Father Heart of God: 6

Father Heart of God - Session 6 – God Is Love
 
I taught "God’s Father Heart " over six sessions, then posted my (abbreviated and cryptic) teaching notes to Psalms Of John. Now I am revising these posts so they will be easier to read. Jesus came to show us His Father, to heal is and set us free. Bless us all – February 2026. 

 

Part 1: Big Questions/Big Ideas
Part 2: Relationships

Part 3: Beliefs and Strongholds
Part 4: Unworthy, Yet Adopted
Part 5: Faith And Intimacy
Part 6: God Is Love
 
Jesus wants us to come to our Father in Heaven; He teaches us how to pray, (but differently from previous generations under the Jewish Law and the Prophets). He begins:
"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).

Long after Jesus revealed Himself to me, He made a way to bring me to Our Father:

".. He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

"Abba" – Father's New Covenant Name

Jesus called His Father "Abba" – Aramaic for "Daddy " – this is the adult name for the Father He loves and fully trusts - familiar and intimate. Jesus wants us to be free and to be close too: 

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (Romans 8:15).

Can You Call God "Abba"?

Was your life too chaotic and painful for you to trust and be in close relationship with this Father we’ve been learning about? Like me, did you have a troubled relationship with your father? Or with another man or men? Is the idea of a father (or Father) too scary? Would you rather, as I did, just stay with Jesus? The One who saved you? Healed you? Brought you into new life? 
 
May I ask you to pray that Jesus will show you a way for Him to bring you to Father?

Bible Verses

While reading this Father Heart series, have you seen a Bible verse which has really excited you? Shaken you? Been particularly insightful?

Here are some which have impacted me:

"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). Yes, I know beyond doubt that Jesus came for me.

"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). Yes, I know that Jesus’ work is for all the Creation, and me included, and is for Jesus' glory.

"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? Yes! Amazing! Behold!

The Son Who Was Lost Then Found

 
Luke 15:11-32 - The Prodigal Son:  A man had two sons. The younger son 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 having to feed pigs or starve.

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" (Luke 15:18-19).

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him. Immediately the father ran 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 - "God is love" (Jeremiah 31:3; 1Jn 4:8).

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Older Son:

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

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

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, this is spiritual.

• So, we are positionally in intimate relationship with our heavenly Father.

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

• 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 (Ephesians 4:22-24).

• He is a teacher and mentor – His Holy Spirit is teacher, counsellor, guide (John 14:16,26).

• He provides ministry work 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: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17).

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. An early favourite, this book became a friend. 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. A big book but 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 look at Christianity and Christian life beyond what most of us know as "church life" by a young Christian writer. Christianity is relational, not propositional!

The Holy Bible. We have eight or ten translations. We use, and love, them all. We get a pretty clear picture of the Jesus' 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.

• Permalink to web page
https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2011/09/father-heart-of-god-6.html
"Father Heart Of God: 1 and 2" are now a podcast on Spotify under PsalmsOfJohn
• Public link to podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GhGdSKu4XKfmc652hgo9J
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1coFc3RgOhdtb6WtCczE9m

Praise Jesus.

Father Heart of God: 5

I taught "The Father Heart of God" over six sessions, then posted my (abbreviated and cryptic) teaching notes to Psalms Of John. Now I am revising these posts so they will be more clear to read. Jesus came to show us His Father, to heal us and set us free. Bless us all – February 2026.

 

Part 1: Big Questions/Big Ideas

Part 2: Relationships

Part 3: Beliefs and Strongholds

Part 4: Unworthy, Yet Adopted

Part 5: Faith And Intimacy - The Faith of God

Part 6: God Is Love

I am not big enough to force God off course. He will work out His plan which has a great goal as foreseen by the apostle John: "I saw a new heaven and a new earth .. the very glory of God illuminated it .. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes" .. "He showed me a river of water of life" .. "Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me" and "the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'" (Revelation 21 and 22). 

But I can obey "follow me" (Mark 2:14), and

co-operate "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17), and

rest "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me " (Psalm 23:6, 62:1), and

believe "Jesus answered them, 'Have the faith of God'" (Mark 11:22-24) (Greek: exete pisto Theou) 

Here Mark is talking about the God kind of faith. In the beginning when God spoke, He knew that the Creation would emerge. This is the same God and Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. He is in me, and in you (John 14:17,20; Hebrews 3:6). God, our Father, gives His faith to us so we can draw close to Him, and learn personally and experientially who He is, and how we can have a share in His work on Earth (Ephesians 2:10). Osmosis.

This kind of faith requires nothing from us except our hearts desire to participate, to "enter in". It is all God, from our Father through Jesus by the Holy Spirit. We can not pump up our faith, we simply learn to know who it is that we believe.

