"If God Were Your Father" Series

"If God Were Your Father"

Text-Matthew 23:1-10

dannymoss777@yahoo.com

Introduction-

When I was in college I remember being taught

that a child’s first concept of God is his or her

earthly father. If a child’s earthly father was

cruel and uncaring, and showed no interest in his

children, then the concept that those children had

of God was awful. If, however, he was loving, and

kind, compassionate and understanding, then the

child’s first concept of God formed in his or her

mind was good. In Matthew we see that there are

really only two fathers-one is Satan, and the other

is God. Who is your Father? Jesus makes it clear

how we can know who our true Father is. The Scribes

and Pharisees claimed that God was their Father, but

in reality, Jesus said that their Father was Satan,

not God. In Matthew 11:27, Jesus said-"All things

are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man

knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth

any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whom

the Son will reveal him." Let that revelation

linger in your mind for a long time. You can’t

know who God is, or who your true Father is, un-

less you know Jesus, who will reveal Him to you.

As Daddys, earthly fathers, we are to represent God

to our children. We are to reveal to them what kind

of God He is.

I. God is One who loves His children, as a matter

of fact, we are told in the Scriptures that God

loves us with a love equal to the love that He

has for His only-begotten Son-Jesus. Wow!

There could be no greater love than that!

John 17:23-"I in them, and thou in Me, that they

may be made perfect in one; and that the world

may know that thou hadst sent me, and hast

loved them, as thou hast loved me."

In John 15:9 Jesus tells us that He loves us

just as much as He loves the Father.

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved

you: continue ye in my love."

1st John 4:8 tells us that "God is love";

therefore, men, if we represent God to our

children, then we must love them deeply, and

sincerely.

In John 14:23 Jesus tells us-"...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." That is a tremendous

verse of Scripture. It tells us that if we

truly love Jesus, God and Jesus will come

live within our heart. Do you love Jesus?

II.Secondly, if we are to represent God, than we

must provide for our families.

God is the great Benefactor. He gives us every

good and perfect gift. Out of the bounty of

His grace and wealth, we survive.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us to

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous-

ness, and all these things shall be added unto

you." Matthew 6:33 If we put God first, He will

provide for us. He, in a sense, cares and pro-

vides for all men. He sends His rain on the

just and the unjust. Men enjoy wealth and the

material blessings that they have only because

God has allowed them to have those things.

1st Timothy 5:8 tells us -"But if any provide not

for his own, and specially for those of his own

house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse

than an infidel."

III.Again, if we are to represent God the Father to

our families, then, we must protect them. God

protects those that He loves.

1st Peter 3:13-"And who is he that shall harm

you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"

In John 10:28-29 Jesus tells us-"And I give unto

them(my sheep) eternal life; and they shall never

perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of

my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is

greater than all; and no man is able to pluck

them out of my Father’s hand."

It is said that "You are in good hands with

Allstate insurance," but you’re in better hands

when you are in the hands of God. He alone can

provide for our every need, and protect us from

all harm.

IV.Then, we also see that if we are to represent God

to our families, then we must spend quality time

with them.

God is One who never leaves us, or forsakes us.

He is always there for us to call on, and to

care for us.

God longs to fellowship with man. Enoch walked

with God. Abraham was the friend of God. This

is what God is like. He wants to know us inti-