Sunday, October 20, 2019
Part 4: The Father’s Heart is Outrageous
Pastor Troy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:5–6, 8–9).
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”
John 12:44-45 – Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
For Jesus “is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”
1 John 3:1 – Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
We’re not called slaves or servants.
We’re not even limited to being called friends because friends don’t receive the inheritance.
Sons and daughters receive the inheritance.
Any time the kids of the King get together, we should honor the King. The heart of the Father is everything.
THE FATHER’S HEART IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD’S HEART.
WE SHOULD BE FASCINATED WITH THE WONDER OF THE FATHER’S HEART.
- We practice the presence of God and prepare the way of the Lord by being sold out to the Fathers heart!
- God’s love is not logical. God’s love is not reasonable. It’s outrageous and doesn’t make sense.
CHILDLIKE FAITH COMES FROM CHILDLIKE WONDER.
Matthew 18:3 – “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Mystery and Faith / Revelation and Wisdom
Ephesians 1:17 – …that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
- It’s outrageous how God loves us.
- Getting involved in the messes of life.
- Helping people when it’s questionable if we should help them or not.
- If we have the ability to help, we need to help:
- Hebrews 13:16 – But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
- Let your yes be yes and your no be no.
“Brandt Jean’s Act of Grace Toward His Brother’s Killer Sparks a Debate Over Forgiving” (video)
- He blew everybody’s mind with the love of God.
- He answered the evil that had come to him with a different perspective of the goodness of God.
- He elevated the name of Jesus in the midst of horrible personal suffering.
- He showed the entire world there is a different way to live and there is something else here that matters: the Father’s heart – and people hate him for it!!!!
- Jesus on the Cross blew everybody’s mind when he said, “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”
“He needs a company of people that He can use as a visual aid to the earth. He is looking for a prototype. I believe that God is building prototype churches all over the world right now. That His people, who will no longer be business as usual, who are after something more.” – Graham Cooke
We can know the Heart of the Father. We can have the heart of the Father.
The heart of the Father is for people: The whole world (John 3:16)
- The lost…people like us.
- Not willing that any should perish (not just some people)
- No one is beyond the heart of God.
He is the Father who runs to his children
- God searched for Adam in the Garden (Gen 3:9)
- He runs to his lost sons and daughters (Luke 15:20)
- God is still seeking and saving the lost. (Luke 19:10)
- He is still running to you!
He is a responsible Father: Creator – Savior
- He is saving the world he created!
- We are his children (we are responsible)
- We need the Heart of the Father
REPEAT: Father, I belong to You.
Jesus has the heart of the Father – John 1:14
“If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” – John 14:7
- He emptied himself (Philippians 2:7)
- He wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44)
- He had compassion on the multitude (Mt 9:36)
- He came from the bosom of the Father (John 1:18)
- He left the glory of heaven for us!
John 14:6 – One way to the Father
…the Heart of the Father…He gets personally involved in our mess!
Now we can have the heart of the Father in Christ
- We are complete in Him (Col 2:8-10)
We are seated with Christ….
- Because we belong to Him
- Because we know we are loved by Him
- Because we know Him… we can share His heart
- I know whom I have believed in – 2 Tim 1:12
REPEAT: I AM COMPLETE IN HIM!
Our Problem: “Sin goes way beyond disobedience. The deepest problem of sin is that it makes us incapable of knowing the Father…we cannot know the Father’s heart. It makes us so blind that it is impossible for us to see the Father’s face.” – C. Baxter Kruger
We can stop living for love, and live in His love
- Stop looking for love in all the wrong places.
- Hug your children!
- Love your dad.
Conclusion: We can know the heart of the Father, that we belong to Him, and love others because we are not living for love. We are living in His love, in the heart of the Father.
- Do we hear the sound of heaven…weeping for people?
- Why should I share the Gospel? I know who I have believed.
- Who are we running to? Who are we weeping for?
We say “I give you my heart…” Maybe we should say, ”Give me your heart.”
Let my heart beat with the heartbeat of God.
Let my heart be broken by what breaks His heart.
God is chasing you. Will you come to Him?
You need a heart transplant – He wants to give you His heart!
Let Him wrap His loving arms around you…and give you His heart.
Prayer: Father, You love us! Give us your heart of love.
THE VERY LAST WORD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IS THE WORD CURSE, AND GOD DECLARES THAT WHEN THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN ARE AWAY FROM THE HEART OF THEIR FATHER, EVERYTHING IS CURSED.
But that’s not going to be the end of your book.
THE VERY LAST VERSE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS A BLESSING THAT SAYS, “MAY THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BE YOU ALL, AMEN.”
And there is a grace for us to yield our hearts toward. Not only do we choose to give our hearts to God, we choose to received His heart into our lives. This changes every part of our life from cursed to blessed.
That’s my dad. That’s my Father and when I see Jesus, I have seen the Father.