Father heart of God sermon 2.
5 Sundays –
Sunday 1
Father heart of God – Overview.
Sermon Central Pro
A gray-haired old lady, long a member of her community and church, shook hands with the minister after the service one Sunday morning. “That was a wonderful sermon,” she told him, “just wonderful. Everything you said applies to someone I know.”
The reason there is so little dynamic personal growth in the church today is because so few ever made the transition to knowing God as Lord to knowing him as Father.
Ralph Hale.
When a Christian may want to share the gospel with someone who is inquiring about God they may well use the illustration of a bridge.
There is a huge gap, caused by sin, between the individual and God, what Jesus does is bridges the gap between us and God.
When the cross is in place then we are free to receive the gift of eternal life by crossing over from death caused by sin to eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The reason so few make that journey is that they have such a poor conception of what God is like.
There is an old childrens story called the Billy goats gruff. There are three billy goats who run out of grass on their side of the bridge are afraid to cross the bridge because of the big bad troll who lives under the bridge.
But in the end, the sight of the lucious green grass on the other side of the bridge, lures the goats over.
The little one goes first and bargains with the Troll and tells him that he wouldn’t want him as the goat that followed was far more of a meal – the second goat does the same and the third goat is the Billy goat with large horns and butts that old troll off the bridge and they get the green grass.
In a sense that has a Christian parallel for us because Jesus – our big brother has dealt with sin and the devil and allowed us to cross over to God’s side.
But have we explored very carefully the nature of God so that we can clearly understand the green grass on the other side?
We might know that we need forgiveness for sins and need to be in a right relationship with God but if we do not know about the nature and character of what our relationship with God is to be then we will struggle to get it right.
LK 10:22 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Jesus chooses to reveal God to us as our loving heavenly Father.
Last Sunday I mentioned about the unpopularity of the image of a Father due to abuses by many men who are Fathers and also perhaps by some over reactions by some feminists.
I was reminded this week though when I was reading Floyd McClung’s book that it is important to emphasize that the Bible says “in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”
In other words, both maleness and femaleness are part of God’s nature and character, and full revelation of God’s love (is not possible without considering what that means.)
Floyd McClung.
But you see misconceptions about God as our Father may arise because of our historic experience with our earthly Fathers and a natural transference where we transfer our earthly experience on to our heavenly Father.
This morning I would like to look at seven different areas of misconception about God and his love for us. Again I have to say I have relied heavily on Floyd McClung’s book the Father heart of God.
These catagories may be helpful to you as you look back into your personal past and see if your relationship with God has been hindered in any way because of a failure, or absence of tender loving care from one or both of your parents in any of these areas.
If you can’t relate to any of this then let it lead you to a place of great celebration for a loving and tender God.
If you realise the inadequacies of the parenting of your own children remember to avail yourself of God’s forgiveness.
The bible says RO 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Pray for you children – ask for their forgiveness where you have messed things up and get on with life.
The first area is Parental authority.
Think of a family dog. You arrive at someones place and the dog either cowers from you trembling with fear, or leaps on you with an unwanted display of affection, demonstrated with tongue, tail and dirty paws! A browbeaten puppy that cannot be induced to trust you has obviously been mistreated. An exuberant dog attempting to give you a facial massage has come from a loving home.
Imagine a small boy slapped awake by a drunken angry man he calls father. He is beat mercilessly by this dark hulk of a man he calls daddy. What does he feel when he hears the word ‘father’ years later?
Floyd McClung says A wounded generation stumbles through their youthful years, only to visit the same hurts on their own children. For generation after generation it continues. Is their no one to comfort us? Who will father the children of men? Whose arms are big enough for all the lonely children of the world? Who weeps over our pains? Who will comfort our loneliness? Only a brokenhearted Father who is rejected by the little ones he yearns to heal. Our problem is that we, like the browbeaten puppy, shrink away from the One whom we assume will be like the other authorities in our life. But he is not He is perfect love.
It was God who gave this command in the New Testament:
EPH 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Parental faithfulness:-
You are God’s child and He calls you by name, but maybe deep in your heart you doubt his faithfulness.
