Everlasting Father: The Transformative Love of the Messiah

Devotional

Day 1: The Messiah's Eternal Care

The Messiah, referred to as the Everlasting Father, offers a unique and enduring care that transcends time. This title is not about His eternal nature but rather His father-like care that assures us of His unwavering commitment and presence in our lives. This care is characterized by a love and protection that never ends, providing a sense of security and belonging. In a world filled with uncertainty and fleeting relationships, the Messiah's eternal care stands as a beacon of hope and stability. His presence is a constant reminder that we are never alone, and His love is a refuge in times of trouble. [03:47]

Isaiah 40:11 (ESV): "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."

Reflection: In what ways can you experience the Messiah's father-like care in your daily life, especially during moments of uncertainty or fear?

Day 2: Complete Forgiveness Through Sacrifice

The forgiveness offered by the Messiah is profound and complete, rooted in the justice and holiness of God. It is not a mere overlooking of sin but a full and final forgiveness achieved through the sacrifice of Jesus, who bore our sins and punishment. This forgiveness removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west, offering us a clean slate and a renewed relationship with God. It is a powerful reminder of the depth of God's love and the lengths He went to restore us to Himself. This forgiveness is available to all who seek it, providing freedom from guilt and shame. [11:00]

Micah 7:18-19 (ESV): "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Reflection: Is there a sin or burden you are holding onto that you need to bring to God for complete forgiveness today?

Day 3: Known and Loved by the Messiah

The Messiah knows us thoroughly, understanding our frailty and forming us with purpose. This knowledge addresses our deepest questions of identity and existence, offering a relationship with God that fills the void left by sin. In a world where identity is often confused and questioned, the Messiah provides clarity and purpose. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, our fears and dreams, and He loves us unconditionally. This intimate knowledge is not just about awareness but about a deep, personal relationship that transforms our lives and gives us a sense of belonging and purpose. [12:43]

Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV): "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."

Reflection: How does knowing that the Messiah understands you completely change the way you view your identity and purpose?

Day 4: The Pursuing Love of the Messiah

The love of the Messiah is endless, abounding in a covenant relationship that draws us to repentance. This love seeks us out, offering a profound sense of belonging and purpose, especially to those disenchanted by broken relationships or institutions. It is a love that pursues us relentlessly, like a shepherd searching for a lost sheep or a father longing for the return of a wayward son. This love is the essence of the gospel—a God who pursues us despite our indifference, offering forgiveness, knowledge, and love that is eternal. [17:01]

Ezekiel 34:11-12 (ESV): "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."

Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where you feel lost or distant from God? How can you open your heart to His pursuing love today?

Day 5: Trusting in the Messiah's Love

Trusting in the Messiah's love fills the gaping hole in our hearts, offering a love that is eternal and unmatched by any other. This love is the fulfillment of our deepest longings and the answer to our existential questions. It is a love that provides security, purpose, and a sense of belonging that cannot be found elsewhere. In a world where love is often conditional and fleeting, the Messiah's love stands as a constant and unwavering force. Trusting in this love transforms our lives, giving us the courage to face challenges and the assurance that we are never alone. [21:00]

Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV): "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your trust in the Messiah's eternal love and allow it to transform your life?

Sermon Summary

In the midst of a world shrouded in darkness, Isaiah proclaims the arrival of a transformative light, embodied in the Messiah, who is introduced as a child with four significant names. This light stands in stark contrast to the cultish teachings and behaviors prevalent in Isaiah's time. The Messiah, previously referred to as Emmanuel, God with us, is now revealed as the Everlasting Father. This title does not refer to the first person of the Trinity but rather highlights the Messiah's father-like care for His people, a care that is eternal and unending.

The term "Everlasting Father" signifies the Messiah's enduring compassion and paternal care, akin to a father's love for his children. This love is characterized by empathy, compassion, and an intimate understanding of His people. Psalm 103 provides a vivid illustration of this fatherly compassion, emphasizing the Messiah's complete forgiveness, thorough knowledge, and endless love for His people.

Firstly, the Messiah forgives completely, removing our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. This forgiveness is not a mere overlooking of sin but is rooted in the Messiah's sacrificial act, where He bore the punishment for our sins. This act of grace ensures that God does not treat us as our sins deserve, as the Messiah has already paid the price.

Secondly, the Messiah knows us thoroughly. He understands our frailty and the brevity of our lives, reminding us that we are not mere accidents but are created with purpose and intention. This knowledge provides a profound sense of identity and belonging, countering the existential questions of who we are and where we are going.

Lastly, the Messiah loves us endlessly. His love is abounding and covenantal, seeking out those who are lost and binding them to Himself. This love is not contingent on our actions but is a relentless pursuit of a relationship with us, offering forgiveness, freedom, and a new family.

Key Takeaways

1. The Messiah's title as "Everlasting Father" highlights His eternal and unending care for His people, akin to a father's love for his children. This care is not limited by time or circumstance, providing a constant source of comfort and assurance. [03:47]
2. Complete forgiveness is offered through the Messiah, who bore the punishment for our sins. This forgiveness is not a mere overlooking of sin but a profound act of grace that ensures we are not treated as our sins deserve. [11:27]
3. The Messiah knows us thoroughly, understanding our frailty and the brevity of our lives. This knowledge provides a profound sense of identity and belonging, countering the existential questions of who we are and where we are going. [12:43]
4. The Messiah's love is endless and abounding, seeking out those who are lost and binding them to Himself. This love is not contingent on our actions but is a relentless pursuit of a relationship with us. [16:15]
5. Trusting in the Messiah's love fills the gaping hole in our hearts, offering a love that is unmatched by anything else in the universe. This love is eternal, providing assurance and hope beyond the temporal confines of this world. [21:00]
** [21:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - Light in Darkness
[01:46] - The Messiah's Four Names
[02:34] - Understanding Everlasting Father
[03:19] - Fatherly Compassion
[04:41] - Psalm 103: A Father's Compassion
[06:23] - Immeasurable Love
[07:10] - Complete Forgiveness
[09:38] - The Justice of God
[11:00] - The Messiah's Sacrifice
[12:43] - Thorough Knowledge
[14:21] - Identity and Purpose
[16:15] - Endless Love
[17:56] - The Gospel Story
[20:41] - Trust in Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:6
- Psalm 103:8-14

