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| SERMON # 108 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, MAT 6:9. The Lord's prayer begins with a celestial spirit. The thoughts and desires are heavenly. Our thoughts and desires in true prayer must come from a realization that we are speaking to our Father which is in heaven. Such worship brings a celestial spirit, heavenly thoughts, and desires because we come before Him in the heavenly kingdom. The manner in which we are to pray teaches what Jesus said in MAT 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." We want to notice the first petition in the prayer, that the Lord Jesus Christ gave us as the pattern, is for the glory of God. In order to have our hearts in the right posture, in the right atmosphere, and in that celestial spirit, we must understand that we are addressing the Father of heaven and earth. When we pray, "Our Father which art in heaven," we must see that we are not speaking to a man of our equal; we are speaking to the King and Creator of the universe. "Our Father which art in heaven" admonishes us to simplicity, and brevity. When we understand what it means to come before Him as a little child, we come in a childlike faith with a childlike petition as a little child coming to its mother or father. Therefore, we come with simplicity. I have attended church services where they have what they call the long prayer. At one time in particular, a certain man went on for over thirty minutes in what he called a prayer. Really, what it amounted to was preaching to the Lord. He didn't ask for anything. Did he really understand that he was addressing the King of Heaven? Do we realize Who we are addressing when we pray? When the Lord looks at our life style and the atmosphere in which we live, will He see a childlike posture in our heart? All of the long, fair speeches, which impress people, do not impress the Lord. We are admonished to be brief, simple, and sincere. In ECC 5:2 we read, "Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." I like the way that comes together with the word "therefore." When we come before God and realize that we are speaking to the God of heaven, we are speaking to the Creator before whom our heart is transparent. He knows all things we stand in need of before we ask, but He tells us to ask and come before Him with our petitions. Why? It is to demonstrate in simplicity that childlike relationship where we come to Him as a tender, loving Father. We come before Him as the Father of Spirits as He is in heaven. ECC 5:2 tells us, "Be not rash with thy mouth [We don't need to preach a sermon to the Lord]; and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven." We must understand that when we come before the Lord, we make our petitions known to the King of Heaven. I think often of Isaiah who was a prophet of the Lord. When Isaiah had seen the Lord he said in ISA 6:5, "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." When our eyes are open to see the holiness of God, when our eyes are open to see that He is God of gods and King of kings, when our eyes are open to get a glimpse of Who it is that we come before, that He is the God of heaven, then we will get a little understanding of what Isaiah said, "I am a man of unclean lips...for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." We have to learn to understand that we are coming before a Holy God; He is a tender, loving Father, but He is in heaven. May the Lord help to unfold the meaning of "Our Father which art in heaven," in this message. We are admonished by the Lord Jesus Christ that when we come before Him to pray, we are coming before the God of heaven, and we must come with holy awe and reverence. We are to come before Him with simplicity and brevity, not with many words, but with longing desires of the heart which He knows altogether. Jesus warned against vain repetitions in His exhortation to His disciples; He was teaching His disciples in what manner they were to pray. In MAT 6:7 we read, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." The Lord wants us to come with yearning desires of the heart, not with repetitions of words. Many words are not what it takes to make an acceptable prayer; it takes the right posture of the heart. Our Father in heaven was our Father in creation; we want to understand there is a great distinction between being our Father of creation or being our father by conception. We see this from the genealogies of Jesus in LUK 3:38, "Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God." Adam was created by the Lord; we are all one family with God as our Creator. Every person that lives upon the face of the earth is a member of that family which looks to God, the Father, as the Creator. Adam was the son of God by creation. By creation the whole human race is of one brotherhood. Jesus was the Son of God by conception, but there is a tremendous difference. He was conceived in the womb by the Holy Ghost. LUK 1:31 says, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." V:35 says, "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." The Lord Jesus Christ was born of a woman; He was born by conception of the Holy Spirit, and He is now the Son of God in the flesh by conception. We read in MAT 1:18, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." We need to understand this family relationship. There is a distinction between looking to God, the Father, as the Father of all creation, and looking to Him as the Father of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son by conception. God also has a family relationship with the church. The Christian church is brought into the spiritual family of God by adoption. Again, this is a different relationship. We can be the sons of God by creation and still come short of His glory because we have fallen in Adam. We can look to Him as God, the Father, as the Creator, and still not be able to address Him as "Our Father" as being a member of the family of the Christian church. Now we want to take notice of the adoption. In ROM 8:15 we read, "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." That word "Abba" means Father. Now we can come before Him in a family relationship. He is not only our Father by creation, but He becomes a personal Father by adoption. Adopted children cannot be disinherited. Adam was able to fall, but those brought in by adoption can never fall or be disinherited. There is an eternal security to those who are adopted. This is our Father in heaven that we pray to when we say "Our Father which art in heaven." We are speaking of that adoption relationship; it is a family relationship that cannot be severed. You and I can disinherit a natural child, but by law we cannot disinherit an adopted son or daughter. We read about this very thing in ISA 56:5, "Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off." The Lord says He will give them a better, everlasting name that shall not be cut off for all those who are brought in by the adoption of Jesus Christ. Their sins have been paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ. They are made the righteousness of God in Christ. 