WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.659 Thank you, Jonathan. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:17.979 So the topic is prayer, and we're going to look at it because it is a critical piece, a critical part of what does it mean to follow Jesus, is learning how to pray. 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:26.840 As you'll see at the very beginning of the passage that we'll read in a few minutes, what happens is the disciples come and say, Lord, teach us how to pray. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:39.300 And this would have been a very common thing in the original context where particular followers of a teacher would say, teach us how to pray distinctively. 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:43.799 What is it that's going to be distinctive about being a follower of you? 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:46.340 And how does that show itself in prayer? 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:48.799 And that's a really great question. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:50.819 What does it mean? 00:01:50.899 --> 00:01:56.979 What is distinctive about how Christians would pray because we follow Jesus? 00:01:57.099 --> 00:01:58.200 And this is the question. 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:03.700 But before we dive into that, I want you to just stop and do a little mental exercise with me 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:11.780 about what are some of the common perceptions of what prayer is today. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:14.420 And maybe some of you have shared some of these. 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:17.680 And maybe some of you have practiced some of these. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:19.560 I sure really have at times. 00:02:20.699 --> 00:02:23.520 Some of the ways that prayer might be viewed today. 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:29.319 Well, one of the most popular ones, I think, is what I would call the foxhole prayer, right? 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:32.259 It also might be called the patron saint prayer. 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:36.039 And what this means is, basically, I live my life. 00:02:36.399 --> 00:02:44.780 But man, when things get really bad and I am in a jam and I need help to get out, then I turn to God. 00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:48.379 And my prayer is basically, God, get me out of this one. 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:53.199 And then I'll change my life and do all the, you know, we often make all sorts of promises connected to it. 00:02:53.399 --> 00:02:54.500 But that's one way. 00:02:54.899 --> 00:02:56.500 God, get me out of this scrape. 00:02:56.500 --> 00:03:04.300 I think another view that sometimes we have is that God is like a great benevolent Santa Claus. 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:09.719 And prayer is like bringing to him our wish list of what we're going to get for Christmas. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:12.340 Can I get a house on the beach? 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:16.780 Can I get a, you know, magnificent spouse? 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:18.960 Can I have a successful career? 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:24.760 Can I get, you know, three warm meals and a warm bed and a home every day? 00:03:24.920 --> 00:03:36.760 You know, all sorts of things where we just think God's going to just make our lives easier and full of just physical, pleasant, nice things. 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:47.459 Sometimes I think we have a vending machine view of God, which is, God, I was really good this week. 00:03:48.019 --> 00:03:49.879 Can I, can I get something for that? 00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:54.019 If I put in my quarter of like, I helped a lady cross the street. 00:03:54.199 --> 00:04:01.620 I read my Bible every day, you know, and then I get to hit my C3 button, which means that I get God to give me something in return. 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:04.299 I think sometimes we think of God that way. 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:07.820 And then we think, oh, what if I've had a terrible week? 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:10.120 Can I ask God for anything at all? 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:13.280 Because I don't have any money to put in the machine this week. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:15.320 What do I get from him? 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:21.180 Sometimes I think we have what I call the trust fund view of prayer and God. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:28.400 That is that God is this great big resource bank, but he only works at like 30,000 feet. 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:33.540 That is, God's going to sort of get you started, but then it's up to you to do what you're going to do with your life. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:35.160 And he's not interested in the details. 00:04:35.460 --> 00:04:37.920 He's not going to help with the day to day. 00:04:40.340 --> 00:04:45.900 Sometimes I think we have a view of God that is what I call the stingy dad God. 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:48.600 I don't know what kind of dad your dad was like. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:50.460 My dad wasn't really like this. 00:04:50.520 --> 00:04:52.259 It was actually my mom that was more this way. 00:04:52.520 --> 00:04:58.020 But if you went and asked her for like extra money when you went to the store for, can I get a piece of gum? 00:04:58.439 --> 00:04:58.680 No. 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:00.560 No, we don't have money in that. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:01.560 It's not in the budget. 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:02.439 You don't need that anyway. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:03.579 Why are you asking me? 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:07.300 I think sometimes we think God is like that too. 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:11.240 And so we think, can we ask him for anything? 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:17.920 These are some of the ways maybe we think about prayer. 00:05:18.280 --> 00:05:21.699 Some of the ways that in our heads we approach it. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:24.540 I know I struggle to pray. 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:27.300 My guess is I'm not alone. 