Abraham knew this kind of faith. He spent many years walking and waiting and taking risks: "As it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations' .. being fully assured that what He had promised, God was also able to perform" (Romans 4:17-21).

And so can we:
"We .. have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand .. we rejoice in hope of the glory of God .. we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope" (Romans 5:1-4).

Names Had Real Substance In Biblical Times:

Abram:  High father

Abraham:  Father of many nations

John:  The Lord is gracious

Mary:  Beloved

Jesus:  Saviour, deliverer, the Lord is salvation (Yeshua, Joshua)
Christ:  Anointed (Messiah)

Some Of God's Names For Himself:

El-Roi: "God who sees me" (Genesis 16:13)

Jehovah-Jireh:  "The Lord our provider" (Genesis 22:14)

Jehovah-Nissi:  "Our banner, a banner of love and protection" (Exodus 17:15)

Jehovah-Shalom:  "The Lord your perfect peace" (Judges 6:24)

Jehovah-Tsid-Kenu:  "The Lord is our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16)

Jehovah-Shammah:  "The One Who is with us everywhere", (Ezekiel 48:35, Isaiah 60:19)

Jehovah-Sabaoth:  "The Lord of Hosts, our Protector" (Psalm 46:7)

Jehovah-Raah:  "Our Shepherd, feeder, companion, friend, pastor, herdsman. He who tenderly leads us, loves us and will keep us safe" (Psalm 23)

Jehovah-Rapha:  "I am the Lord Your Healer" (Exodus 15:26)

(All the Divine Names And Titles In The Bible, Herbert Lockyer, Zondervan, 1988).

Jehovah is "The One who is our Father". Everything. Can we come to terms with this?

The Persistent Neighbour (Luke 11:2-8)

After Jesus teaches his twelve disciples the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2-4), He goes on to tell about the "one of you", the friend, who goes to his neighbour late at night, to ask for bread for a surprise visitor. The neighbour says: "Don't bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give it to you". 

Eventually, because the "one of you" is very persistent, the neighbour gets up and gives the bread (Luke 11:5-8) .

Many Christians identify with these verses; they are familiar with, again and again, persistently praying to God, seeking answers and solutions ..

This story is from Bible times. The people Jesus was talking to knew what He was saying. They knew the Old Covenant promises to Abraham and how, decades later, after great struggle and much strife, Isaac was borne. They knew about the glory of David's reign. They knew about the prophets, watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, reminding God of His promises, day and night (Isaiah 62:6). They knew about the 400 years of silence; waiting for answers to God's promise of a Messiah, with no sign or word.

Jesus was teaching in an Old Covenant context, but He was talking about the New Covenant.

He was talking about us. Christians. We are the children of the Father.

We are the ones in bed with our family, safe, fed, bathed, warm; "my children". 

We are NOT the "one of you", the neighbour who is outside. 

No. We are "inside", with the Father and mother. All our needs have been met without question. 

We can look forward in complete confidence to the formation and the unfolding of our lives. 

We can say "Abba", Daddy. "Abba" was an intimate name of an adult for the father he or she loves and trusts.

"And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:6-7).  An heir of God! With Christ and through Christ!

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

This simple yet profound Bible verse is now a song:

Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us
That we should be called a child of God
That we should be called a child of God
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.

(Patricia Van Tine (I believe))

Intimacy - My Testimony - So Little Fruit

Why am I writing this? God's faithfulness towards me has won my heart.

I seemed not to be growing as a Christian. I was so keen, so committed. But for years and years there was so little fruit. Nobody had any clue how to improve or fix this. One said "Just believe, where is your faith?" Another: "God loves you John! Jesus died to forgive your sins". My response was to clam up. Couldn't they see that what they were saying had nothing to do with me. They were talking from there. They were there, wherever "there" was, and I most certainly was not! 

It was very clear to me that God had favourites. These were the ones who got stuff. They got a word or a touch from the Lord Jesus, anointing during worship, understanding, favour, guidance. They got jobs and a level of economic freedom. They got friends. They got God's tangible love. It was manifest for them; they were aware of being loved. God's love was not just a concept. 

I knew that I was not a favourite. I just got the biblical minimum: I was saved and had some church fellowship. But barely enough provision. For years I had no job. We didn't starve, but we definitely did do it tough through our children's school years. We have scars.

Good News

Then I came into intimate relationship with Jesus. He brought me to our Father. "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him" (John 14:7).

A teacher came to our city. Priscilla. She spoke of her intimate times with Jesus. She had been where I was; like me she knew that there was more and it seemed completely out of reach. 

She decided to make time and cry out to Jesus: "Jesus I'm here, I need you. Come please Jesus. Please show yourself to me". Her testimony is that He came to her! 

 

"They came to Philip . . and asked him, saying, 'Sir, we want to see Jesus'" (John 12:21). 

