One of the greatest gifts God has given to the world is fatherhood. A good father who raises their children well is a wonderful blessing to their family and to society. It has been said that a lack of fathers in the black community is a leading cause of the issues they face today such as gangs, violence, and crime. Fathers are important to each family and to society at large because of what they provide and do. It is amazing that Jesus when teaching His disciples to pray starts with ‘Father’.
The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray because they see Jesus work in all aspects of His life through prayer. Jesus is always praying. So Jesus tells them, “When you pray”. Prayer is the sign of a believer. A Christian can pray anytime in any situation. When you pray, you are to “say, ‘Father’”. Prayer is coming before God as a son before their father. The word “father” here has a sense of sweetness and closeness. There are so many grand words we can attribute to God but there is a special relationship captured in the word, “Father”. God is omnipotent, sovereign, holy, omniscient, infinite, sovereign, full of glory, and most of all, God is our Father.
Prayer is so important to our Christian life, yet it is often theologically misunderstood. Prayer is not just about getting what we want. It is the unfathomable privilege of communing with the sovereign God of the universe. Prayer brings the believer into the presence of God so we submit to His will and see His glory.
Some progressive Christians are teaching that everyone is a son of God. In one sense it is true because God is the Creator and all things find their source in God. But here in the Lord’s Prayer, God is the Father of those who have a saving relationship with Him. Only believers who are loved by God and love God can call God their Father (John 8:42,44). You must have received Jesus Christ, the son of God, and been adopted through the Holy Spirit, to be a child of God (John 1:11-12, Romans 8:14-15). If you are Christian, then you know God is your Father. Other religions might try to portray their gods as fathers, but they are false idols with no love or compassion. The God of the Bible is full of love, mercy, and kindness. He is our loving Father and, as His children, we are to be like Him.
The Father is approachable. As a believer, it is easy to enter into His presence. God is approachable because He never leaves you. Remember Jacob who was able to meet God in the middle of the wilderness. It shows God never leaves His chosen and He approaches us first so we can approach Him. If you have the desire then no matter what state you are in, God is ready for you (Luke 15:20). It doesn’t matter if you are a poor and smelly prodigal, the Father is waiting to embrace you and kiss you. Think about Jesus on the cross, the lowest point in history, carrying the sins of man, naked and bloody. While in that dire situation, He cries out to God (Matthew 27:46). Would God receive Jesus at this moment? Yet Jesus calls God, “Father” and surrenders His spirit (Luke 22:46). We know the Father heard Jesus’ prayer because God raised Him from the dead (Luke 24:5-6, Galatians 1:1). A prayer-less life is inexcusable when we have such a Father who is so approachable. We say “Father” in every circumstance whether in thanksgiving or need of help.
Our Father is mighty. He is a strong protector who is full of power and authority. Jesus came to earth as the son, and as a man, he was in constant need of the Father. Therefore Jesus prayed to the Father in His piety because Jesus knew God the Father was mighty to help Him (Hebrews 4:16,5:7). In the gospel of John, John says no one has seen God, except Jesus who is “in the bosom of the Father” and explained Him (John 1:18). One of the primary things we learn from the miracles in the Gospel of John is how mighty God is. God is truly all-powerful and able to do all things (John 42:2, Job 42:2). By faith, which is a gift from God, we know God is powerful and able to answer our prayers. However, we are warned by James to not contend with God in prayer but we are to ask in faith (James 4:2). Earnest prayer in faith calls God “Father” and submits to the Father’s will joyfully.
Our Father is relational. To be a father, he must have children. God’s children are adopted by Him (Ephesians 1:5). Adoption is central and core to Christianity. What a blessing to be adopted by God and call Him Father. This is our true joy. A Christian who does not pray still acts like an orphan. J I Packer says you do not understand Christianity at all if you do not God as Father. We are adopted and made co-heirs with Christ, one day to be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17). Though we are not worthy and deserving, we are adopted to the highest privilege and position based on God’s grace. How much grace we have received! So as children of grace, we show grace to the world.
Conclusion
How do you view the Father? Do you realize how good it is in your Father’s house? (Luke 15:17) Realize how good God is and how He gives good gifts. You are a co-heir with Jesus Christ! This is why it is joyful and exciting to pray, because we get to call God, “Father”. The eternal, everlasting God is our Father which means everything in our life is changed. Nothing will be the same because He loves us with everlasting love.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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