Know What You Believe

Our Father

Luke 11.1-14

 Our Father’s Presence [(vs 1-4) – Jesus, when asked to teach his disciples to pray says, . . . When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, . . . There are volumes that can and have been preached about Jesus’ instruction in prayer in these inspired verses.  I have preached from these verses many times on the subject of prayer.  Yet, I find not only an instruction in prayer in this discourse, but now, through the meat of this hallowed Word, we discover also the deepest, most intimate instruction concerning our Heavenly Father.  Through the examination of this text we discover a manifold revelation of our heavenly Father’s Presence, Patience, and Provision.  Hence, our unknowable, unfathomable Heavenly Father manifests His infinite being to the finite minds of His glorious, corrupted, and now converted creations. Notice what we discover concerning our Heavenly Father through this Lord’s Prayer.]  - In His Presence We Discover: 

A.     Our Heavenly Father’s Glory (vs 2; Ezekiel 1.1-5, 25-2.1; Exodus 15.11; Psalm 8.1-8) [– . . . Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name . . . – These words of our Lord express for us and to us just how holy our God is and how holy He should be regarded.] 

1.      [Hallowed - ἁγιασθήτω (gk, singular, aorist, passive, imperative), definition from ἁγιάζω – set apart as sacred to God; make holy, consecrate; regard as sacred; purify, cleanse^[1]

[Hence, it is imperative, if one would stand in the presence of God, as prayer is to be in touch with heaven and to receive a word from heaven, then one must recognize the holiness of God and must completely hallow Him in their minds and life.] 

2.      [How glorious is our Heavenly Father?] 

a.      [Ezekiel’s Vision (Ezekiel 1.1-5, 25-2.1) – ¹ Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. ² In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, ³ The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. ⁴ And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. ⁵ Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. ]

[Ezekiel 1:25-2:1 ²⁵ And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. ²⁶ And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. ²⁷ And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. ²⁸ As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. ¹ And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. ] 

b.      [Moses Song, Israel Sang - Exodus 15:11 ¹¹ Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? ] 

c.       [Let us say with the psalmist - Psalms 8:1-8 ¹ O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. ² Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. ³ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; ⁴ What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? ⁵ For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. ⁶ Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: ⁷ All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; ⁸ The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. ] 

[How glorious is the majesty of our God.  When we gather with this congregation for worship, do you recognize the glory of our Heavenly Father?  Are you praising Him for His awesome power, His incredible provision, His glorious magnificence?  Is His name holy and hallowed in your mind and life?  Is your Heavenly Father enthroned upon ultimate seat of authority in your life and being?  Can you say with our Lord Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father hallowed is your name?] 

B.     Our Heavenly Father’s Governance (vs 2; Jer 27.4-5; Dan 2.20-22; John 19.11; Rom 13.1-2) [- . . . Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. – Let us always be reminded who our sovereign is.  The Lord God Almighty, our Heavenly Father reigns supreme on high. We are taught by God’s Word that:] 

1.      [Our Heavenly Father is the creator and master of all things.] 

[Jeremiah 27:4-5 ⁴ . . .  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters; ⁵ I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.]

2.      [Our Heavenly Father is in control of all things.] 

[Daniel 2:20-22 ²⁰ . . . Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: ²¹ And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: ²² He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. ]

3.      [Our Heavenly Father gives and controls all power and authority.] 

[Romans 13:1-2 ¹ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. ² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. ]

4.      [Our Heavenly Father supremely controls in every situation.] 

[John 19:11 ¹¹ Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. ]

5.      [The Scoffer would proclaim – How unjust and unloving your sovereign God is.  If your Heavenly Father truly controls every situation then why is there so much hatred, evil, and wickedness in this world?  Why?  Because of your sinful self will.  It is that our Heavenly Father loves you, mister scoffer, so very much, that He allows you to continue in your corruptible sin and rebellion, not that we might live under the terror of sin, but that you in your folly might be saved from the horror of your sin. God has declared:] 

[2 Peter 3:9 ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ]

[It is not our Heavenly Father that gives wickedness its power, but it is your sinfulness and rebellion that gives sin and evil is horrible way.  In the Sovereignty of God, our Heavenly Father tolerates this wickedness only for the sake of your redemption and salvation.]

[So, when you understand evil from God’s perspective, from the perspective of absolute and unerring truth, then you will know that the evil in this world is caused by sinners.  You are the cause of death, sickness, and wickedness!]

C.     Our Heavenly Father’s Giving (vs 3; 1 Chron 29.11-12; 2 Thess 3.10,12; Eccl 5.19; Deut 8.18; Psalm 75.6-7; Luke 12.16-21; vs 5-10; ) [- Give us day by day our daily bread. – Everything in our lives is given us by our Heavenly Father.  God gives you absolutely everything in your life.  Every experience, every skill, every ability, every thought, every breath, every heart beat comes from the giving hand and by the power of God.  Even the very ability to choose and even choose wrongly comes form God.  God gives you the ability to rebel against Him and scoff at Him if you like.  Why He tolerates such rebellion is far and away beyond me.  The Bible reveals that:] 

1.      [Our Heavenly Father gives riches, honor, greatness, and strength.] 

