The person who has confessed Jesus Christ as his lord and has believed that God raised Christ from the dead, is saved and now a son of God, a child of God. He has God as his heavenly Father. For us as children of God, prayer is a very vital element of our walk, our conduct of life, by which we have fellowship with our Father.
To have fellowship with God as our heavenly Father necessitates that we first be His children. Thus, I would like to first of all show that we are indeed God's children now.
To have fellowship with God as our heavenly Father necessitates that we first have sonship, that we first are His children. For this reason, I would like to first show from scripture that we are God's children. Which are the criteria from God's Word that can assure us of our sonship? What is it that makes us to be God's children?
Romans 8:14 and 15:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Verse 14 expresses the important truth: Only those are God's children, the sons of God, who are led by the spirit of God. We become sons of God by means of the spirit which God gives to His children. The spirit which we receive at the time of our salvation is what makes us to be God's children. This spirit of God is further expounded upon in verse 15. It is not "the spirit of bondage" but rather "the spirit of adoption [sonship]". When we receive God's spirit we do not become slaves, the status we receive is not one of being a slave, not one of being in bondage. The spirit we receive of God is a "spirit of sonship" by which we become sons of God. We receive the status of a son of God, and it is by this spirit of sonship which we receive that we can come to God and cry to Him, "Abba, Father".
It is this spirit which gives testimony that we are the children of God.
Romans 8:16:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
When we utilize this spirit which God has given us by means of the visible manifestation of the spirit1, then we have witness in our lives that we are God's children. All questions are answered and all possible doubts are removed because God's spirit is our witness, God's spirit beareth witness with our spirit.
The relationship we now have to God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, is a relationship of a son to his Father. And it is this spirit of God which makes it possible for us, which provides a means, by which we can approach God and have access to Him. It is this spirit of God in us which made possible such a connection, and it is by this spirit of sonship that we now can cry, "Abba, Father!"
This same truth is also found in the epistles to the Galatians.
Galatians 4:4 and 5:
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
God had a time prepared when He desired to redeem man out of a status of slavery and minority and to institute man again into the status of being a son and an heir. This great goal was made possible by God giving His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, by sending him to accomplish the necessary work of redemption. Through Christ's completed work it is now possible for all man to have sonship, to become sons of God. The one requirement to receive it is for man to believe on Christ, all who believe on him become sons of God.
Galatians 4:6-7:
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Here we read of the same tremendous truth which was taught in Romans 8. What a privilege we have to be the sons of God! It is God's spirit by which we become the sons of God. "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts." Once again it is evident that we now can approach God in a direct and intimate way as our heavenly Father, for that is exactly what is expressed by the use of the term "Abba, Father".
Colossians 1:27 has reference to the truth that we now have holy spirit within us. There it is called "It is Christ in you, the hope of glory!" We now have Christ in us because it is holy spirit from God in us. This is "the spirit of sonship" or also called "the spirit of his son". God has given this spirit into our hearts so that we now can have an intimate relationship with Him as our Father. We are not slaves, but rather we are sons of God. And because we are sons, we are also heirs of God
In Ephesians 2 we can read that we now as children of God have free access to God. As we have already seen, we now can come to God as His dear children and call on Him crying, "Abba, Father!" This is possible for us because in Christ we have received free access to God.
Ephesians 2:17-18:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
First we learn that in Christ peace was made available. Peace was preached and became available to both the Gentiles ("you which were afar off") as well as the Jews ("them that were nigh"). Both needed that peace because as man without the spirit of God they both were sinners and at enmity against God.2 Then we read on that both now "have access … unto the Father". It is remarkable that here the term "access" is used in connection with the term "Father" for these two terms do convey the new and wonderful blessing which became available to us in Christ. God is not only "God", but as the almighty God He is our "Father"! He no longer is far away from us, there is no longer a seemingly unbridgeable gap between God and us. God has given us His gift of holy spirit, and by it we now have free access to Him as our Father.
Ephesians 2:19-22:
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
We are no longer foreigners or strangers, we now are children. And as children we are of the household of God. This describes that we belong to Him, to His household, we are part of His family in which He as our Father is the head of the house.
Ephesians 3:11-12:
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
We have boldness and access to God in all confidence by means of the spirit which we received when we believed on Christ. We need not be unsure or doubtful, instead we can come to God's throne of grace in all confidence and with boldness because we now do have access to Him.
This access and type of relationship is expressed in the expression "Abba, Father!" The only other places where this expression for addressing God occurs is in the gospels where we have records of Jesus Christ speaking to God. Jesus Christ is the only one of whom God's Word records that he addressed God in this way of "Abba, Father!"
Next in our study we want to read a few places where it is recorded how Jesus Christ prayed, and how he cultivated and kept his fellowship with God as his Father. He, being the only begotten Son of God, quite often took time for to pray. Especially by prayer, the fellowship with God could be seen and experienced. In our prayer life we show how we have fellowship with God and how we utilize the fellowship with Him. God is certainly interested to do good for us, to help and provide for us in all things, and it is our fellowship with Him which has a large part in this.
Mark 1:35:
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Jesus took the time and he went out into a solitary place where he could be undisturbed. There he prayed to God. This scripture mentions two important points about prayer: One, it was early in the morning, and secondly, Jesus looked for and went to a place where he could be undisturbed. That morning was a morning after a very eventful day and evening on the day before. However, looking at the events and work of the day ahead of him, Jesus took the extra time to have fellowship with his Father and to pray.
