Experiencing the Father's Love: A Journey of Intimacy
Summary
The love of the Father is the central reality of our faith, and it is this love that Jesus came to reveal. From eternity, Jesus lived in the bosom of the Father, experiencing a continuous, unbroken flow of the Father’s affection. When He walked the earth, this relationship did not change; He lived every moment in the awareness and experience of being loved by the Father. This is not just a theological truth to be believed, but a living reality to be entered into. It is one thing to know that God loves the world, but it is another to know and experience that He is loving you, right now, in every moment.
Our union with Christ is not simply about imitating His actions or following His teachings. Rather, it is about sharing in His relationship with the Father. We are not yet the bride, but we are betrothed, being prepared for that day by the Father Himself. Just as Rebekah journeyed to Isaac’s home, learning about her future family, we are being drawn into the heart of the Father, learning what His home is like, and what it means to be His children. The preparation for this union is not accomplished by our own striving, but by dwelling in the Father’s love, allowing Him to shape us from the inside out.
Jesus’ life was not about self-glorification or independent action. He did nothing of Himself; every word, every miracle, every act was the Father’s initiative, expressed through Him. His mission was to reveal the true nature of Yahweh—not as a distant, fearsome deity, but as “Papa,” a perfect Father whose love is healing and transformative. Even at the cross, the Father was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, showing us the depth of His love.
The journey of faith is not about becoming obedient robots or following a list of rules. It is about being so immersed in the Father’s love that we are transformed by it, desiring to be like Him because we love Him. As we experience this love, we begin to reflect the Father’s heart to the world, just as Jesus did. The ultimate goal is not just to know about God, but to know Him as Father, to live in the continuous experience of His love, and to become sons and daughters who reveal His heart to others.
Key Takeaways
- The Continuous Experience of the Father’s Love
Jesus lived every moment in the bosom of the Father, not just knowing about the Father’s love, but experiencing it as a present reality. This is the invitation for every believer—not to settle for a distant or theoretical love, but to cultivate a living, ongoing awareness of being loved by God in every moment. The difference between knowing God loves the world and knowing He is loving you now is the difference between religion and relationship. [01:09:01]
- Our Union with Christ Is About Sharing His Relationship with the Father
We are not called merely to imitate Jesus’ actions, but to enter into His relationship with the Father. The preparation for our ultimate union with Christ is the Father’s work, as He draws us into His heart and teaches us what it means to be His children. True transformation comes not from external conformity, but from being immersed in the Father’s love and allowing Him to shape us from within. [01:12:24]
- Jesus Revealed the Father, Not Himself
The purpose of Jesus’ life was to make the Father known. Every word and deed originated in the Father’s heart, and Jesus’ focus was always to glorify the Father, not Himself. To become like Jesus is to become an image of the Father, reflecting His heart, His motives, and His love to the world—not just copying Jesus’ actions, but sharing His source. [01:15:27]
- The Goal of Christianity Is Intimacy with the Father
The ultimate aim is not just obedience or spiritual achievement, but to dwell in the love of the Father as Jesus did. When we experience the Father’s love, we are changed—not by compulsion, but by desire. What we love, we become like; as we love the Father, we are transformed into His likeness, and our lives become a living revelation of His heart. [01:32:43]
- The Revelation of the Father Is the Maturing of the Church
Throughout history, God has progressively revealed Himself—as Savior, as Spirit, and now, in these days, as Father. This revelation is not a minor adjustment, but a turning inside out of our understanding and experience of God. Only when the love of the Father is established in our hearts can the kingdom of God truly come through us, as we become sons and daughters who carry His presence and reveal His nature to the world. [01:40:26]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07:56] - Jesus in the Bosom of the Father
[01:09:01] - Knowing God’s Love Personally
[01:10:52] - Our Union with Christ
[01:12:24] - The Father Prepares the Bride
[01:13:48] - Learning the Heart of the Father
[01:14:44] - Becoming the Image of the Father
[01:15:27] - Jesus’ The Father’s Heart
[01:17:25] - Living in Continuous Experience
[01:18:56] - Every Encounter with Jesus Is an Encounter with the Father
[01:19:22] - Jesus Came to Reveal the Father
[01:21:40] - The Spirit Reveals the Father’s Glory
[01:22:44] - The Goal: Walk as Jesus Walked
[01:23:26] - Jesus’ Final Prayer: Declaring the Father
[01:25:16] - The Father in Christ at the Cross
[01:28:27] - Revelation Transforms Us
[01:32:43] - Transformation by Love, Not Rules
[01:35:58] - Experiencing the Father’s Love Directly
[01:40:26] - The Revelation of the Father in Our Day
[01:43:03] - The Goal: Intimacy with the Father
[01:44:26] - Jesus, the Way to the Father
[01:45:15] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living in the Continuous Experience of the Father’s Love
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### Bible Reading
1. John 1:18
“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
([01:07:56])
2. John 17:26
“I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
([01:23:26])
3. Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
([01:10:52])
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 1:18, what does it mean that Jesus is “in the bosom of the Father,” and what does He do from that place? ([01:07:56])
2. According to John 17:26, what is the purpose of Jesus declaring the Father’s name to His followers? ([01:23:26])
3. The sermon says Jesus did nothing of Himself, but only what the Father showed Him. What are some examples from Jesus’ life that show this dependence? ([01:15:27])
4. In Galatians 2:20, what does Paul say about his own life and identity after coming to faith in Christ? ([01:10:52])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon describes Jesus living in a “continuous experience of the Father’s love.” Why is this more than just knowing about God’s love in theory? How does this change a person’s relationship with God? ([01:09:01])
2. The speaker says our union with Christ is not just about imitating Jesus’ actions, but sharing in His relationship with the Father. What does it look like to “share” in that relationship, rather than just copy Jesus? ([01:12:24])
3. Jesus’ main mission was to reveal the Father, not Himself. Why is it important for Christians to focus on knowing the Father, and not just on following rules or copying Jesus’ miracles? ([01:15:27])
