Draw Near to God in Prayer

A Lesson in Praying

Luke 11:1-13

Everybody prays. It seems as though prayer is built into our make-up, a part of being human. Some prayers may be more direct and honest than others.

Consider some of these direct and honest prayers by "little people:"

• Dear GOD, I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the Bible. Love, Chris
• Dear GOD, If you watch me in church Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes. Mickey D.
• Dear GOD, I bet it is very hard for You to love all of everybody in the whole >world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. Nan
• Dear GOD, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy. Joyce
• Dear GOD, It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said something about You that people are not supposed to say, but I hope you will not hurt him anyway. Your friend. -(But I am not going to tell you who I am.)
• Dear GOD, My brother is a rat. You should give him a tail. Ha- ha . Danny
• Dear GOD, Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before, You can look it up. Bruce

Everybody prays. Not everybody prays well or even knowing why they pray.

WHY PRAY?

If God already knows everything, then prayer isn't in order to inform Him. And if God already has things all 'set in cement' then prayer can't change things.

There are several scriptural reasons why we should pray, and why we should keep learning to pray better and better. Prayer DOES make a difference : there have been too many solid examples of how prayer. Let me challenge you to think about several reasons WHY we need to pray:

1. Prayer communicates love to God.

   The first and great Commandment is: "Thou shalt LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. God is a Person, not a "Force." Salvation - faith– is ultimately a relationship, not a doctrine or list of rules. The way we keep love going is called "communication." Prayer is communication with God.

   It isn't easy or simple to love someone as big and as mysterious as God. But he has promised if we will reach out to Him he will reach out to us. And so maybe it IS simple: we just keep talking to God. Tell Him everything! Little by little we come to realize that He really is our Great Friend for time and eternity.

2. Prayer 'conducts' God's love to others.

   Prayer not only is communication with God– it can bring God and those we pray for together. Prayer becomes a conduit or 'conductor' of God's love. When you pray for others, you can release God's love in their lives. Especially when you sense the prompting of the Spirit, prayer can be a powerful release of blessing in other's lives.

   Prayer is mysterious in some ways. We do not always see how it works. But James tells us that the effectual fervent prayer of God's people avails much. Jim Couchenour said "Prayer does not make the work of the church go forward– prayer IS the work of the church. After we have prayed the rest is just mopping up!"

   When our Chinese work goes forward– when our missionaries find strength to carry on– when we see new avenues of ministry, perhaps in the inner city– it will be because in prayer God has shown us how to conduct his love to others.

3. Prayer changes the pray-er.

   Finally, prayer keeps us growing. It changes us!

[Sermon-within-the-sermon: The essence of the Lord's Prayer has the potential of keeping the spirit free and pure. What the pattern of prayer Jesus taught will do if it is used consistently and honestly and humbly is KEEP FAITH SWEET AND SIMPLE! Keep the

[If the occasion warrants I could share my focus verses here: Hebrews 11:6 SEEK, John 15:8 MUCH. Ephesians 4:32 KIND, and LUKE 11:13 'ASK!' (For the Holy Spirit!)

THE LESSON JESUS GIVES US

1. The pattern: It isn't the exact words that become a magic formula, although the exact words keep the focus sharp. Rather, it is the pattern: God First, Others and self next in God's care. God's name, worship, praise. God's kingdom bringing order out of chaos. God's will, in all the earth and in the details of *my* life. THEN, "its all right" to say GIVE and FORGIVE and LEAD and DELIVER.
2. The persistence: On the occasion of this lesson (in Luke's gospel) Jesus added the emphasis of persistency. Here is where we too often fall down. It is human to start BIG and then lose interest and energy and . . . then . . .start BIG all over again. God's ideal is for us to grow IN BETWEEN the camp meetings and the revivals. We do that by talking EVERY DAY with the Father. We need to encourage each other. We need to pray when we feel like praying. And we need to pray when we DON'T feel like praying! Maybe that kind of prayer means the most both to God AND to ourselves!

As We Come to the Close Talking ABOUT Prayer, would you let me LEAD YOU in prayer?:               

Let's pray again together, with the pattern of the Lord's Prayer in mind:

• God is here. Bow your head– close your eyes– and let God sit down beside you there.
• In your heart tell Him you love Him, and are proud to be His child.
• Think of how this world will be when hatred and selfishness cease. Tell God you want His kingdom of peace.
• Tell Him you will be part of His kingdom right now. Tell Him He can tell you what to do– and you'll do it!
• Now think of the people who are dear to you. Family. Children. Parents. Tell God you want Him to bless them. Give them the gift of God's love in your prayer just now.
• Let the face of a person who has hurt you come to mind...
• Tell that name silently to God...Ask God to help you forgive that person. Give them the blessing of God's love in your forgiveness.
• Silently think of any failure in your life right now. Do you dare to name the sin right now in your life that you feel you most need to confess to God...
• Tell God right now! Confess it...Ask God to forgive you; and you know what? He will! He does!
• What is the daily bread that you need God to give right now?..
• Ask God for it; trust that He will guide you!
• You have very much needed God's guidance on some decision and situation in your life...
• Tell God right now...Ask to know the will of God for you.

Amen.

Lord, teach us to pray! Help us to pray. Help us to know You, and love You. IN Jesus' name. Amen

CHORUS: O GOD YOU ARE MY GOD . . . STEP-BY-STEP