Embracing the Father's Love and Guidance
Summary
### Summary
Today, we celebrate Father's Day by honoring not only our earthly fathers but also our Heavenly Father, who loves and cares for us deeply. Our Heavenly Father had a plan from the beginning to save us, and His love is the ultimate example of what a father's love should be. Regardless of our earthly experiences with our fathers, we can always look to God as the perfect model of fatherhood.
Drawing from the story of Mufasa and Simba in "The Lion King," we are reminded that everything that belongs to our Heavenly Father is also ours. We are encouraged to remember who we are and where we come from, just as Simba was reminded by Mufasa. This morning, we delve into Ephesians 3:14-20, where Paul speaks about the magnificent love and strength that God imparts to us. This love is not just a brute strength but a glorious inner strength that allows us to live full lives in the fullness of God.
We are called to live like the Father, embodying His characteristics. The first characteristic is correction. Hebrews 12:5-11 teaches us that God's discipline, though painful, is a sign of His love and produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. The second characteristic is molding. Jeremiah 18:1-6 illustrates how God, like a potter, molds and shapes us, sometimes starting over to perfect us. The third characteristic is healing. Psalm 147:3 tells us that God heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds, offering mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:13-24 shows us that the Father always welcomes us home, no matter how far we have strayed. This unconditional love and acceptance are what we should strive to emulate. Finally, we are reminded of the importance of planning and organizing our families, just as God planned our salvation.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Discipline as a Sign of Love: God's discipline, though often painful, is a profound expression of His love for us. It is designed to correct and guide us, producing a harvest of righteousness and peace. Embracing God's discipline helps us grow and align more closely with His will. [49:33]
2. The Potter's Hand: Like a potter with clay, God molds and shapes us, sometimes starting over to perfect us. This process may involve crumpling and reshaping, but it is always aimed at making us better and more aligned with His purpose. Trusting in God's molding process is essential for spiritual growth. [56:33]
3. Holistic Healing: God offers comprehensive healing—mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. He places people and resources in our lives to facilitate this healing, ensuring that we are whole and capable of fulfilling His purpose for us. Embracing all forms of God's healing is crucial for a balanced and fulfilling life. [01:04:00]
4. Unconditional Welcome: The story of the prodigal son illustrates that no matter how far we stray, God's arms are always open to welcome us back. This unconditional love and acceptance are central to God's nature and should inspire us to extend the same grace to others. [01:09:32]
5. Purpose and Position: God may change our positions or circumstances, but our purpose remains the same. Understanding that our purpose is constant, even when our roles or locations change, helps us stay focused and faithful to God's plan for our lives. [01:02:39]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:41] - Introduction and Father's Day Celebration
[37:06] - Summer of Hope Series
[38:07] - The Ultimate Example of a Father's Love
[39:15] - Mufasa and Simba: Remember Who You Are
[41:45] - Ephesians 3:14-20: The Father's Love and Strength
[44:14] - God as the Model for Fatherhood
[46:55] - Characteristics of the Father: Correction
[49:48] - Embracing God's Discipline
[56:33] - Characteristics of the Father: Molding
[01:04:00] - Characteristics of the Father: Healing
[01:07:34] - The Prodigal Son: The Father Welcomes Us Home
[01:10:44] - Confidence and Love
[01:16:56] - Forgiveness and Acceptance
[01:17:53] - Organization of the Family
[01:20:30] - Invitation to Come Home
[01:22:04] - Closing Prayer and Call to Salvation
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 3:14-20
2. Hebrews 12:5-11
3. Jeremiah 18:1-6
### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 3:14-20, what kind of strength does Paul pray for believers to receive from God? How is this strength described? [42:16]
2. In Hebrews 12:5-11, what is the purpose of God's discipline according to the passage? [47:58]
3. What does the potter do when the clay turns out badly in Jeremiah 18:1-6? How does this relate to God's actions towards us? [56:33]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God's discipline as an act of love change our perspective on the hardships we face? [49:04]
2. What does it mean to be molded by God like clay in the hands of a potter? How can this process be both challenging and beneficial? [56:33]