4. The sermon says that true transformation comes from being immersed in the Father’s love, not from external conformity. How does this perspective challenge common ideas about spiritual growth? ([01:32:43])
---
### Application Questions
1. The difference between knowing “God loves the world” and knowing “He is loving me right now” is described as the difference between religion and relationship. Do you tend to think of God’s love as distant or as something you experience personally? What would help you become more aware of His love in your daily life? ([01:09:01])
2. The sermon uses the story of Rebekah being prepared for Isaac as a picture of how the Father prepares us for union with Christ. In what ways do you sense God preparing you for deeper relationship with Him? Are there areas where you resist His preparation? ([01:12:24])
3. Jesus did nothing of Himself, but only what the Father showed Him. Are there areas in your life where you tend to act independently, rather than seeking the Father’s heart first? What would it look like to pause and ask, “Father, what do You want to do here?” before making decisions? ([01:15:27])
4. The sermon says, “Christianity is not about making you into an obedient robot. It’s about teaching you how to dwell in the love of the Father to such a degree that you begin to love Him so much you want to be like Him.” Are there ways you have approached your faith more like a checklist than a relationship? How can you shift your focus this week? ([01:32:43])
5. The speaker shares about experiencing the Father’s love directly, not just through Jesus as a mediator. Have you ever had a moment where you felt the Father’s love in a real way? If not, what might help you open your heart to that experience? ([01:35:58])
6. The sermon says that as we experience the Father’s love, we begin to reflect His heart to others. Who in your life needs to see the Father’s love through you right now? What is one practical way you can show them His heart this week? ([01:21:40])
7. The revelation of the Father is described as the maturing of the church. What would it look like for our small group or church to be known for carrying the Father’s presence and revealing His nature to the world? What steps can we take together to move in that direction? ([01:40:26])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for a deeper experience of the Father’s love, and for the courage to live as sons and daughters who reveal His heart to others.
Devotional
Day 1: Living in the Continuous Experience of the Father's Love
To truly know God is not just to believe He loves the world in a general sense, but to live in the ongoing, personal experience of His love for you. Jesus lived every moment in the bosom of the Father, never doubting or stepping outside of that love, and invites us into the same reality. This is not a distant or past-tense affection, but an active, present love that is available to you every moment of every day. The difference between knowing about God's love and experiencing it is the difference between reading about warmth and feeling the sun on your face. Today, you are invited to reach out in your heart and touch the Father's love, letting it become the foundation of your life. [01:09:01]
John 1:18 (ESV)
"No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."
Reflection: When was the last time you paused in the middle of your day to simply receive and experience the Father's love for you personally, not just as a concept but as a present reality? Can you take a moment now to do so?
Day 2: Jesus Reveals the True Heart of the Father
Jesus' mission was not to draw attention to Himself, but to reveal the true nature and heart of the Father to the world. Every word He spoke, every miracle He performed, and every act of compassion was a direct expression of the Father's heart. To become like Jesus is to become an image of the Father, not just to imitate actions but to be transformed by the same love and intimacy that Jesus shared with His Father. The invitation is to move beyond religious duty and into a relationship where you know what the home of the Father is truly like, and where your life becomes a living declaration of His character. [01:15:27]
John 14:10 (ESV)
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works."
Reflection: In what ways do your words and actions reflect the heart of the Father to those around you? Is there one area where you sense God inviting you to reveal more of His character today?
Day 3: The Goal of Jesus’ Life: Declaring the Father’s Name
At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus declared that He had finished the work the Father gave Him—not just the work of redemption, but the work of making the Father known. His life, death, and resurrection all point to the reality that the Father’s love is the central message and goal. Jesus continues to declare the Father’s name, inviting us into a relationship where we experience the same love He knew. The ultimate purpose of your life is not just to serve or obey, but to know and be known by the Father, and to let His love be the defining reality of your existence. [01:24:44]
John 17:26 (ESV)
"I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus’ greatest work was to reveal the Father’s love change the way you approach your relationship with God? What would it look like to let this love be the center of your life today?
Day 4: Becoming Like Jesus Through the Love of the Father
Transformation into Christlikeness does not come through striving or rule-keeping, but through dwelling in the love of the Father until you desire to be like Him. Just as people begin to resemble those they love deeply, so too will you naturally become more like the Father as you abide in His love. This is not about becoming an obedient robot, but about being so captivated by the Father’s kindness, humility, and peace that you long to reflect Him in all you do. The journey of sonship is about experiencing the Father’s love so deeply that it changes your desires, your responses, and your very nature. [01:32:43]
Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Reflection: Who in your life has most shaped who you are by their love? How might you intentionally spend time with the Father today so that His love shapes you more deeply into His likeness?
Day 5: The Destination: Intimacy and Oneness with the Father
The ultimate goal of the Christian life is not just to know Jesus as the way, but to come into real, living relationship with the Father Himself. Jesus is the mediator who brings us to the Father, and the Spirit enables us to experience this intimacy. The love of the Father is meant to be the atmosphere you live in, the reality that turns your life inside out and upside down. As you come to know the Father, not just in theory but in daily experience, you find your true home and purpose. This is the day to let the eyes and ears of your heart turn toward the Father, to live in His continuous embrace, and to let His love be your life. [01:45:15]
Romans 8:15-16 (ESV)
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."
Reflection: What would it mean for you to move beyond knowing about God to truly knowing Him as your Father? Is there a step you can take today to open your heart more fully to His embrace?
Quotes
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