I was at a recent meeting with some teachers and governors in a local school to me and one thing
! a nursery teacher said at one point was this, we're getting worse, worse and worse at listening
! and speaking because children are being child minded with iPads and things of course she was speaking as a nursery teacher
coping with children coming in and recent studies do show that in the opinion of teachers at least half of all children starting school
lack some of those very basic skills but what about our listening and speaking to God? what would those statistics be like if we could see them?
Jesus says that they are our priorities if you know this part of Luke as you've been going through it
so think about what's been going on and you might want to look at the passage just before it of course it's Mary and Martha
Mary listening at Jesus' feet, intently listening to him and the message there is that our first priority is to listen to God's word
you've got this picture of Mary intently kneeling, sitting at Jesus' feet
Jesus says only one thing is needed and that's what Mary is doing, listening to God's word
and if that is our first priority to listen to Jesus, to listen to God's word
then close behind that comes speaking back to him in prayer
so no surprise that it's then that Jesus introduces how we are to pray
and of course it's essential that our prayers are guided first of all by what he says to us
I remember a school, no university, having a bit of an argument with one friend who said
he thought prayer was more important than hearing God's word
we had this sort of debate back and forth
I think looking back 20 years or so I was right, you were glad to know
but actually I think it's important first to listen to God's word
because if we talk to God without first hearing from him
if you're anything like me you'll talk all sorts of nonsense
you'll miss the point
actually when we first hear him in his word
as Mary did we can then start to speak back to him
intelligently because we know who he is
hence the Lord's Prayer
in these verses Jesus first gives us a model for prayer
verses 1 to 4
and then as we'll see this evening
we'll look at Jesus' motivations for prayer
verses 5 to 13
just before we look at the model
what we commonly refer to as the Lord's Prayer
let's bear in mind a few things
we're meant to understand the spirit of the prayer of course
it's not just a form of words that we're meant to answer
you know, we're meant to imbibe
to take on the spirit of it
and learn the meaning behind it
that's important
and yet repeating the letter of it
and saying it regularly as we did this morning
is important because it keeps those important things in our minds
so if we're forgetting to think about provision
God's provision in our daily bread
we're reminded by reading the Lord's Prayer together
another point we need to bear in mind
is that this is different from Matthew's version
it's likely that they were two separate events
and we should treat each one on their own terms
perhaps a bit of a comparison could be made
between the Ten Commandments
which is given twice
and then the Lord's Prayer is also given twice
two very important things that God wants us to hear
and like the Ten Commandments as well
this prayer puts the concern first of all for God
and His honour before requests for ourselves
so think of the Table of the Ten Commandments
and the first six commandments
really to do with God and His honour
sorry, the first four
and then the second six being to do with
our horizontal relationships
but also notice in this prayer
it's about us
and not just me
it's us and we
it's a corporate prayer
where I'm not just praying for myself
but I'm praying for my brothers and sisters as well
we're saying
Matthew's version of course
it says our Father
also notice this disciple in verse 1
he wanted to learn to pray
and I want to throw that question out to you
do you
does this request chime with your heart?
do you
can you say that you want to learn to pray?
if not
why not?
if that's a struggle with you at the moment
if prayer seems like something you just can't seem to get to grips with
then listen on
because Jesus knows that
he empathises
and that's why he gives us this prayer
I do encourage you to
perhaps this week
to discipline yourself
to pray
and ask that he would stir your heart
to want to pray
indeed I
I hope that some of that would happen
this morning
as we look at this
true prayer is of course
deeply
trustful
at the most basic level
it says
I'm not going to do something now
I'm going to pray that you would do something Lord
and then a final thought
before we look at the model of prayer
the real question
I want to throw out to you this morning
is this
which
of these elements
might be missing from my prayers
at the moment
if I have a title for this morning
it's
six things
that should shape