"You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Yes! that was what I longed for. So I decided I would do just what Priscilla had done. I would wait for a gap, a quiet time in my day, then settle down somewhere and say: "Jesus, Lord, I'm here. Will you come so we can be together? Please Jesus?" 

After a while He did start to come! For me! My Jesus! Just as Priscilla told it. Now He and I often spend time together in our own special and intimate way. Jesus and I have a long way to go with this, sometimes the cares and busyness "among the thorns" get in my way (Matthew 13:22). But He is my beloved, I have so very many glorious, touches, hugs, encouragements, Jesus’ very presence.

Jesus gives me help, comfort, direction, answers, dreams, visions, prophesies and work. I believe I'll have these memories forever. Best of all, He brought me into relationships. 

Where I was once very far off I am now inside, safe, fed, warm, in bed with my spiritual family and my Abba Father while others bang on outside.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).

"For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself" (Acts 2:39). 

Conclusion

Now, decades after being saved, I see Jesus' plans for me, for Trish, our marriage, our family, his Church and His Kingdom, all working out. There was never no progress. But it was always His progress. It is His plan, He equips and makes ready in His own time. Patience and perseverance are fruits of Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We do not grow and become patient by living only in gratification. God is love (1 John 4:16), Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9).

(Song of Solomon 2:3-6 NIV) - This is the saved person speaking, the beloved. Jesus is our 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".

I am the beloved of my Father and His Son. And so are you, praise Jesus, every Christian person.

Amen.

• Permalink to web page

https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2011/09/father-heart-of-god-5.html

"Father Heart Of God: 1 of 2" is now a podcast on Spotify under PsalmsOfJohn

• Public link to podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GhGdSKu4XKfmc652hgo9J

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1coFc3RgOhdtb6WtCczE9m

Praise Jesus. Amen.

Father Heart of God: 4

I taught "God’s Father Heart " over six sessions, then posted my (abbreviated and cryptic) teaching notes to Psalms Of John. Now I am revising these posts so they will be more clear to read. Jesus came to show us His Father, to heal us and set us free. Bless us all – February 2026.

Part 1: Big Questions/Big Ideas

Part 2: Relationships

Part 3: Beliefs and Strongholds - Consequential Beliefs

Part 4: Unworthy, Yet Adopted - (I’m So Rotten)

Part 5: Faith And Intimacy

Part 6: God Is Love

Jesus' Family and Ancestry

How is Jesus introduced in the Bible? The Old Testament closes with the prophets who are trying, unsuccessfully, to get Israel to have a change of heart towards the God who had brought them so far. Israel knew themselves as God’s chosen people yet they were wretched and scattered far from their own lands. They were waiting on the promise that the Messiah would come: "But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and you shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall" (Malachi 4:2). 

There followed the Inter-Testament period of 400 years of silence; waiting for Messiah. Silence from God for 400 years! Then the New Testament begins with the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew (called "an Evangelist") was an Israelite, a Jew, and wrote for his own people.

When meeting someone, Jewish people want to know: "who is your father?" 

How does this Gospel, (and the whole New Testament), begin? 

"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren" (Matthew 1:1-2

 . 

It begins with "begats", (like the Book of Numbers).

Jesus’ Ancestors:

Abraham repeatedly lied to protect himself. He betrayed his wife three times, and made her servant pregnant to "help" God multiply his seed like the "sands of the seashore".

Isaac's older half-brother Ishmael was sent into the desert to die.

Jacob stole his brother's birthright. He lied and betrayed to "succeed".

Judah slept with his daughter-in-law thinking her a prostitute. He learned who she was, and that she was pregnant with twins, and tried to kill her.

Rahab was a spy and a prostitute; treacherous, with a dollar each way on the outcome of the war. (Rahab became Boaz' grandmother).

Boaz was disloyal to his people, selfish. He married Ruth, an immigrant girl from the hated Moabite country. (Later David was under dire threat and he was given sanctuary in Moab).

David was a man "after God’s own heart". Even so he was adulterous with Bathsheba who became pregnant with Solomon, then he murdered Bathsheba’s husband Uriah to cover the adultery, and married her.

Solomon was wise, rich and successful? The son of the adultery of David and Bathsheba. He married Pharaoh’s daughter and other foreign women, women from enemy countries: Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites who "turned away his heart". Insecure? Selfish? Promiscuous?

Manasseh was a prodigal son, but also an occultist and a murderer.

Joseph was a lowly carpenter. He found that Mary was pregnant but not by him. He planned to divorce her, but heard directly from God so took her to Nazareth where Jesus was born in poverty in a manger, an animal stall. (John 1:46) "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"

But you, today, how would you feel if a family with this kind of history moved in next door?

Was your own family so bad that it’s impossible for God to see you as lovely? No.

