Luke 11:1-5

I was at a recent meeting with some teachers and governors in a local school to me and one thing

! a nursery teacher said at one point was this, we're getting worse, worse and worse at listening

! and speaking because children are being child minded with iPads and things of course she was speaking as a nursery teacher

coping with children coming in and recent studies do show that in the opinion of teachers at least half of all children starting school

lack some of those very basic skills but what about our listening and speaking to God? what would those statistics be like if we could see them?

Jesus says that they are our priorities if you know this part of Luke as you've been going through it

so think about what's been going on and you might want to look at the passage just before it of course it's Mary and Martha

Mary listening at Jesus' feet, intently listening to him and the message there is that our first priority is to listen to God's word

you've got this picture of Mary intently kneeling, sitting at Jesus' feet

Jesus says only one thing is needed and that's what Mary is doing, listening to God's word

and if that is our first priority to listen to Jesus, to listen to God's word

then close behind that comes speaking back to him in prayer

so no surprise that it's then that Jesus introduces how we are to pray

and of course it's essential that our prayers are guided first of all by what he says to us

I remember a school, no university, having a bit of an argument with one friend who said

he thought prayer was more important than hearing God's word

we had this sort of debate back and forth

I think looking back 20 years or so I was right, you were glad to know

but actually I think it's important first to listen to God's word

because if we talk to God without first hearing from him

if you're anything like me you'll talk all sorts of nonsense

you'll miss the point

actually when we first hear him in his word

as Mary did we can then start to speak back to him

intelligently because we know who he is

hence the Lord's Prayer

in these verses Jesus first gives us a model for prayer

verses 1 to 4

and then as we'll see this evening

we'll look at Jesus' motivations for prayer

verses 5 to 13

just before we look at the model

what we commonly refer to as the Lord's Prayer

let's bear in mind a few things

we're meant to understand the spirit of the prayer of course

it's not just a form of words that we're meant to answer

you know, we're meant to imbibe

to take on the spirit of it

and learn the meaning behind it

that's important

and yet repeating the letter of it

and saying it regularly as we did this morning

is important because it keeps those important things in our minds

so if we're forgetting to think about provision

God's provision in our daily bread

we're reminded by reading the Lord's Prayer together

another point we need to bear in mind

is that this is different from Matthew's version

it's likely that they were two separate events

and we should treat each one on their own terms

perhaps a bit of a comparison could be made

between the Ten Commandments

which is given twice

and then the Lord's Prayer is also given twice

two very important things that God wants us to hear

and like the Ten Commandments as well

this prayer puts the concern first of all for God

and His honour before requests for ourselves

so think of the Table of the Ten Commandments

and the first six commandments

really to do with God and His honour

sorry, the first four

and then the second six being to do with

our horizontal relationships

but also notice in this prayer

it's about us

and not just me

it's us and we

it's a corporate prayer

where I'm not just praying for myself

but I'm praying for my brothers and sisters as well

we're saying

Matthew's version of course

it says our Father

also notice this disciple in verse 1

he wanted to learn to pray

and I want to throw that question out to you

do you

does this request chime with your heart?

do you

can you say that you want to learn to pray?

if not

why not?

