GOD, MY FATHER - Kingdom Men of Valour Series

GOD, MY FATHER - Kingdom Men of Valour Series

I talk about why Jesus keeps calling God “Father” and how that transforms Christianity from a distant religion into a close relationship.  Jesus didn’t just call God “My Father”; He said “your Father” too.

Chapter Markers
- 0:00 Why Jesus Calls God Father
- 5:01 Relationship and Responsibility as Children
- 9:20 Your Father in Heaven and Closeness
- 13:43 Authority and Choosing God First
- 18:22 Provision, Pardon, and Forgiveness
- 22:57 Revelation, Wisdom, and Fatherly Guidance
- 26:05 God Plants Purpose and Calls Us to Love

Transcript

Why Jesus Calls God Father

SPEAKER_00 0:00

I want to briefly share with us today God my father. God my father. We are looking at it specifically of Jesus to introduce and declare God as a father to us. If you read the gospel Luke, Mark, John, and Matthew, Jesus Christ emphasized on this title of God. If Jesus, the Son of God, can refer to God as a father, sometimes Jesus will say, My Father. Sometimes Jesus will say your father. That's amazing. So Jesus is saying that God is my father, God is also your father. And Jesus wants you and I to see God as a father. We see throughout his ministry Jesus making references to God as a father. And it baffles my mind. Why God as a father? Number one to establish a relationship. Jesus views God as a father for you and I to know that Jesus has an intimate relationship with God. Like father, like son. Number two, Jesus wants to establish another relationship that you and I, as believers, we are in a family relationship with God. We are his children, and God is our father. Jesus didn't just want us to see God as the Almighty. Because when we see God as the Almighty, we view him as powerful. We cannot get too close to him because God is wonderful, God is magnificent, God is tremendous. The reason why God, Jesus emphasized for you and I to see God as a father is to draw a closeness with you and I with God. Because the purpose of salvation is what? Reconciliation. The part of that reconciliation is for God to reconcile an personal individual relationship between God and us. The difference between Christianity and every other religion is relationship. God the Maker comes down to relate with you and I. Other religions, we cannot reach God. God is too far, God is too distant. I cannot talk to God. I have to do so many rituals to talk to God. I have to go through so many people to talk to God. But not so with us. Because Jesus Christ has paved the way for you and I to have free access to God Almighty as a father. That is why the Bible said that we cry out to Him by the Holy Spirit, Abba Father. And I'm here to tell you something, child of God. If you don't view God as a father, it's hard for you to relate with God on a personal level. It's hard for you to bring your needs to God. It's hard for like the man of God was saying that as a child you bring all manner of issues to your father. Even the stupid things, the most silly things, you bring them to your father. Oh daddy, I got I got bullying in school. Oh daddy, daddy, what are you gonna buy me? Daddy, I want ice cream, daddy, I want biscuits. But God is saying that do we relate with him as such? We only go to God when there's a big problem. What about the small matters? What about when you're confused? What about when you're not sure? God wants you to bring those small things, those silly things to him. That is why Jesus said, Be like little children, for such is the kingdom of God. You see, there are no adults in heaven, there are no adults in heaven. It's only on this earth when we have adults. But when it comes to our home in heaven, we are all referred to as children. I don't care if you're an apostle, if you're a teacher, if you're a pastor, if you're a deacon, if you're a bishop, when it comes to God, God sees all of us as children, and God is the only father and Jesus the Lord. That's the relationship that God wants to have with us.

