Dr. Gough:

"Lord, teach us to pray," a disciple said to Jesus.

--Is this your desire, your prayer?

--Some may say, "Why I've been praying all my life."

--That's great. So had these disciples. So have I.

--They heard Jesus pray, saw the amazing benefits.

--They wanted to pray better. To have God's best.

In Luke 11 Jesus answers their prayer, teaches them.

--First, the Lord's Prayer, as a model or pattern.

--Next, He gives an example, of asking for bread.

--Then our Lord gives ten encouragements (v 9-13).

--Nowhere else does Jesus deal with prayer as here.

--Teaches us to pray, and how to pray, for answers.

--Answers not always as we pray, but what is best.

--So we rejoice! Jesus "intercedes" for us also.

Prayer is not just getting our will done in heaven.

--It is for getting God's will done in us, on earth.

--For we "ought always to pray" Jesus said (Lk 18:1).

--You see God is "for" us, but Satan is "against us".

--To overcome trials, we all need the Lord's help.

A group from our Philadelphia church went on a picnic.

--To Ocean City, NJ, beach, with our families.

--Lots of games. Fun. Food. Swims. It was great.

--Some brought old, patched inflated inner tubes.

--To be used for water floats. I got in one.

--Enjoying the relaxation, I soon was too far out!

--When I looked back, I headed back - to safety!

--I not only hand-paddled - I prayed! Fervently.

--In danger you don't just say it - you pray it!

--I thank my God, many times, for His loving care.

Jesus uses the story of unexpected, hungry guests.

--Came "at midnight." But no food on hand to serve.

--He goes to a neighbor, in bed, to borrow bread.

--Neighbor says, "Trouble me not." He keeps asking.

--"Because of his persistence he will rise," (v 8).

--"And give him as many as he needs," Jesus declares.

--He's teaching us to keep praying! Patiently wait.

--First, "be born again" in Jesus, and "obey Him."

Here Jesus teaches vital elements of any real prayer.

I. ADDRESSING GOD - THE RIGHT GOD IN THE RIGHT WAY.

--In our world, all kinds of gods are prayed to.

--We know the One, True, Living God, Jesus revealed.

--We know Him as Father, Son, Holy Spirit; one God.

--How best to address God? Any of these, or Father.

--Jesus prayed, taught us to pray, to "Our Father".

--Taught us to close our prayer, "In Jesus' name."

All of us need a deep reverence and awe for our God.

--Sometimes we may lack in respect to our Creator.

--"From everlasting." Always was, will be.

--God is perfectly pure. Holy. Wise. All-loving.

--Here Jesus teaches, "Hallowed be Your name." Holy.

--We are not talking to another human being, but God!

--Let's show reverence, as we seek to speak to Him.

On the other hand, hesitate not to call on Him.

--He welcomes us. As a parent welcomes their own.

--A father watched his young son lift a heavy load.

--He was struggling. Having a difficult time of it.

--Dad asked, "Are you using all your resources, son?"

--"Of course," he snapped, "Can't you see?"

--His dad said, "No. You have not asked your father."

--His father waiting, to be called upon to help.

--Often like the lad, are we to our Heavenly Father.

As we pray, address God with reverence and faith.

II. PRAISING GOD - PRAYER SHOULD COMMENCE WITH PRAISE.

--Think of Who God is! All He's done. What He means.

--God deserves our praise. Often gets little.

--Begin each day or prayer, with praise to the Lord.

--You want "His kingdom to come; His will to be done."

--Then praise Him! For blessings yesterday and today.

--Let's respect, remember, Who God is! Does for us!

Jesus always offered praises, in His prayers.

In the prayer Jesus taught, it begins with praises.

--"Our Father in heaven .. Hallowed be Your name."

--When we love another, time with them is heavenly.

--Tell God you love Him. He longs to hear from you.

The Gospels show us how, and how often, Jesus prayed.

