Addressing God in Prayer

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Luke 11; Lord's Day 46
Psalters: 182, 321, 283, 278
  1. As Our Heavenly Father.
    1. The Almighty and perfectly Holy Triune God established a most intimate relationship: Father/child (John 1:12).
    2. The meaning.
      1. First, it means that there is an affinity or likeness between God and us.
      2. Second, fathers play a great role in forming characters of children who long to know they are loved.
    3. God is our Father because:
      1. He chose us to be His children before He created the world (Eph. 1:5).
      2. He redeemed us by the death of His own Son, so He might adopt us into His heavenly family (Gal. 4:5).
      3. The right to address God as Father is only because He has adopted us in Christ and given us the right of sons.
      4. He regenerated (born again) us by the Spirit of His Son (Gal. 4:6), who continually dwells in each elect child.
    4. He is ?OUR Father.?
  2. Holy adoration is required because God is ?in heaven.?
    1. Whereas we learn about fatherhood from our earthly fathers (Ps. 103:13), we may not conceive of God that way.
    2. ?In heaven? indicates our Father?s indescribable and infinite glory and majesty, rather than His location.
      1. If heaven was His location, it would limit Him, but the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him (I Kings 8:27).
      2. We need to be reminded of His majesty because we always are inclined to think of Him to be like us.
  3. The knowledge that God is a Father is the right basis for confidence and even boldness.
    1. Confidence is based on our right to address the Almighty God as Father.
    2. We can and must speak to Him directly, without anyone else mediating.
      1. We have the right to direct and personal conversation with Him.
      2. The little child believes that God is and that He is willing to help and save (Luke 18:17).
        1. We can trust Him to care for and protect us (Matt. 7:9-11).
      3. Because God is our Father we may and ought to love Him B not a relationship of fear and bondage, but of love and respect.
    3. Be conscious always that we may and must approach God in the consciousness of Christ?s perfect work.