Prayer Meeting                                     Notes 1999

Text: Luke 11:2-4; Matt 6:9-13; John 4:1-42                         19 April 1999

THE LORD'S PRAYER: The Fatherhood of God

"Our Father In Heaven”  (Lit. "Our Father, the One Who is in Heaven"  Luke 11:2)

1.  The Focus is identification of who our Father is, and not location of residence.

2.  There is emphasis of the fact that the God we pray to may be called "Father."

3.  There is deep awe in the address here.

Note also John the Baptiser's comment about the Father-Son Relationship (John 3:34-36)

1.  Concerning the Person of the Lord Jesus

    a)  He is the One whom God has sent    John 3:34

    b)  He speaks the Word of God    John 3:34

    c)  He is given the Fullness of the Spirit  John 3:34

    d)  He is especially loved by God    John 3:35

    e)  He has been given all things by God    John 3:35

2.  Concerning God

    a)  He is addressed as "Father"    John 3:34

    b)  A special relationship exists between the Father and the Son  

         John 3:34-36

John, being the Forerunner of the Lord Jesus, understandably has special, intimate knowledge of the relationship between the Father and the Son.

"The hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him"   John 4:23-24

Of Great Pivotal Significance

1.  In the context of the ethnic problems between the Jews and the Samaritans  

    John 4:9  (Cf. Acts 8 The Giving of the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans)

2.  In the context of the doctrine of worship (and this covers more than just prayer obviously)

An Analysis Of The Fatherhood Of God With Reference To Worship!   John 4:23-24

1.  "True worshippers will worship the Father"   John 4:24

2.  "In spirit"   John 4:24

3.  "In truth"   John 4:24

4.  "The Father is seeking such to worship Him"   John 4:24

How Much More Our Prayer Relationship With The Father!

1.        Understanding what it means to commune with God "in spirit"

2.  Practising worship (which includes prayer) "in truth"

3.  Fulfilling God's own desire to address and worship Him as "Father"