Luke 11:1-4 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
(2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
(3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.
(4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

 
(2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven,

Revelation of Him as FATHER

God’s people related to Him as Elohim “ Creator”

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning GOD (Elohim = Creator)

Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

This is the first time the name Jehovah was used meaning the self-Existent or eternal Lord.

The people knew Him as an awesome God and that He is, yet Jesus tells us to approach Him as Father.

Father means relationship  = Relationship includes responsibility

Father means Family           = If He is Father you must be Son’s and Daughters.

Rom 8:14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

(15)  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Question: How do Son’s and Daughters Behave?

Answer……………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

READ Luke 15:11-24

Here we see a foolish young man but more than that we see the heart of The Father

 (1)     He was waiting

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. KJV

 Wherever we are, the Father is waiting for us to get into His plan and will for our lives.

 Question: How do we get back to the plan of God for our lives?

 Answer……………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

          The Father sees POTENTIAL in you

 Joh 15:16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

A good father knows the nature of his children

You have the Nature of Your heavenly Father

God does not say

“Well I never knew they where capable of that”

He is expecting you to do the right thing

Jeremiah 17:10   "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

You cant surprise God

Psalms 139:1-8 LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

You’re just like your FATHER

The father of the Prodigal was generous; He freely gave his son what he requested

rodigal = 1. Rashly or wastefully extravagant:

                     2. Giving or given in abundance; lavish or profuse:

The Son was generous but unwise.

The father expected the best (He did not say you will just waste it.)

Even when he went the father expected his son to return.

He had faith in his son.

2 He was compassionate

 
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. KJV

Great way off.  = Not just missed the mark but a great way off

Question

What should we do if we come to a place in life where we feel a great way off?

Answer……………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Never feel unable to approach GOD.

Psalms 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.  NKJV

Psalms 103:10-13  He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;  12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.  NKJV

You are just like your father (Companionate)

Many earthly Fathers do not now how to relate to there children. Some are too strict, some are too week.

Some continue in traditional ways of fathering that are not of God’s Kingdome
 
There must be discipline born not of Anger but love.

Question

What is the role of a Godly Father?

Answer……………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 
Psa 10:14 You have seen it; for You behold mischief and vexation, to repay it with Your hand. The poor commits himself to You; You are the Helper of the fatherless.

Psa 146:9 Jehovah preserves the strangers; He relieves the orphan and widow, but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

Psa 68:5-6 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

(6)  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

So Many either have no father or their father has not been a good example to them. Minister to those in the group that need the love of a Father and pray for the Single mums of the Church and those believing for a Husband.


Confession

God Is my Father, He sees my potential. I am convinced he loves me. I will live like His child.