Mary KassianDistinguished Professor of Women’s Studies (2005) • • • • •

Mary Kassian is an award winning author, internationally renowned speaker, and has published several books, Bible studies and videos, including:

In My Father’s House: Finding Your Heart’s True Home, Conversation Peace, and Vertically Inclined. Professor Kassian has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, and Marriage Uncensored.

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Contents

• Week 1– Day 1– Day 2– Day 3– Day 4– Day 5 Longing for the Father

• Week 2– Day 1– Day 2

• Week 2– Day 3– Day 4– Day 5

• Week 3– Day 1– Day 2– Day 3– Day 4– Day 5

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Week 1

• How well do you know your Heavenly Father?• Let’s identify ways God is a Father to us• Understand gender imagery• Experience with your earthly father is

shadowing your perception of God• Let’s commit to getting to know God as Father

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The Fatherhood of God

• Wrestling, play-fighting, generous hugs, unconditional love

Kirsten finds it easy to grasp the conceptOf a personal relationship with aHeavenly Father who loves unconditionallyAnd provides security.

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“God has said of you, ‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they

shall be my people’ “ (2 Cor 6:16)

• Term Father expresses who God is and how He relates to us; we are His children

• Jesus came to reveal the fatherhood of God and to restore our relationship to God

Jesus said: “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you … I have made you known to

them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I

myself may be in them”, Jn 17:25-26

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Acknowledgement

• When we acknowledge Jesus, we acknowledge the Father

No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also (1 Jn 2:23)

• Through Jesus we have access to God by His Spirit (Eph 2:18)

• Ultimate mission of the Trinity is to reconcile us with the Father and help us know Him.

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J I Packer

• “To know God as our father – as our almighty, loving Father – is the highest, richest, and most rewarding aspect of our whole relationship with him.”

Do you want to develop a more intimate relationship with Father God?Tell Him why in your handout.

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One of the greatest joys of my life was holding my baby daughter right after she was born. To realize I had a daughter, to understand that I was a daddy. What makes it so special to be the daddy of a girl? Maybe the

way she calls me Daddy! No one else in the world can call me that. It is also the incredible way she says it.

Day 2

God as Father

“Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 Jn 1:3

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God

Creator

Israel

Adoptive

Jesus

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God, the Creator Father "There is but one God, the Father, from whom all

things came and for whom we live." (1 Cor 8:6)• Humans are creatures

of God (Acts 17:28)• Irrational to worship

idols that they themselves have created

• Worship the God who created, or fathered, them

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God, the Father of Israel "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are

the potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isa 64:8)

• Covenantal relationship to His covenant nation, Israel, chosen to be the children of God (Jer 31:1,9)

“How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me.” (Jer 3:19)

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God, the Father of Jesus "The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35)

• Jesus exists eternally• Relate as Father and

son, yet equal, both fully God

• Intimacy with God angered the Jews, claimed oneness with God (Jn 5:18)

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God, the Adoptive Father"When the time had fully come, God sent his

Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive

the full rights of sons" (Gal 4:4-5)

• Jesus made this adoptive relationship with God possible through His sacrifice on the cross. …

Story of Sarah’s two fathers: birth father vs the man who reared her

Write prayer thanking God in handout

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Day 3 -Daughters as Sons of God

“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Rom 8:14)

My dad died when I was 2 yrs old. Growing up without an earthly father left a deep ache, a lonely gap, a hunger. I long to be held and loved, to know my father is present. I get choked up when I watch little girls throw themselves confidently into the big, strong embrace of their fathers, laughing and squealing “Daddy! Pick me up!” or just plain “Daddy!” I regard the father-daughter relationship as the most vulnerable, and thus the most tender, of all human relationships. It blows my mind when I think that God longs to relate to me in that way.

Patti

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Contemporary thought …..

• God is prejudiced against women• Men by nature are abusive and oppressive• Blame Christian religion for what they

perceive as men’s prejudice against women• God is unacceptable to women because He’s

identified as a man• God legitimizes male dominance and abuse of

women• God does not want daughters

Do activity, p. 4

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Finally, it is a boy, (after 4 abortions)

30,000 females aborted in 1 year alone in S Korea

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Who, me, a woman?