3. How can the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:13-24 help us understand God's unconditional love and acceptance? [01:09:01]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's discipline. How did it help you grow in your faith and character? [49:04]
2. In what areas of your life do you feel God is currently molding you? How can you be more receptive to His shaping process? [56:33]
3. Have you ever felt brokenhearted or wounded? How did you experience God's healing in that situation? [01:04:00]
4. Think about a time when you strayed from God like the prodigal son. How did you feel when you returned to Him? How can you extend that same grace to others? [01:09:01]
5. How can you better plan and organize your family life to reflect God's intentionality and care? What specific steps can you take this week? [01:17:53]
6. Identify one characteristic of God as a Father (discipline, molding, healing, unconditional love) that you want to emulate more in your own life. What practical steps can you take to develop this characteristic? [46:55]
7. How can you remind yourself daily of your identity and inheritance as a child of God, similar to how Simba was reminded by Mufasa? [41:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Loving Discipline
God's discipline, though often painful, is a profound expression of His love for us. It is designed to correct and guide us, producing a harvest of righteousness and peace. Embracing God's discipline helps us grow and align more closely with His will. Just as a loving earthly father corrects his children to help them grow into responsible and mature adults, our Heavenly Father disciplines us to shape our character and strengthen our faith. This process, while sometimes uncomfortable, is a testament to His deep love and commitment to our spiritual growth.
When we face challenges or corrections, it is essential to remember that these are not signs of God's displeasure but rather His loving guidance. By accepting and learning from His discipline, we can experience the peace and righteousness that come from living in alignment with His will. Reflect on the times when you have felt God's corrective hand in your life and consider how these moments have contributed to your spiritual growth and maturity. [49:33]
Hebrews 12:11 (ESV): "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt God's discipline. How did it help you grow, and what steps can you take to embrace His guidance more fully in your daily life?
Day 2: Trusting the Potter's Hand
Like a potter with clay, God molds and shapes us, sometimes starting over to perfect us. This process may involve crumpling and reshaping, but it is always aimed at making us better and more aligned with His purpose. Trusting in God's molding process is essential for spiritual growth. Just as a potter carefully and patiently works with the clay to create a beautiful and functional vessel, God works in our lives to shape us into the people He wants us to be.
This molding process can be challenging, as it often requires us to let go of our own plans and submit to God's will. However, by trusting in His wisdom and love, we can be confident that He is working all things for our good. Reflect on the areas of your life where you feel God is molding you and consider how you can more fully surrender to His shaping hand. [56:33]
Jeremiah 18:4 (ESV): "And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel God is currently molding you? How can you trust Him more fully in this process and allow Him to shape you according to His purpose?
Day 3: Embracing Holistic Healing
God offers comprehensive healing—mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. He places people and resources in our lives to facilitate this healing, ensuring that we are whole and capable of fulfilling His purpose for us. Embracing all forms of God's healing is crucial for a balanced and fulfilling life. Just as a loving father cares for every aspect of his child's well-being, our Heavenly Father is concerned with our complete health and wholeness.
When we experience brokenness or pain, it is essential to seek God's healing in all areas of our lives. This may involve prayer, seeking counsel from trusted friends or mentors, and utilizing the resources God has provided. By embracing His holistic healing, we can experience the fullness of life that He intends for us. Reflect on the areas of your life where you need healing and consider how you can invite God's healing touch into those areas. [01:04:00]
Psalm 147:3 (ESV): "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you need God's healing. How can you actively seek His healing touch and utilize the resources He has provided to facilitate this process?
Day 4: Welcoming with Unconditional Love
The story of the prodigal son illustrates that no matter how far we stray, God's arms are always open to welcome us back. This unconditional love and acceptance are central to God's nature and should inspire us to extend the same grace to others. Just as the father in the parable ran to embrace his returning son, our Heavenly Father eagerly awaits our return when we have wandered away.
