Prayer 101
Gtoctr/ss081003
“Sitting in church won’t make you a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage will make you a car.” (Pastor John Osteen)
Turn to John 11 (KJV same as AV)
Key Scripture: John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The disciples of Christ had seen Jesus pray, heard what He said and experienced the results of His prayers. They saw Him given to prayer.
* Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
* Luke 3:21 ¶ Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
* Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
* Luke 6:12 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
* Luke 9:18 ¶ And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
* Luke 9:28 ¶ And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
* John 17 The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus went from the place of prayer to the place of prayer, and in between He showed us the Father and did miracles.
This morning our goal is to introduce this series by asking you the question: To Whom Do We Pray?
I. The Model Prayer
Luke 11
1 ¶ 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.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say …
A. The Model Prayer Is Found In Matthew 6 & Luke 1
1. Matthew 6 The setting is in Galilee
* Mat 5:1 - 8:1 The Mount Of Beattitudes
2. Luke 11 The setting is in Judea
* Near Bethany, perhaps the Mount of Olives
3. Matthew 6 Unsolicited teaching to the multitudes
4. Luke 11 Specifically requested by disciples
5. Matthew 6 Given in the middle of preaching a sermon
6. Luke 11 On occasion coming from prayer
7. Luke 11 Jesus uses the same substance, but a shorter form of Matthew 6 (These two accounts are two separate occasions)
8. Some other differences are not so easily recognizable
* Matthew 6:11 give is Gk ‘dov’ - a single act
* Luke 11:3 give is Gk ‘didou’ - “keep on giving”
* Matthew 6:12 forgive us … we also forgave
* Luke 11:4 forgive … “as we ourselves also forgive”
* Matthew 6:12 ‘debts’
* Luke 11:4 ‘sins’
9. Both have the same ‘lead us not into temptation’ which is better translated “bring us not into temptation”
B. The request:
1. Teach us to pray
2. John taught his disciples
C. Jesus recognizing the earnest request responds with specific instructions
Luke 11:5ff teaches us that:
Our Prayers Should Be As Specific As Possible
There Is No Inopportune Time To Pray
God Commends Those Who Persevere In Prayer
II. Luke 11:2 When you pray, say,
A. Our Father which art in heaven
* for the sake of learning to pray, prayer 101
* Jesus starts with the basics - So will we!
B. Even The Right Request Needs The Right Address
* John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
* Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
* Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
III. Prayer 101 Answers The Question:
* To Whom Do We Pray?
* We Address All Of Our Prayers To Our Father God In Heaven
* A Christian Is Authorized To Pray Only To Father God
* Scriptural Prayer Is Directed Communication To God
> Not to Jesus (He doesn’t get offended, but He said)
John 16
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
> Not to the Holy Ghost (pray in, not to the Holy Spirit)
> Not to Mary
> Not to Angels
> Not to Saints
> Not to devils (we do not address our prayers to devils)
* Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven …
* John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
* Trust me, this is no small point. We will see the importance later.