It isn’t God who has failed you but those around you.Too many times we have failed to become his voice and hand to those who do not know him. Far too few allow themselves to be lead by the broken heart of Jesus to those who need to see his love demonstrated through others.l Jesus is not attracted to pleasant places, but to hurting people. He pursues us with his love from our first breath until the day we die.
One of the most dynamic young Christians I ever knew came from a very dysfunctional home where her model of a Father, as far as I can perceive it was far from desirable.
Yet when you met her she personified Christ. Why because she had learned to put her pain and resentments at the foot of the cross and had moved on to discover the embrace of God and to live in His love.
The Fathers in Jesus days ere not perfect. Joseph Jesus’ earthly Dad, although good,
wasn’t perfect either.
John 10 – 10 I have come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
‘Parental generosity.
When we went to Vanuatu this year we noticed the children had little but were happy. Their parents were generous to them. Yet in New Zealand we have so much and are constantly having to tell our children to be careful .
In the islands the children seldom hear the words ‘Don’t touch that! Leave it alone! Be careful!”
Children are constantly reminded of the importance of things – their value, and how to care for them. They seldom hear the words I love you.
Even our work patterns which have as their target things suggest to the child that – things are more important than they are.
One of God’s great delights is attention to detail in relation to your life.
God is not stingy, possesive or materialistic.
People are far more valuable than things. He shows his generosity in more important ways than just through material things. He gives us that which is intangible but of far greeater valud: forgiveness, mercy and love.
Parental affection,
Not every one knows what it is to receive affection from a parent. Many have never been told they are valued or precious to a parent.
Boys are sometimes told not to cry when they are hurt.
You have forgotten most of your pains but God hasn’t. He has perfect recall of every moment of your life.
Your tears are still mingled with his at this moment.
God was there at your worst moments.
Hosea chapter 11 verse 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.
God delighted with your childhood laughter.
Moses once invoked a blessing oneach of the tribes of Israel. To one he said they would make their dwelling place between the shoulders of God (Deut 33:12)
Whatever you become in the eyes of the world you will never cease to be more of less a child in the arms of God.
Parental presence.
There is one ability and attribute that not even the best parent can hope to imitate. – that is God’s ability to be with you all the time.
Not only is God with you all the time he gives you His whole attention.
1 Peter 5 verse 7 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Parental acceptance:
Last week I talked to a man who has had a very succesful career in the business world.
He has not only been succesful but he has accumulated some very valuable possesions.
He is a christian.
He said to me – when the time comes when I am of no use to anyone – then I want to die.
I asked him if he thought that God might love him for who he was not for what he could contribute – but he couldn’t see that.
I later found out that he had come from a military family that was extremely regimented.
When you got an order you jumped to it.
We live in a performance orientated society. Acceptance is always conditional.
If you make the sports team – do well at school are handsome or beautiful if you win and get certificates or earn vast piles of money then it seems you are loved.
But God is a God of unconditional love.
His love is not based on performance.
He loves us because he is love.
Now this is a very important principle to understand.
God’s promises are conditional; we must obey them to see his blessing, but his love is unconditional.
This means that because he is love, by his very nature, then we don’t need to do anything to get him to love us.
There is a little childrens song that covers this.
Jesus loves me when I’m good,
When I do the things I should.
Jesus loves me when I’m bad,
Even though it makes him sad.
Parental communication.
Open, warm communication is very difficult for parents, especially men. But God always communicates his love to us.
In fact he love us so much that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Floyd McClung shares how a girl told him she couldn’t pray. It seemed that heaven was a brick wall. She could not remnember ever hearing God speak to her in her own heart. As we prayed together, she realised that she saw God as if he were her own father – a good man. But a man who was very quiet and shy. He rarely spoke to his children and never told them that he loved them. When she admitted that her father had been week, even failed her, she was able to forgive him and accept him as he was. This opened up a whole new dimension in her relationship with God. Faith was released in her heart to pray, knowing that God heard her. She in turn heard God speaking in her heart.