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:30.620 This leads us to our passage tonight. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:31.500 So let's look at it. 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:33.420 Luke chapter 11. 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:37.980 We're going to look at verses 1 through 13. 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:41.120 And if I can get through this without my reading glasses, it'll be a miracle. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:44.200 So that's one more technical hurdle to overcome. 00:05:44.840 --> 00:05:45.840 But here we go. 00:05:46.280 --> 00:05:49.600 Luke 11, 1 through 13. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:55.240 And as we're looking at this, remember, what we want to ask is, what does it mean? 00:05:56.300 --> 00:05:59.620 How is it that Christian prayer is distinctive? 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.800 How is it that Jesus teaches his followers to pray? 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:04.920 And what does this mean for us? 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:06.420 So let's look at this passage. 00:06:06.420 --> 00:06:10.220 Now, Jesus was praying in a certain place. 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:13.259 And when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:17.140 Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples. 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:21.759 And he said to them, when you pray, say, 00:06:22.700 --> 00:06:26.660 Father, hallowed be your name. 00:06:27.460 --> 00:06:28.639 Your kingdom come. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:32.220 Give us each day our daily bread. 00:06:32.220 --> 00:06:34.780 And forgive us our sins. 00:06:34.980 --> 00:06:38.900 For we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.340 And lead us not into temptation. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:51.820 And he said to them, which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 00:06:51.940 --> 00:06:53.640 Friend, lend me three loaves. 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:58.400 For a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:02.000 And he will answer from within, do not bother me. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:05.199 The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:07.259 I cannot get up and give you anything. 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:12.000 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything, 00:07:12.239 --> 00:07:17.139 because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence, 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:20.199 he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:24.459 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.699 Seek, and you will find. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:29.920 Knock, and it will be opened to you. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.259 For everyone who asks, receives. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.399 And the one who seeks, finds. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.620 And to the one who knocks, it will be opened. 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:42.959 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, 00:07:43.419 --> 00:07:45.800 will instead of a fish give him a serpent? 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:49.879 Or if he asks him for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:55.360 If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:07:55.699 --> 00:08:02.639 how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:05.220 Please pray with me. 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:09.800 Lord, we ask for your help as we look at this word tonight. 00:08:10.100 --> 00:08:11.800 Lord, help us to understand it rightly. 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:15.439 Help us to understand you rightly as we see it. 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:22.500 And Lord, as we see you rightly, will you teach us, Lord, how to pray? 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:26.579 Teach us the way Jesus would want us to pray today. 00:08:27.280 --> 00:08:29.000 We pray these things in his name. 00:08:29.900 --> 00:08:30.300 Amen. 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:34.639 So how do Christians pray? 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:36.460 What does it look like for us to do this? 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:37.980 There are basically two sections. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:41.580 There's the pattern of prayer that we see in verses 2 through 4. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:46.740 And then there's the perspective on prayer, which is the rest of the section from 5 to 13. 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:48.580 And so we're just going to look at it. 00:08:48.660 --> 00:08:55.300 First, the pattern and then the perspective to get a little bit of a glimpse of how it is that Jesus wants us to understand this. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:08:58.340 You guys know this. 00:08:58.420 --> 00:08:59.360 This is a well-known. 00:08:59.900 --> 00:09:03.960 Maybe you found yourself stumbling as I was reading verses 2 through 4. 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:04.740 Did you find it? 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:08.560 Because there's a very common version that we all know. 00:09:09.540 --> 00:09:12.019 Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:12.800 Your kingdom come. 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:14.580 Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:17.480 Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us not our trespasses. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:19.879 We forgive those who trespass against us. 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:22.000 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:23.639 For thine is kingdom and glory forever and ever. 00:09:23.700 --> 00:09:23.840 Amen. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:24.600 Right? 00:09:24.680 --> 00:09:26.420 I was raised in a Presbyterian church. 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:26.960 I got it. 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:27.900 I know it. 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:28.560 By heart. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:30.279 I don't even have to think about it. 00:09:30.619 --> 00:09:30.779 Right? 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:32.379 This isn't that, is it? 00:09:34.079 --> 00:09:34.399 Right? 