Call No One on Earth, Father

The Sunday morning Sermon at Open Door Church was presented by Pastor Rodney.  I could only catch portions of his message as some voices are difficult for me to hear.  This is an edited and digested sermon using the scriptures placed on the screen while I was taking notes. Some thoughts are mine.

When Studying Scripture, it is important to read verses before and after a statement, in order to bring clarification.  Jesus was teaching against hypocrisy, pride and those who seek “Titles” to be seen of men.

Mathew 23:6-12  The Scribes and Pharisees love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you; do not be called ‘Rabbi;’ for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.  Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

 

Close examination shows us that this was an example in pride and the use of Rabbi, teacher and father on earth, is acceptable.

A Man can be a father on earth, even if they are not the biological Father.  Consider Joseph and Jesus.

Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

Joseph a just man, thought to put her away secretly not wanting a scandal. 

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him not to fear and to take Mary as his wife. 

The angel explained; All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6.

In the natural this did not make sense, but Joseph did as the angel said and took Mary as his wife and became an earthly father to Jesus.

 

Jesus taught in Matthew 15:4 to honor your father and your mother. 

Paul repeated this admonition in Ephesians 6  “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Paul also gave instruction to Fathers:  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Some people never knew their earthly father, due to death or abandonment.  Or their father may not have been a good role model, regardless he was their father and should be honored.

Jesus came to reveal God as our Heavenly Father, who only desires good for his children.

One example Jesus gave was if the children were hungry, an earthly father would not offer them a stone or a snake.  Jesus went on to say that God desires good gifts for His children and if they ask He will pour out His Holy Spirit upon them..

We can come to the Father God, through Jesus Christ the son.  

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

Fathers

 

 

What does the word “Father” mean to you?  That was the question our Bible Study teacher asked us as class began.  I took notes and present her digested lesson.

The answers came:  Provider, Safety, Caring.

We understand what an earthly father is, and Jesus revealed the Heavenly Father.

1 Peter 1:14-17   As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in awe - -

The enemy attacks relationships, families and the earthly fathers relating to his children.  Not all fathers are kind and some have been abusive giving out harsh punishment thus leaving bad memories.  Others abandoned their family leaving them to fend for themselves.

God is the perfect Father, and because we are made in His image, He sees us as perfect. His promise is to never leave or forsake us.

Our desire is to become like our Heavenly Father.  God is a good father, but he is a responsible father, not allowing us to get away with sloppy living.  He demands Holy living from us.

Ephesians 3:14-15 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named - -

How do we become children of God?  By faith in Jesus Christ.  To become part of God’s family we go through the Son.

Our teacher told us about a recent encounter with a Chinese woman who shared about the Chinese culture.  Their main Religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity.

The woman said, the Christian churches are all registered.  She did not know anything about the underground Churches, and declared that all religions are the same.  Our teacher corrected her by saying, “No they are not all the same, for Christianity has a living God.”

Obedient children need to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit.  We need to treat each other as one big family.

We can’t choose our earthly father, but we can choose our Heavenly Father.  Jesus said in John 8:44 that the religious leaders were of their father the devil, and he is a liar and a murderer.  (They became like their father when they killed Jesus.)

Our teacher gave an example of a young Jewish girl forbidden to enter the temple with her father, as boundaries and tradition was in place.  Not understanding, she had sort of a tantrum and shouted, “Abba father, let me go with you.”  We are children of God and we cry Abba Father. 

As Christians, our Father God allows us to enter boldly into His throne room.

When you are a tiny baby, you are cared for by your parents.  As you grow up responsibility continues as parents and teachers instruct us.

At times we need to be re-parented, for when we rebel there will be consequences.  We must come to God submitting as little children.

The Bible is God’s intimate love letter to His children.  He tells us we are wonderfully made and special to Him.  In Christianity there is no partiality, no separation of status: the rich, the poor, servants, male or female, all are equal in God’s sight.

Our Father God loves you so much that he willingly sent His beloved son to die for you so that you might be saved and not perish.  Ask, seek and knock and the door will be opened unto you.  God only has good gifts for you because he loves and cares for you.

Father, Son, and Holy Bible???

"Father, Son, and Holy Bible???"

Guest Mark Virkler, Cheektowaga, NY, via Elijah List

Mark and Patti Virkle

Does the Church Have a Problem With the Holy Spirit?

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 NKJV

Since the historical Church has minimized the role of the Holy Spirit, and replaced living by the Spirit (see Galatians 5:25) with living by the Bible, we need to restore Him to His rightful place in our lives.

Note the first part of the "Apostles' Creed" below [used by much of the Western Church for centuries], (source: spurgeon.org):

- I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.

- I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into Heaven and is seated on the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

- I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church...

Notice that those who wrote this creed have absolutely nothing to say about the Holy Spirit other than He exists!

 

Is the Bible itself really that silent about the Holy Spirit, or do we have a problem here? (Photo via Pixabay)

Well, we have written an entire book in which we guide the reader in looking up every Scripture verse about the Holy Spirit, and journaling about it, with the goal of discovering WHO HE IS and what He does and how we are to relate and interact with Him. This book is called Intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

I have condensed the five-page summary prayer at the end of the book (pages 209-214), to the following simple prayer you can hang on your mirror and pray every morning and evening:

Holy Spirit, come.
I come to You.
I welcome You.
I will not grieve You.
I look to see You, and You show me Your perspective.
You give me Your thoughts.
You tell me what's on the heart of God.
I feel You.
You release God's emotions within me.
You guide me.
You anoint my lips, my mind, my heart, my hands.
You make me creative.
You sanctify me for my life's work.
You release Your personality through me.
You release in me the power to be holy.
You release the power of God to me.
Let Your words flow through me.
Authenticate Your words with Your power.
You take me away...
Holy Spirit, come.

How to Remove the Number One Block to a Prophetic Lifestyle: Value the Holy Spirit

(Photo by Linda Harris-Iorio "Keeper of the Flame"

Wouldn't this be a good time to prayerfully explore every verse in the Bible on the Holy Spirit? This would allow you to discover all that He desires to do for you. Also, you will learn how you can effectively interact with Him every day, all day, thus ascending to your Biblically commanded posture of living and walking by the Spirit (see Galatians 5:25).

 

You will be allowing the God of Scripture to guide your daily walk rather than displacing Him with a book He has written which describes other people's experiences with Him.

I love what Pastor Bill Johnson says, "It's hard to have the same fruit as the early Church when we value a book they didn't have above the Holy Spirit they did have.

What are your insights on Holy Spirit and your experiences with Him? Let your testimony bless others and encourage them in their walk in the Spirit!