1. Prayer: how to pray – pattern and attitude what to pray for what to expect from prayer

2. ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ Luke 11:1
Jesus gave them and us a prayer as a model or a pattern which includes a number of petitions:

3. ‘Our Father’
God in the centre - and if the centre is right, then the circumference is right
God is near – even if He makes His dwelling place in the heavens, He is also present with us in our humbly earthly circumstance
God in His proper place. God in the centre of the picture. ‘if the centre is right, the circumference is right’
How can we say we love God, whom we have not seen, but we do not love our brother, whom we see. 1 John 4:20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen

4. ‘Hallowed be Thy name’
We remember the majesty of God May Thy name (the full person and character of God) be kept holy, may Thy name be revered Believing in His name, nature, character Living lives that bring Glory to His name

5. ‘Thy kingdom come’
Not a territory, but the reign of God; i.e. the ‘kingship of God’
Mathew 4: 17: From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.“
to do the will of God is to be in the Kingdom of God and to accept the will of the King, who is God
Thus when we pray ‘Thy kingdom come’, we are praying:
‘Lord, help me to do Thy will’

6. ‘Thy will be done’ (1)
The highest calling and purpose of the Christian is to bend our will to His
Jesus himself: ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me’ John4:31-34; John 5:30;
We can say this phrase ‘resentfully or resignedly’ or ‘whatever’!
That is, if we we feel we know better, when we don’t trust God’s wisdom

7. ‘Thy will be done’ (2)
‘When the will of God insists that we face some difficult and sore and even agonising situation, there is nothing to stop us running away from it. But if we do run away from it, there can be no happiness in life, for there can be no happiness when man cannot face either himself or God any longer. But if we do face it, with all its demands, then in life there is a peace and a joy and a satisfaction that nothing else can give. …. we may have to choose between comfort (our will) and struggle (God’s will), between ease (our will) and sacrifice (God’s will); and it may be that if we choose pleasure (our will) we shall lose joy (God’s will) for joy is the product of obedience to the will of God.’

8. ‘Give us this day our daily bread’
‘super substantial bread’, more than what is needed for the physical and material sustenance – for our spiritual needs
for our everyday immediate and material needs
Not just ‘my’ needs but ‘our’ needs; thus a communal consideration
‘daily’ – enough for today, trusting the providence and will of God for tomorrow
‘bread’ – our simple needs, not for extravagances, no greedy petitions
‘give’ – we petition God to give us what we need to be able to toil for our daily bread
Dependence on Him

9. ‘Forgive us as we forgive others’
Earlier we petition for the generosity of God,
here we make petition to His mercifulness.
We owe God a debt when we are not obedient to His will. Thus we must ALWAYS petition for His forgiveness of our sinfulness.
Contingent upon our forgiveness of others.
We petition here for a clean heart: Ps 139: 23, 24 ‘Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

10. ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil’ (1)
temptations = trials = tests = probation
‘that by which a man is made into the athlete of God’
To rephrase this petition:
‘ I know that temptation must come to me, for there can be no life without temptation. But, when it does come, as come it must, do not abandon me to it; do not deliver me helpless into its power; stand by me in my hour of need.’

11. ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil’ (2)
Jesus prayed to His Father for the disciples: John 17:15 ‘My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one’
2 Tim 4:18 ‘The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

12. ‘For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever, Amen.’
our addition or epilogue to the prayer Jesus gave us
We acknowledge His kingship and as such we commit to being obedient to the will of our King
we acknowledge His dynamism and acknowledge His power of love for us and His power of providence
We acknowledge His majesty and our reverence for Him

13. What we learn about prayer from the letters of Paul
Romans 12:12 - ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’
1 Tim 2:8 - ‘Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands (i.o.w. clean hearts) without anger or disputing. ‘
Col 4:2 - ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ‘
1 Cor 7:5 - Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

14. What to pray for
1 Tim 2:1
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
James 5:13-16
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

15. What to expect from prayer (1)
NOTHING! Only that we know our Father cares for us and WILL take care of our needs, not always as we ask or see fit, though.
We are not reliant on our prayers, we are reliant on God and we are submissive to HIS will
‘Do not make thy prayer a fixed claim or demand which must be fulfilled, but a supplication for mercy that may or may not be granted.’

16. What to expect from prayer (2)
TRUSTING the father-heart and goodwill of God:
Luke 11: 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Matthew 7:9: ‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?’

17. What you will receive when you pray
Philippians 4: 6,7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said:
John 14: 27 ‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful’
Amen.