if that's a struggle with you at the moment

if prayer seems like something you just can't seem to get to grips with

then listen on

because Jesus knows that

he empathises

and that's why he gives us this prayer

I do encourage you to

perhaps this week

to discipline yourself

to pray

and ask that he would stir your heart

to want to pray

indeed I

I hope that some of that would happen

this morning

as we look at this

true prayer is of course

deeply

trustful

at the most basic level

it says

I'm not going to do something now

I'm going to pray that you would do something Lord

and then a final thought

before we look at the model of prayer

the real question

I want to throw out to you this morning

is this

which

of these elements

might be missing from my prayers

at the moment

if I have a title for this morning

it's

six things

that should shape

my prayers

six things

to shape my prayers

which of the six

as we look at them

is missing from my own prayer

it's hard

isn't it

to go away from a sermon

and take all the six points

take one

that you know

is missing from your prayer

and ask that

God would help you this week

so

let's look

at the six things

that should shape our prayers

first of all

in verse 2

Jesus says to them

when you pray

say

Father

the first thing

that should shape our prayers

is simply this

the Father's nature

the Father's nature

now

we've heard this prayer

so often

we almost forget

that the very first words

of it

is probably

the most

mind-blowing

of the whole prayer

isn't it

the fact that you can call

God

Father

arguably more remarkable

than anything else

that comes

after it

carries a sense

of authority

of speaking to God

with respect

but it also

is coupled with

a personal

intimacy

a love

and a care

that we get a glimpse of

in our own relationships

in this world

it wasn't the way

the Father-Son relationship

was not the way

that the Jews

traditionally thought of

of God

but it's the Gospel

of course

that makes this possible

one of my favourite

verses in the Bible

is John

John 20:17

chapter 20

verse 17

where Jesus

appears

to Mary

after his death

and resurrection

he says

don't hold on

to me

go instead

to my brothers

and tell them

I'm returning

to my Father

and to your Father

to my God

and your God

you see how

actually

at this point

in the Gospel

because of what

he's done

he can now say

that God

is your Father

as well

it's the Gospel

that makes this

possible

and it's an indication

that

with the coming

of Christ

the curse

is completely

undone

our alienation

from God

as our Father

is now reversed

is now undone

we can now

communicate

with our Creator

on this level

so for every

child of Christ

and if you're

not yet a Christian

here this morning

this is for you

as well

for every single

person

the Gospel

offer

is that you

can be

a child

of God

John chapter 1

John 1:12

verse 12

for everyone

who believes

in his name

he gives the

right to become

children

of God

and legitimately

refer to the

maker of the

universe

as Father

with all the

tenderness

and the care

and the intimacy

that that word

carries

we need to

move on

but can I just

ask you

is it possible

that this

aspect

of Jesus'

