The Only Teacher

“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”” Luke 11:1.

The disciples had been with Christ and seen Him pray. They had learned to understand something of the connection between His wondrous life in public, and His secret life of prayer. They had learned to believe in Him as a Master in the art of prayer. None could pray like Him. And so they came to Him with the request, 'Lord, teach us to pray' (Luke 11:1). And after years, they would have told us that there were few things more wonderful or blessed that He taught them than His lessons on prayer. And now still it comes to pass, as He is praying in a certain place, the disciples who see Him engaged thus feel the need of repeating the same request, 'Lord, teach us to pray' (Luke 11:1).

As we grow in the Christian life, the thought and the faith of the Beloved Master in His never-failing intercession become more precious, and the hope of being Like Christ in His intercession gains an attractiveness before the unknown. And as we see Him pray, and remember that there is none who can pray like Him, and none who can teach like Him, we feel the petition of the disciples, 'Lord, teach us to pray,' is just what we need.

And as we think how all He is and has, how He Himself is our very own, how He is Himself our life, we feel assured that we have but to ask, and He will be delighted to take us up into closer fellowship with Himself and teach us to pray even as He prays.

Come, my brothers! Shall we not go to the Blessed Master and ask Him to enrol our names too anew in that school which He always keeps open for those who long to continue their studies in the Divine art of prayer and intercession? Yes, let us this very day say to the Master, as they did then, 'Lord, teach us to pray.' As we meditate, we shall find each word of the petition we bring to be full of meaning.

'Lord, teach us to pray .' Yes, to pray . This is what we need to be taught. Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeble child can pray, it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise. It is a fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One. The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal. It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for others, for the Church, and for the world. It is to the prayer that God has given us the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is in prayer that the promises wait for their fulfillment, the kingdom for its coming, and the glory of God for its full revelation. For this blessed work, how slothful and unfit we are! It is only the Spirit of God that can enable us to do it right. How speedily we are deceived into resting in the form, while the power is wanting.

Our early training, the teaching of the Church, the influence of habit, the stirring of the emotions—how easily these lead to prayer which has no spiritual power, and avails but little. True prayer, that takes hold of God's strength, that avails much, to which the gates of heaven are really opened wide—who would not cry, Oh for someone to teach me how to pray Jesus has opened a school, in which He trains His redeemed ones, especially those who desire it, those who want to have power in prayer. Shall we not enter it with the petition, Lord! it is just that we need to be taught! Oh, teach us to pray .

'Lord, teach us to pray.' Yes, us , Lord. We have read in your Word with the power your believing people then used to pray, and what mighty wonders were done in answer to their prayers. And if this took place under the Old Covenant, in the time of preparation, how much more will you not now, in these days of fulfilment, give your people this sure sign of your presence in their midst? We have heard the promises given to your apostles of the power of prayer in your name, and have seen how gloriously they experienced their truth. We know for sure that they can become true to us too. We hear continually even in these days what glorious tokens of your power you still give to those who trust you fully, Lord! These all are men of like passions with ourselves; teach us to pray so too.

The promises are for us, the powers and gifts of the heavenly world are for us. Teach us to pray so that we may receive abundantly. To us too you have entrusted your work, in our prayer too the coming of your kingdom depends, in our prayer too you cannot glorify your name; 'Lord, teach us to pray.' Yes, us, Lord; we offer ourselves as learners; we would indeed be taught of you. 'Lord, teach us to pray.'

'Lord, teach us to pray.' Yes, we feel the need now of being taught to pray. At first, there is no work that appears so simple; later on, none of that is more difficult; and the confession is forced from us: We do not know how to pray as we ought. It is true we have God's Word, with its clear and sure promises; but sin has so darkened our minds, that we do not always know how to apply the Word. In spiritual things, we do not always seek the most needful things or fail in praying according to the law of the sanctuary.

In temporal things, we are still less able to avail ourselves of the wonderful liberty our Father has given us to ask what we need. And even when we know what to ask, how much there do we still need to make prayer acceptable?

