Our Father
“We are a church who places a high value on the presence of God.”
Luke 11:1-4 [NKJV], Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
He could have easily used…
El Shaddai (Our…Lord God Almighty)
El Elyon (Our…Most High God)
Adonai (Our…Lord, Master)
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
The words, “Our Father” express God’s relational heart, as well as the care, compassion, intimacy and unconditional love that can only be found through sonship.
“What we think about God is the single most important part of our spiritual journey, because we are inevitably shaped, emotionally and spiritually, by the image of God we carry in our hearts and minds.”
John 14:16-18 [NKJV], “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper [comforter], that He may abide with you forever— 17 “the Spirit of truth”…for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans…
Luke 11:2 [NKJV], So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
“Our Father” desires to…
Tear down our old patterns of thinking and behavior.
Construct new patterns of thinking and behavior.
Redesign our identity.
Change the way we speak.
Change the roads we walk down.
Change our view of the resources He has given us.
Change our values and guiding principles.
He wants to change the culture WITHIN us, so that we can change the culture AROUND us.
John 20:21 [AMP], Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].
If we don’t have a proper view of who God is as “our Father,” then it will be difficult to understand who He desires to be for us and who He desires for us to be in Him.
If we don’t have a proper view of who God is as “our Father,” then it will be difficult to understand the “kingdom culture” He wants to impart in and through our lives.
“No region has ever truly resembled or reflected God’s kingdom values without having a strong church being at the center of that community.“
“We are a church who values the presence of God.”
Psalms 22:3, Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Your people.
Exodus 33:1-3 [NKJV], Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst…
Exodus 33:7-15 [NKJV], Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp…and called it the tabernacle of meeting. 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. 12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Exodus 33:16-17 [NKJV], For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” 17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
If it is true, that God desires for “His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. ” Then we should remember that EVERYTHING in heaven is connected to His presence.