Lessons on Prayer Luke 11:1-13
Luke 11:1-4 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. And he said to them, When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. (ESV)
Differences Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever Amen. (ESV)
One Address Two Statements Three Requests The 1-2-3 s of Prayer
The Content of Prayer Luke 11:1-4
One Address The 1-2-3 s of Prayer Father (patār) Denotes intimate reverence. Combines respect for the father s authority with a sense of intimacy and approachability In Aramaic Abba. It is not daddy, like some suggest
The ABC s (or 1,2,3 s) of Prayer One Address Two Statements Hallowed be your name set apart. Written in the form of a petition: Let your name be regarded as holy.
The ABC s (or 1,2,3 s) of Prayer One Address Two Statements Hallowed be your name set apart. Your kingdom come praying for God s kingdom.
Jewish Kaddish Exalted and hallowed be his great name in the world which he created according to his will.
The ABC s (or 1,2,3 s) of Prayer One Address Two Statements Three Requests For Sustenance: Give us daily bread The daily according to each day, or, Today, that which continues day by day.
The ABC s (or 1,2,3 s) of Prayer One Address Two Statements Three Requests For Sustenance: For Forgiveness: and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
The ABC s (or 1,2,3 s) of Prayer One Address Two Statements Three Requests For Sustenance: For Forgiveness: For Spiritual Protection: And lead us not into temptation.
The Need for Persistent Prayer Luke 11:5-8
Luke 11:5-8 And he said to them, Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, or a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him ; and he will answer from within, Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (ESV)
1x in N.T. Impudence (anaideia) Shameless persistence. Boldness
Boldness in Prayer Boldness in prayer overcomes the praying person s apathy not God s perceived insensitivity. By praying persistently, believers are not trying to get a reluctant God to answer; but are showing that they are serious about their request.
The Father s Gracious Response to Prayer Luke 11:9-13
Luke 11:9-13 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the
Luke 11:13 heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (ESV)
Fish/Snake Egg/Scorpion A Bit Ridiculous? (Elsewhere) Bread/Stone
Three Verbs (ask, seek, knock) Verbs are in ascending intensity. Faith is willing to ask for something only God can provide, to seek something that we cannot find, and knock on a closed door in order to gain admittance. In all three cases, God is accessible and willing to respond. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened (10) (11:10)
Reasons for Persistence Most good gifts cannot be given quickly (The desire for spiritual maturity can only be fulfilled over time) God knows best when to give his gifts (Abraham desired a son for decades before his prayer was answered. God was never unwilling, he simply had a different timetable) Much is learned in the process of asking God for his help (Patience, understanding)
Prayer Checklist Will this request honor God? Will this request build his Kingdom? Is this a legitimate need (necessity)? Have I been faithful? Will this request lead us into temptation?
The Lord s Prayer The habit of prayer along the lines counseled by Jesus would serve as an ongoing catalyst for community formation. Within the practice of such prayer, a premium would be placed on the infusion of a worldview centered on the gracious God, on dependence on God, and on the imitation of God, all understood against an eschatological horizon in which the coming of God in his sovereignty figures prominently. Bible commentator, Joel Green
Explanation A habit of prayer helps develop a Christian worldview that is centered on the graciousness of God Which leads to our dependence upon God Which leads to our imitation of God Which leads us to help in the expansion of the kingdom of God
Lessons on Prayer Like a good father, God loves to provide for our needs if we boldly ask for His will to be done in our lives.