Father!

Luke 11:1-13

Key Verse 11:2

In this passage Jesus teaches us about prayer.

1. Verse 1 describes the occasion on which Jesus taught the disciples to pray. What can we learn from Jesus? What can we learn from the disciples?

** Jesus waited for the desire to learn about prayer to arise in the disciples. Jesus did this by himself setting an example of prayer. From this we learn that we must first set an example in offering prayers, for we can best teach others by setting an example. 

** The disciples had a learning mind. They watched Jesus closely and saw him praying. Then the desire to learn about prayer arose in them. They were very much like a loving child to a mother or a father, wanting to learn everything from parents.   

2. In verse 2 Jesus said, "When you pray, 'say'..." What does the word "say" indicate about the nature of prayer? Why is it important to “say” what we do in prayer?  

** It is basically a conversation with God like two persons talking, communicating with one another. 

** It is important because the word is the instrument to make our wishes and desires known to God the Father. Although God knows what we need, still he expects us to express what we need in words for God left it up to each person to decide what to ask, what not to ask in prayer.     

3. In verse 2b, Jesus asked the disciples to say, "Father". What does "Father" indicate about the kind of attitude we are to have in approaching Him in prayer?

** The word, ‘Father’ presupposes our position as children. So the attitude is that of a child coming to a daddy with deep conviction of the love and power of God the Father.

 

4. Think about the prayer topics about God the Father mentioned in verse 2. Why should we pray for God's name to be hallowed? Why should we pray for God's kingdom to come?

** First, we are to pray that God's name be hallowed in order for us to secure from the Father the power and strength to help us conduct ourselves in a manner that honors God's name.

Second, we pray for this prayer topic (hallowed be your name), for it is when his name is revered and held in high honor that all peoples on earth can rise to God's level. 

The name refers to God's essential character. "Hallowed" means "holy", "divine", or "sacred".  In other words, it refers to the uniqueness of God, for he is different from all creatures. Exodus 15:11; Psalm 35:10; 113:5 

In sum we need to pray for this prayer topic that all peoples on earth would overcome their lowly state and come to live a life which is compatible with the way God created each person i.e., with God's image. 

** God's kingdom is the same as the "rule of God". The kingdom of God is identical with the perfect paradise. So we need to pray for this prayer topic that we would recover what we lost, that is, the perfect Garden of Eden. 

5. Consider the three prayer topics listed for us in verses 3-4. Why do we need to pray in this way?     

** We need to pray for our daily bread because:

1) We are in need of both physical food and spiritual food (word of God); 2) We know that ultimately it is God who provides for what we need for life; 3) we need His provision 'each' and "every" day; 4) we are dependant on one another, so we are to pray not just for ourselves but also for our neighbor. 

** We need to pray for mutual sin forgiveness because: 

1) Jesus knows that everyone sins in one way or another, knowingly or unknowingly; 2) joyful life grows out of good relationships with God and with our neighbors; 3) Sin is what breaks our relationship with God and with our neighbors; 4) sin causes us to lose the joy of life and all other essential ingredients such as peace and comfort; and 5) sin is a collective problem, i.e., a problem with all others involved, that it must be addressed this way, that is, by each person asking God to forgive his sins, he too should go out and forgive others of the sins committed against him.

** We must pray that God would not lead us to temptation because through this prayer we are asking God to enable us to remain worthy of participating in His holiness. The truth is that all things come from God, good or bad. Read Ecc 7:14; Isa 46:10; 45:7; 1Co 8:6;10:13; Jud 9:23; Pro 17:3; 27:21.     

6. Read verses 5-8. What do you think Jesus is trying to teach us about prayer?

** We can say that Jesus is trying to teach us the spirit of prayer in the following ways:

1) the spirit of 'friendship', for a friend in need is the friend indeed, indicating that the motive of our prayer should be to fill the need of friend in need; and 

2) the spirit of "boldness", for boldness has to do with great courage, because it is so easy for us to be "discouraged" by all kinds of discouraging situations, such as our limits (in all kinds of resources) and shortcomings (such as character flaws, lack of faith and patience), whereas the needs are overwhelmingly great.  

7. Meditate on Jesus' words in verses 9-13. What does this passage teach us about prayer? 

** We need to pray: 1) "expecting" the results by first asking, then, seeking, and then knocking (9-10); and 2) with the deep conviction that the Lord God would give us what is truly best, that is, the Holy Spirit (11-13). The end