Teach Us To Pray

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