prayer

is missing

from your

prayers

when you

come to him

in prayer

there's perhaps

a bit of a

coldness

you just want

to move on

quickly to

something else

you're not

treasuring

the relationship

if you love

someone

think of perhaps

the person

you love to be

within this world

the most

you don't rush

on from

being with them

but is it possible

that in your

prayers with God

you're not

feeling the warmth

of a son

or a daughter

towards him

maybe you feel

guilty

maybe you feel

ashamed

in his presence

of course we do

need to confess

sin

but we also

need to know

when we're

forgiven

and if this

is missing

from your

prayers

then it's not

surprising that

our prayers

will be cold

and formal

impersonal

a child

with his father

is confident

confident of

access

can ask

with trust

we'll think

more about

this this

evening

and ask

with that

simplicity

that a child

will ask

something of

their father

it's not

just a part

of our

prayer

actually

all of our

communication

with our heavenly

father is to be

based on the

knowledge of his

fatherly care for

us

so could that be

missing from your

prayers

what should shape

my prayers

first of all

the father's

nature

secondly

what should shape

my prayers

is the father's

name

the father's

name

when you pray

say father

hallowed be

your name

in other words

may your name

be set apart

may your name

be made holy

may it have

the honour

that it deserves

this is the

first thing

that we should

pray for

it's our

priority

in terms of

the content

of our prayers

of course it

doesn't mean

that our prayers

can make him

more holy

it's a prayer

that more

and more

his name

would be

recognised

for what it

is

I am to

care about

his honour

his status

and his

reputation

and we talk

about so and

so really

making a name

for himself

it's a phrase

we use a lot

but Jesus is

saying that I

am to care

about my

father's name

more than I

care about my

own or anyone

else's

far more

our motives

are mixed

to say the

least

aren't they

when we

come to

pray

all of

those

sinful

motives

come in

Philippians

Philippians 2:4

2

verse 4

Paul encourages

us that we

should look

out for the

interests of

others

not just

our own

because we

are constantly

thinking about

our own

interests

and our

prayers will

reflect that

they will

be self

centred

and here

Jesus is

saying to

me at least

Tim this

life is not

about you

it's not all

about you

it's actually

all about

God the

father

and his

name

we're looking

at the

ten commandments

at the moment

in our evening

services

and we looked

a few weeks

ago at this

command

you shall not

misuse the

name of the

Lord your

God

for the

Lord will

not hold

anyone

guiltless

who misuses

his name

in the sense

that's the

negative

we thought

about the

fact that

God's

word

should

God's

name

rather

should be

on our

lips

positively

to his

praise

not lightly

or insincerely

or profanely

we thought

about hallowing

his name

and we thought

about our

actions

and how we

use his

name lightly

how we can

sing a song

say all sorts

of great things

to do with

God's name

but actually

our thoughts

are elsewhere

or we're just

not engaged

doesn't reflect

the weight

of his glory

in the way

that we use

his name

might this

be missing

from your

prayers

a concern

for his

name

and his

honour

John Ruskin

famously said

that a man

who's wrapped

up in himself

will make a

pretty small

package

and if

this prayer

doesn't weave

its way

into the

fabric

of our

prayers

then our

concerns

will remain

very small

and pretty

insignificant

so watch

your shape

in my prayers

the father's

nature

the father's

name

and then

thirdly

the father's

kingdom

father

hallowed be

your name

your kingdom

come

everyone's

trying to

make a name

for themselves

everyone's

trying to

build their

own

mini kingdoms

maybe you

know the

story of

Michael

Hesseltine

a politician

of previous

years

who it is

said I think

by one of his

contemporaries

at school

that at a

very early age

in his teens

I think

he set out

his goals

for life

in his

twenties

he would be

a millionaire

in his

thirties

he would be

an MP

in his

forties

he'd be on

the Tory

front bench

and his

fifties

Downing

Street

unfortunately

somebody and

their handbag

slightly got in

the way of

that

but it's not

just politicians

it's Christians

as well

making their

own mini

kingdoms

even

pastors

we're probably

tempted all

the more

to make our

own mini

kingdoms in

this world

but to pray

this is to

pray at least

two things

it is to

pray first of

all

lord grow

your kingdom

lord grow

your kingdom

and that is

a prayer

for the

present

and it's a

prayer that

is being

answered

in this

world

I know

we've had

bad signs

in our

country

we had the

first same

sex marriages

the end of

March

we're in a

nation that

is largely

turning its

back on

God's law

and God's

word

but that's

in a sense

that's a

local

perspective

look

globally

people are

becoming

Christians

in their

droves

let me

quote one

statistic

evangelical

believers are

growing at a

rate of three

and a half

times that

of the world

population

so for every

one person

born

three

and a half

are becoming

Christians

maybe you know

that half

now I don't

know you could

debate the

accuracy

that's quite a

trusted source

but one

thing is

growth is

certain

God is

building

his kingdom

it is a

prayer that

is being

answered in

the present

we're also

saying as

well as

God grow

your kingdom

we're saying

Lord bring

in your

kingdom

in its

fullness

in the

future

we're saying

bring in

the many

kingdoms of

the world

and bring

them under

your one

perfect

kingdom

all of

that

borrowed

authority

all of

that

delegated

authority

may it

come under

your

absolute

authority

and be

seen

to bow

the knee

to your

absolute

authority

we're saying

bring in

your kingdom

I'm just

flicking through

some references

in

revelation

to pray

this prayer

is to say

Lord would

you please

make it

time up