my prayers
six things
to shape my prayers
which of the six
as we look at them
is missing from my own prayer
it's hard
isn't it
to go away from a sermon
and take all the six points
take one
that you know
is missing from your prayer
and ask that
God would help you this week
so
let's look
at the six things
that should shape our prayers
first of all
in verse 2
Jesus says to them
when you pray
say
Father
the first thing
that should shape our prayers
is simply this
the Father's nature
now
we've heard this prayer
so often
we almost forget
that the very first words
of it
is probably
the most
mind-blowing
of the whole prayer
isn't it
the fact that you can call
God
Father
arguably more remarkable
than anything else
that comes
after it
carries a sense
of authority
of speaking to God
with respect
but it also
is coupled with
a personal
intimacy
a love
and a care
that we get a glimpse of
in our own relationships
in this world
it wasn't the way
the Father-Son relationship
was not the way
that the Jews
traditionally thought of
of God
but it's the Gospel
of course
that makes this possible
one of my favourite
verses in the Bible
is John
chapter 20
verse 17
where Jesus
appears
to Mary
after his death
and resurrection
he says
don't hold on
to me
go instead
to my brothers
and tell them
I'm returning
to my Father
and to your Father
to my God
and your God
you see how
actually
at this point
in the Gospel
because of what
he's done
he can now say
that God
is your Father
as well
it's the Gospel
that makes this
possible
and it's an indication
that
with the coming
of Christ
the curse
is completely
undone
our alienation
from God
as our Father
is now reversed
is now undone
we can now
communicate
with our Creator
on this level
so for every
child of Christ
and if you're
not yet a Christian
here this morning
this is for you
as well
for every single
person
the Gospel
offer
is that you
can be
a child
of God
John chapter 1
verse 12
for everyone
who believes
in his name
he gives the
right to become
children
of God
and legitimately
refer to the
maker of the
universe
as Father
with all the
tenderness
and the care
and the intimacy
that that word
carries
we need to
move on
but can I just
ask you
is it possible
that this
aspect
of Jesus'
prayer
is missing
from your
prayers
when you
come to him
in prayer
there's perhaps
a bit of a
coldness
you just want
to move on
quickly to
something else
you're not
treasuring
the relationship
if you love
someone
think of perhaps
the person
you love to be
within this world
the most
you don't rush
on from
being with them
but is it possible
that in your
prayers with God
you're not
feeling the warmth
of a son
or a daughter
towards him
maybe you feel
guilty
maybe you feel
ashamed
in his presence
of course we do
need to confess
sin
but we also
need to know
when we're
forgiven
and if this
is missing
from your
prayers
then it's not
surprising that
our prayers
will be cold
and formal
impersonal
a child
with his father
is confident
confident of
access
can ask
with trust
we'll think
more about
this this
evening
and ask
with that
simplicity
that a child
will ask
something of
their father
it's not
just a part
of our
prayer
actually
all of our
communication
with our heavenly
father is to be
based on the
knowledge of his
fatherly care for
us
so could that be
missing from your
prayers
what should shape
my prayers
first of all
the father's
nature
secondly
what should shape
my prayers
is the father's
name
the father's
name
when you pray
say father
hallowed be
your name
in other words
may your name
be set apart
may your name
be made holy
may it have
the honour
that it deserves
this is the
first thing
that we should
pray for
it's our
priority
in terms of
the content
of our prayers
of course it
doesn't mean
that our prayers
can make him
more holy
it's a prayer
that more
and more
his name
would be
recognised
for what it
is
I am to
care about
his honour
his status
and his
reputation
and we talk
about so and
so really
making a name
for himself
it's a phrase
we use a lot
but Jesus is
saying that I
am to care
about my
father's name
more than I
care about my
own or anyone
else's
far more
our motives
are mixed
to say the
least
aren't they
when we
come to
pray
all of
those
sinful
motives
come in
Philippians
2
verse 4
Paul encourages
us that we
should look
out for the
interests of
others
not just
our own
because we
are constantly
thinking about
our own
interests
and our
prayers will
reflect that
they will
be self
centred
and here
Jesus is
saying to
me at least
Tim this
life is not
about you
it's not all
about you
it's actually
all about
God the
father
and his
name
we're looking
at the
ten commandments
at the moment
in our evening
services
and we looked
a few weeks
ago at this
command
you shall not
misuse the
name of the
Lord your
God
for the
Lord will
not hold
anyone
guiltless
who misuses
his name
in the sense
that's the
