THE FATHER, MY FATHER

THE FATHER, MY FATHER                                                            

JOHN 14:6-9

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Everyone has several fathers- most of which you cannot choose. The most important Father you can have must be a choice that you make. Now of the fathers you cannot choose let us quickly dispense the discussion of them. Adam is the father of us all even as Eve is the mother of all living [Lk. 3:38, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Rm. 5:12-14]. Of course from our immediate biological father all the way back to Adam we have a multitude of “fathers”.

Because we are sinners, before we trust Christ, we have a spiritual father- who like our biological fathers is one we don’t choose. Jesus said to a religious, but lost crowd in John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

It is at this point that you can make a choice- you can choose to have God be your spiritual Father and the Devil will become your enemy. If you do not make this choice- then you are at enmity with God- which is about the most foolish thing we could do [Jn. 1:12, Romans 8:7].

#1 The Only Way to make “The Father” your Father is to trust Christ! [v. 6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

#2 If you know Christ as Saviour then you can call “The Father,” “my Father” [v. 7] If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

#3 Get in the Bible so you don’t think foolishly like Philip did here [v. 8-9] Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

I. HOW SHALL WE DESCRIBE THE FATHER?

1. He is the Father of Mercies & Comfort [2 Corinthians 1:3-4]

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2. He is the Father of Glory [Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14, 17-18; 3:13-14, 16, 21]

3. He is the Father of Spirits [Hebrews 12:9]

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

4. He is the Father of Lights [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.

 

II. WHAT PERFECT GIFTS HAS THE FATHER GIVEN? [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.

1. The Word of God is Perfect [James 1:25]

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

2. The Lord Jesus Christ is Perfect [John 16:27-28]

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

3. The Holy Spirit is Perfect [John 15:26]

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

 

III. WHAT CAN WE GIVE THE FATHER? [Ps. 116:12]

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

 

1. We can Give Him Worship [John 4:23]

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

2. We can Give Him Honour [John 5:23]

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

3. We can Give Him Glory & Thanks [Romans 15:6, Ps. 29:2, Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 1:12, 3:17]

- That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

- Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

- Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

- And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.