Prayer is the way that we talked to God. When two persons do not talk with each other, even when they are living together, there must be something wrong with their relationship. If you do not talk to God often, there is also something wrong. You are not living a normal Christian life. This will eventually make you weak to face temptations. Although prayer is basically asking God for what you need, doing it always is a sign that you have a relationship with God.

Prayer is exemplified by Jesus Christ

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

 

1. If Christ who is Lord humbled himself to the Father in prayer, who are we not to pray always to God?

2. As Christ is our example of a prayerful life, let us also be an example to others of a prayerful life that others may see and want also to pray.

Prayer is learned

Luke 11:1 “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

1. Do not assume that you already know what to say when you pray.

2. Ask God to teach you how to pray according to his will.

Prayer should be according to the Lord’s instruction

Luke 11:2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread. 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.

1. Our privilege to pray is based on the kind of relationship we have with God – He is our Father and we are His children because of our faith in His only Son Jesus Christ.

2. We should pray to our Father in heaven, and not to anyone who is also in heaven.

3. We should worship God in prayer recognizing who he is and deeply admiring Him for that.

4. Do not ask only for what you want; ask God to do what he wants.

5. Sin is the reason why God will not hear us, but if we confess our sins, he will cleanse us.

6. A person who is truly sorry is willing also to forgive those who sin against him.

Prayer should be bold and persistent

Luke 11:5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 11:6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him. 11:7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything. 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 11:9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

1. The boldness that we have in coming to God is because of our relationship with Him through what Christ has done for us.

2. This boldness and persistence in prayer are manifestations that you have faith.

3. God allows us to feel something is lacking in us so that we ask and seek for it and realize that only God can really fill it.

Prayer is guaranteed to be answered by God

Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11:11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 11:12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

1. God will answer our prayers in His time, in His way and according to His will.

2. We have a kind of hunger that cannot be satisfied by earthly food, God likes to satisfy it more than you know it.

3. God knows that our only satisfaction is to have Him through His Spirit.

4. When God gave us His Spirit, He gave us what we really need and long for.