God our Father

Intro

It makes all the difference in the world how we view God, some people see God as this wrathful being who brings punishment on those who he chooses. Others see God as an all loving health wealth God, and some others see God as a friend who only cares about their happiness and they think that God damns the people they damn and Saves those they love.

But who is God really? For those of us who believe, those of us who are in this church, He is our father. And when we view God as our father that changes how we interact with God.

I want you to think back to your father or a father figure you had. Were they all loving and so they never disciplined you? were they all discipline and no love? Were they always your friend?

So here’s the thing, some of those may be true I know some parents who were a friend more than a parent and I had some friends whose parents refused to punish them. And we know that the fathers of this world just like the rest of us are sinful and broken and imperfect.

However we have a father in Heaven who is perfect, who is both loving and disciplinary, who both instructs us and listens to us. And that’s what I want to talk about today. Cause all too often I see people struggling to view God as their father because they didn’t have a good fatherly example growing up. Or you maybe God’s fatherhood over you hasn’t been clearly explained.

God’s our Father

So let’s start with this… How is it that we are considered Sons of God? Let’s read Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:12–17 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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.

God created us in the womb however we were not born to God. Rather we came to know God and had faith in him and so we are adopted when we accept the spirit of God. and because of this spirit of adoption we can cry out Abba! Father! and he answers us. But not only are we adopted by God but we are heirs of God and Co-heirs with Christ.

So what an heir is, is someone who receives an inheritance from another, in this case we receive an inheritance from God. and I don’t think we realize how special that is. Not only has God called you his child but he has included you in the inheritance as though you were his own flesh in blood.

Who here has ever adopted a child? Do you view that child any different from the rest of your children? when you adopt a kid and I’m not saying that this is always the case, cause sadly I know it’s not, but when you adopt a kid you bring someone into your family and treat them as if they were your own flesh and blood. and that’s what God does with us.

And let’s read also Galatians 3:23-29

Galatians 3:23–29 ESV

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

So I want to clear something up first, all this is saying is that God shows no partiality between his children, that he loves us all equally, some would use this passage to claim that there are no cultural or gender differences but that’s not what it’s saying, this is talking about our relationship with God.

So we have become united in faith in Christ Jesus, and so have recieved the promise that was given to Abraham to be Heirs of God. Isn’t that amazing, fellow heirs with Christ, God loves us as he loves his own son Jesus Christ.

So I want you to write this down, We have been adopted by God to be fellow heirs with Christ.

God is Loving

So let’s talk about God and what makes him the perfect father, and Dads here, myself soon to be included. Pay attention because this is the example that we should strive to follow.

So let me lay this out for you first, there are 4 characteristics that come to mind when I think of a good father, 4 Characteristics that we can find in God, and keep in mind these 4 things are of my own opinion you may find 4 things that you find even more important, however these 4 things are essential in any father. So a father should be; Loving, Disciplinary, Caring, and Protective. So let’s start with how God is loving. and to me one of the clearest passages about God’s love is found in 1 John, that’s right, not John 3:16 but 1 John 4:7-12

1 John 4:7–12 ESV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

God loved us not because we loved him, he loved us first, and sent his son to die for us that we may know his love for us. and share that love with others. and how do we know who is the child of God, because they love one another. God loves us and because of this we should love one another.

Do you love your brothers and sisters here today? I have a sister, and let me tell you I don’t always like her and I don’t always get along with her. But I love her, and what that means is, I’ll encourage her and be there for her if she needs it. Your brothers and sisters in the church should be the same. You may not like them sometimes but you still need to love them.

I had a friend in college who’s name was Joseph Wang, He was a Chinese exchange student and his real name was (Pronounce his name). But one day he was saying something about us being brothers because he would always call his friends brother and I laughed and said we weren’t blood brothers and I will never forget the look he gave me. He looked offended, and he reminded me that we were blood brothers, that we were bonded by the blood of Jesus Christ.

What a guy Joe was, and he was right, we are blood brothers and sisters, bonded by something greater than biology.

