In understanding the Fatherhood of God in the Lord's Prayer, Apostle Joshua Selman used Bible scripture Matthew 6:5-9 to explain it.
The disciples approached Jesus to teach them how to pray. It wasn't because they lived prayerless lives, but because they wanted to pray and get results as Jesus usually prays and gets results. But Jesus taught them beyond just getting results but to develop intimacy and spiritual growth, a true display of understanding His Fatherhood.
Apostle Joshua Selman’s insights on the fatherhood of God, the sequence of the Lord's Prayer, and shifting your focus to God as your ultimate Source will positively impact your spiritual walk and life.
HOW TO PRAY : Matthew 6:9
1. Our Father : Apostle Joshua Selman emphasised that we shouldn't approach God as an adviser or counsellor but as Abba (Fatherhood). The revelation of the Fatherhood of God is the revelation for effective prayer – Matt. 7:11.
Apostle Selman further broke down understanding the Fatherhood of God:
a. Source (Abba):
The apex of fatherhood is the ability to release. When you approach God as Abba, then you are aware of His propensity to give. He is not a withholder. You need to know and understand what He gives – Rom. 8:15
When we go to God as Abba, we go to Him as Source
b. Sustainer:
God is the one who sustains us, He gave us life and everything that pertains to life.
c. Preserver:
He is the one who preserves us in life. He protects us from every form of evil, He gives His angels charge over us.
When we approach God, we approach touching His Fatherhood. When we don't know the quality of His Fatherhood, it distorts the flow towards Him.
Apostle Joshua Selman sang this song – "We cry, Abba Father, Hallowed be Your Name."
The Father is responsible for everything, even our limitations. The love of the Father restrains any action towards our limitations. It is good to pray right, but we must be conscious and understand His Fatherhood. We shouldn't focus on our eloquence in the place of prayer. He is delighted with us approaching Him by understanding His fatherhood, not with us saying the wrong things.
2. Hallowed be Thy Name: Apostle Selman said approaching God boldly doesn't mean disrespect or lack of honour – 1 Sam. 2:30.
Even though He is my Father, He is still God. Therefore, I need to approach Him with dignity and honour. I am thankful for the fatherhood of God, but I still remind myself to honour Him (Vasti forgot her husband wasn't just her husband but king, and it cost her her place in the palace).
It is important that as we approach God as Abba and understand His Fatherhood, He is still God. Hallow His name.
3. Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth : According to the programme of God, you must prioritise the kingdom of God above your needs. Understanding the Fatherhood of God here desires the influence of the power of God. That system doesn't even want us to pray for food or any form of need or wants, because our needs are already met in His Kingdom. We need to allow His dominant influence in our lives to always be in His sphere of influence – the Prodigal son left his father's sphere of influence, hence experiencing lack. Wherever the will of God is done, His Kingdom comes. We need to prioritise God's government, that His will be done on earth even in our lives – Colo. 1:9. God's will isn't a mystery, it's in the scriptures Jer. 29:11. The will of God was personified in Jesus Christ as He healed the sick, raised the dead, all His good works on earth. These truly emphasise the understanding of the Fatherhood of God.
4. Give us this day our daily bread: our needs are captured here. God is so caring that He concerns Himself about our daily needs, not weekly or monthly but daily. He is indeed Abba. He loads us daily with benefits. When there is lack, we can boldly approach God to know what the problem is. Understanding God's Fatherhood is that He is mindful of us, and we should never be ashamed to ask Him for our needs.
5. Forgive our Debts as we forgive our debtors: Understanding God's Fatherhood enables us to receive His forgiveness so we can forgive others. We need to sustain compassion in dealing with people.
When we understand God's Fatherhood, we approach Him knowing we already have answers to our requests, our intimacy with Him is heightened, and it cascades down to our relationship with fellow humans.