“Kingdom Kids”
Part 3
Review
John encouraged his readers to take the time to contemplate the awesomeness of the eternal God of the universe inviting sinful creatures of earth to be His children. “Behold”, “see”, “know”.
Scripture employs the image of God as our heavenly Father. We are taking the time to explore the wonder of that image and the details of what kind of Father He is. There is any number of characteristics that would make the perfect father. We will explore a select few.
I. The Likeness Factor
1. EVENT
We are God’s children by supernatural creative work of God, second birth, and adoption. Upon genuine belief, God instills us with His nature; His seed. We become a new creature by God’s work in us. His work makes us His children. Certain aspects of that work are instantaneously accomplished at belief. There are other aspects however that are a work in progress.
2. PROCESS
We have been transformed. We are being transformed.
3. DESTINY
Every one of those called by God will be like Him.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Every child carries a parent’s DNA. Scripture indicates we carry God’s DNA. We were made in His image. We were reborn with His seed and will ultimately completely bear His likeness.
Some Practical implications of this truth
God’s DNA provides the basis for a godly walk.
We are genetically connected to Jesus (brother)
We are genetically connected to each other.
II. Unconditional love and acceptance factor
Although our discussion of the chief characteristics we long for in a father is not in any kind of preferential order, this characteristic would appear at or near the top if it was. Every person longs for unconditional love and acceptance. We live in a performance based culture. Early on, we learned acceptance requires performance. The longing to be loved for who we are not what we do or don’t do hit a wall over and over. The Scripture talks about the love of God; a father’s love for His child; a savior’s love for His fallen brothers, a Creator’s love for His creation. It was a love determined before time and demonstrated at the right time. Rom 5:6-8
This unconditional love is a decision to relate to another in a sacrificial way based on the passion of the one loving to care for and enter into intimate relationship with another. The demonstration of God’s love only increases after we become His children and its manifestation will extend through eternity. Last week we learned that God loves us with the same intensity as He loves His own Son. John 17:23
An increased understanding of God’s love dissolves fear and increases confidence. His love is constant. His love moves Him to move toward us at all times. Our sin does not diminish His love. Our works do not increase His love. Nothing we do alters His love because it is a love based on His character and choice not our conduct. He chastises us when we sin and cheers us when we succeed but His unfailing love for us never changes. Everything He does flows out of His passion for us and desire to relate to us. Luke recorded three parables of Jesus illustrating how God relates to those who sin. Whether we wander off or get lost in the busyness of life or deliberately walk away, God’s love makes our restoration a priority. He persistently pursues our restoration and passionately embraces us when we turn back to Him. We must eradicate from our thinking the image of a cross-armed angry father frustrated and bent on a punishment intended to make us pay for our disobedience rather than loving correction intended to motivate and instill holiness.
God’s love ALWAYS places His glory and our ultimate good at the center of His actions.
Whatever He does, however it may seem to us, always flows from a heart of love and care for His chosen children.
Just how secure is this love???
Are there lapse times? One day we get love, the next wrath. One moment acceptance, the next rejection and alienation. Are there divine moods? Is there a point where God says, “Enough! I am through with you!”
God inspired Paul to write one of the most endearing declarations of His love for us ever.
Paul, who had furiously and callously slaughtered or imprisoned precious followers of Christ, embraced this truth at the very core of his being. This remarkable affirmation of God’s great love follows the equally powerful revelation of the process God orchestrates to restore us to perfect relationship with Him. Those He foreknew, He predestined to be like His son followed by a specific call, justification and ultimate glorification. Paul followed this significant statement of God’s saving work with a string of seven gripping questions highlighting the enormity of His love for us.
What then shall we say to these things? (God’s guaranteed transformation program).
Since God is for us, who is against us? (No one that I know of)
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (There was nothing more precious to give.)
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
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.
God justified us. Jesus continually prays for us. Then the monumental question that plagues every soul at one time or another.
Who (or what) will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as it is written, "For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
But (in spite of it all) in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
How do we handle these things? What enables us to keep eternal perspective in the midst of temporal turmoil? How do we “overwhelmingly conquer”?