negative
we thought
about the
fact that
God's
word
should
God's
name
rather
should be
on our
lips
positively
to his
praise
not lightly
or insincerely
or profanely
we thought
about hallowing
his name
and we thought
about our
actions
and how we
use his
name lightly
how we can
sing a song
say all sorts
of great things
to do with
God's name
but actually
our thoughts
are elsewhere
or we're just
not engaged
doesn't reflect
the weight
of his glory
in the way
that we use
his name
might this
be missing
from your
prayers
a concern
for his
name
and his
honour
John Ruskin
famously said
that a man
who's wrapped
up in himself
will make a
pretty small
package
and if
this prayer
doesn't weave
its way
into the
fabric
of our
prayers
then our
concerns
will remain
very small
and pretty
insignificant
so watch
your shape
in my prayers
the father's
nature
the father's
name
and then
thirdly
the father's
kingdom
father
hallowed be
your name
your kingdom
come
everyone's
trying to
make a name
for themselves
everyone's
trying to
build their
own
mini kingdoms
maybe you
know the
story of
Michael
Hesseltine
a politician
of previous
years
who it is
said I think
by one of his
contemporaries
at school
that at a
very early age
in his teens
I think
he set out
his goals
for life
in his
twenties
he would be
a millionaire
in his
thirties
he would be
an MP
in his
forties
he'd be on
the Tory
front bench
and his
fifties
Downing
Street
unfortunately
somebody and
their handbag
slightly got in
the way of
that
but it's not
just politicians
it's Christians
as well
making their
own mini
kingdoms
even
pastors
we're probably
tempted all
the more
to make our
own mini
kingdoms in
this world
but to pray
this is to
pray at least
two things
it is to
pray first of
all
lord grow
your kingdom
lord grow
your kingdom
and that is
a prayer
for the
present
and it's a
prayer that
is being
answered
in this
world
I know
we've had
bad signs
in our
country
we had the
first same
sex marriages
the end of
March
we're in a
nation that
is largely
turning its
back on
God's law
and God's
word
but that's
in a sense
that's a
local
perspective
look
globally
people are
becoming
Christians
in their
droves
let me
quote one
statistic
evangelical
believers are
growing at a
rate of three
and a half
times that
of the world
population
so for every
one person
born
three
and a half
are becoming
Christians
maybe you know
that half
now I don't
know you could
debate the
accuracy
that's quite a
trusted source
but one
thing is
growth is
certain
God is
building
his kingdom
it is a
prayer that
is being
answered in
the present
we're also
saying as
well as
God grow
your kingdom
we're saying
Lord bring
in your
kingdom
in its
fullness
in the
future
we're saying
bring in
the many
kingdoms of
the world
and bring
them under
your one
perfect
kingdom
all of
that
borrowed
authority
all of
that
delegated
authority
may it
come under
your
absolute
authority
and be
seen
to bow
the knee
to your
absolute
authority
we're saying
bring in
your kingdom
I'm just
flicking through
some references
in
revelation
to pray
this prayer
is to say
Lord would
you please
make it
time up
for those
who are
rebels in
your kingdom
would you
bring them
to account
just as
Jesus says
to the
church
in
Sardis
if you
do not
wake up
I will
come
like a
thief
and you
will not
know
at what
time
I will
come
to you
this prayer
is saying
Lord come
sort out
those who
are rebels
in your
kingdom
we're also
saying
come
and vindicate
your people
revelation
17
verse 14
the lamb
will overcome
them because
he's the
lord of
lords and
the king
of kings
and with
him will
be his
called
chosen
and faithful
followers
Lord vindicate
your people
bring in
your kingdom
come
we're also
praying
that the devil
will be
destroyed
fully and
finally
we read of
the rider
on the white
horse in
chapter 19
and in a
sense we're
saying
come rider
on your
white horse
come and
bring in
your kingdom
and capture
the beast
verse 20
and throw
them into
the fiery
lake
destroy
your enemies
once and
for all
that's what
we're praying
finally in
chapter 22
that your
kingdom would
become the
new creation
would be all
that you've
intended it to
be from the
start
we're praying
no wonder
at the end
of the book
come lord
Jesus
bring in
your kingdom
so as we
think of
those three
things first
of all that
should shape
our prayers
in the first
half of the
prayer
just have a
look at
those for
a moment
Jesus
wants your
prayers to
take in
the big
picture of
his plans
the big
scope
we so often
limit our
prayers
God bless
Aunt Molly
God bless
my dear
wife
God bless
we move on
very quickly
may it not
rain tomorrow
when I'm
cycling to
work or
whatever
God wants
our prayers
to encompass
really big
things
the biggest
things in
fact
things to do
with his
name
which there
is nothing
greater
and his
kingdom
and he
wants us to
tear ourselves
away for a
while from
my obsession
