The Preface to the Lord s Prayer Our Father which art in heaven Introduction: Matthew 6:9 (KJV 1900) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. I. God our Father is in heaven. A. The words in Heaven are not to convey the idea of remoteness. We are not praying to a God who is far away. Perkins explained, God is said to be in heaven, not as though he were in the circles of the heavens (1 Kings 8:27), and indeed he is neither included nor excluded any place, being infinite, and so every where; but because his majesty and glory is most eminent[ly displayed] in the highest heavens to his saints and angels. [20] Brian; Beeke, Joel. Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer (Kindle Locations 2097-2100). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition. B. Heaven is viewed as the place of God s abode but even more importantly the place of God s throne. Psalm 11:4 (KJV 1900) The LORD is in his holy temple, The LORD s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men. Psalm 103:19 (KJV 1900) The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all. C. From that throne, God is viewed as ruling over all. Psalm 115:1 (KJV 1900) Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth s sake. 1
Psalm 115:2 (KJV 1900) Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? Psalm 115:3 (KJV 1900) But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. D. In that light the earth is pictured as God s footstool. Isaiah 66:1 (KJV 1900) Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? II. In the scriptures our heavenly Father is likened unto our earthly fathers but in a superior way. A. However, because He is our heavenly Father, He is superior to our earthly father in every way. Matthew 5:48 (ESV) You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. B. Like an earthly father, our heavenly Father supplies His children s needs. 1. Our heavenly father even supplies the birds what they need. Matthew 6:25 (KJV 1900) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Matthew 6:26 (KJV 1900) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 2. How much more will our heavenly Father supply the needs of His 2
Matthew 6:26 (KJV 1900) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Note God is not the heavenly Father of the birds. He is our Father not their Father. Matthew 6:26 (KJV 1900) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 3. Our Heavenly Father knows what we stand in need of even before we ask. a. Therefore, we do not need to instruct God in our prayers. Matthew 6:7 (KJV 1900) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:8 (KJV 1900) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Here, Christ points to God s omniscience, as the Father who knows all things, which makes such repetition both needless and useless, or truly vain. b. Therefore, we do not need to worry about these things. Matthew 6:31 (KJV 1900) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? Matthew 6:32 (KJV 1900) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. C. Like an earthly father our heavenly Father has compassion on his 3
1. God pities us due to our relationship to Him as our Father. Psalm 103:13 (KJV 1900) Like as a father pitieth his children, So the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 2. God pities us for He fully understands our weaknesses. Psalm 103:14 (KJV 1900) For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. 3. Therefore, we are not to expect to be treated harshly when coming to our heavenly Father. D. Like an earthly father who gives us what is best to his children, so too, our heavenly Father gives us what is best. 1. An earthly father would not give something harmful to his Luke 11:11 (KJV 1900) 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? Luke 11:12 (KJV 1900) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 2. Even corrupt fathers for the most part give good gifts to their Luke 11:13 (KJV 1900) 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? Luke 11:13 (ESV) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! 3. God will give the best gift of all to His He will give a more intimate relationship to the Holy Spirit. 4
Luke 11:13 (KJV 1900) 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? 4. Application: a. That which is the greatest gift that our heavenly Father can give unto us is the gift of a more intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. b. We do not need to be afraid when we pray. If we pray for something in appropriate God like a good father will with hold that from us. James 4:3 (ESV) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. E. Unlike an earthly father, our heavenly Father only disciplines us for our good. Hebrews 12:3 (ESV) Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:4 (ESV) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 1. We are to be thankful for our heavenly Father s discipline of us. Hebrews 12:5 (ESV) And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. Hebrews 12:6 (ESV) For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. 2. If God were not to discipline us, then we would not be His 5
Hebrews 12:7 (ESV) It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Hebrews 12:8 (ESV) If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 3. We should always submit ourselves to the discipline of the heavenly Father. Hebrews 12:9 (ESV) Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 4. God s discipline is superior to that of our earthly Fathers for God s discipline is never selfish. Hebrews 12:10 (ESV) For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. III. Conclusion: 6