"OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN"

MATTHEW 6:9

A. FATHER
  1. Indicates relationship:
    1. God is our Father by reason of our creation - Deut. 32:6
    2. He has begotten us with the word of truth - Jas. 1:17, 18
    3. We are sons and daughters through faith in Jesus Christ - 1 John 3:1-3; 5:1-5
    4. We have been adopted into the family of God in the Beloved - Eph. 1:5, 6
  2. The word FATHER:
    1. Indicates a heart relationship.
    2. We cry "Abba Father" - Rom. 8:15; Mark 14:36; Gal. 4:6
    3. It indicates paternal care by God - Matt. 6:25-34
    4. It shows that God is a pitying Father to His children - Ps. 106:46
B. "OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN"
  1. With these opening words of the Lord's prayer we recognize:
    1. That God has a family of which we are a part - Eph. 3:15
    2. Said the good Shepherd, "Other sheep I have" - John 10:15
    3. He treats them all alike - Acts 10:34, 35
  2. We are all members of the same family:
    1. Thus when I come to God in prayer I do not limit my petition to myself or my immediate family, but include all God's family, members of the church.
    2. I remember my fellowmen - 1 Tim. 2:1-5; Luke 10:24, 33, 37
    3. Think of what the opening words of my petition mean -
      1. They exclude all selfishness - Luke 18:10-13
      2. We are made conscious of God's interest in others; and reminds us of the meaning of the golden rule, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." - Matt. 7:12
C. THE OPENING WORDS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER REVEAL GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD US
  1. This paternal attitude was revealed in the life of the Son of God:
    1. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" - John 14:9
    2. "I speak that which I have seen with my Father" - John 8:39
  2. He made known His thoughts toward us:
    1. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Jer. 29:11
    2. He cares for you -- "He careth for you" - Matt. 6:30
    3. It reveals His great sympathy for us. "In all their affliction he was afflicted" - Isa. 63:9; "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him" - Ps. 103:13
  3. Is this the picture you see on the opening words of the Lord's prayer?
    1. Do they unfold to you the deep and most significant relationship between us and God?
    2. Can you see the true meaning of God's family and His loving care?
    3. Does it make you hate selfishness as you can by God's grace?
    4. Do you include others in your daily prayer? 1 Tim. 2:1-5 ILLUSTRATIONS
      1. A mother's love - Isa. 49:15; Jer. 31:20
      2. Jonah and his attitude toward others - Jonah 4:5-11
      3. The prodigal's brother - Luke 15:25-32
      4. A real challenge to us - Matt. 25:34-40; 1 John 4:8, 20
      5. The deeper meaning of "Our Father" - Mark 10:35-45; 2 Cor. 12:7-9
      6. When it is really hard to say, "Our Father" - Mark 9:38; Luke 5:29, 30; 9:52-54; John 4:9
      7. What Jesus prayed for - John 13:34-35; 17:20- 23


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