23 Sep Our Heavenly Father #1

Heavenly Father Overview

In this powerful introduction to a series on ‘Our Heavenly Father,’ this sermon explores the revolutionary concept Jesus introduced when He taught us to pray ‘Our Father.’ The message reveals how understanding God as our Father transforms our entire perspective on life, relationships, and purpose. Drawing from Ephesians 3:13-15 and other key passages, the sermon explains that every person on earth is part of God’s family plan, though not everyone knows Him intimately. The speaker emphasizes that we don’t need to live in loneliness or insecurity when we truly grasp that God is our Father. Through the Trinity – the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit – believers experience double protection and divine purpose. The message challenges listeners to surrender completely to God’s fatherhood, understanding that our troubles serve a greater purpose in revealing His goodness to the world. This foundational teaching sets the stage for a deeper exploration of what it means to live as children of the Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father Outline

• 0:00 – The Revolutionary Prayer: Jesus introduced the radical concept of calling God ‘Our Father’ which angered religious leaders.
• 3:00 – Double Protection in God’s Hand: Understanding our security as being in Jesus’ hand, which is in the Father’s hand.
• 6:00 – Paul’s Revelation and Suffering: Exploring Ephesians 3:13-15 and how Paul’s tribulations served the greater good.
• 10:00 – The Whole Family Named: Understanding ‘patria’ – the father’s covering over all people in heaven and earth.
• 15:00 – The Trinity Working Together: How the grace of Jesus, love of the Father, and communion of Holy Spirit unite for our benefit.
• 20:00 – God’s Purpose in Creation: Why God created humanity – not from loneliness but from love needing an object of affection.
• 25:00 – Jesus as Our Mediator: Understanding Christ’s role as the one mediator between God and man bringing reconciliation.

Scripture References

Matthew 6:9 (Lord’s Prayer), Ephesians 3:13-15, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 15:26, 1 Timothy 2:3-5, Hebrews 12:2, John 1:1-3, Romans 8:32

Key Takeaways

• When you give your life to the Lord, God becomes your Father, which should transform your entire demeanor and outlook on life.
• You don’t need to live in loneliness or insecurity when you understand that God is your Father and everything is in His hands.
• The troubles we go through as believers serve to reveal God’s goodness and grace to others, just as Paul’s tribulations benefited the church.
• Every person on earth is part of God’s family plan, but not everyone knows Him or has a relationship with Him.
• Prayer is an act of surrender to our Heavenly Father, symbolized by lifting our hands in submission to His will.
• Faith comes first, then understanding follows – not the other way around as the world teaches.
• Jesus serves as our mediator and the author and finisher of our faith, bringing reconciliation between God and humanity.

Heavenly Father Notes

This sermon opens with a profound exploration of perhaps the most revolutionary phrase in human history: ‘Our Father.’ When Jesus taught His disciples to pray using these words, He wasn’t merely offering a new prayer formula – He was introducing a completely new way of understanding our relationship with the Almighty. The religious leaders of His time were so outraged by this claim to divine sonship that they sought to kill Him for heresy. They couldn’t grasp the beautiful reality that God desired to be known as Father to His creation.The transformative power of understanding God as our Father cannot be overstated. This revelation changes everything about how we view ourselves, our circumstances, and our purpose. When we truly comprehend that the Creator of the universe is our Father, loneliness and insecurity lose their grip on our lives. We discover that we’re held in a divine double protection – in Jesus’ hand, which is itself within the Father’s hand.The apostle Paul’s writings in Ephesians reveal the depth of this family relationship. The Greek word ‘patria,’ translated as family, literally means ‘fatherhood’ – the father’s covering, his hand of goodness extending over all people. Paul understood that his sufferings weren’t meaningless; they served to reveal God’s grace and goodness to the world. This principle applies to every believer – we don’t suffer for suffering’s sake, but our trials become testimonies of God’s faithfulness.The Trinity works in perfect harmony to accomplish the Father’s purposes. The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit all collaborate to bring us into the fullness of divine relationship. This isn’t merely theological doctrine but practical reality that transforms daily living.God created humanity not from loneliness but from love. Love requires an object of affection, and God’s creative act was motivated by His desire to express His love. From the very beginning, His plan was to give everything to His children – the kingdom, dominion, and all good things. As Jesus declared, ‘Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’ If God didn’t withhold His own Son, how much more will He freely give us all things?The call to repentance isn’t about condemnation but invitation – an invitation to turn toward the Father and discover His true nature. Wrong thinking keeps us bound from experiencing the blessings and goodness He desires to pour out. Faith comes before understanding in God’s economy, contrary to the world’s demand to ‘convince me first.’ Jesus stands as our mediator, the bridge between divine holiness and human need, bringing reconciliation and restoration to broken relationships – both with God and with one another.

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