[1 Chronicles 29:11-12 ¹¹ Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. ¹² Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.]

2.      [Our Heavenly Father gives ability and prosperity.] 

[Deuteronomy 8:18 ¹⁸ But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. ]

[Work to eat - God’s plan is that you would work with the talents and abilities He has given you and that through that work you should eat.]

[2 Thessalonians 3:10 ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. ]

[2 Thessalonians 3:12 ¹² Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. ]

[Ecclesiastes 5:19 ¹⁹ Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. ]

3.       [Our Heavenly Father gives us the right to exist.] 

[Psalms 75:6-7 ⁶ For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. ⁷ But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. ]

[Luke 12:16-21 ¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ²¹ So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. ]

4.      [Our Heavenly Father’s Patience (vs 5-10) –  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶ For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? ⁷ And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. ⁸ I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. ⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ¹⁰ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. – In our text Jesus uses two parables to help us understand our plight in relation to our Heavenly Father.  First Jesus notes the fact of our Heavenly Fathers readiness to Give.  Your Heavenly Father is not only able but is also willing to give you all that you need and much of that which you desire.  But you must ask, seek, and knock.  The fact is that most Christian’s never ask their Heavenly Father for His wisdom, or provision. 

[James 4:2-3 ² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ]

[There is a vast difference between worthless, faithless requests and a faithful reliance upon God.  Worthless requests say the words while not really believing that they are either in the will of God or in the provision of God.  Our Heavenly Father does not respond to uncertain and selfish requests.  But when a child of God gets into the center of the will of God, being obedient to the Word of God, then they will find an open door and window from God.] 

[For instance:] 

a.       [You say your Heavenly Father provides for you and your house but He does not seem to provide enough for you to give your tithes and offerings as He asks of you.  This individual, when he prays, prays in vanity and unbelief.  They say that God will provide, but their actions reveal that God never provides.] 

b.      [You say your Heavenly Father provides for you and your house but He does not seem to provide in a way that allows you to receive His gifts apart from the world system of debt.  This individual, when he prays, prays in vanity because he has already planned out how he will get what he wants completely apart from his Heavenly Father’s provision.  Knowing God’s timing is every bit as important as knowing God’s will.] 

5.      [Our Father’s Provision (vs 11-13) [– ¹¹ 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? ¹² Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³ 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? – Jesus in this second parable deals with the root of the failure surrounding the first parable.  In the first parable a child of God is restrained from actually asking from their Heavenly Father with a heart that fully trusts their Heavenly Father.  The root problem is that they are not convinced that whatever their Heavenly Father actually provides for them is actually what is best for them.  A covetous heart will always misinterpret greed and need.  Your Heavenly Father will always give you what you need and desires to pour out His bounty upon you.] 

D.    Our Heavenly Father’s Grace (vs 4; 1 John 1.9; Psalm 86.5; Matt 6.14-15) [– And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us . . . – I intentionally connect forgiveness with grace in this context, because forgiveness will always be a gift that is undeserved when it is granted.  Your Heavenly Father stands ready to forgive and cleanse His beloved children.  The Bible reveals:] 

[1 John 1:9 ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.]

[Psalms 86:5 ⁵ For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. ]

[Your Heavenly Father forgives you so that you might learn to forgive as well.  Be careful that you learn to have a forgiving heart quickly because your Heavenly Father warns:]

[Matthew 6:14-15 ¹⁴ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ]

[For Salvations Sake – Almighty God stands ready to forgive mankind so that He might become the Heavenly Father of each and every human being.  You see all people are:]

1.      [Sinners  (Rom 3.23)]

2.      [Condemned (Rom 6.23)]

3.      [Loved (Rom 5.8)]

4.      [Called (Rom 10.9-10,13)]

[Almighty God wants you to recognize your lost condition, repent of your rebellion and sinfulness, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior that you might receive the forgiveness of sins and be saved by the Grace of God.  At that point Almighty God becomes your Heavenly Father and you become a child of God.]

[John 1:12-13 ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ]

E.     Our Heavenly Father’s Guidance (vs 4; James 1.5) [- . . . And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. – if God is your Heavenly Father, then He will indeed lead you in this life.  He will lead you through His written Word, He will lead you through His indwelling Word, He will lead you through your willing heart.  The Bible reveals:] 

[James 1:5 ⁵ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ]

[You cannot be led by the Spirit of God until you have received the Holy Spirit of God.  You cannot be led by the heart of God until you are willing the yield to the will of your Heavenly Father.]

CrossRoads Baptist, June 8, 2008