Our Father in Heaven
Matthew 6:9-15
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
(from The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)
Responsibility of Fathers
1. A Loving Father Provides for His Family
He is the one mainly responsible to feed his family
11 Give us today our daily bread.
Provide not just material needs but also spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social needs as well.
The Loving Father provides through hard work and sacrifice:-
John 3:16
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. A Loving Father Guides His Family
He explains clearly what He Wants To Accomplish
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Protect is part of guidance – the warnings he gives of dangerous pathways.
He tells you where to go. He tells you where not to go.
He warns His children of Dangers
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Not only provide but also guide the children’s growth to maturity so that one day, they can provide for themselves.
Luke 2:52
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.
3. A Loving Father Bears with the Faults and Forgives Without Conditions
Practices forgiveness
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
This is not a perfect world and sin abounds. People makes mistakes. In life we will encounter failures of others. Sometimes it hurts us and sometimes we hurt others.
Learn not to be sensitive. “ To be sensitive” is to have pride. A father forgives, practices humility because he is aware of his own sinfulness.
To err is human, to forgive divine.
The prodigal son was forgiven by his father – Luke 15:11-32.
Honour of Fathers
1. Submit to your Father’s authority willingly.
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Your father’s position is God-appointed
He did not choose you. God gave you to him. You did not choose him – God gave him to you. He is God’s appointed agent to raise you and to help you find your purpose and meaning in life. To ground you and later, to let you fly. The only thanks he will get in this life is what you give to him.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Don’t keep secrets from your father. If you ever realise you are in deep trouble, tell your father straightaway. Better he know early than later so he can help.
Sometimes he is angry at himself – for having failed you! Tell him your fault and ask for his forgiveness and he will help you to sort out your situation.
2. Don’t complain about the allowance your father gives you
11 Give us today our daily bread.
Learn to live within your means. When you need it, it will come. Your father has a few tricks up his sleeve to raise money. Don’t forget: He has been willing to give to you all this years and he will continue to give when needed. He may also be saving for your future.
If he doesn’t give you money for some things, don’t grumble. Be happy. Be thankful for all he has given you in the past and will continue to give to you in the future. Your father is teaching you something you have to learn in life:
You cannot have everything you want. Life is not fair! We have to learn to live whether we have plenty or whether we have little.
3. Say sorry when you are wrong
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
You will make mistakes. Learn from them. Say sorry and move on. Don’t make the same ones again. Learn from the mistakes of others. Life is too short for you (there is not enough life) to make all the mistakes yourself to learn from.
Be humble. Take a learning posture. Say sorry. Muslim greeting in Hari Raya – maaf, zahir and batin which means "I am sorry." When at fault, be humble and say, "I’m so sorry that I did ... such and such.. Will you please forgive me? What can I do to make it up to you?
Forgive me father, for all the trouble I have caused you. Thank you for being my father and for all that you have done and will do for me in the future.
(c) Voon Yuen Woh
Full Gospel Tabernacle
