From the desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Hwy 78
Bremen, GA
Correspondence Address:
56 Taylor Cir
Carrollton, GA 30117
Email: tjpowers@gfb.org
Abba Father
Galatians 4:3-7
Intro: We are through the Spirit of Christ made heirs and joint heirs with Jesus. We have been given all the privileges that come with sonship. We are the sons of God, and he is our father. We were strangers, but now we are his children; therefore, we are subject to his blessings. It is like the story of the boy who was taken by his father to the fair. His dad said that he could ride all the rides and play all the games that he wanted. He bought a roll of tickets that the boy could have never used up, and he promised that there was more where that came from, if needed. Another boy came along and put out his hand asking for a ticket, but the Father refused him. “These tickets are for my son,” the Father told the strange boy. But the son came by and said, “It’s okay to give him all the tickets he asks for, Dad. He’s my best friend.” The father gave the boy all the tickets he asked for out of love for his son! So also, we experience the grace of the Father through fellowship with the Son. Through the Spirit of Christ, we are the sons of the Father. Thank God for the Heavenly Father:
I Cor 8:5 6 “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
Eph 4:4 6 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
I Jn 3:1 3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Isa 63:16 “Doubtless thou art our father...” “thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.”
Isa 64:8 “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Rom 8:14 17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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.”
Abba Father as noted in Romans 8 and our text denotes a very personal relationship. It is not a proper name for a father, but it is a personal name for him. It is like a baby saying, “Da-Da.” It denotes a closeness of the Father-Son relationship. Our Father:
I. Is Patient with us: Luke 15, Prodigal Son was far off long enough to spend his entire living, but the Father patiently waited for his return home.
II. Pulls us: John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” The Father sends his Spirit to draw us unto himself that we might know him. The Hymnal says, “Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious bleeding side!”
III. Places us: Ps 68:5 “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” When we were no part of him, he placed us in him and in his blessings. He has given us a place in the family, the fortune, his favor, his fellowship, the forgiven, and in him forever.
IV. Protects us: Ex 4:22-23 “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.” God means business about protecting his children.
V. Paddles us: II Samuel 7:14 “I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.” Hebrews 12:5-11 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
VI. Prepared for us a place: John 14, A place everlasting, eternal, in the heavens. A perfect place, a prepared place, a providential place, a personal place.
Conclusion: Are you a son of the Father? Have you ever been born again? Today is the day to call on him. If you have, you can cast all your cares on him. He can meet all your needs!