This unconditional love is a powerful reminder of God's grace and mercy. It challenges us to reflect on our own relationships and consider how we can extend the same love and forgiveness to others. Reflect on the times when you have experienced God's unconditional love and think about how you can share that love with those around you. [01:09:32]
Luke 15:20 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to experience God's unconditional love through you. How can you extend grace and forgiveness to them today?
Day 5: Understanding Purpose and Position
God may change our positions or circumstances, but our purpose remains the same. Understanding that our purpose is constant, even when our roles or locations change, helps us stay focused and faithful to God's plan for our lives. Just as a loving father guides his children through different stages of life, our Heavenly Father leads us through various seasons and circumstances, always with a clear purpose in mind.
When we face changes or transitions, it is essential to remember that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God and fulfill His will. By staying focused on this purpose, we can navigate life's changes with confidence and trust in God's plan. Reflect on the changes you are currently experiencing and consider how you can remain faithful to your God-given purpose in the midst of these transitions. [01:02:39]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent change or transition in your life. How can you stay focused on your God-given purpose during this time, and what steps can you take to remain faithful to His plan?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I want you to know. That we serve a heavenly father. Who loves us and cares for us. And we are able to look to him. As our ultimate example. Of what a father's love truly is." (16 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Everything that's his. Is yours. All the power. He's given to you. The strength. The love. The encouragement. It's yours. And we can see that. If you happen to watch. Any of the sequels. That came after. The original Lion King. Simba is always remembering. What his father told him. And so this morning. My goal is to remind you. What your father. Has told you. About who you are. About what is yours. About the power that you have. About the abilities that you have. To overcome anything. Because he's already won the victory." (48 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God can do anything you know. Far more than you could imagine. Or guess. Or even request. In your wildest dreams. He does it not by pushing us around. But by working within us. His spirit deeply and gently. Within us." (18 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The father corrects us. It says in. Hebrews chapter 12. Verse 5. I'm going to read this here. And it says. Have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement. That addresses you as a father. Addresses his son. Now Paul here he's talking. To the church. And he's saying. Hey I want you to remember something. And he's remembering this. Because he's going back to look at the book of Proverbs. Chapter 3 verse 11. I believe it is. And he says hey. There's something I need you to remember about the father." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The father welcomes us home. And we see that when we look at the story that Jesus told and talked about with the prodigal son. It says, and this is in Luke 15, verse 13. It says, Not long after that, the younger son, he got it all together. All that he had. And he set off for a distant country. And there he squandered his wealth in wild living. And he had spent everything. There was a severe famine in the whole country. And he began to be in need." (32 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When we think about. And we talk about the father's love. And we think about all that he's worked in us. And through us. There's a man by the name of Stan Mast. He said. We should not make God. In the image. Of our earthly fathers. Rather God. Is the model for us. And so that's what I want to talk to you about this morning. God is the model for us." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we think about the potter. Going down to the potter's house. And we think about seeing somebody. There molding and shaping something. And it gets a little bit messed up. It says here that he takes it. Kind of crumples it back up. Restarts it over again. Because there's some imperfections there. There's some things that he needs to change. And form a different way." (28 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The scripture says. Be not weary. And well doing. You keep doing your part. And let God. Do. His part. God knows. Where you need to be. And when you need to be there. He is the one who molds us. He is the one who shapes us. Into what he needs us to be shaped into. I mourn that situation for a while. But I would not be where I am at today. Had I not been there then." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There is so much more that God wants to give us. There is so much more that he has in store for us. And sometimes we're holding on. White knuckling it to the wall. But God is saying, do you trust me? Will you trust me enough to hold on to me? And then trust me enough to let, to know I'm not going to let you drown. I don't know about you, but God has pulled me out of many deep places." (28 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God has specifically designed and organized his family. Yeah, he set out a plan for you and for me. He said, you know what? I know you. I know what's going to happen. I know what's happening. I know the sin, the separation that my children experience and that they're dealing with. And I know that I've got so much more in store for them. And because I do, I'm going to send my one and only son to die on the cross for their sins." (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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