Prayer 2021 - April 18 - The Lord's Prayer pt 2

Scripture For Today:

Ephesians 1:15

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your Faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people...”

The Lord’s Prayer pt 2

Yesterday, we began an in-depth study of what is traditionally called, “The Lord’s Prayer.” We learned that this prayer was actually given to the disciples by Jesus, not as a word-for-word method of praying, but as a method to use effectively. 

We also learned that, because of the word “Our Father” in the beginning, it was not to be used by anyone other than born again believers. When those who are not truly born again recite the Lord’s Prayer, it is about as effective as reciting a meaningless poem or song from memory.

You see, if you are going to pray effectively and fellowship with God from your heart, then you must actually BE a child of God. If you are not a child of God, then you cannot say from your heart that God is your Father. Amen!

We hear such teachings these days about the “Fatherhood of God” or the “Brotherhood of Christ.” Some would try to make us believe that, as human beings, we are ALL children of God and that God is the Father of us all. But, in reality, that just isn’t so. God is the CREATOR of all mankind. Yes. But He is not the Spiritual FATHER of all mankind. Only the believers.

We, as human beings, ARE fellow “creatures.” But not children. God is not the Spiritual Father of ALL human beings. He is ONLY the Heavenly Father of those who have truly been born again by believing on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen. Get offended if you want, but the Truth is the Truth and it is ONLY the Truth that will set you free. Amen!

Remember, Jesus said something in John 8:44 to some very upstanding, well respected, well trained religious leaders of His day. He said, “You are of YOUR FATHER, the devil…”

He was speaking to some Pharisees who, if you were to examine their lives as far as good works were concerned, there was almost nobody as righteous as they were. Yet, Jesus told THEM, “you are of your father, the devil.” 

Why? Because of ONE REASON ONLY. Because they did not believe on Him.

And when people do pray to “Our Father, who art in Heaven…” they pray like God is in some far off land and instead of a very personal Father who is actually dwelling within their heart – at the same time He is in Heaven. Amen.

That is one reason the Jewish leaders could not understand Jesus. For example, if Jesus had come along like the religious prophets of old and proclaiming something of the Old Testament God was going to come and judge them for something, He may have gotten their attention. But because He was making God PERSONAL – they were upset.  

Jesus came along and introduced God as “FATHER.” And the Jewish leaders could not fathom how that could even be possible. That was not the God they had learned about their entire life.

If God would have come down in a pillar of fire or on the mountain top and it was filled with lightning and thunder and earthquakes, they could relate to that. But actually LOVED YOU and could relate to you in a Father – Child type of relationship… They could not understand that at all.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We cannot relate to God as our personal “buddy.” No, we still need to reverence Him. We still need to fear Him in a reverential type of way. But, thank God, He IS also our Father, who dwells in Heaven. Amen!

Jesus is saying that the right approach to God is to come to Him BECAUSE He is your Father. And to come to Him in Praise and Worship. The Bible says, “Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name…”  Amen!  Come to Him in praise and worship and be ushered right into His presence where you can make your petitions known. Amen!

Let’s Pray!

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