• “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:26-27

• “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor 6:18)

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Word “son” in the Hebrew language• The word son is used figuratively to characterize

people as to their origin and nature– Sons of prophets : Acts 3:25– Sons of the resurrection: Luke 20:36– A son of peace: Luke 10:6– Son of the devil: Acts 13:10– Sons of disobedience: Eph 2:2

• Sons of men means humans, people of mortal origin and character– Jn 5:18-23: offended Jews that Jesus said he

originated with God and was of the same character as God

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He called believers “his sons”

• Does not mean male offspring• Find our origin in Him and of the same nature

as Him• Correlates a persons’ redemptive relationship

to the Father with Jesus’ relationship to the Father

• Jesus is the Son of God and believers are “sons” of God

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The Bride of Christ

• Gender imagery reveals God’s character and His relationship to us.

• Male pronouns because this symbolism most accurately represents who He is in relationship with the other members of the Godhead and who He is in relationship to us

• Redeemed women, along with redeemed men, relate as “sons of God”

Write the prayer

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Day 4 -The Influence of Earthly Fathers

• “We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!” (Heb 12:9)

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LisaWhen I think about my two Fathers – earthly and heavenly – I picture a warped, smudged window. I see God through the window of my dad so that the image I have of God the Father is really very warped. Emotionally, I fear ridicule. I fear not

measuring up to His expectations. I fear closeness and intimacy. I have begun to pray that God would give me strength to move aside the window of my earthly dad so I can see my Heavenly Father clearly.

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Portraiture

How would you draw your Dad?

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Your image of Father God

• Is it based on your own father?– If earthly fathers, who are evil, know how to act

with kindness and generosity toward their children ….

• Perfect fatherhood of God– Revealed in the Bible

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Negative/positive characteristicsof your father

• Present• Unloving• Weak• Affectionat

e• Affirming• Accepting

• Abusive• Generous• Gentle• Forgiving• Insecure• Lazy• Undependable

• Patient• Honest• Responsible• Kind• Controllin

g• Angry• Neglectful

Circle the positive, underline the negative

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God cares for His children

• Search for the portrait of the perfect fatherhood of God as revealed in the Bible.– Matthew 7:9-10– Luke 11:13– Hebrews 12:9-11

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Day 5 - Longing for the Father

• My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Ps 84:2)

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Visionary Role

My dad, more than anyone else, has played a visionary role in my life. He challenges me to think big, to invest my life

wisely, and to change my world. I know without a doubt that my dad loves me, believes in me, and wants the best for me. Based on my relationship with my dad, I have no problem giving God the Father my obedience and trust. I think I would be miles behind in Christianity had it not been for a strong relationship with my dad.

Karen

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Cry out• Spontaneous expression• Intense• Emotional depth• Longing

“Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I

will certainly hear their cry …” Ex 22:23

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Verses for “cry out”

• Luke 18:6• Hosea 7:13• Prov 21:13• Ps 88:1• Ps 72:12• Ps 57:2• Ps 34:17• Ps 22

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The Spirit of Fear

What do you see?

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The Spirit of Fear

• 2 Tim 1:7: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

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After Conversion, Adopted

• Not second-best• Chosen• Greater prestige

and privilege• Highly favored• Received the Spirit

of adoption and His son in our hearts

http://www.cwla.org/voice/0611adoption.htm for the image

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Sonship

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His

Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out,

“Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but

a son; and since you are a son, God has made you

also an heir. (Gal 4:6-7)

15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you

a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of

sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.” 16

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we

are God’s children. (Romans 8:15-16)

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God the Father

• Abba (Aramaic language)• Daddy• Papa• Dear Father

God

longing

intimacy

emotional

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Now can we say?

