Lucas 11

Lucas 11

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Lord, teach us to pray. It was a wise and good request, prompted by the Savior’s own practice. He did not, in the first instance, command his disciples to pray; but He gave himself to the blessed practice of prayer, and this made them eager to learn and practise the holy art. This is the best way of inculcating new and holy habits on those who surround us. Do not begin by exhorting them; but by living before them a life so holy, so unselfish, so consecrated and devout, that they shall spontaneously approach you, saying, “Give us your secret; tell us how we may do and become as you.” It is a holy life which constitutes our best pulpit. We should daily ask the Master to teach us to pray. Each time we kneel in prayer we may well preface our petitions with the sentence: “We know not what we should pray for as we ought; but by thy Holy Spirit, Lord, teach us to pray.” And probably the Lord’s answer will fall into suggestions, borrowed from the form and model of prayer which He gave his disciples. It has been called the Lord’s Prayer; it should be called the Disciples’. THE PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER - Lappin's Sermon Outlines “Lord, teach us to pray.”—Luke 11:1. INTRODUCTION.—Read Roger Babson’s estimate of prayer (p. 86, in “Religion and Business”). I. Sincere—“Not to be seen of men” (Matt. 6:5). II. Brief—the model prayer has sixty-four words; can be said slowly in less than one minute. III. Definite—God knows what we need. The prayer shows whether our wish is in accord with His. IV. Simple—forty-nine of the sixty-four words have but one syllable. V. Forgiving—“Except ye forgive.” VI. Practical—must present real needs, bread, forgiveness, guidance. VII. Reverent—must recognize the divine on which we are dependent. Thy name, Thy kingdom, Thy will. Appeal: Prayer is the world’s undeveloped resource. Illustrate: Steam, electricity, X-ray and radium. Prayer looks to the restoration of the one who prays. Lord, Teach Us to Pray By Andrew Murray SCRIPTURE: Luke 11:1 INTRODUCTION: The disciples had learned that Jesus was a Master at the art of prayer, so they asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Shall we, too, not enroll our names in Christ’s School of Prayer? 1. Lord, Teach Us To Pray.—Though prayer is so simple that the feeblest child can pray, it is also the highest and holiest work to which we can rise. True prayer takes hold of God’s strength and avails much. 2. Lord, Teach Us To Pray.—We have read in His Word with what power the believing people of old used to pray and what mighty wonders were done in answer to their prayers. If this took place under the Old Covenant, how much more will He not now give His people the privilege and power of prayer? 3. Lord, Teach Us To Pray.—At first no work appears so simple; later, none proves more difficult. 4. Lord, Teach Us To Pray.—A pupil needs a teacher who has the gift of teaching, who in patience and love will descend to the pupil’s needs. Jesus is all that and more. CONCLUSION: Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, but how to pray. Not power with others, but power with God is the first thing. Jesus loves to Teach Us To Pray. James Smith - PRAYER: ITS PRIVILEGE AND POWER Luke 11:1–13 “LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY” (v. 1). “The prayers I make will then be sweet indeed, If Thou the spirit give by which I pray; My unassisted heart is barren clay, That of its native self can nothing feed.”—M. ANGELO. It would appear that while the Lord was praying in a “certain place” His disciples heard Him, and were deeply moved, as never man prayed like this Man. What calmness of spirit, what assurance of faith, what holy familiarity with the unseen Father of Spirits, what an overawing reality and power there was in these simple utterances of their Master! No wonder that when He ceased they came with tear-filled eyes, saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.” The power of prayer lies more in what we are than in what we say. They pray well who have “holiness unto the Lord” written across their lives. Prayer, wrote a deaf and dumb girl, is “the wish of the heart.” If the heart is right with God, then the desires of the heart will be granted (1 John 5:14, 15). Desires are plentiful in human hearts, but how few are confidently breathed into the ear of God. Notice here— I. Need of Prayer. “Lord, teach us to pray” (v. 1). All men pray in the way of wishing, or earnestly desiring, but not to the living God. “Before I was converted,” said one, “I said my prayers to nobody, now I pray to God.” We have never learned to pray if we have not learned to speak personally to a personal God, and to know that He hears us. Intercourse with God is a crying need of the soul of man. We need more than human sympathy. We need a greater than human help. DIVINE power and compassion are the counterparts of human weakness and need. “Lord, teach us to pray.” II. Teacher of Prayer. “Lord, teach us.” Surely this “Teacher come from God” is well able