Luke 11:1-13.

In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve spoke directly to God, and God spoke directly to them. They understood each other, and they knew God to be their creator, their Father. They enjoyed each other's company in the garden of Paradise. But this blissful relationship did not last very long. Eve, and Adam were misled by a snake. Satan, disguised as a serpent, misrepresented God's Word and Mankind fell from Grace.

As time went on, God rarely spoke directly to His people. Instead, God chose particular Prophets to speak to men on His behalf. But because of sin, all people began to think of God only as the all-powerful being that could destroy them in the blink of an eye. They would not even say His name out loud. They were afraid that even saying His name would cause them destruction. The prophets realized, that when they spoke to God, they were appealing before the throne of the Almighty, all knowing, all-powerful God of the universe. God was no longer addressed with respect and love, but with fear and trembling.

But the disciples of Jesus noticed that He and John the Baptist prayed to God differently. Their prayers were offered with conviction and affection. So they asked Jesus to teach them. Our text begins; "One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Perhaps a better way to phrase the disciple's request is: "Teach us to pray to our Father."

First Jesus tells them: "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come." What comes to your mind when you think of God as your Father? Many people think of God as unreachable, and as the kind of Father who only reaches out to His children with a paddle in His hand, rather than with love in His arms. When we completely misunderstand God as a one-sided wrathful God, we are left without any idea as to how to pray to Him. The bottom line is; we don't know how to pray.

On the other hand many of us pray to God only when we need something. We are eager to say, "Give us each day our daily bread." We only consider those things which are important in our daily lives; food, good health, a car and nice clothing. And because God loves us, He wants us to have all of the things we need to live in this world. But He says seek first the kingdom of God, (Your kingdom come) and all these things will then be added unto you. But we skip right past seeking the kingdom of God, and instead we often find ourselves treating God like the local McDonald's. We drive up, place our order, and then expect it to be neatly wrapped in a small sack. And then, when it seems that God has not answered our prayers, we get discouraged.

Another way we act like God is only a God of punishment is when we do something wrong. Instead of seeking God for forgiveness, we try to cover our up sins and hide. We don't want anyone, including God, to see what we have done wrong. We don't want to be punished for our sins. Accepting punishment would also mean admitting that we were wrong. As long as we believe that we are not wrong, we won't see any need for our Father's forgiveness, and so our Father will not give it to us.

In the same way, when we deny our Father the opportunity to forgive us, we don't have the capacity to forgive others. "Forgive us our sins as we forgive others" become empty words. But when we begin to forgive others, we begin to understand the need for our own forgiveness. And God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us for being unforgiving. Yes, He can forgive us for even that. Let us never forget that God is a God of forgiveness.

When we lose our patience or when we forget that God is a God of forgiveness, Satan rears his ugly head and whispers into our ears, "Why bother praying? He didn't answer you last time. Why should He answer any of your prayers? You're just wasting your time. You are just one insignificant person on a small planet in a vast universe. God doesn't have time for a sinner like you."

It is very easy to listen to Satan's misleading words. Satan is the father of lies and he will use every trick he can to lead you astray. So we don't bother to ask God to lead us not into temptation. Its' ironic, isn't it? That only after we have given into temptation and get into trouble do we seek His help, and even during these times of crisis, many of us don't pray to Him. We are so sinful that we don't even know how to pray in a way that is pleasing to God. We need someone to teach us how to pray.

That someone is our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to say, "Lord, teach us to pray. Teach us to pray to our Father." And that prayer that Jesus taught the disciples, the Lord's Prayer, was written for us as well. We have been made brothers and sisters of Christ, and our brother wants us to stay in constant contact with our Father. That's Right! Our Father!

Jesus said when we pray we should call God, "Our Father." By saying this, Jesus was saying that we are His brothers and sisters, so God, our Father is not an earthly Father. He is not a father who makes mistakes or someone who abandons their children. Some of you may not even know who your worldly father is. Jesus is talking about your heavenly Father, a Father who does not make mistakes, and will certainly never abandon His children. God is a loving Father who is always there for His children. We know this because of the work of Jesus. God's whole purpose in sending his one and only Son to suffer and die for you is so that He could make us all brothers and sisters in Christ.

And Jesus was willing to come down from His throne in heaven to accomplish just that for us. God became human so we could understand His love for us. God was willing to do what no sinful man could have done. He put on human flesh, and allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross and died. But it was not the cross that killed Him. It was the weight of our sins. He was willing to carry that weight, knowing that it would kill Him, so that we too could be called the sons of God.

He died for our sins so that we could live again through His gift of eternal life. And that is why His Father- our Father, didn't leave Him in the grave. He rose from the dead, proving that He has the power to do what He says. Because of Jesus, you can talk to God once again as our Father who art in heaven. You, an earthly man or woman can talk to your all powerful heavenly Father. No longer is your God to be seen as an unapproachable God who makes you tremble, but as a Father who wants you to persistently approach Him with endearment and respect.

We can pray to God with confidence and persistence because Jesus has defeated Satan! Through Christ's work, the devil and even death have no power over us. God, our heavenly Father, is here among us right now. He is gently saying to us, "I have come to you in flesh and blood because I love you so much, and I have done this, so that you won't ever cease coming to me."

Jesus gives us this example, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

God wants us to know that he is more than our friend. He wants us to ask Him for everything, like a son or daughter would ask their loving, earthly father. When we are in need or we are tempted, we can seek God not only as a friend, but as a loving father.

When we understand that God is our Father, we know we can ask Him for the things that we need to sustain us in this world. Jesus Himself tells us, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

God is the giver of all good things. We can and we should expect good things from God, but let us let Him define the word "Good." Sometimes what we think is good for us can have devastating effects in our lives. God knows this. He knows what is best so we put our trust in Him. Remember that God has much more in store for us than a few possessions, and a short life on this earth. God, out of His love for us, is concerned about our spiritual welfare, our life in eternity. The things of this sin filled world are like a bag of greasy food when compared to the banquet that God has prepared for us in heaven.

And God doesn't place any limits on how often we can come to Him in prayer. Pray unceasingly, He says, as if inviting us for seconds and thirds at His banquet. God's door is always open for us. He wants to give us what we need every day, which is why Jesus taught us to ask for daily bread. And along with those earthly needs, He is there to give us even more important spiritual foods. Just as we sinners forgive our children, and give them gifts, God wants to give us the free gifts of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.

So Jesus tells us: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

God gives us His gift of the Holy Spirit so we can have faith. It is not that faith comes through prayer. On the contrary, faith enables us to pray! Now we have the ability to persistently ask God to take care of our needs, because we know that He is willing and able to give us all good things, because after all, He is our Father.

When Jesus rose victorious over death and the cross, God gave Him all authority on heaven and earth. He sits at the right hand of God. He gives us what we need on a daily basis to live in this world and to prepare us to live in His kingdom of heaven. He forgives our sins as we forgive others and He leads us away from temptation. For His is the kingdom, and the power and glory forever and ever. Amen.