It must be to the glory of God, in full surrender to His will, in full assurance of faith, in the name of Jesus, and with a perseverance that, if need be, refuses to be denied. All this must be learned. It can only be learned in the school of much prayer, for practice makes perfect. Amid the painful consciousness of ignorance and unworthiness, in the struggle between believing and doubting, the heavenly art of effectual prayer is learned. Because, even when we do not remember it, there is One, the Beginner and Finisher of faith and prayer, who watches over our praying, and sees to it that in all who trust Him for it their education in the school of prayer shall be carried on to perfection. Let but the deep undertone of all our prayer be the teachableness that comes from a sense of ignorance, and from faith in Him as a perfect teacher, and we may be sure we shall be taught, and we shall learn to pray in power. Yes, we may depend upon it, He teaches us to pray.

' Lord , teach us to pray.' None can teach like Jesus, none but Jesus; therefore we call on Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray.' A pupil needs a teacher who knows his work, one who has the gift of teaching, who in patience and love will descend to the pupil's needs. Blessed be God! Jesus is all this and much more. He knows what prayer is. It is Jesus, praying Himself, who teaches us to pray. He knows what prayer is. He learned it amid the trials and tears of His earthly life. In heaven it is still His beloved work: there is prayer in His life. Nothing delights Him more than to find those whom He can take with Him into the Father's presence, whom He can clothe with power to pray down God's blessing on those around them, whom He can train to be His fellow workers in the intercession by which the kingdom is to be revealed on earth. He knows how to teach. Now by the urgency of felt need, then by the confidence with which joy inspires. Hereby the teaching of the Word, thereby the testimony of another believer who knows what it is to have prayer heard.

By His Holy Spirit, He has access to our hearts and teaches us to pray by showing us the sin that hinders prayer or giving us the assurance that we please God. He teaches, by giving not only thoughts of what to ask or how to ask, but by breathing within us the very spirit of prayer, by living within us as the Great Intercessor. We may indeed and most joyfully say, 'Who teaches like Him?' Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. He did not speak much of what was needed to preach well, but much of praying well. To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to man. Not power with men, but power with God is the first thing. Jesus loves to teach us how to pray.

What do you think, my beloved fellow disciples? Would it not be just what we need, to ask the Master for a month to give us a course of special lessons on the art of prayer? As we meditate on the words He spoke on earth, let us yield ourselves to His teaching in the fullest confidence that, with such a teacher, we shall make progress. Let us take time not only to meditate, but to pray, to tarry at the foot of the throne, and be trained in the work of intercession. Let us do so in the assurance that amidst our stammerings and fears, He is carrying on His work most beautifully. He will breathe His own life, which is all prayer, into us. As He makes us partakers of His righteousness and His life, He will of His intercession too. As the members of His body, as a holy priesthood, we shall take part in His priestly work of pleading and prevailing with God for men. Yes, let us most joyfully say, ignorant and feeble though we are, 'Lord, teach us to pray.'

Blessed Lord! You love to make me share your glory in heaven, that I should pray without ceasing, and ever stand as a priest in the presence of my God. Lord Jesus! I ask you this day to enrol my name among those who confess that they know not how to pray as they ought, and especially ask you for a course of teaching in prayer. Lord, teach me to tarry with you in school and give you time to train me. May a deep sense of my ignorance, of the wonderful privilege and power of prayer, of the need of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of prayer, lead me to cast away my thoughts of what I think I know and make me kneel before you in true teachableness and poverty of spirit.

Fill me, Lord, with the confidence that with such a teacher as you, I shall learn to pray. In the assurance that I have as my teacher, Jesus, who is ever praying to the Father, and by His prayer rules the destinies of His Church and the world, I will not be afraid. As much as I need to know of the mysteries of the prayer world, you will unfold for me. And when I may not know, you will teach me to be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Blessed Lord! You will not put to shame your scholar who trusts you, nor, by your grace, would you either. Amen .