Father Heart of God: 6

Father Heart of God - Session 6 – God Is Love

Session 1: Big Questions/Big Ideas
Session 2: Relationships
Session 3: Beliefs and Strongholds
Session 4: Unworthy, Yet Adopted
Session 5: Faith And Intimacy


JESUS IS THE ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION
. . every question . .

Jesus teaches us how to come to our Father:

"This is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven'" (Matthew 6:9-13).

Jesus revealed Himself to me, and brought me to Our Father!
".. He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9)


ABBA – THE NEW COVENANT NAME

Jesus called His Father “Abba” – Aramaic for “Daddy” - the adult name for the Father He loves and fully trusts - familiar - intimate. We, as Christians, are encouraged to use this name.

Can you call Father Abba?
Was your life too chaotic and painful for you to trust and be in close relationship with this Father we’ve been hearing about ?

Do you really want to come with Jesus to His Father? Is this too scary? Would you rather just stay with Jesus? The One who saved you? Healed you? Brought you into new life?

Scriptures
Is there a Scripture we have looked at these past few weeks (or another?) which has really excited you? Shaken you? Been particularly poignant?

Some of mine:
". . God sent his Son. . that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as children"  (Galatians 4:4,5). Me – redeemed and adopted?

". . the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God"  (Romans 8:21). Me – part of God’s work over ALL creation?

". . Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called children of God". (1 John 3:1 KJV). Me? Amazing! Behold!


THE SON WHO WAS LOST THEN FOUND

Luke 15:11-32  The Prodigal Son:  A man had two sons. The younger demanded his share of the inheritance, went to a far country and squandered everything on fast, immoral living. Soon the money was gone and times got tough; he found work, feeding pigs for a farmer. Imagine, being Jewish and feeding pigs!

The young man realised that he had made a terrible mistake and set out for home where he planned to repent before his father. He knew what he would say: "I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me a hired hand".

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him. Immediately the father ran, flat out, to his son, he threw his arms around him and kissed him. The father put his best robe around his son, and sandals on his feet. He put the family ring on his finger, the ring represents all the honour and wealth of the family. Then he arranged a great feast to celebrate his son’s return.

The older son was hurt and angry; he had continually been with the father, working the farm, and had never asked for special favours. He refused to attend the party. What do we see here?

The Prodigal Son:

• The father never stopped loving him - (Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 4:8) "God is love".

• The son’s sins paled in light of the father’s love - (Romans 5:8) "But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".

• Even before the son’s repentance, the father restored him fully into his family - (Colossians 1:12) "the Father . . has qualified you to share in the inheritance".

• He cloaked the son, thus making him clean - (Galatians 3:27) "you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ".

• He received sandals as befitted a person of position – (Ephesians 6:15) "having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace".

• He received the family ring. This gave him all the family’s authority (Luke 10:19) "Behold, I give you authority, over all the power of the enemy".

• He was welcomed fully into fellowship with the father (2 Corinthians 13:14) "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you".

The Older Son:

• The older son was not in intimate relationship with his father – he did not know how beloved he was (Matthew 3:17) "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased".

• He did not accept that he was son and heir (John 15:15) "no longer do I call you a servant".
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• He did not value or use his authority (as the only heir once his brother had gone) (Ephesians 4:14; Colossians 2:10) "in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority".
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• he did not accept that he was rich because of his family. His father made clear "all I have is yours"; (Philippians 4:19) "My God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus".

Their Father

• And their father? Well – he was a father! He was God’s image and likeness! (Genesis 1:26).

Our Father (and Jesus’ Father)

• Regardless of our background, all Christians have been adopted into God’s family.

• We are positionally children of our heavenly Father.

• So, we are positionally very close to our heavenly Father.

• We can expect to be experientially and practically children of our heavenly Father; blessed, safe, loved, warm, healed, fed.

• Father is always there – loving – protecting - guiding – faithful (Matthew 28:20).

• We can say "Jesus does it all", our Saviour, redeemer, healer, betrothed (Hebrews 2:10).

• He helps us want to change, and then helps us make the change (Romans 11:27).

• He is a teacher and mentor – His Holy Spirit is teacher, counsellor, guide.

• He provides ministry for us (it is there, but often we must search it out and be patient) (3 John 1:2).

•  He has faith enough for both of us: (Romans 10:17) "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God".

From intimate relationship with Jesus – the eternal and perfect Word of God
• Know the Son – know the Father (John 14:9).

SUCH LOVE
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
(Song of Solomon 2:3-6 NIV) (from session 5)

"Abba".

Praise Jesus.

Amen.

SUGGESTED READING – These Are Precious To Me And To Trish

The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane. Strongholds are untrue things we believe. The Lord will show us the truth but it is up to us to renew our own mind and to believe God’s truth (Jesus is the Word of God) (Romans 7:23, 12:2, Colossians 3:2).

The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. Wonderful. He uses clear language to say what I knew but could not express. Read the early chapters about finding faith (Romans 4:8 ASV, Romans 6:11 ASV).

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. A refreshing young Christian writer. Christianity is relational, not propositional!

The Holy Bible. We have eight or ten translations at home. We use, and love, them all. We get a pretty clear picture of the truth from using all the materials we have amassed over the years.

• I recommend NIV or NASB or ESV or WEB. All translations are imperfect, but I believe that these have great scholarship which includes the early texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

• Older translations seem to me to have more errors .

• Newer versions such as TNIV and The Message often lose the poignant meaning of the original Bible texts which were written in Hebrew and Greek, from relational cultures.

Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf: (John 17:17) "Sanctify them in your truth. Your Word is truth".

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.