Relationship And Responsibility As Children

SPEAKER_00 5:01

The importance of a father, Jesus and his father. When Jesus was young, in Luke chapter 2, verse 49, look what it look what it states. And he said to them, Why do you seek me? So we have an instance where the physical parents of Jesus, that is, Mary the mother, and Joseph the adoptive father, were looking for Jesus at the age of 12. Okay, at the age of 12, Jesus recognized his divine sonship. Look his response, he says, Why do you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business? At the age of 12, he recognized that I have this God that we call Yahweh, he is my father. So as fathers, we should introduce God to our children as the first father. Because even God said, Your mother will forsake you, your father will forsake you, not because they want to willfully forsake you, but because they are human beings. But when you refer to them that go to God Almighty, it is your father, he can help you in every storm. They will learn that in your working life. So there's two things about this verse that we can learn from Jesus. Number one, relationship and responsibility. As a son or as children of God, we have two things, two response: relationship with God when it comes to fatherhood, and our responsibility to God. So the relationship here is that Jesus stated that God is my father at the age of 12, and you have Mary and Joseph, who are the parents at that time. But Jesus knew something. He said, God is my father. He said, My father, possessive, my father. And then number two, business. At that age, his relationship with God is so intimate. And not only that, he said, I'm about my father's business. So, fathers, we give instructions. Fathers, we pave the way for our households. Father, we set the vision of our household. God Almighty has set the vision of Jesus. The word father by definition, it means source. So Jesus knew his source. Everything about his life has to go back to the Father. Father, tell me who I am. You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Father, tell me what to do. I have called you to save. Father, tell me who I am. You are my son. Father, tell me what you want me to do. You are the Savior. How did he get that? He got that strictly from his father. So the word father means source. So if you want to know who you are, go to your father. Your father can tell the history of the family. Your father can tell the lineage of your family. What if the Bible says, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? When it stands for Isaac, God will introduce Himself that I am the God Almighty, I am the God of Abraham. When it comes to Jacob, God will introduce Himself as I am the God of your father Abraham, because that's where he started the covenant. And I'm the I'm the father of I'm the God of Isaac, and then Jacob. When it comes to the children of Israel, God will say, I'm the God of Abraham, I'm the God of Isaac, I'm the God of who? Jacob. Even God Himself respects the structure that he has put in place. I'm the God of your father. I'm the God of your father. He didn't say I'm the God of your mother. There's a reason why. God didn't say, I'm the God of your mother. No. He said I'm the God of your father. Hi, God our father. Place and position. This father that we're talking about, where is he?

Your Father In Heaven And Closeness

SPEAKER_00 9:20

We need to know where this father is. The reason why at times we're not able to relate or see God as a father is because some of us we never had a father. I've never had a father. When I gave my life to Jesus, it was hard for me to see God as a father. I even even up till now, I struggle to see God as a father. We need to know God where it is, it is in heaven. Because Jesus keeps saying that in Matthew chapter 5, verse 6. There are many instances where it says, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. In Matthew chapter 5, verse 45, it says that you may be sons of your father in heaven. So there are references. Why heaven? I'm just curious to know why why Jesus keep emphasizing that your father is in heaven. This father that we're talking about is not here physically. Yes, we say, God, God is my father, but have you seen him? Have you hugged him? I'm coming. Have you laughed with God? Have God told you that he loves you? You know, I told God, I'm like, God, when I step my feet in heaven, the first thing that I will do, I will give you a big fat hug. You know why? Because I'm I'm craving for the hug of a father. I said, when I get to heaven, I'll put the food aside. I said, I said, God, God, come here. I will I will run and I'll give him the I will give him the big I mean it. I said, God, even though I don't see you physically, but one day when I see you, I will give you that superlicious embrace. Just hug you. You see, the reason why God is saying that I might not be here physically, but the image and likeness. Remember when Thomas asked you, said Jesus, show us the father. Because Jesus keeps talking about the father. They're saying that you talk about this father, father, but we have not seen this father. Where is he? Show us the father. I am tired of hearing about this father. Where is this father? Where is he? You know, Jesus said, Thomas, if you have seen me, you have seen the father. For I and the father are one. So what Jesus was saying that the reflection, the attributes, the tenderness, the care, the protection, the provision, the leadership, all the qualities of a father, you see it in me. Because I and the father we are one. So, my brother, all the men here, people might not see God as a father, but they might see God as a father in us. We natan will be the one to carry that divine nature of God the Father. When somebody is looking for God the Father, they will look at Michael. Wow, I see the attribute of God the Father in you. They will look at Nathan. Wow, I see the attribute of God the Father in you. They look at Marvin, wow, I see the God the Father in you. So that is why Jesus said that hey, you keep asking, Where is the father? He said, Philip, here is the father. Because God is spirit. Amen. So this father is in heaven. And what is his position according to Matthew chapter 13, verse 43 says, then the righteous shall the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father. So we are the righteous. So his position is he is the king. Our father who is in heaven, that's his place. Our father is the king. What? Your father is the king. This father we have, God is our king. What we learned about this father so far, we know where he lives, is in heaven. You might not physically see him, but you can see him through Jesus Christ, and we can also see him through believers, men who were in Christ. Amen.

