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!