“The Affirmation Factor”
(The Fatherhood of God Pt 9)
Review
If we only had the image of God painted by Nahum, it would be most frightening. Nahum 1:2-6
Fortunately, Nahum’s image of God is not the only image found in Scripture. The Bible employs numerous images to communicate the attributes of the God we worship. One of the most endearing images is “Loving Father.”
I. The Likeness Factor – Dad’s impeccable genes
II. The Unconditional love & acceptance factor–Dad’s incomprehensible love
III. The Protection and security Factor – Dad’s impervious protection
IV. The Presence Factor – Dad’s intimate presence
V. The Wisdom Factor – Dad’s infallible counsel
VI. The Provision Factor – Dad’s inexhaustible provision
Introduction
All children look to their parents for affirmation, encouragement and acknowledgment. These may be communicated through words or actions or a combination of both.
• Affirmation focuses on who we are not necessarily associated with our performance.
• Encouragement deals with words that encourage us to continue, persevere, pursue dreams, tackle difficult things, try new things, and stretch our comfort zones.
• Acknowledgment acknowledges achievement, faithfulness, skill, completion.
Children look for dad in the stands at the ball game. Children beg dad to watch the cartwheel.
Children long to hear dad say, “Good job!” “I am proud of you!” Children, especially boys, respond to dad’s encouragement to venture out. Boys depend on their fathers to affirm them as men. There are grown men today still looking for someone to affirm them as men. They are waiting for someone to say. “You can do it!” They long for a father to affirm their worth as a person. They want dad to believe in them, be proud of them, and inspire them to chase their dreams.
Absence of such affirmation communicates volumes to a child. I don’t have what it takes. Don’t try anything you are not sure you can handle. You’re on your own. On top of that, our only affirmation oftentimes seemed to be inseparably linked to performance. There was little affirmation for who we are apart from our performance.
Our Christian culture does not have a “rite of passage” so to speak that affirms the transition from boyhood to manhood. We don't have a community of men who affirm young men and mentor them for life. The community of women who teach the younger women is also disappeared in our culture. As a result, we spend our lives searching for affirmation from anywhere we can get it. Women seek their worth by the attention they can draw from men.
Men seek their worth by achieving and the adoration of women.
The soul damage resulting from an absence of affirmation, encouragement and acknowledgment runs deep. It destroys marriages. It perpetuates further damage on our children and our children’s children. It hinders true achievement with pure motives. It collapses relationships. When our sense of worth gets tangled up in our performance or inability to achieve, we live in bondage to others. The obsession to please others, so we can find the affirmation we so desperately desire, drives everything we do.
I am here to proclaim our heavenly father’s affirmation concerning who we are, encouragement to persevere and acknowledgment of our commitment and faithful service.
VII. The Affirmation and encouragement Factor – Dad’s inspiring affirmation, encouragement and acknowledgment
A. Affirmation
Everyone likes affirmation. We long for affirmation that goes beyond what we do. We appreciate being recognized for who we are as a person. Listen to the Father’s affirmation of Jesus even before He entered ministry. After His baptism the Father publicly affirmed His Son.
and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Matthew 3:17
On the mountain where the glorious nature of Jesus manifested in a phenomenal manner, called “transfiguration”, the Father publicly affirmed Jesus yet again.
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" Matthew 17:5
The Father affirms us as His children through the internal witness of the Holy Spirit.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies (affirms) with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:14-17
This was the personal name Jesus used in His darkest hour of despondency. Mark 14:36
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. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7
This affirmation of our father is inseparably linked to his love for us. It is clear that God's love is unconditional which means it transcends merit. He demonstrated his love while we were his enemies by sending his son. He affirms his love by his continual involvement into our life.
Jesus enthusiastically presents us to His father holy and blameless.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— Colossians 1:21-22
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26
How does God see us? We are His workmanship (poem) Eph 2:10
God delights in us.
For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:12
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2:9-10
Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are merely dust. Psalms 103:13-14
We are his precious children. We are his beautiful bride. We are his cherished creatures.
