Lord Teach Us To Pray

Luke records that as Jesus “was praying in a certain place, when he had ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” From this text we can draw some observations: 1. Jesus was a man given to prayer. 2. One of Jesus disciples saw the need for Jesus to teach them to pray. 3. John the Baptist was a praying man. 4. John taught his disciples to pray.

Some have called this the Lord’s Prayer, but actually it is not the Lord’s Prayer. The actual prayer of the Lord is found in John chapter 17. Luke chapter 11 is a record of Jesus teaching his disciples to pray. Let us briefly consider a few things Jesus taught them about effective prayer.

Jesus taught His disciples that God was to be recognized as their father. Note “when ye pray say our father which art in heaven.” Not all can claim God as their father some have the devil as their father. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Thus those who address God are to be His children and are to acknowledge Him as father. When His children approach him his ears are open to their prayers 1 Peter 3:12.

Jesus also taught his disciples that when one approaches God, one must do so with a deep respect and reverence for the Father “hallowed be thy name.” The word hallowed means “to make holy, mentally to venerate, hallow, be holy or sanctify.” Thus when one approaches the Father one must mentally hold Him in a very special place considering Him hallowed, holy mentally venerating him. God should never be reduced to man’s level in prayer as though one is talking to another human being, for he is the creator and sustainer of the universe. He is the ever present and eternal one. The very word “God” should strike both fear and reverence in the heart of every soul that hears it.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray for the kingdom. In the text they were to pray “thy kingdom come”. The kingdom has now come, people were in the first century and are still today becoming a part of it Colossians 1:13. We must realize that because the Kingdom exists today, does not mean that we are to no longer pray for it. We can pray that it can lead a quite and peaceful life 1 Timothy 2:1-2. We can pray that the gospel of the kingdom can have free course as its citizens go and preach it 2 Thessalonians 3:1. We can pray for it’s unity Ephesians 4:1-3. We can pray for it’s leaders who watch for our souls Hebrews 13:17. There are numerous things we can pray for regarding the kingdom.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray that His will be on earth. I wonder how often we really pray for this! Is it possible that there is enough of the world in the church that insufficient effort is made in praying by the church that the God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Christians are not to love the world 1 John 2:15. Their focus is to be on things above 2 Corinthians 4:18. True conversion brings about a transformation of life and a renovation of one’s mind Romans 12:1-2. When this occurs the person has a desire to see others undergo the same blessing and prays for such. Note the prayer is “THY WILL BE DONE AS IN HEAVEN SO ON EARTH.” OR AS MATTHEW WORDS IT “ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”

Jesus teaches his disciples to depend upon their heavenly father, “Give us day by day our daily bread.”  A Christian is one who should truly realize just how dependent on God he is for his daily provisions. There are so many things in life that can happen that can render us like Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 or others we read about in the sacred writings that were unable to provide for themselves and thus became dependent on others. I often think of the man Job who seems to have possessed everything and then lost it all in a days time and for a period of time had nothing but suffering and misery. We never know what a day may bring us. We are truly helpless to control tomorrow especially the future. There were Saints suffering in Jerusalem because of famine God provided for their needs through the love, care and provisions of other saints in various places and some in Jerusalem Acts 2:44-45; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.  It is God who blesses us with sunshine, rain and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with joy Acts 14:17; Matthew 5:45. We would do well to take comfort in the word of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34.

Jesus taught his disciples to be forgiving when they prayed. How often have we prayed with an unforgiving heart? Maybe we have held a grudge for many months or years. Will God hear my prayer when I pray with hatred in my heart or with unforgiveness in my heart? “…But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses.” Jesus gives a parable of an unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23-35. In verse 32 he is called a wicked servant, verse 34 he is punished and in verse 35 it is clearly stated “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” When we pray we had better have a forgiving spirit.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray for deliverance from temptation. The temptation here seems to be adversity and hardships. Jesus had told them of the hardships they would face as Christians Matthew 5:10-12. They were to pray for deliverance. Do you not think in light of the dangers that Christians face today and could potentially face in the future, that we should be praying the same prayer? We do not need to wait until it is on us to start praying, we need to start praying before it gets here. God cares for us, we need to show him we care 1 Peter 5:7.

There is nothing more powerful at the disposal of a Christian than prayer. May God help us to be less dependent on ourselves and more dependent on God as our caring and powerful father, that rules in the kingdom of men and that is attentive unto our prayers.

Bill