TEACH US TO PRAY
Luke 11:1-4
cf. – (Matthew 6:9-13)
Luke 11:1-4
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also 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 also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. (NASB)
cf. – (Matthew 6:9-13)
9 Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] (NASB)
OPENING REMARKS
A1. Hymn
What A Friend
(Joseph Scriven)
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou will find a solace there.
A2. Author
.. Joseph Scriven (1819 – 1886)
Born in Ireland - he came to saving knowledge most likely in his early twenties shortly after losing his bride-to-be to an accidental drowning on the eve of their wedding. In 1845 he moved to a teaching post in Port Hope, Canada. Over time he once again became engaged, but once more sadness came knocking at his door, just before the wedding his beautiful bride became ill and she too died. In 1855 his mother in Ireland became ill and to encourage her, he wrote the above poem. – He made the comment that “he and God wrote the poem.” In 1886 tragedy struck once again – this would be the last time for him concerning his life on this earth. For soon after disappearing late one evening from his home - his body was found the next day lying in some nearby water.
The tune, Eire – name after the port town in Western, Pennsylvania – was composed by Charles C. Converse and added to the poem in 1868.
B. Questions
.. In regards to our text - what do think about your prayer life?
.. Have you ever examined it and wished that you could be better at communicating with God?
.. Have you ever just felt like there were times when your prayers were hitting the ceiling and bouncing right back down to you or that they were seemingly hitting a brick wall and being smashed into bits?
. Silence is Golden – except when God applies it to your prayer lives –
Psalms 55:1-6
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted … 4 My heart is in anguish within me … 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
.. Prayer should be natural – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray W/O Ceasing
. YET IT SEEMS SO UNNATURAL TO US.
.. Prayer should be personal as to a friend – 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 – I pleaded with the Lord three times
. YET IT SEEMS TO BE EXTREEMLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO ENGAGE IN.
.. Prayer should be faithful, trusting in God – James 5:16b – the effective prayer of a righteous man avails much
. YET IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE NEVER QUITE SURE IF THE LORD HAS EVEN HEARD US.
.. Prayer should become the rallying point of our daily lives and lead us to bow the knee to our Lord
. YET WE STRUGGLE TO JUST FIND TIME TO PRAY AT ALL.
Ephesians 6:17-18
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints … (NASB)
.. We need to become persistent in our prayer life!
.. We need to become like the prayer warriors of old.
C. Prayer Warriors
1. Biblical
a. Nehemiah - Nehemiah 1:4-11 - fasted and prayed beseeching God
b. Daniel - Daniel 6:10 - daily praying and giving thanks
c. Elijah - James 5:12-18 - prayed earnestly
d. Jesus - Luke 6:12 - often prayed all night
e. Paul - Ephesians 3:14-19 - bowed his knee before the Father
2. History –
a. Charles Wesley – one of the seventeen children of Suzanna Wesley – her most famous: John and Charles Wesley (founders of the Methodist Society) – it said of Charles Wesley that the floor by his bed had imprints from his knees because of his time spent in prayer.
b. George Whitfield – Most famous preacher of the Great Awakening – is said to have constantly prayed over every verse of the Bible asking God to give him understanding.
c. David Mueller – ran an orphanage completely on faith and prayer. It is said that the children in his care never missed a meal.
d. Charles Spurgeon – the Prince of Preachers. Said his ministry was fueled by the prayers of his church.
e. Thomas Watson – the Puritan writer – died in his prayer closet on his knees.
D. Desire to Pray
.. All Christians want to pray better. We all want to be satisfied with our prayer life.
. You and I like many Christians want to do better – I want to be satisfied with my prayer life.
. You and I too want to have an intimate prayer life and commune in fellowship with God.
. You and I want to be a prayer warrior who can boldly approach the throne of grace and not fear rejection.
.. The bookstores are full of books written to teach us how to pray. We buy them – but alas, they do not seem to be the solution to our problems. We just want to be able to pray to God and trust that He is listening to us.
.. How often in our hearts we cry out – “Lord, teach me to pray!” – If I could just pray like those of old.
.. Only if there were a class - PRAYER 101 –that we could take that would help us to pray as we should – I am sure all of us would say, “Sign me up.”
GREAT NEWS!
.. There is such a class. And what is so great – It is not a long course.
. You as a Christian are already enrolled in the Master’s (Teacher’s) Class
. You already have the required textbook.
TEXT
Please open your Bibles to Luke 11:1-4 and Matthew 6:9-13.
A. Purpose
1. Title - Model Prayer
Luke 11:1-4 and Matthew 6:9-13
.. Within most Bibles these verses are written with the sub-title – “The Lord’s Prayer.” Because of that and perhaps due to the teachings from their Christian organizations many consider this as the only words of “The Prayer” that they are required to recite in order to “pray to God.”
.. Reciting this prayer is not wrong within itself (after all this is the Word of God) – but Jesus did warn us not to become like idolaters, who just babble – i.e., become mechanical and repetitive in reciting their prayers – often with their special or magical words.
Matthew 6:5-8
5 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you
Bob Leroe
.. The Lord’s Prayer is a blueprint for prayer – a flexible model, not a rigid formula. Yet [at
times] it is appropriate to pray these words because in them we unfold the entire message of the Bible and a summary of our relationship to God. (The Lord’s Prayer for His Disciples – Feb. 2000 sermon on Luke 11:1-4, SermonCentral.com, assessed 15, October 2004)
B. Style
1. Notice Here –
a. That Jesus does not discuss the posture of prayer – in the Bible, people prayed kneeling, sitting, standing, and laying face down.
b. He doesn’t dictate the place of prayer – we can pray anywhere; the world is a temple
c. He does not discuss the manner of prayer – prayer isn’t getting a serious look on our face or adopting a certain tone of voice.
d. Nor does Jesus specify the time of prayer – some people organize their lives in such a way that they have very specific times of prayer [which is fine] but prayer [can be at] any time, under any circumstances. We can … pray in church – in the open, such as while driving your car – Please Keep Your Eyes Open – or in our private closet.
