1. LBJ Prayer Story
When Lyndon Johnson was President, he had several guests in for a meal at the family room of the White House. LBJ had given the honor of praying for the meal to journalist Bill Moyers (an ex-Baptist minister). As Moyers began to softly pray, LBJ - who couldn’t understand what was being said, interrupted Moyers, "Speak up man." Without looking up and barely stopping in mid-sentence, Bill Moyers replied, "I wasn’t talking to you."
2. Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
2 And 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 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11.1-4)
3. Prayer is a caught and taught activity
I. The Disciples Had A Sincere Aspiration (11.1)
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
A. They Had Made A Keen Observation
1. John and His Disciples
2. Yeshua (Jesus) and His Prayers
One person observed that – There are more than 20 references to Jesus prayer life.
a. He prayed often (Luke 5:16)
b. He prayed early in the Morning (Mark 1:35)
c. He prayed late at Night (Luke 6:12).
d. He prayed at the beginning of His ministry. . . (Luke 3:21-22)
e. He prayed before He chose His 12 disciples. . . (Luke 6:12-13)
f. He prayed all thru the night (Luke 6.12-13)
g. Jesus prayed before the confession that He was the Christ. . . (Luke 9:18-20)
h. Jesus prayed before His Transfiguration . . .( Luke 9:28-29)
i. Jesus prayed before He taught His followers. . . (Luke 11:1)
j. He prayed while He was teaching others. . . (Matthew 11:25-26)
k. He prayed after He ministered to others. . . (Matthew 14:23)
l. Jesus prayed before healing the crowds. . . (Mark 1:35)
m. Jesus prayed before feeding the 5,000.( Mark 6:41)
n. Jesus prayed before healing the man who was deaf and mute. . . (Mark 7:34)
o. Jesus prayed before bringing the dead back to life . . .( John 11:41-43)
p. Jesus prayed for His friends. . . (Luke 22:32)
q. Jesus prayed for His disciples. . (John 17:9-16)
r. Jesus prayed for all Christians. . . (John 17:20)
s. Jesus prayed before the cross . . . (Luke 22:39-42)
t. Jesus prayed on the cross . . . (Luke 23:34)
u. Jesus prayed with disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24)
v. And now Constant Intercession (Hebrews 7:25
3. Our Observation of the Early Church – Acts 2.42-47
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
B. They Had High Expectations in Prayer
1. Opposition to Enemies – “Fire from Heaven” (Elijah – 2 Kings 1)
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village. Luke 9.51-55
2. Greatest in Kingdom – James and John – right and left hands
3. Prayer – more than a “Bat Signal”; Shopping List – Andrew Carnegie – I don’t pray because I do not need anything.”; Good Luck Charm (athletic events)
II. Yeshua (Jesus) Made A Simple Summation (Luke 11.2-4)
2 And 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 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
A. Yeshua (Jesus) and His People Participated in MANY Prayers (1 Thessalonians 5.17)
1. Temple Prayers – 9 AM; 3 PM
2. Blessings through the day
3. Not vain repetition – sincere presentation
Vain Repetitions
A little boy was afraid of the dentist. So his father decided to set the example and have his teeth examined, too. The dentist looked inside the father’s mouth and said, "Oh, there’s a tooth there that has to be pulled."
The father asked, "How much will it cost?" The dentist answered, "We charge $35 a tooth." Then the father asked, "How long will it take to pull the tooth?" The dentist answered, "About a minute."
The father protested, "I get paid by the hour and when I think of paying $35 for a minute’s work that is a terribly high hourly wage."
"Well," the dentist said, "I can pull the tooth more slowly if you like."
Sometimes we think that we get more for our money the slower we go. Or perhaps the longer we pray, we think the more spiritual we are. Jesus said: “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”
B. Yeshua (Jesus) Gives the Highlights
1. (Our) Father
a. Personal Aspect – Father
b. Family Aspect (Our)
c. Intimacy – Abba
d. Boldness – Hebrews 4.14-16
e. Superior – We request boldly but with humility
f. Hallowing His Name – Adoration; Making Holy
2. Kingdom Come
a. Rule and Reign of God – not territories or buildings – hearts of people
b. To advance in the world by: Preaching gospel; Obeying commands of God
3. Daily Bread
a. Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 5.16-19
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
b. People who will miss the world to come – people who dwell on past; future; what is above; what is below and forget about today
c. Psalm 23 – Green Pastures – Alfalfa field vs. Desert grazing
d. Manna – enough for right now
e. Feeding 5000 – Mark 6.39
39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.
4. Forgive Our Sins
a. Implications – Repentance and Confession – Psalm 51.1-5
All in need – conditional on Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
b. Forgiving each other
c. God places a high priority on our community – Leviticus 19.18
Lord Herbert: “He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must someday pass.”
5. Lead Us Not into Temptation
a. Trials can strengthen (James 1.2)
b. Tests can lead to sin (Genesis 50.20)
A young boy was saving for a baseball glove; had saved several dollars; prayed, “Please don’t let the ice cream truck come down our street today.”
1. We may feel obligations to pray – sometimes a sense of duty is the only thing that keeps us going – but don’t you think God wants more?
Obligation
A foursome of golfers was on the green at the 11th hole. Down on the road, a funeral procession of cars passed by on the way from the funeral home to the cemetery. One of the guys in the foursome whose name was Larry took off his hat, stood at attention, and had a somber look on his face as he watched the procession go by.
The other three guys look stunned. After the funeral procession was out of sight, one of the guys asked, “Larry, I didn’t know you were so respectful of the dead.” Larry said, “Well, I felt kind of obligated. After all, we would have been married for 37 years here in another month.”
2. A Prerequisite to Prayer is Faith – really believing God will answer
22And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive. Matthew 21.22 (AMP)
3. As William Carey once said, “Prayer is my real business! Cobbling shoes is a sideline; it just helps to pay expenses.”
4. Take it home; Parents, remind your children of God, His Love, and His desire to communicate with them; HOME Groups; anyone who is close