for those

who are

rebels in

your kingdom

would you

bring them

to account

just as

Jesus says

to the

church

in

Sardis

if you

do not

wake up

I will

come

like a

thief

and you

will not

know

at what

time

I will

come

to you

this prayer

is saying

Lord come

sort out

those who

are rebels

in your

kingdom

we're also

saying

come

and vindicate

your people

revelation

Revelation 17:14

17

verse 14

the lamb

will overcome

them because

he's the

lord of

lords and

the king

of kings

and with

him will

be his

called

chosen

and faithful

followers

Lord vindicate

your people

bring in

your kingdom

your kingdom

come

we're also

praying

that the devil

will be

destroyed

fully and

finally

we read of

the rider

on the white

horse in

chapter 19

and in a

sense we're

saying

come rider

on your

white horse

come and

bring in

your kingdom

and capture

the beast

verse 20

and throw

them into

the fiery

lake

destroy

your enemies

once and

for all

that's what

we're praying

we're praying

finally in

chapter 22

that your

kingdom would

become the

new creation

would be all

that you've

intended it to

be from the

start

we're praying

no wonder

at the end

of the book

come lord

Jesus

bring in

your kingdom

so as we

think of

those three

things first

of all that

should shape

our prayers

in the first

half of the

prayer

just have a

look at

those for

a moment

Jesus

wants your

prayers to

take in

the big

picture of

his plans

the big

scope

we so often

limit our

prayers

God bless

Aunt Molly

God bless

my dear

wife

God bless

we move on

very quickly

may it not

rain tomorrow

when I'm

cycling to

work or

whatever

God wants

our prayers

to encompass

really big

things

the biggest

things in

fact

things to do

with his

name

which there

is nothing

greater

and his

kingdom

and he

wants us to

tear ourselves

away for a

while from

my obsession

with self

and to

attach

myself

to these

grander

things

not just my

own goals

not just how

my health

is or how

my family

are or what

my relationships

are like or my

job situation

is but God's

agenda

you come to

God in

prayer

maybe you

come exhausted

maybe you

come deeply

disappointed

about something

maybe you

come with

ongoing pain

whether it's

physical or

something else

and first he

calls you to

say

father

hallowed be

your name

your kingdom

come

because hey

it's not about

you

it's not about

me

it's about

him

and he knows

actually that the

things that will

thrill you most

more than anything

in fact if we

begin to understand

them are not

things to do with

us our immediate

concerns to things

but are to do with

his nature

his name

and his

kingdom

otherwise we

were like

chickens scratching

around in the dirt

not looking up

at the glories of the

sky that's the

message of the

first half of the

prayer

God first

then we get

ourselves in

proper perspective

what should shape

my prayers

the father's

nature

the father's

name

and the father's

kingdom

but

wonderfully

God does not

ignore

our own needs

he is very

concerned about

you and me

the detail of

our lives

he wants the

best for us

as verse 13

makes very clear

and the fourth

fifth and sixth

things that should

shape our prayers

are there in

verse 3 and 4

first of all

our own

provision

our own provision

in verse 3

give us each

day

our daily

bread

God is not

interested in

dualism

he is not

interested in

us seeing

ourselves as

bodies on the

one hand

and mind

and spirit

over there

and he is only

concerned about

your mind

and spirit

now he made

you as a

physical human

being

he cares about

your body

he knows

you've got

needs

and all

those sorts

of things

the bible

is full of

examples where

he feeds

his people

with manna

Elijah being

fed with

bread

wonderfully

by the

ravens

Jesus feeding

the 5000

he knows

that you

need something

on your

table

to eat

perhaps you

thank God

for your

food and

meal times

let me ask

you

when did

you last

ask him

to provide

your next

meal

when did

you last

ask him

to provide

your next

meal

not just

thank him

for the

one you

just had

or about

to have

there are

many things

that we

take for

granted

but actually

we depend

on

more than

just bread

maybe it's

your next

salary check

give us

each month

our salary

check

that's a good

prayer to pray

because actually

it says

that comes

not from

my boss

but from

God

ultimately

and whether

you use

these words

or not

if we take

on this

attitude

it tells

our forgetful

self-sufficient

hearts

that actually

we rely

on him

even for

the basics

this is a

prayer of

deep trust

and notice

Jesus says

give us

each day

our daily

bread

doubly

reinforced

it's not a

year's supply

in advance

maybe you're

concerned at

the moment

about future

provision

of one

thing or

another

Jesus would

have you

to pray

and to

trust him

for every

day

even when

you can't

see the

whole

even when

you can't

see the

future

provision

and he

will say

more about

that in

chapter 12

maybe these

are words

you need

to hear

chapter 12

verse 29

I'm just

flicking

over the

page

do not

set your

heart

on what

you will

eat or

drink

do not

worry

about it

for the

pagan

world

runs

after all

such

things

and your

father

knows

that you

need

them

but seek

his kingdom

and these

things will

be given

to you

as well

is this an

element that

could be missing

from your

prayers

this dependence

on God

for your

basic

physical

needs

is missing

the danger

is we just

become

wrongly

self-sufficient

in a way

that does

not help

us

understand

his good

provision

for us

and our

dependence

on him

as well

as our

own

provision

Jesus

tells us

to pray

for our

own

pardon

so it's

the second

thing we're

to pray

for for

ourselves

our own

provision

and secondly

our own

pardon

verse 4

forgive us

our sins

for we also

forgive everyone

who sins

against us

I think the

ESV uses

language of

debt and

indebtedness

so if

bread is my

basic physical

need then

pardon

forgiveness

that declaration

from God