00:09:34.599 --> 00:09:36.019 That's the Matthew version. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:41.859 It's actually the version probably from early church tradition as they kind of put some things together. 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:45.919 The Lord's Prayer as it's been well known. 00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:48.339 Here, it's not that it's not that. 00:09:48.339 --> 00:09:54.199 But when Luke records how Jesus taught his disciples, it's a little different, isn't it? 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:58.860 So I want to focus on what it is that Luke says is most important. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:09:59.740 Right? 00:09:59.920 --> 00:10:05.840 And as we're reading these stories, recognize Matthew is teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about how to pray. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:07.480 And it's a very similar setting. 00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:10.820 And Matthew's prayer is going to be a little longer and a little more fleshed out. 00:10:11.780 --> 00:10:14.320 Luke's is a little bit shorter and a little bit more concise. 00:10:15.020 --> 00:10:15.740 Why is this? 00:10:15.900 --> 00:10:19.780 Well, there could be lots of different ways that we could think about this. 00:10:19.780 --> 00:10:23.940 But maybe the easiest way is to think of it being one of two possibilities. 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:27.620 One is that Jesus taught on prayer probably a bunch of times. 00:10:28.300 --> 00:10:32.100 And so Luke records one one time and Matthew records another time. 00:10:32.300 --> 00:10:40.420 The other thing is if you've ever, if we just talked, interviewed five people who heard Bernie Sanders speak on there and say, 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.380 What did Bernie say? 00:10:42.140 --> 00:10:43.800 There'll probably be some overlap. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:47.420 And then there might be some distinctive things that each one is going to say. 00:10:47.640 --> 00:10:51.800 Neither of these witnesses, none of the witnesses are lying about what they heard. 00:10:51.799 --> 00:11:01.639 But they're going to emphasize certain things that they thought were important or significant to communicate to someone who wanted to know what Bernie said. 00:11:02.079 --> 00:11:07.479 So when we're reading this and Luke is saying, This is what I want you to focus on. 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:13.060 He's just saying, Hey, this is what Jesus said that I want you to hear. 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:15.720 Matthew said, This is what Jesus said. 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:17.700 There are a few other things I want you to hear too. 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:20.259 It doesn't mean that there was contradictory. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.379 They're contradictory. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:28.920 It actually establishes the credibility of the witness says that they didn't make this up, but that they were independently reporting it. 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:33.539 That's a side note on why this is different before we get into it. 00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:35.279 So now let's get into it. 00:11:35.319 --> 00:11:35.759 Look with it. 00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:37.179 Verse 2. 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:42.099 And he said to them, When you pray, say, Father. 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:42.220 Father. 00:11:45.500 --> 00:12:03.820 Now, if you were in the first century, particularly if you were from a Jewish background, which most of the disciples were, which Jesus was, which all the people, his context was primarily Jewish people, not entirely. 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:10.879 But when you talk to God, you would never use this word. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:14.860 Because this word is a word of intimacy. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:20.420 The easiest thing, the English word for it, it would be something like daddy. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:23.200 Right? 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:41.759 When Jesus taught us to approach God, he said, Don't approach God as the most high potentate with the power to extend his scepter and either kill you or agree to your request. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.759 Which is what would be commonly viewed in that day. 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:50.480 When you approach God, you're approaching one with absolute power. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:53.279 And you approach him with fear and trembling. 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:59.460 And you approach him recognizing that in his great power, you have nothing. 00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:02.120 You have no right to approach him. 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:05.559 And in fact, you are endangering your life by approaching him. 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:14.959 But Jesus says, when you address God Almighty, call him Father. 00:13:17.719 --> 00:13:22.339 Now, he doesn't mean, Jesus is my best friend. 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.619 Jesus is my homeboy. 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:28.379 God is my, like, you know, guy that I hang out and watch NCIS reruns with. 00:13:28.739 --> 00:13:29.019 Right? 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:39.659 He's not diminishing the greatness of God, but he's adding to the greatness of God a picture, a portrait of an intimate approach to him. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:42.519 That is different. 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:45.960 And we see that in the second phrase, right? 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:47.399 Hallowed be your name. 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:49.399 Hallowed is such a terrible word. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.620 It's been kept because it's in the tradition. 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.860 But does anyone know what Hallowed means? 00:13:55.319 --> 00:13:55.919 Right? 00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:00.459 Only because you've thought through, what does Halloween really mean? 00:14:00.939 --> 00:14:01.039 Right? 00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:06.219 It means, it's an older English word that means set apart, sanctified. 