We are valued above anything else in the universe.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, Psalms 8:3-6
The Holy Spirit affirms our worth in the very core of our being. The Scriptures affirm how God feels about us in spite of our works. God also calls us to affirm one another. We need to continually remind one another of our worth in Christ. You have heard me say it again and again that self worth cannot be built on anything other than Jesus Christ. Self worth comes from realizing our true nature in Christ. We must come to understand the worth that already exists by reason of Christ's work in us, not our work for him.
Listen to the father's affirmation. Reject the devil’s condemnation.
For there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
B. Encouragement
We live in a fallen world full of struggle, pain, confusion, discouragement, fear and frustration.
Jesus warned we would have tribulation in this world but he assured his disciples that He himself had the power to overcome the world with all of its evil. It takes courage to live godly in such a world. It takes courage to face the struggles of life with an eternal perspective and faith in God. It takes courage to choose the right thing when everyone else embraces the wrong.
It is easy to lose perspective. At times discouragement can overtake our resolve to go on.
In order to keep going on against the flow of this world, we need continual encouragement.
The Greek word translated “encourage” comes from two words – “to call” and “beside or near”.
It is translated encourage, comfort, exhort, urge, plead. It is the same word used to explain the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament believer. Jesus told His disciples He would send another “comforter, exhorter, encourager” just like Him.
Even the English word provides insight into the force of this word.
“en” & “courage” -- To put courage into someone. To inspire courage.
Encouragement is a particular use of words that restore courage to the hearer.
Encouragement involves speaking truth that inspires the heart to live by that truth.
Encouragement involves speaking words that restore an eternal perspective in the midst of life’s struggles.
“discourage” would be to remove courage by words that bring shame, degrade, instill fear and doubt and obliterate hope.
We all hoped for a father that would not only affirm our basic person, but who would give us courage to face a harsh and hostile world through words of encouragement. We looked for a father along the sidelines cheering us to keep going. We wanted dads who would build us up, point the way and inspire courage.
We are not privy to many of the conversations between Jesus and His Father. They would talk all night sometimes. We do know that Jesus came away from those talks encouraged. The Father sent His angels to minister to Jesus after His forty day knock down drag out with Satan in the wilderness. I can't help but think there was much encouragement from the Father at Gethsemane. Jesus endured through the encouragement of His Father alone since even His closest disciples fell asleep when He asked them to pray for Him in His time of deep emotional turmoil.
We agonize with Jesus at that moment in time on the cross, when for the first time, the Father’s encouraging words fell silent.
Does our heavenly Father encourage us? Encouragement is one of the Father's primary concerns for His children who live in a difficult world. It is the Ministry of the Holy Spirit to encourage.
Our Father is the God of encouragement.
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:1-6
There are numerous passages of Scripture related to God's encouragement. It could be a whole study itself. One particular passage uses this word at least ten times.
Most translations translate it "comfort" but it is the same word translated encourage or encouragement in other places. It's a word that refers to the speaking of words that give courage to the soul, direct our path, urge adherence to the ways of God, and inspire perseverance in suffering. It refers to words that passionately express the best, hope and long for success.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in all our affliction so that we will be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our encouragement is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; or if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our encouragement. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
What was the context of Paul's affirmation concerning the God of encouragement?
What caused Paul to launch into this thanksgiving to his Heavenly Father?
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Paul experienced God's encouragement in the midst of a period of devastating discouragement.
He acknowledged that God was a God of mercies and encouragement.
He recognized that God's encouragement can be found in all afflictions.
He affirmed that when we are able to find God's encouragement in our affliction, no matter what it may be, we gain the tools to encourage others in whatever affliction they may be facing.
We don't need to suffer the same thing in order to encourage someone facing trial. The principles of receiving God's encouragement are the same for every affliction.
It is the recognition that Christ is there with words of hope and encouragement.
It is the ability to see eternal value in the things we suffer and maintain hope.
