Our Father in heaven

Sis Melinda Song 

Matthew 6:9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asked, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Is that true?

In ancient Israel the name of a person was supposed to indicate some characteristic of that person, or be linked to circumstances, however trivial or monotonous, connected with his birth, e.g. Adam, Jacob, Moses. Because God is infinite He has chosen to reveal Himself with different names as He interacted with His people to show His multifaceted nature and character. Names such as Elohim, YHWH, Adonai, El Shaddai, Immanuel etc.

Today on Father’s Day we are looking at Jesus’ favourite term for addressing God, that He taught His disciples to use when they call out to God in prayer —“Father.”

Matthew 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology tells us that: 

• the term “Father” is used by Jesus 65 times in the Synoptic Gospels and over 100 times in John. 
• the exact term Jesus used is still found 3 times in the New Testament (in Mark 14:36, Rom 8:15-16 & Gal 4:6 ) but elsewhere the Aramaic term Abba is translated by the Greek pater.
• Abba in various forms is one of the first sounds vocalized by a child 
• the uniqueness of Jesus' teaching on this subject is evident for several reasons. 

1. Its rarity in the OT. There is no evidence in pre-Christian Jewish literature that Jews addressed God as "Abba. " 
2. Its intimacy. Abba was a term little children used when they addressed their fathers, like the English term "Daddy." More recently, however, it has been pointed out that Abbawas a term not only that small children used to address their fathers; it was also a term that older children and adults used. As a result it is best to understand Abba as the equivalent of "Father" rather than "Daddy."
3. The frequency of this metaphor is out of all proportion to what we find elsewhere in the Old Testament and other Jewish literature. (Note 165+ times in the four Gospels compared to only 15 times in the entire Old Testament!) 

Father is God’s preeminent name in the NT. Greek-speaking Gentile churches in Galatia and Rome continued to address God as Abba. 

What does it mean when we say God is Father?

SOURCE

God is the ultimate source of our lives. He knew us before we were conceived and formed us in the womb. Our earthly fathers are the source of our genetic makeup but being a father is more than just supplying the Y-chromosome.

God has ordained that fathers are the head of the home. The one we look up to for leadership and nurture. Fathers (and mothers) help lay the foundation in our lives that we draw upon as we become adults. Parents are to be a positive role model in the home. Children learn from their fathers and mothers, and emulate their actions whether good or bad. For example, the father of a student who regularly used foul language in school used even worse language to reprimand him. 

Children need to be taught right from wrong and see it demonstrated on a daily basis in the home by their parents.

Deu. 11:18-21 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

When Woodrow Wilson was president of Princeton University, he spoke these words to a parent’s group:

I get many letters from you parents about your children. You want to know why we people up here in Princeton can’t make more out of them and do more for them. Let me tell you the reason we can’t. It may shock you just a little, but I am not trying to be rude. The reason is that they are your sons, reared in your homes, blood of your blood, bone of your bone. They have absorbed the ideals of your homes. You have formed and fashioned them. They are your sons. In those malleable, moldable years of their lives you have forever left your imprint upon them. 

Parents, especially fathers, have a great responsibility. The demands on you are great. 

As we consider a father’s responsibilities, it's important to remember that no one is perfect. Look at God’s children - Adam and Eve. 

We are all human and, at times, we do make mistakes. But the important thing is: we can learn by our mistakes and try to avoid making the same mistakes over-and-over again.

PROVISION

Jesus used this reality to explain the goodness of God when He said, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11). Are we thankful to God for our lives? For every breath that we take. 

The burden of providing for the family (food, clothes, shelter and protection) results in a lot of stress for fathers. Do we appreciate them? Pray for them?

Besides our basic necessities fathers also provide guidance, wise counsel, support and encouragement. Our daughter Pam still comes to Kenny for counsel and advice, especially with regards to her computer and gadgets. 

Josh Groban’s song “You Raise Me Up” aptly describes the importance of a father‘s encouragement and support in his child’s life. 

“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up to more than I can be.”

            

CORRECTION

Hebrews 12:6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

Good parents mirror the fatherhood of God when they administer the short-term pain of discipline to shape a child's long-term character. A father cares enough to say “no” to his child even when he or she might hate him for it in the moment. That’s because a father tries to do the right thing, not the easy thing. 

LOVE 

God has a general love towards all his creation but He has a special love towards those who are His children (1 John 3:1). When parents look into the face of their newborn baby, they know they will love the child no matter what. That's exactly how God feels about us.

A father should give his children affection and warmth - Don't be afraid to tell your child "I love you, I'm proud of you." Fathers, don’t be afraid to demonstrate support and love through actions because God has demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Fathers, love their children even when they’re at their worst (Rom. 8: 38-39) 

For those who have not experienced having a good father God is the most excellent father you can ever find. It will take time for you to get over your hurts and disappointments but our Father has said that that he will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Even if you do not have children, you can be a spiritual father to many, mentoring them, nurturing them.

Many thanks to Sis Melinda for her sermon notes.

Sis Melinda ministering at Calvary Assembly