God Is My Father

Hebrews 11:1 NKJ
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him.
Matthew 7:9-11 NLT
“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give
them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a
snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give
good gifts to those who ask him.”
• Identity
Romans 8:14 NKJ
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:15-16 NKJ
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.”
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God…
Romans 8:17 NKJ
…and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
• Insurance
1 John 3:1 NLT
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children,
and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t
recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.
1 John 3:7-10 NLT
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people
do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is
righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they
belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But
the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who
have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning,
because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because
they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God
and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live
righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
• Instruction
Psalm 32:8 NLT
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I
will advise you and watch over you.”
• Inheritance
Luke 15:11-32 NLT
To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had
two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your
estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth
between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his
belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his
money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine
swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local
farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the
pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was
feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home
even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am
dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have
sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of
being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ So he
returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his
son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I
have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy
of being called your son.’ But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick!
Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his
finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been
fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was
dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’
So the party began. Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields
working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the
house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your
brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened
calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ The older brother
was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once
refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you
never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet
when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on
prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ His father said
to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and
everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For
your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but
now he is found!’”
• Acceptance
John 14:6 NKJ
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me.”
• Adoption
Ephesians 1:5-7 NLT
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing
us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and
it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace
he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in
kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of
his Son and forgave our sins.
• Activation
Genesis 1:1-3 NLT
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth
was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.