Everlasting Father

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Intro

This scripture is a promise that comes to a people who are in Assyrian captivity. They are at a point that seems so hopeless. Isaiah prophecies to this people the coming of a king that will deliver them from this captivity. As he is prophesying he is telling them the “names” of this king. The declaration of his names is a description of his rule. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. It is interesting that this prophecy comes to a people that won’t actually be around for his actual arrival. I believe that this is because the ruling of Jesus, Carrying all of those names, is not just for the people then, but for the people of today.

We may not be stuck in the captivity of some foreign nation, however, we do find ourselves in need of a ruler that can deliver us from sin, and our own foolishness.

Everlasting Father

One of the most powerful and beautiful positions that God holds in our life is that of “Everlasting Father”. This for some people is a hard name to wrap your mind around due to the relationship that you had with your earthly father. Some of you have had abusive fathers, absent fathers or just deadbeat fathers. This puts a notion in our minds at hearts about what a father is. This makes it hard in those cases to receive God as our father. Even if you had what you call a good father, they were still not a perfect father. They still left you feeling disappointed or hurt by something they did unintentionally.

Our heavenly father sets himself apart by being the Perfect Father. He does not abandon, abuse, neglect or disappoint. He is always there for us, he cares for us and loves us as his children. We are not just the servants and people of God, but we are his kids.

Father is title that is relatively new. We see it as a prophecy as a future title for God but no where in the old testament do we ever see God referred to as Father. It was not appropriate to refer to him with that level of intimacy. There was a chasm created by sin that kept a level of separation between us and God. We see it through the workings of old testament customs such as only the priests being permitted into the presence of God. We were not worthy to have that level of relationship with him but because of what the birth of Christ meant for us we have been adopted by God as his children.

Spirit of adoption

Romans 8:15–17 ESV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Adoption means we were chosen by God

He wanted us

He chose to suffer for us

Adoption means we receive the same inheritance as Christ

We were not just partially adopted we were wholly adopted

We are not slaves anymore

We don’t have to fear God as one who is in bondage to sin

We now live as children who face correction rather than condemnation

He is “Abba” not just father

Abba is used to express the level of intimacy in the relationship

Although we were adopted we are still like biological children

There is no gap in the relationship

The Fatherhood of God

God Disciplines

Hebrews 12:6–11 ESV

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

The discipline is because he loves us

If you are not being disciplined by God Hebrews calls us illegitimate children

To belong to God you must be disciplined by him

earthly father discipline VS Heavenly Father

Verse 10

Earthly = As seemed good to them

Heavenly = For our Good

God Provides

Matthew 7:11 ESV

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

God will meet every need

All we have to do is ask

God Protects

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

What God Protects nothing can reach

When we keep ourselves Under his covering he will guard us from all things

God Loves Unconditionally

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God never leaves

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Not everyone has had a father who stuck around

some left when things got hard

Some never wanted to be a parent to begin with

Others just gave their attention to other things

God never leaves