Our Father To Whom do you Pray?

Our Father What is/was your relationship with your Dad like? How does that relationship effect your prayers? My own story

Our Father Jesus not first to use “Our Father” Used in traditional Jewish prayers God the Father is expressed throughout the Old Testament

Our Father Deuteronomy 14:1 Deuteronomy 32:6 Psalm 103:13 Hosea 11:1

Historical Overview God creates man Chooses his people Leads them out of Egypt

Historical Overview Things start to go off the rails There were times of correction before (the fall, the flood) A pattern of rebelliousness sets in (See Judges and Kings)

Historical Overview Culminates in a major punishment Temple is Destroyed and the people exiled God is loving and forgiving People brought back Temple rebuilt

Historical Overview People realize they need to change Maybe initially they got it right Eventually the change was legalistic If we follow the law better, we won’t get punished

Effect on Prayer? How does this attitude effect one’s view of God God becomes a task master Ever have anyone like that in your life? Follow the rules, but eventually become bitter

Effect on Prayer? How does this effect prayer life? Pharisee’s bragged about themselves Some fear going to God Some fear unforgiveness ect Loving familial view is lost

Galatians 4:1-7 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:1-7 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Guardianship and Adoption Two ideas being mixed Legal Guardianship Inheritance held - Under the Law (A Slave) Coming of age - Relationship with Christ (Entrance to Family)

Guardianship and Adoption Adoption fairly straight forward Parents want the child Want to make someone a part of the family Get the benefits, inheritance ect

Family Verse 7 “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” God WANTS you God LOVES you Didn’t sign papers or pay money Bought with Blood

Family Verse 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Permission and Ability to call God “Father” He desires that intimacy

Our Father Jesus is following an established formula “But wait, There’s more!!”

Our Father Matthew 7:21, 10:32-33, 11:27, 12:50, 15:13, 16:17, 18:10… Jesus refers to God as “My Father” Makes it pretty clear Jesus’ relationship to God Did the disciples hear the invitation?

Our Father The shift from My Father to Our Father Not “Our God” Not “Our Lord” OUR FATHER

Jesus wants us in his family God wants us in his family

Our Father Simple, Powerful prayer Loses effectiveness and beauty without clear view of God He loves, wants and pursues us Gives us freedom to come to Him

Our Father We don’t fear a Taskmaster We don’t fear unforgiveness Free from false expectations If we want to pray well, pray effectively, we need to be very clear on who it is we are praying to.