Encounter Jesus – Luke Week 6

Jesus on Prayer

Luke 11: 1-13

AUDIO

Lecture Handout

Luke Week 6 – Prayer Handout

Lesson Notes

Last week, we talked about the cost of discipleship. This week, we discuss one of the greatest privileges of discipleship – prayer! Prayer is one of the major themes in Luke – Jesus is often seen praying or having prayed. Jesus will teach His disciples about prayer and the bottom line is to pray boldly, pray persistently, and pray godly.

The Lord’s Prayer (Read Luke 11: 1-4)

  • Verse 1 – Jesus finished His own prayer time when a disciple asks Him to teach them to pray
    • Apparently John the Baptist had done this for his disciples
    • They want a distinctive prayer for them as a community of disciples
  • Verses 2-4 – Jesus gives the model prayer we know as the Lord’s Prayer
    • Verse 2 – Praise God, Desiring God’s will
    • Directs us to use “Father” -that relationship we enjoy with God through Christ
    • Prayer that God’s name and reputation would be honored and reverenced
    • We have a role in that honoring/maintaining God’s reputation, so partly relates to our conduct, that it would glorify God
    • Ultimately looks toward Christ’s return and the consummation of the Kingdom
    • Verse 3 – Physical provision – daily bread, similar to God’s provision of manna
    • Note the “us” in these verses – praying collectively, as a group, for the provision and protection of the whole community, not just as individuals
    • Verse 4 – Spiritual protection – forgiveness and protection from temptation
    • Other ancient Jewish prayers emphasized “lead us not into testing” with the idea being “let us not sin when we are tested”
    • This part isn’t about salvation, but the regular cleansing from sin we need daily

Pray Boldly (Read Luke 11: 5-8)

  • Jesus now tells a parable to assure them of the importance of prayer and give more insight into how to pray
  • If a guest came in the night and there was  no food, this brought shame on the host and really the whole village. Rules of hospitality dictate giving food.
  • If you had none, would you wake your neighbor to borrow food?
  • This is a huge imposition – people all slept packed together on mats on the floor and in the bed, so to get up and open the door would disturb everyone, wake kids, get dogs barking, etc.
  • Verse 8 – “Impudence” – lack of sensitivity to what is proper
  • Because this person was bold enough to ask, he’ll get up. It isn’t even because he’s a friend, but only because it was so brazen!
  • Later we’re reminded of how much better  God is, so God isn’t even annoyed.
  • It’s an argument from the lesser to the greater – that even if an irritable guy would answer a friend’s request because of its boldness, how much more will God answer bold prayer?
  • Hebrews 4: 16 – pray boldly!

Pray Persistently (Read Luke 11: 9-10)

  • 3 different ways of stressing the importance and nature of prayer – ask/receive, seek/find, knock/be opened
  • Our prayers will be answered – God is listening
    • Unlike the neighbor in the parable, God listens favorably to our requests
    • Like any father, God will give generously and well
  • Ask = Petition in prayer
  • Seek = God and His will
  • Knock = On the gates of heaven for God’s mercy
  • All are present imperatives, meaning they are ongoing commands – we’re to pray consistently and persistently
  • Not all prayers are answered affirmatively – James 4:3 – how to pray in God’s will
    • Like Luke 22: 42 in the garden – “Father if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
    • 1 John 5: 14 – if we ask according to His will, He hears us (favorably)
    • This points to the next segment which talks about things to pray for – food and spiritual provision, as seen in the Lord’s Prayer

Pray Godly (Read Luke 11: 11-13)

  • Argument from the lesser to the greater – if a child were to ask for a basic staple of life – for them fish and eggs – what father would give a dangerous creature instead? None!
  • Then how much more will God give good things when we ask for the sort of provision we see mentioned here and in the Lord’s Prayer?
  • Verse 13 – the ultimate gift/provision of God – the Holy  Spirit, God’s own Spirit within us
  • The Spirit is God’s ultimate provision for our daily spiritual needs and transformation!

Pray for God’s will, pray for God’s honor, pray for God’s provision, but pray especially for God’s ultimate provision – the Holy Spirit to be at work in your heart and in our church.

 

Next week: Luke 11: 37-12:3 (Woe to the Pharisees)