Our Father in Heaven

Text: Luke 11:1-13

 

I.         God calls us to be His special people - II Corinthians 6:16-18

            A.        If we will separate ourselves from the world, God will be our Father and we will be His sons and daughters

            B.        Why did God pick the role of a father to describe His relationship with us?

            C.        In a sense God is everyone’s father because we were created by God - Malachi 2:10

                        1.         Ezekiel 18:4 - All souls belong to God

                        2.         So God is Father of all - Ephesians 4:6

            D.        But there is a closer relationship between God and those He has chosen to be His people. David acknowledged that relationship with Israel - I Chronicles 29:10

II.        A father loves his children

            A.        God demonstrates His love by calling us His children - I John 3:1-3

            B.        Because of His love, He has given us consolation and hope - II Thessalonians 2:16

            C.        We gain that love because we follow His commands - John 14:21, 23-24

            D.        We in turn ought to love Him - John 8:42

            E.        Yet mothers love their children as well. Why did God pick the role of a father to illustrate His relationship with us?

III.       The role of a father - Ephesians 6:4

            A.        A father nurtures his children, providing what they need to grow to maturity

                        1.         God provides for us - Ephesians 1:2-6

                        2.         God gives us what we need - Luke 11:11-13

                        3.         We have no cause for worry - Matthew 6:31-34

            B.        A father provides security and protection

                        1.         God made and established Israel - Deuteronomy 32:6

                        2.         To grow and mature, we need a place of refuge while we are unable to care for ourselves

                        3.         The Messiah would call upon God as his Father and his Rock - Psalm 89:26

                        4.         God is His people’s rock - Psalm 62:1-8

            C.        A father teaches

                        1.         We are taught by God - John 6:45

                        2.         It was what was prophesied about the Christian age - Micah 4:2

                        3.         What are we taught? His laws - Hebrews 10:16

                        4.         Teaching us to deny this world - Titus 2:11-14

                        5.         It is what causes us to mature - II Timothy 3:16-17

                        6.         It is a blessing to be taught by God - Psalm 94:12

                        7.         God directs our ways so we may be blameless - I Thessalonians 3:11-13

            D.        A father corrects

                        1.         If we listened to our lessons and did just as we were instructed, there would be no need for correction.

                                    a.         But it is the nature of children to see for themselves, to exert independence, and as a result, to get into trouble. - Proverbs 3:5-6

                                    b.         In training, there will be course corrections, rebukes, and punishments all geared to keep us on the right path - Proverbs 3:11-12

                        2.         When God told David that He would watch over Solomon - II Samuel 7:14

                                    a.         At first you might not think that very comforting, but it was for David.

                                    b.         It meant that God would love his son enough to be concerned for his welfare and his moral standing.

                        3.         The Hebrew writer wrote at length on this - Hebrews 12:5-11

                                    a.         A father who doesn’t care, doesn’t correct

                                    b.         A father wrapped up in himself only does things for his convenience

                                    c.         A father who loves his children will punish his children’s wrong doings because he wants them to live.

                                    d.         Even if that means suffering their displeasure for a season - Revelation 3:19

IV.      The result of a father’s work is peace

            A.        It is a known fact that neighborhoods without fathers have higher crime rates.

            B.        Good fathers teach their children the way to live righteously. They enforce that teaching by punishing their children when they stray. They mold a child’s moral character.

            C.        Our heavenly Father’s work brings peace into our lives - Hebrews 12:11

            D.        II Corinthians 1:2-3 - Our Father gives us peace, mercy, and comfort (See also Romans 1:7; I Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2 Colossians 1:2; I Thessalonians 1:1; II Thessalonians 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3; I Peter 1:2; II John 3)

            E.        That peace comes because we were trained to walk in the path of peace.

V.        You have the right to become a child of God

            A.        But to enter His family you must be born of God

            B.        That birth comes by faith and obedience - I John 5:1-4

            C.        We are born by the word of God - I Peter 1:22-25

            D.        There is a washing of regeneration (new birth) - Titus 3:5

            E.        That washing removes our sins - Acts 22:16

            F.        Won’t you enter the family of God?