Embracing God as Our Loving Father

 

Summary

Understanding God as our loving Father can transform our relationship with Him and our prayer life. This week, I want to challenge you to reflect on your prayer life. Does it resemble the innocence and trust of a child speaking to their dad? When we approach God with the understanding that He is our Father, it changes everything. My own journey with this realization began when I became a father. The unconditional love I felt for my daughters helped me grasp how God feels about me. Despite my past mistakes and feelings of inadequacy, I realized that God loves me deeply, just as I love my children. This understanding brought a profound joy into my life.

Many of us struggle with guilt and a sense of obligation in our spiritual practices. We may feel that we need to earn God's love or make up for our past mistakes. However, God desires a relationship with us that is not based on performance but on love and friendship. In Luke 11, Jesus encourages us to pray with the confidence that God is our friend and Father. He wants us to ask, seek, and knock, trusting that He will respond with love and generosity.

God is not a distant deity waiting to punish us for our failures. He is a loving Father who desires to give us good gifts, especially the Holy Spirit. When we understand this, our prayer life shifts from being a chore to a joy. We begin to long for time with God, not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to be in His presence.

If you have wandered away from God or feel distant from Him, know that He is waiting with open arms. Like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, God is ready to welcome you back and celebrate your return. No matter what you have done, you can start a new relationship with Him today. Embrace God as your Father, your friend, and your Savior, and experience the joy and freedom that comes from knowing Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Childlike Prayer: Approach God with the innocence and trust of a child speaking to their dad. This perspective transforms our prayer life from obligation to joy, as we realize we are loved unconditionally by our Heavenly Father. [01:01]

- Unconditional Love: Understanding God's love for us, similar to a parent's love for their child, can bring profound joy and freedom from guilt. This realization helps us see that our relationship with God is not based on performance but on His unwavering love. [03:56]

- God as Friend and Father: God desires a relationship with us that is based on love and friendship, not guilt or obligation. When we see God as our friend and Father, our desire to pray and spend time with Him grows naturally. [07:43]

- Trust in God's Goodness: Trust that God, as a loving Father, desires to give us good gifts, especially the Holy Spirit. This trust allows us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He will provide what we truly need. [20:32]

- Returning to God: No matter how far we have wandered, God is ready to welcome us back with open arms. Embrace the opportunity to start a new relationship with Him, experiencing the joy and freedom that comes from knowing Him as Father and friend. [26:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:24] - Introduction with Mercy
- [00:36] - Reflecting on Prayer Life
- [01:17] - Personal Story of Transformation
- [02:38] - Overcoming Guilt and Shame
- [03:41] - Realizing God's Love
- [05:50] - Accurate Picture of God
- [06:20] - Joyful Prayer Life
- [09:27] - Encouragement to Pray
- [12:57] - Asking and Receiving
- [15:19] - Seeking God
- [17:13] - Knocking and Opening Doors
- [20:32] - Trusting God as Father
- [23:09] - Friendship with God
- [26:26] - Returning to God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 11:5-13
2. Acts 17:24-27
3. John 15:13-15

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 11:5-13, what analogy does Jesus use to describe the nature of prayer and our relationship with God? How does this analogy help us understand God's willingness to respond to our prayers? [09:27]

2. According to Acts 17:24-27, what is the purpose of God creating humanity, and how does this relate to our relationship with Him? [15:19]

3. In John 15:13-15, how does Jesus describe the relationship between Himself and His followers? What does this imply about the nature of our relationship with God? [23:09]

4. Reflecting on the sermon, how did the pastor's personal experience with his daughters help him understand God's love? [03:56]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the analogy of a friend asking for bread at midnight in Luke 11:5-13 illustrate the boldness we should have in prayer? What does this say about God's character? [09:27]

2. Acts 17:24-27 suggests that God is not far from each of us. How does this passage challenge the perception of God as distant or uninvolved in our lives? [15:19]

3. In John 15:13-15, Jesus calls His followers friends rather than servants. What does this shift in relationship status mean for how we approach God in prayer and daily life? [23:09]

4. The pastor shared a story about feeling guilt and inadequacy in his relationship with God. How does understanding God as a loving Father change this perspective? [02:38]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Does it resemble the innocence and trust of a child speaking to their dad? If not, what steps can you take to approach God with more childlike faith? [01:01]

2. The sermon emphasized God's unconditional love, similar to a parent's love for their child. How can this understanding help you overcome feelings of guilt or inadequacy in your spiritual journey? [03:56]

3. Consider the analogy of a friend asking for bread at midnight. How can you incorporate more boldness and confidence in your prayers, trusting in God's goodness and generosity? [09:27]

4. The pastor mentioned the joy that comes from understanding God as a friend and Father. What practical changes can you make in your daily routine to cultivate a more joyful and fulfilling prayer life? [06:20]

5. If you feel distant from God, what steps can you take to return to Him and embrace the relationship He desires with you? How can the story of the Prodigal Son inspire you in this process? [26:26]

6. How can you actively seek God's presence in your life, as encouraged in Acts 17:24-27? What specific actions can you take to deepen your relationship with Him? [15:19]

7. Reflect on the idea of God as a friend who laid down His life for you. How does this perspective influence your understanding of His love and your response to His commands? [23:09]

Devotional

Day 1: Childlike Trust in Prayer
Understanding God as our loving Father can transform our relationship with Him and our prayer life. When we approach God with the innocence and trust of a child speaking to their dad, it changes everything. This perspective shifts our prayer life from being a chore to a joy, as we realize we are loved unconditionally by our Heavenly Father. This childlike trust allows us to communicate openly and honestly with God, knowing that He listens and cares deeply for us. It encourages us to bring our needs, desires, and even our fears to Him, confident that He will respond with love and understanding. [01:01]

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:1-4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific area in your life where you struggle to trust God fully. How can you approach Him with childlike faith and openness in this area today?


