Come to the Father part 6

Our Heavenly Father, our Friend.

I would like to continue with our series “Come to the Father” Jesus, is the only one who has the right Theology about our Heavenly Father, the perfect relationship, any other concepts or opinions about God the Father, needs to be corrected by Jesus teachings. My prayer is, that during this series we will see our Heavenly Father, just the way, Jesus sees Him.

Our Heavenly Father our Friend From the beginning of creation God’s desire was to have a relationship with us, to be our intimate friend. Jesus opened the door so all of us could be friends of God.

Let’s pray What is a friend? a person whom one knows, trust and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. 1 Friend is someone you trust,

there is no friendship. without trust, you may work with someone for 8hrs every day, but if you don’t trust them, they are not your friend. The bad rock of a friendship is trust When we are in the presence of a friend, we are comfortable, relaxed, intimate. Friend Is the person who doesn’t need permission to go to your house they just come or into your fridge, if they want something, they feel the freedom to look around your kitchen and get it. A friend Is someone You love to spend time with, they are fun encouraging, funny, refreshing, they welcome your crazy ideas or to hear about your plans for the future, they may not even think is a good idea, but they will listen first, ask questions, than give you the appropriate counsel. They are interested in you; they want to see you succeed. You know they are not going to criticize, judge, or shut you down, usually people who are negative and critical will never have the privilege to hear your heart, they are not safe is too scary. Friends are the only ones who have permission to tell you the truth, Kings had their counselors, wise man and advisers, if they said something the King disapproved that could cost their lives, but a friend of the king, was the only one who could tell him anything, they could say this is the craziest dream I ever heard, you must had too many beans for dinner last night, they probably would laugh about it, and that was the end of that conversation.

If an adviser of the King would say that, his head would role, if he could not interpret the dream could be the end of their lives. Our Heavenly Father loves us, He listen to us, He laughs with us, and He enjoys spending time with us. He loves and appreciates what we love and do.

2 A real Friend is always there for you.

In 1Samuel 18 we read about Jonathan and David’s friendship This was right after the battle with Goliath 1Sa 18:1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bonded to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 1Sa 18:2 Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father's house. 1Sa 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 1Sa 18:4 Jonathan stripped himself of the outer robe that he was wearing and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword, his bow, and his belt. Their covenant was for life, and after death, an agreement of brotherhood, the survivor would watch over the other’s family. A covenant was Usually done before other people, it was a biding agreement of respect, honor and protection. An animal would be cut open from top to bottom and they would walk in between the flesh, with the understanding, let be done to me as this animal if I break my covenant with you.

Jonathan was the elder 30 years older than David, there was nothing that Jonathan wanted or needed from David, he saw the anointing of God, David’s love for God and passion.

David fought a giant that, that Saul, Jonathan or David’s brothers should fight but they all coward under Goliath’s insults.

Jonathan’s love and protection of David was of the Lord, the grace of God over David.

After King Saul’s and Jonathan’s death, David now was the King of the entire kingdom of Israel north and south. 2Sa 9:1 And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" 2Sa 9:3 And the king said, "Is there no longer anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodness and graciousness of God?" Ziba replied to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan, [one] whose feet are crippled." Mephibosheth meaning “from the mouth of shame”. When he was toddler and the troops were coming in, his servant pick him up and ran to protect him but she tripped and fell on him crushing his feet, so he became crippled and was raised by servants in poverty, he lived in a poor place as a nobody. 2Sa 9:7 David said to him, "Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall always eat at my table." Jonathan, was dead, Saul was dead there was nothing David owed the family, except the covenant he made with Jonathan his friend. Our Heavenly Father will always honor the covenant He made in Jesus. Jesus is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit and he promised that He would never leave us alone, that He will be there for us. Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually--regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age." Deu 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed." , Our Heavenly Father is saying I will always be with you. I will never leave you alone.

3 How do we respond to a friend like this?

I remember early in my twenties, I was praying asking God for a friend, how can I get a friend, I still remember His answer to me, be a friend and I will bless you with friends. So how can I embrace this friendship from my Heavenly Father. We become like the people we hang out with, like the books you read. 1 Make knowing God your number one priority.

Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. We will be close to God as much we want to be, He said this Jer 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Friends have two-way conversations, is not about one person sharing, just one talking, in a friendship you always listen to each other, is not all about telling God what you want. Jas 4:8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. Can you imagine a friend that comes to you with a list of things to do, every time you seat down or meet with them? The relationship will soon be over.

2 Maintain a constant conversation.

1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing, Talk to Him all the time. 3 Make time to be with your Heavenly Father.

If you don’t make time for your friend, they are not your friend. You will never have God as your best friend if you do not spend time with him. 4 If you are a friend of God you value of what God values Joh 15:10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. Joh 15:11 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. Joh 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. Joh 15:13 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. Joh 15:14 You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. Joh 15:15 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father. 5 Trust God in your pain We all have seasons in our lives, when we experience pain and suffering, trust your Heavenly Father in your pain. I remember years ago one year before my mother passed away, I had a dream about my mother dying and was one of these very vivid dreams, I woke up I was crying, up set with the dream, as I prayed I felt God was asking my permission to let her go, because he was coming for her, I prayed and let her go, I commit her in to my Heavenly Father’s hand, it was hard but a year later when it happened I was comforted to know that she was well and enjoying heaven with Him. Psa 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. As we trust Him, He will give the grace we need for every circumstance. Romans 5:10-11 Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today]. Rom 5:11 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God [rejoicing in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation [with God]. Our Heavenly Father is the best friend we will ever have A friend who loves you, that you trust, that is always there for you. We need respond by making him our priority, spending time with Him Embracing His values and trusting Him. All this happens when we make Jesus the Lord of our lives.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16 To receive Jesus we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, asking Him to be our Lord and savior , not that we deserve it, but is a gift from God. If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me? Heavenly Father I’m sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I’m willing to turn away from my sins. I receive Christ as my savior, I confess Him as Lord And from this moment on I want to follow and serve Him, in the fellowship of His church, In Jesus name, Amen! E mau aku ka loko maika’i o ka Haku, Iesu Kristo; me ke aloha a ke Akua, a me ka launa pu ‘ana mai o ka Uhane Hemolele ia ‘olua, a me makou apau. Amene.