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Week 2 – Our Relational Father God

• Love languages• The Father loves you very much• The Father’s basic disposition• Personalize the Father’s promise to be near

you• Commit to being a friend of God

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Week 2 – Our Relational Father God, cont’d

• Day 1 -Expressions of His Love• Day 2 – Dimensions of His Love• Day 3 – Qualities of His Love• Day 4 – The Father’s Presence• Day 5 – Friendship with the Father

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Meet Bilguis Sheikh

• The Bible vs. the Koran

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,“ says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isa 54:10

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Day 1 – Expressions of His Love

My Dad was a quiet man, but never has so much love been communicated with so few words. I’ll never forget the day I was writing

my final accounting exam. About an hour before the exam, I answered the doorbell to

find a vase of rosebuds on the floor. The inscription on the card simply said “Dad”, but

the gesture said so much more. Dad never said, “I love you” in so many words. But he

would squeeze me tight – and with eyes filled with tears, would mumble “You’re my girl.”

And I understood exactly what he was saying.

Andrea

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Five Love Languages - Chapman

• Words of Affirmation• Quality time• Receiving gifts• Acts of service• Physical touch

Take the test @ http://www.afo.net/hftw-lovetest.asp

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The Father’s Love Languages

• Uses all five– His words– His actions– His time and attention– The gifts He gives– Gave Jesus physically “God with us”

The Father wants you to know, without a doubt, just how much He loves you.

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Growing in the Father’s Love

• Psalm 48:9, “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”

• Meditation is close or continued thought; the revolving of a subject in the mind.

Yes, I have loved you with aneverlasting love; Thereforewith lovingkindness I have

drawn you. Jer 31:3

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Spend time meditating on HIS love

Continued thoughtRevolving of a

subject in the mind

To engage in thought or

Reflect

Meditation

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Day 2Dimensions of His Love

The Father’s Love Is GreatThe Father’s Love Is Dependable

The Father’s Love Is EternalThe Father’s Love Is Big

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•“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. We love because he first loved us.” 1 Jn 4:16, 19

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His Love is

• Eph 3:14-21 ”For this reason I kneel before the Father” said Paul – Hard to find words to describe it

• Eph 3:18-19, “may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

GREAT

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His Love is

• For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:38-39

DEPENDABLE

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Not yet answered prayer

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?"Ps 13:1-2

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His Love is• How long is

forever?– David said “as

long as the sun, as long as the moon” (Ps 72:5)

– “until the Sahara Desert is covered with rain forest”

– Until our dog stops chewing up our backyard

ETERNAL

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His Love is

• David says, figuratively–The earth is filled with the love of God

(Ps 119:64)–His love is as high as the heavens are

above the earth (Ps 36:5; 103:11)• God’s love is untold times bigger than the

best, most devoted love of any human

BIG

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• And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5

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Day 3Qualities of His Love

The Father’s Is Kind

The Father Is Gentle

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The daughter of a devotedly religious mother and a strict military father, Me'shell Ndegéocello

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Kathy

• My father was a very harsh man, unable to show love or affection. I do not recall happy days as a child. We learned responsibility, commitment, honesty, and self discipline, but not acceptance, appreciation, kindness or forgiveness. Over the years I’ve struggled with the idea that God the Father is kind, for I did not experience kindness from my own father.

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The Father is Kind

• Jeremiah 9:24 “Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord”.

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Jonah 4:2

• “That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

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Romans 2:4

• “Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?”

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The Father is Gentle

• 1 Kings 19:11-12 “The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

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Hosea 11:1,3-4

• "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

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Job 10:3, 13-17• Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work

of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked? "But this is what you concealed in your heart, and I know that this was in your mind: 14 If I sinned, you would be watching me and would not let my offense go unpunished. 15 If I am guilty—woe to me! Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame and drowned in [a] my affliction. 16 If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion and again display your awesome power against me. You bring new witnesses against me and increase your anger toward me; your forces come against me wave upon wave.

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Job 42:1-6• Then Job replied to the LORD : 2 "I know that

you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?‘ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

• 4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.‘ 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

• 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

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Day 4 – The Father’s Presence

• 7Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? 8If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.

• 9Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. 10Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.