Do you guys remember the story of the prodigal son? open up to Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:11–32 ESV

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs 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 more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

When we read this story it’s just like wow, what an amazing and loving God we serve that he would receive us even after we have walked away. And not only receive us but rejoice in our safety. Write this down, We serve a loving and Forgiving God

God is Disciplinary

When we think of God’s love many times we miss what all that means. We forget that an essential part of love is discipline. and this is something that the author of Hebrews clearly understood let’s go to Hebrews 12:5-11

Hebrews 12:5–11 ESV

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 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.

It is hard for me to see the lack of discipline in the world today, Like I’ve said before I had friends growing up who recieved no form of discipline from their parents and you could tell, one of those friends ended up Over dosing on drugs causing his brain to bleed and barely survived. and today there are so many people who do whatever they like because their parents would have rather been there friend than their parent.

But we have a father in Heaven who disciplines us, and why does he discipline us? look at verse 10, so that we may share in his holiness. God’s discipline shows us that we are his legitimate children and that he loves us. So Write this down God Disciplines his children, that we may be Holy.

God Cares for Us

God’s discipline is not only because he loves us but because he cares about our well being, Let’s read Psalm 103:13

Psalm 103:13 ESV

13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

The children of God those who both revere and fear the lord receive his compassion. God will always take care of us the way that a father should. Scripture tells us not to worry about tomorrow because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring but God does, and he will care for us. We are told not to worry about what we will eat and what we will wear because God will provide for us.

I told you in one of my recent sermons, I think maybe on Mothers day, that when I was in college there was a time when I worried about my finances and how I would be able to continue going to school. however God provided, he provided through blessing my parents with the means to help with blessing the church, and through blessing the scholarships that I recieved. God took care of me so that I had to reason to worry. and He does the same for all of us.

Write this down, God Cares for Us.

God Protects Us

and because God cares about us so much, he protects us, Isaiah 41:10 says.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

And do you remember when Hezekiah was faced against the Assyrian Army, an army of 185,000 soldiers. Hezekiah was worried and he prayed to God because he was worried and do you know what God did? 2 Kings 19:35

2 Kings 19:35 ESV

35 And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

God protected him from the Assyrian army that he faced.

I remember and maybe I should have told this story first cause now I have to follow what God did for Hezekiah...

But I will always remember this story and it was very clear to me that God was protecting me. A couple years ago I was driving out to camp I don’t remember exactly what for but I was driving out at night to help out with something, and it was down pouring, and if you’ve ever driven on that road from Beach Creek to Howard at night you know that there are no street lights. well with the combination of rain and lack of street lights and the fact that it was already dark out, I couldn’t see a thing and I was terrified I couldn’t stop praying, the only indicator that I was on the road and in my lane was the tail lights of the car in front of me and the headlights of the car in the other lane. I remember asking God that he make the rain stop when I get on the back road to camp. and sure enough the moment I make the turn the rain vanished into a light mist. and it stayed that way all the way up to camp. In fact I even walked inside with no rain, and not a minute later it was down pouring again.

God hears your prayers and he protects will protect you when you cry out to him, because that’s the kind of father he is. he hears his child cry and he picks them up and embraces them. Write this down, God Protects Us.

Conclusion

I want to close with this, Open up to 2 Corinthians 6:18

2 Corinthians 6:18 ESV

18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Regardless of the parents you have here on Earth, your God in heaven is a far greater father than anything that you can and will experience here. He loves you so much that he’s willing to discipline you that you may be Holy, and he cares for you, and he protects you. Time and time again I see people fail to recognize God the father because they didn’t have a good father figure growing up. But I want you to realize that this everything I just talked about, is what a father should be.

There’s a saying that I heard from John Shirey just this past Thursday that Goes like this, “People who don’t see God in their father have a difficult time seeing a father in God” So let me encourage you fathers, let your kids see God in you that they can see God as their father. and for everybody here, let’s remember that our father who is in Heaven is an eternal father who has adopted us to be heirs with Christ.

Happy Fathers Day, Let’s pray.