The Best Father Is The Heavenly Father
We Need More Fathers
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:15
“For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.”
Many teachers. Few fathers.
The Faith of Our Fathers
(Hebrews 11:15-16) God is not ashamed to be called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has prepared a place for them. They left all temporary hope for the eternal hope in Christ. They never looked back.
Tabernacle life is faith life. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived a life of faith.
God’s Children Leave All - It’s a natural, new way of life
The Scriptures call us to leave, hate, and forget — so that we may fully belong to God and do all that He asks.
(Mark 10:28-30) — Things and our own people
(Luke 14:26) — Earthly burdens, to carry the cross
(Psalms 45:10) — The father’s house and earthly thinking
(Genesis 12:1-2) — God tells Abraham to leave
We belong to God — we do all things God asks.
(Deuteronomy 33:3) — “Indeed, He loves His people; all His holy ones are in His hands. They follow in His steps and accept His teaching.”
(Deuteronomy 33:9) — “The Levites obeyed Your word and guarded Your covenant. They were more loyal to You than to their own parents. They ignored their relatives and did not acknowledge their own children.”
How Did the Heavenly Father Show His Love for Us?
The Heavenly Father gave His only Son Jesus — so He could have us all to Himself.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gave His life for His sheep. (John 10:11)
Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Luke 20:37) — God sets His people apart to do His work. (John 10:36) — The Father set Jesus apart and sent Him into the world.
The Anointed Jesus brought the Beautiful Gospel to all. (Isaiah 61:1-2) — We are called to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-19)
Jesus suffered for us — and we are called to suffer with Christ.(Hebrews 5:8-9) — (Isaiah 50:6) — “I gave my back to those who struck me, and let people mock and deride me.” (Isaiah 53:11) — To present others righteous before God, He died and rose again.
Jesus lived forsaking the world. (Matthew 8:19-20)
The Call of Every Believer
The disciples were made holy and anointed (John 17:18-19; John 20:21-22), given authority, called to suffer (Philippians 3:10-11), and called to forsake the world (Luke 14:33).
Every believer is called to live like a disciple.
(1 Timothy 5:6) — “Those who live only for pleasure are dead even while they live.”
The Beauty of Zion
The Heavenly Father blesses us out of Zion. What is the beauty of Zion? It is the character of Jesus, who exemplified the love of the Father.
Perfection - Psalms 50:2
Holiness - Psalms 96:6-9
Consecration - Psalms 45:10
Humility (Ashes) - Isaiah 61:3
Becoming Like a Father
Abraham believed, and God became everything for him. (Romans 4:17) The God of peace and comfort kept him until the very end. (Isaiah 66:13)
Who will make us like a father?
Elijah made a simple prayer before the altar — and fire came from above. (1 Kings 18:36)
Place your burdens on the altar. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit fall upon you and transform you into Zion’s beauty.
Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.
