The Marks of a Disciple: Knees for Prayer

January 27, 2013

Luke 11:1-13
Rev. Jim Capps

As we begin today, listen to this story from Ronnie Floyd’s book, Our Last Great Hope:

“There was a man named Jeremiah Lanphier who lived in New York City during the 1850’s. Those were years of tension, when then shadow of war loomed over America. There were strikes, depressions, failing banks, long job lines, and an air of simmering violence. In this setting, Lanphier accepted a calling as a full-time city evangelist. He walked the streets, knocked on doors, put up posters, and prayed constantly—all to no visible result.

As his discouragement increased, Lanphier looked for some kind of new idea, some possibility for breakthrough. New York was a business town; maybe men would come to a luncheon. So he nailed up his signs, calling for a noon lunch in the Old Dutch Church on Fulton Street. When the hour came, he sat and waited until finally a single visitor arrived. Several minutes later, a couple of stragglers peeked through the door. The handful of men had a nice meal.

Lanphier gave his idea another go on the following week. Twenty men attended; at least it was a start. But then, forty came on the third week. The men were getting to know each other by this time, and one of them suggested he’d be willing to come for food and prayer every day. Lanphier that was a good sign, and he ramped up his efforts for a daily meal and prayer time.

Before long, the building was overflowing. The luncheon had to move again and again, so high was the demand. The most intriguing element of the “Fulton Street Revival,” as they called the phenomenon, was the ripple effect. Offices began closing for prayer at noon… . Fulton Street was the talk of the town, with men telegraphing prayer news back and forth between New York City and other cities—yes, other cities had started their own franchises; other godly meetings were launching in New York.

The center of the meeting was prayer, and it was okay to come late or leave early, as was needed …. Men stood and shared testimonies. [This was not] a place for the well-known preachers of the day—this was about the working class, businessmen who wanted to share the things of God.

Some historians went so far as to refer to the Fulton Street Revival as the Third Great Awakening, because it lasted two years and saw as many as a million decisions for Christ. Given the influence of New York City, no one could estimate the national and international impact that spread from Jeremiah Lanphier’s simple lunch breaks. It is well known, however, that great funds were raised for fulfilling the Great Commission.”

Wow! What a story! It speaks loudly to us in the series, “the Marks of a Disciple” as we consider the next mark- “Knees for prayer.” We have talked about a “heart for Christ alone,” a “mind transformed by the,” and “arms of love.”

Just as He was for the first disciples, we are going to ask Jesus to be our teacher this morning as we look together at Luke 11:1-13. As He was praying in a certain place, Jesus is given a request that He must have loved to hear- “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

It was the custom in those days, that a rabbi or teacher would teach his disciples a simple prayer that they would pray on a regular basis. Apparently, John the Baptist had followed that custom with his followers.

Please follow along with me as I read from Luke 11:1-13.

JESUS, FIRST, RESPONDS TO HIS DISCIPLES REQUEST BY GIVING THEM A MODEL PRAYER. VERSES 2-4

He tells them that when they should say and then He goes on to share His very helpful ample of what prayer should be like. This a little bit shorter version than the comparable prayer that Jesus gives His followers in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:9-13.

It’s probable that Jesus didn’t mean that this prayer should be prayed in a kind of mindless fashion in which we say the words without really thinking about their meaning. Instead, He was probably saying that this should be kind of an outline or paradigm for them to follow when they prayed. He was giving them some of the important ingredients for them to consider when they prayed.

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer together on a regular basis, following the example set down for us by millions of Christ Followers through the years, do you think about the words and their intent? Or, can you go to “automatic pilot” and say them without thinking. I’ll never forget the time in the first church I served, just outside of St. Louis, catching myself wondering whether I would make it in time for the Football Cardinals kick-off at 1:00 as I was praying the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus’ model prayer begins where are prayers should begin- with God. Did you think about the warm familial nature of that idea? When talking about “Father” in this pattern for prayer, the late Bruce Larson Larson writes:

“We can call the Creator of the universe, ‘Daddy.’ We can crawl up on his lap on good days and bad days and talk to him.”

Do you think of God as “Father” when you address him in prayer? Sometimes, the idea of “Father” can be loaded.

· Story of Tom H.

“Hallowed be the name” is descriptor telling us who God is. For the Hebrew names were always important giving the character of the person. Jesus is suggesting that the one whom we are addressing is above and beyond all others. He is the ultimate in holiness or otherness. Yet, He gives us the access to Him that a loving father would give to his child.

· Never forget a Confirmation Class- Memorizing Lord’s Prayer- Hollywood Henderson- Cowboys- “Hollywood be your name.”

“Your kingdom come” ties in with the major theme of Jesus ministry- heralding the new rule by God. In the longer version in Matthew’s Gospel it reads:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

In other, other words, we are passionately asking for God to more and more rule our lives and the lives of those in the world around us. We are saying our world desperately needs God more than ever, just as each one of us needs God more than ever.

· “It’s not my brothers or my sisters, but it’s me O’ Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” Or, standing in need of God’s compassion and passion in our lives.
· When we pray “Your kingdom come,” we must be ready for God to use us to bring that kingdom.
· Illus.- IV group- Georgetown- prayer requests at end of meeting.
- o Guy asks for prayer for a computer-
- o Young woman- started to pray- felt interrupted by God
- o Came back with a laptop- answer to her prayer before she could even pray it.
- o So it is with us.