Authority And Choosing God First

SPEAKER_00 13:43

His position, he is the king, meaning that he has authority. One thing about fathers, fathers have authority. Fathers have authority. You see, I was reading a book in Genesis when Rachel, as much as he was she was beautiful, she messed up. If you look at all the women, Abraham and Sarah, Rebecca and Isaac, people said, okay, should have been Jacob and Rachel because Jacob loved Rachel so much. No, it was Jacob and Leah. Rachel continue with the God of her father, not the God of her husband. Okay. Rachel named Benjamin. Jacob said, No, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna allow you to name Benjamin. I'm gonna name Benjamin. As much as one thing I've learned about Jacob, men, men, listen to this. As much as Jacob loved Rachel, Jacob knew his authority as a man. When it comes to naming, when it comes to covenant. That is why, women, when Liban came, again, Liban is a father, it's a male. He said, Jacob, you have taken my gods. Jacob was a man of altar, he was a man of covenant. Liban said, Jacob, you have taken my gods. Jacob said, I didn't take your god. He said, You have taken my gods, you have stolen my daughters, you have stolen my wealth, you have taken my gods. Jacob, a man of covenant, swear. He said, Whoever has taken your gods, let something happen to them. But the Bible states that Jacob did not know that his second wife has hidden the gods of her father, not the god of her husband. This is very deadly. Okay? Jacob, I think if Jacob would have known that Rachel, what she has done, Jacob would have stopped Rachel. No, no, no. Rachel, don't carry it. Because what God said, um God told um Jacob to prepare himself, and Jacob now told uh axe his household to purify themselves, to purify themselves before they go to the promised land. If Jacob would have known this, Jacob would have stopped Rachel. He said, Rachel, give back the gods of your father. So what am I saying? This as a wife, it is the responsibility of a woman to take the God of her husband. If your husband is worshipping Buddha, fine. But when it comes to Christianity, remember Ruth followed this principle. It said, Your God will be my God. Your God will be my God. Eventually, Rachel ended up dying. Even when she was dying, she didn't land. She named her last son, son of my sorrow. Jacob said, No, change the name. So, men, at times, one thing I've learned in that verse is that it doesn't matter how much you love a woman, Sebo. Don't disobey God because of love. Don't disobey God because of love. I don't care who she is, but don't you ever, ever, men, listen to this. Disobey God because of love. Don't don't try that. Adam did that, he failed. Who else? Samson did that, he failed. Solomon did that. The Bible says, the foreign woman turned his heart away from God. What can turn our hearts from God is woman. A woman tried that with me. One year I could not serve God because my heart was turned away from God because of woman. It's in the Bible, it happened to great men of God. Their hearts were turned away from God because of women. They tried that with um Job. When Satan said, I will make this man to curse you in the face. Satan tried Job to curse God. Job said, You know what he did? He cursed himself, not God. He said, Okay, he okay, let me try your wife. And the wife said, Curse God and die. When it comes to God, Sabus, choose him before all else. Choose him. I don't care. Choose God before all else. Because when you choose God, who is the Father, supreme, sovereign, he'll protect your home. He'll protect your wife. But we'll make the mistake of choosing foolishness, but not God. Amen.

Provision Pardon And Forgiveness

SPEAKER_00 18:22

So another thing about God the Father is that providence, providence, look what it says in Matthew chapter 5, verse 45. It says, For he makes his son rises on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Matthew chapter 7, verse 11. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? You see why it's so important to see God as a father. The reason why you cannot come to God that God has the best for you is because you don't see God as a father. You never experienced a father in your life. So it's hard for you to see God as a father. It's hard for me to say God wants the best for me. It's hard. Because I'm like, who is God? Who am I? To tell God, give me the best. I can do that to a human being who's a father. Because you're my father. I'm expecting you, Sable, to give me the best because you're my daddy. Jesus is saying that. Don't see God as this. Oh, he's so far, he's so holy. You can't come close to him, you cannot ask him for nothing. You know what? Don't bring your needs to God. God doesn't care. No, God cares. Jesus said what we have just read. If God, as a father of the universe, the Bible says that he makes the Son, the Son, to rise on the just and the unjust. Oh my God, to the evil and the good. He said, even the unbelievers who are fathers, unbelievers who are fathers are doing good to their children. Hey, Sebo, you a believing, a believing father, you're a wicked man. Be careful. A believing father, but you're not able to provide for your children. A believing father. He says, How much more? How much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? Do you believe, Sebo? Musumba, Mama, that God, your father, when you ask him for good things, he will give it to you. How? That's what the father does. Daddy, I want sweet. Daddy, I want biscuits. For us to get something from God, we don't have to go through anybody. We go directly to God. God, I need a sucker cleat. I need a new shoe. And then another thing about a father, pardon. Pardon. God as a father pardons us. Look what it states in Matthew chapter 6, verse 15 to 12, uh, 15 to uh 14 to 15. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. So we have learned his place, his position, providence, and his pardon. Let's look at the human example. When your child misbehaves, they will cry. You forgive them. How many times we misbehave to God? Discipline and forgiveness. Father's also discipline. Discipline and forgive. Discipline and forgive. Discipline and forgive. But we live in a world today. Oh no, don't don't don't spank that child. They're gonna call the police on you. That victim mindset means a lie. My children misbehave. Hey, believe in me, I will straighten them up. I will straighten them up. You don't you don't call your elders, Mike? No, Uncle Mike. That's what my grandfather taught me. Never refer to your elders with their names. Put some title to it. Yes, sir. Yes, mama. Yes, Uncle. I do that up till now. My co-worker was telling me my co-worker is Caucasian. Why do you always call your boss, sir? Why do you always call your the other co-worker, ma'am? Why do you always do, ma'am? Are you a slave? I'm like, I'm not, I'm not a slave. But I was brought up to refer to people in a place of authority as sir, ma'am. It's just in me. Out of respect. God forgives and he also disciplines.