Psalms 139:7-10

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Father, Daughter

Priscilla Shirer (Tony Evan’s daughter)

Tony Evans, Oakcliff Bible Fellowship

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Arianna

• When Papa worked at home, he left the massive oak door of his office slightly ajar. I would stand at the crack, peeking in, not wanting to disturb him. Somehow Papa knew when I was there. Without looking up, he would say, “Hullo, Princess!” Then he would put down his glasses and motion for me to come to him. I would squeeze through the crack, push the heavy door closed, and run to his open arms. Papa would ask, “And how is the world treating you today?” He always listened carefully, giving me his full attention. Just imagine. The God of the universe wants to relate to me like my Papa. The thought is overwhelming.

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Background

• 7I will accept you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I was the one who rescued you …. Ex 6:7

• 45I will live among you as your God, 46and you will know that I am the LORD your God, the one who rescued you from Egypt, so that I could live among you. Ex 29:45-46

• 14The LORD said, " I will go with you and give you peace." Ex 33:14

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God’s Abiding Presence

• Marked that distinguished God’s people from all the others on earth

• We have a God who is close to us and answers our prayers. Deut 4:7

• Evident in the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire• 21-22During the day the LORD went ahead of his

people in a thick cloud, and during the night he went ahead of them in a flaming fire. That way the LORD could lead them at all times, whether day or night. Ex 13:22

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God Occupied Permanent Temple

• 10Suddenly a cloud filled the temple as the priests were leaving the most holy place. 11The LORD's glory was in the cloud, and the light from it was so bright that the priests could not stay inside to do their work. 12Then Solomon prayed: "Our LORD, you said that you would live in a dark cloud. 13Now I have built a glorious temple where you can live forever." 1 Kings 8:10

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Ever present on earth and in us

• God himself says, "I will live with these people and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people." 2 Cor 6:16

• 6Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. Gal 4:6

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Welcome the Nearness of the Father

The LORD Is Always Near

1You have looked deep into my heart, LORD,

and you know all about me.

2You know when I am resting

or when I am working,

and from heaven

you discover my thoughts.

3You notice everything I do

and everywhere I go.

4Before I even speak a word,

you know what I will say,

5and with your powerful arm

you protect me

from every side.

6I can't understand all of this!

Such wonderful knowledge

is far above me.

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Day 5 – Friendship with the Father

• 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[a] and he was called God's friend. James 2:23

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Famous Friends

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Lynn

Growing up I felt Dad really wasn’t all that interested in me. He was there, but he really wasn’t “there”. I know he loves me. But I feel as though I don’t really know him. Our relationship seems very superficial. He is my father, but he isn’t a close friend.

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Lynn

My relationship with God the Father is the same way. I know He cares about me, but to be truthful, I am not convinced He is really interested in me. I cannot say that I feel the Father is my close friend.

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Friends• The Lord walked with them (Adam and Eve)

“in the cool of the day” Gen 3:8• After sin, fellowship with God was broken• The Lord spoke to Moses “as a man speaks

with his friend” Ex 33:11• Abraham was a friend (Isa 41:8; James 2:23)• King Solomon (Prov 18:24)• Jesus called his disciples “friends” (John 15:9-

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Condition for Friendship

• 14You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14•We are not equals or peers

with God however• Friendship is on His terms

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The Father Is Compassionate

• 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Ps 103:13-14

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• 16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Is 49:16

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The Father is Relational

• Characteristics–He is kind and gentle–Always with you–Wants to be your friend

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Closing Eph 1:17-1817I keep asking that the God

of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

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Week 3 – Our Devoted Father God

• Identify what brings the Father delight• Describe the Father’s faithfulness to you• Determine the purpose of the Father’s

guidance• Choose to accept the Father’s correction• Explain why the Father is patient

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A father is a compliment to a woman and not an insult. Sadly, we have come to a

time when the role of the father has been so mutilated that we have lost any real

revelation into the breadth and depth of the Father’s heart.

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How could any daughter be offended who has ever seen the broadening grin on the leathery face of a compassionate father

whose greatest joy is seeing his daughter succeed? A good father is not an insult to femininity. A good father is an avid fan of his daughter, a source of insulation from

insult and adversity. He is there for her. He nurtures her.

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God

• Our biggest and most loyal fan• Cheering for you• Lightens your path• Leads you homeward with patience and pride

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Day 1 – The Father Delights in You

My husband Dave absolutely delights in our daughter Amanda. He can

hardly wait to get home from work to cuddle her, take her for a piggy-back

ride, or play with her on the floor. The feeling is mutual. All afternoon she asks, “When will Daddy be home?”

