6.13.2024 | FINDING THE FATHER
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
St Augustine, in 354, “if the written word of the Bible could be changed into a single word and become one single voice, this voice more powerful that the roaring sea, - the Father loves you.”
1. Why do we need to Find the Father?
CHAIR 1. ROOTED IN SONSHIP
“Chair I is about experiencing God’s pleasure without ever having to perform. In fact, you already have an A + on your report card before you ever go out and do something.” Leif Hetland
CHAIR 2. THE KINGDOM OF SELF
“The Chair 2 perspective is always thinking about self. Why didn’t I get blessed the way that other person did? Lord, what are You going to do for me?” Leif Hetland
CHAIR 3. LOST
“If you are living in Chair 3, you are lost. That is the world system apart from Jesus, outside of the kingdom of God.” Leif Hetland
2. Who is the Father?
John 14:8-9 NLT
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?
John 14:10
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.
John 5:19 NLT
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
Psalm 139:16-17a NLT
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
John 8:10-11 NLT
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Psalm 67:1
God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
Psalm 67:1 NLT
May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us.
Psalm 27:8
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Psalm 27:10 NIV
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
3. Find the Father
Matthew 11:27
All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
Matthew 11:25 NLT
At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Questions for discussion/reflection
Share how you would have described God the Father last week? Did it look like Jesus?
Why do you think people often have different views of Jesus and God the Father?
Are there negative things from your past that have made it difficult to relate positively to your heavenly Father?