Day 2: Embracing Unconditional Love
Understanding God's love for us, similar to a parent's love for their child, can bring profound joy and freedom from guilt. Many of us struggle with guilt and a sense of obligation in our spiritual practices, feeling that we need to earn God's love or make up for our past mistakes. However, God's love is unconditional and not based on our performance. This realization helps us see that our relationship with God is rooted in His unwavering love, which brings freedom and joy into our lives. It allows us to let go of guilt and embrace the truth that we are deeply loved by our Heavenly Father. [03:56]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." (Romans 5:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a past mistake or guilt that you have been holding onto. How can you release this to God and embrace His unconditional love and forgiveness today?


Day 3: God as Friend and Father
God desires a relationship with us that is based on love and friendship, not guilt or obligation. When we see God as our friend and Father, our desire to pray and spend time with Him grows naturally. This understanding transforms our spiritual practices from being tasks we must complete to joyful opportunities to connect with our loving Father. It encourages us to cultivate a relationship with God that is genuine and heartfelt, where we can share our lives with Him and experience His presence in a meaningful way. [07:43]

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how you can deepen your friendship with God today. What is one specific way you can spend time with Him that brings you joy and strengthens your relationship?


Day 4: Trusting in God's Goodness
Trust that God, as a loving Father, desires to give us good gifts, especially the Holy Spirit. This trust allows us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He will provide what we truly need. It encourages us to ask, seek, and knock, trusting that God will respond with love and generosity. This understanding of God's goodness helps us to rely on Him in all circumstances, confident that He is working for our good and will provide for us in ways that are beyond our understanding. [20:32]

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a current need or desire in your life. How can you trust God to provide for you in this area, and what steps can you take to seek His guidance and provision?


Day 5: Returning to God with Open Arms
No matter how far we have wandered, God is ready to welcome us back with open arms. Like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, God is ready to celebrate our return and embrace us with love and forgiveness. This understanding encourages us to start a new relationship with Him, experiencing the joy and freedom that comes from knowing Him as Father and friend. It reminds us that we are never too far gone to return to God and that His love for us is constant and unwavering. [26:26]

"And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20, ESV)

Reflection: If you feel distant from God, what is one step you can take today to return to Him and renew your relationship? How can you embrace His love and forgiveness in your life right now?

Quotes


I felt I felt so much guilt in my life I always tried to be good enough I always felt like I wasn't good enough and um in in my relationship with God I felt like I I'd let him down a lot I feel guilt because I've done a lot of things in my life that I'm very ashamed of. [00:02:32]

I remember it hitting me when Rachel was about two or three years old I thought this is how God feels about me he just he just loves me he he he has these emotions that I feel toward these girls he feels that way about me that I don't care what they've done I don't care if they've let me down in the past. [00:03:47]

When you have an accurate picture of what God is like and your relationship to him that's what brings joy in in life that's what brought me joy was when I finally got it and I finally understood wait he says that he's my father and he loves me as his child. [00:05:50]

It changes from being a chore to a total Joy where it's like man I can't wait to be alone with him see that's what this passage that we're looking at today is about in Luke chap 11 it's this encouragement to pray but it's an encouragement to pray because of who God is that he's our friend and he's our dad. [00:06:32]

I really want to be alone with God right now you know I was just longing for it I was just like man I just want to talk to God for a while and I looked at my wife and just said don't you have anywhere to go no I just said I said least you know I just you know it's great but I I just want some time alone with God right now. [00:08:30]

He says in verse 9 he says so I ask you so I say to you just ask it'll be given to you in other words you're not going to get anything unless you ask for it so what keeps you from asking do you not believe that God listens do you not believe that God's going to pay attention to your requests. [00:13:14]

He appeals to the dads he goes think for a second he goes you dads okay would any of you dads if your kid asked for fish give him a snake he goes think about that he goes let's say your your your child ask for bread or ask for fish and instead you pull out a rattlesnake. [00:18:40]

He says how much more will your father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him and he's talking about spiritual things here he's not talking about material physical things not that it's a sin to ask for the physical things but it's just like at some point you mature past that and you see that the the spiritual things are so much greater. [00:20:41]

He says and I don't I don't call you slaves that amaz amazing God the master of the Creator says I don't call you slaves anymore because a slave doesn't know his master's business a slave doesn't have any any relationship a slave just does what he's told he doesn't know his master's business he goes but I call you friends. [00:24:26]

And today maybe some of you have wandered away from God you've gone so far and you're wondering can I get back to him I've done so many things that he's hated would he really take me back and I say read the story of The Prodigal who squandered all his wealth and everything else and he's thinking to himself as he sitting eating with pigs going man could I ever go back to my dad. [00:25:36]

No matter how far you've wandered today you can come back no matter what you've done in your life today you can start a relationship with him if you don't have that we en encourage you to start that today if God's not your friend he's not your dad and today you you see that relationship and you want to jump into it then we invite you to do that right now. [00:26:26]

When you can talk to God as holy God father and friend it'll change your whole life this will no longer be guilt anymore it'll be the greatest relationship of your life would you bow your heads and just start talking to God your dad your friend. [00:28:09]

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Transcript
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