Message topic: How should we pray?
Scripture text: Luke 18: 9-14
Our topic for shearing today, starts with a question and can have different answers, but we would like to have the true answer, that is why we would like to know what is pray? And why do we need to pray.
Today, In our society, a large percentage of people when they hear the word pray, their minds reflects on God, so who is God, and why should we pray to him? in other words, what is prayer? The answer to that question is: talking to God, so who is God?
God is often believed to be the cause of all things and so is seen as creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe, God is often thought of as incorporeal and independent of the material creation, while pantheism holds that God is the universe itself.
There are two great powers in this world as we know it, they are good and evil, God the creator of all things in heaven and earth, is known as good, and lucifer the deceiver of mankind, is known as evil.
God is true and genuine in all things, while Lucifer is the great deceiver who through his deception has cause separation of the true relation whish existed with man and God in the beginning: today, he is the great pretender, pretending to be who he is not and is known as the great deceiver of mankind.
In God’s plan of redemption for mankind after his disobedience, sent Jesus into the world to show him the way of redemption: and to regain the fellowship which has been lost.
There the great pretender Lucifer, met Jesus in the wilderness just after His baptism and tempted him these three times, but the greatest is when he took him to an exceeding high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them then and said to him, all these things will I give to you if you[O1] [O2] will fall down and worship me.
Then Jesus said to him, get thee hence Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then Satan that pretender left Him, and angels came and ministered unto him. (Matthew 4: 1-11.)
When Jesus called us by saying come unto me and be ye saved, is our respond, genuine, or pretentious, in other words, when we as believers go to God in prayer or to talk to him, are we doing so genuinely or predening? How do we know how to pray?
Listen to these words which are recorded for us in Luke 11: 1-4: It came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. Then he said to them. When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hollowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins. For we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Now let’s take a look at an example of Jesus as to the question which is before us in these words how show should we pray? Which is found in Luke 18: 10-14.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other a publican. There was a big difference between these men in that one was a man who believes in God, and practice things according to the will of God, while the other was a man known as a sinner, he knows the things which pleases God, but he did not do them.
The Pharisee, the man of God, stood up and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers. Or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. Did you hear this? I,I, I.
The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalted `himself shall be abased; and he that humbled himself shall be exalted. He confessed his deeds.
Did we learn anything about these two prayers? Can we get any understanding as to how we should pray or talk to God as a pretender or committedly?
Now, which of these two prayers are the example of the way we should talk to, or pray to God as a child of God? The prayer of the publican, known as a sinner, or the prayer of the Pharisee the man considered to be a man of God?
Do you remember the response of Jesus to the request of his disciples that he should teach them to pray? Today we are His disciples, should we adapt that prayer to our lives? Which of us as a child of God believes that the prayer of the pharisee represented the teachings of Jesus? Is that the way you and I acts in our prayer to God?
When Adam and Eve lost their direct contact with God through their disobedience, God sent His son Jesus to redeem us through the shedding of his blood, so that we can now be called the adapted sons and daughters of God. That is why we can sing, redeemed, how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; redeemed through His infinite mercy, his child, and forever, I am. Redeem, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the lamb, redeemed, redeemed, His child and forever we are.
That is why Jesus taught us when we pray to say our Father who art in heaven, Hollowed is thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily needs, and forgive us our transgressions.
Now we are asking the Father to teach us His way, O Lord, teach us your way! Your guiding grace afford-teach us your way! Help us to walk a-right. More by faith, less by sight; lead us with heavenly light, teach us your way.
When we are sad at heart, teach us your way! When earthly joys depart, teach us your way, in hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress, failure or success, teach us your way.
When doubts and fears arise, teach us your way! when storm clouds fill the skies, teach us your way! shine thru the wind and rain, thru sorrow, grief and pain; make now my path-way plain: teach us your way. Long as our life shall last, teach us your way! where our lot be cast, teach us your way! until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach us your way.