- 5. Jesus Teaching us to Pray

Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-14 Jesus teaches us how to pray – in the words of what is most important to ask, the confidence with which to pray, the importance of persistence, the humility with which to approach God and certainty that God hears.

##### Which of these teachings is most important for you to hear and act on?

#### Jesus’ teaching on prayer

Luke 11:1-13 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, 2 "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: 3 4 Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." 5 And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and 6 say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have 7 nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you 8 anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the 10 door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a 12 13 fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

#### Jesus emphasizing the need to pray

Luke 18:1-14 pray 2 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to always and not to lose heart. He 3 said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my 4 opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God 5 and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, 6 so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what 7 the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and 8 night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and pray, 10 regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to one a Pharisee praying 11 and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax 12 13 collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be 14 merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."