to instruct us in the way to God. His whole life was lived in the atmosphere of prayer. He constantly breathed the breath of Heaven. In His every act we hear the voice of His pleading on our behalf. His incarnation, His holy life, His agony in the garden, His atoning death, and His rising again from the dead were all mighty voices of supplication unto God. He who spent whole nights in prayer had too much to do to be in a hurry or to neglect secret communion with His Father. “Lord, teach us.” He teaches us to pray by giving us a deep insight into the poverty of our own natures that we may hunger after righteousness (Rom. 8:26). He teaches us to pray by revealing to us, through His Spirit, of His own unsearchable riches that we may covet earnestly the best gifts (Heb. 4:16). III. Spirit of Prayer. In answer to their requests the great Prayer Teacher said, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in Heaven,” etc. In putting this prayer into their mouths our Lord was not only teaching the order in which our prayers should be formed, but, we think, the very spirit and condition of heart necessary to true prayer. Looked at in its subjective aspect this prayer implies a condition of— 1. SONSHIP. “Our Father.” Before we can say “Our Father” in any real sense we must have received the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15). We must be made sons through receiving His Son ere we can honestly say Father (John 1:12). 2. SANCTIFICATION. “Hallowed be Thy Name.” His Name stands for all that He is in His holiness, righteousness, love, and almightiness. How can an unsanctified soul hallow, set apart as holy, the great Name of God in the daily life? What communion hath light with darkness? If His Name is to be hallowed in us we ourselves must be hallowed to His Name. 3. SUBJECTION. “Thy kingdom come.” How can we utter this petition if we are not willing that our own hearts and thoughts should be subject to His rule? So, to be able to pray, there must be entire submission to the will of God (Rom. 14:17). 4. CONSECRATION. “Thy will be done.” To pray “Thy will be done” there must needs be a willingness to do His will. 5. BROTHERLY LOVE. “And forgive us as we forgive every one,” etc. Our prayers may often be hindered for lack of tender-heartedness toward those who may be indebted to us (Eph. 4:32). Does this reveal the spirit in which we pray? IV. Manner of Prayer. “Because of his importunity he will give him as many as he needeth” (vv. 5–8). The word importunity here stands for “shamelessness,” and this is the only time it is used in the New Testament and employed by our Lord in connection with prayer; it is exceedingly expressive. It means that in offering our requests to God for things needful we should take no denial; turn not aside through any seeming providential rebuff, being utterly shameless in our persistent, confident waiting (Exod. 17:11). V. Simplicity of Prayer. “Ask, and it shall be given you,” etc. (vv. 9–12). The child in its own way begins to ask as soon as it is born, and the mother has no difficulty in interpreting its cry. As long as we maintain the child-like spirit prayer will be a simple, delightful, and soul-strengthening exercise. The more we get conformed to the image of Christ the nearer do we come to the very presence of God. And the nearer we approach to Him in our real soul likeness to Him the more simple and childlike will our prayers be. “Ask, and ye shall receive.” VI. Efficacy of Prayer. “If ye, … how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (v. 13). The Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, and in giving the Spirit He is putting within the reach of each child of His EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING (Eph. 3:14–19). Many of us have yet to learn what our gracious Father is willing to do for us, and through us, by His gift of the Holy Ghost. As workers together with Him we beseech you that ye receive not this grace of God in vain. “If ye ask anything in My Name I will do it” (John 14:12–14). SEEKING HELP FROM CHRIST Luke 11:1 - John Butler “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” (Luke 11:1). The disciples wanted to know how to pray. So they sought help for their prayer life. We note five things about their request here. FIRST—THE SAGACITY IN THE REQUEST “Said unto him.” The disciples were wise to go to Christ about the matter of prayer. No one could teach them better about prayer than He. The religious leaders (Jesus called them “hypocrites”) certainly could not, for they used prayer for self-aggrandizement (Matthew 6:5–7). Prayer was a means to them of self-exaltation. SECOND—THE STIMULATION FOR THE REQUEST “As he was praying … when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him.” It was the praying of Jesus that stimulated the request to be taught about prayer. Christ inspired His disciples to better service by His conduct. This exhorts believers to live in such a way that it will stimulate others to live a godly, dedicated life. Does our service for God inspire others to serve? Too often God’s people