a powerful worker of miracles………..”
• “Elijah was the right man whatever the situation……….”
• “Elijah was super-gifted and unlike anyone else around…….”
• “Elijah was a clued up, keen and always ready for God to use him…….”
Look what it says;
• “Elijah was a man JUST LIKE US!” (N.I.V)
• “Elijah was completely human like we are” (L.B.)
Question: How come he was so powerful and effectively used of God?
Answer:
• Verse 17: “He prayed earnestly……”
• Verse 18: “Again he prayed………..”
Elijah’s prayers were effective and he was such a great man of God:
• Because he prayed;
• But also because he was righteous (“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”).
(c). Requests (verse 3-4)
“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.'”
Bread here is symbolic of our various needs:
• Our needs may be for material and physical provision,
• May be for moral and spiritual perfection,
• May even be for divine protection and direction.
In the context of evangelism we have many needs that we can bring to God:
• (a). We can pray for courage and boldness to share with people.
• (b). We can pray for wisdom asking God to lead us in what to speak with people.
• (c). We can pray asking God to help us to recognise and make the most of;
• The opportunities that come our way
• (d). We can confess our sins and ask for his enabling; if we feel that;
• There are barriers in our life preventing God from working in us and through us.
• (e). Whatever our inadequacies and needs;
• Prayer is a reminder of perspective! (ill: Mountains to us are molehills to him!)
(3). Persistence in prayer (verses 5-8):
“Then Jesus said, "Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. 6An old friend travelling through just showed up, and I don't have a thing on hand.'
7"The friend answers from his bed, "Don't bother me. The door's locked; my children are all down for the night; I can't get up to give you anything.'
8"But let me tell you, even if he won't get up because he's a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbours, he'll finally get up and get you whatever you need.”
Notice:
• That in this parable,
• Jesus did not say that God is like this grouchy neighbour.
• In fact, He was saying just the opposite.
• If a tired and selfish neighbour finally meets the needs of a bothersome friend,
• How much more will a loving Heavenly Father meet the needs of His own dear children!
• Jesus is arguing from the lesser to the greater.
We have already seen that prayer is based on:
• Son-ship ("Our Father"),
• Not on friendship;
• But in this parable Jesus used friendship to illustrate persistence in prayer.
• Remember that God the Father is not like this neighbour,
• For He never sleeps, never gets impatient or irritable,
• Is always generous, and delights in meeting the needs of His children.
• In contrast the friend at the door;
• Had to keep on knocking in order to get what he needed,
• The point that Jesus is making is clear:
• If persistence finally paid off as a man beat on the door of a reluctant friend:
• How much more would persistence bring blessing;
• As we pray to a loving Heavenly Father!
Quote: Jacob Riis, quoted in Reader’s Digest:
• “I look at a stone cutter hammering away at a rock;
• A hundred times without so much as a crack showing in it.
• Yet at the 101st blow it splits in two.
• I know it was not the one blow that did it, but all that had gone before.”
Quote:
“It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are;
nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they are;
nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be;
nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be;
nor the logic of our prayers, now argumentative they may be;
nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be—which God cares for.
But the perseverance of our prayers that which accomplishes much”.
We have a good and gracious God:
• Who at times calls us to patient perseverance;
• It may not be how we want to work, but it is best!
Quote:
“Persistence in prayer is not an attempt to change God's mind ("Thy will be done")
But to get ourselves to the place, where He can rightly answer our prayers”.
THERE ARE OF COURSE VARIOUS REASONS WHY GOD MAKES US WAIT:
(a).
• God is a heavenly Father not a heavenly grandfather.
• So that we do not become spoilt children.
(b).
• We are selves may be the answer or the hindrance to the prayer we are praying
• Waiting may bring us to a realisation that we need to act or event repent.
(c).
• God’s wisdom and timing is spot on much better than ours!
• Quote: “God is never to early, never too late, he is always just on time”.
Quote Savarola the 15th century monk and farmer:
“Never think God’s delays are God’s denials”.
(4). Promises for prayer (verses 9-13).
“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!”
Notice:
• The tenses of the verbs are important here:
• "Keep on asking... keep on seeking . . . keep on knocking."
• These verses carry on the idea of patient perseverance.
• And those who ‘keep on, keeping on’ receive their due reward.
Quote:
Spurgeon: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark!”
So Jesus asks his followers to: "Keep on asking... keep on seeking . . . keep on knocking."
• In other words, don't come to God only in the midnight emergencies,
• But keep in constant communion with your Father.
• Jesus called this "abiding" (John chapter 15 verse 1),
• And what Paul urged (1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 17), "Pray without ceasing"
Ill:
• The story of a man who asked Alexander the Great;
• To give him a huge sum of money in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage.
• The ruler consented and told him to request of his treasurer whatever he wanted.
• So he went and asked for an enormous amount.
• The keeper to the funds was startled;
• And said he couldn't give him that much without a direct order.
• Going to Alexander, the treasurer argued that;
• Even a small fraction of the money requested would more than serve the purpose.
• "No," replied Alexander, "let him have it all. I like that fellow.
• He does me honour.
• He treats me like a king;
• And proves by what he asks that he believes me to be both rich and generous."
Quote: Hymn:
“Thou art coming to a king,
Large petitions bring;
For his grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much”
Notice: that the lesson closes with an emphasis on God as Father (verses 11-13).
• Because our heavenly father knows us and loves us,
• We never need to be afraid of the answers that He gives.
• Once again,
• Jesus is arguing from the lesser to the greater:
• If a flawed earthly father gives what is best to his children,
• Surely the perfect Father in heaven will do even more.
Verse 13 is a great encouragement and reminder when we are using prayer in
evangelism:
“How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
• Question: What is your biggest need when you are evangelising?
• Answer: I would say it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ill:
In a car race;
• Better to be in a Reliant Robin with a tank full of petrol;
• Than in a Rolls Royce with an empty tank.
We are called:
• Not to win arguments;
• Not simply to have all the answers that might be asked.
• We are called to win people to Jesus Christ.
• And without God’s Holy Spirit filling our lives on a daily basis – we have no chance!
• Question: What is Jesus said in John chapter 15?
• Answer: “Without me you can do nothing!”
• Yet with Jesus and with his Spirit filling our lives;
• “All things are possible!”
