"If God Were Your Father"
Text-Matthew 23:1-10
dannymoss777@yahoo.com
Introduction-
When I was in college I remember being taught
that a child’s first concept of God is his or her
earthly father. If a child’s earthly father was
cruel and uncaring, and showed no interest in his
children, then the concept that those children had
of God was awful. If, however, he was loving, and
kind, compassionate and understanding, then the
child’s first concept of God formed in his or her
mind was good. In Matthew we see that there are
really only two fathers-one is Satan, and the other
is God. Who is your Father? Jesus makes it clear
how we can know who our true Father is. The Scribes
and Pharisees claimed that God was their Father, but
in reality, Jesus said that their Father was Satan,
not God. In Matthew 11:27, Jesus said-"All things
are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man
knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth
any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whom
the Son will reveal him." Let that revelation
linger in your mind for a long time. You can’t
know who God is, or who your true Father is, un-
less you know Jesus, who will reveal Him to you.
As Daddys, earthly fathers, we are to represent God
to our children. We are to reveal to them what kind
of God He is.
I. God is One who loves His children, as a matter
of fact, we are told in the Scriptures that God
loves us with a love equal to the love that He
has for His only-begotten Son-Jesus. Wow!
There could be no greater love than that!
John 17:23-"I in them, and thou in Me, that they
may be made perfect in one; and that the world
may know that thou hadst sent me, and hast
loved them, as thou hast loved me."
In John 15:9 Jesus tells us that He loves us
just as much as He loves the Father.
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved
you: continue ye in my love."
1st John 4:8 tells us that "God is love";
therefore, men, if we represent God to our
children, then we must love them deeply, and
sincerely.
In John 14:23 Jesus tells us-"...If a man love
me, he will keep my words; and my Father will
love him, and we will come unto him, and make
our abode with him." That is a tremendous
verse of Scripture. It tells us that if we
truly love Jesus, God and Jesus will come
live within our heart. Do you love Jesus?
II.Secondly, if we are to represent God, than we
must provide for our families.
God is the great Benefactor. He gives us every
good and perfect gift. Out of the bounty of
His grace and wealth, we survive.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us to
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous-
ness, and all these things shall be added unto
you." Matthew 6:33 If we put God first, He will
provide for us. He, in a sense, cares and pro-
vides for all men. He sends His rain on the
just and the unjust. Men enjoy wealth and the
material blessings that they have only because
God has allowed them to have those things.
1st Timothy 5:8 tells us -"But if any provide not
for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse
than an infidel."
III.Again, if we are to represent God the Father to
our families, then, we must protect them. God
protects those that He loves.
1st Peter 3:13-"And who is he that shall harm
you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
In John 10:28-29 Jesus tells us-"And I give unto
them(my sheep) eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of
my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father’s hand."
It is said that "You are in good hands with
Allstate insurance," but you’re in better hands
when you are in the hands of God. He alone can
provide for our every need, and protect us from
all harm.
IV.Then, we also see that if we are to represent God
to our families, then we must spend quality time
with them.
God is One who never leaves us, or forsakes us.
He is always there for us to call on, and to
care for us.
God longs to fellowship with man. Enoch walked
with God. Abraham was the friend of God. This
is what God is like. He wants to know us inti-
mately, and for us to know Him likewise.
1st John 1:3-"...truly our fellowship is with
the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
1st John 1:7-"But if we walk in the light, as
He is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin."
VI.Again, if we are to represent God to our families,
then, we must be forgiving.
There is forgiveness with God. Thank God that
there is. Without it, our destiny would be
hopeless.
Men, are we big enough to forgive. We want to
be strong, and tough, but there is no greater
strenth than the willinglness to forgive.
Matthew 6:14-15, "For if ye forgive men their
tresspasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their
tresspasses, neither will your Father forgive
your tresspasses."
Ephesians 6:4-"And, ye fathers, provoke not your
children to wrath; but bring them up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord."
VII. And then, we are to represent God to our
families by listening to them.
1st Peter 3:12-"For the eyes of the Lord are
over the righteous, and His ears are open unto
their prayers: but the face of the Lord is
against them that do evil."
Isaiah 41:17-"When the poor and needy seek
water, and there is none, and their tongue
faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them,
I the God of Israel will not forsake them."
Isaiah 65:24-"And it shall come to pass, that
before they call, I will answer; and while
they are yet speaking, I will hear."
God is always willing to listen when we come
to Him humbly and sincerely.
Conclusion-
Now, if God is your Father, then you love
Jesus. John 8:42-"If God were your Father
ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and
came from God; neither came I of Myself, but
He sent Me."
John 16:27-"For the Father Himself loveth you
because ye have loved me, and have believed
that I came out from God."
John 15:23-"He that hateth me, hateth my Father
also."
If you know Jesus, then you know the Father.
John 8:19-"If ye had known Me, ye should have
have known my Father also."
1st John 2:23-"Whoso denieth the Son, the same
hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth
the Son hath the Father slso."
John 14:6-"No man cometh unto the Father, but
by Me."
Finally, Jesus said in John 6:44-"No man can
come to Me, except the Father which hath sent
me draw him." John 6:45-"Every man, therefore,
that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father,
cometh unto me."
Invitation- Is God leading you to come to Jesus
today? If you respond as His Spirit is leading
you, you will find forgiveness and salvation here
today. God will do for you what only He can do.
He will save you. So, come now, as Jesus is
tenderly calling.
