Everlasting Father

EVERLASTING FATHER.

When our first son was born- great excitement-- birth announcements

When Doug & Karen had baby- greater excitement- grandson--more birth announcements

Birth announcement- some people go to all lengths to announce a baby’s birth

Phone calls cards- emails-

When Doug turned 40- Karen planned celebration-

Happy 40th Doug-- Honk it’s Doug’s birthday- 40 pink flamingos on lawn

Airplane flying over downtown Kelowna- banner on tail- Happy Birthday, so & so

How would you like to have your birthday announcement in the sky?

Speaking of announcements in the sky- Nothing new- happened 2000 years ago

Luke 2:8-14 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

What an announcement in the sky!

But this is what the Prophet Isaiah foretold 600 years earlier, when he wrote in Isaiah 9:6,7

“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 Counsellor

Mighty God

EVERLASTING FATHER

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace

There will be no end

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom

Establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

From that time on and FOREVER.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

We have been considering the names of Jesus

WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR

MIGHTY GOD

And today-- EVERLASTING FATHER

What’s in a name?-They are not just labels given to him

They are Names pregnant with theological content.

The names indicate the nature and character of the One who is to come

We want to KNOW Him and WORSHIP Him by these names

A child is born, A son is given, and He is the Father through whom we become children of God

“On that first Christmas, when man had almost forgotten Him, the “Everlasting Father” became real when he stepped into the world in the form of His Son”- Adrian Dieleman

In this one verse we have a very clear statement regarding the incarnation and the theology of Christmas. That statement is this: The eternal God will take on the form of a servant, being born into His own creation as a promised Child”

EVERLASTING FATHER

EVERLASTING

A. IT’S WHO HE ALWAYS IS.- EVERLASTING Father

I AM ( in Gospel of John)

1. He is The eternal I AM

*Jesus Always WAS

*Jesus ever IS

*Jesus ever SHALL BE

a. He is before all things- Col 1:16-18

That first Christmas was not the beginning of Christ- He always was

A statement from occupiedwiththeword “As the Father of Eternity, this One is beyond the boundaries of time. He will never cease to exist, but rather wherever one goes in eternity- whether past, present or future, He is there. He inhabits eternity (Isa 57:15). A Child will be born, but He already has been… is… and will be a Father, and oh, by the way, His existence doesn’t begin with His birth because He always exists.”

Our text says “IS born, IS given“-- stated as an accomplished event-it has already happened

John 8:58 “Jesus said to them ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM”

Lamb slain//child born--from foundation of the world- Rev 8:8

Matthew Henry quote “All the great things that God did for the Old Testament church were done by Him as the eternal Word” John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being:

There were many who were waiting for the coming of Messiah. Those that waited for the consolation of Israel often turned to and read this passage with pleasure

He is the author of everlasting life and happiness to them and so is the Father of a blessed eternity to them.

He is the Father of the world to come

He shall reign for ever and ever-- Rev 11:15

Ps 90:2,4 You have always been, and You will always be. To You a thousand years is like the passing of a day”

Peter Wallace in What the Psalmist is Saying to You “God is intimately involved in every nanosecond of every moment of every day in every life. Even when the time of your life seems totally out of control, speeding and changing so that you can barely catch your breath, He is behind every tick of the clock. And when life slows down to a crawl through boredom or depression, He still holds you firm in His sight.”

Ps 23:6- “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Hymn--Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same. All may change but Jesus never, glory to His name.

Heb 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.”

Ever abiding

Matthew Henry Commentary- “He is the everlasting Father, or the Father of eternity; He is God, one with the Father, who is from everlasting to everlasting. His fatherly care of his people and tenderness toward them is everlasting. He is the author of everlasting life and happiness to them.”

In a world of constant change and uncertainty, we can be confident, because He is the unchanging one- dependable, reliable, faithful, trustworthy

“Lord thou has been our dwelling place in all generations, before the mountains were born or thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” Ps 90:1-2

Like Mechizidek- He is without beginning or ending

b. He is the creator of all things--

Col 1:16-18 “And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church, and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him.”