are examples of deficiency, not devotion. THIRD—THE SUPERIORITY OF THE REQUEST “Teach is to pray.” We often ask the Lord for many things that we do not need. But one thing we definitely need is to know how to pray better. It is one of the greatest needs of God’s people. Inability to pray aright is a real problem among church members. The prayers heard at church are often very defective. FOURTH—THE SPECIFICS OF THE REQUEST “Teach us to pray.” This request is at least twofold. It is both a request for ability to pray and for an attitude to pray. • The ability to pray. “Teach us to pray.” We need to be taught how to pray. We often lack the ability to pray aright. As an example, we do not know what to pray for and when to pray for it. We are not skilled in praying. We need great skill in our prayer life to make it more effective and honoring to God. • The attitude to pray. “Teach us to pray.” Not only do we need to know how to pray but we need to be taught to simply pray. Our attitude is bad about prayer. We do not pray enough. That is why the Wednesday midweek service or prayer meeting at church is so poorly attended. People do not care to pray. They need to be taught to simply pray. Few spiritual attitudes are as poor as the lack of desire to pray. FIFTH—THE SUPPORT FOR THE REQUEST “As John also taught his disciples.” John taught his disciples to pray, and Christ’s disciples wanted Jesus to teach them to pray, too. We need more men like John the Baptist who will teach their followers about prayer. Pastors are prone to teach their people about everything but prayer. Related Resources on Prayer: (Onsite) Colossians 1:9 Commentary Colossians 4:12 Commentary Devotional on Prayer Guide to Praying for Missionaries Hebrews 13:20-21 Commentary Philippians 4:6 Commentary Pithy Prayer Phrases Prayer - Greek Words for Prayer Prayer Devotionals and Illustrations Prayer Hymns and Poems Prayer Quotes Prayer Quotes, Devotionals and Illustrations Praying for People from Every Tribe, Tongue, People and Nation Praying His Word Praying in the Spirit Spurgeon's Gems on Prayer Luke 11:2 And He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. KJV Luke 11:2 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. (only in KJV) When you pray, say Eccl 5:2; Hosea 14:2; Mt 6:6-8 Father Isa 63:16; Mt 6:9-15; Ro 1:7; 8:15; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Gal 1:4; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; 4:20; Col 1:2; 1 Th 1:1,3; 3:11-13; 2 Th 1:1,2; 2:16 which art in heaven (only KJV) 2 Chr 20:6; Ps 11:4; Eccl 5:2; Daniel 2:28; Mt 5:16; 10:32 hallowed be Your name Leviticus 10:3; 22:23; 1 Kings 8:43; 2 Kings 19:19; Ps 57:11; 72:18,19; 108:5; Ezekiel 36:23; Habakkuk 2:14; Rev 15:4 Your kingdom come 10:9-11; Isa 2:2-5; Daniel 2:44; 7:18,27; Rev 11:15; 19:6; 20:4 Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (only in KJV) Ps 103:20; Isa 6:2,3; Mt 6:10 Luke 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 11:1 Jesus' Pattern for Every Prayer - John MacArthur Luke 11:2 When You Pray Say, "Father" - John MacArthur Luke 11:2 Hallowed Be Thy Name - John MacArthur Luke 11:2 Thy Kingdom Come - John MacArthur Luke 11:2 Thy Will Be Done - John MacArthur Related Passage: THE DISCIPLE'S PRAYER TAUGHT BY THE LORD This prayer is most often referred to as the Lord's Prayer but Jesus never actually prayed it Himself (see Mt 6:12 - He had no need for example to pray "forgive us our debts"). Instead this prayer is presented as a model prayer for citizens of the Kingdom of heaven and so is better entitled "The Disciple's Prayer" or "The Pattern of Prayer." Jesus never intended for this prayer to be repeated ritualistically with regular, repetitious recital, but rather as a guide or model for our prayers. And He said to them, "When you pray (proseuchomai in present tense) say - Notice that only one disciple ask the question but Jesus uses plural pronouns throughout His description of prayer. Note Jesus says not "if" you pray, but when implying this would be their practice (and prayer is in the present tense - continuous) and presumably it would be frequent. And Jesus gives the best way to pray in the two words "pray say." Simply speak. Anytime. Anywhere. And keep it up because say is a present imperative (see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey). And don't be like the Pharisee who “prayed thus with himself” talking only to ourselves, or even worse trying to impress others. It’s especially hard when you are praying in a group to keep the focus of your prayer to be addressed to God. Sometimes we are more concerned about getting a message across to someone or trying to impress them with "how spiritual" we are. THOUGHT - One implication of use of plural pronouns in this section on prayer is that He was speaking not just of personal, private prayer but of corporate prayer (think of the old term "prayer meeting"). How's you church doing? Are you even having a weekly prayer meeting? If so, how well attended is it? Jesus' teaching can be very convicting! Matthew's longer Version of the "Lord's Prayer" John