The Father

10-9-2016 Sunday Service Message

On last week we had an opportunity to take a closer look at who the Father is and how he is different than our earthly fathers. We discussed how Many children today, don’t know who their father is, where their father is; and if they do know where he is, we talked about the condition of his reputation. His reputation is damaged to the point where his children cannot hear him or receive what he is saying as truth.

We then took a look at Matthew 6:9 which records Jesus telling his followers how to pray to our heavenly Father. The prayer starts off in contrast to our earthly fathers. Jesus said  ‘In this Manner therefore pray’ “Our Father in heaven, Hollowed be Your name”… We know who our heavenly Father is, where he is and that his reputation is Great! So then, when we take a look at the world today, It is this assessment of a fatherless generation that gives us better insight into why the world is so divisive. The notion that we define our worth and value by our diversity or differences is because we don’t know who we are; we have by default come to the conclusion that the only way to find our self worth is by looking solely at our differences. This is a direct reflection of being disconnected from the one who can only define us; Our Heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:9 KJV 1900

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Remember the story of the prodigal son? Jesus told his followers a parable in NKJ Let us take a look at it.

Luke 15:11–24 KJV 1900

And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

“A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal (a lifestyle that supports him and his desires) living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

Do you see how he redefined himself based on his performance? There are many of us today who do the same, we take a look at the choices and the mistakes we make and say things like, God the Father does not love me, I am worthless, I will never be forgiven for what I did. I’m a failure. There is nothing good in me. I don’t deserve to be blessed and so forth and so on. Let’s take a look at what happened next.

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[a] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

It will always be in the heart of our compassionate Heavenly father who is waiting with open arms to define who we really are! The son said he is not worthy, the father said he is alive and found. Notice when he was back with the Father that he was alive and found.

Does this really mean then that when we are away from our Heavenly Father that we are Dead and Lost?

Ladies and gentlemen we do not begin to live the life that God had designed for us to live and receive what he has for us until we are alive in his presence. The prodigal son was hungry and in want and when he returned to the presence of his father all of his needs where met. And to take it a step further, the father not only met his needs, but gave him the best!

Because we have Christ as lord and Savior and because we are now members of his body, we have access to our heavenly Father, Who is more than willing to meet our needs.

Let’s take a look at another verse of scripture in Matthew closer to where we were earlier before Jesus told us how to pray. Let’s take a look at how he instructed us on how not to pray and why. This is vitally important!

NKJ

Matthew 6:5–8 KJV 1900

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 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.

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

He hears us not because of our many words, but because he knows he is our Father and we know we are his children. That’s it! We spend all our time trying to word our prayers and figure out how to say it the right way in an attempt to make sure he hears us. When all we need to do is agree that now because we have accepted Christ as lord that he is our Father and we are his children.

He expects us to act like his children and to respond as such.

Our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus, who is our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit which now lives on the inside of us is all of who he is! It is when we accept all of who God is that we will begin to live the life as a successful son or daughter. We must understand; that now we know who our Father is and our position is Christ Jesus that it’s imperative for us to learn how to act as a son or daughter.

How do we do that?

We keep our eyes focused on Jesus! 

Explain Model (Jesus) and the designer (God) Jesus Modeled Sonship!

Remember what Jesus said to his disciples in ? 14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14 KJV 1900

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 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. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Jesus came to show us the way to the Father!

In him is where we must dwell!

The Father is taking a look down the road and sees someone in the distance. He sees his son Jesus and gets excited. However the closer he looks, he sees Jesus alone, he knows because Jesus is the way to him that someone should be following Jesus. but he sees no one! Are you the one who should be behind Jesus that God the Father is looking for? Are you the one that should be coming to yourself to return home to your heavenly Father?

The Father is taking a look down the road and sees someone in the distance. He sees his son Jesus and gets excited. However the closer he looks, he sees Jesus alone, he knows because Jesus is the way to him that someone should be following Jesus. but he sees no one! Are you the one who should be behind Jesus that God the Father is looking for? Are you the one that should be coming to yourself to return home to your heavenly Father?

The Father is taking a look down the road and sees someone in the distance. He sees his son Jesus and gets excited. However the closer he looks, he sees Jesus alone, he knows because Jesus is the way to him that someone should be following Jesus. but he sees no one!

Are you the one who should be behind Jesus that God the Father is looking for?

Are you the one that should be coming to yourself to return home to your heavenly Father?