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FATHER I THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF ME

Text: John 11
7 June 2009

(I) Understanding a seemingly simple prayer of Jesus

“…And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11:41-42

1. This prayer of Jesus does seemingly look simple

a) Short

b) Spontaneous

c) Straightforward in His requests

2. There is profundity in the seemingly simplicity of prayer

a) The prayers of Jesus are anything but simple

b) Lots of depth in what He prayed over

c) More to it than what we see on the surface level

(II) The underlying aspects of this prayer of Jesus

1. A deep Father and Son relationship

a) Behind those seemingly simple prayers is a deep relationship between the Father and the Son

b) A description of the depth of closeness between Father and Son

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.” John 5:19, 20

2. A sustained relationship in prayer between the Son and the Father

a) Early morning time spent being with His Father in prayer

“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35

b) Prolonged periods of prayer

“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12

3. A developed prayer life

a) The basis for making this seemingly simple prayer

b) Jesus had cultivated a developed prayer life with His Father

“And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father…” John 11:41

c) Great profundity in declaring that His Father had and would always answer His prayer

“…Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me…” John 11:41-42

d) Depth of understanding concerning His Father’s will

“…but because of the people who are standing by I said this, for them to believe that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11:42

(III) Warning against taking up such a seemingly simple approach in prayer

1. The presumption of praying such seemingly simple prayers as Jesus did

2. These simple prayers are not meant for us to copy

3. The problem is that we do not have the depth of relationship that Jesus had with His Father

4. We also do not have the kind of developed prayer life that Jesus had

5. There are some today we seek to make such seemingly simple prayers without a proper understanding

6. We are warned not to fall into the same trap

(III) Undertaking the proper approach to prayer

1. Guard against making seemingly simple prayers

2. Grow deeper in our knowledge and relationship with our Father

3. Give time to developing our prayer life with the Father on a consistent basis.

4. Greater depth sought in our prayers.