Prayer (2016) Part Two

The Lords Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

Luke 11:1 – have a hunger to pray

Our Father – Eph 2:18 – speaks of direct access to the Father

-for unbelievers and believers

       2 Characteristics of our Father

(1) THE FATHER CARES – 1 Peter 5:7

-God cares.  It is His nature to care.  He always cares and has to care

care – means to be concerned and interested/to look after

-it also speaks of Him doing things for us to keep us in good condition

          a. sometimes we feel God does not care because what we believe about God the Father is related to what we feel about our earthly father

          b. sometimes we feel God the Father does not care because bad things happen in our lives

-bad things just will happen to believers

-bad things happen to believers because we sin and make wrong decisions

          c. sometimes we feel God does not care because we are into immediate gratification

-we want everything like yesterday….

-God still cares and always will care

(2) THE FATHER NEVER CHANGES – Malachi 3:6 & Hebrews 13:8

-people change…….decisions change……..weather can change…..

The Father is steady, consistent, sure and true all of the time

-The Father is an “ALL THE TIME”  God…….

In Heaven

-why is the word heaven used in prayer

     1. this speaks of God being everywhere – it shows His power and presence to answer prayer

     2. It speaks of focus – Hebrews 12:1-3

-Heaven is an eternal subject………life passes quickly

-There is life after death

              Several Thoughts:

     annihilationism – when you die, that is it. The grave is the end…

     purgatory – after someone dies, there is a holding place where you receive some purification and then be prayed into heaven

     reincarnation – this is spiritual evolution.  After death, the person passes into another body and this keeps going on until you get life right and then arrive to a place of peace

     soul sleep – this is where eh body and soul sleep in a grave in an unconscious state until the resurrection occurs

     Christianity – after death, you still live and go to heaven

Heaven is Real……

definition of heaven – it speaks of a place that means to be lifted up or above.  So heaven is a place above the earth

                Three Heavens

Genesis 1:1 – heavens is plural which reveals 3 heavens

#1 – the first heaven – this is the atmosphere where our eyes can see things

#2 – this is the second heaven which is space that cannot be seen with the eye

#3 – this is the third heaven as found in 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

-this is where the throne of God is located

-this is where believers go when they die – Phil 1:21

The enemy is active in all 3 heavens and on earth…Job 1:6-7

The enemy also attends church services – 2 Corinthians 11:15 & 1 Timothy 4:1

Eph 6:10-18

principalties – are satans highest ranking rulers

powers – execute the will of the chief ruler

world rulers – they rule over the nations of the world

spiritual wickedness – these are earthbound demons who do their work on earth

Revelation 12:1-12 reveals the enemy is thrown out of the third heaven forever and comes to earth

You can know you are going to heaven – 1 John 5:13

     1. the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ – 1 John 5:13

Pluralism – is wrong

-Pluralism states that Christianity is simply one way among many ways to go to heaven

Universalism – is wrong

Universalism states that everyone will be going to heaven.  This not true.  You must be born again….