PRAYER IN THE DAILY LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN

Luke 11:1

Part 1
Introduction: One of the paramount pictures of Christ in the book of Luke is His PRAYER LIFE. The Book of Luke presents Christ as the “Son of Man,” for He is set forth as the perfect man, the Son of Man sent from heaven. As the only Begotten Son we witness His prayer life.

In our text, we find the only thing that His disciples ask Him to teach them. They did not ask the Lord Jesus to teach them to preach or witness or even work miracles. They asked Him to teach them to pray. Maybe that is one reason why my prayers are shallow many times. It might be that I need to learn the lessons of prayer from the life of our Saviour.

What is our greatest need for a New Year? Maybe our greatest failure of the past is our failure to be a praying person. Isn’t it still true that we advance on our knees?

Let’s consider Christ:

1. He seemed to regularly sought a solitary place to pray. Mark 1:35

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

Mark 6:46

“And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”

Matthew 14:23

“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”

Luke 6:12

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

John 6:15

“When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”

I have heard people talk about the empty nest syndrome. Until Seth started to work, I thought it was a lot of hot air. But now I am alone during those days that I am off and find myself alone more and more. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I ought take advantage of this time to be alone with God. Wanda reminded me when I was talking of the empty house that I have never like being alone. But I as I working on this message, I realized that I can get more accomplished for the Lord, if I will pray in those times of private times.

2. Jesus advocated fervent, persistent prayer.

Luke 11:5-13

“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Luke 18:1-8

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Many times our prayers are short, sweet and straight to the point. But there times when we need fervent, persistent prayer if for no other reason to show the Lord that we really mean business.

Many times we pray over a matter two or three times and wonder why they Lord has not answered even if the answer is no. Maybe it is our lack of persistent praying that is causing our church not to grow, as it ought.

We should be praying for five new families by March. That is a noble cause. But unless we work and pray toward that goal, it will be very little more than a pipe dream. We must pray as we go.

3. Jesus taught true humility with prayer.

Luke 18:9-13

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

I notice that a lot of time when I am praying for others that I have take Pharisee attitude at least in my thoughts. If we expect to move men by prayer, then we better rope in our thoughts to think like the poor publican in our parable by the Master Teacher.

4. He was asked to teach the disciples to pray.

Luke 11:1

Here are a few observations about Jesus being asked to teach His disciples to pray. We can learn three important lessons here.

a. We should learn that the gifts and graces of others should lead us to desire the same.

b. We should learn that the true method of praying can be learned only by our being properly taught. Indeed, we cannot pray acceptably at all unless God shall teach us how to pray.

c. We should learn that it is proper for us to meditate beforehand what we are to ask of God, and to arrange our thoughts, that we may not come thoughtlessly into his presence. One older preacher I heard on the radio years ago suggested taking your hymnbook and spend a few minutes singing unto the Lord those old songs of the faith. As you sing think about what and to whom you are singing. Then you will be more able to pray. Then before you pray, read a portion of scripture that is a promise or challenge to live right. Then you should be ready to pray.

5. Jesus pleaded for the will of God on His knees.

Luke 22:39-44

“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

I believe I can safely say that I have never met a man whom the angels came and comforted them during or after they prayed. The only way to seek God’s will outside of the Bible is by prayer, more prayer and much prayer. This is God’s blueprint for us. Our Saviour marked the way by His prayer in the Garden.

Conclusion: When you examine the Gospel of Luke you realize that Christ had a tremendous prayer life, which the Christian should imitate. This imitation is not for show but a heart-felt desire to be like our Saviour.

This is the introduction to the thought of daily prayer time for the believer. Next week we will consider the power of prayer in the life of the saint of God.
Pastor Mike Walls
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