OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN

Our Personal Lord

This bids us to examine ourselves to be sure that He is indeed OUR Heavenly Father.

Unbelievers are referred to as children of the world (Luke 16:8), children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), and children of Satan (John 8:44).

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

The Lord is only our Heavenly Father when we come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:26 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” (see John 14:6)

Through Jesus Christ, we have a personal relationship with the Heavenly Father.

1 John 1:3 “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Notice that it says “Our Heavenly Father” instead of “My Heavenly Father”. This reminds us that we are not alone. Not only is the Lord always with us, but He has given us His church to love, help, strengthen, and encourage us. So when we come before Him, we don’t just come with our needs, but we bring the needs of His people before Him. This is why we are commanded to bear one another’s burdens and to pray for one another.

We should come into His presence with praise and thanksgiving since we belong to Him.

See Psalm 100:1-5...

Our Paternal Lord

Since He is our Father, we should bring our needs before Him boldly.

See Hebrews 4:15–16...

Since He is our Father, we should come with a child-like trust and dependence.

Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Romans 8:15–16 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”

Our Powerful Lord

Since He is in heaven, we should come with humbleness.

2 Chronicles 20:6 “and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Since He is in heaven, we should come in reverence, awe, and an attitude of worship.

Psalm 103:13 “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

See Ecclesiastes 5:1–2...

Conclusion

How can we neglect such wonderful fellowship, amazing privilege, and unspeakable power?

When we pray, we should enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise because we belong to Him. Because He is our Father, we come boldly before Him with a child-like trust and dependence. And because He is in heaven, we come humbly before Him, with reverence, awe, and an attitude of worship.

Romans 8:31–32 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

Philippians 4:6–7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”