Jesus says: "Honour your father and mother" (Exodus 20:12). A command with a promise! Do I honour my parents? Do you?

O To Have A Perfect Dad

If we were offered a second life on earth, and were to be given the father of our greatest desires, what qualities would we request? 

A kind and generous father perhaps, one who loves our mother, a story teller, hard working, a good provider, prayerful, honest, strong, sporty, a protector, well regarded, not religious but a true follower of Jesus, a solid family man - what would you ask for?

Jesus found only wonderful qualities in His Father – now He’s our Father!

Our own earthly life may have been difficult – painful – with much darkness. But our heavenly Father is still with us, illuminated by Jesus, the light of the world. 

Father God is not only powerful and purposeful. He is relational, and he is with us: "Behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). 

His desire is to be Abba Daddy to each one of us. 

Jesus' story shows Him to be very close to His Father, and Father God was always close to Jesus. The N.T. books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts, and the Epistles are exciting true adventure stories. Drama. The Kingdom of God breaking in on the world.

Jesus died to bring us to Father. Now His Dad is our Dad. Eternally. Forever.

Problems On Earth

Even in times of war we see people who seem to rise above their circumstances: in the Nazi Concentration Camps, Christians in Arché province in Indonesia, the persecuted Christians of Somalia, India and so many places, Christians in jail in China. These people cleave to Father God and to our Saviour, Jesus. 

They are our brothers and sisters. We are all in the same family (1 Peter 2:17). God is always with us all; but there is no promise of a bed of roses. We always need our Father and our Saviour Lord.

Do you have problems?

• Satan loves to give us problems – he is the great deceiver – he lies, destroys and kills (John 10:10a).

• God will help us see a stronghold or problem, then will bring truth and a solution. Thus He is able to bring good out of what was intended for bad: "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

• Jesus brings light from darkness. Jesus is light (John 1:4-5).

Righteousness And Forgiveness For Christians

We are fully righteous in Christ. God will always forgive. Whatever our sin, we are invited to repent. Father God will always respond with forgiveness. Always (Ephesians 1:7). So lovely! 

Old Covenant – offered only temporary and partial forgiveness:

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). 

New Covenant– immediate, complete and eternal forgiveness:

"For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4).

"For Him who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf; so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2Corinthians 5:21).

We are righteous in Christ. God brings solutions. Father God will always be on our side.

Jesus' Delight In His Fear Of The Lord

Jesus loves his Father. We see this throughout the Scriptures and in everything he did. 

Isaiah wrote about Jesus: "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2-3).

Jesus considered that being God's Son was something more precious and majestic than anything else imaginable. Glorious. He lived for His Sonship; He died for it. And He rose to take His place in all of Creation and all of history to fulfill it. His "fear of the Lord" revered and honoured God’s moral authority, His perfect love and perfect judgement.

"Moses said to the people, 'Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin'" (Exodus 20:20).

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10).

Jesus' holy fear of the Lord motivated Him to rescue humanity as royal sons and daughters, set over the entire created order:

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ . . The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to corruption and decay, and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" (Romans 8:17,21).

Adopted

I used to see life as chaotic ... as though God had taken His hands off the world's controls for the Twentieth Century.

Jack Kerouac (1922-1969) saw life as: "then comes the day of the Laodiceans, when you know you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and with the visage of a gruesome, grieving ghost you go shuddering through nightmare life". 

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

If we turn and seek our eternal Father He will surely come: "I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me" (Proverbs 8:17).

"... even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love  he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will" (Ephesians 1:4-5). 

"You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Father God fulfils His greatest wish for us; He makes us His child, alongside His beloved Jesus. Jesus' sonship was His greatest treasure during His time on Earth. Jesus was ever aware that He is Father God's Son, beloved, precious, eternal. Even when He was taking on all the sin of the whole world, Jesus clung to his sonship. 

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don't answer; in the night season, and am not silent" (Psalm 22:1-2). 

Yet He still clung to His Father; He had "the faith of God" (Mark 11:22): "But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel" (Psalm 22:3). 

He vowed to continue to give glory to his Father: "I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise you" (Psalm 22:22).

Yes, Father God did choose me (Ephesians 1:11); I am an adopted child of God!

Cleave To Father God, through Jesus, By Holy Spirit

Encouragement for our lives, each one of us:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed" (Romans 8:14-19).

Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus.

Amen.

• Permalink to web page

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"Father Heart Of God: 1 of 2" is now a podcast on Spotify under PsalmsOfJohn

• Public link to podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GhGdSKu4XKfmc652hgo9J

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1coFc3RgOhdtb6WtCczE9m

Praise Jesus.

Father Heart of God: 3

I taught "God's Father Heart" over six sessions, then posted my (abbreviated) teaching notes to Psalms Of John. Now I am revising these posts so they will be more meaningful to read. Jesus came to show us His Father, to heal us and set us free. Bless us all – February 2026. 

