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Special Series on Prayer - 5 July 2020 : “Teach us to Pray”

Text: Luke 11:1-4; Psalm 25
5 July 2020

JULY-AUGUST 2020
Theme: “Teach us to Pray” Luke 11:1

JULY

MORNING WORSHIP 05 July 2020
Text: Luke 11:1-4; Psalm 25
Title: “Teach us to Pray”

INTRODUCTION

1. Occasion of this Special Series of Messages on the Subject of Prayer
On the Gradual Resumption of Public Worship (5 July 2020)

2. Reasons for choosing this Subject of Prayer

a) Covid-19 Pandemic
b) Devastating impact on the world
i) Millions infected
ii) Hundreds of thousands of deaths
iii) Threatened economy
iv) Personal anxieties and fears
c) Questions raised time and again
i) How should we pray?
ii) What should we pray about?

3. Series of Messages would be put under the acronym TRUST

a) Teach
We must ask the Lord to Teach us how to pray (Luke 11:1)
b) Relate
Prayer involves a direct and personal relationship with God
c) Urgency
There are many things that are relevant and urgent to bring to God in prayer
d) Seeking
We must seek the Lord effectively in prayer
e) Thanksgiving
Prayers must be accompanied with thanksgiving to the Lord!

4. Challenge to all who are turning up or tuning in

a) Desire
Let us desire to improve our prayer life.
b) Determination
Let us determine to put into practice what we will learn about prayer.
c) Deepening
Let us seek to deepen our faith and ministry.
d) Drawn
Let the Spirit of God draw each one of us personally to prayer.
e) Driven
May we feel even more driven to seek God in prayer as we learn deep lessons!

WHAT IS PRAYER?

1. It is Calling on God

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! (Psalm 4:1)

2. It is Meditation

Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my meditation. (Psalm 5:1)

3. It is the lifting up of the soul to God.

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. (Psalm 25:1)

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD “TRUST” IN PRAYER

1. The New Testament word is “Believe” (To have faith in)

2. The Old Testament word is “Trust” (which is the equivalent of “faith”)

3. The significance of Faith/Trust in Prayer

a) Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
b) “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17)

4. The Difficulty of exercising Trust

a) In God
b) In Prayer
c) Many reasons why we find it hard to trust
i) A lack of knowledge
ii) A lack of understanding
iii) Fears and anxieties of the heart
iv) Tough situations in life

5. We must learn how to TRUST God

a) Necessity
b) Understanding
c) Wisdom

6. Texts that use the word “TRUST”

a) Joy and Trust
But let all those rejoice who put their TRUST in You (Psalm 5:11)
b) Personal Trust in God
O LORD, my God, in You I put my trust (Psalm 7:1)
c) The name of God and Trust
All those who know Your name will put their TRUST in You (Psalm 9:10)
d) Blessing of Trust in God
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his TRUST (Psalm 40:4)

A PRAYER TO ASK GOD TO TEACH US

1. The cry of the Psalmists

a) Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths. (Psalm 25:4)
b) Teach me Your statutes (Psalm 119:12, 33, 124)

2. The cry of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus

“Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1)

3. Our personal cry to the Lord

a) Because our prayer efforts are weak and inconsistent
b) Because we need to learn how to pray for people we care about

WHOM WOULD GOD TEACH?

1. God would teach even sinners

Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. (Psalm 25:8)

2. God would guide the humble

The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way. (Psalm 25:9)

3. God would teach those who fear Him

Who is the man that fears the LORD?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. (Psalm 25:12)

4. God’s personal commitment in the New Covenant

33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:33-34

HOW WOULD GOD TEACH?

1. Through the Holy Spirit especially
(John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15)

a) He will indwell us (John 14:16-17)
b) He will testify of Me (John 15:26)
c) He will guide (John 16:13)

2. In prayer
(Romans 8)

a) He will teach us how to relate to God as Abba, Father (Romans 8:15)
b) He will help us in our prayers… and in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26)

CONCLUSION

1. Trust plays a vital role in our prayers to God

2. Trust is based on what we have learned about God

3. Let us be challenged to ask the LORD to teach us:

a) How to understand His word
b) How to trust in Him

4. Let us plan to exercise Trust

a) Consciously
b) Completely