09/05/2018: The Names of God | “ABBA” | Colleen Stringer
Abba. This Syriac or Chaldee word is found three times in the New Testament ( Mark 14:36 ; Romans 8:15 ; Galatians 4:6 ), and in each case is followed by its Greek equivalent, which is translated “father.” It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence. It has no perfect equivalent in our language.
The Lords Prayer is really a total prayer: Its concerns embrace the whole world, from the coming of the kingdom to daily bread. Large things and small things, spiritual things and material things, inward things and outward things – nothing is beyond the purview (scope, range, vision) of this prayer. Richard Foster
Mark 14: 36 NKJ And He said “Abba Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.
Romans 8:15 NKJ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:6NKJ 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
This then is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven” Matt.6: 9a
The Lords prayer starts and ends with adoration. Our first and eternal calling remains to adore and exalt our glorious and holy God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Bill Hybels
Jesus starts by reminding us that our prayer is based on a special relationship. We are praying to our Father, overflowing with tender compassion and eternal love for us. Note that we start our prayers with a sense of intimacy and union, not guilt or condemnation – He is our Father, Abba Father, Daddy, Papa – Our Head, Identity, Provider, Protector, Lover, Friend and Guide. He is also our Father in heaven, omnipotent, omniscient and majestic. He is our King. The greatest fulfillment in my prayer has not been the miraculous answers to prayers I have received, although that has been wonderful. The greatest thrill has been the qualitative difference in my relationship with God. And when I started to pray, I didn’t know that was going to happen.
Many people believe in the “Universal Fatherhood of God.” This is not Biblical. John 8:39-44 TNIV John 1:12 TNIV Rom.9:6-8 Rom.8:15-16
A major obstacle to this Divine Union is our FAULTY IMAGE OF GOD.
Sometimes we have a paradigm paralysis of Father God – a framework constructed over the years through which we continually see a person.
Mike Bickle (Passion for Jesus)
Most Christians have baggage, contradictory ideas about God’s personality. And our ideas usually come from our relationships with earthly authority figures. If we think of the authority figures that were the most influential in our early years, we will find that many of our images of God are connected to these people.
Our experiences with these authority figures affect us emotionally. The following descriptions may show how some of us have formed our images of God: The Distant or Passive Father \ The Authoritarian Father \ The Abusive Father \ The Absent Father (Orphan spirit John14:18) \ The Accusing father \ The Godly Father. Ps 50:21: Isaiah 55:9
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so God’s affections and emotions are higher than mans’. The greatest father on earth can fall infinitely short of the emotions of God. This is why Jesus immediately adds “Our Father in heaven.”
As we surrender our souls humbly to God, and our hearts begin crying out for the truth, for intimate knowledge of him (Phil.3:7-11) He will answer.
The Holy Spirit will take us through “adoption” whereby we call out, “Abba Father”.
This is how to pray says Jesus. You are approaching the Almighty, Eternal, and Holy God, but because of Jesus and through your faith in Him, He has become “ ABBA YOUR FATHER”.
This is the way to pray. Before asking for anything, realize that you are in the presence of such an awesome God. You’re “Father in heaven” and the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” whom you call “My God” “My Father.”
Food 4 thought: When it comes to the Fathers House don’t live on the stoep and think you’re in the house. Isaiah 56:7