2CO 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Those who are adopted can say, "Our Father which art in heaven," in the Spirit of His Son. They can call Him "Abba, Father." Why? They can call Him Father because that spirit of adoption, that Spirit of Christ, has been instilled in them. The work of regeneration enables them to stand righteous before the Father of heaven and earth in Christ. We can see this in GAL 4:6, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." It is because we are adopted, because we are sons, that God, the Father, has sent forth that Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, "Abba, Father." This adoption gives us that Father-son relationship, that parent-child, or family relationship. This family relationship confers many noble privileges. God becomes our Father and brings us into oneness with Him. The Lord Jesus Christ becomes our brother in adversity. He is the Son, and we are adopted into that family relationship. 1JO 3:1 tells of the noble privileges of those who are adopted, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." See the noble privilege when we are separated from the world; the world does not know us because the world didn't know Him. The world cannot meddle with our joy; it cannot understand the joy of that adopted family, of the oneness there is in Christ. See the distinction between people who are in Christ and the people with an unrenewed mind in ROM 8:7, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." See the distinction! The carnal mind shows enmity against God and toward those who have become reconciled. Our loving Father says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." "Our Father which art in heaven" is the Author of the distinction. After her humiliation, Hannah said in 1-SA 2:7-8, "The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail." No man will prevail in his own strength; only those whom the Father has adopted as sons and has sent forth the Spirit of His Son will go in His strength. Now we must examine our heart. What is in our heart? Does our heart cry out in the Spirit of Christ, in a spirit of true submission to His will? Can we come in true humility before the Lord in that spirit of His Son, crying, "Abba, Father." Is our heart molded into conformity to His will? "He will keep the feet of his saints" means He keeps their footsteps, not allowing them to roam in the things of this world. They no longer have a carnal mind that is at enmity with God; they have a heart which is in subjection to the will of God and has a desire to do what is pleasing to the Lord. The psalmist understood the Lord's lofty throne as seen in PSA 113:5, "Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high?" Like the psalmist, we have to see this when we come before the Lord, before the God of heaven. The psalmist saw the noble privileges conferred upon those who are adopted to be the sons of God in PSA 113:6-9, "Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill [When we have a little insight into that, we see how He inhabits eternity, and the condescension of the Lord raises us up out of the dust. Oh, beloved, think of what a pleading ground we have in the condescension of our Father which is in heaven!]; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD." This ecclesiastical spirit comes upon us if we understand what it is when we say, "Our Father which art in heaven." Then we understand that we are approaching a holy God. "Our Father which art in heaven" is not the prayer of the unrepentant. See what it says in ROM 1:21-22, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Are our hearts humble before the Lord? Do we understand that He is the holy and Almighty God whom we are approaching? David saw this when he said how He condescends to behold the things that are in heaven. Are we coming before Him as if we are speaking to someone on our level? The heart of the repentant sinner cries out as in ISA 63:15-16, "Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory [When we pray, "Our Father which art in heaven," we are asking Him to look down from heaven]: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting." Do we have a feeling of that when we come before the Lord? Do we understand that He is looking down from heaven beholding us from the habitation of His holiness? The heart of the true child of grace cries out for God's presence. What are we seeking? What is the nature of our petition? Is it self-centeredness, seeking things that satisfy us? In this manner of prayer the Lord Jesus points out that our first petition is for the glory of God; we come before the God of heaven with humility of heart and the posture of a childlike spirit: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." We must understand that we are coming before the God of heaven, and our first and uppermost desire should be for His glory. The true child of grace wants the Lord's presence. There are so many people who want to go to heaven to avoid hell; they want to escape the consequences of sin, but how many truly want the presence of God? How many people have a yearning desire for the Lord's presence? In ISA 49:13-16 we read, "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. [That was a cry from the heart; they felt the Lord had withdrawn, and their plea was for the presence of God, but the Lord said,] Can a woman forget her sucking child [The Lord shows how impossible it is that He would forget one of His children.], that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. [In today's society, we see many abortions where women not only forget, they murder the child in their womb; but the Lord will not forget, and He goes on to say why.] Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." The names of every one of His sons that have been adopted are engraved upon the palms of His hands; they are ever before Him. The impossibility of the Lord forgetting one of His dear children is such a comforting consolation "But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." The Lord has shown us how impossible that is. We need the Lord's presence. When the Lord has withdrawn Himself, we must cry out for His presence; however, we may never think that the Lord has forgotten us. The manner of praying "Our Father which art in heaven" is designed to excite a childlike faith in our access to God. Not only do we come with a childlike petition, but also with a childlike trust. Have we ever seen a better illustration of trust and faith than what we see in very small children? They come asking, believing they will receive. They have a childlike faith in their access to their father; they don't need permission to come to their daddy to ask for something. Now watch what we read in EPH 3:11-12, "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." Notice, it is not faith in Him; it is by the "faith of Him." We must look up to the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see that principle in HEB 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Our faith is established by pointing us to the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then it says in V:3, "For consider him [His faith] that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." When our eye of faith is fixed upon the faith of Christ, we become established in His faith. Then we have access unto the Father, we look up to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith. We look to Him and consider how He endured such "contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." I think this is so beautiful. EPH 3:12 says, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him," i.e., the faith of Jesus Christ. EPH 3:13-17 continues, "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. [These tribulations which the Lord sends are for our glory. It is to take our eyes off from the things of the flesh, and raise them unto `our Father which art in heaven,' pleading the name and faith of Jesus Christ.] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven [It is so beautiful the way the apostle sets forth that family relationship] and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man [When we come with a right posture of heart, and we understand that we are coming before the Father of heaven and earth, and we come pleading the merits and faith of Christ, then He `would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.']; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,..." This truth is so important; when we come before Him as "Our Father which art in heaven," we come before Him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our eyes are to be fixed on the faith of Christ. These tremendous, noble, family privileges that we have as the sons of God carry great responsibilities. We have a responsibility to hear and do His Word. Jesus tells us this in LUK 6:47-49, "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." If our obedience of faith and actions are founded solidly in the Lord, no storm will shatter us. Listen to PSA 81:8-12, "Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. [The Lord, our God, is a jealous God; He is jealous of His honor and glory; we may not place anything ahead of Him to become an idol or a strange god.] I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But [See the sad commentary] my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels." Can you think of a sadder commentary? He is speaking about His people; He is speaking about those He loves, and they would not hearken to His voice. "So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust [That is a grievous judgment]: and they walked in their own counsels." They were no longer walking according to the revealed will of God, and they were left over to themselves. Members of that "family in heaven," which pray after this manner, "Our Father which art in heaven," are reminded of their new birth. We are reminded of our spiritual birth which will be reflected in our walk of life. We find, often daily, that we have occasion to confess His name. We run into circumstances day after day where we must confess we are members of that heavenly family. We must be reminded daily that we are natives of heaven and not of this earth. Jesus cautioned us; if we are ashamed to confess Him as our Saviour before the world, He will be ashamed of us before His Father. In MAT 10:32-33 it says, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Praying after this manner, "Our Father which art in heaven," excites us to remember God's condescension to us as sinners. In ISA 57:15 we read, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity [We have to understand WHO this is], whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, [The blessedness is in a what follows the comma], with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." The heart of the humble and the contrite one is the throne of the King of kings who inhabits eternity. However, the proud He knows afar off; the rebellious will not walk in the ways of the Lord, "So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels." But "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." That is the place the Lord loves to dwell; the heart of a humble and contrite person is the habitation of His throne. Praying after this manner "Our Father which art in heaven" excites us to remember God's condescension to behold the things that are in heaven! PSA 113:6 says, "Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" This must make us feel humble and as nothing before the Lord when He must humble Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, yet He makes His abode, or dwelling place, in the heart of humble and contrite ones. Think of what that means when we come and