with self
and to
attach
myself
to these
grander
things
not just my
own goals
not just how
my health
is or how
my family
are or what
my relationships
are like or my
job situation
is but God's
agenda
you come to
God in
prayer
maybe you
come exhausted
maybe you
come deeply
disappointed
about something
maybe you
come with
ongoing pain
whether it's
physical or
something else
and first he
calls you to
say
father
hallowed be
your name
your kingdom
come
because hey
it's not about
you
it's not about
me
it's about
him
and he knows
actually that the
things that will
thrill you most
more than anything
in fact if we
begin to understand
them are not
things to do with
us our immediate
concerns to things
but are to do with
his nature
his name
and his
kingdom
otherwise we
were like
chickens scratching
around in the dirt
not looking up
at the glories of the
sky that's the
message of the
first half of the
prayer
God first
then we get
ourselves in
proper perspective
what should shape
my prayers
the father's
nature
the father's
name
and the father's
kingdom
but
wonderfully
God does not
ignore
our own needs
he is very
concerned about
you and me
the detail of
our lives
he wants the
best for us
as verse 13
makes very clear
and the fourth
fifth and sixth
things that should
shape our prayers
are there in
verse 3 and 4
first of all
our own
provision
our own provision
in verse 3
give us each
day
our daily
bread
God is not
interested in
dualism
he is not
interested in
us seeing
ourselves as
bodies on the
one hand
and mind
and spirit
over there
and he is only
concerned about
your mind
and spirit
now he made
you as a
physical human
being
he cares about
your body
he knows
you've got
needs
and all
those sorts
of things
the bible
is full of
examples where
he feeds
his people
with manna
Elijah being
fed with
bread
wonderfully
by the
ravens
Jesus feeding
the 5000
he knows
that you
need something
on your
table
to eat
perhaps you
thank God
for your
food and
meal times
let me ask
you
when did
you last
ask him
to provide
your next
meal
when did
you last
ask him
to provide
your next
meal
not just
thank him
for the
one you
just had
or about
to have
there are
many things
that we
take for
granted
but actually
we depend
on
more than
just bread
maybe it's
your next
salary check
give us
each month
our salary
check
that's a good
prayer to pray
because actually
it says
that comes
not from
my boss
but from
God
ultimately
and whether
you use
these words
or not
if we take
on this
attitude
it tells
our forgetful
self-sufficient
hearts
that actually
we rely
on him
even for
the basics
this is a
prayer of
deep trust
and notice
Jesus says
give us
each day
our daily
bread
doubly
reinforced
it's not a
year's supply
in advance
maybe you're
concerned at
the moment
about future
provision
of one
thing or
another
Jesus would
have you
to pray
and to
trust him
for every
day
even when
you can't
see the
whole
even when
you can't
see the
future
provision
and he
will say
more about
that in
chapter 12
maybe these
are words
you need
to hear
chapter 12
verse 29
I'm just
flicking
over the
page
do not
set your
heart
on what
you will
eat or
drink
do not
worry
about it
for the
pagan
world
runs
after all
such
things
and your
father
knows
that you
need
them
but seek
his kingdom
and these
things will
be given
to you
as well
is this an
element that
could be missing
from your
prayers
this dependence
on God
for your
basic
physical
needs
is missing
the danger
is we just
become
wrongly
self-sufficient
in a way
that does
not help
us
understand
his good
provision
for us
and our
dependence
on him
as well
as our
own
provision
Jesus
tells us
to pray
for our
own
pardon
so it's
the second
thing we're
to pray
for for
ourselves
our own
provision
and secondly
our own
pardon
verse 4
forgive us
our sins
for we also
forgive everyone
who sins
against us
I think the
ESV uses
language of
debt and
indebtedness
so if
bread is my
basic physical
need then
pardon
forgiveness
that declaration
from God
that I am
forgiven
in his side
that's my
basic spiritual
need
isn't it
it reminds
me that
the very fact
I can pray
to him at
all is
based on
his forgiveness
of me
you might say
well why
why do I need
to keep his
forgiveness
in the forefront
of my
minds
regularly
well a couple
of reasons
because we
forget the
sinfulness of
sin don't we
we forget just
what it costs
him
the son of
God went
to the cross
because of the
sort of thoughts
and words
and deeds
that you have
exhibited this
week
that's why
Jesus died
we mustn't
forget that
he gave
his life
so that
you and I
can be
forgiven
that's one
reason we
need to
remember his
forgiveness of
us and not
forget the
wonder of
it
secondly
we need to
keep forgiveness
in the forefront
of our minds
because we
keep on
sinning
and it's
not as though
we need to
be saved
over and
over again
but it's
to maintain
that free
flowing
relationship
with our
heavenly
