OUR FATHER..
Matthew 6 These two simple words are two of the most powerful words ever communicated between God and man. In the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray, these are the first two words. Our is significant for a myriad of reasons which include:
- When we come to God, we must acknowledge that we exist in community. Absolutely, no man is an island. We are all a part of a whole system.
- We are built for service. All jobs tend to serve others. Even in politics, those who lead are called ministers, eg. prime minister. Doctors, lawyers, chefs, schools, hospitals and service stations all exist to serve others.
- Though some of us many times try to operate independently, we need each other. We need the farmer, the household helper, the garbage collector, etc.. No one is inessential. Just as the body needs the pinky finger, so too we need each other.
- Each part has a different role. In order for us to successfully advance, we need to voluntarily support each other. The individual has to take care of the elbow as well as the knee. When one part of the body is hurting, it affects the rest of the body and it's ability to function optimally.
- Though we are unique, God sees us as a unit. HE expects us to come to HIM on behalf of each other. HE expects us to fulfill HIS divine purpose, and also to represent each other amicably.
When we kneel to pray to God for ourselves, we should always remember to pray for the rest of the body. Christ is the head, and we are the body. Colossians 1 The believers in Christ represent the ecclessia. We are supposed to govern, to dominate. Our role in the earth is to advance the kingdom of God based on the evidence of our love. John 13. We cannot claim to love God whom we have not seen if we don't or refuse to love our fellow brothers whom we see. For nothing is impossible with God. Some people are very hard to love; but it is God's power that enables us to do so.
12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. 13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.
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God's essential plan is to build HIS heavenly kingdom on earth through the believers in Christ Jesus. Matthew 16 Those of us who believe in Christ follow HIM, and are become exposed to our father God, based on Jesus' teachings and manifestation. John 3. Jesus re-introduced God to the world as father. Being born again is a spiritual occurrence. Are you born again? The laws are the mirror which show us the error of our ways. Faith is the how to directive of positive change for what you see. Jesus brought a different mindset to us as believers. Except for Adam and Eve, we generally experienced God as the Lord God Almighty who was to be feared. Jesus made our relationship more personal. HE introduced us to God as our father. Before then, 0ur relationship had become estranged. Essentially, John the Baptist prepared the soil. Jesus planted the seeds. Jesus put us back on track. HE became the way. John 14 We regained access to God's lap as HIS children. Prior to Jesus' intervention, only the high priest had personal access to the father. Jesus' death on the cross changed everything. Matthew 27 God revealed HIS sovereign plan to mankind.
But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in HIS name, — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Have you encountered HIM in this capacity? Do you believe in HIS grace? Not just grace for forgiveness, but grace for power to overcome. As a heir and co-heir with Christ you have power and authority. Your allegiance gives you power. Do you understand? Romans 8 The Almighty God is and has always been our father. A real father is secure and responsible. His children run to him especially for hard challenges. He is a safe space. His children are excited to see him. He nurtures, guides, teaches, protects them and sustains his family. Unfortunately, several of us have never known the reality of a father, so we cannot relate to the truth of this experience. Instead, we are fearful, doubtful and plagued with unbelief. (But fortunately, the role of the Holy Spirit is to teach us everything about HIM.)
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.
A father is a symbol of trust. Many of us struggle to trust God. In fact, until you experience HIM as your Father, you will never trust in HIM. John 15 It's a completely different kind of a relationship when you know God as father and not just as God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose
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When God made man in Genesis 3, HIS intent was to commune with us on a daily basis. It was man's sin that separated us from God's fellowship. In fact, Adam and Eve hid from God when they sinned. Are you hiding from God? Are you hiding anything from God? Inspite of their lies, God still covered them. God always cares, are you convinced? Lies and fear are two of the devils most popular weapons. he has no new tricks. Since then, over and over the devil deceives the Israelites. They turn away from God and exchange their freedom for the devil's slavery. Then they run back to God, He delivers and restores them, then they run again. It's been one ridiculous cycle after another. Is that your cycle today?. Does the devil have anything on you? sooner than later, he will use it. Do you see the devil for who he really is? All of the devil's offers are an entrapment. You always lose something. Things are never as they appear, never. Do you feel trapped? What have you bartered?
God is the only creator, never forget that. HE is the only one who can create something out of nothing. We, including the devil, all are manufacturers. We work with already existing materials. The devil is in the exchange business. he takes this from you to give to me, and this from me to give to another. his warehouse is not original. his mode of apparatus is barter. our win is seasonally deceptive. his power is temporal. he is a chief deceiver. John 10 he manipulates our hearts and resources that God already gave to us. he is only able to continue to do this because of the access we grant to him. his power is temporal. Jesus' death on the cross returned those keys to us that Adam and Eve previously gave him. Revelations 1 he has whatever control we allow him. That's it. Jesus returned the power to us that our forefathers gave to the devil. We're all cut from the same cloth. What God gave to one, HE gives to all. Believe HIM. Commit to trying! Train for the discipline. No expert is built overnight! It is worth it! You are!
I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you
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Matthew 18:3
Jesus said, “What I'm about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don't, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
On becoming HIS child..
God's role in our lives has not changed. It's our acceptance of HIM that makes the difference. As a father, we are assured of HIS motives. HE loves us no matter what, and His intent is to bring us favor. Even when it's unpleasant, that's when we should run to HIM first and foremost. We are confident that HE will defend and rescue us. We run to HIM for everything good or bad. We want His opinion. We regard HIS opinion. We seek to impress HIM, to gain HIS approval. We enjoy spending time with HIM, and we never want HIM to leave. That's what fathering is all about, consistent love and security. We have to let HIM love us. We have to give HIM a chance and invite HIM in. We cannot know HIM in this capacity if we don't let HIM in. Nothing happens if nothing happens. Just as someone becomes a wife or husband, so too we have to become childlike. Jump into HIS arms. Run to HIM. Walk behind HIM, beside HIM, with HIM. Enjoy HIS humor. Let HIM make you smile.
Jesus said, “What I'm about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don't, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Children jump into their parent's arms, chase and obey them blindly. In fact, children don't understand anything about the adult decisions made on their behalf. They trust their parent's decisions, that's it. Hopefully, it's love and not hate. It's anticipated. The real question is, do you believe that God loves you? So why as a child of God do you not chase and obey your father blindly? Don't you trust HIS love? Do you really? Prove it!
TESTIMONY: I thought New Age Would Bring Me Healing, But I Was Trapped In Darkness | I Met Messiah
WORSHIP: Spirit Break Out - Kim Walker-Smith w/ Lyrics