--He prayed early and late. Always before He ate.

--Prayed all through the day, for this one and that.

--Prayed, and miracles were wrought. Lives changed.

--Prayed all some nights. How about that?

--Prayed as He faced temptation, even Satan himself.

--Prayed as Jesus faced His cross .. and death for us.

--In Gethsemane, sweat "great drops of blood" praying.

--Concluding, "Not My will, but Thy will be done."

--As we read these prayers, Jesus praises the Father!

Nothing too small, too big, for Jesus to pray for.

--He fed thousands with a little lad's lunch.

--He healed multitudes of all manner of ills.

--He stilled the "angry waves of the sea" with "Peace".

--He arose from a rock-sealed, guarded tomb, "Alive!"

--Ascended into heaven, before their very eyes!

--Is there praying, "ever interceding" for you and me.

Don't you think this Almighty God deserves our praise?

--He is the "Giver of every good and perfect gift".

--The more we praise Him, the more to praise Him for!

--There is more that Jesus taught about prayer.

III. CONFESSING OUR SINS TO GOD. LET'S NOT FORGET.

--"Forgive us our debts," Jesus taught in His prayer.

--What does that mean? Forgive our sins. All sin.

--This part of prayer, note, Jesus never prayed!

--Didn't need to. Sinless. But we do need to.

Unconfessed sin hinders our prayers, persons, power.

--"If I regard iniquity in my heart," What's that?

--It means if any unconfessed sin, unrepented of.

--It continues,"the Lord will not hear me" (Psa 66:18).

--This, we see, is essential to have prayer answered.

Ask Him, "Lord, is any unconfessed sin in my life?"

--The place to meet Him is in the Garden of Prayer.

IV. ASKING GOD - NOW WE ARE PREPARED TO TRULY ASK.

--Like children to parents, often we start by asking.

--Better to be prepared to make our petitons.

--Meeting the above, "Ask, and you will receive."

--Jesus also said, "Call to Me, I will answer" (Jer 33).

If we can't pray the best, pray the best we can.

--God hears those of little children as well as any.

--Tell Him your joys. Thoughts. Desires. Hurts.

--Tell Him your needs, "to supply all your need."

--Tell. Him of your family. Your job. And finances.

--You won't be embarrassed; God knows it already.

--But He wants you and me to come, and ask Him.

"Prayer of the righteous .. avails much" (James 5:16).

--God hears our faintest cry. Sees a falling tear.

--The saved can go to Him as Father, not a stranger.

--The privilege is ours! What a gift! So ask Him!

V. THANKING GOD - THANKING IS AS IMPORTANT AS ASKING.

--As a child, given something, what should we say?

--"Thank you," of course. Children are taught that.

--To be thankful to others. Should we also, to God?

You may think, God failed me! Didn't answer prayer.

--May even be unhappy, or angry, with Almighty God.

--Friend, God hears our prayers and lovingly answers.

--Have we met His criteria? Did we ask for His will?

--When I asked my Dad for something, he would answer.

--His reply would be, "Yes. No. Or not now."

--We know adults know better than kids. So does God.

--So let's thank the Lord for His wise, holy answers.

Billy Graham's wife, Ruth, said, "If God. answered me, always as I prayed, I'd have married the wrong person several times." So true. God's ways are best ways.

--So there is one more vital part of our praying.

VI. TRUSTING GOD - DO OUR BEST, GOD WILL DO HIS.

--When we have done our part, trust God to do His.

--For decades I have been trusting Him. Why not?

--He has never failed to be with me. Give His best.

One prayer God answers at once, "Lord, save me."

--On the sea Peter prayed it, Jesus saved him and me.

--In a war, I called on Him to save my soul. He did.

--If not sure, ask the Lord to save you. Today.

--We can do nothing better! Can even pray better!

--After we pray this, we can do everything better!

--Only trust Him now.

Dr. Wilbert D. Gough