Prayer
by Bruce Hall
Introduction
1. Developing a full understanding of our relationship with God is important
2. We find ourselves the children of a King
3. We find ourselves with a Father that is ruler of the universe
4. Yet He is not so busy or overwhelmed that He does not have time for even the smallest of His children
5. He listens to us and answers us when we talk to Him
6. We talk to Him through prayer
7. Jesus disciples asked Him about prayer. Look at Jesus answer
Body
I. Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Luke 11:1
A. They wanted to pray as Jesus did
1. Jesus had just finished praying when they said this to Him
2. Luke 6:12 - Jesus spent all night praying to the Father
3. Jesus disciples saw a relationship with God that they longed to have hence the request, "Lord, teach us to pray"
B. Prayer can be learned
1. Jesus went on to teach them
2. We must understand that prayer is something we must learn
3. May seem unnatural in some ways
4. But as we pray more we will grow more comfortable with prayer
II. Jesus Teaches Them to Pray - Luke 11:2-4
A. Addressed to the Father
1. Our Father in heaven
2. The Father is praised - hallowed be Your name
3. Acknowledgement that the will of God be done
B. Appropriate requests
1. Provide for our physical needs - daily bread
2. Provide for our spiritual needs - forgive us, guide us, protect us
C. Guidelines laid out for us
1. It is a beautiful picture of a child communicating with his Father
2. What father among us does not want their child to talk to him
3. What child does not want to talk to their father
4. Our relationship with God is the same
5. We approach Him with the respect and reverence a child owes to the Father
III. The Need For Persistence in Prayer - Luke 11:5-10
A. The friend comes at midnight
1. Even though it is a friend you don't want to be disturbed because of the late hour
2. Yet his persistence causes you to go to the door and give him what he asks for
3. Ask, seek, knock. God will answer.
B. Same with our relationship with God in prayer
1. Jesus is teaching His disciples the need for persistence
2. Let God know our concerns and needs
3. When that is done repeatedly, from the heart God will respond in a powerful way
4. James 5:15-18 - effective, fervent prayer avails much
5. Further evidence that God desires for His children to talk to Him
IV. The Need For Trust - Luke 11:11-13
A. A father knows the needs of his children
1. A father knows what is best
2. He knows how to provide the things that his children need
3. He knows that some things would be harmful to them and refuses the request even though the children want it very badly
B. God has perfect understanding of our needs
1. Our heavenly Father knows what we need
2. He knows what is best and He knows what would be harmful to us
3. Luke 12:29-31 - God knows the things we need
C. We must trust God to answer prayer
1. We pray with a limited vision
2. God answers with broad vision
3. We pray with much physical influence
4. God answers with our spiritual best interest in mind
5. We must learn to safely trust in our Father and accept what He provides and accept His answer to our request
6. Thy will be done
Conclusion
1. Lord, teach us to pray
2. May all of us learn better how to communicate with our Father
3. He loves us and desires that we talk to Him
4. He will answer our prayer
5. What a comfort to the child of God