WEBVTT 00:04.435 --> 00:11.284 [SPEAKER_00]: In the third day of this week-long series, taking time every day to stir up our affections for God. 00:12.085 --> 00:15.750 [SPEAKER_00]: Today we're going to look at all it means for Him to be our Father. 00:17.012 --> 00:29.228 [SPEAKER_00]: Out of all of the metaphors used for our relationship with this eternal transcendent God, the concept of Him being a Father today has been most meaningful. 00:29.208 --> 00:34.776 [SPEAKER_00]: May he draw us closer as he reveals what a good father he is to us. 00:35.617 --> 00:56.667 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:59.161 --> 01:22.570 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from 1 John 3, verse 1, Scripture says, see what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God and so we are. 01:27.764 --> 01:32.971 [SPEAKER_00]: as a follower of Jesus you have been brought into the family of God. 01:33.011 --> 01:37.016 [SPEAKER_00]: Take a moment to let that truth sink in. 01:37.056 --> 01:47.950 [SPEAKER_00]: Think about what it means to have God, the creator of the universe, the embodiment of 01:49.364 --> 01:58.557 [SPEAKER_00]: so often we lose sight of the fact that God is our Father and view Him through perspectives not aligned with Scripture. 02:00.339 --> 02:14.258 [SPEAKER_00]: We view God through lenses the world and unfortunate experiences have given us, rather than a revelation of Him as a good Father given to us by the revolutionary teaching of Jesus. 02:16.482 --> 02:32.025 [SPEAKER_00]: In Matthew 7, verses 9 through 11, Jesus teaches us, which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent. 02:33.407 --> 02:38.374 [SPEAKER_00]: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children? 02:38.434 --> 02:45.865 [SPEAKER_00]: How much more will your father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him? 02:49.422 --> 02:53.066 [SPEAKER_00]: You have a father who loves to give you good gifts. 02:54.788 --> 03:00.996 [SPEAKER_00]: So often, we think of God as a harsh disciplinarian, who never lets his kids enjoy life. 03:02.317 --> 03:13.010 [SPEAKER_00]: We assume he will say no to anything that gives us pleasure, as if he only wanted us to go to church more, pray more, or give more time and money. 03:14.512 --> 03:17.455 [SPEAKER_00]: But that's not the heart of your father. 03:17.435 --> 03:23.266 [SPEAKER_00]: your God is the author of joy, pleasure, happiness, and good gifts. 03:24.629 --> 03:30.360 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for your life to be filled with the perfect gifts he has planned for you every day. 03:32.485 --> 03:39.358 [SPEAKER_00]: John 10 says, I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 03:41.549 --> 03:43.031 [SPEAKER_00]: as your perfect shepherd. 03:43.872 --> 03:51.823 [SPEAKER_00]: God will faithfully guide you to and supply you with all you need to live marked by fullness of life. 03:54.306 --> 04:08.164 [SPEAKER_00]: In Matthew 1914, Jesus displays the heart of the Father when he says, let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. 04:10.422 --> 04:11.384 [SPEAKER_00]: as our Father. 04:12.145 --> 04:15.831 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs for us as his children to simply be with Him. 04:17.133 --> 04:24.425 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for us to know His love and embrace, to let it be the foundation of everything we do. 04:26.308 --> 04:29.152 [SPEAKER_00]: More than God desires any task of you. 04:29.753 --> 04:31.536 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for your heart. 04:32.680 --> 04:45.238 [SPEAKER_00]: So great was his desire for just the opportunity of relationship with you that Jesus displayed the fullness of God's unconditional love by willingly laying down his life for you. 04:46.973 --> 04:52.861 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no room in Scripture to view God as anything but perfectly loving and good. 04:54.523 --> 05:06.860 [SPEAKER_00]: View God as the good Father He is and run to Him with open arms and an open heart that you might find the fullness of life in His eternal embrace. 05:09.103 --> 05:16.913 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time and guided prayer to allow God's presence to overcome misconceptions you might 05:17.905 --> 05:24.571 [SPEAKER_00]: Often, if we've been in church for long enough, we stop at a theological understanding of God the Father. 05:24.631 --> 05:31.336 [SPEAKER_00]: And don't allow time and space for him to heal our hearts and transform our lives. 05:32.457 --> 05:33.758 [SPEAKER_00]: Don't let that happen today. 05:33.798 --> 05:47.490 [SPEAKER_00]: You have a good father who loves and longs to simply meet with you. 05:54.608 --> 06:20.059 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, receive God's presence as you meditate on Scripture. 06:21.372 --> 06:34.926 [SPEAKER_00]: 1 John chapter 3 verse 1 says, see what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God and so we are. 07:12.757 --> 07:35.963 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, ask God how he feels about you, listen and quiet your soul to receive a revelation of his heart. 07:37.563 --> 07:43.978 [SPEAKER_00]: St. Augustine said, God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. 08:29.099 --> 08:29.780 [SPEAKER_00]: and last. 08:31.043 --> 08:34.409 [SPEAKER_00]: Where do you need to apply God's character to your life? 08:35.992 --> 08:41.443 [SPEAKER_00]: In what ways are you living as if God was a task master rather than a good father? 08:41.483 --> 08:51.462 [SPEAKER_00]: In what ways are you seeking to provide for yourself rather than working to receive provision God has already promised? 08:53.298 --> 09:08.058 [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 7, verses 9 through 11 says, which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent. 09:09.420 --> 09:21.516 [SPEAKER_00]: If you then who are 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. 10:06.029 --> 10:08.973 [SPEAKER_00]: in every trial and circumstance you face today. 10:09.013 --> 10:12.678 [SPEAKER_00]: God has a plan to lead you perfectly. 10:12.718 --> 10:19.366 [SPEAKER_00]: He is not a God who sits back and watches as we try to figure life out. 10:20.468 --> 10:29.279 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants to get involved in all that you do, just as a perfect father wants to help his children succeed and live with joy. 10:29.300 --> 10:33.505 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask God what he thinks about what you're doing. 10:34.514 --> 10:38.861 [SPEAKER_00]: If you run into a problem today, ask for the Spirit's guidance. 10:40.583 --> 10:44.589 [SPEAKER_00]: Doing your day with God is the absolute best way to live. 10:45.651 --> 10:48.956 [SPEAKER_00]: He knows everything and has a perfect plan for you. 10:50.799 --> 10:55.105 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to listen to God and trust his leading. 11:20.785 --> 11:24.049 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 11:24.069 --> 11:25.591 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with verse 15. 11:26.552 --> 11:33.760 [SPEAKER_00]: While the notion of God being a father has been life-giving for so many, I know it can also be really challenging. 11:34.721 --> 11:43.772 [SPEAKER_00]: None of us grew up with a perfect father, but for some of you the very word father might stir up truly painful memories and emotions. 11:43.752 --> 11:51.363 [SPEAKER_00]: If that's you, if the idea of God being your father is anything but beneficial, it's okay to leave that metaphor behind. 11:52.165 --> 12:07.768 [SPEAKER_00]: But if you'd like to walk the journey of allowing God to reveal himself as a father, that you might have that name, that relationship restored, just know that you have a good guide in the Holy Spirit who would love to journey with you. 12:08.272 --> 12:15.953 [SPEAKER_00]: May God guide us all into the fullness of relationship with Him, and may God bless you as you see Him.