What are the IMPLICATIONS of this for us?

I will never leave you or forsake you

With Him there are no limits of time and space

I the Lord change not. Mal 3:6

Rev 1:17-18 “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore and I have the keys of death and of Hades”

Yes, He is the eternal one the I AM, and the creator of all things

2. He is one with the Father

We have so many statements, especially in the Gospel of John, that speak of Him and the Father:

I and the Father are one

Reveals Father- Mt 11:27; “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” also Lk 10:22

The Son who is in the bosom of the Father- John 1:18

“For just as the Father has life in himself, so the son also has life in Himself.”- John 5:26

As the Father knows me even so know I the Father John 10:15

Believe that the Father is in me and I in Him-- John 10:38; John 14:11

He that has seen me has seen the Father John 14:9

All things that the Father has are mine John 16:15

The everlasting Father = the Father of eternity

His fatherly care of his people and tenderness toward them are everlasting

The everlasting Father is the Son given- condescension in taking our nature upon him

IT’S WHO HE ALWAYS IS- THE ETERNAL I AM- THE EVERLASTING FATHER

B. IT’S WHAT A FATHER DOES-- Everlasting FATHER

What does the word “FATHER” denote to you? Dad, papa

Some of us have had wonderful fathers, and others maybe not so wonderful

Father= in concordance “A man is said to be a father to the poor and orphans when he takes care to supply their necessities and provide for their wants”

God is called father, creator, preserver and protector of all creatures and principally of those who call upon him, who know and serve him Romans 8:15, 16

A statement from Occupiedwiththeword. “As a Father, this Son who is to be given to the people will guard His people and supply all of their needs. He will be the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Living Water, etc. to His people. He will lead His children, He will train them, discipline them, and make them into His image with hearts that desire to follow Him. He will guide them with tenderness, love, comfort, grace and mercy”

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him, for He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.“…-Ps 103:13

So, what does a Father do?

1. A Father protects

Friend with two daughters- baseball bat ready to ward off unsuitable suitors.

This father was determined to protect his beloved daughters

So, our Everlasting Father protects us

Ps 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger so why should I tremble?

Ps 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for Thou are with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me

Ps 27:10 “Even if my father and mother abandon me the Lord will hold me close.”

Jesus, like a father, protects his people--

Rom 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

HE IS THE heavenly FATHER, and He protects us

2. A Father provides-

Jesus, like a father, cares about his people- knows all about us

Jesus, because he is eternal, lives forever to intercede for us-

Rom 8:34; “who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

Ps 23:1-3, 5-6 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul, He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” “Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life.”

Rom 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

He who feeds the sparrows, will surely also provide our necessities.

3. A Father gives identity.-

Prodigal son- Father gives the returning prodigal identity when He puts ring on finger-bring best robe- Lk 15:22 You are mine, I have begotten thee

In school- meet parents of students- see identity and similarity

Family reunion- Of Course we know our brothers and sisters, and some of their kids

But when it comes to the second and third generation, young teens- we had to ask. Who are you? what’s your name? Who is your father?

Now Family calendar- birthday of James--son of Dave

Jesus, the Everlasting FATHER has made us who we are in Him- We have identity

We are SONS OF GOD!

Neil Anderson, of Freedom Ministries writes:

WHO I AM IN CHRIST?--

I am accepted

I am secure

I am significant

“The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity” Neil Anderson in Victory over the Darkness

Yes, the Father gives us true identity

1 John 3:1-3 “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”

4. A Father loves and cares and comforts

2 Cor 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction…”

CONCLUSION

Adrian Dieleman “The Messiah is Everlasting Father-- Think of what this means. Always and forever we can look to Him to provide our needs. Always and forever we can expect compassion from Him. Always and forever we can come to Him for mercy and love and forgiveness.

