Worship - 02

Lesson Two - "Lord, teach us to pray."

TEXT: Luke 11:1-4

INTRODUCTION:

A. STRANGE REQUEST.

1. Have we thought about how to pray?

2. We need to learn more about prayer.

B. WE DON'T PRAY ENOUGH.

1. Lack of understanding - Disciples didn't know either.

2. The opportunity to learn is here.

I. WE PRAY BECAUSE IT IS A DUTY & PRIVILEGE

( 1 Thes. 5:17; Phil. 4:6; 1 John 5:14-15 ).

II. THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN PRAYING:

A. NOT TO BE SEEN OF MEN( Mat. 6:5-6 ).

B. NOT TO BE FULL OF VAIN REPETITIONS( Mat. 6:7-8 ).

C. FROM THE HEART( Mk. 7:6-9; John 4:24 ).

D. CONTRAST THESE PRAYERS( Luke 18:9-14 ).

E. PUBLIC PRAYERS TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL( 1 Cor. 14:14-19 ).

III. WHAT SHOULD MY PRAYER CONTAIN?

A. ADDRESS PRAYER TO GOD( Mat. 6:9; Col. 3:17 ).

B. THE BODY:

1. Praise to God( Acts 4:23-28 ).

2. Thanksgiving( Phil. 4:6 ).

a. Spiritual blessings: Jesus, the church, the Bible, etc.

b. Material blessings: Food, clothing, homes, nation, etc.

3. Requests( Phil. 4:6 ):

a. Spiritual: forgiveness, wisdom( Jas. 1:5-8 )others (Eph.6:18-19; Phil. 1:3-5, 9-11 ).

b. Physical( 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Mat. 6:11; 3 John 2 ).

C. CLOSE IN THE NAME OF JESUS( Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17 ).

D. DIFFERENT OCCASIONS CALL FOR DIFFERENT PRAYERS & EMPHASIS, ie.communion, before study, eating, retiring, traveling, dismissal.

E. WHAT ABOUT "THEE" & "THOU" IN PRAYER.

IV. WHO CAN PRAY?

A. THOSE SEEKING TO DO HIS WILL( Psa. 34:15 ).

B. THOSE WHO ASK IN FAITH( James 1:6-7 ).

C. THOSE WHO ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL( 1 John 5:14-15 ).

V. GOD WILL NOT HEAR EVERY MAN'S PRAYER.

A. THE FAITHLESS( James 1:6-7 ).

B. THOSE WHO SEEK MERELY TO SATISFY THE FLESH( James 4:3 ).

C. THOSE WHO REMAIN IN SIN( Isa. 59:1-2; Prov. 28:9; Psa. 66:18 ).

D. THOSE OUTSIDE CHRIST( John 14:6; Heb. 7:25; 4:14-16 ).

CONCLUSION:

A. WE MUST BE IN CHRIST( Gal. 3:26-27 ).

B. IF YOU WANT TO BE HEARD BY GOD, YOU MUST LISTEN TO HIM!