Father of the Fatherless
06/21/09 PM
Text: Psalm 68:4-5
Introduction
As we observed this morning, today is Father’s day and so we are going to continue with our consideration not of a father from scripture but the Father of scripture and the Father of all who believe; our Father in heaven.
Psalms 68:4 (NASB) “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.”
We do not always have the perfect family life while we live in this world. There are expectations we may have of what a father should be and should do for his children; as a provider, a protector, even as a corrector, disciplining his children as needed. But in this world, dealing with its limitations and the limitations of those who live with us in this world, we may and often are disappointed when our earthly fathers fail to meet our expectations.
But we have no such concerns with our Heavenly Father who does and will provide all our expectations and will never fail to do what is absolutely in our best interest.
I. Fatherless
A. Before Jesus, we are all without the Father
Ephesians 2:12 (NASB) “remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
B. Accept that all who believe are children of God
1. Paul in his letter to the Galatians:
Galatians 3:26 - 29 (NASB) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4:4 - 5 (NASB) “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
2. Paul in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 8:16-17 (NASB) “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, said that we cry out to God for He is our Father and we are His children”
And as our Father, God will fulfill all our expectations – and more.
Ephesians 3:20 (NASB) Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
II. Father of the Fatherless
He will fill that father role in the lives of any who accept Him:
Psalms 68:4 (NASB) “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.”
A. Provider:
He provides even the most basic of our needs. Matthew 6:26
B. Comforter and Protector:
1. In times of trouble, we can run to Him for comfort.
Psalms 32:7 (NASB) You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.
2. Psalms 34:17 - 19 (NASB) The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
3. 1 Peter 5:6 - 7 (NASB) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
C. Corrector (discipline):
Just as an earthly father is there to instruct and correct, so is our heavenly Father.
1. Psalm 94:12, "Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law."
2. Proverbs 3:11-12, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."
3. God is our spiritual Father who corrects us, His children, because He loves us (Hebrews 12:5-9).
D. Who loves us:
1. Romans 5:8 - 11 (NASB) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
2. Romans 8:38 - 39 (NASB) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. God is our Father and we are His children. As such, we do not continue to sin
1 John 3:8 - 10 (NASB) the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
Conclusion:
It is wonderful to know we have a loving Father who is with us and wants to provide for us, protect and comfort us, even discipline us so that we might one day be with Him in eternity.
God is the Heavenly Father.
Jesus is the Son of the Father.
We can become His children too if we believe in and are baptized into Jesus.
The bible reveals God as our Father and tells of His desire that we be His children. He has given us the choice to believe in His Son and become His children. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth and be baptized into Christ.
Invitation
