Scripture

Christian Prayer Outline From Jesus

Last time, in part 1 of our study of the Lord’s prayer: Bible Study on The Lords Prayer, we began in Matthew 5: verses 5-7 where Jesus is telling people what daily prayers should not be like. So now we’re going to get to how to pray to God as Jesus says Christian prayer should be. Matthew chapter 6:8 reads this way:

and therefore do not be like them for your father knows the things you have need of before you ask.

We looked at those two kinds of bad prayer in part 1

• Religious attention grabbing

• Vain repetition

Jesus says to distance yourself from both of those types of prayer, and goes on to say those are of no use because: God knows what we need before we ask. That leads some people to ask:

Why does he need us to ask if the already knows what we need?

It’s that God needs us to – but we need to

• We have to understand that every blessing we have
• Everything we have in life
• Comes from him

It is in this active way that we are reminded that God is in control and that we are not. Everything comes from him and it even though God knows what we need He doesn’t respond to all those needs unless we ask. He wants us to be engaged in trusting him, and asking him, and receiving from him, the things that we need.

After all – we’re going to spend eternity in that kind of fellowship relationship. So it is important that we begin to practice that kind of living in the full resources of God in the here and now on earth.

Here’s what we’ve learned so far:

1. God knows what we need
2. We’re not to use vain repetitions
3. We’re to come to him
4. and have a coherent conversation

in Matthew chapter 6:9-13 , and in Luke chapter 11:2-4 Jesus gives us what is called the Lord’s prayer.”

Jesus didn't pray this prayer
and it isn't not a prayer that we are to use in a rote fashion
it is an outline of how to pray

Here is what Jesus said:

“In this manner therefore pray,
Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors
and do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen.”

Luke’s passage leaves off the benediction “for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” and we’ll get to that discussion in part 8; but what we have here are the elements of prayer as an outline – when we go to pray in our private room and where you will bring to God your needs and engage with God in the spiritual warfare of our day.

By this time we’ve got a pretty good grip on what prayer is NOT supposed to be, as well as WHERE. We also now know WHY we need to pray and ask God for what we need – even though He already knows. So in part three we’ll get to the first part of that outline for effective prayer Jesus gives us – and I want you to join me next time for part 3 of the Lord’s prayer – here at hungryfortheword.