Slides: Praying to
Your Father

Praying to
Your Father
Luke 11:1-13

 ¹ Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³ Give us each day our daily bread, ⁴ and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Common view of prayer

• If you ask enough times, with enough feeling and faith, it will be given to you.
• Repetition
• Passion
• Certainty
• If you don’t get your request at first, then ask more often, cry louder, believe harder, and get others to pray.

Prayer advice

• “Prayer works on God’s laws just as sure as the law of gravity.” (Rex Humbard)
• “There is a way things work.” (John Eldredge)
• “We must not only pray, but we must also pray with great urgency, with intentness and with repetition. We must press our prayers on God.” (E. M. Bounds)

Is this helpful advice? Is it biblical? Is this how a Father wants to be approached?

Jesus praying

• Prayed after baptism. Spirit came; Father said, “You are my beloved Son.” (3:21-22)
• He would withdraw to desolate places and pray (5:16) after teaching and miracles.
• Before choosing twelve apostles, he went to a mountain and prayed all night. (6:12)
• He prayed and then questioned disciples. Peter: “You are the Christ of God” (9:18-20)
• Transfigured while praying. Voice: “This is my Son, my Chosen One.” (9:28-35)
• After mission: “I thank you, Father.” (10:21)
• Praying for Peter’s faith (22:32).
• Praying to Father in the Garden (22:41-44)
• On cross: “Father, forgive them.” (23:34)
• “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (23:46)

Teach us to pray
¹ Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³ Give us each day our daily bread, ⁴ and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:1-4)

Friend at midnight
⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (Luke 11:5-8)

Common view of prayer

• If you ask enough times, with enough feeling and faith, it will be given to you.
• Repetition
• Passion
• Certainty
• Exactly how many prayers and tears are required to move God?

 
Prayer Warriors?
The prophets of Baal believed that prayer is a matter of repetition, effort, and emotion. Elijah's prayer was short, simple, and effective! (1 Kings 18:25-46)

Don’t pray like pagans

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8)

• Answers to prayer are not prizes in a speech contest judged by a stranger. You’re talking to your Father. He listens because He loves you; he knows your needs because He is wise. So use simple words in simple faith.

How not to pray

• Magical: special words, rituals, and feelings of certainty do not tap into divine magic
• Mechanical: better techniques and frequent repetitions do not automatically produce better results.
• Manipulative: flattery, formality, tears, tantrums, harassment, and group pressure do not move God to give us our way

Father’s child
If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all. (J. I. Packer, Knowing God)
Who is God? Who am I?

Father's welcome
The prodigal son had a speech prepared, but his father rushed to welcome him and restore him before he could even finish his speech (Luke 15:20-24). God is a Father eager to welcome us back and to give us more than we dare ask for. We do not have to make fancy speeches or keep repeating the same request over and over while working up feelings to be more tearful and intense.

Always heard, always loved
God is the ideal parent who hears every child’s request the first time and promises to respond at the right moment, in the best possible way. Therefore, ask anywhere, anytime, in tears or dry-eyed, continually or briefly, passionately or calmly; when it seems convenient; when it appears impossible. Just ask! You are always heard because you are always loved. (David Crump)

Ask, and it will be given
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

Fish or snake?
“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent?” (Luke 11:11)

Egg or scorpion?
“… or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ” (Luke 11:12)

Best Father, best gift
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13)
God sent forth his Son… so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:5-6)