When she hears his car in the driveway, she bolts to the door

squealing with delight.

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Day 1 – The Father Delights in You

I did not have a great relationship with my father. And I haven’t really

developed much of a relationship with my Heavenly Father. But watching Dave with our little girl helps me

understand more about the fatherhood of God. Their relationship has made me hope that the Heavenly Father’s heart might just be the same

way toward me.Darlene

Darlene

97Romans 8:31

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Personalize

He will take great delight in _____________

He will quiet _________________ with his love.

He will rejoice over ________________ with singing.

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God Delights In Us

• Genesis 1:31• Isaiah 42:1• Matthew 3:17• 1 Sam 15:22• Mal 2:17

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Attitudes and Actions that delight the Father

Obey His voiceHave a broken and contrite heartTry to walk blamelesslyDeal truthfullyPray with an upright heart

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• 2 Chron 16:8-9 “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

Isa 62:5 “And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.”NASU

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Mal 3:17 “And they shall be mine, saith Jehovah of hosts, (even) mine own possession, …”

• KJV “jewels”• NIV “treasured possession”

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Do you• Feel God’s support?• Have confidence in living a life pleasing to

Him?• Believe your Heavenly Father is truly for

you?

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Day 2 – The Father Is Dependable

Dori

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My father was very unpredictable. If I spilled a glass of milk, he might laugh and joke, or I could receive a beating. I was never sure how he would react. When Dad walked through the door, all play or conversation would pause as we tried to read his mood. I felt very insecure and timid in his presence. I wanted to please him and gain his approval but was not certain how to do it.

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I was very timid about approaching God the Father. I feel that If I tiptoe

around and avoid doing anything drastically wrong I might be able to

keep Him happy. I’m not sure though. I suspect that He might get

angry with me anyhow.

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God is Faithful, the only One

• Loyal to one’s promises; true to what we say we’ll do

• Trustworthy• Sure, firm, certain• Predictability• Consistent in character

Activity: Whom do you consider to be the most faithfulPerson in your life?

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He Cannot deny Himself” 2 Tim 2:13

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In the face of unfaithfulness

• Fear of rejection• Hurt• Humiliation• Anxiety• Feelings of inferiority• Emotional insecurities

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Faithfulness

• Fosters security• Confidence• Permission to fail• Ability to be vulnerable to others

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2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

• Is it possible for humans to be undependable, inconsistent, and untrustworthy?

• Is this possible for the Father?• Think of an example of God’s faithfulness in

your life.

God is Just scriptures …………….

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God is Just• When at times He may appear unjust,

remember that you are the child …. Unable to fully appreciate all the factors that influence His actions.• Acts according to what is right• Signifies straightness (acting correctly)• His works are perfect and his ways are

just …. Deut 32:4

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• "Prosper" in the Bible: Jeremiah 29:11 These words of comfort were originally spoken to the Israelites living in exile in Babylon. God assured them that despite their present difficulties, He had plans for them--plans for them to prosper and be restored. We don't share that historical context, but God's promise remains: He knows of our struggles and is working to help us prosper, even when we can't see it.

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Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

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Day 3 – The Father Guides

• Psalm 25:4-5 (New International Version)• 4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your

paths; • 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for

you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

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• My dad died two years ago. I miss being able to call him and ask advice. Dad’s advice was thoughtful, wise, challenging – sometimes rebuking or correcting – but always loving and gentle. I could take all my crazy messes and disappointments to him. His adivce would never fail to provide perspective, clarity, and hope. I can’t always hear God as clearly as I heard my dad, but I know that if my dad’s advice and guidance were so valuable, then my heavenly Dad’s will be even better.

Michelle

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A responsible father

• Seeks to train his children to find meaning, purpose, and direction for their lives

• Fosters his children’s talents and abilities• Provides a good education• Helps with good career choices

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A responsible father• Prepares a daughter to be a bride when he is

not going to be the groom• Prepares her to be a mother when he is

neither the husband nor the child• Prepares her to be a godly woman, but he is

not female• How? By being a man of integrity and love in

her life, the man against whom she can evaluate the character of other men to come

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God is the perfect Father

• Teaches and guides perfectly• Be at ease asking Him for guidance• Has no personal quirks, biases, or

misinformation that would cause Him to guide you contrary to your best interests.

