I hope that you have been enjoying this teaching blog and pray that you are growing in the Lord. Today we will look at the Lord's prayer which is found in Luke 11:1-4.

1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

2He said to them, "When you pray, say:
" 'Father,hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3Give us each day our daily bread.
4Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.' "

It says, "when you pray". Jesus took it for granted that we are to pray. Also, Jesus is indicating that we are to pray this way every time we pray. He is not saying that we are to pray these words every time we pray, but are to pray in this way. Jesus did not intend for his disciples to recite this prayer. The disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them a prayer, but how to pray. Jesus is teaching His disciples the basics of a prayer.

Jesus said, "our Father in heaven". He is saying we are to pray to the Father. Also, he is indicating where the Father is and what kind of father He is which is our heavenly Father. Who is greater, the one in heaven or the one on earth? The one in heaven. This is why we are to look to the Father. Also, Jesus was showing them the Father and son relationship in prayer.

Rom. 8:15,16 says, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."

What a privilage we have that we can go before God as our Father and He recognizes us as His sons. The word "Abba" is an endearing term. It is like saying daddy. The Lord wants to have a personal relationship with us. Wow!

Jesus said "hallowed be your name". In the Bible when the speaks of the name of God, they are not directly speaking about the name, but the person and their attributes. Take a brief moment to reflect on the wonderful attributes of God. Hallowed means to make holy, to purify, to consecrate, to regard with respect
or reverence, to appreciate, to hold dear.Jesus is teaching them, even though God is our Father, we are to come before Him humbly, with respect and in an honorable way. Jesus is teaching them, to come into God’s presence with praise or exaltation.

Jesus said we are to say, "your kingdom come" What is most important to God? Is that His kingdom be established.What is most important to you, your kingdom or God’s kingdom? How can we know if we are building our kingdom or God’s? By examining our attitudes and thoughts. Are we doing what we are doing for God or ourselves? Are your thoughts directed mostly towards yourself or God? By seeing if our actions line up with God’s purposes and principles in His Word.

The word “come” here in the greek is “ercomehe” which means to come from over there to over here”. Jesus is saying, call those things that be not as though they were. Jesus is saying, ask that God’s kingdom come from heaven and be established on earth.

Jesus said, "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Whose will is more important? God’s Are we to pray according to our will? NO Why must we ask God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Because he chooses to use us to accomplish His will on earth. Because by doing this, we align ourselves to God’s will.

One definition of prayer is that prayer is taking a situation before the Lord, hearing His answer, and speaking forth God’s will into the situation. In this way we bring heaven to earth.

We are to pray, "give us our daily bread". Does God know we need daily bread? Yes, He knows are every need, but he wants to hear us say them. In this way we show our dependence on God and His provision.

We are to say, "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us". Sin is a hinderance in our relationship with God and a hinderance to effective prayer. Therefore, we need to reconcile with God and others. We see hear that God's response to our prayer of forgiveness is based on our willingness to forgive others. Do you know someone you haven't forgiven, do it now, go to them and be reconciled.

And we are to say, "And lead us not into temptation". There are many temptations in this life, and only with God's help will we be able to resist them. God wants us to live holy and Godly lives.

I pray that this teaching blessed you.

The Prayer Life of Jesus

This article will take a look at the prayer life of Jesus. As in all things, Jesus should be our example, and through studying His prayer life we can learn meany things.

In Mark 1:35, we see Jesus praying early in the morning in a solitary place. Jesus did this often. I believe He chose this time and place because he would be undisturbed. Often we need to get up before others, in order to find a quiet time or look for an isolated place where we can fully center our attention on God. Also for some, this is when they are fresh and their minds are clear. For others, the late riser or one who wakes slowly, this may not be the best time. We do not always have to find a quiet place to pray. We can pray at any time, but there is something special about getting away with God.

In Luke 6:12,13, we see Jesus prayed on a mountian and at night. We see that He prayed all night. Why did Jesus do this? Jesus did this because He was about to make a major decision. He was going to choose His twelve disciples. We always need to pray before we make any decision, but even more so when it is a major decisions.

As we have already mentioned, Jesus often went off to be alone in prayer.
In Luke 5:16,17, Jesus went of to a lonely place to renew himself after healing many that He might go back out in the authority and power of God. We in the same way as ministers of the Gospel, need to find places of prayer where we can refresh oursleves in order that we may continue to minister in His power. (see Mark 6:46)

In John 17:9, we see that Jesus prayed for us. He prayed that His Father would protect us. He prayed that we be one. He prayed that we have the full measure of His joy. He prayed that we be protected from the evil one. He prayed that they be sanctified. He prayed that we might be with Him and see His glory. He prayed that God’s love be shown through them. This prayer shows God's love and concern for us. Also, it shows God's will for our lives. We to need to pray one for another in this way.

Let us look at Jesus prayer at Gethsemane. (Matt. 26:36-46)
Why did Jesus go and pray in Gethsemane? Jesus went here to pray and be strengthened because He knew His death was near. In the same way, in times of difficulty we need to go to the Lord in prayer and draw strength from Him.

What did Jesus want his disciples to do while He prayed? He wanted them to be in prayer.
Why do you think the disciples didn’t pray with Jesus? They didn’t know what Jesus knew.
If they knew what Jesus knew, they would have been in prayer. Jesus tells His disciples to pray so that they might have the strength to not fall into temptation. Spending time with the Lord is essential to our spiritual strength and protection from temptation. Yet, prayer in itself is not enough. We need to yeild ourselves to the Holy Spirit and need the help of others to be strong.

I thank the Lord that he not only prayed for us and His disciples back in Bible times, but He is still praying for us today.

Hebrews 7:25 - "Therefore he is able to save completel those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

The Two Languages of Prayer

I Corinthians 14:14-15, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also."

In these two verses the apostle Paul mention two prayer languages: one praying in the spirit and the other praying with the mind. When we look at this chapter as a whole, Paul is addressing a problem in the Corinthian church which is the missuse of the gift of tongues. His emphasis in this chapter is the importance of understanding what one is saying in the church. Therefore, when one gives a message in tongues their needs to be an interpretation to be understood.

Praying here in the Spirit means praying in tongues or in a language that the Holy Spirit has given you which you never learned or understand. When you pray in tongues the Spirit of God is giving you the words to say, and they do not come from the mouth. The opposite to praying in the Spirit is praying with your mind which will be in a language that you have already learned.

Praying in the Spirit can mean something other than praying in tongues. It can speak of communicating directly to God through the Holy Spirit.

We find this in Ephesians 6:18. "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view,be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,"

Praying in the Spirit could be with words or without words, but the important thing and distinctive thing is the Holy Spirit is talking directly to God through you. Often a believer who is seeking God whole heartedly and runs out of words, his spirit will groan in him and speak directly to the Father. Yet, this must be cultivated through a life of prayer.

Why is important that we don't always pray using our words or mind?
Our minds are imperfect and can be a hinderance to effective prayer.
When we pray in the Spirit, we pray exactly what the Father wants to hear because the Holy Spirit knows the mind of Christ fully. We pray according to the will of God. As result,We pray with greater authority. (see John 16:13)
Secondly it builds our faith. (see Jude 1:20; Romans 8:26,27)
Lastly it edifies us. (see I Corinthians 14:2,4)

If you are not yet baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues,ask God right now to pour out His Spirit and power on you.