Your Kingdom Come – The Lord’s Prayer part 2

Making it real Britney Spears ‘Lip sync’ – i.e. miming ‘Brain sync’ – i.e. not meaning it or not believing it ‘Brain sync’ – i.e. not meaning it or not believing it

The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6: 9-13 & Luke 11: 2-4)  Relationship – who we really are  Rationale – where the power lies  Resources – to meet our needs  Reconciliation – restoring hurts  Reliability – trusting God in life’s battles  Reign – it’s God who controls our destiny

Matthew 6: 9-10 (NIV) “This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

4 Characteristics of God  God is a Perfect Father  God is a Compassionate Father  God is a Generous Father  God is an All-powerful Father

4 Characteristics of God  God is a Perfect Father Matthew 5: 48 (NIV) “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”  R estore relationship  Provide forgiveness  Release people from guilt

4 Characteristics of God  God is a Perfect Father 2Peter 2: 9 (CEV) “The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised – the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people to change their hearts and lives”

Points to Ponder  What’s my understanding of God’s character?  How am I developing my relationship with God as my Father?

4 Characteristics of God  God is a Compassionate Father 2Corinthians1: 3-4 (NIV) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God”

Points to Ponder  What experiences have I had in the past that will enable me to comfort others?  Who can help me through a situation that I’m experiencing at present?

4 Characteristics of God  God is a Generous Father Matthew 7: 11 (CEV) “As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask”

4 Characteristics of God  God is a Generous Father Romans11: 29 (NLT) “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn” Living Bible “God will never go back on his promises"

Points to Ponder  What am I seeking God for at this moment in my spiritual journey?  What motivates me to keep on seeking?

4 Characteristics of God  God is a All-Powerful Father Romans 8: 15 (NLT) You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4: 6 (NLT) And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

4 Characteristics of God  God is a All-Powerful Father Ephesians 3: 20 (NCV) “With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine” Living Bible “(God) is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes!” “(God) is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes!”

Points to Ponder  Am I a slave or a child of God?  What can I believe God for in my life, today, this week, from now on? Philippians 4: 19 (NIV) “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”