As we celebrate Father’s Day today, I want to tell you about the greatest Father of all.
This sermon is about the greatest Father anyone can have and everyone needs, but only a few people have the privilege to be able to call him Father. God the Father is Father to all who are true born again Christians washed in the blood of Jesus. He sets the example for all earthly dads to follow. God the Father will always be there for you even when your natural dad forsakes you. (Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.)
God the Father never fails in his love for his children. He showed his ultimate love for his children as well as for those he desires to be his children by sending his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we may have eternal life and restore the intended relationship with him and man that was broken by the sin of Adam. (John 3:16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.) (II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.) Those who receive Jesus as their Saviour are adopted by God the Father as his children. (John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:) (Romans 8:14-15 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.) As children of God we can call him Abba, Father or Daddy. As a good Father he chasteneth his children. He does this out of love and not to hurt us just as an earthly dad disciplines his children so they will stay on the straight and narrow. (Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.) Another way God the Father shows us love is that he allows Jesus to be our intercessor before him when Satan comes before his throne to accuse us of some sin. Jesus tells the Father that our sin has been washed in his blood. We see that God the Father is forgiving. (Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.) Earthly dads need to follow the example of our heavenly Father in forgiving their children when they do wrong.
God the Father is pleased in his Son and his adopted children. This is seen at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:13-17 13 ¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.) (Mark 1:9-11 9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.) (Luke 3:21-22 21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.) We see this again when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain and was transfigured before them displaying the true glory of his Son Jesus. (Matthew 17:1-9 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.) (Mark 9:2-9 2 ¶ And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.) (II Peter 1:17-18 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.) We see a third time that God the Father speaks audibly to Jesus in answer to his prayer. We not only see that God the Father hears and answers our prayers, but also cares about what we ask for. Jesus prayed and asked that God the Father’s name be glorified and it was. This was shortly before he went to the cross for our sins. (John 12:28-30 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.)
God the Father’s house has many mansions prepared by Jesus for all those who have received his Son Jesus. (John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.) Our Heavenly Father sent the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost to indwell in believers after Pentecost. He cares enough for his adopted children that he does not want us to be alone. Jesus acknowledges the Father is righteous in John 17:25. (John 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.)
God the Father raised Jesus from the dead by the Holy Ghost. Without Jesus’s resurrection, we would still be dead in our sins. (Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) (I Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.) God the Father along with Jesus gives us grace, mercy, and peace. (II Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.) (Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.)
God the Father will take control of the kingdom from Jesus following the end of the millennium after Jesus has conquered death. God the Father will run the kingdom during eternity. (I Corinthians 15:24-28 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.)
Our Heavenly Father is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent (present everywhere at once). (Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.) We see he has foreknowledge in I Peter 1:2. (I Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.) We also see in this verse how God already knows who will receive his Son and be saved. This does not mean that only those people can be saved only that they chose to be saved. All may who seek Jesus be saved. Our heavenly Father rides around in a chariot of clouds (Psalm 104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:). God the Father has always existed and allowed his Son Jesus to create everything for his glory. He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9 ¶ I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.) He also allows his adoptive children to also serve him by telling others about Jesus and in many ways in the church.
The Father never changes and will always do his will and pleasure. (Isaiah 46:9-10 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:)
When we pray, we are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. The Father gives us our needs and answers our prayers if it is his will if we ask the Father in Jesus’s name. This is Jesus’s name, not Mary’s name or any other false god such as Allah. God the Father always provides for his children according to his will. (John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.) The Father provides his children with perfect gifts, not junk or unwanted things. (James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.) Jesus said in Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
God will also sometimes take his children home early who are being disobedient. If a believer continues in their sin without confession, God may bring them home early. They will not lose their salvation, just their earthly life. He does this for his sake and ours. (I John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.)
God the Father cares so much for us and hates sin so much that when his only begotten Son Jesus was on the cross bearing the sins for the whole world for all time, he could not even look at his Son. (Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?) (Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?)
God the Father is the Father of all believers. He is the first person in the Godhead. We are made in his image. He should be the heavenly example to all earthly dads. God the Father is love which all earthly dads should follow. All dads should raise their children in a godly manner and home. Dads should make time with their family to study scripture together. It is his responsibility to be the spiritual leader in the house and to teach his children about Jesus. He needs to set the example for the family by being a man of God, being a great husband for his wife, loving and cherishing her, and being a great dad for his children, loving them and spending time with them. Let them know that God is to be first in their lives above everything and everyone else including their dad. Make sure the family is brought each service to a God fearing Biblically based church. Do your best to see that all of your family is won for the Lord, so they too will have a heavenly Father.
God the Father is love and this is best seen through his Son. The best way to know God the Father is through his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 10:30 I and my Father are one. (John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.) (I John 4:8-11 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.) Dads be an example to love the way God does. (Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.) (Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.) (Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.) (Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.) Proverbs 17:6 especially applies to children with a godly dad.
To be able to call God your Father, ye must be born again. I pray that all will want him for their Father. Obey the gospel and receive Jesus as your Saviour.