It is the recognition that we are not alone; that God uses us to touch the lives of others.
Our suffering may be for the encouragement of someone else. Not only do we find encouragement through the Scriptures as we read earlier, but God uses other believers to encourage us.
Later in the same letter to the Corinthians Paul revealed the source of his own encouragement.
I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. But God, who encourages the lowly, encouraged us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the encouragement with which he was encouraged in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. 2 Corinthians 7:2-7
We can get so self-focused that we forget that God wants to use us to encourage others. Paul reminded the Ephesians to pay attention to the words that come out of their mouths.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
The word translated "unwholesome" could also be translated rotten or worthless.
How much of our conversation contains words that have no value from eternal perspective?
Words that build up no one. Words unable to inspire or energize anyone in their time of need.
Paul urges us to choose words that build. Paul wants us to pay attention to what needs a person may have at that moment in time. Paul instructed them to use words that will build and give grace. The word "grace" carries the idea of to give energy, life, joy, blessing, inspiration.
With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Pro 18:20-21
The writer of Hebrews commanded his readers to encourage each other every day.
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13
The New Testament is full of encouraging words. The force of the word is to plead with someone earnestly, strongly, passionately.
• Paul urged the Romans to present their bodies a living and holy sacrifice.
• He urged them to keep their eye on those who cause divisions and avoid them.
• He encouraged the Corinthians to agree or not be divided.
• Encourage them to imitate his walk.
• He urged the Corinthians to forgive and encourage the one they had disciplined.
• He urged the Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.
• He urged the two contentious ladies in Philippi to live in harmony.
• He urged the Thessalonians to excel even more in their love for one another.
• He urged them to live in purity not in lustful passion is the Gentiles who didn't know God.
• He instructed them to encourage one another daily.
• He urged the Thessalonians to encourage the fainthearted.
• He urged the Thessalonians to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
• He urged Timothy to offer prayers and petitions on behalf of all men.
• Peter urged his readers to abstain from flesh the lusts which wage war against the soul.
The pattern in all these encouragements is to urge other believers to walk according to the truth.
What we need most in our time of struggle is God's perspective. We may not like it. It may run contrary to our emotions. But we need to hear the truth spoken in love. We need to face the present in light of eternity.
We do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor 4:16-18
What we don't need is condemnation. We don't need shaming. We don't need ridicule or contempt. We certainly don't respond well to rejection.
We need encouragement to go on in the heat of the struggle. We need encouragement to persevere when our flesh screams, “Quit!” We need a band of Brothers; a sisterhood to come alongside, watch our back and inspire us to keep true. We need loving believers to ignite courage in the face of fear. We need the truth spoken in love.
You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-8
Our heavenly father encourages us through the encouraging truth He inspired for us to read.
He also encourages us through the loving words shared from hearts of compassionate believers.
Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
C. Acknowledgment
We need affirmation that transcends what we do. We need encouragement to keep in the race.
But we also need acknowledgment of what we do. We need to have someone affirm that what we do matters. We need to know that someone cares. We need to know that we are making a difference. We need to know that our labor is not in vain.
Ultimately we long for the Father to say,
"Well done good and faithful servant."
The Father promises reward for our faithfulness both here and hereafter. Living a life pleasing to God is a reward of its own. God's nature; the heart of the Father is to positively respond and reward the efforts of His children to please Him.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. 1 Cor. 4:5
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. Rev. 22:12
God doesn't miss a thing. The things done for God down here that no one sees will one day be acknowledged openly. We'll talk more about future reward later.
Conclusion
You may not have had a father that affirmed your worth as a human being.
You may not have had a father who encouraged you or inspired you.
You may not have had a father who acknowledged any achievement you ever accomplished.
Let me introduce you this morning to the Heavenly Father who gave you your worth as a human being and affirms your value to him as he is precious child; who supplies the strength and the ability to do all things through Christ who strengthens you; who has not missed one single effort you have made to live pleasing to him.
What has God said to me today?
Benediction
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in all our affliction so that we will be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our encouragement is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
