Christ's Blueprint for Prayer
By Pastor D. Kris Minefee
Taught by the Teacher Luke 11:1-4
Luke 11:1. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Have you ever placed yourself among the disciples that asked this question? What an opportunity, to ask Jesus the best way to pray! If anyone would know how to reach the Father it would be the only begotten son, Jesus Christ.
We were not there in person to ask the Master to teach us to pray but thanks to the Holy Spirit's work through Luke and the other gospel writers we can still learn the same lessons about prayer Jesus taught his first disciples. And there is nothing lost in the translation, either, God's word is as pure and right in the Bible you hold as it was in the ears of those who listened to Him almost 2000 years ago.
So, are you willing to learn from Jesus Himself? Are you willing to listen with an open mind and open heart as the Holy Spirit reshapes our conceptions of prayer and deepens the relationship between God and his people through prayer? Then lets start with the platform.
Platform for Prayer
Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 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. Let's begin by looking at the model for prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples. Technically, this is not the Lord's prayer. He did not pray it to His Father. The Lord's Prayer is really found in John 17, when Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsamene. This prayer is really a platform or framework upon which we should build our own personal prayers. It is very simple in construction, as any framework should be. It leaves room for us to raise up our own edifices of prayer in which we meet with God.
Relation: To the Father from His Child
Our Father which art in heaven
Look at the beginning of the prayer. What is the first thing you notice, Who is the prayer to? The prayer is to Our Father in Heaven. Jesus used a child's word for father, equivalent to our "daddy" it is the same word used in Romans 8:15 "Abba, Father".
What does this tell us about the relationship of those who pray? They must be children of God, they must be saved. It also tells us that in prayer we are to understand God as our “Abba” Father, a very personal, intimate relationship.
How do you think of God when you approach Him in Prayer? Do your prayers reflect that understanding or do they sound distant and routine?
Would you talk to your earthly father in the same way you pray to your Heavenly Father, using the same words, same tone, same order, same beginning same ending?. What are some ways in which my prayers should change and deepen along with my understanding of God as my Father? Wouldn't you spend more time in prayer? Wouldn't you grow in respect for Him as you realize how much He loves and blesses you. Wouldn't you want to talk to Him more readily, sooner, quicker, rather than waiting until you have to.
When I was a young child living in Altus, Oklahoma, I remember running through the house during a thunderstorm. I was looking for the one place where I could feel safe. I ran into the living room and there was my Dad, sitting on the couch. I jumped into his lap and buried my face in his chest and knew that I was safe in the protecting arms of my Dad. I think we should go back to that same kind of feeling when we come to God in prayer. He is our father and we will never outgrow that relationship nor his ability to protect us.
No comments:
Post a Comment