Part 1: Big Questions/Big Ideas
Part 2: Relationships
Part 3: Beliefs and Strongholds - Consequential Beliefs
Part 4: Unworthy, Yet Adopted
Part 5: Faith And Intimacy
Part 6: God Is Love
 
Belief, Faith and Worldview
 
What we believe shapes our life, our responses to others, our motivations, and our peace, (or our fear, depression or anxiety). It constitutes our worldview and is a foundation of our faith. People of faith are "believers".
 
Our beliefs come from our family, our parenting and especially from the "big stories" we hear during our younger years; then from our schooling, our work, our life. We may accept things as true which are true, and other things which are not true.
 
All this affects the very foundations of our life. It also shapes how we see our Father God.
 
Natural Flow Of Thinking

Life shapes us in our body and health, and also in our soul (that part of our person where our emotions and will are centred). This helps to shape our thinking and responses.

We may have trouble with a hand or a knee after an injury. In the same way we can have severe long lasting pain in our emotions after traumas in childhood or adolescence, or after betrayal or divorce or being fired from our job.

Surprisingly, love and forgiveness do not fully repair this damage to our soul. Human love alone is not enough for this. Neither is simply understanding the problem. This is why secular counseling, psychology and psychiatry seem less than 100% effective. 

We have all experienced pain from our families, from classmates and teachers, from bullies at school (or anywhere), from teenage romances, and from foolish things we have done or terrible decisions we have made.

(To some this list will seem very pale compared with what they have known).

Memories

Our fridge has lots of brilliant photos of happy family times. Trish and I dearly love our children, and their spouses, and our grandchildren, always, the whole big mob of us. They bring great joy to us. 

But not every childhood memory is good. My mum encouraged, but my dad would say "that doesn't look like an octopus to me", and point out the faults in the picture I was drawing, (isn't it sad that I still remember this moment all these years later?)

How we see our self and Father God comes from our family, upbringing and culture, and is fundamental in our life. When I was "saved", I knew that it was Jesus who saved me. For many years, my difficulties with my relationship with my own father affected how I was able to see or approach Jesus’ Father, my Father in Heaven, even though I knew that He was God, and Jesus calls Him "Abba Father " (Mark 14:36).

Universal Childhood Beliefs
 
Children see their parents as infallible, mighty, successful. This is good, it builds trust and hope early in life.
 
Children see every family problem as being rooted in them self; this sounds "wrong" but has been verified as true. The child thinks that everything was wonderful with their parents until they came along.

Consequential Beliefs - Parenting Influences Our View Of God
 
A consequence can be described as the reasonable outcome from an action: "if you keep doing that, there will be no ice cream today!" How often have we heard, (or spoken), words like this?
 
A characteristic of our family environment may have consequences for us.
 
• A parenting trait of "being Distant, not taking notice and always being too busy" may produce a consequential belief in the child of "I'm insignificant". This may lead to the belief that "God is busy elsewhere with others, and I should not expect to receive attention or love".
 
• A parenting trait of "abuse, (verbal, physical, sexual, neglectful)", may produce a consequential belief in the child of "I'm dirty, it's my fault, powerful people may abuse me". This may grow into the belief that "God doesn't care what happens to me".
 
• A parenting trait of "spoiling - always giving in" may produce a consequential belief in the child that "I can name and claim, blab and grab". The growing child may then believe that "God is transactional and formulaic; my works and demands bring rewards".
 
More parenting traits to consider: disappointed, uncommunicative, harsh, non-affirming, non-tactile (not touching or cuddling, no skin contact), argumentative, unloving, unpredictable, critical, controlling, overprotective.
 
I remember my own earthly father as mean and selfish (see my testimony in FHoG Part 1). Consequently, I grew up believing that I would have to make my own way in everything and could not rely on others. For years I believed that Father God always had a closed hand towards me; and I saw that everything I touched turned to ashes, my worldly successes were very limited. At the same time I saw that others were treated well, materially and in their self-esteem. This was tough to live with and had profoundly negative effects on me and my behaviours, and especially on Trish and our family.

Strongholds
 
Wrong beliefs build strongholds. We put our trust in these strongholds. This is deception, we believe what is not true and it affects everything we think and do. This is from the evil one, and from the world. Isaiah had this to say:
 
"No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil" (Isaiah 59:4)
 
We are free to take on wrong beliefs (being made free in the image of God). But we are equally free to take on truth! 

Only we ourselves can change what we believe. We can find truth, then appropriate it. God our Father gives us Jesus, God's Word. Jesus is "truth", God's plumb-line (John 1:14; Amos 7:8).

