(The Life of Prayer) 1. THE PATTERN PRAYER
A.B. Simpson teaches that true prayer begins with recognizing God as Father and is learned through persistent practice, using the Lord's Prayer as the perfect model.
In this sermon, A.B. Simpson explores the profound depths of the Lord's Prayer, emphasizing its role as the foundational pattern for all Christian prayer. He highlights that true prayer starts with recognizing God as Father and is only possible through the mediation of Christ and spiritual regeneration. Simpson encourages believers to learn prayer through persistent practice, revealing the prayer's comprehensive nature as the expression of all spiritual needs and aspirations.
Text
"And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by 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." (Luke 11:2-4).
This wonderful prayer was dictated by our Lord in reply to the question on the part of His disciples, "Lord, teach us to pray." His answer was to bid them pray. This is the only way we shall ever learn to pray, by just beginning to do it. And as the babbling child learns the art of speech by speaking, and the lark mounts up to the heights of the sky by beating its little wings again and again upon the air, so prayer will teach us how to pray; and the more we pray, the more shall we learn the mysteries and heights and depths of prayer. And the more we pray, the more we shall realize the incomparable fullness and completeness of this unequaled prayer, the prayer of universal Christendom, the common liturgy of the Church of God, the earliest and holiest recollection of every Christian child, and the latest utterance often of the departing soul. We who have used it most have come to feel that there is no want which it does not interpret and no holy aspiration which it may not express. There is nothing else in the Holy Scriptures which more fully evolves the great principles that underlie the divine philosophy of prayer.
IT TEACHES US THAT ALL TRUE PRAYER BEGINS IN THE RECOGNITION OF THE FATHER.
It is not the cry of nature to an unknown God, but the intelligent converse of a child with his heavenly Father. It presupposes that the suppliant has become a child, and it assumes that the mediation of the Son has preceded the revelation of the Father. No one, therefore, can truly pray until he has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and received through Him the child-heart in regeneration, and then been led into the realization of sonship in the family of God. The Person to whom prayer is directly addressed is the Father as distinguished from the Son and the Holy Ghost. The great purpose of Christ\
Sermon Outline
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I. Introduction to the Pattern Prayer
- Prayer taught by Jesus in response to disciples' request
- The Lord's Prayer as the universal Christian prayer
- Prayer as a learned practice through continual use
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II. The Foundation of True Prayer
- Prayer begins with recognition of God as Father
- Prayer is the conversation of a child with a heavenly Father
- Acceptance of Christ and regeneration are prerequisites
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III. The Role of the Son and the Holy Spirit
- Mediation of the Son precedes revelation of the Father
- Prayer is addressed directly to the Father
- Understanding the Trinity in prayer
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IV. The Comprehensive Nature of the Lord's Prayer
- It expresses every spiritual need and aspiration
- It is the earliest and holiest prayer of the Church
- It reveals the divine philosophy of prayer
Key Quotes
“This wonderful prayer was dictated by our Lord in reply to the question on the part of His disciples, 'Lord, teach us to pray.'” — A.B. Simpson
“Prayer will teach us how to pray; and the more we pray, the more shall we learn the mysteries and heights and depths of prayer.” — A.B. Simpson
“All true prayer begins in the recognition of the Father. It is not the cry of nature to an unknown God, but the intelligent converse of a child with his heavenly Father.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Begin practicing prayer regularly to grow in understanding and intimacy with God.
- Approach prayer with the heart of a child, recognizing God as your loving Father.
- Accept Jesus Christ as Savior to enter into true prayer and spiritual sonship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the Lord's Prayer in this sermon?
The Lord's Prayer is presented as the perfect model of prayer that encompasses all spiritual needs and teaches the principles of true prayer.
Why does A.B. Simpson emphasize recognizing God as Father in prayer?
Because true prayer is the intelligent conversation of a child with a heavenly Father, which requires acceptance of Christ and spiritual regeneration.
How does one learn to pray according to this sermon?
Prayer is learned by practicing it continually, much like a child learns to speak by speaking.
Is prayer addressed to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit?
Prayer is directly addressed to the Father, following the mediation of the Son and the work of the Holy Spirit.
What role does regeneration play in prayer?
Regeneration brings the child-heart necessary to approach God as Father and engage in true prayer.