For I am convinced (perfect tense) that
neither death, (the process or the fact)
nor life, (whatever things this life may throw at us)
nor angels, nor principalities, (no demonic force can deter God’s love)
nor things present,(what I am facing right now)
nor things to come, (what I may face tomorrow)
nor powers, (no earthly power human or otherwise)
nor height, (the highest of prominence)
nor depth,(the greatest obscurity)
nor any other created thing, (in case we missed something)
will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39
Action Points
1. Realize and rehearse the depths of His love
2. Receive His love
3. Respond to His love
4. Reciprocate His love
III. Protection and security Factor
We live in a frightening world. The world is even more frightening for a child. We want a father who will not only love us but protect us and make us feel secure. We long for physical security but also emotional security. Devastating damage lurks in an emotionally unstable home environment where fear of parents breaking up is a constant threat. Peter spoke of our protection in the context of a protected inheritance. 1 Peter 1:4-5
We are protected (present tense verb) by God’s power; God’s dynamite! How powerful is God?
Can He protect us? How long? Till the last days.
Philippians 4:7 Proverbs 18:10 Luke 10:19 1 Peter 5:10 John 10:27-30 John 17:11-12 1 Thessalonians 5:23
In what sense does this promise of protection apply to God’s children? Christians face danger and even death every day. David expressed how he felt facing the “valley of the shadow of death.” I could tell you stories of rescue and supernatural deliverance from danger. I could also tell you stories of persecution, torture and even death. Both Christians - Both prayed up - Both supported by the multiple prayers of others. I could tell stories of phenomenal healing due to the prayers of others. I could tell stories of prolonged illness and eventual death in spite of massive intercession.
Hebrews 11 catalogues a group of the faithful who trusted God no matter what.
Part of the group supernaturally conquered. Another part of the group was sawn in two, hide in caves, lost family members. Where was God? How is God my protection?
To God, death is not an end but a mere transition. Death for the believer is not a punishment but a promotion. It is not an end to life but the entry into life. God uses earthly suffering to bring about greater ends for His kingdom. One thing is certain. I am His and He is mine. He will never leave me or forsake me. He will never stop watching over me. There is no guarantee I will not get sick, stub my toe, face death, lose people and things precious to me or suffer some accident or tragedy. We still live in a devil directed twisted world where bad things still happen to both good and bad people. However!
He has guaranteed He will bring us safely to our heavenly home.
He has promised to finish the work He started in us.
He has promised to be a refuge for us in the midst of chaos.
Psalms 46:1-3
Scripture abounds with references to God as our protector, shield, fortress, deliverer, everlasting arms, shelter, refuge and strength. He has promised us his presence which leads us to a fourth characteristic of an effective father.
IV. The Presence Factor
We live in the culture of absent dads. Either physically or emotionally, fathers have disengaged from the family. Every child longs for their father’s positive presence; to be there, to watch over us; to encourage, protect, direct, empower, affirm, counsel, listen, empathize, and simply be there.
How many kids scanned the audience or the bleachers for any sight of dad? How many kids vied for dad’s attention any way they could get it? Our heavenly Father never leaves. David courageously faced the valley of “deep darkness” because of his confidence that “Thou art with me.”
He looked forward to dwelling in the house of the Lord FOREVER. Any success in David’s life and career was directly attributable to the fact that “the Lord was WITH him.”Psalms 139:7-10
Yet there were times when David felt far away from God. There were times when God was there but silent. David cried, “Where are You God?”
There is a difference between God’s omnipresence and God’s manifested presence. It is like a father watching over his child in the play ground without the child’s awareness. He is present but chooses not to manifest His presence to the child. We can be sure that God’s presence is at all places at one time at all times. He is aware of what we face. He sees our pain. He is fully apprised of our situation. Just because He doesn’t manifest His presence at a particular time does not mean he has left us.
Isaiah 40:27-31
Moses counted on God’s manifested presence to distinguish them from other people.
Exodus 33:14-16
Moses encouraged the people before his death to focus on the Lord’s presence with them.
Deuteronomy 31:8 Hebrews 13:5
By no means will I ever send you away or leave you behind.
The original Adam enjoyed unhindered fellowship with God. Sin changed that. Those born into Christ, the second Adam, enjoy unhindered fellowship that sin can’t change. His presence has to do with relationship. He walks with us. He wants to engage in intimate relationship with us.
Remember! Your heavenly Father is not like your earthly father.
Whatever caused your earthly father to be delinquent, disengaged, distant doesn’t apply to God.
You have your heavenly Father’s DNA. (Intimate connection)
You have your heavenly Father’s unconditional love and acceptance. (Incredible belonging)
You have your heavenly Father’s protection. (Impenetrable security)
You have your heavenly Father’s presence. (Infinite company)
Colossians 1:21-22
