1. Praying Jesus’ Way

2. Praying Jesus’ Way (Part 2)

3. Praying Jesus’ Way Two basic principles of understanding the Bible 1.The genre of literature historical fact … law … poetry … doctrine … parable … apocalyptic literature 2.The context in history … and in the Bible itself

4. Praying Jesus’ Way Luke 11:5–13 5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’

5. Praying Jesus’ Way 7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

6. Praying Jesus’ Way 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

7. Praying Jesus’ Way 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

8. Praying Jesus’ Way Luke 11:9 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9. Praying Jesus’ Way Luke 18:1–8 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

10. Praying Jesus’ Way 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ”

11. Praying Jesus’ Way 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

12. Praying Jesus’ Way Subliminal problems: Problem 1: … prayer is about asking Problem 2: … if you haven’t received, it’s because you haven’t asked enough Problem 3: … by implication - the Father is reluctant to give

13. Praying Jesus’ Way Luke 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s BOLDNESS he will get up and give him as much as he needs. BOLDNESS = anaideia = an–aideia an = not (a negative) aideia = shameful an-aideia = non-shamefulness … shamelessness boldness … impudence … insolence

14. Praying Jesus’ Way Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

15. Praying Jesus’ Way 1 John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

16. Praying Jesus’ Way Luke 17:20 20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,

17. Praying Jesus’ Way Luke 17:22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

18. Praying Jesus’ Way Luke 18:1, 6-8 THEN Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not GIVE UP. … However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

19. Praying Jesus’ Way “give up” = engkakeo “to lack courage, lose heart, be fainthearted” Litt: NOT TO GIVE IN TO THE BAD

20. Praying Jesus’ Way 2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

21. Praying Jesus’ Way SO HOW SHOULD YOU PRAY? 1. HUMBLY... this is the God of creation you are approaching 2. BOLDLY / CONFIDENTLY... you are the child the Father loves 3. FAITHFULLY DETERMINED TO TRUST HIM... no matter what... to the end

22. Praying Jesus’ Way Hebrews 10:19–25 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

23. Praying Jesus’ Way 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

24. Praying Jesus’ Way 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.