say, "Our Father, which art in heaven." He is the One who inhabits eternity. PSA 113:5-9 says, "Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD." This is the God of heaven we are addressing when we come before Him saying, "Our Father which art in heaven." The Lord sits upon His mercy seat in heaven. HOS 5:15 says, "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early." After He has chastened His dear children for their backsliding, He will return to the mercy seat until they come to humility, until their heart becomes contrite, and they are able to acknowledge their offense before the Lord. The Lord must come with His chastening hand, withholding the light of His countenance and withdrawing His nearness and love, to those who walk contrary to His will. When they acknowledge their iniquities, He will sit on the mercy seat and be gracious unto their cry. It is from His throne in heaven that "Our Father" protects His church with His almighty hand. We must understand what all is contained in "Our Father which art in heaven." He sits upon the throne to protect His church, i.e., those who truly fear the Lord. PRO 8:13 says, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." Look at what we see in ZEC 2:5, "For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." See the similarity to Job; He places a hedge around His church so the wicked one cannot enter. He places a hedge to keep out the enemy. He is a wall of fire around His church, "and will be the glory in the midst of her." From His throne in heaven He sends His protecting angel to protect His church. Praying after this manner, "Our Father which art in heaven," is to excite in us true humility, reverence, spiritual desires, confidence, and expectations through faith. This is to prepare us to understand that we are coming before the God of heaven. Praying after this manner, "Our Father which art in heaven," shows that prayer is an act of the heart, not of the lips. PSA 39:1 says, "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue..." When we come before the Lord, we must keep our mouth as with a bridle; we must be careful that the things we ask are not selfish, but they are for God's honor and glory. PRO 10:19 says, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." If this is true in an earthly sense among our fellow man, would it not be true when we come before the King of heaven? We must watch that what we speak is wise, and that brings us back to MAT 6:7, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." True prayer that comes from the heart is often made by groans and sighs without words. I believe that some of the most acceptable prayers that are offered before the throne of grace never have a word uttered. It is the groaning over the power of sin; it is the sighing of the needy. That sigh comes up before heaven. PSA 12:5 says, "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him." When we have such groaning in our heart that we can't find words anymore, then the Holy Spirit comes to make intercession for us. Sometimes they are the most profitable prayers. It says in ROM 8:26-28, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Sometimes our biggest struggle is to know His will because He will grant whatever we ask according to His will. Every petition and every intercession of the Holy Spirit must be made according to the will of God. It is so important to understand that we must come with humility and contrition. Contrition is an unconditional surrender to the will of God. We must come with a contrite heart seeking His will; His will shall be done. Praying after this manner, "Our Father which art in heaven," lifts our hearts above the things of this world unto Christ Jesus in heavenly places. Now our hearts and affections are no longer set on the world. It becomes a celestial prayer. We see in EPH 2:6-7, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." When our souls are having a heavenly feast on that heavenly manna, we are brought up in the Spirit to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Then we understand the meaning of "Our Father which art in heaven," and our cords of affection to this world are severed because all of our affections are in heaven. By looking to God as, "Our Father which art in heaven," we express the greatness of the blessings we have received and the great dignity of Him who conferred them upon us. We are starting to see that they are heavenly blessings. When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they murmured against the Lord saying all they had was this light bread. They were speaking about manna. Do you know what manna is? Christ said He was the bread that came down from heaven. They did not see the greatness of the gift God had given them, neither did they see the dignity. Addressing God as "Our Father which art in heaven," teaches the mutual love between "Our Father" and His dear children. We have to understand there is a mutual love when our hearts are lifted up, and we know what it is to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, and our hearts are united to the Lord with love. That love is mutual. See what we find in PSA 103:13-14, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. [He is showing that the Father's love is parallel to the love a father has for his little child. His love far transcends the love of a natural father, but He uses this example to illustrate His love.] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." He looks upon our heart, and when we come with repentance and sorrow over sin, He comes with His love, mercy, and that blessed Redeemer for our soul. He gave His own Son. "Which art in heaven," speaks of Our Father's sovereign might and will to grant our needs. It not only recognizes the sovereignty of His might to be able to grant it, but also His will to do so. In PSA 84:11-12 we read, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly [not to those who walk in sin]. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." It is a great privilege when we can live with our hearts trusting in the Lord. This privileged place is a great blessing when the Lord gives us a childlike trust that we truly understand what it is to say, "Our Father which art in heaven." Amen. |
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