Show Us The Father

21, August 2005

Dakota Community Church

Show Us the Father

Introduction:

It is possible to know a lot about somebody without actually knowing them!

I have read Don Cherry’s autobiography, I know a lot about him though we have never met.

Kathy has been researching U2 - we are not friends with Bono.

Information is not the same as intimacy. When info is all we have - image can deceive.

Last week we saw that Jesus said if we had seen Him we had seen the Father. So what did he show us? What is the Father like?

John 14: 6-9

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ’Show us the Father’?

Psalm 103: 1-6

Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

- Forgives all your sin.

- Heals all your diseases.

- Redeems us from hell and protects us.

- Rewards us.

- Promotes us.

- Gives us recognition.

- Satisfies our desires with good things.

- Rejuvenates us with youthful energy.

- Defends us and gets us justice when we are oppressed.

The Father is:

1. Loving and patient.

Luke 9: 52-56

They entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

2Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Joel 2: 12-13

"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love

2. A close friend and companion.

John 15: 12-13

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Hebrews 13: 5

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalm 139: 7-10

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

3. Our supernatural protector.

Matthew 8: 23-26

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!"

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Psalm 91: 14-16

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Think about all you go through to protect your baby from himself!

4. The healer of all sickness.