Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Notes
Transcript
What is prayer?
What does it mean to pray?
In Luke the disciples asked the Lord to teach them how to pray.
For many prayer is merely a psychological means of obtaining peace or calmness.
For others it is more a applicable means of expressing religion.
When we pray are we attempting to change the heart of an omniscient God?
Are we trying to convince Him of some truth that He is not aware of?
Are we laboring to manipulate God into doing what He does not will to do?
We are commanded to pray yet many Christians know more about our favorite sports team than we do about talking with our creator.
In the Book’ The prayer that turns the world upside down,” it states that prayer is a barometer of our entire theological convictions.
Prayer reveals both our view of God and how we think God views us.
If prayer reveals our view of God then what do we really think of Him?
Do we see Him as an angry God that does not favor us? Or perhaps a God that doesn’t desire to be bothered with the trivial matters of life.
Do we think that we must beg and plead with Him before He will desire to help us or are we trusting in His good grace?
In Luke 11:1 we see the model prayer given by the Lord.
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
In the so-called Lord’s prayer we can learn both what to pray and what to abstain from.
I. The Holiness of Prayer.
I. The Holiness of Prayer.
We see there are two keys that Jesus starts with.
The personableness of prayer- Our Father
The sacredness of prayer- Hallowed be thy name.
1. The Personal aspect of prayer.
1. The Personal aspect of prayer.
Jesus said, “Our Father who art in Heaven,” God is both our Creator and our Father. His holiness, power, and majesty is beyond our comprehension, yet He is still as personable as a Father.
Father, is an endearing term to those who have a good father and indeed He is a good, good, Father.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Just as my children have never had a need to ask me for the basic provisions even more so does our heavenly father provide for our every need.
The Father aspect of God means that He is approachable and that He is interested and invested in our lives.
The father-ship also points to the ownership that He has over us and point sot our adoption into His family.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
As adoptive children of God we are joint heirs with Christ.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2. Sacredness of prayer.
2. Sacredness of prayer.
The word hallowed comes from the greek Word Hagiazo and means to sanctify or make holy.
What Jesus is teaching us is that prayer is something that we should take as Holy.
In the Old Testament before the priest could enter the tabernacle they would have to bathe first to purify themselves.
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
God would not permit Moses to come into His presence while wearing his shoes.
God is approachable anytime and any place. However, often we approach the God of Heaven and earth as if he is not a holy God.
Have you ever went to God in prayer but only did so out of necessity or tradition?
There have been times where I have had to pray because of my position and did so out of duty but my heart was not tuned towards God.
May years ago I was called to preach at a church in Manila, Philippines due to the jet-lag and stomach issues I had not slept in several days and upon arrival at the church a fog moved over my mind. I attempted to preach (I fell asleep during my own sermon) and to pray but although my mouth and mind went through the motions, my heart wasn;t even aware if I was dead or alive.
We should never confuse the accessibility of God with a lack of holiness.
When we go to Him in prayer it should always be with a heart of reverence and honor.
II. The practise of Prayer.
II. The practise of Prayer.
What does a man or woman of prayer look like?
What does it mean to pray and how are we to go about it?
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
1. Privacy of prayer.
1. Privacy of prayer.
Prayer should never be sought to bring attention to ourselves.
It is not wrong to pray publicly but it is wrong to desire to be seen of men.
I remember when I was young that there were certain preachers who would quieten an entire restaurant when it was time to pray for their food.
This is an act of piousness that is meant to draw attention to our won holiness rather than the holiness of God.
On the flip side there are those who will refuse to pray in public yet who still do not pray in private.
Private prayer only works if it is practiced.
We are commanded to pray without ceasing.
Pray without ceasing.
This is that we should maintain a regular time of speaking with God.
This can only be obtained through a private and personal prayer life.
2. Procedures of prayer.
2. Procedures of prayer.
The procedures are the methods by which we pray.
The Jews pray written, formal, and liturgical prayers.
The Islamist pray at predetermined times with their face to the ground while facing Mecca.
Buddhist pray in a form of trance.
Catholics pray formulaic prayers based upon Mary. “Hail Marry full of grace”
However the Bible teaches that we should pray directly from our hearts to God through the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Our prayers should be personal
Our prayers should be intimate
Our prayers are to be asked in faith. Matthew 21:22
Our prayer should be for personal growth and the furtherance of the Gospel.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Prayer is not a jennie in a bottle but rather a relationship.
III. The Product of Prayer.
III. The Product of Prayer.
What is the product of prayer?
What is the definition of answered prayers?
What are our goals or what should be the goal of our prayers?
How can we define a successful prayer life if we are unaware of prayers goal?
1. Prayer is instrumental in our growth.
1. Prayer is instrumental in our growth.
As we pray we grow closer to God.
As we pray the Holy Spirit begins to reveal sin in our hearts. Matthew 5:23,24
We find forgiveness of sins
We can hear God’s voice. Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God
We find victory over sin
We see that prayer is more than a list of request for personal gain but rather prayer should be used to direct us both inward- personal growth and needs, outward- the Gospel and others, and upwards- a relationship with God.
2. Prayer can be instrumental in furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Prayer can be instrumental in furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have listened to the testimonies of many jews and one common theme is that they were drawn to Christ after hearing Christians talk about their personal relationship with God and after hearing them pray to a personal God.
As we pray we demonstrate to others the love of God.
Although public prayer should no be our goal it is a great byproduct of fervent prayer.
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
We should actively pray that God will call labourers to serve in the church and to serve God in their lives.
If you do not know Jesus I ask you today. Why wait any longer? Do not delay. call upon Him today. Romans 10:9 says
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
David said it this way in Psalms 51:1-10
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.
Will you call upon Him right now?