SERIES: The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed #2
TITLE: Our Father in Heaven
TEXT: Matthew 6:9a
INTRO: Two men were out walking one day. One guy challenged his buddy by saying, “If you’re so religious, let me hear you quote the Lord’s Prayer. I’ll bet you $10 you can’t do it.” The second guy responded, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” The first guy pulled out his wallet, fished out a $10 bill and muttered, “I didn’t think you could do it!”
Prayer is Prayed:
-To the Father
-Through the Holy Spirit, and
-In Jesus’ Name
I. RELATIONSHIP
# A SAINT PRAYS-
"Our Father which art in heaven ..."
"Yes?"
"Don't interrupt me. I'm praying."
"But you called me."
"Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying.
Our Father which art in heaven ..."
"There ... you did it again."
"Did what?"
"Called me. You said, Our Father which art in heaven.
Here I am. What's on your mind?"
"But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a duty done."
"All right. Go on..."
(Continued Next Week..)
A. Prayer is Based Upon a Relationship
1. Is God everybody’s Father?
(Rom. 4:16 HCSB) This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants--not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of Abraham's faith. He is the father of us all
-What does “...the father of us all” in this verse mean?
2. When we became Christians, we enter into a new relationship
with God:
(Rom. 8:15) “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
# Abba (Heb. “Father”). Servants were not permitted to use the term “Abba in addressing the head of the house
“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Mat.23:9)
3. When Jesus prayed He always used the word Father,
over 70 times in the NT
-The only time He prayed without using the word “Father was when He was on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Bearing the sin of the world/separated from the Father.
4. Believers can approach God with confidence and hope
as His children
# A Roman emperor was parading through the streets of the imperial city enjoying a victory celebration. Legionaries lined the triumphal route to keep back the cheering masses. As the conqueror approached, his youngest son, who was just a little boy, jumped down, pushed the crowd, and tried to run out to meet him; "You can’t do that,” said one of the guards as he caught the lad in his strong arms. "Don’t you know who’s in that chariot? That’s the emperor!" Quickly the youngster replied, "He may be your emperor, but he’s my father!"
II. RESPONSIBILITY
A. The Responsibility Of The Father To The Child
1. He is our Father, watching over us and caring for us.
2. He is not some distant deity that has no contact with
His children
3. Just as an earthly Father cares for and provides for his
children, our Heavenly Father cares for us and provides
for our needs
(Phil. 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
B. The Responsibility Of The Child to The Father
1. As children, we reflect our Father.
(Mat. 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
2. As children, we should respect our Father
(Exo. 20:12) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
3. We should
-Respect His Word
-Seek & follow His Will
4. As children, we should reverence our Father by obeying Him
III. REALM
A. God's Realm is Heaven
1. It’s his judicial position more than geographical position
2. God is everywhere,
3. He is sovereign, He is the boss.
4. He is the judge of the earth, nobody voted Him in,
and nobody will vote Him out.
B. He Rules the Universe
1. Everything and everyone is under His authority.
2. He is above everything in your life
3. Every problem is under His authority
(Rom. 8:31) What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us?
# George Mueller knew how to call upon the Lord. He never made his needs known to anyone but God. He then waited for God to put the need on someone’s heart. The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat," the housemother of the orphanage informed George Mueller. George asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. He thanked God for the food and waited. George knew God would provide food for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. "Mr. Mueller," he said, "last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in." Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children. Mueller kept a record of his prayers, and his prayer records filled more than 3,000 pages. His notes show that more than 30,000 prayers were answered.
CONCL: Aren't you glad that you have a Heavenly Father who cares for you? Aren't you thankful that you can go to Him with your greatest needs? He hears and answers the prayers of His children that come from the heart.
(Luk. 11:9) And I say unto you,
Ask, and it shall be given you;
Seek, and ye shall find;
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Amen
