Episode 13: Lord, teach us to pray

In this episode Saso and Ben talk the topic of prayer.

PRA’YER, noun In a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness.

1. In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God’s glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits. A prayer however may consist of a single petition, and it may be extemporaneous, written or printed.

1828 Webster’s Dictionary

Why should we pray?

Because we are commanded to pray. Multiple times Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray.

• Matthew 26:41
• Ephesians 6:18a
• Romans 12:12

But do you realize that it’s a privilege to pray?

Matthew 27:51

Therefore, we can directly commune with God. This is a big deal. This is HUGE!

Hebrews 4:16

Where should we pray?

Alone

• Luke 5:16
• Matthew 6:6

Should we pray in our closet? Literally? What’s your Closet?

Public

Jesus prayed with his disciples on multiple occasions. Luke 11 which we will read shortly, John 17 known as the High Priestly Prayer. If you’ve not read John 17, I recommend taking some time to read it. Did you know Jesus prayed for you specifically in that prayer? Jesus prayed before feeding the 5000 (Luke 9) and the 4000 (Matthew 15). 


Jesus prayed at Lazarus tomb before the people. John 11:41-42

What and how should we pray?

The Lord’s prayer found in Jesus sermon on the mount in Matthew 6 as well as Luke 11.

“Lord, teach us to pray,” is a good prayer, and a very needful one, for Jesus Christ only can teach us, by his word and Spirit, how to pray. Lord, teach me what it is to pray; Lord, stir up and quicken me to the duty; Lord, direct me what to pray for; teach me what I should say. Christ taught them a prayer, much the same that he had given before in his sermon upon the mount. There are some differences in the words of the Lord’s prayer in Matthew and in Luke, but they are of no moment. Let us in our requests, both for others and for ourselves, come to our heavenly Father, confiding in his power and goodness.”

Matthew Henry

• Just a couple of things to note about the Lord’s prayer.
• Template, ingredients, example
• Can you directly pray the Lord’s prayer?
• Should you pray a prayer that has been written down?
• What are the ingredients of the Lords Prayer?

Our father in heaven– To whom are we praying? This also reminds us of God’s sovereign rule, He is the one in heaven who flung the starts into existence and created all.

Hallowed be your name – Giving God praise for who He is. In other words we are saying, may your name be glorified in my life. This also speaks to God’s holiness. God is holy, and set apart from us, higher than us and we come before him with a sense of reverence.

As shown in the Lord’s prayer we are to show reverence (be mindful you are coming before the King of Kings).

Isaiah 6:1-2

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven – We should pray for God’s will upon this earth as well as God’s will for our life. We should also be praying for His kingdom’s advancement. This shows a submissive and surrendered heart.

It is God who is in control and we should submit. We are reminded of this in James.
 


James 4:13-15

Pray for God’s will to be done in heaven and in earth.

Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 26:39

What am I asking for? Is it God’s will or is it of my will? Am I praying for souls or am I praying for that watch I see in the window? Eternal or temporal? Align your prayers always with God’s will.

Give us this day our daily bread – We are encouraged to pray for things we need.
 


Matthew 6:8

Yet he wants us to ask. Why? This demonstrates that we are dependent upon Him for everything because without him we incapable.

John 15:5

Pray for your daily bread (tacos, fried chicken 😜). We often take this for granted in America but we need to pray for God’s provision and be grateful for what is in front of us.

Matthew 6:11

Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. – We should be confessing our sin, and forgiving those who offend us.

1 John 1:9

Do you regularly confess your sin? You might say, I don’t have that much sin. I would say, perhaps you should pray for God to reveal your sin.


We need to ask for forgiveness for the sins we have committed against a holy God known and unknown. Call out your sin by name when you pray. You are not fooling God when you choose to withhold the sins which are your favorite.

Psalms 51:10

Example: Husband and wife relationship and the need to ask for forgiveness. We need to remember the forgiveness in which we have been forgiven and we need to forgive others in the same way.

Ephesians 4:32

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one – This is simply asking God to protect us from temptation, protect us from ourselves and protect us from Satan and his demons. Just to be clear God does not lead us into temptation, although God does allow us to be tested at times.

If you are anything like me you hate tests. I’ve always hated tests. Maybe it’s the pressure. But why does God allow testing?

1 Peter 1:6,7

We need to pray to be delivered from temptation and to be delivered from evil.

1 Peter 5:8

We need to praise Him


• Psalm 50:23
• Psalm 86:9-12
• Psalm 92:1-2

• Name His attributes
• Naming God’s Work
• Offering thanks

When should we pray? 
 


• Luke 18:1
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17

What does that mean? Should we grab a snickers and hit our knees early in the morning till evening? This is simply a mental attitude of prayerfulness, continual personal fellowship with God, an awareness of being in His presence throughout your day.

This what I would refer to as Abiding in Christ as it reads in John 15. We are to abide with Christ, perpetual fellowship. This is why it’s so vital for us to pray, read our bibles and confess our sin.

(Always) Ephesians 6:18

(In the morning) Psalm 63:1

(How about 3 times a day?) Psalm 55:17

Daniel 6:10

(How about all the time even at time all night?) Luke 6:12

Fasting and prayer?

Prayer is not a mantra, it’s our time to speak to God
 


Matthew 6:7

Ask in Christ’s name, Ask in faith

John MacArthur

Matthew 21:22

Asking in His name

John 14:13-14

We simply say “In Jesus name, amen!” as if that is praying in His name but we need to recognize what His name means.

Exodus 3:14

John 18:6

There is power in His name and we must remember that when we are praying.

Name it claim it theology
 


This could be a topic all its own, but asking for something in Jesus name that is selfish and not His will is simply foolish. Asking God for a brand new BMW in his name, or asking God for a brand new pair of Air Jordans in His name will not only result in you NOT getting what you want, but it’s just foolish and sinful. Jesus didn’t come to give us health and wealth, he came to save us from our sins. Does He bless us? Of course He does, but we should never assume that we are worthy of anything. This is NOT our best life, our best life is to come when we are in glory with our savior.

Ask in Faith

• Matthew 21:22
• Romans 4:19-20
• 1 John 5:10
• James 1:6

I realize that this is in the context of asking for wisdom, which is not a bad thing to ask God for by the way. But we should always be asking in faith, having a confident assurance that God not only hears but that he will answer. Remember, sometimes God says yes, sometimes He says no, and sometimes He says wait. It’s up to us to ask, and trust that He will work it out.

Ask in The Spirit

• Romans 8:26-27
• Ephesians 6:18

Ask From A Pure Heart

• 1 Peter 3:7
• I John 3:22
• Psalm 66:18
• Psalm 34:15

We need prayer. Abigail Adams prayed for her husband John Adams and prayed this:

And now, O Lord, my God, Thou hast made thy servant ruler over the people. Give unto him an understanding heart, that he may know how to go out and come in before this great people; that he may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Abigail Adams

May we use the template God has given us in His Word and may we seek His will and guidance when we pray. The hardest part of prayer is actually taking the time to do it.

What will be changed because you decided to pray?

What will God do through your prayers? 
 


James 5:16

Conclusion

There is no magic formula for praying. In fact some prayers are simply a few words like “Lord help me”, and some prayers are very carefully thought out like Jesus High Priestly Prayer in John 17. Prayer is simply talking to God.

The question is, are you engaging?

Is this something you are doing on a regular basis?