.. We do not have to practice a particular style to come to God. We just need to approach Him – believing and trusting.
2. Understand Here –
.. When we live in a God-conscious state – [i.e., always in an attitude of prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:17] – we begin to recognize the presence of God around us, which opens up the channel of communication with our Lord. (Bob Leroe, SermonCentral.com – adapted)
.. “What” Jesus does is tell His disciples how to pray. Not a prayer you must say. But this is the model for your prayers. This is a formula in which you should pray.
C. Focus
1. Heavenward – Focus towards God
a. Our Father in Heaven – The aspect of our relationship with God.
. There was a time that we were alienated from God because of our sins but now we are able to approach Him as a child approached his/her father.
Colossians 1:21-22
And you were once alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil actions. But now He [Jesus – v. 3] has reconciled you by His body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him.
(cf. – John 1:9-13 – those who believe have the right to become the children of God.)
b. Hallow Be Your Name – The aspect of holding God in reverence.
. We must never forget who it is that we are approaching. True that He is our heavenly Father and we should approach Him as children but, we should always remember that He is the sovereign holy God who created all things and fear (hold in esteem) Him always.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
1 Peter 1:14-16
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be Holy, because I am holy (see Lev. 11:44-450; 19:2 and 20:7) – (cf. – Isaiah 6:1-4).
Daniel 4:35
All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does what He wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can hold back His hand or say to Him, What have you done?
c. Your Kingdom Come … Your Will Be Done – The aspect that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
. We acknowledge that God is the ruler of our lives. We are no longer our own – we have been bought with a price (the death of Christ) and consequently we submit to His rule and reign over life whether it is among the heavenly host or the earthly realm. Man is in rebellion today against God and we are to continue to pray for the coming of our Lord so that just as God’s desires are carried out in His heavenly presence, so too, will they be carried out on this earth in His presence.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
Revelation 22:20
… Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
2. Earthward – Focus toward man.
a. Daily Bread – The aspect of our Dependence.
. Do you worry about your physical needs? Are you relying upon your paycheck to provide for your every need? What is you become sick, disabled, and unable to work – where do you turn for help – to family, to friend, to the state, or do you cry out to God in prayer?
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
.. By looking to God for your daily needs – you are acknowledging that He is the one who provides the job which brings the paycheck which puts the food on your table. Remember that Jesus told us not to worry about our lives for what we eat or drink and what we put on our body, for God knows we have need of those things – cf. Matthew 6:25-34.
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
b. Forgive us our sins … as we also forgive others – The aspect that Grace is Manifested Through Love.
. Baptists are notorious for being known as people of “grace,” however, often that grace can be very rigid (sometimes to the point of being very legalistic). Grace is an expression of love – sometimes we forget that. We are never to love sin, but we should show love towards the sinner – especially when that sinner is a brother/sister in Christ. – My friend, forgiveness begins with you.
Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came and said to Him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive Him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say t you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Romans 5:8
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:20-21
If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother who he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother.
. I think we should heed those words seriously.
c1. Bring us not into temptation – The aspect of God’s deliverance.
. God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13-15). What this entails is that you the believer recognize that you are being tempted daily and that you are deficient in dealing with it, and you ask God for deliverance from that which so easily besets you.
Romans 7:14-25
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
c2. Deliver us from the evil one – The aspect of God’s protectiveness.
. Acknowledge that you are in a spiritual warfare and that your trust is not in yourself but completely upon the Lord.
1 Peter 5:6-9
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [cf. – vv. 14-20 for the description of this armor.]
d. [For yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever. Amen] – The aspect of worshiping God is settled. He is sovereign, He rules His creation.
. Whether this phrase is a part of the original text or not (some of the mms omit it) is not that relevant, since it does not affect the thought which it expresses – i.e., God is to be worshipped for who He is. For this theme of “worshiping God” is prevalent throughout all of Scripture and its application here in “The Lord’s Prayer” is quite appropriate.
Psalms 95:6-7
Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care.
CONCLUSION
.. There is no “spiritual frosting” in the Lord’s Prayer. It avoids pompous, high sounding phrases, sticking to simple, meaningful concepts. As [the message] indicates, we begin with God’s glory, then we bring up ours and other’s needs, and [finishing by acknowledging God’s providence]. It has been said, “When God is first, prayer makes sense.” The Lord’s prayer is God-centered, not me-centered. It highlights the primacy of God. (Bob Leroe – SermonCentral.com)
.. The disciples watched Jesus daily make prayer an important part of His life. They walked beside Him through all types of circumstances and situations and were able to observe how He faced them. No wonder they said to Him – “Lord, teach us to pray.” His reply, as found here in our text, shows He honored their request.
INVITATION
“Where do we go from here?”
Lost - If you have never seen a need for Jesus Christ as your Savior –
. You Must Know - your only true prayer to God is that He will have mercy on your soul.
. I urge you to run to Jesus at the cross.
. Why don’t you call on His name today?
. Look to Him – God forgives sinners when they repent and turn to the crucified and resurrected Christ.
. Place your faith in Jesus and God will show you mercy.
Believer/Church – I urge you too to run to Jesus Christ today and cast yourself upon Him and plead unto Him to show you how to pray. May the prayer on your lips today be as the Apostles of old: “Lord, teach me to pray!”
“Come Worship The Lord”
.. Our Invitation is open to all –
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
Bruce Allen
Underwood Baptist Church
bea0210@hotmail.com
January 28, 2007
