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by Sandy Shaw
We move onto Luke 11Chapter 13. It is another very precious moment on the journey to Calvary.
We read of Jesus Christ praying - Jesus at Prayer - Jesus communicating with His Father. And Jesus says to us His Disciples - "Follow Me". Here is one way to follow Him more closely - in the realm of prayer. This is one very practical way whereby we can be obedient to God - simply by praying.
When we read of Jesus praying - it is as if we are on very holy ground - and we can almost feel like intruders, as we overhear Jesus talking with His Father.
When Jesus prayed He normally prayed out loud - with His eyes open - lifting up His eyes to heaven. There is a freedom in prayer which Jesus enjoys - there is a liberty as Jesus talks with His Father - and the disciples hear and see the difference.
They wait until Jesus finishes praying, and someone asks, "Lord, teach us to pray." They had never heard anyone pray like this. They had never known anyone enjoy such spiritual liberty and freedom and reverence - all so naturally.
Now, they were Jews. For 20 years or so, they would have said prayers - they would have been able to recite prayers - but now, they wanted to learn to pray - and they knew Jesus would teach them. They were open to learn - they wanted to grow - they want to know how to pray. One disciple asks a question and we have this gem - this important teaching regarding praying - how to pray. This is the reply to one request.
Jesus took the opportunity, and he taught them to begin with God, and to remember they were part of the family. This is the prayer for the Christian Family - for those who are in Christ - for those who belong to the Father through faith in Jesus.
From the very beginning, Jesus taught them to keep it all so simple - keep everything simple - but SAY something. When you pray 'Our Father' - remember that others belong to Him as well. We belong to the family of the Father. We need never feel isolated, not when we are in the Church of Jesus Christ. We are so privileged to be able to address God as Father - at any time - on any occasion - whatever the need might be.
When you pray 'Our Father' - remember that His Name is to be hallowed. Father - You are holy - and we recognise and acknowledge that. You are different - You are set apart. There are no faults with You. You are not like an earthly father.
He is and always has been - HOLY. Father - You are pure - You are perfect. There is this sense of reverence and awe and respect, and yet, with liberty and freedom too.
Jesus goes on to teach His Disciples to pray - "Thy Kingdom come" - for the coming of the Father's Kingdom. Father, come and govern and rule and reign.
Thy Will be done. May Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus Himself prayed - 'Not My Will but Thine be done'. May thy purposes be done on earth. It is a small phrase, but it has so much meaning.
There is a challenge there to our commitment to Jesus Christ - to our dedication to Jesus - to our obedience to the Father -to our openness and moving of the Holy Spirit.
God's Will is the best thing we can ask for - no matter what our situation - and at all times - and on every occasion - "Thy Will be done".
Give us each day our daily bread - give us Father, the food we need for the next 24 hours. The phrase may not mean very much to us in this country - with so many shops overflowing with various kinds of foods. But in many lands - these cries would have deep significance. They could be life and death pleas for men and women and children - in India - Ethiopia - Mozambique - on the refuse tips of Brazil. This phrase is relevant for perhaps more than half the population of the world.
We do not need more food - we need more forgiveness. We do not need more prosperity in our country - but we do need more pardon.
That leads us on to our next verse. "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us." We are only forgiven as we forgive.
There has been this call in our land - that perhaps more than anything else - we need to bow before our Father, and repent and confess. The person who prays is seldom arrogant. Praying leads to humility. The person who prays is becoming more and more aware of his need - and our relying upon God - and our depending upon the Holy Spirit. This is very much the disciple's prayer. Jesus would never have to pray this phrase.
Then Jesus teaches - pray - "Lead us not into temptation - but deliver us from the evil one."
We need food - we need forgiveness - and we need freedom. We need to be delivered and set free from all that comes from the evil one - from sins - bitterness - envy - jealousy - resentments - to be released from any hold the evil one may have over us.
One disciple makes a request and we have the gem of teaching which will never lose its value.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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