00:14:06.579 --> 00:14:09.079 Or shown to be special. 00:14:09.219 --> 00:14:17.240 Or shown to be wonderfully pure and perfect and well done. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:26.440 And so, and so what, what Jesus is saying is, you approach God Almighty and you call him Daddy. 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:36.580 But then your first request is, let your name, let, and the name would signify the person and their character and their nature of who they are. 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:45.879 Let your name be seen as special, as holy, as set apart from any other name. 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:48.820 Your name should be lifted up in the lights. 00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:51.419 Greater than any political candidate. 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:55.299 Greater than any NBA superstar. 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:58.460 Greater than any rock star. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:09.659 Your name should be lifted up as the one who is worthy of our worship, of our adoration, of our devotion, of our lives. 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:15.399 Father, let your name be Hallowed. 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:25.399 And then he goes on and he says, and God, because you are such a great God, let your kingdom come. 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:31.259 It's such a wonderful prayer. 00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:34.860 Because what Jesus starts to do when he says, this is how you pray. 00:15:35.199 --> 00:15:36.720 He says, lift up your eyes. 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:39.659 Lift up your eyes to the greatness of God. 00:15:40.939 --> 00:15:49.039 Let your kingdom come means not God make my kingdom come in my life. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:52.599 Which I think is often how we approach prayer. 00:15:53.199 --> 00:15:58.059 We think, God, I want you to help me succeed in my plans for life. 00:15:58.059 --> 00:16:06.899 And what Jesus is saying is, when you approach God, approach him with this intimacy. 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:10.899 Approach him with this exalted view of his greatness. 00:16:11.739 --> 00:16:17.939 And recognize that what prayer wants, what God wants to do as we approach him in prayer. 00:16:18.099 --> 00:16:22.179 Is to unseat ourself in the center of our lives. 00:16:22.339 --> 00:16:24.199 And in the center of our prayer lives. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.299 And to put God in the middle of it instead. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:28.919 God, will your kingdom come? 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:32.399 Will the things that you care about. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:34.859 Will the values that you hold to. 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:38.279 Will your decrees and your rules. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.759 And your character be expressed more and more. 00:16:43.599 --> 00:16:46.199 In this world and in my life. 00:16:46.859 --> 00:16:49.379 Let your kingdom come. 00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:54.000 So he starts with this in verse 2. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.639 He says, lift up your eyes. 00:16:56.299 --> 00:17:01.079 Unseat yourself and focus yourself on God. 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:06.819 The second thing then in verse 3 says, give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins. 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:09.720 For we, for ourselves, forgive those who sin. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:14.019 Well, for everyone who is indebted to us. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:17.859 And when we think about what is Jesus teaching us in these prayers. 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:21.680 He's saying, recognize that your life. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:26.039 Both your physical life in terms of your daily bread. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:28.099 And your spiritual life. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.639 The fact that there's a funny word. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:35.379 When it says, give us each day our daily bread. 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:39.180 The word there daily has very odd connotations. 00:17:39.560 --> 00:17:41.700 It doesn't just mean something you do every day. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:46.800 It actually probably has connotations that would remind any Jewish person listening. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:50.259 Of the story of God's provision of manna in heaven. 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.720 Manna from heaven. 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:54.480 When God's people were wandering in the wilderness. 00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:57.279 A million people without supplies. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:02.039 God miraculously and supernaturally provided food for them. 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:03.579 This thing called manna. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.579 Which means, what is it? 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:07.939 This food that appeared on the ground every morning. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.159 That they could gather and eat. 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:11.619 That sustained them and nourished their life. 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:21.279 And ultimately what we see as he goes on in the part about forgiveness. 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:25.419 Is to recognize that even our spiritual life is grounded in. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.899 Our being forgiven of our sin. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.839 Which causes death in our lives. 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.859 That sin being covered over. 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:39.179 So that we might receive from God what we really need. 00:18:39.459 --> 00:18:42.899 Which is true and new spiritual life from him. 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:48.079 So the first move of prayer is lift up your eyes. 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:51.679 The second one is recognize from that one that you've lifted your eyes up to. