Run to the Father

We are going to meander a little bit through this sermon, but I promise it will all come together for you in the end. (Kinda like collecting accomplishments in a video game or something)

Have any of you ever had the “My dad (or authority figure) is gonna kill me.” moment or thought?

I remember a few times when that precise thought thankfully stopped me from making poor decisions with long-term consequences:

No shade or condemnation on anyone who has done these particular things or is totally okay with them - for our household and for who I am today I’m glad I didn’t do at least the following 2 things:

Getting an earing - I remember my dad saying something to the effect of “If you come home with an earring, I will rip it off of your head.”

Getting a tattoo of a stars and stripes volleyball with flames on my calf

-You have to know my backstory.

-My wife, after almost 23 years of marriage turned to me the other day out of the blue and said, “I’m so glad you didn’t get a tattoo of a flaming volleyball on your calf”

Parents, if your children don’t rightfully fear you in Godly things they may do things that are not ultimately good for them.

King David, in the Bible, never told his children no and did not discipline them:

Adonijah tried to take the Kingdom from his father before his death. (1 Kings 1:5-6)

1 Kings 1:5–6 NKJV

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.)

2. Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:21 NRSV)

2 Samuel 13:21 NRSV

When King David heard of all these things, he became very angry, but he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, for he was his firstborn.

3) Absolom tried to murder his father & take the kingdom from him. (2 Samuel 19:5-6)

2 Samuel 19:5–6 NKJV

Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.

Proverbs 13:24 NKJV

He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Remember that:

Blessing your children with things is not spoiling them - refusing to properly discipline them in God’s way is truly abusing them because you allow them to destroy their destiny.

Have there been abuses and ungodly forms of discipline?

Of course!

Maybe you have experienced bad discipline or corrupt and brutal authority.

Maybe you even had a really bad experience or relationship (no-relationship) with your father.

Don’t let negative experiences with people and authority negatively frame your relationship with God.

The Father The Fortress:

God is Holy, God is Love, God is Pure, God is Just, God & all of His commandments are perfect, God is merciful and gracious.

It is not God who tells us to run from God when we sin and fail and fall short - it is the devil.

Genesis 3:9–10 NKJV

Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

It is an inborn trait of sinful humanity that we all feel like we want to hide from God when we fall short of His perfection.

The smartest enemy will convince you that the thing you need most is the thing you need to avoid at all cost.

If I have learned anything from watching the Lord of the Rings saga:

A fortress is worthless unless you run into the protection of it.

Psalm 91:2 NKJV

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:9–10 NKJV

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

Psalm 18:30 NKJV

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

God (especially when we become part of His family & make Him our Father) is not waiting with a big stick to hurt us when we mess up.

We WILL mess up!

When to Run to The Father:

When you’re heart is overwhelmed

Psalm 61:2 NKJV

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

When you have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfection

1 John 1:9 NKJV

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When you need forgiveness. When you need physical healing. When your life is being destroyed. When you need loving-kindness & tender mercy. When you need some good things. When your strength and youth are failing.

Psalm 103:1–5 NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Just One Thing:

When you feel like you want to run FROM The Father - run TO Him even faster; He has everything you want and need.

Discussion Questions:

What’s something that will always be in fashion, no matter how much time passes?

In general, have you tended to run to The Father or from The Father when things were not perfectly or well?

Please read Psalm 103:1-5 and share about this verse and how it has, or might possibly, intersect with your life very practically and personally.

How do you specifically and practically want to respond to this sermon in your own personal life?