The Father's Good Pleasure
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 06/16/2019
Foundation Scriptures:
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. John 16:23-28 KJV
1. Jesus Came to Show Us the Father.
a. I and my Father are one (John 10:30).
b. If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father.
c. John 14:9 AMPC — 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?
d. Jesus said: “For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me.” (John 6:38 AMPC)
2. God is a Good God.
a. Jesus was God manifest in the flesh.
b. Acts 10:38 KJV — How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
c. Seventy percent of His life and ministry was healing the sick and casting out devils.
d. Matthew 4:23-24 KJV — And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
e. God is a good God.
f. Matthew 7:11 KJV — If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
g. Jesus told us: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 KJV)
h. Father God is willing and well-pleased to save you and to bless you with His abundant life.
i. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, Himself.
j. James 1:17 KJV — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
3. Ask the Father, In the Name of Jesus.
a. Jesus said: “Don’t ask Me for anything. And don’t ask Me to ask the Father for you.”
b. He said: “You ask the Father, in My Name.”
c. The Father is waiting to hear from you.
d. You have not—because you ask not (James 4:2).
4. The Father Loves YOU.
a. He loves the world (agape).
b. John 3:16 KJV — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
c. Father God loves the whole world with “agape” love—unconditional love.
d. He sees each, and every, person as valuable and precious—even though they are undeserving.
e. Father God loves His beloved children with both “agape” love AND “phileo” love.
f. John 16:27 KJV — For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
g. Phileo is a more personal and intimate love.
h. It is reciprocal; based on the quality of the relationship.
i. He loves us with “phileo” love—because we love, obey, and trust Him.
5. It Is A Personal Relationship.
a. We come into relationship, and fellowship, with the Father, through Jesus Christ.
b. Ephesians 2:13-18 NKJV — But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
c. Once, we were cut off from God—but were reconciled to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ—and now, we have direct access to Him.
d. 1 John 1:3 KJV — That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
e. Talk to your Father; spend time with Him; fellowship with Him.
f. Work on building your relationship with Him.
g. Then, when you need His help, ask Him for it.
h. And He promises to hear and to answer.