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.839 Now receive life. 00:18:54.199 --> 00:18:56.879 Recognize that you're dependent on him. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.599 For everything. 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.839 Just stop and think. 00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:05.480 What are the things that you think you need most for life? 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:08.319 Physically. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.159 Spiritually. 00:19:10.459 --> 00:19:12.559 It's very easy for us to seek. 00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:15.000 To begin to find our life in other things. 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.939 My life is in my career. 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:19.779 My life is in this relationship with this special person. 00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:23.379 My life is in my pleasure. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.379 And my hobby. 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.980 My life is in my sense of self-satisfaction. 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.019 Or meaning in life. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:32.799 Jesus is saying as we pray. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:37.420 May we recognize that everything we have comes from God. 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:43.079 He is the one who is actually the giver of real and true and eternal life. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:45.220 And so let's ask him for it. 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.420 Go to him for it. 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:53.000 Then finally lead us not into temptation. 00:19:54.300 --> 00:19:56.640 This is just a recognition of our weakness. 00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:59.440 Saying God keep us from. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:02.400 Temptation might not be the right word here. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:04.360 You may know this in the New Testament. 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:07.100 The word temptation is also the word for trial. 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:13.179 And you can sort of play it back and forth into exactly what the meaning might be. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:15.539 We tend to think of those things as very different. 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:18.459 The New Testament probably thinks of them as a lot closer together. 00:20:19.199 --> 00:20:23.480 But part of what he's saying here is God don't give me more than I can handle. 00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:27.000 Don't give me something that will overwhelm me. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:33.799 Lead us not into a situation where I will be lost. 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:37.200 Or where I will be overwhelmed. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:42.460 Maybe overwhelmed by giving in to sin and despair. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:47.019 Maybe being overwhelmed simply by being crushed by life. 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:55.160 Again, this is a recognition again of my life is in God's hands. 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.680 He alone is the one who can actually help me. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:01.440 And protect me from those things that would destroy me. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:06.619 And these are the emphases in this pattern. 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.319 So I want you to stop and think. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:13.519 When you pray, do you think about who is God? 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:16.119 And how can I exalt his name? 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:21.220 Can I pray, God, will you give me life? 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:23.639 Life that is centered on you. 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:32.039 When we pray, do we express a dependence upon God for everything? 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:40.039 Or do we come to him demanding, bargaining, complaining? 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:48.339 Jesus gives us a pattern that we ought to follow as we think about how we pray. 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:50.759 But he doesn't just give us a pattern. 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:52.940 He goes on and he gives us a perspective. 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:56.839 I love these little stories that he gives us, right? 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:59.359 He uses two parables in the middle of this. 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.639 The first one, right? 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.920 The first one is great. 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:17.539 He says, so in the middle of the night, your neighbor comes to you because he's had a traveler come through town, a friend, come through and stop at his house at midnight and he didn't have any bread. 00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:21.120 So he comes and knocks on your door and he says, hey, buddy, I need some bread. 00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:23.440 Right? 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:31.920 And you, in your nightgown or your PJs or whatever it is, right, asleep in your bed, you're thinking, go away. 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:33.299 It's the middle of the night. 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.860 I'm sleeping. 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.820 Why are you bothering me? 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:45.960 And it's very interesting because Jesus says he won't respond well because of the friendship. 00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:48.519 The friendship has no bearing. 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:51.599 In fact, the friendship will be like, forget it, go away, right? 00:22:51.759 --> 00:23:01.539 But if you keep knocking long enough, you'll finally be like, fine, I'm at least going to respond to you for your importunity, right? 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:08.839 Impudence, here is this word, for your aggressive asking, you're bugging him until he finally responds. 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:22.480 It's very similar in some ways to what you see in Luke 19 where the woman goes to the unrighteous judge and the persistent woman who goes until finally just to get her off his case, he responds. 