Revelation Wisdom And Fatherly Guidance

SPEAKER_00 22:57

Another thing about a father from God the Father is his purpose now. He reveals. He reveals. This is powerful. Matthew chapter 10, verse 20. He says, For it is not you who speak, but the spirit of the father who speaks in you. So Jesus is saying that in the last days, there's gonna be time when we're gonna be persecuted, and then he's saying that, okay, how are you gonna defend yourself? Don't say anything. But the spirit of my father who reveal what for you to say. Matthew chapter 16, verse 17. Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon by Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. But my father who is in heaven. I think one of the postcards said that my father is smart. God is very wise. You get wisdom from your father. You get wisdom. Another stepfather of mine, too. I I got so much wisdom, life wisdom from this man. Michael knows him. He was the one that gave me wisdom to go to church to look for women. When I went to church, God captured me. That was wisdom. It's a ram, you're lovely. Go to church, look for women. I went to church looking for a woman. I didn't know that Jesus was waiting for me. I pursued after that lady. So I was coming. The lady keeps saying, No, no, no. I said, I'll keep trying. So okay, keep trying, keep trying. Until God captured me, I gave up. I have a different spirit. Fathers, fathers give wisdom. Fathers give wisdom, child of God. You can learn so much from your father. That's why we as fathers we have to be educated so that we can we have to be a race of your wisdom and tell our children about life. Everything take to God. God, I need to know how to do this. Can you teach me? God will reveal it to you. Jesus said, I do what I see my father is doing.

unknown 24:56

Can you imagine?

SPEAKER_00 24:57

He said, What I do is because I see what my father is doing. What I know is because what my father reveals. He says, Matthew chapter 24, verse 36, before we're done. But of but of that day and hour, no one knows, and not even the angels, but my father only. Certain things only your father knows. Sometimes when your father comes to the room, looks at you. Don't try it. Don't try it. Michael's father is also my father. He gave me wisdom. The thing was the thing was he spoke in parables. I said, God, what is this man saying? But later on, I realized that what he was saying came to pass. It makes sense. Fathers have gone through the path that you're taking. If you read the book of Proverbs, you know many times that phrase, my son, my son, don't follow bad companies. My son, don't do this. My son, that was Solomon when he became old. Teaching his son, don't do this, don't do that. Giving instructions.

God Plants Purpose And Calls Us To Love

SPEAKER_00 26:05

And then last thing is that father plants, father plants, they plant. Look what it states. Matthew chapter 15, verse 13. But he answered and said, Everyone and said, Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted will be uprooted. Fathers plant. Because fathers, they are the source of everything. So God as a father, He plants. He is the one planting this church, He is the one planting your life. He is the one that you're going to need to plant your home. He was the one that planted Jesus. So if you're not planted by God, you are going to be uprooted. If we as a church were not planted by the Father, who is the head of this church, who has the vision of the church, we are going to be uprooted. Fathers give directives. Father gives instructions, they give directions. They are strong. They are sacrificial. And one last thing about fathers before we pray love. Love. Love. Love. Oh, men should not express their love because it will make them feel no, it's a lie. Men should express their love. The Bible commands us as men to love. Love our wives. Love our home. Women, if you don't have a man that loves you, you are ruined. Oh God. Those of you who are not married, make sure you have a man that loves you. I know why I'm saying this. Have someone that loves you. When a man loves you, they'll go borrow from cash money to make you happy. When a man loves you, they'll protect you. When a man loves you, they'll provide for you. You don't even have to tell them. They'll do for you because they love you. They are committed to you. Love is very important to us as men. Because love is so important to God the Father. The reason why we are saved is because of love. I said this last week, last Sunday. If God didn't love us, God wouldn't send his son to come and die for us. Fathers, love. Because God is love. We associate love to God the Father. We associate grace to God the Son. So you as a father build on love. Love God. Love your wife. Love your children. Love this church and love yourself. That's my only prayer point. That God, as a father, give me love. Love for you. Love for my family. Love for the church. Love for society. Love for the community. Because that will be the motivation where everything in life will stem out of.