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Passage
Matthew 6:9-13 ESV
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
I. AWE OF GOD AS A FATHER (9-10)
A. God is revered because He is other worldly, we owe our existence to Him, & is dependent upon nothing for His existence. (Genesis 1:1, John 5:26)
B. We show reverence to God by hallowing His name and addressing Him in the right posture and the right title. (Exodus 20:7)
C. We demonstrate awe for God by praying for His kingdom to become a reality on the Earth.
II. AFFECTION OF GOD AS A FATHER (11-13)
A. We pray for our daily needs to be met because we trust God wants to give us what we need today. (Matthew 6:25-34)
B. We daily confess sin so we can daily remind ourselves of the Gospel and daily see our sin and as a result more easily forgive others. C. We pray for the constant presence of God to protect us from Satan.
APPLICATION
1. Take seriously the responsibility to be an earthly father that makes it easy for your kids to see, understand, and interact with God properly.
2. Do not define God as Father by the standard of earthly fathers.
3. Know that while God is Creator of all, He is only Father to a few.
4. Even in the Lord’s Prayer, God demonstrates His desire to adopt us and make us part of His family and to adopt us.