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.539 Right? 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:32.779 And what he's saying here is there's a kind of persistence in prayer that is good. 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.200 Then he goes on. 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:38.700 And this is sort of his core perspective. 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:42.740 You see this in verses 9 and 10, right? 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:47.339 I tell you, ask, and it will be given. 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:50.180 Seek, and you will find. 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:52.220 Knock, and it will be opened. 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:54.620 Because everyone who asks will be given. 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:57.420 Because everyone who seeks, they will find it. 00:23:57.640 --> 00:24:00.079 Because when you knock, the door will be opened. 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:17.819 Jesus wants us to see that in prayer, as we come to God, we should have an expectant heart that God is there and that he will respond to us. 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:35.700 What he's saying in that first story is that you humanly would respond to your friend, not out of love, not out of loyalty, but simply out of convenience to try to make your life easy so that you can go back to sleep. 00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:38.839 And he's saying God is greater than that. 00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:41.980 It's an argument from the lesser to the greater. 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:46.559 God isn't like, God isn't, he isn't saying God is like that. 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:52.220 If you bug God enough, he will finally answer your prayer just to get you off his back. 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:55.539 That is not the way God actually responds. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:59.180 Jesus is saying, this is how humanly we respond. 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:05.180 How much more will God respond to you differently? 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:08.500 And that's what he says at the end, right? 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:10.860 He uses this great analogy of a father. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:16.799 When your child comes to you and asks you for something good, 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:29.340 you human fathers who are really imperfect are not going to give him something malicious, potentially destructive. 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:40.899 How much more will your heavenly father, if you earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to those that you love, 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:48.279 how much more will your heavenly father give to you good gifts? 00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:52.480 Did you catch it though? 00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.819 That's not what he said. 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.519 Look with me, verse 13. 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:58.099 That's what Matthew says. 00:25:58.099 --> 00:26:08.779 Matthew says, in Matthew, it'll say, you know, how much more will your heavenly father give to you good gifts, right? 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:11.339 But here, what is it that God says? 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.059 Verse 13. 00:26:14.179 --> 00:26:18.119 If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:26:18.699 --> 00:26:26.039 how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.359 Huh? 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:31.579 That's kind of odd, isn't it? 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:36.759 Well, all depends a bit on your theology of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:39.359 The Holy Spirit being the third person of the Trinity. 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:48.599 The Holy Spirit in the book of Luke and Acts being this great gift of the very presence of God and the power of God. 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:53.779 The very person of God indwelling and filling the people of God. 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:59.679 After Jesus ascends to heaven, he says, I have to go so I can send to you the Holy Spirit. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:02.440 And when he comes, he will be like me. 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:04.360 He will be alongside you. 00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:05.799 He will be with you. 00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:09.400 And he will give you spiritual life. 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:11.500 And he will give you spiritual power. 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:16.360 And he will fill you with a knowledge of who God actually is. 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:24.139 And the Holy Spirit is this, in the book of Luke and Acts, which was also written by the same author. 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:27.399 He's telling the story about the beginning of the church. 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:34.860 And the gift of the Holy Spirit is this tremendous blessing of God being with his people. 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:39.319 Okay, what does that mean? 00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:52.559 What Jesus is teaching us, even here, is that the thing that you most want, the thing that you most want God to give you in your life, 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:56.019 is not a better grade on that test. 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:03.579 It's not even a roof over your head. 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:09.619 The greatest thing that God will give you is himself. 00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:16.779 This is the thing that we most need in life. 00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:27.379 This is the thing that in all of our circumstances we most need is more of God in our lives. 00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:34.000 And so when Jesus, in teaching his disciples to pray, 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:42.040 He teaches us to want more of God in the midst of it. 00:28:43.040 --> 00:28:46.680 The pattern of prayer is a very God-centered prayer. 