The Messiah is Everlasting Father. He is always there. We can always depend on Him. Eternally He is a Father to His children. What tenderness, love and comfort we have here

The Messiah is Everlasting Father. Nothing can ever separate us from His love for He always lives to give us His love and care and compassion. Name whatever you want, and it is not able to separate us from the love and care of the Messiah as Everlasting Father”

I can’t always be there for my children, because I’m not an everlasting Father. The Jesus whose birth we celebrate today will always be there for you. He died for you. He’s not going to forsake you. So, pour out your heart to Him; tell Him everything that is troubling you. He knows exactly what you are talking about, because He is a Father who experienced humanity just like you. He was born like you, ate like you, and grew like you. He mourned the deaths of people He loved just as you do. He was hurt by people in this world like you are, and He had to endure all the hurts that life inflicts, just as you do. Because He is your Father, he is always willing to help you. And because he is your everlasting Father, He is always able to help you. Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. And He is the everlasting Father who makes us His children and cares for us His children.”

HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED

EVERLASTING FATHER

IT’S WHO HE ALWAYS IS

IT’S WHAT A FATHER DOES

IT’S WHAT JESUS IS AND DOES

BECAUSE HE IS THE EVERLASTING FATHER

“Word of the Father

Now is flesh appearing

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord”
EVERLASTING FATHER.

ISAIAH 9:6

Dr. Fred Braun

Luke 2:8-14 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

ISAIAH 9:6-7

“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 Counsellor

Mighty God

EVERLSTING FATHER

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace

There will be no end

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom

Establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

From that time on and FOREVER.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

A. IT’S WHO HE ALWAYS IS.- EVERLASTING Father

1. He is The eternal I AM

*Jesus Always WAS

*Jesus ever IS

*Jesus ever SHALL BE

a. He is before all things

b. He is the creator of all things

2. He is one with the Father

B. IT’S WHAT A FATHER DOES--Everlasting FATHER

1. A Father protects

2. A Father provides-

3. A Father gives identity.-

WHO I AM IN CHRIST?-- Neil Anderson

I am accepted

I am secure

I am significant

4. A Father loves and cares and comforts

HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED

EVERLASTING FATHER

IT’S WHO HE ALWAYS IS

IT’S WHAT A FATHER DOES

IT’S WHAT JESUS IS AND DOES

BECAUSE HE IS THE EVERLASTING FATHER

“Word of the Father

Now is flesh appearing

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord”

ABBREVIATED SCRIPT FOR POWERPOINT OPERATOR

Opening frame EVERLASTING FATHER

DR. FRED BRAUN

DECEMBER 17, 2006

Introductory comments

When I mention birth announcement 2000 years ago, then display text of

LUKE 2:8-14

When I mention Isaiah’s birth announcement 600 year earlier, then display text of

ISAIAH 9:6-7

Today we consider the name

EVERLASTING FATHER

A. IT’S WHO HE ALWAYS IS- EVERLASTING Father

1. HE IS THE ETERNAL “I AM”

JESUS ALWAYS WAS

JESUS EVER IS

JESUS EVER SHALL BE

a. HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS

After last sentence-- Like Melchizadek, He is without beginning and ending, then dislplay

b. HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

After last sentence--Yes, He is the eternal one, the I AM and the Creator of all things, then display

2. HE IS ONE WITH THE FATHER

After last sentence-- It’s who He always is, the eternal I AM, the Everlasting Father, then display

B. IT’S WHAT A FATHER DOES-- Everlasting FATHER

After, So, what does a father do? Then display each as I indicate “first, second, etc

1. A FATHER PROTECTS

2. A FATHER PROVIDES

3. A FATHER GIVES IDENTITY

After, We are Sons of God, then display

WHO I AM IN CHRIST

I AM ACCEPTED

I AM SECURE

I AM SIGNIFICANT

After 1 John 3:1-3, then display

4. A FATHER LOVES, CARES AND COMFORTS

After last sentence,-- And He is the everlasting Father who makes us His children and cares for us as His children, then display

HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED

EVERLASTING FATHER

IT’S WHO HE ALWAYS IS

IT’S WHAT A FATHER DOES

IT’S WHAT JESUS IS AND DOES

BECAUSE HE IS THE EVERLASTING FATHER

Then display

“Word of the Father

Now is flesh appearing

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord”