10. Our Listening Father Luke 9:51-62 p. 957

Prayer Our series: “Pictures of New Life” Today’s passage “. . . Give the Holy Spirit . . .” (v 13) Direct link between prayer & outpouring of the Spirit

1. A Prayer Jesus gives us a prayer to pray. Five simple petitions: Hallowed be your name Your Kingdom come Give us each day our daily bread Forgive us our sins Lead us not into testing/temptation

1. A Prayer . . . Two peculiarities: Address God as “Father” Linking forgiveness to how we treat others (who owe us) Similarities to a Jewish prayer: Qaddish. Much of their tradition came from the Old Testament.

1. A Prayer . . . “Hallowed be your name” Or, “May your name be treated as holy” Passive imperative – who will do it is unclear. Also ambiguous: God acting to cause people to honour His name (Isa 29:23) God’s people acting to honour God’s name (Ezek 36:23) We are asking God to act to honour his name We are committing ourselves to glorify Him in our lives.

These first two petitions speak directly to how we live. 1. A Prayer . . . “Your Kingdom come” Looks forward to the full establishment of God’s Kingdom Commits us to be part of spreading God’s Kingdom. N.T. Wright: “We are to colonize earth with the life of Heaven” These first two petitions speak directly to how we live.

1. A Prayer . . . “Give us each day our daily bread” A simple request for daily provision. Two Old Testament allusions to inform our understanding: Provision of Manna in the desert (Exod 16:4-5) Provided and collected daily. Important principle from Proverbs 30:7-9. Adequate for each day but not an excess.

1. A Prayer . . . “Forgive us our sins” We certainly need forgiveness. God offers it freely. Some disconcerting words: “as we ourselves forgive …” What we forgive – “debts” Cultural practice of reciprocity, vassalage & patronage. Rigid system of obligations that had to be met. We should give without expecting in return (Luke 6:34-35) Based on the generosity of God (Matt 10:8).

1. A Prayer . . . “Lead us not into testing temptation” A word with two meanings: Temptation: the Devil entices us into evil (James 1:13-14) Testing: God uses to strengthen our faith (James 1:2-3) A deliverance from both ?

1. A Prayer . . . We address these requests to our “Father” Invited into the same intimacy with God that Jesus had

2. God is better than a Friend A Friend is awakened at midnight. In spite of the inconvenience he will surely help Phrase with two translations: “Because of his shamelessness” (host waking his friend) “Because of his not being shamed” (Man in the house) Key: who the pronoun “his” refers to. Must be the man asleep in the house. How much more will God respond to our needs!

3. God is better than an Earthly Father Parents do not play tricks on their children. We are evil and wouldn’t do this. God would never do such a thing! He is so gracious He will even give us His Holy Spirit.

Living It The essence: Ask, Seek, Knock. (v 9-10) Prayer is a privilege. He is God and I am not Prayer is the frontlines of spiritual battle (Eph 6:12) Prayer will bring the Spirit – courage, discipline, power I can be part of what God is doing.

Living It . . . I know we desire God to work amongst us. It is not only sin that can hold us back. With open hearts and hands let God speak to you: Is there something good that has become an Idol? Is there a good thing I need to let go of?