Next Jesus calls them to pray for their present daily needs- Give us this day our daily bread.

As Father- God deeply wants to provide for our needs- Jehovah Jireh- “The Lord Provides.”
Daily- important. God’s economy of time- day is the basic unit.

Manna in the wilderness- “one day at a time.”

Really crucial for us to take “one day at a time.”- grief, marriage, addictions, sports, education
Jesus in Matthew 6:33-34- “See first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

While that’s great rhetoric, which we may all resonate with, are you able to trust God enough to take one day at a time.

Next Jesus says we should pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”

· Whenever come into the presence of the Holy God who grants us access, we realize how small, puny, undone, and sinful we are.
- o In Bible, when people come face to face with God, it’s like shining a bright light in the darkest places of their lives- keenly aware of who God is and who they are not.
- o Romans 3:23- “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
- o It’s crucial for us to be constantly confessing our sins to the God who sent Jesus who came to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
- · Just as we brush our teeth and shower and are concerned about our physical hygiene, we must also be concerned about the hygiene of our soul.
  - o I john 1:9
  - o God wants us to be cleansed and forgiven.
  - o How about you?

The final ingredient in this pattern or paradigm for prayer has to do with deliverance from temptation, even before we succumb to sin. “Lead us not into temptation.” Matthew goes on to say, “but [instead] deliver us from the evil one.” (NIV)

It was the evil one who tempted Jesus.
William Barclay- “It includes far more than seduction to sin; it covers every situation which is a challenge to and a test of a person’s… integrity and fidelity. We cannot escape it, but we can meet it with God.

Dear friends, temptation in one form or another is common to all of us. It is not a sin to be tempted. What we do with temptation that matters.

· In all of those moments we need to be praying, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

IN VERSES 5-13, JESUS SHARES TWO HELPFUL PARABLES TO HELP US HAVE KNEES FOR PRAYER.

In the first story or parable, Jesus talks about a friend who goes to another friend at midnight and knocks on his door asking for bread. Sound strange and inconsiderate.

· Often travelled at night- escape hot sun.
· Another important understanding- most homes- one room- whole family gathered around the charcoal stove- also animals
- o Meant everyone would be awakened if got up
- o Doesn’t get up at first, but does finally because of persistence of the traveler.
- o Belief that if a friend would get up and meet our needs, how much more will God our loving father care for our deepest needs.
- o Quote from Augustine about his mother’s persistence and God’s provision, even above what she had prayed.

2 applications

Persistence- not because trying to make God do something He doesn’t want to do; and not because God is sleeping. Persistence in believing that God is all powerful and He can provide.

Sometimes God doesn’t answer and provide according to our wishes and desires- but with what is best for us.

Second parable or story- Father who son comes to him with a request.

If asks for fish- give him a snake?
Is asks for an egg, give him a scorpion?
In both cases- God not playing evil games with us when we come to Him in prayer.
I earthly fathers, who are less than perfect in every way, won’t play those kind of tricks- certainly our Heavenly Father would not do such a thing.

Then comes the zinger- God wants to give us the Holy Spirit.

Produce the fruit of the Spirit in us.
Indwelling presence of God living in us, helping us pray as we should, asking for the right things with the right attitude.
Paul captures this idea so well in Romans 8:26 and 27: “In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
Praise God who wants each of us to be filled with the Holy Spirit who helps us go to God in ways beyond human words. The One who knows our very hearts and minds, intercedes for us.

APPLICATION

If you and I are going to be followers of Jesus, we must have knees for prayer. Prayer is not an elective in the Christian experience. It is at the very heart of who we are and will always be a catalyst for growth.

Let’s take a moment to look at the Marks of a Disciple evaluation sheet in your bulletin. Where do you find yourself? Seeker? Beginner? Intermediate? Or, Mature? Like every mark, there is always room to grow and become more like Jesus who felt a continual need to be in communication with His Father. If Jesus felt that need, how much more do we need to be disciples who allow prayer to permeate our lives and soul so that God is never outside our awareness.

Maybe some of you are say that with everything going on in your life, you just don’t have time to pray. When life is less hectic, you will be better at prayer. Maybe that’s our excuse as a church. Listen to these words from yesteryear American Evangelist, R. A. Torrey:

“We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of anxiety, but we accomplish little; many services, but few conversions; much machinery, but few results.”

We make time for what we consider to be most important. If we want to grow in our relationship, our intimacy with the Master, we must communicate with Him, sharing our very lives on a moment by moment basis.

Like Jesus’ disciples, some of you may say, I’m just not sure to pray. Yes, the Lord’s Prayer is pattern and I can use it as a place to start, but how do I really begin?

In his book, Prayer for Beginners, Peter Kreeft writes:

“Prayer is easier than you think. We want to think it is too hard or too high and holy for us, because that gives us an excuse for not doing it. This is false humility. We can do it, even the most sinful, shallow, silly, and stupid of us.

You do not have to master some mystical method. You do not have to master a method at all. Can you talk to a friend? Then you can talk to God, for he is your friend. The single most important advice about prayer is one word: Begin! God makes it easy: just do it!

God also makes it easy to progress in prayer…. For it gradually becomes more natural and delightful.

For me, a prayer journal is the best discipline because I am a dreamer and my mind is always wandering. While I have special prolonged conversations with God, prayer is a constant communication where we bring anything and everything to God.

Like every church, we have challenges before us. It is crucial that we come to God in prayer