Lesson 11 The Heavenly Father

THE HEAVENLY FATHER He also teaches us to do this when we pray.
He said, “this is how you

Salvation Series: Lesson 11 should pray: “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). This is repeated by
Apostle Paul, “let us call God Father” (Ephesians 5:20). As clearly stated in
the New Testament, God should be called and recognized as Father.
I. THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY JESUS CHRIST CAME TO EARTH
A. To save us from sin and to unite us with God II. HOW IS GOD REVEALED AS FATHER IN THE BIBLE?
Jesus’ work on the cross is to both save us and unite us with His Father 1. He is a good Father
(Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19). “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father
of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”.
B. To reveal God as a Father James 1:17
Jesus Christ is the way to the Father (John 14:6). The “way” is not the end *He does not give sickness, poverty and destruction because He is a God of
of the journey, but it is the open door to our destination. Jesus Christ is the blessings!
way who ushers us to the destination who is the Father.
2. He is a generous Father
*Jesus appealed to the Father in behalf of the disciples (John 17:6-26). He 9
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he
did not call “Elohim” or “Jehovah” because these are names common to asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil,
the Jews. Instead He called the name FATHER. In John 17, Jesus calls God know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father seven times in His prayer. In the book of John, God is called Father Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
for 122 times. Matthew 7:9-11
*In the old days, God spoke to His children through the prophets, but today 3. He is a protective Father
He speaks to us through the Son (Hebrew 1:1-2). The Son of God has a ”1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be
message that had never been preached before-He is the Son sent by the called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does
Father to give eternal life to those who believe (John 5:36-40).If they will not know us is that it did not know him”.
believe and accept Jesus Christ, they too are God’s children and God 1 John 3:1
becomes their Father (John 1:12-13; Galatians 3:26; John 20: 17).
4. He is a disciplinarian Father
No one will know God unless Jesus revealed Him to us (Matthew 11:27). “7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son
Only through Jesus Christ did we know Him is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone
undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
*Jesus revealed the heavenly Father to His believers not only in His 9
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we
preaching but also through his life. The character and glory of God was respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of
displayed in the Son. Whoever has seen Him has also seen the Father (John our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they
14:8-11). thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his
holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,
*Jesus always lived his life like a son towards His Father (John 11:41; 17:1). however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who
We can see that He always called God Father. have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12: 7-11
5. We become aware of a home in heaven
* Heaven is the home of the righteous (John 14:2, Philippians 3:20) and
III. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING GOD AS FATHER this is not only a place full of wonderful things (house) but also a place full
of love (home).
1. We discover our true identity
* If God is Father, then we are His children through Christ.
IV. WHAT MUST WE DO TO KNOW GOD AS FATHER?
“12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave 1. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your “spiritual eyes” so you may see God
the right to become children of God—“ as a good and loving Father
John 1:12
26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but
Galatians 3:26 you received the Spirit of sonship.[a] And by him we cry, "Abba,[b] Father."
2. We understand our self-worth Romans 8:15
*If we know that our Father truly loves us, we also learn to love ourselves 2. Start to call God “Father”
(1 John 3:1). We must see ourselves the same way God sees us. We are “9This, then, is how you should pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
precious and important to Him. your name,” Matthew 6:9
3. We feel security 3. Deepen your relationship with Him through prayer.

*We are secure when we understand that our Father is pleased to give us 6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your
all that is good for us (Luke 12: 32; Romans 8:32). We don’t have Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret,
worries and sadness just like a child close to his or her father. If he had met will reward you. Matthew 6:6
the needs of birds in the air and flowers in the field, how much more He
would to us His children. (Matthew 6:25-33). V. WHAT MUST BE TAKEN CARE OF IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
*The problem of some God’s children is that they are living outside the will
of God so problems beset them (Luke 5:13-16). They need to wake up and 1. Be careful that your “walk with Him” should not be replaced by your
return to their Father so they can experience His presence, new life “service to Him”. Before anything else, our intimate fellowship with God
(beautiful robe), the authority of God (ring), His ministry (shoes), and should be first.
abundant supply of their needs (fattened calf). Security comes to us when 2. Be careful that your motive to seek Him first is His presence and not His
we are living intimately close to our Father. blessings. Seek first His face before His hands. Relationship is what God
wants; give Him relationship. He first loved us so we must love Him also in
4. We feel motivated for service return.
*All good children of God want to please their Father. Jesus only did the
perfect will of God (John 4:34; 5:19), and this pleased the Father (John APPLICATION:
8:28-29). May it be our greatest joy to please our Father by doing His will in
our lives. 1. Do we see God as master or as Father? What’s the difference
between the two?
2. What are the reasons why some can’t see God as Father?

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THE HEAVENLY FATHER He also teaches us to do this when we pray.

He said, “this is how you

3. We feel security 3. Deepen your relationship with Him through prayer.

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