Perhaps the greatest way God has communicated to us is through the cross of Jesus Christ.
Yousee while the cross is for all who believe it is also for you personally –
I found a great story that helps illustrate that point.
Because of the great sacrifice Jesus made for each of us on the cross, Christians should have an additional, very personal perspective on thanks. Max Lucado shares this moving story of sacrifice to remind us what Jesus has done in giving His life for us:
It’s difficult to find beauty in death. It’s even more difficult to find beauty in a death camp. Especially Auschwitz. Four million Jews died there in World War II. A half-ton of human hair is still preserved. The showers that sprayed poison gas still stand.
But for all the ugly memories of Auschwitz there is one of beauty. It’s the memory Gajowniczek has of Maximilian Kolbe. In February 1941 Kolbe was incarcerated at Auschwitz. He was a Franciscan priest. In the harshness of the slaughterhouse he maintained the gentleness of Christ. He shared his food. He gave up his bunk. He prayed for his captors. He was soon given the nickname “Saint of Auschwitz”.
In July of that same year there was an escape from the prison. It was the custom at Auschwitz to kill ten prisoners for every one who escaped. All the prisoners would be gathered in the courtyard, and the commandant would randomly select ten names from the roll book. These victims would be immediately taken to a cell where they would receive no food or water until they died.
The commandant begins calling the names. At each selection another prisoner steps forward to fill the sinister quota. The tenth name he calls is Gajowniczek. As the SS officers check the numbers of the condemned, one of the condemned begins to sob. “My wife and my children,” he weeps. The officers turn as they hear movement among the prisoners. The guards raise their rifles. The dogs tense, anticipating a command to attack. A prisoner has left his row and is pushing his way to the front.
It’s Kolbe. No fear on his face. No hesitancy in his step. The capo shouts at him to stop or be shot. “ I want to talk to the commander,” he says calmly. For some reason the officer doesn’t club or kill him. Kolbe stops a few paces from the commandant, removes his hat, and looks the German officer in the eye. “Herr Commandant, I wish to make a request, please.”
That no one shot him is a miracle.
“I want to die in the place of this prisoner.” He points at the sobbing Gajowniczek. The audacious request is presented without stammer. “I have no wife and children. Besides, I am old and not good for anything. He’s in better condition.” Kolbe knew well the Nazi mentality.
“Who are you?” the officer asks.
“A Catholic priest.”
The block is stunned. The commandant, uncharacteristically speechless. After a moment, he barks, “Request granted.”
Prisoners were never allowed to speak. Gajowniczek says, “I could only thank him with my eyes. I was stunned and could hardly grasp what was going on. The immensity of it: I, the condemned, am to live and someone else willingly and voluntarily offers his life for me-a stranger. Is this some dream?”
The Saint of Auschwitz outlived the other nine. In fact, he didn’t die of thirst or of starvation. He died only after the camp doctor injected phenol into his heart. It was August 14, 1941.
Gajowniczek survived the Holocaust. He made his way back to his hometown. Every year, however, he goes back to Auschwitz. Every August 14 he goes back to say thank you to the man who died in his place.
In his backyard there is a plaque. A plaque he carved with his own hands. A tribute to Maximilian Kolbe – the man who died so he could live.
Source: Max Lucado, Six Hours One Friday (Word Books)
Perhaps you can see you have been hindered in your relationshp with God, due to some kind of parental failure, then take these things to the Lord. You must have forgiveness in your heart towards anyone who has hurt you. If you don’t bitterness will consume you and you will find no peace with God. Realize to that you are not alone.
We haven’t met a person yet, Or a parent who hasn’t made some mistake.
God is the perfect parent.
He always disciplines in love.
He is faithful, generous,kind and just.
He loves you and longs to spend time with you.
Will you receive God’s affection?
Will you open up and enter into an intimate relationship with your true Father He is patiently waiting for you to come to him.
Let us pray.
The first area is:
Parental authority.
Parental generosity.
Parental faithfulness:-
Parental affection,
Parental presence.
Parental acceptance:
Parental generosity.
