Learning to Pray More like Jesus
Luke 11:1-13- Disciples ask Jesus to teach them prayer
- Prayer is the source of Christ’s power and authority
1. Be Clear and Simple (v.3)
- "When you pray, say: ..." (v.3)
- We make prayer more complicated
- We make prayer a confession of anxiety
- We make prayer dependent on feeling
Lie- ‘If I pray when I don’t feel like it, I’m a hypocrite’
Truth- When don’t feel like it, still pray= obedience
2. Be Persistent (v.5-10)
- Parable on prayer:
- Background- culture of hospitality
- Keeping pressing
- Contrast God and people.
- Give up quickly
- To pray effectively, need to have 3 things:
- Character of God
- Will of God
- Who we are in God
- Character of God- not like the neighbor, He is the God of how much more (generous & gracious)
- 2nd negative respond- Change our belief
If we change our belief we will not discover God’s character, will … promises
- If prayer not answer- keep pressing on … is there area in my life that need to be put right
3. Be Spirit filled (v.11-13)
- Shift from material things to the Holy Spirit
- Pattern in OT
- Troubles in Israel
- God answered through the prophets- imagery
- Ultimate answer is the Holy Spirit
- In prayer- directly in God’s presence, the Holy Spirit gives answer
Numbers 6:22-27
- This is how you are to pray for others:
- “So they will put my (God’s) name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (v.27)
- This is our calling too, to be royal priesthood.
This are good pointers. Really appreciate the sermon notes.
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