Heavenly Father Knows

I) Introduction:

1. Fathers - Children depend on Fathers to meet and provide for their needs.
2. 1. Security - Jumping into the water, while learning how to swim.
   2. Stability - Provision of food clothes and shelter.
   3. Development - Praise for good. Correction for wrong doing
   4. Encouragement - To set and reach practical goals (Guidance)
3. Heavenly Father knows and meets all of our needs - Can't you see the creator of the universe, who understands every secret, every mystery... sitting patiently and listening to a four year old talk to him. That's a beautiful image of a father. (DR. DOBSON)
4. Criteria to become a child of the heavenly Father:
5. 1. By way of new birth - Jesus speaking to Nicodemas: John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
   2. By way of adoption - Eph 1:5 - Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
   3. 1. ADOPTION:  The giving to anyone the name and place and privilege of a son who is not a son by birth (an act of God's grace).

II) He knows our needs

1. Matt 6:7,8 - But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking; be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.
2. 1. Here Jesus is instructing the child of God on the issue of prayer
   2. 1. Pray simply and not repetitiously
      2. Omniscience of God
      3. 1. God knows our person
         2. God knows our needs
         3. God knows our wants
      4. Story on prayer: In our private prayers and in our public services we are forever asking God to do things that he has either already done or cannot do because of our unbelief. We plead for him to speak when he has already spoken and is at that very moment speaking. We ask him to come when he is already present and waiting for us to recognize him. We beg the Holy Spirit to fill us while all the time we are preventing him by our doubts. (A.W. TOZER)

III) He resides in Heaven

1. Matt 6:9 - After this manner therefore pray ye; Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
2. 1. Here Jesus continues on the subject of prayer by giving us, to which many refer to as "The Model Prayer".
   2. 1. God is hallowed, holy, set apart!
      2. God resides in heaven but is not contained by heaven
      3. 1. Isa. 66:1 - Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest?

IV) He forgives

1. Matt 6:14 - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
2. 1. Note, this is a conditional statement. IF
   2. Note, this is not referring to salvation type forgiveness
   3. 1. Looking at Salvation forgiveness. TO SEND AWAY. God does not overlook our sins but actually wipes out the sins.
      2. 1. Eph 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.
         2. REDEMPTION - The purchase back of something that had been lost.
      3. Looking at the text's forgiveness
      4. 1. Here it means to be gracious to, to overlook, realizing that God overlooks your (daily) transgressions.

CLOSING:

1. God wants us to realize and trust his providential care for us.
2. Child by new birth and adoption tonight?
3. Realization of our sins and our desperate state
4. Realize that God forgave, pardon and forgot them - By way of Christ's cross and sacrifice.