| This one simple request resulted in such precious | | | | He is and always has been - HOLY. Father - You are |
| practical teaching. Never be afraid or slow to make | | | | pure - You are perfect. There is this sense of |
| relevant requests. | | | | reverence and awe and respect, and yet, with liberty |
| We move onto Luke Chapter 11 and verse 13. It is | | | | and freedom too. |
| another very precious moment on the journey to | | | | Jesus goes on to teach His Disciples to pray - "Thy |
| Calvary. | | | | Kingdom come" - for the coming of the Father's |
| We read of Jesus Christ praying - Jesus at Prayer - | | | | Kingdom. Father, come and govern and rule and reign. |
| Jesus communicating with His Father. And Jesus says | | | | Thy Will be done. May Your Will be done on earth as it |
| to us His Disciples - "Follow Me". Here is one way to | | | | is in heaven. Jesus Himself prayed - 'Not My Will but |
| follow Him more closely - in the realm of prayer. This is | | | | Thine be done'. May thy purposes be done on earth. It |
| one very practical way whereby we can be obedient | | | | is a small phrase, but it has so much meaning. |
| to God - simply by praying. | | | | There is a challenge there to our commitment to Jesus |
| When we read of Jesus praying - it is as if we are on | | | | Christ - to our dedication to Jesus - to our obedience |
| very holy ground - and we can almost feel like | | | | to the Father - to our openness and moving of the |
| intruders, as we overhear Jesus talking with His Father. | | | | Holy Spirit. |
| When Jesus prayed He normally prayed out loud - | | | | God's Will is the best thing we can ask for - no matter |
| with His eyes open - lifting up His eyes to heaven. | | | | what our situation - and at all times - and on every |
| There is a freedom in prayer which Jesus enjoys - | | | | occasion - "Thy Will be done". |
| there is a liberty as Jesus talks with His Father - and | | | | Give us each day our daily bread - give us Father, the |
| the disciples hear and see the difference. | | | | food we need for the next 24 hours. The phrase may |
| They wait until Jesus finishes praying, and someone | | | | not mean very much to us in this country - with so |
| asks, "Lord, teach us to pray." They had never heard | | | | many shops overflowing with various kinds of foods. |
| anyone pray like this. They had never known anyone | | | | But in many lands - these cries would have deep |
| enjoy such spiritual liberty and freedom and reverence | | | | significance. They could be life and death pleas for |
| - all so naturally. | | | | men and women and children - in India - Ethiopia - |
| Now, they were Jews. For 20 years or so, they would | | | | Mozambique - on the refuse tips of Brazil and Nairobi. |
| have said prayers - they would have been able to | | | | This phrase is relevant for perhaps more than half the |
| recite prayers - but now, they wanted to learn to pray | | | | population of the world. |
| - and they knew Jesus would teach them. They were | | | | We do not need more food - we do need more |
| open to learn - they wanted to grow - they want to | | | | forgiveness. We do not need more prosperity in our |
| know how to pray. One disciple asks a question and | | | | country - but we do need more pardon. |
| we have this gem - this important teaching regarding | | | | That leads us on to our next verse. "Forgive us our |
| praying - how to pray. This is the reply to one request. | | | | sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against |
| Jesus took the opportunity, and He taught them to | | | | us." We are only forgiven as we forgive. |
| begin with God, and to remember they were part of | | | | There has been this call in our land - that perhaps |
| the family. This is the prayer for the Christian Family - | | | | more than anything else - we need to bow before our |
| for those who are in Christ - for those who belong to | | | | Father, and repent and confess. The person who |
| the Father through faith in Jesus. | | | | prays is seldom arrogant. Praying leads to humility. The |
| From the very beginning, Jesus taught them to keep it | | | | person who prays is becoming more and more aware |
| all so simple - keep everything simple - but SAY | | | | of his need - and our relying upon God - and our |
| something. When you pray 'Our Father' - remember | | | | depending upon the Holy Spirit. This is very much the |
| that others belong to Him as well. We belong to the | | | | disciple's prayer. Jesus would never have to pray this |
| family of the Father. We need never feel isolated, not | | | | phrase. |
| when we are in the Church of Jesus Christ. We are | | | | Then Jesus teaches - pray - "Lead us not into |
| so privileged to be able to address God as Father - at | | | | temptation - but deliver us from the evil one." |
| any time - on any occasion - whatever the need might | | | | We need food - we need forgiveness - and we need |
| be. | | | | freedom. We need to be delivered and set free from |
| When you pray 'Our Father' - remember that His | | | | all that comes from the evil one - from sins - bitterness |
| Name is to be hallowed. Father - You are holy - and | | | | - envy - jealousy - resentments - to be released from |
| we recognise and acknowledge that. You are different | | | | any hold the evil one may have over us. |
| - You are set apart. There are no faults with You. You | | | | One disciple makes a request and we have this gem |
| are not like an earthly Father. | | | | of teaching which will never lose its value. |