Abba Father
Matthew 6:9-13,
If I asked you this question, “What is the most important word, or the most important concept from a New Testament perspective that you and I need to grasp when it comes to prayer? If I said one word, what word would you give? I think the word I would use is the word ‘father’, the word ‘father’. Jesus used it 170 times; in the gospel of John alone 100 times. Dr. Ferguson says this,
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”
If I asked you this question, “What is the most important word, or the most important concept from a New Testament perspective that you and I need to grasp when it comes to prayer? If I said one word, what word would you give? I think the word I would use is the word ‘father’, the word ‘father’. Jesus used it 170 times; in the gospel of John alone 100 times. Dr. Ferguson says this,
"When we realize who God is, we instinctively think, how can I speak to him? I don't even know how to address him. What do I call him? What do I pray? Jesus is saying to us, 'My child, say what I say and call him what I call him.'"
The single word father is one of the most cherished words in the gospels. And knowing that God is your Heavenly Father, should shape our prayers in five ways. Five ways that this concept, God is your father, should shape your prayers.
Number one, as far as intimacy and affection; Number two, as far as honor or reverence; Number 3, as far as confidence or boldness; Number 4, as far as fear and anxiety; Number 5, as far as obedience and love. Those are the five things, there might be many more, but those are the five things that came to my mind. Intimacy and affection, honor and reverence, confidence or boldness, fear and anxiety, obedience and love.
Intimacy & Affection
As far as intimacy and affection, the concept of fatherhood, or adoption means that we are God's children, and not everybody is God's child. We have a special relationship to Him. Remember what John says, “Behold what manner of love, that we should be called the sons or the children of God.” He's not a stranger, He is not somebody up there somewhere, He is the most loving, caring father we have. Jesus, remember in the garden, cried out, “Abba Father,” and according to Romans 8 we as adopted children can also call him “Abba Father”.
Honor & Reverence
The second concept of Fatherhood, or sonship, it should promote honor and reverence. “Our Father, which art in heaven.” You see, that's the key addition there that speaks of His greatness, HIs majesty. He is the only father who has no limitations. Every earthly father does, but not our Heavenly Father.
Confidence & Boldness
Thirdly, we are coming to God as His children. We should come with confidence and boldness. We come in Christ, His son, His only son, in terms of begotten son. But because of Christ, we can come in boldness to our Father. We have filial confidence, filial confidence in our approach to God. He is a father who wants to hear us, He wants to give good gifts to us. What does Paul say? It might be the greatest promise in the New Testament, “If He has given us His Son, surely He will give us all things.” I think Mr. Ferguson makes this point, that some people will push back on the fatherhood of God and argue, ‘Well, I never grew up with a good father, I can't have a good concept of God because I had a bad relationship with my dad.’ And he says, “Well, that might be true, but remember this, Jesus said, ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father.’” He who has seen Jesus has seen the Father. And so if you want to know what the Father is like, just go to Jesus. He is tender, kind, merciful and as gracious as Jesus.
Fear & Anxiety
We can pray to the Heavenly Father who cares for us, and that should help alleviate and help us with our anxieties and our fears. Remember what Peter says, “Cast all your care upon Him, for he cares for you.” That means every care, every care you can cast upon Him.
Obedience & Love
And the last thing we could say in terms of how we are to approach God the Father in prayer, and why it should shape our prayers and our attitudes. We go to the throne of grace out of a sense, out of a sense of love. We delight in Him, but also a sense of duty. It is commanded. We are commanded to pray. And Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” So if you love the Father, you want to keep His commandments, and we show our love by praying to Him. He shows His love to us, the psalmist says, “He showed His love to me because He answered my prayers.” We show our love to Him by going to Him in prayer. So as Christians, New Testament Christians, we have wonderful incentive, don't we, gospel incentive to pray as adopted children.
So when we go to the throne of grace I trust we are going to go believing. We have a Heavenly Father who has ears to hear His children, a heart that is well disposed, He has the power and authority to answer our prayers. He is an Almighty, Sovereign Father.
Number one, as far as intimacy and affection; Number two, as far as honor or reverence; Number 3, as far as confidence or boldness; Number 4, as far as fear and anxiety; Number 5, as far as obedience and love. Those are the five things, there might be many more, but those are the five things that came to my mind. Intimacy and affection, honor and reverence, confidence or boldness, fear and anxiety, obedience and love.
Intimacy & Affection
As far as intimacy and affection, the concept of fatherhood, or adoption means that we are God's children, and not everybody is God's child. We have a special relationship to Him. Remember what John says, “Behold what manner of love, that we should be called the sons or the children of God.” He's not a stranger, He is not somebody up there somewhere, He is the most loving, caring father we have. Jesus, remember in the garden, cried out, “Abba Father,” and according to Romans 8 we as adopted children can also call him “Abba Father”.
Honor & Reverence
The second concept of Fatherhood, or sonship, it should promote honor and reverence. “Our Father, which art in heaven.” You see, that's the key addition there that speaks of His greatness, HIs majesty. He is the only father who has no limitations. Every earthly father does, but not our Heavenly Father.
Confidence & Boldness
Thirdly, we are coming to God as His children. We should come with confidence and boldness. We come in Christ, His son, His only son, in terms of begotten son. But because of Christ, we can come in boldness to our Father. We have filial confidence, filial confidence in our approach to God. He is a father who wants to hear us, He wants to give good gifts to us. What does Paul say? It might be the greatest promise in the New Testament, “If He has given us His Son, surely He will give us all things.” I think Mr. Ferguson makes this point, that some people will push back on the fatherhood of God and argue, ‘Well, I never grew up with a good father, I can't have a good concept of God because I had a bad relationship with my dad.’ And he says, “Well, that might be true, but remember this, Jesus said, ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father.’” He who has seen Jesus has seen the Father. And so if you want to know what the Father is like, just go to Jesus. He is tender, kind, merciful and as gracious as Jesus.
Fear & Anxiety
We can pray to the Heavenly Father who cares for us, and that should help alleviate and help us with our anxieties and our fears. Remember what Peter says, “Cast all your care upon Him, for he cares for you.” That means every care, every care you can cast upon Him.
Obedience & Love
And the last thing we could say in terms of how we are to approach God the Father in prayer, and why it should shape our prayers and our attitudes. We go to the throne of grace out of a sense, out of a sense of love. We delight in Him, but also a sense of duty. It is commanded. We are commanded to pray. And Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” So if you love the Father, you want to keep His commandments, and we show our love by praying to Him. He shows His love to us, the psalmist says, “He showed His love to me because He answered my prayers.” We show our love to Him by going to Him in prayer. So as Christians, New Testament Christians, we have wonderful incentive, don't we, gospel incentive to pray as adopted children.
So when we go to the throne of grace I trust we are going to go believing. We have a Heavenly Father who has ears to hear His children, a heart that is well disposed, He has the power and authority to answer our prayers. He is an Almighty, Sovereign Father.
Posted in Pastor Devotional