Everlasting Father
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
SERIES — He Will Be Called
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Each of these are characteristics of God that Jesus embodies and demonstrates for us.
Me // We
Me // We
Having a relationship with an invisible, God is very difficult. For many Christians, we struggle because we are familiar with the human dynamic of relationships. Which is you and me in the same space together but our relationship with God is a lot different depending on how you grew up God feels way out there very very far away. Maybe that’s you .
That was certainly me for a period of time and tension is not foreign to the Lord or to his followers, even the nation of Israel struggle with the concept of God being ever present always there always providing. I think that’s why we see Israel struggle so often and their obedience to the Lord and if I had to guess, you and I struggle with that from time to time as well.
It’s because we weren’t given a clear picture of God as a child. We typically view him in 3 different ways.
Alexa God
We treat him like a modern day household tech device.
Gives me whatever I want. All I have to do is say it.
Angry God
He’s just mad at me all the time.
Not allowed to have fun in church, can’t worship and be happy.
Absent God
He there, but he doesn’t care.
He hears the prayers but he’s not there.
Supernatural — powerful but absent.
All 3 of these are common views of God but none of them are right, and this idea of understanding God through human illustrations or metaphors is something that has been going on for thousands of years. In fact, Philip, one of Jesus’ followers even said this to Jesus.
Scripture // John 14:8-11// Romans 8:14-17
Scripture // John 14:8-11// Romans 8:14-17
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
You have felt that before haven’t you? You’ve had that thought.
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
In other words, Phillip, you have seen the Father. If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father.
So if your version of God doesn’t look like Jesus… then you’ve got the wrong version.
Looking at Jesus you’re looking at the Father — God. Jesus would go on in this section of John and say that He is going to send his Spirit to live in each one of us.
Paul writes about the implications of this in His letter to the church in Rome.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
In other words, you’re not an orphan, you’re a child of God.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
God sees you and has adopted you into his family. Ya know what’s wild about adoptions? You are chosen. Otherwise you get your kids, you don’t get to choose them the Lord just sends them your way and you can’t set them aside, they’re you responsibilty.
If you’re adopted you have been chosen.
Understand this better than most. Story with Steve and Jay choosing me.
You’re Heavenly Father chose you, he wanted you.
Abba >>> Aramaic version of Father. Jesus uses it in the garden and it’s meant to convoy close familial ties. It’s closer than father — it’s dad.
If you remeber that’s how Jesus tells us to interact with God when we pray, “Our father...”
Paul goes into more clarity here.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Meaning b/c you have the Spirit inside you, it marks you are his. The HS is your present reminder of your lineage as a son or daughter of God.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
This is controversial and many today don’t spend time talking about it b/c it makes some people uncomfortable, but here’s the truth of it.
We are heirs to the kingdom.
Think about this way, we enjoy the benefits and responsibilities of the kingdom.
A prince or princess is entrusted with care for the kingdom when the King is out or busy right? We have the same expectation.
That’s why we...
do food drives with the local school systems
work with Reach PH to save girls in sex trafficing
work with choices womens center to equip and assist mothers who choose life
have a welcoming enviroment that people can come and learn about Jesus as their Lord
B/c we are children of the king and we share in the benefits and responsibilties of his kingdom.
Application // We
Application // We
What does that mean for us? So what?
So who are we? We are children of the king, we have a father in heaven who choose us to be in his family.
Therefore, we can know that he loves us and that we can love Him.
This is one of our mission statements here.
Love God.
You can love God, really love him like a father, unlike our earthly fathers he will never let us down, nor abandon us.
He’s always available, always shows up and always loves us.
Invitiation.
