2023.06.18.Sermon.Father’s Day
William Akehurst, HSWC
KEY POINT: OUR VIEW OF GOD OUR FATHER MUST COME FROM SCRIPTURE
THE LORD GOD OUR FATHER
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless You are our Father... You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
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GOD OUR FATHER - by Henry Blackaby, from Being Still with God Every Day
When people hear the word father, many different images, memories, and feelings immediately occur. For some, thoughts of a father connote feelings of love, affirmation, guidance, and provision. For others, feelings of rejection, criticism, and abandonment come to the surface.
In Old Testament times God’s chosen people generally understood that He was Father to them. This verse from Isaiah, however, is one of the few direct Old Testament references to God as a Father.
In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the almighty God as “Abba” or “Daddy” (Mark 14:36). The apostle Paul adds that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we believers are privileged to cry, “Abba, Father” as well (Romans 8:15). The term reflects a healthy tension between respect and intimacy, a tension you may or may not have known with your earthly father.
Our view of God our Father must come from Scripture, not from our childhood experience.
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WE REJOICE IN THE LORD’S SALVATION
Psalms 20:5-9
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
GOD OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
GOD OUR BELOVED DADDY FATHER
Romans 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
BY HIS SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS, WE CRY DADDY [ABBA] FATHER
Galatians 4:1-7
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
JOINT HEIRS THROUGH CHRIST. CHILDREN, BROTHER AND SISTER, THROUGH CHRIST JESUS
JESUS SAYS WE MUST ENTER HIS KINGDOM AS LITTLE CHILDREN, HIS CHILDREN.
Luke 18:15-17
15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
GOD OUR FATHER, FATHER TO THOSE WITHOUT AN EARTHLY FATHER
Psalms 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
ABBA, DADDY, A TERM OF ENDEARMENT
Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
YOU ARE LOVED, SO LIVE IN HIS LOVE
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
SHOW FORTH HIS LOVE WHEREEVER YOU GO
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
NOT JUST A CHRISTMAS VERSE… HE IS OUR ETERNAL FATHER
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
AS ADOPTED CHILDREN TO JESUS CHRIST HAS ADOPTED US AS HIS DEAR CHILDREN.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
ADOPTION INTO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE
Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
GIVEN STATUS AS HIS CHILDREN
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
RECEIVING HIS SPIRIT IN US IS EVIDENCE OF BEING HIS CHILD
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
WITH HIS SPIRIT, WE WAIT FOR OUR TRANSFORMATION INTO HIS PRESENCE
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Whether we like it or not, each of us has an earthly father. Compared to our HEAVENLY FATHER, our own father can't compare. If you have bitterness or resentment regarding your earthly father, you need to do something that our HEAVENLY FATHER requires of each of us...to forgive and be forgiven. If your dad wasn't what he should have been, as a new person in CHRIST, have you ever thought about forgiving your father? Don't let bitterness and unforgiveness consume you regarding your earthly father, Look to the LORD GOD as your HEAVENLY FATHER, and forgive your earthly father, as you have been forgiven.
FATHER GOD, we thank YOU for loving us, caring and providing for us in every situation, unconditionally. We thank you for our earthly father, and forgive him of his faults towards us. Restore our love for YOU FATHER, as the one who is above all else, for Doubtless You are our FATHER... YOU, O LORD, are our FATHER; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name, in JESUS Name, Amen.
We are thankful to have the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth as our own personal HEAVENLY FATHER and thank HIM for HIS many blessings.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
