Show Us The Father
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 06/28/2020
Foundation Scriptures:
Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father [cause us to see the Father — that is all we ask]; then we shall be satisfied. 9 Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father? John 14:8-9 AMPC
1. Jesus Showed Us the Father.
a. God is known by many names in the Old Testament, each of which reveal aspects of His character.
b. Jesus further revealed Who He is and introduced Him to us as Father.
c. In the New Testament, He is called: My Father; Heavenly Father; Lord of heaven and earth; Holy Father; Righteous Father; God our Father; God the Father; the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; Father of mercies; Father of glory; Father of spirits; Father of lights.
d. Father God is the Head of the family (Ephesians 3:14-15; Matthew 23:9; 1 Corinthians 8:6).
e. Sinners are not children of God and cannot know Him as Father.
f. To become a child of God and have the authority to call Him Father, you must be born again of the Holy Spirit and be adopted into His family.
g. Matthew 12:50 KJV — For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
2. The Father’s Plan.
a. He is compassionate and forgiving (Psalm 145:8-9; Isaiah 55:7).
b. He is good to all—He takes care of the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45).
c. He is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25).
d. The Father sent Jesus and the only way to the Father is through Jesus (John 1:12; 1 John 1:3; 2:23; 4:14; Romans 5:1-2).
e. The goodness of God causes people to repent (Romans 2:4).
f. His gospel program is universal; He is willing to save all, or He would not have invited all (Isaiah 45:22; John 3:16; Romans 10:11-13; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Rev. 22:17).
g. All who accept the invitation will be saved and pardoned (John 1:12; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:8-14; Isaiah 1:18).
h. He requires of us that we: Follow Him; walk in His paths; cleave (cling) to Him; reverently fear Him; keep His commandments; obey His voice; serve Him.
3. The Father’s Character.
a. God is Love (and Love is what motivates Him).
b. 1 John 4:16 KJV — And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
c. He loved us SO much, He sacrificed His one and only begotten Son to save and redeem us (1 John 4:9; 4:14-21).
d. We didn’t love Him first—He loved us first; He loved us when we were still unworthy (1 John 4:10).
e. He didn’t send Jesus to condemn or judge the ungodly, but to save them (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:6-9).
f. We must recognize how great this love is, that has paid the ultimate price and bought us the privilege to be called His children (1 John 3:1).
g. Nothing can separate us from His love—which is boundless; endless; fathomless; exhaustless; measureless (Romans 8:31-39).
4. The Father’s Heart.
a. I know God as my Father because: He loves me; He adopted me; He knows what I need; He hears and answers my prayers; He provides everything I need: help, comfort, healing, deliverance, provision, protection; He teaches and instructs me; He brings correction when I need it; He is forgiving when I repent; He will never fail me.
b. He is a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5-6).
c. It was His will and plan to redeem and adopt us into His family—even from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-7; Galatians 1:3-4).
d. We are no longer servants, but sons (Galatians 4:1-6; Romans 8:14-15).
e. Not only are we adopted as sons, but we are entitled to the same inheritance as His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 4:7; Ephesians 1:11; 1 Peter 1:3-4).
f. He shows mercy and pity to His children; understands our weaknesses and need of His help (Psalms 103:8-14).
g. He comforts His children (2 Corinthians 1:2-4).
h. He loves His children; therefore, He corrects and disciplines them (Proverbs 3:11-12; 13:24; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelations 3:19).
i. He rewards obedience (Deuteronomy 11:27; Job 36:11).
j. 2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV — For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
k. God’s hand is against His enemies, but never against His children (John 10:10).
5. The Father’s Provision.
a. God loves His children more than do earthly parents.
b. He knows what you need (Matthew 6:8; 26; 31-34).
c. He hears and answers all prayers (Matthew 6:6, 33; 7:7-11; 1 Peter 3:12; Hebrews 11:6).
d. He gives only good and perfect gifts—to those who ask Him (James 1:17-18; Luke 11:11-13).
e. Psalm 84:11 KJV — For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
f. He is for us and freely and generously gives us all things (Romans 8:31-32).
g. The Lord is good to those who trust Him—they will lack no good thing (Psalms 34:8-10; 1 Timothy 6:17 AMPC).
h. He is well able to save us and to keep us (1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3).
i. He will NEVER fail you, forsake you, or let you down (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5-6 AMPC).