Your Father Knows

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.7 million children, or more than 1 in 4 live without a father in the home in America. That is a startling and devastating statistic.

I am thankful I don’t know what that is like. My Dad, while a working man, provided for us and was there.

Today I want to talk about our Heavenly Father - who doesn’t have any fatherless children.

READ:

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (, KJV 1900)

TEXT:

“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (, KJV 1900)

“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (, KJV 1900)

“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (, KJV 1900)

Introduction:

This scripture is part of the great teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount covering .

In this particular section Jesus is teaching us about Kingdom Righteousness. Teaching us how our righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the Religious leaders of that day.

He uses three different things to teach this

Alms-giving

Prayer

Fasting

There is great truths in there that I don’t have time to deal with right now - but Jesus implies a tremendous truth we often overlook in that has been on my heart this week.

He just says a simple little clause - “…your Father knoweth...”

1. Your Father -

I love the matter of fact way Jesus says this - YOUR FATHER -

Doesn’t that just have a comforting and inspiring tone

YOUR FATHER -

Max Lucado wrote:

Of all his names, Father is God’s favorite. We know he loves this name most because this is the one he used most. While on earth, Jesus called God “Father” over two hundred times. In his first recorded words Jesus explained, “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (). In his final triumphant prayer he proclaims, “Father, I give you my life” (). In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus repeats this name 156 times. God loves to be called Father. After all, didn’t Jesus teach us to begin our prayer with the phrase, “Our Abba”? [Father] https://maxlucado.com/gods-favorite-name-father/

Reference:   Taken From: Marshall Broomhall, The Man Who Believed God: The Story of Hudson Taylor, Moody, 1929, p. 150.

Let’s look at some of the specific references to father in and see what we notice.

: “Your Father…sees what is done in secret.”

: “When you pray…close the door and pray to your Father which is in secret”

: “Your Father who sees…will reward you.”

📷Author:Hudson TaylorTopics:God-Fatherhood

: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

: “This, then, is how you should pray, ‘Our Father in heaven…'”

: “Your heavenly Father will…forgive you.”

: “Your Father who sees will reward you.”

: “Your heavenly Father feeds them.”

: “Your heavenly Father knows you need them (food and clothes).”

When we take together all these expressions from Jesus in about our heavenly Father, what do they tell us about His fatherhood? What is the most fundamental element of His fatherliness?

Could it be that He is un-absent? or present?

2. A Present Father

By Present I mean he doesn’t forget you or your needs - He Knows!!!

J. Hudson Taylor tells about a his experience as a father, He says,

“[When] I am taking my children with me, and I notice that it is not difficult for me to remember that the little ones need breakfast in the morning, dinner at midday, and something before they go to bed at night. Indeed I could not forget it. And I find it impossible to suppose that our heavenly Father is less tender or mindful than I… I do not believe that our heavenly Father will ever forget His children. I am as very poor father, but it is not my habit to forget my children. God is a very, very good Father. It is not His habit to forget His children.” Reference:   Taken From: Marshall Broomhall, The Man Who Believed God: The Story of Hudson Taylor, Moody, 1929, p. 150.

Reference:   Taken From: Marshall Broomhall, The Man Who Believed God: The Story of Hudson Taylor, Moody, 1929, p. 150.

But Your Father, isn’t just Present - he is also Intelligent!!!

3. An Intelligent Father

Your Father Knoweth - Jesus is speaking of God’s Omniscience.

Lets look at some scriptures that talk about the knowledge of God.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (, KJV 1900)

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (, KJV 1900)

“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” (, KJV 1900)

Finally the Psalmist just summarized it:

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.” (, KJV 1900)

While we could the rest of our lives talking about what GOd knows - Jesus wanted to be sure his hearers understood one thing the Father knew about them:

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of - and he knows before ye ask him!!!

That is knowledge!!!

The sense of the word “need” here is “anything that is necessary but lacking”

Ira Stanphill put it to lyrics like this:

“Does He know when I am lonely? Yes He Knows. Does He know when I am tried, Can He see the hurt inside? Yes there’s nothing I can hide, Jesus knows.

Or Mosie Lister I think said it a little clearer,

“My Jesus knows when I am lonely He knows each pain; He sees each tear He understands each lonely heartache He understands and always cares.

My Jesus knows when I am burdened He knows how much my heart can bear He lifts me up when I am sinking He brings me joy beyond compare.

My Jesus knows when I am burdened He knows how much my heart can bear He lifts me up when I am sinking He brings me joy beyond compare.

When other friends seem to forget me When skies are dark, when hope seems gone By faith I feel His arms about me, And hear Him say, “You’re not alone.”

My Jesus knows just what I need O yes, He knows just what I need He satisfies and ev’ry need supplies Yes, He knows just what I need.”

He is an intelligent Father - who knows every struggle, fear, anxiety, bout of confusion, doubt. He knows also what you need what is best.

I would remind you that he is a Present Father, an Intelligent Father, but He is also a loving and giving Father.

4. A Benevolent Father

Jesus starts out this profound verse with an imperative or a command.

Don’t be like them - what them is he talking about?

Well he is talking about them in verse 7 - those who think you have to repeat a prayer over and over and over in order to be heard.

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (, KJV 1900)

Before you even realize you need something Your Father knows about your need!!!

Think about that for a moment!!!

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; And while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (, KJV 1900)

The type of praying Jesus is talking about to Our Father is one of faith and confidence.

We are not informing God of our need,

We are not trying to get God’s attention

We are not trying to manipulate or badger God into compliance

We are expressing our dependence upon Our Father.

Going back to Hudson Taylor, I remember as a young Christian when became so real to me.

In this passage Jesus is trying to get across the importance of the benevolence or generosity of God.

Listen to what Jesus says - about Your Father -

“For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (, KJV 1900)

Your Father this morning Knows exactly what you are going through, all of it.

He knows what you need this morning

He is present

He is intelligent

He is benevolent

Jesus wanted us to know that

Later He would teach us to pray

“Our Father which art in heaven...”

Your Father - Is He your Father this morning?

If He is not your Father won’t you change that right now.

If He is your Father - live like it - remember it

I have a present Father

I have an intelligent Father who knows all that is going on right now

I have a benevolent Father who will supply all of my Needs!!!

Let us pray -

Heavenly Father,

How I love that sound, Father - thank you for being present and active in our lives.

Thank you for knowing what we need, even when we don’t or before we even ask.

Thank you for supplying those needs.

I ask you would be with those who have joined us today who don’t know you as Father - through your Son Jesus Christ - would you bring them to that relationship.

I ask you would bless and keep each one, that your face would shine upon them all and that you would give them peace.

Bless, protect and prosper I pray

In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ

AMEN!