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THE MIDNIGHT FRIEND – LESSON ON PRAYER
MONDAY, JUNE 1
Luke 11:1-13

Memory verse: Luke 11:4

 

“…Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come…”

 

THE MIDNIGHT FRIEND – LESSON ON PRAYER
 
The disciples saw Jesus praying. After He had finished His prayer, they asked the Lord to teach them to pray just as John the Baptist taught his disciples. Learning from Jesus directly was the norm. It was the right request because if the Master needed to pray, how much more the disciples? The prayer Jesus taught them was similar in composition to the one He preached in the Sermon on the Mount (cf. Matt 6:9-13).
 
All prayer must be to God the heavenly Father, through the finished work of the Son and with the help of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in all believers. Prayer is like a child crying to the Heavenly Father for help. This is a novel concept taught by Christ to His disciples, for the God of the Old Testament dealt with Israel from the perspective of a reverential God, with the Mount Sinai experience foremost in their thoughts. Israel approached God with fear and trembling. Seeing God as a loving, gracious heavenly Father whom they could approach at any time of the day or night was not Israel’s experience. They knew not to approach God in sin, or severe punishment could befall them. However, with a father-child relationship taught by Christ, He revealed a close and intimate relationship between God and His church.
 
Then Jesus proceeded with the rest of the prayer, teaching the disciples to pray continually for God’s glory and their daily needs. They had to disregard iniquities in their heart when they prayed; otherwise, God would not hear their prayers—one of the most difficult sins to repent before God, is the sin of an unforgiving spirit. The believer who has tasted salvation that cost Jesus’ life must also forgive every sinner who sins against him. In this manner, he protects himself from sinning against God because an unforgiving spirit stems from a heart that is not born again. Unforgiveness leads to anger and hatred, and ultimately to murder.
 
This pattern of prayer includes praising God in all we ask, praying for a life of faith, trusting in God to provide daily, a heart of flesh to forgive every sin, and discernment to stay away from evil people and all temptations.
 
THOUGHT: Can I forgive just as God has forgiven me in Christ?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, teach me to pray the Lord’s Prayer all my life so that I may live a life of faith, trusting in Thee all the days of my life.

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