"…to the praise of the glory of His grace…" Ephesians 1:6

Sermons on Prayer

Praying to a Sovereign God – Luke 11:1-13 & other Scriptures

Luke 11:1-13
“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 

2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 

7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 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!”

Our approach to prayer depends upon how we think of God

1. True prayer expresses submission to God’s sovereignty

John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

1)”Hallowed be Thy Name”
2) “Thy kingdom come.”
3)”Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
4) “Give us this day our daily bread” (daily needs)
5) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (or the evil one)

2. True prayer expresses love for the heavenly Father

“Our Father”

Luke 11:9 “Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For if your earthly Father knows how to give good gifts to their children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

• Prayer is ADORING GOD
• Prayer cheers God on with the greatest of admiration.

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