The Heart Of Our Heavenly Father

In what ways do you view God?

In 2006, a sociologist at Baylor University released a study done by the Gallup organization that

identified four views people had of God.

• 31.4 percent believe in an "Authoritarian God," a God who is angry at humanity’s sins.

• 23 percent believe in a "Benevolent God" who is forgiving and accepting of anyone who

repents.

• 16 percent believe in a "Critical God" who has a judgment-eye on the world, but he’s not

gong to intervene, either to punish or comfort.

• 24.4 percent believe in a "Distant God" who is more of a "cosmic force that launched

the world then left it spinning on its own."

We need to understand that God’s love is unconditional. He is a good good father to all of us.

Jesus’ prayer – Our heavenly father

Do you feel comfort — because your father was affectionate?

Do you feel respect — because your father was disciplined?

Do you feel distance — because he was emotionally unavailable?

Or do you feel pain — because he was absent or harsh?

You see, the word father carries emotion. And that is why many struggle to relate to God

I once heard someone say something that stayed with me:

“The way you see God as Father… is often shaped by the way you experienced your earthly father.”

If your father was affectionate, God feels approachable.

If your father was strict, God feels intimidating.

If your father was distant, God feels unreachable.

A man who had grown up with an abusive father once shared,

“For many years, I found it difficult to call God ‘Father’ in my prayers. The word felt threatening rather than comforting. But as I began to experience God’s gentleness, His provision, and His patience, the very word that once wounded me slowly became the word that brought healing.”

So to understand the love of the Heavenly Father, we must lift our eyes above human limitation… and see the perfection of His heart.

Luke 15:1 - Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man [a]receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

Jesus tells this story in response to religious leaders who could not understand why He welcomed sinners. Through this parable, He pulls back the veil and reveals what God is truly like — not distant, not harsh, not reluctant to forgive — but compassionate, patient, and extravagantly loving..

the deeper focus is actually the heart of the Father — His love, grace, patience, and restoration.

The Father’s Love Gives Freedom (Love that Releases)

Luke 15:11 - Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

The story begins with a shocking request. The younger son approaches his father and asks for his share of the inheritance. In that culture, this was more than financial audacity — it was relational rejection. It was equivalent to saying, “I wish you were dead. I want what is yours, but I do not want you.

Yet the father does not argue. He does not restrain. He does not threaten. Instead, he divides his property and gives the son what he asked for.

Here we see the first dimension of the Father’s love —

1. Love that gives freedom/choice

This is worldly love – that is conditional

We need to earn man’s love. See the love of men. How is it?

Can someone love you at all times. No, only if you behave pleasing to them, they will love you.

- If you love me, you’ll do this.

- You can’t go there / meet them

- If you’ll do this, I will love you

So, many of times, we try to earn man’s love – husband, wife, mother, father.

We think if I do this, if I behave like this, God will love me more. No, God already loves you so much. It is free. Don’t try to earn God’s love.

You may be a sinner – God loves us so much

You many be struggling with addiction – God loves you so much

You may not be perfect – God loves you so much

God loves you the way you are. He cant love you greater than what he loves you now. Many a times, we try to earn God’s love.

- Father, our God’s unconditional love gives us choice – some of our choices may hurt him. It may hurt us too. Like the choice of the son to take the share of the property and leave definitely grieved the heart of the father. But still, he let him go. He gave Him that free will