FATHER'S DAY 2003 
 

INTRODUCTION: 
A. Today is the national holiday designated as Fathers Day.

B. It is a day to honor our fathers and remember those who have gone before.

C. Let*s study about the Greatest Father of all, "our Father who art in heaven."

D. The qualities of God as a Father: 

I. AS A FATHER PITIES HIS CHILDREN, Psalm 103:13. 
A. As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.

B. 7355 racham (raw-kham'); to love, especially to compassionate:

KJV-- have compassion (on, upon), love, (find, have, obtain, shew) mercy (-iful, on, upon),   (have) pity, Ruhamah, X surely.

C. God is full of compassion:

1. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant    in mercy and truth. Psalm 86:15.

2. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.

Psalm 145:8.

D. As a good father, He looks upon us with compassion. 

II. HE IS THE FATHER OF MERCIES, 2 Corinthians 1:3. 
A. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all   comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3.

B. MERCY:

1. 2617 checed (kheh'-sed); kindness; by implication (towards God) piety:

2. 2603 chanan (khaw-nan'); a primitive root [compare 2583]; properly, to bend or stoop in    kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow;

C. From the Psalms:

1. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Psalm 103:8  2. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and    His righteousness to children's children, Psalm 103:17.

3. Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures    forever. Psalm 106:1. 

III. OUR FATHER GIVES GOOD GIFTS, Matthew 7:9-11. 
A. Earthly fathers do good for their children, and our heavenly Father will do even more.

1. A good father would not give stone for bread or a serpent instead of a fish.

2. "NOTE the contrast between "know how to give" and "give." Although God is like man in    man's highest and best capacity, he is also far better than man. Men, taught by the deepest    instincts, and carrying within themselves footprints of the Eternal, indeed know how to    do good but do not always do it. God, on the other hand, will surely do that which is     right." (Coffman Commentary on Matthew).

B. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of    lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17. 

IV. OUR FATHER LOVES US. 
A. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children   of God! 1 John 3:1.

1. In one sense, you could say that we are all children of God, considering the fact that we    are created by Him in His image, Genesis 1:27.

2. However, there is a special group of people who are considered His spiritual children.

B. How do I become a child of God?

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were    baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:26-27. 

V. WE CAN CRY "ABBA FATHER", Romans 8:15. 
A. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of    adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15.

B. ABBA : an Aramaic word which corresponds to our "Daddy" or "Papa."

1. It is a term of endearment found three times in the New Testament: in the Garden of     Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "Abba, Father" (Mark 14:36); the apostle Paul linked the     Christian's cry of "Abba, Father" with the "Spirit of adoption" (Rom. 8:15); and, again,    Paul writes, "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His son into your     hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Gal. 4:6). (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

2. What a blessed privilege it is to be given the right to call the great Creator, "Our Father"!

3. According to the traditional teaching of the Jews, slaves were forbidden to address the    head of the family by this title. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words). 

VI. WE SHOULD DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER 
A. That is what Jesus did while on the earth.

1. Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His    work. John 4:34.

2. "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to    do." John 17:4.

 B. In the Garden, Jesus prayed: "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;    nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:39.

C. "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,* shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who   does the will of My Father in heaven." Matthew 7:21. 

CONCLUSION:  
A. Remember THE FATHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON, Luke 15.

B. God today waits for you to come to Him.

C. Will you? 
 

Deut 32:6

6 Do you thus deal with the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?  

 

Isa 64:8

8 But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.  

 

Mal 1:6

6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, `In what way have we despised Your name?'