Mark 6:45 and 46:
And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Again, we see in this record as well how Jesus took a special time to pray after having performed a remarkable miracle. And he gave instructions to his disciples, cared for the things that needed to be done and arranged for those who were with him, before he then went off by himself into the mountain to find a quiet place where he could pray.
Luke 5:15 and 16:
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Once again we see how Jesus took some time to retreat and get away from all others for prayer to God, and he did so as many people were gathering around him and when he had been helping many. The term "wilderness" is used of land that was not used for farming, a land where nobody lived, and where one therefore could be undisturbed for some time. Jesus departed a little ways from the city and the crowds in order to be alone and have peace to pray.
Luke 6:12
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
This is remarkable. Jesus used a whole night and prayed to God. In this situation, God was obviously far more important than sleep. We are told in the next verse what was of such importance to him.
Luke 6:13:
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Jesus Christ needed to make a very important decision. From the greater number of disciples there were twelve to be selected and appointed as apostles. This decision, Jesus did not make just of himself, but rather he spent a whole night in prayer to God to receive any help and be sure to make the correct decision about this selection.
Luke 9:18:
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
This record shows us that Jesus Christ at times also had his disciples or the twelve apostles with him when he prayed. In some instances he withdrew himself alone, at other times he had his disciples with him.
Luke 11:1 and 2:
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
At this time again some of his disciples were present, and one of them actually asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Jesus accommodated the desire of this disciple and we now can read an instruction which Jesus gave to his disciples about prayer.
Luke 11:2-4:
… Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
This prayer is commonly known as the "Our Father". A similar instruction about prayer in a different place is mentioned in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus Christ obviously taught at several occasions about prayer and gave instructions on how to pray. Again, in his words about prayer we can see how one can come to God boldly and with confidence when we pray to Him. We must always recognize that God is God and that we are man who need something.
The fellowship we now as children of God have with God by the holy spirit which we were given is characterized by the direct access we can have to God as is expressed by the use of the term "Abba, Father!" In that it is expressed that God is God, and that we do not tell Him what He must do! Man – and we will see it even in the example of Jesus Christ – can and must not dictate to God what God is supposed to do and thereby elevate himself above God. Man must always realize that God is God and that he as a man is subject to God. When we as children of God pray to God, we can praise Him and lift Him up for what He is and for what He has done and continues to do. We direct our requests to Him, and we may expect with thanksgiving for the promises He has made in His Word and which He has given us, that He will hear and answer our prayers.
We want to look at a prayer in Mark 14 which Jesus Christ prayed shortly before he was taken captive in the garden of Gethsemane.
Mark 14:35 and 36:
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Now, here we have a scripture where it is mentioned that Jesus Christ addressed God with "Abba, Father". Jesus Christ spoke with his heavenly Father in this way. We have seen from Romans and Galatians that we, who have received God's gift of holy spirit in our hearts, now can turn to God in this same way as well.
Mark 14:36:
Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
This prayer shows distinctly that it is not necessarily always a matter of what we may want in our prayer. In Jesus' prayer it was not a matter of what he wanted but a matter of what God wanted! What Jesus desired was in harmony with what God wanted. Jesus did desire "take away this cup from me" – but not at any cost. More important was to him, "not what I will, but what thou wilt". God's will meant that this cup could not be taken away from him, and that with this cup a far greater goal would be achieved. Jesus Christ then subjected himself to God's plan and carried out God's will and by it accomplished to make available the redemption for many.
In John 11, we can see another example of a prayer of Jesus
John 11:40-43:
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
This sort of public prayer was more of benefit to those standing around him, for Jesus did not need any further prayer in this situation. But, in this case as well, we can see how Jesus addressed God with "Father [Abba]".
In John 17, we can read a few sections of a longer prayer of Jesus Christ. In this prayer we can see again how he addressed God as his Father and how the fellowship he enjoyed with his Father was seen in his prayer.
John 17:1 and 2:
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
"Father" – the well known way of addressing God right at the beginning of his prayer.
John 17:5:
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
John 17:11:
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
"Holy Father" – this is how Jesus talked to God. Such an address only is due to God, no man should elevate himself to a position of having others address him as such.
John 17:21:
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
John 17:24 and 25:
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
Five times we see in this prayer how Jesus spoke with "Father" or "Abba" to God. And, as we have previously learned, we now as children of God can also turn to God using the words "Abba, Father!"
Another aspect of prayer and our fellowship with God can be seen from John 14 where Jesus Christ told his disciples that they could pray to God in his name.
John 14:12-14:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 15:7 and 16:
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 16:22-24:
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
The time of which Jesus Christ was speaking then has already come. Jesus Christ has already ascended to the Father. We now do pray in his name with great confidence that God will answer our prayers. We already can be thankful for that. "Abba, Father!" describes our relationship with God our heavenly Father to whom we turn in the name of Jesus Christ.
Just as Jesus took time for prayer, we too should be taking time throughout the day with its events for prayer to God and for enjoying fellowship with Him.
God has made us to be His children. He desires that we come to Him and utilize the access He made available with the gift of holy spirit which we received. Let us not neglect these possibilities of having fellowship with Him!
(1) Cp. I Corinthians 12:7–10.
(2) Cp. Romans 5:6–10.