Lord, Teach Us to Pray 01

What was your father like?

Was he a courageous man?

Was he a drinker or smoker?

Was he just not good and not worth remembering?

It’s interesting to know how the image we develop of our fathers can so often shape how we see our heavenly father.

A poor image ==> Trust, even anger issues with God.

A strong image ==> Usually a far healthier image of God.

It gets even more dicy when we hear scripture

In we hear the following.

Ephesians 3:14–15 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

This is the inadequacy of translations, this reads far better:

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

This is the inadequacy of translations, this reads far better:

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named,

That’s a pretty tall edict because if you are having daddy issues this can be confronting.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named,

This is a no wholes barred declaration that all fatherhood is from God by design.

But for those of who do have daddy issues the truth can be very confrontational.

So where do we go with this?

Whenever we have suffered or been broken by unhealthy relationships we often run the risk of pressing our past hurts on other people and even God.

So, in the case of this passage which declares all Fatherhood is from God, we may well resent, dislike or even hate what the word of God says. We may resent the word of God so much that we try to reinvent, re-image God into something less confrontational or less threatening, something more palatable. But this only results is us crucifying God and placing something else in his place. A false god, an idol if you like, but not God. On the other hand if we learn to grapple with this confrontation by accepting, however painful and difficult in might be, that God is over and above all fatherhood that God declares what true fatherhood is. Then fatherhood begins to take on a whole new meaning. In the second case hurting broken people begin to see and gain a new understanding of where true fatherhood comes from and why it is such a powerful and vital part of every society.

We see in God and inadequate Father.

We pour all our resentment and hate into him and that’s as far as we go.

But this only results is us crucifying God and placing something else in his place. A false god.

But this only results is us crucifying God and placing something else in his place. A false god, an idol if you like, but not God. On the other hand if we learn to grapple with this confrontation by accepting, however painful and difficult in might be, that God is over and above all fatherhood that God declares what true fatherhood is. Then fatherhood begins to take on a whole new meaning. In the second case hurting broken people begin to see and gain a new understanding of where true fatherhood comes from and why it is such a powerful and vital part of every society.

We reduce God to an object of derision and ridicule.

An idol if you like, but the very anthesis God.

On the other hand if we learn to grapple with this confrontation by receiving God’s truth, however painful and difficult this might be,

, an idol if you like, but not God. On the other hand if we learn to grapple with this confrontation by accepting, however painful and difficult in might be, that God is over and above all fatherhood that God declares what true fatherhood is. Then fatherhood begins to take on a whole new meaning. In the second case hurting broken people begin to see and gain a new understanding of where true fatherhood comes from and why it is such a powerful and vital part of every society.

that God is over and above all fatherhood

that God declares what true fatherhood is. Then fatherhood begins to take on a whole new meaning.

Hurting broken people begin to see and gain a new understanding of where true fatherhood comes from and why it is such a powerful and vital part of every society.

Without the gift of fatherhood imaged in us by God we are an impoverished people.

This is the truth so much of the west, as it increasingly rejects the image of God, does not want to see.

It is any small wonder the evil one and the world are so hostile towards faithful husbands and fathers everywhere. Because fatherhood is a divine imprint on the very substance of men.

To put it more bluntly, to be a true father, husband and parent, is to be a Godly man. The two are inseparable. They fit like a glove.

This truth which the world cannot see is exactly what God wants us to see.

It’s good and wholesome to honour fathers and all fatherhood.

Their place in society and our families provides order and stability for our children.

The prayer Jesus taught his disciples begins with the words, “Our Father in Heaven. What makes you wonder if Jesus knew full well what lay ahead for the Church.

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

John

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

John

John 8:42–43 ESV

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

John 8:42-

Joy, Peace, Good Order, Love, Hope

Here

All these and more come from the truth.

Lord’s Prayer begins with a personal intimate truth which opens up life and stability.

It opens up a deep resonance of wholesomeness which undergirds the whole of the Lord’s prayer.

Challenge

If you pray add the Lord’s prayer to your routine.

If you struggle to pray, try the Lord’s prayer.

Do this for the season of Lent and see what unfolds.

Let the prayer Jesus taught us be what it truly is.

A gift that brings with it the power to do and to restore what is declares in us.

A true and right relationship with God which brings us his wholesomeness and peace.

To God be all the power and the glory.

Amen.