Introduction: God has many names and titles: The Almighty, Creator, Jehovah, the Judge of the Earth, and so on. But He says to us, "I am your FATHER." That tells us that we are important to God. He wants to have a close relationship with us. He used to go walk and talk with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and that's what He wants to do with us, too. This morning I want to remind you of five things God does for us as our Heavenly Father:
I. God regards us with gentle compassion.
A. Psa 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
Psa 103:14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
B. He DOES ask us to try to be perfect (Matt. 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."), but He knows we can't. Does God give us a "second chance?" Over and over! Consider Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son.
II. God Disciplines us for our good.
A. Prov 3:11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
Prov 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
B. He never strikes us simply to hurt and let out His anger. Conversely, He won't leave us alone, either! His aim is always to discipline, to mould, to point in the right direction. He insists on making us better, and seeing us grow in Grace. Consider the story of Job.
III. God Rescues us from disasters.
A. Did your father ever come after you, and rescue you? Did you ever rescue your own son or daughter? That's what our Heavenly Father does for us.
B. Jer 31:7 This is what the LORD says: "Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, 'O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'
Jer 31:8 See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.
Jer 31:9 They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
C. Remember the story of the Lost Sheep.
IV. God shows us how to live meaningfully in a sinful world.
A. It's not easy to live in a world where many of our neighbors, co-workers and family are not believers. But our Heavenly Father shows the way:
B. Jesus said in Mat 5:44-45 "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
C. We must resist the temptation to go through life with bitterness, fear, hostility or isolation. We CAN live an out-going life of peace, joy and love, even as sheep among wolves, because we have a loving Heavenly Father, and a Good Shepherd to watch over us.
V. God is the Great Giver of good things.
A. Mat 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
B. James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
C. Every good thing you ever got in this life came either directly or indirectly from the hands of your Heavenly Father. He loves to give!
D. We have a God who is a great Giver. His best gift was His own Son, Jesus (John 3:16). Have you received Him?
E. There are many more gifts still to come!
Eph 2:6-7 "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
Conclusion: On this Fathers Day, 2002, lets think about our Heavenly Father, and what a great Father He is! And men, let's do our very best to imitate our Heavenly Father, and to be great Fathers to our children. Amen.