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.260 God, you are great. 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:50.540 God, everything I have comes from you. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:56.319 God, only you can watch over my life and keep me from falling apart. 00:28:57.399 --> 00:29:00.799 And then in this perspective on prayer, he's saying, 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.139 Don't you see? 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:10.420 God wants you to come to him in prayer so that he can give you more of himself. 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:14.600 And when you ask for that, you will find it. 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:17.279 When you seek for that, you will get it. 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:20.500 And when you knock on that door, he will open that door. 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:25.660 And his presence will be with you. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:29.440 And friends, that's the best thing. 00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:38.759 It's the best thing when you're standing at the bedside of a loved one who's suffering. 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:47.420 It's the best thing when the thing you had set your hope on in life had fallen apart and is gone. 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:50.259 It's the best thing when you have nothing. 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:54.960 And it's the best thing when you have everything. 00:29:59.160 --> 00:30:00.720 Jesus says, how do we pray? 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:06.619 Jesus' disciples said, how do we pray? 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:08.859 Jesus said, come pray like this. 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:17.059 Pray so that you might see that God himself is the greatest thing that you will ever have. 00:30:18.239 --> 00:30:20.699 And of course, friends, this is the good news of the gospel. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:27.679 This is what Jesus was teaching his disciples about even as he was living out that very thing. 00:30:27.879 --> 00:30:33.219 Because he himself was God in the flesh who had come to be with them. 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:36.700 And he was looking ahead. 00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.600 He was heading. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:40.640 We've talked about this in this section in Luke. 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:42.279 He's heading to Jerusalem. 00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:44.980 He's heading to his death on the cross. 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:49.339 So that our sins could be forgiven. 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:59.460 So that as he is raised to new life, we who by faith are joined with him might also be raised to a new life. 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:07.279 So that we could actually be in a relationship with this Abba, Father, God. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:12.519 We can't just approach God and say, God, can you be my daddy? 00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:18.879 But because of what Jesus has done, as we believe and trust in him, 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:24.619 he then invites us to come in to the family of God. 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:30.000 And as we do that, then this prayer becomes our prayer. 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:39.139 This pattern and this perspective that we have a loving Heavenly Father who will not give us a stone when we ask him for bread. 00:31:39.479 --> 00:31:40.639 That's the Matthew one. 00:31:40.719 --> 00:31:41.639 See, I get them all confused. 00:31:42.159 --> 00:31:48.819 Who will not give us a serpent or scorpion when we ask him for bread or for eggs. 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:51.419 But he will give us himself. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:53.740 And that's the most precious thing. 00:31:54.419 --> 00:31:55.079 Let's pray. 00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:03.319 Lord, teach us to pray like this. 00:32:04.659 --> 00:32:09.740 And Lord, teach our hearts to long for you like this. 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:13.299 So that when we pray, what's in our hearts comes out. 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:17.200 Lord, help us. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:22.940 We confess how easily we are selfish in how we pray. 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:31.160 We also confess, Lord, how often our prayers betray that we don't know you and we don't trust you. 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:39.799 We don't believe that you have our good in mind and we think we have to manipulate or cajole. 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:45.400 Lord, or sometimes we just approach you in fear, not thinking that you will do good. 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:51.200 But God, thank you for the cross that shows us your goodness. 00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:53.299 Thank you for the Holy Spirit. 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:58.120 Lord, in whom we know your presence with us. 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:02.299 God, teach us to pray like this, we pray. 00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.960 In Jesus' name. 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.019 Amen. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.240 Amen. 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:05.460 Amen. 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:05.519 Amen. 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:05.960 Amen. 00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.019 Amen. 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.080 Amen. 00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:06.140 Amen. 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:07.140 Amen. 00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:08.080 Amen. 00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.140 Amen. 00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:09.140 Amen. 00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:09.160 Amen. 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.180 Amen. 00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:09.200 Amen.