Do you consider God your father? What does it mean to have a Heavenly Father? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally unpacks the significance of knowing God as your Father. 
 
Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
 
Our Father (in heaven)
At the time, Father was a shocking way to refer to God. No other religious tradition thinks of God as a Father.
Romans 8:15-16  

"Abba” and “eema” are the Aramaic equivalent to our English “dad and mom.” Used by Jesus in Mark 14:16 and used by Paul twice in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. 
The rest of the prayer is meant to be said as if you’re talking to a father!
 
John 16:22-24 
We live in a fatherless society: According to fatherhood.org, 25% of children live without a father in the home. 33% live without their biological father in the home.
Psalm 68:5 – “Father to the Fatherless”
You may not have had a physical father in the home, you can have a heavenly Father in your heart.
 
Fatherlessness leads to an orphan mentality.
1. Your Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, but the orphan mentality strives to gain approval.
Romans 5:8 
1 John 4:9-10 
Son and daughters rest in God's approval regardless of their performance. 
 
2. Your Heavenly Father protects and provides, but those with an orphan mentality live in fear.
Matt 6:31-33 
Provision from God comes from connection with God. When God is your source for life, He will be the source for everything else.
Psalm 1:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
God is “the almighty” to those who make Him the “most high.” 
Divine protection is a byproduct of divine relationship.

3. Your Heavenly Father is approachable, but orphans are quiet.
 Hebrews 4:16 
MSG: So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give.
 
John 14:16-18 
Religion leaves you with rules to follow, but your Father has given you a person to know. So when you pray for comfort doesn’t give you comfort, he gives you the comforter. When you pray for healing, He doesn’t give you healing he gives you the Healer. He doesn’t give you peace, he gives you the Prince of Peace. He doesn’t give you guidance when you pray – he gives you The Guide. If you have financial needs He doesn’t give you money, He is Jehovah Jireh your provider. He doesn’t just give you a supply, He is the source!

When you pray, are you talking to your Father?