Jesus Equips

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Before He drew us to Himself, Father God knew what we were like, where we had come from, what sins He will be asked to forgive. He was fully prepared; this was all part of His plan. He had already given His Son Jesus to pay the price for every wrong thing we ever did, or will do: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
 
We are justified when we are saved. Fully. Completely. All our sins are washed away and we are set free from sin and death. Every Christian, man, woman, boy or girl. Jesus has brought us into sonship, the same precious Sonship that He knows, and has always known. Jesus' daddy is our daddy! "Abba"is a grown-up Hebrew name of choice for a truly good father, loving, trustworthy, safe.

Restoration - Jesus Restores Us

Jesus continually grows us and brings us into God’s "original" design, the "original" relationship (Genesis 1:26-30).
 
Dictionary: redeem - to regain possession by paying a price.

"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). 

As Christians, we become a new creation in Jesus Christ, we are adopted by His Father. Our spiritual DNA is replaced. God truly is our Father. We become sons and daughters. Biblically we are fully in God's inheritance.

"If anyone is in Christ, he [or she] is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"Now as his children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts to cry out, 'Abba! Father!'" (Galatians 4:6)

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:16).

"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath"? (Matthew 12:10). Yes, it is! Always. We too can be healed. Our relationships can also be healed, we look to Jesus in whom "all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).

Amen.

Jesus has already brought us to Father God and to freedom: "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures" (James 1:18).

"Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1), we are free to be free.

Jesus himself made us for love, from love. He longs to bring us to his Father, fully as children of God (Romans 8:16), sons and daughters in fullness forever, the same as Jesus knows it.

Father God sent Jesus to "bring many 'sons' [and daughters] to glory" (Hebrews 2:10).

"our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:13,14).

Cleave to Jesus – a theme in our Bible
 
(Deuteronomy 30:20, Moses words) "Cling to the Lord your God, for He is your life"
 
"The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
 
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me" (Psalm 63:8).
 
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
 
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).
 
"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).

(While I’ve been typing this, I have been listening to a great song: "Healing in His Wings" from the duo (and the CD) "Singing in the Spirit". So encouraging).
 
Praise Jesus our "Rock", our "Defender". He is here, in our midst.

Praise Jesus.

• Permalink to web page
https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2011/08/father-heart-of-god-3.html

"Father Heart Of God: 1 of 2" is now a podcast on Spotify under PsalmsOfJohn
• Public link to podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GhGdSKu4XKfmc652hgo9J
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1coFc3RgOhdtb6WtCczE9m

Amen.

Some Additional Notes 

Our beliefs may be influenced by our day-by-day experience of life, but we can know, in our spirit and in our heart, that our Saviour is here to help. 

Dictionary Definition

hubris - overbearing pride or presumption, arrogance.

shame - A painful emotion from guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace.

fall - to lose an upright or erect position suddenly - to hang down - to be cast down - to experience defeat or ruin - to give in to temptation and sin - to lose one's chastity. 

Theological Definition - The Fall

·       To lose the primordial innocence and happiness of humanity as a result of sin.

·       For the first pair, Adam and Eve, the Fall was the result of sin unfolding in disrupted relationships resulting from their self-serving exercise of autonomy in God's world, a world in which they could not be gods.

"She took of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband, and he ate. The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked" (Genesis 3:6-7).

The Fall - Satan Attacks

The Fall came from sin. Satan tempted Adam and Eve that they could be as God. They fell, and creation fell with them. Humankind became separated from God. Pain and death came to the world. You and I were born into this world of sin and death.

Where now is God's plan of Him being Father and the Son sharing His sonship with all people? Jesus gives us the possibility of life in the Kingdom of God, even though we remain in the fallen world; He gives us His "righteousness", "peace", "joy", "hope" and "faith", indeed, all the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Until people become Christian the sinful world is their home, they are part of the kingdom of darkness, and Satan is their father. (Why does Scripture say he is "father" and not "boss" or "chief" or "ruler"? Is it because we have inherited what he, the devil, brought? That is, sin and death?)

"You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies" (John 8:44).

Satan truly wants you to NOT take your rightful place as a son or daughter of God, and NOT exercise your Kingdom authority, NOT be free, NOT to be healthy. Billions of people are hurting; (a billion minutes ago Jesus was alive on the Earth), that is a great many hurting people!

Satan is a thief. He steals our peace, he tells us that we don't measure up, that we aren't worthy. He tempts us, and pours sickness over us. But, always, Jesus is for us. "The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

Satan attacks men: His objective is to destroy the family through the men. Husbands and fathers are essential to all humankind. Studies show the truth of this in kids' behaviour, relationships, mental health, citizenship.

Satan attacks women: Dr James Dobson ran a survey of thousands of Christian and non-Christian women. Their single biggest problem was poor self esteem.

Anyone who knows the children of divorced parents knows that these things are true.

Is Father God's heart broken?? No!! He sent Jesus who brings us to His glorious and wonderful Father.

