Our Father, by Aije Barnes, Nov 1 Issue 1 Vol 3

Jesus said:

“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9 NIV)"

In John 3:16  the scriptures reveals to us the first step of what we need to do to become children of God, thereby qualifying us to call God Father. This qualification became possible through the death and resurrection of His only Son Jesus. This is what the scripture says:

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)"

Until Jesus died and rose again he was God's one and only son.  But after he rose from the dead, to those who receive him and believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God as shown in John chapter 1 verse 12:

 

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— (John 1:12 NIV)"

 

Before he died, Jesus referred to his disciples as friends, not brothers because he had not yet died and risen. He even decided not to call them servants even though they addressed him as Master and sometimes Rabbi which means teacher.  Look at what Jesus says here:

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15 NIV)"

This indicates that at one point the disciples, just as the prophets of old, were referred to as servants of God.  The only other person I know of in the scriptures that was called a friend of God was Abraham. God shared with him what he was planning to do concerning many things including the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and even the 400 years bondage of the Israelites under the Egyptians and how He was going to deliver them.  

 

Here is what the scriptures says concerning Abraham:

'And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23 KJV)'

The right to become a child of God to those who receive him and believe in his name only became available after Jesus rose from the dead. 

'Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” (John 20:17 NIV)'

This therefore means that if you have received Jesus and believe in his name you are a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus! The Creator of the universe is your Father!

Heaven is His Throne! Earth is His footstool. As a joint heir with Jesus, you are seated in the heavenly places in heavenly places in Him!

'And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6 KJV)'

When Jesus said 'Our Father' he was introducing us to our Father.  He wants us to understand who the Father is. Knowing who the Father is, is knowing who Jesus is. Because Jesus and the Father are one. 

The bible says:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ....Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father...(John 14:6, 7, 9 NIV)

I encourage you as a child of God to get to know your Father 'Our Father'. The understanding of knowing who God is and His relationship to you will fill you with awe and change the way you address Him as Father. 

Also, knowing who you are in Him will change the way you live your life