Knowing God and Praying To Him As Father

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Galatians 3,4; Lord's Day 46
Psalters: 376, 324, 234, 278
  1. The basis.
    1. God wants some of His creatures to know Him and speak of Him as ?Father.?
    2. Only in the Christian religion is God spoken of as ?Father.?
    3. God is Father because:
      1. He chose us to be His children (Eph. 1:5).
      2. He redeemed us by the death of His own Son (Gal. 4:5).
      3. He regenerated (born again) us by the Spirit of His Son (Gal. 4:6).
  2. The reality of the relationship.
    1. This relationship of Father/child implies four things.
      1. The children have rights, we have the right to His attention, affection, and riches.
      2. The children have His likeness.
      3. The children have an assurance that He will supply all our need (Phil. 4:19).
      4. The children are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ of His inheritance (Rom. 8:17).
    2. As intimate as our Father is, He remains our Father is ?in heaven.?
  3. This beautiful name has wonderful implications for us.
    1. As His children we can speak to Him directly.
    2. We can trust Him to care for and protect us (Matt. 7:9-11).
    3. Because He has us address Him with ?our,? we are reminded that we are a part of a whole.