"[Father God] put all things in subjection under Jesus' feet". The Father subjected all things to Him, and left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we don't see all things subjected to Him, yet" (Hebrews 2:8). (See also Psalm 8:6 and 1 Corinthians 15:25).

Bless us all. Thank you Jesus our "Rock", our "Defender", here, in our midst. 

Amen.

Father Heart of God: 2

I taught "Father Heart of God" over six sessions, then in 2011 posted my (abbreviated) teaching notes to Psalms Of John. 

Now I am revising these posts so they will be more meaningful to read. Jesus came to show us His Father, to heal us and set us free. Bless us all. February 2026.

Part 1: Big Questions/Big Ideas

Part 2: Relationships

Part 3: Beliefs and Strongholds

Part 4: Unworthy, Yet Adopted

Part 5: Faith And Intimacy

Part 6: God Is Love

The Creation - By and For God

After I was Christian for a while I was aware that what I had was not enough. 

Then our lovely Jesus had me looking into the Bible account of the Creation - Genesis Chapters 1 and 2, and John Chapter 1.

I lived in these three chapters for a whole year; I couldn't have a quiet time without turning there and pondering in my heart!. 

The Creation And Its Purpose - Indescribable! 

"He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing" (Job 26:7). 

Jesus, "the Word of God", gave me some answers. I quickly became convinced that our God, the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, created the universe from love. The whole thing was, and is, from love and for love: "He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8).

Before "the beginning" there was just God, our God, nothing else. 

Not: 
•   Not Buddha, complacent, and his god, unknowable and unreachable.
•   Not the Muslim god, who it seems to me, is all alone, bitter, misogynistic, angry, vengeful.
•   Not millions of Hindu or Roman gods fighting and back-stabbing for power. 

Our God. One God, Father, Son and Spirit. love. Eternally pouring out for one-another. Giving.

Definitions
perichoresis: A fellowship and sharing so honest and open and real that the persons involved dwell in one another without fear or coercion. It is union without loss of individual identity. "When one weeps, the others taste salt". 

homoousios (homo: same, ousios: being): describes the complete mutual indwelling in each Person of the Trinity. While each Person remains in Himself as Father, Son and Spirit, they are, nevertheless, wholly in the others and they are wholly in themselves (in ontological relationship). (John 14:10) "I am in the Father, and the Father in me". 

ontological - the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being (http://www.trinityinyou.com/index  27Aug2010).

Creation

Elohim (a plural word meaning "God" used in the early chapters of our Bible), decided to make room for more. Whatever they brought into their presence would have to be very special: 

•   The Father so loved the Son; it would be good to bring the Son a glorious bride, one who would be his delight forever - (John 3:29, Revelation 22:17) 

•  The Son so loved the Father; it would be good to give the Father many sons (many children in the inheritance), and bring them to glory - (Hebrews 2:10) 

•   "Elohim" would create creatures in their own "image and likeness" (Genesis 1:27). But not just spiritual. Physical. Each person would be hand made, and their spirit would flow from God's breath! 

"Let there be . . let there be . . let there be . . . . let us make man . . and call them 'man' and 'woman'" ... "and it was very good" (Genesis 1). 

The Creation centres on family:

• "Jehovah" or "Adonai" or "Lord God" is called "Father". 
• The Son is called "Son". 
• They were family and are family . . we are "in their image and likeness" - this is why family seems so natural to every people-group in the world and has always done so! 

A Need For A Father? 

Throughout humankind there is a deep yearning for relationship with a father: 

•  Readers Digest: "The quality of a person's relationships is the most important factor in the level of happiness for that person" (July 2008). 

•  Maggie Dent: "Human connectedness is what keeps us alive. Nothing Else. Relationships. So you build pastoral care among our young people. Give them your relationship if there are no others. Make sure they eat properly, get good sleep, laugh. Exhausted, unloved, hungry kids are liable to make crazy, costly decisions". (Maggie Dent is a community worker and suburban mum, and author of "Live Fast, Die Young") (Talking Heads ABC-TV 14 July 2010). 

•  Fiona Stanley: "all children need parenting and education to have a future in the world; [Australian] indigenous children will continue to live chaotic lives until this happens: uneducated, under achieving, sick, short lived" Fiona Stanley is an epidemiologist noted for her child, maternal and public health work), (2009). 

•  James Baldwin: "Children are not good at listening to their parents, but always grow up being just like them". James Baldwin was an illegitimate black American 20th Century writer. "Go Tell it on the Mountain". "Nobody Knows My Name".

Thoughtful human suggestions. They do not include our spirit, just our body and our soul, our will and emotions. No answers of practical help to me. Or you? 

