How to Pray (Pt. 1) | Jonathan Evans | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

How to Pray (Pt. 1)

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship • Jan 12, 2025 • 87 min

Start a Devotional

Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Jonathan Evans explores the foundation of prayer by examining why Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11 and Matthew 6. Observing Jesus' constant prayer life, the disciples realized that divine power and provision flow directly from communion with God and asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus instructed believers to address God as 'Our Father in heaven,' inviting us to approach His throne not with distant hesitation, but with the confidence, intimate access, and childlike trust of beloved children.

Themes

Prayer and CommunionGod as FatherAdoption in ChristChildlike FaithTrust and Provision

Key Points

1.
Jesus' constant and consistent prayer life demonstrated that divine power and provision flow from intimate communion with God (Luke 11:1).
2.
The Lord's Prayer is not meant to be a mere ritual to recite, but a pattern for how believers should approach God in prayer.
3.
Effective prayer requires the right spiritual posture—coming to God as our loving Heavenly Father who has adopted us into His household (Ephesians 2:19; John 1:12).
4.
Through Christ's work, believers have direct access to enter into their Heavenly Father's presence with confidence and intimacy.
5.
Believers must guard against projecting the flaws, absence, or shortcomings of earthly fathers onto God, who is perfectly holy, faithful, and set apart in heaven.
6.
Remembering that our Father is in heaven settles our struggles with loneliness, lack, grief, and insecurity, because He owns all things and will never abandon us.
7.
Like a child trusting a parent's open arms, believers are called to repent of distrust and approach God's throne with full expectation that He hears and provides.
8.
If earthly parents know how to fight for and give good gifts to their children, God is infinitely more eager to move mountains for His children (Luke 11:13).

Sermon Moments

“The Lord's Prayer is often treated like the national anthem before a football game—respected by everyone, but rarely reflecting how people live and pray on the field of life.”

“Observing Jesus slipping away consistently to pray, the disciples realized His power and provision were directly linked to His prayer life.”

“Prayer is like communication in a marriage—it is the main artery through which the success and vitality of your relationship with God flows.”

“When Jesus instructs us to say 'Our Father,' He invites us to run into our Heavenly Father's bedroom as full members of His household.”

“God is God over everyone, but He is Father to those adopted through Jesus Christ—granting believers a unique, privileged level of access.”

“Our Heavenly Father is nothing like flawed earthly fathers; He will never abandon, fail, or withhold comfort from His children.”

“Pastor Jonathan recalled how his father, Dr. Tony Evans, worked endlessly to help him overcome an educational hurdle, illustrating how much more our Heavenly Father moves mountains for us.”

“A young child jumping fearlessly into her father's arms serves as a picture of the quiet confidence and childlike faith we should have when coming to God.”

This Week

Set aside consistent, intentional daily time to commune with God, following Jesus' example of slipping away to pray.

Examine your prayer posture this week to ensure you are approaching God as a loving Father rather than a distant stranger.

Identify any distrust or hesitation in your heart caused by past disappointments with earthly fathers, and release those projections to God.

Begin your prayer time by honoring and hallowing God's holy name through praise before jumping straight into requests.

Approach God's throne with childlike expectation, asking Him boldly for your needs while trusting His good provision.

Confess and repent of any subtle unbelief or expectation that God will withhold good gifts from His children.

Meditate on your adoption into God's family through Christ (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:19) to strengthen your sense of security and divine access.

Remember This

Through Jesus Christ, believers are adopted into God's family and invited to approach their Heavenly Father with childlike faith, trusting completely in His power, love, and eager provision.

A Challenge for You

Forgive us of our sin of distrust that You save us then we don't trust You... help us to run into Daddy's bedroom with a childlike faith that You're our Father... Lord, this week we ask You to help us in our unbelief and help us to go before Your throne and love on our Daddy who always loves on us.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.