“THE SIMPLICITY OF A HOW MUCH MORE PRAYER LIFE”
TEXT: LK11:1-13
SUBJ: PRAYER
THEME: THE SIMPLICITY OF PRAYER
P/S: E.C. CAN REALIZE THE SIMPLICITY OF PRAYER
T/S: BY UNDERSTANDING 4 TRUTHS REVEALED ABOUT IT BY JESUS IN THE TEXT.
INTRO: I want to look this evening at a much neglected yet much needed aspect of the Christian life and that is prayer. I must admit that I have many times throughout my time as a Christian overlooked and neglected this very needed and important part of our relationship with the Lord. Prayer is our only way of communicating with heaven and we have been given access and opportunity to speak to the god of heaven. The Bible speaks much of prayer. The word “pray” is found in the Bible 313x’s, “prayer” 107x’s, “praying” 20x’s, and “prayed” 65x’s, so I believe it is safe to draw the conclusion that it is important. I have 2 passages of Scripture that help me in 2 aspects of my life. The first one is
ü Personal - Heb 4:12-16 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
ü Pastoral - 1Ti 2:1-8 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
I believe prayer is very important in the life of a believer, I wish I knew how. I do know when I pray and I pray with purpose that He hears me when I talk to Him. And I know that when I talk to Him I get answers to my prayers…all of them. But it only happens WHEN I pray. The problem nowadays is that “men’s hearts are failing them” and they are failing to pray and because of that we are losing the battle….
I have seen 3 places that I believe the church as a whole is losing ground in.
ü Were losing the Battle over SIN - Gods Protection - We sin far too much as Christians and do nothing to remedy it. (Achen)
ü Were losing the Battle over SALVATION - Gods Power - We don’t live a victorious life which gives the sinner no desire to be saved. (2Kings5 little maid)
ü Were losing the Battle over SERVICE - Gods Pursuit - Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world.
Now 3 passages that can cure that problem from Gods word are all answered by the topic we are looking at tonight.
ü Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
ü Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
ü Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Our entire cure for all our difficulties can be found in prayer. And I have come to the conclusion that I have realized it is very simple yet we fail to be consistent with it or nonexistent with it all together. Paul told us in Thessalonians that we are to “pray without ceasing.” So I want too with all that being said over the course of the next few weeks look more intently into this much neglected yet highly important aspect to our relationship with God and man. Tonight I just want to deal with how simple a prayer life with God is. The disciples in this passage of Scripture see God praying and see that He got things done so they asked Him to “teach us to pray” and thus He reveals the answer in this text. With that being said I want to preach on this thought tonight taking my text from vs13 “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?” ………”THE SIMPLICITY OF A HOW MUCH MORE PRAYER LIFE”
I. THE PATTERN OF PRAYER vs1-4
A. THERE IS A PERSON TO EXALT vs2a “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
B. THERE IS A PLAN TO ENLIST vs2b “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”
C. THERE IS A PROVISION TO ENJOY vs3 “Give us day by day our daily bread.”
D. THERE IS A PLEA TO EMBRACE vs4 “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
Note: Jesus gives those that day and us today a Pattern in which to follow. Not a verbatim word by word repetitious prayer that so many have tried to conclude from by His words. Jesus already explained to them and us that don’t be as the Pharisee reciting repetitious prayers. I believe the reason the disciples desired to learn to pray is by watching and hearing Christ pray.
Appl: Can you see the Pattern that Jesus gives us? Is there a Pattern to your prayers or is it just a haphazard stab in the dark getting nowhere and accomplishing nothing?
II. THE PERSISTENCE OF PRAYER vs5-8
A. THE CALL vs5 “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;” (going to a Friend for a friend!) Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
B. THE CAUSE vs6 “For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?”
C. THE COMMITMENT vs8 “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.”
Note: To many times we find ourselves forgetting the importance of coming to God and asking our “Friend” for a “friend”. I am reminded of what Samuel said to the children of Israel . 1Sa 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Appl: Do you go talk to your “Friend” on behalf of a “friend”? I realize many focus their attention on many of the obvious sins in life, but do we focus as much attention on the sin of failing to pray for our friends?
Ill: “little Douglas ” is it possible that you being persistent is the only thing that will help him in the days to come?
III. THE PARABLE OF PRAYER vs9-12
A. ITS COMMAND vs9 “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.”
B. ITS CONCLUSION vs10 “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
C. ITS COMPARISON vs11-12 “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? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Note: bread, fish and egg. These 3 things that are listed were the main stay of a person on a day to day basis.
IV. THE PROMISE OF PRAYER vs13
A. THE EXHORTATION vs13a “If ye then, being evil,”
B. THE EXAMPLE vs13a “know how to give good gifts unto your children:”
C. THE EXPECTATION vs13c “how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
Note: The Promise that God gives everyone is that if you “being evil” can provide those things that you give and are requested of for your children…..HOW MUCH MORE will God give to those that ASK! It is as simple as that. And the biggest thing that I feel God was trying to get across to them was….as your children speak to you and ask of you daily He to would want that as well. Really it is very simple……Just ask my children :0)
Appl: Can you see the Simplicity of the How Much More Prayer Life that God desires of us? Let’s all begin today and see what great things God can do!
Serving with Gladness,
Ps 3:3
East London, South Africa