Eph 4:4-6

Our starting point for knowing God the father is Jesus. In John 1:18 it says Jesus came to make the Father known to us: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

Our understanding of God as Father is shaped both positively and negatively by our human experience of earthly fathers. Beware of imposing human images of father onto God.

He’s so much greater than even the best human father! 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

James 1:16-18 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Our Perfect Heavenly Father is:

1. Creator.

Creation is his self-expression. The universe isn’t just functional it’s beautiful and intricate. It’s designed by an artist who delights in his work. Psalm 145 says “He loves all he has made”.

2. In Control.

Within the Trinity, the Father is often described as having “will”, “purpose”, “choosing”. He’s not an absentee father, he’s deeply involved in our lives. But he’s not controlling. He gives freedom. He’s generous. Doesn’t rule with control but with Grace. His love is lavishly demonstrated

3. Consistent.

He doesn’t change like shifting shadow (human fathers are affected by other pressures: work, mid-life, marriage, performance). We will never catch God on a bad day.

• Malachi 3:6 Unchanging: “I the Lord do not Change”.
• Lam 3:22 Always there: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
• Ps 145 Patient and kind: "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love."
• 1 Peter 1:17 His judgments are right: "Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear."
  

4. Complete.

when he made Adam and Eve in his image he made them male and female. What does that tell us about God as Father? His Fatherliness includes all the wonderful attributes of perfect fathering and perfect mothering. “He gave us birth”. Isaiah 49:15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"

5.Comforting.

God of ALL comfort. 2 Cor 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles"

6. Caring.

“for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” He knows the number of hairs on our head.

7. Close.

Jesus called him “Abba”- the Aramaic word a child would learn as his/her first word. Paul says we address God with the same intimacy: Romans 8:15 “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children

How does this affect us?

One Father is a solid rock for us to shape our whole lives around. He’s Head of the Family of God. The One who is loving and purposeful is dependable.

1) Identity.

I am a child of God. I’m not Pastor Paul or Apostle Andrew or Prophet Patricia or Evangelist Eva or Teacher Tim. I’m a child of God. I’m adopted. ADOPTION- in the Roman world was not simply because you wanted kids; you wanted an heir, someone to share everything with one day.
God, Your Father, is wanting to share with you every blessing in Christ.

Sometimes God tests us. He takes away our “position” in life, our ministry opportunity to test our identity is in him.

2) Intimacy.

John 14:23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

Jesus and the Father live in every believer’s heart through the indwelling Spirit. We need an inside job! Some things in life need outside help. Some things are too deep and personal. Our Insecurities and fears. The Father knows us and loves us and transforms us.

3) Inclusion.

Family; we’re all in One Family. I’m not the centre of my world, HE is. We’re brothers and sisters. Therefore we have to choose to work at Christian unity because God is our father. It’s challenging and difficult at times. We must choose to work on our family relationships

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Questions:

• Jesus. Think of examples where Jesus shared the Fatherly heart of God with people in his ministry.
• The Perfect Father. How does our human experience adversely affect our relationship with God our Father?
• Complete Father. How can we know the fullness of God’s Fatherly character? What stereotypes of God as Father do we need to avoid?
• Identity. How does being a child of God help us navigate the highs and lows of life?
• Intimacy. How does it shape our view of Father God- that he wants to live inside us?
• Inclusion. How does knowing God as Father help me manage more challenging relationships in the body of Christ?