• Perfect awareness of your situation• Seeking His advice is absolutely essential to

our well-being

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Jeremiah 19 "I myself said, 'How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.' I thought you would call me 'Father‘ and not turn away from following me.”

God guides from a heart of love and as children we are expected to obediently follow

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Leading of the Father

• Isaiah 42:16• Isa 49:9-10• Isa 58:11• Job 5:17-18

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Why don’t we seek God’s guidance

StubbornnessLack of trustOverconfidence in myselfDistractionsOther?

O'Hair's son William announced his conversion to Christianity on Mother's Day in 1980 and became an outspoken evangelist for his new faith

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Day 4 – The Father Corrects• Would you have

expected severe punishment in this scenario?

• Or grace?

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Which reflects your father?

• Did not correct me, was not involved in my life• Was very permissive; rarely disciplined me for

wrong behavior• Was inconsistent; never knew what to expect• Was harsh and overly punitive; more sever

than the offense warranted• Was loving, fair, and consistent in his

correction

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Anya• http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8vhjy_ta

liban-punished-a-girl_news

VengeanceOr

Discipline?This is not God’s Way

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Fatherly Correction

• Purpose: training

• Trained or controlled

February 19, 2010

The trouble is, while friends say Earl would have been “shocked” that his son had affairs with around two-dozen women, Daddy Woods himself was no saint.A new book “His Father’s Son,” says Tiger’s childhood included many occasions where he saw Earl with other women. In fact, Tiger was only born because Earl left his first wife [and their three children,] and married a secretary with whom he had an affair while in the Army, Kultida Punsawad.

Father died May of 2006

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Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction

of the Lord.”

Heavenly Father’s correction is Always loving, fair, and consistent, tempered by mercy.

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He Corrects Because He Loves

• Proverbs 13:24 ”He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”

• Correction is the other side of guidance; another way we are trained or instructed

• Permissive parents don’t help their children mature

• Our Father doesn’t want His children to be childish adults, guiding us to maturity

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How God Corrects

• His Word (2 Tim 3:16)• His Holy Spirit convicting of sin (John 16:7-8)• The natural consequences of our behavior (Jer

2:19)• The wisdom and insight of others (Prov 9:9)• He will rightly correct you (Jer 46:28)• Prov 15:5• Zeph 3:2 NKJV

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How About You?

• Do you spurn the Father's correction? YesNo

• Do you fail to trust His love and goodness? YesNo

• Do you suspect He wishes to harshly punish you and do you harm? Yes No

• Do you run away rather than letting correction draw you closer to the Father's heart? Yes No

Pray

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Day 5–The Father Is Patient and Forgiving

• Numbers 14:18 (American Standard Version)• 18 Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in

lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.

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Joyce

• I picture God as an angry judge. I feel like I need to be as perfect as I can lest His anger be directed at me. In my head, I know that He is merciful and loving. But I feel as though these traits are not in line with His basic character. I hadn’t given much thought as to how my concept of God the Father developed. In thinking about it now, I can see that I have projected my experience with my earthly father onto my beliefs about the character of God.

• My Dad rarely smiled. I continually sensed his displeasure; even when I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I can hardly remember a time when he wasn’t stressed and angry about something.

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A new suit for the boys

• One more chance

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Romans 15:5 (American Standard Version) 5 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant

you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus:

• Compassionate• Gracious• Slow to anger• Abounding in love• Faithfulness• Maintaining love

• Forgiving wickedness• Forgiving rebellion• Forgiving sin

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John and Charles Wesley

• Susanna (mother)• Had I spoken the matter

only 19 ttimes, I should have lost all my labor

• Romans 2:4 (American Standard Version) 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

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Jesus told the prodigal son story

• The father loved his son enough to give him freedom

• The father waited patiently for his son to return

• The father completely and joyfully forgave

• This is about the father heart of God

137link

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