A Place For Father

"The Spirit of God is seeking to reveal a deep but simple truth: 'The undivided consciousness of Fatherhood is the single sufficient source of authority the church needs to initiate and sustain revival'. This revelation is a shared state of awareness that can only be realised in the community of the church" (A Place for God, John Yates, 2010). 

We all deeply desire to belong as a child. The Bible calls this "sonship".

•  Sigmund Freud: "I could not point to any need in childhood as strong as that for fatherhood". 

•  Lucille Ball of the "I Love Lucy" TV show when discussing the decline of Western society: "Where are the fathers?" 

•  Catalyst: Dr Jonica Newby: "New science suggests that fathers, as well as mothers, experience changes throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Fathers appear to be subtly primed, by their hormones, for fatherhood, even before the child is born" (ABC-TV Thursday 1 July 2010). 

•  Fatherhood is generally regarded as being precious. Anthropology and human history show that fathers have a special place in families in virtually every culture throughout all the ages. Jesus treasured his Sonship; He was always aware that He was the Father's Son, this was precious beyond everything, His yearning for Father was satisfied.

• When told that IVF babies have no need of a father, something inside us says "not true". 

• Kids naturally trust and admire their father, the hero without fault. 

• "Who am I the son of?" This is my identity. Often single and de facto mothers give their children their father's family name. This is not a rational act. 

• Today, many poorer Western children, particularly teens and young adults, are profoundly confused because they do not know who their father is. 

• Many young men seem to have no grasp of what it is to be a man. 

In an ancient Sumatran village missionaries found an old story that the God of the whole Universe would one day send his Son to save the village people from their guilt and sin. (A story like this has been part of the consciousness of many peoples around the world for hundreds of years). When Christian missionaries came to that village and talked about Jesus, the people immediately knew that He was the One they had been waiting for. The entire village quickly became Christian. The missionaries stayed and translated the Bible into their local dialect. Much rejoicing, then and now still. Http://christiankonnections.com/html/primitive_religion.html (31/10/2010). 

One answer . . God is our Father . . Is this too scary? 

IF 

If I am truly a beloved intimate child of God most high, how do I respond? What do I do? Not nothing - but everything.

Because I am loved, I love, and am inclined toward the object of my love. Devoted. Caring. Seeking to please. 

Not "I must", or "I should". I cannot help myself. Personal growth is enabled. 

How about you ? Can you identify with this ? 

Beloved - I Am Beloved - You Are Beloved - He Is Our Beloved.

Love: A "Doing " Word

•  As with an earthly beloved. Spend time together with Jesus. Hang out. Snuggle up. Talk. Listen. Jesus came to Earth as a man, a person. We can identify with Him, He is approachable, indeed "He is not far from any one of us" (Acts 17:27).

•  We do not have to have huge, intense, prayerful, worshipful, dress-up events – I believe that simple is best. 

•  If Jesus' Daddy is my Daddy then Jesus and I are brothers. 

•  Sure, he is my Saviour. Certainly he is my Lord. Absolutely he rules and reigns over all the universe, and over me. "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). 

•  He has given me His righteousness (Romans 5:17). And His "yes" (2 Corinthians 1:20). 

• Jesus is always with us (Deuteronomy 31:8; Isaiah 60:19-20; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5).

• We are with Him, at the right hand of our Father (Ephesians 2:6). 

This is the New Covenant! 

"If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God"  (Colossians 3:1).

The Woman At The Well 

(John 4:5-26) (Three minutes to read aloud) 
"So he came to a city of Samaria ... Jacob's well was there. Jesus, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink'". 

This woman has been so devastated by life. Possibly she is barren. Being barren is the worst thing that could happen to a woman in that Bible-times culture, being unable to bear children. 

A lovely person? Beautiful? Five men married her, so she must have been very, very special. 

But she was always rejected ... 

Every man she was ever close to has abandoned her, she did not even go home to be with her parents after her fifth divorce, but endured the disgrace of living unmarried with a man.

Jesus came to her, He spent time with her. Her life was transformed. Jesus became a father to her.

Jesus awakened the woman's spirit to know the truth. He did not approach her as a Rabbi (which He was well qualified to do), or as a thirty-something man (she did not need another man telling her how to live).

No, He was Father to her, the one thing she needed above all else. 

Praise Jesus.

Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah . . "His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah (9:6).

Jesus is also fully Mother: "How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Matthew 23:37).

Jesus is Truth - The Word of God (John 1:14) 

"As for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need for anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in Him" (1 John 2:27).

"Truth" brings our "Father". Amen.

• Permalink to web page

https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2011/08/father-heart-of-god-2.html

"Father Heart Of God: 1 of 2" is now a podcast on Spotify under PsalmsOfJohn

• Public link to podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GhGdSKu4XKfmc652hgo9J

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1coFc3RgOhdtb6WtCczE9m

Praise Jesus. Amen.