that I am

forgiven

in his side

that's my

basic spiritual

need

isn't it

it reminds

me that

the very fact

I can pray

to him at

all is

based on

his forgiveness

of me

you might say

well why

why do I need

to keep his

forgiveness

in the forefront

of my

minds

regularly

well a couple

of reasons

because we

forget the

sinfulness of

sin don't we

we forget just

what it costs

him

the son of

God went

to the cross

because of the

sort of thoughts

and words

and deeds

that you have

exhibited this

week

that's why

Jesus died

we mustn't

forget that

he gave

his life

so that

you and I

can be

forgiven

that's one

reason we

need to

remember his

forgiveness of

us and not

forget the

wonder of

it

secondly

we need to

keep forgiveness

in the forefront

of our minds

because we

keep on

sinning

and it's

not as though

we need to

be saved

over and

over again

but it's

to maintain

that free

flowing

relationship

with our

heavenly

father that

we need

to open

our mouths

acknowledge

confess

when we've

done something

that offends

him

so that our

relationship

can be free

and as it

should be

David knew

all about

that

when I

kept silence

my bones

wasted away

through my

groaning

all day

long

of course

when he

confessed it

he found

full freedom

and praying

this prayer

of course

is also a

commitment

to forgive

other people

we make

the mistake

don't we

forgiveness

is something

that I

receive from

God

and I

love it

and I

let it

wash over

me

and isn't

it great

and we

make the

same mistake

of the

unforgiving

servant

and we

live our

lives

failing to

forgive

other people

but if I

pray this

prayer regularly

I'm less

likely to do

that

because I'll

be reminded

that my

forgiveness

of others

is also

linked to

God's

forgiveness

of me

what should

shape my

prayers

our own

provision

our own

pardon

and lastly

our own

protection

second half

of verse

four

and lead

us not

into

temptation

lead us

not into

temptation

now

I think

it's a

verse

that

raises a

few

questions

firstly

what does

it mean

by temptation

sometimes the

bible means

trial

hard things

in life

sometimes it

means temptation

where somebody

wants me to

fall in some

way

if it's

temptation

well the bible

says that God

doesn't tempt

me

James 1

so why pray

that God

will not do

something that he

won't do

anyway

if it's

testing and

trial

well the bible

says we should

consider it

pure joy

when we

consider

sorry when we

undergo trials

of many kinds

so why should I

pray that I

don't have

that

but we also

know that

Jesus

as he

approached

the cross

even he

prayed to

avoid the

trial of

the cross

think of

Gethsemane

ultimately the

cross was his

goal he was

committed to

doing it and

yet he said

father take

this cup

from me

something that

ultimately was

good although

terrible but I

think it helps

us here because

our prayers might

be lord I

know that you

use everything

that happens to

me but I

don't welcome

those things

that could

knock me

off course

I don't

invite them

God please

as far as

possible keep

those things

from me and

yet not my

will but your

will perhaps

when it comes

to temptation

God please

lead me in

paths today

where I'm not

going to be

drawn into

sin I think

that's a

perfectly God

honouring prayer

and response to

Jesus words here

I don't know

exactly why

Jesus worded it

this way his

wisdom is far

beyond mine

but I do

know that if

prayed sincerely

it should make

us think twice

about temptation

we pray this in

the morning when

temptation rears

its head during

the day having

prayed this that

should prepare us

for what we

meet and

secondly of course

it's a stark

acknowledgement of

our weakness

it's basically

saying lord I'm

I'm weak I

acknowledge that I

could fall in a

million different

ways today

please sustain me

please uphold me

do you ever

begin your day

by doing this

by identifying

the key points

where you know

they're danger

points for you

and praying

ahead

I think that's

the spirit

of this prayer

here

does this

attitude

shape your

prayers

if not

how ready

will you be

when trial

or temptation

come your way

as they will

do

the soldier

who gives

no thoughts

to the dangers

and threats

is a soldier

in serious

danger of his

life

Jesus has

given us

this model

these six

things that

should shape

our prayers

and I

encourage you

to think about

how you can

have your

prayers shaped

by Jesus

words here

I've found it

challenging

we all have

different ways

of praying

don't we

I've found

that having

a series

of prayer

cards

and having

one

that faces

me every

day

with different

things on it

that really

helps me

to pray

having read

through this

and thought

about it

more

I've put

just one

of the

lines

on each

of those

prayer

cards

so each

day

I'll see

one of

the lines

of Jesus

prayers

and it

will help

me

to have

my

prayers

shaped

by his

words

I'd encourage

you to

think about

how you're

going to

not just

go away

from here

!

move on

and go

back to

old ways

of praying

but just

continually

increasingly

have your

prayers

shaped by

what Jesus

says

and his

priorities

is the

father's

nature

missing

or the

honouring

of his

name

hallowing

it

setting it

aside

or his

kingdom

is it

your own

provision

and dependence

on him

is it your

sin and

thankfulness

praise of what

he's done

for you

and knowledge

that you need

to forgive

others as

well

or is it

the protection

that you need

for the day

ahead

which is it

for you

I want to

encourage you

to take a

moment

just to look

with your

bibles open

and that

prayer in

front of you

so we're

not going to

go straight

into our

closing song

but look

look over

that prayer

and perhaps

identify one

of them

one of those

things that

you look at

and think

actually

that hasn't

featured in

my prayers

for the last

six months

then why

not simply

identify it

take a

moment to

pray silently

and ask

for God's

help

and then in

a moment

we'll read

the prayer

all together

a

Thank you.