Tag: Teach us to pray

Which art in heaven

Titles are all around us and we use them on a daily bases. Simple titles like sir, ma’am, Mr. Mrs. are to show respect. Mr. President, shows honor to a position as do military rank. i am sure you can think of dozens of examples where you use a title to show respect to someone’s position or authority and in normal day to day we use them without even thinking about. Elohim is the greatest title there is and we often use it without blinking. Today i want us to blink.

“In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

One can reason from this first line in Elohim’s book to His creation that there are levels or layers to what we see around us. Yahoshua in teaching His disciples/us to pray begins; “Our Father which art in heaven . . .”. Which heaven? Where did Yahweh exist before creating the heavens and the earth? The simple answer and really the only one we have is beyond, He lived beyond.

There is no place we can go to escape His presence. “Where would I go from Your Spirit? Or where would I flee from Your face? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; If I make my bed in the grave, see, You are there. I take the wings of the morning, I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, there too, Your hand would lead me, and Your right hand hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10 It seems like a cheap answer, an easy out, to say that Elohim existed beyond. But if He is truly Elohim with no beginning and no end then there is no other way for us to describe it, Elohim lived beyond.

This is something we have to believe simply by faith. We can see throughout Scripture that faith is a necessary part of our relationship with the Father. Yes, we have Yahoshua who reveals Yahweh. Clear history, written eyewitness accounts, and a constant reminder; “The heavens are proclaiming the esteem of El; And the expanse is declaring the work of His hand.” Psalm 19:1

i am sure we will get this answer when we see Yahoshua face to face. We will get understanding. But for now we have; “Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, ‘Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I ask you, and you answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who appointed its measurements, if you know? Or who stretched the line upon it? Upon what were its foundations sunk? Or who laid its corner-stone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy?’” Job 38:1-7

The point, Yahweh, El Shaddai (God Almighty) is above, is beyond, is under and is through, He is the creator of the universe. And when we pray we are to begin by reminding ourselves of this fact. Elohim is El Shaddai; “Let them be ashamed and alarmed forever; and let them become abashed and perish, and let them know that You, Whose name is Yahweh; You alone are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83:17-18

This is the perspective Yahoshua is presenting. “Our Father which art in heaven . . .” El Shaddai is above us and He is worthy of our trust, love, and respect. “He has declared to you, O man, what is good. And what does Yahweh require of you but to do right, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” Micah 6:8

Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly . . . What better way to enter into prayer than to recognize the one to Whom you are speaking?

You are loved,
cj

Our Father

“… therefore pray ye: ‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name.’” Matthew 6:9

Today the king of England was coronated. i didn’t watch it but saw a few posts of it on twitter. The kings son, Prince William, said during the coronation: “I William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb – so help me God.” As i have been thinking of this post and Adonai’s Prayer, “Our Father,” i couldn’t think of better timing for an event to line up with this writing. The imagery, the spectacle of it all, and then to think and read and reflect on the Son of Elohim and His instruction to pray and His life’s example.

“So Yahoshua replied, “Most assuredly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” John 5:19

Couple John 5:19 with perhaps the most intense statement from the passion, “It is finished.” John 19:30 – And what do you get, well, you get a lot of things but absolute submission is the biggest. Yahoshua, fully submitted Himself to the Father, so when He opens His instruction on prayer with “Our Father” if you don’t pause, and reflect on that you are missing out on the true nature and relationship of Father and Son, Yahweh and Yahoshua.

Where have i read something like this . . . Oh yeah, Exodus 20:12; “Honour your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which Yahweh your Elohim gives you.” Now imagine the implication of this commandment if applied as understood from Yahoshua, “Our Father.”

i am currently reading in 2 Chronicles. It is a retelling of 1st and 2nd Kings. Some of the kings did what was good in the sight of Yahweh and some did not, and some had their heart in the right place but didn’t fully follow through. The kings that did what was right had long reigns and those that didn’t did not. What it seemed to boil down to was how they viewed their relationship with Yahweh. It is the same for you and i. How do you view your relationship with Yahweh? Are you willing to live as Yahoshua? To the end, “It is finished.” You see the Son came to reveal the Father, our relationship and understanding don’t stop with our faith in the Son.

Yahoshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 – Comes to who? The Father. When we pray we ought to pray, “Our Father . . .” The relationship that Yahweh Elohim wants to have with humanity is that of a Father. WOW. To honor Him as Father is in line with His commandments, His instruction to Israel, His Son’s example, and His coming again. To set as King His beloved son in Whom He is well pleased. What do you think about when you pray, Our Father or my Father as we are instructed also to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12-13

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is Elohim who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

To fully understand that if Yahweh Elohim is Father, therefore we are sons and daughters and by rule heirs certainly takes things to a new level. As we come and submit to Elohim, we then fully submit to His Son Adonai and King Yahoshua as He is the true heir, we are still princes and princesses in a Kingdom without end. If we endure, if we finish the race, if we surrender, if we die to ourselves . . . Then we are new in ha’Mashiah Yahoshua.

Our Father, is more than a title and opening line to a prayer, it is a call to relationship. Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

You are loved,
cj