Addressing God in Prayer
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
4/21/2013 AM
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Text:
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Luke 11;
Lord's Day 46
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Psalters: |
182, 321, 283, 278 |
- As Our Heavenly Father.
- The Almighty and perfectly Holy Triune God established a most intimate relationship: Father/child (John 1:12).
- The meaning.
- First, it means that there is an affinity or likeness between God and us.
- Second, fathers play a great role in forming characters of children who long to know they are loved.
- God is our Father because:
- He chose us to be His children before He created the world (Eph. 1:5).
- He redeemed us by the death of His own Son, so He might adopt us into His heavenly family (Gal. 4:5).
- The right to address God as Father is only because He has adopted us in Christ and given us the right of sons.
- He regenerated (born again) us by the Spirit of His Son (Gal. 4:6), who continually dwells in each elect child.
- He is ?OUR Father.?
- Holy adoration is required because God is ?in heaven.?
- Whereas we learn about fatherhood from our earthly fathers (Ps. 103:13), we may not conceive of God that way.
- ?In heaven? indicates our Father?s indescribable and infinite glory and majesty, rather than His location.
- If heaven was His location, it would limit Him, but the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him (I Kings 8:27).
- We need to be reminded of His majesty because we always are inclined to think of Him to be like us.
- The knowledge that God is a Father is the right basis for confidence and even boldness.
- Confidence is based on our right to address the Almighty God as Father.
- We can and must speak to Him directly, without anyone else mediating.
- We have the right to direct and personal conversation with Him.
- The little child believes that God is and that He is willing to help and save (Luke 18:17).
- We can trust Him to care for and protect us (Matt. 7:9-11).
- 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.
- Be conscious always that we may and must approach God in the consciousness of Christ?s perfect work.