father that
we need
to open
our mouths
acknowledge
confess
when we've
done something
that offends
him
so that our
relationship
can be free
and as it
should be
David knew
all about
that
when I
kept silence
my bones
wasted away
through my
groaning
all day
long
of course
when he
confessed it
he found
full freedom
and praying
this prayer
of course
is also a
commitment
to forgive
other people
we make
the mistake
don't we
forgiveness
is something
that I
receive from
God
and I
love it
and I
let it
wash over
me
and isn't
it great
and we
make the
same mistake
of the
unforgiving
servant
and we
live our
lives
failing to
forgive
other people
but if I
pray this
prayer regularly
I'm less
likely to do
that
because I'll
be reminded
that my
forgiveness
of others
is also
linked to
God's
forgiveness
of me
what should
shape my
prayers
our own
provision
our own
pardon
and lastly
our own
protection
second half
of verse
four
and lead
us not
into
temptation
lead us
not into
temptation
now
I think
it's a
verse
that
raises a
few
questions
firstly
what does
it mean
by temptation
sometimes the
bible means
trial
hard things
in life
sometimes it
means temptation
where somebody
wants me to
fall in some
way
if it's
temptation
well the bible
says that God
doesn't tempt
me
James 1
so why pray
that God
will not do
something that he
won't do
anyway
if it's
testing and
trial
well the bible
says we should
consider it
pure joy
when we
consider
sorry when we
undergo trials
of many kinds
so why should I
pray that I
don't have
that
but we also
know that
Jesus
as he
approached
the cross
even he
prayed to
avoid the
trial of
the cross
think of
Gethsemane
ultimately the
cross was his
goal he was
committed to
doing it and
yet he said
father take
this cup
from me
something that
ultimately was
good although
terrible but I
think it helps
us here because
our prayers might
be lord I
know that you
use everything
that happens to
me but I
don't welcome
those things
that could
knock me
off course
I don't
invite them
God please
as far as
possible keep
those things
from me and
yet not my
will but your
will perhaps
when it comes
to temptation
God please
lead me in
paths today
where I'm not
going to be
drawn into
sin I think
that's a
perfectly God
honouring prayer
and response to
Jesus words here
I don't know
exactly why
Jesus worded it
this way his
wisdom is far
beyond mine
but I do
know that if
prayed sincerely
it should make
us think twice
about temptation
we pray this in
the morning when
temptation rears
its head during
the day having
prayed this that
should prepare us
for what we
meet and
secondly of course
it's a stark
acknowledgement of
our weakness
it's basically
saying lord I'm
I'm weak I
acknowledge that I
could fall in a
million different
ways today
please sustain me
please uphold me
do you ever
begin your day
by doing this
by identifying
the key points
where you know
they're danger
points for you
and praying
ahead
I think that's
the spirit
of this prayer
here
does this
attitude
shape your
prayers
if not
how ready
will you be
when trial
or temptation
come your way
as they will
do
the soldier
who gives
no thoughts
to the dangers
and threats
is a soldier
in serious
danger of his
life
Jesus has
given us
this model
these six
things that
should shape
our prayers
and I
encourage you
to think about
how you can
have your
prayers shaped
by Jesus
words here
I've found it
challenging
we all have
different ways
of praying
don't we
I've found
that having
a series
of prayer
cards
and having
one
that faces
me every
day
with different
things on it
that really
helps me
to pray
having read
through this
and thought
about it
more
I've put
just one
of the
lines
on each
of those
prayer
cards
so each
day
I'll see
one of
the lines
of Jesus
prayers
and it
will help
me
to have
my
prayers
shaped
by his
words
I'd encourage
you to
think about
how you're
going to
not just
go away
from here
!
move on
and go
back to
old ways
of praying
but just
continually
increasingly
have your
prayers
shaped by
what Jesus
says
and his
priorities
is the
father's
nature
missing
or the
honouring
of his
name
hallowing
it
setting it
aside
or his
kingdom
is it
your own
provision
and dependence
on him
is it your
sin and
thankfulness
praise of what
he's done
for you
and knowledge
that you need
to forgive
others as
well
or is it
the protection
that you need
for the day
ahead
which is it
for you
I want to
encourage you
to take a
moment
just to look
with your
bibles open
and that
prayer in
front of you
so we're
not going to
go straight
into our
closing song
but look
look over
that prayer
and perhaps
identify one
of them
one of those
things that
you look at
and think
actually
that hasn't
featured in
my prayers
for the last
six months
then why
not simply
identify it
take a
moment to
pray silently
and ask
for God's
help
and then in
a moment
we'll read
the prayer
all together
a
Thank you.