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Observation Questions:

What are the four names given to the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, and how do they reflect His character? [01:46]
According to Psalm 103:12, how does the Messiah deal with our transgressions, and what imagery is used to describe this action? [07:44]
In the sermon, how is the term "Everlasting Father" explained in relation to the Messiah's care for His people? [03:47]
What does the sermon say about the Messiah's understanding of our identity and existence? [12:43]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the title "Everlasting Father" provide assurance of the Messiah's commitment and presence in our lives? [03:47]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Messiah's forgiveness is both complete and rooted in justice? [11:00]
How does the sermon describe the Messiah's knowledge of us, and how does this knowledge address our questions of identity? [12:43]
What is the significance of the Messiah's love being described as "endless" and how does it relate to those disenchanted by broken relationships? [17:01]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt abandoned or alone. How does the assurance of the Messiah's "father-like care" change your perspective on those experiences? [03:47]
The sermon emphasizes complete forgiveness through the Messiah. Is there a sin or guilt you struggle to believe is forgiven? How can you embrace the truth of this forgiveness in your life? [11:00]
Consider the questions of identity mentioned in the sermon: "Who am I?" and "Where am I going?" How does knowing the Messiah as "Everlasting Father" influence your understanding of these questions? [12:43]
The sermon describes the Messiah's love as seeking us out like a shepherd searching for a lost sheep. How can you respond to this pursuing love in your daily life? [17:01]
Think about a broken relationship in your life. How can the Messiah's endless love guide you in seeking reconciliation or healing in that relationship? [17:01]
The sermon suggests that trusting in the Messiah's love fills a "gaping hole" in our hearts. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your trust in His love? [21:00]
How can you share the message of the Messiah's eternal care and love with someone who is disenchanted by institutional religion or broken family relationships? [17:01]

Sermon Clips

Isaiah introduces this passage by announcing in quite striking fashion that into the darkness of the world that he and his friends inhabit light has come into their superstition and into their corruption and into their materialism a light has dawned. And as we saw he was able to speak both of the then and of that which was yet in the future. [00:01:00]

Now this picture of light which is pervasive and speaks to the clarity of the good news of the gospel is in direct contrast with cultish teaching and cultish behavior. And this light is found finally and fully in the Messiah whom Isaiah introduces us to as the child with the four names. [00:01:28]

There are two things that we need to know immediately about this two things that are not the case. First of all we need to know that this is not a reference to the first person of the Trinity we would immediately go wrong if we thought somehow or another that Isaiah having spoken first of the Messiah was then speaking of God the Father. [00:02:40]

What we have here is a designation of a quality of the Messiah with respect to his people. When we think of the way in which the Messiah deals with those who are his own he acts towards them as a father towards his children. Secondly, it is important for us to understand that the adjective everlasting is not referring to the eternal nature of the Messiah's being. [00:03:11]

As a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him here is a designation of the quality of the Messiah how does he treat us well he pities. In fact if you have a King James version or if you remember it from growing up you'll remember that this verse reads as a father pity of his children. [00:04:48]

He forgives us completely if you look at the language of this psalm it comes out very clearly verse 3 the Lord should be praised for he is the one who forgives all of your sins. He is the one in verse 4 who redeems your life from the pit. In verse 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repairs according to our iniquities. [00:07:11]

Because when we take what it says the Bible concerning the forgiveness of God a full and a final and a complete forgiveness it has to be said within the context of God's character. And because God is holy and because he is just he cannot he does not and he will not condone our sins and our transgressions nor will he overlook them. [00:08:33]

The Bible says that we are all stained that everyone is bearing the marks of the stain of our rebellion against God our indifference towards God and that there is only one solution one solvent that may remove the stain not all the perfumes of Arabia could do anything with the stains on the hands of of Lady Macbeth you will recall. [00:10:06]

He forgives us completely he knows us thoroughly he loves us endlessly. Look at what it says in verse 8 that he abounds in love he abounds in love it's a great word abounding isn't it he abounds in love he overflows with love God is love his love brings people to repentance when they realize that what I deserve I will not receive. [00:16:15]

This is appealing I know to many in our day those for whom family life has been if not a disaster at least a disappointment those for whom institutional religion has left them high and dry scandals and self-aggrandizement self-promotion has left them disenchanted and they're looking for something and here they're introduced to a love that seeks us out. [00:17:56]

The human heart longs for an endless love and sin breaks love relationships and death changes them irrevocably in every instance save one and that is the endless love of a forever father who in a way that I cannot understand before I was even made knew me and set his love upon me. [00:19:25]

If you want to know that love trust Christ and I want to say to you that if you spurn that love there is no other love in the entire universe that will be able to fill the gaping hole that is left in your heart for you were made according to the plan of he who is mighty counselor. [00:21:44]

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Everlasting Father: The Transformative Love of the Messiah

Devotional

Day 1: The Messiah's Eternal Care

Day 2: Complete Forgiveness Through Sacrifice

Day 3: Known and Loved by the Messiah

Day 4: The Pursuing Love of the Messiah

Day 5: Trusting in the Messiah's Love

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Everlasting Father: The Transformative Love of the Messiah

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