Rediscovering Our Identity in God's Fatherhood
Summary
In our journey through the wilderness of life, we often encounter the echoes of our past wounds, the whispers of temptation, and the shadows of doubt. Yet, in the midst of this wilderness, we find a profound truth that anchors our souls: God the Father is our Father. This revelation is not merely a theological concept; it is the bedrock of our identity and the source of our healing.
As we delve into the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9, we discover a pattern of prayer that Jesus Himself gave us, revealing the intimate nature of our relationship with God. He is not a distant deity, but a present, loving Father who is involved in the intricate details of our lives. He is holy, powerful, caring, forgiving, and our protector. In the wilderness, Jesus exemplified reliance on the Father, drawing strength from His presence and provision.
My own journey has been marked by the absence of an earthly father, a wound that left me searching for validation and belonging. Yet, it was through this very wound that God led me into a deeper understanding of His fatherhood. The wilderness experiences, though challenging, became the fertile ground for growth and healing. As I embraced the fatherhood of God, I found security, provision, and a sense of belonging that transcended my earthly circumstances.
The enemy may attempt to undermine our identity, to isolate us, and to offer counterfeit sources of fulfillment. But Jesus, even with His own absent father wound, stood firm in the truth of His Father's voice. He countered each temptation with the authority of Scripture and the certainty of His Father's love.
Now, as we face our own wilderness, we must learn to listen for the roar of our Aba, our Father. It is not enough to simply know Scripture; we must know the Author and experience His power in our lives. Our view of God is often shaped by our earthly fathers, but Jesus invites us to know God as Aba, to experience His goodness and love firsthand.
As we embark on this journey of rediscovery, we must be willing to allow God to reopen our wounds, not to cause us pain, but to bring healing and wholeness. It is a process, a surgical procedure of the heart, where we learn to hear the roar of our Father and find our true identity in Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The Lord's Prayer is a blueprint for intimacy with God, revealing His nature as a Father who is near, holy, powerful, caring, forgiving, and our protector. When we pray, we are not reciting empty words but engaging in a relationship with the Creator who knows us deeply and loves us unconditionally. [49:33]
- Our identity is not defined by our past wounds or the absence of earthly fathers. Instead, it is rooted in the unchanging truth that we are beloved children of God. This identity is affirmed by the voice of our heavenly Father, who calls us to a life of significance, security, and belonging.
- Temptation often targets our sense of provision, protection, and position, but Jesus demonstrated that our response should be grounded in the truth of God's Word and the assurance of His presence. By knowing the Author, we can discern the truth from the enemy's lies and stand firm in our faith.
- The wilderness experiences in our lives are not meant to harm us but to draw us closer to God. In these moments, we are invited to lean into the fatherhood of God, allowing Him to heal our wounds and transform our pain into a testimony of His faithfulness and love.
- The journey to rediscovering our identity in God's fatherhood is a communal one. We are called to fellowship with others, to share our stories, and to support one another as we collectively listen for the roar of our Father and walk in the light of His truth.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord's Prayer)
- "Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
2. Matthew 4:1-11 (The Temptation of Jesus)
- "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' He answered, 'It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' Jesus told him, 'It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.' Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, 'I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus told him, 'Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the key attributes of God as described in the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13?
2. How did Jesus respond to each of the temptations presented by the devil in Matthew 4:1-11?
3. According to the sermon, what role does the fatherhood of God play in our identity and healing? ([00:51])
4. What personal experience did the pastor share about his absent father wound and how it led him to a deeper understanding of God's fatherhood? ([01:35])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 reveal the intimate nature of our relationship with God?
2. In what ways did Jesus' responses to the devil's temptations in Matthew 4:1-11 demonstrate His reliance on the Father?
3. How can understanding God as our Father help us overcome the echoes of our past wounds and the whispers of temptation? ([00:51])
4. What does the pastor mean when he says that the wilderness experiences in our lives are not meant to harm us but to draw us closer to God? ([09:05])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own prayer life. How can you incorporate the attributes of God described in the Lord's Prayer into your daily prayers?
2. Think about a recent temptation you faced. How can you use Jesus' example in Matthew 4:1-11 to respond to future temptations?
3. The pastor shared his journey of healing from an absent father wound. Do you have any past wounds that you need to bring before God for healing? ([01:35])
4. How can you actively listen for the "roar" of your Father in your daily life, especially during challenging times? ([09:05])
5. In what ways can you support others in your small group or community who are also on a journey of rediscovering their identity in God's fatherhood?
6. How can you create a habit of turning to Scripture and the voice of God rather than the enemy's lies when you face doubts about your identity and worth? ([12:55])
7. The pastor mentioned the importance of communal support in our journey. How can you engage more deeply with your small group to share your stories and support one another? ([36:00])
Devotional
Day 1: Intimacy with God Through Prayer
Prayer is not a ritual of words but a gateway to a deeper relationship with God. When one utters the words of the Lord's Prayer, they are not merely speaking into the void but are engaging in a profound communion with the Creator. This prayer, taught by Jesus, serves as a blueprint for understanding the nature of God as a Father—holy, powerful, yet intimately involved in the lives of His children. It is an invitation to experience God's love and care in a personal way, to recognize His desire for closeness, and to respond to His presence with the fullness of one's heart. In this sacred dialogue, believers find solace, guidance, and the reassurance of their place in God's family. [49:33]
"Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands." - Psalm 63:3-4 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you make your daily prayer a more genuine conversation with God, reflecting on His nature as your loving Father?
Day 2: Identity Rooted in Divine Love
Our true identity is not shaped by our past or the presence or absence of earthly fathers, but by the steadfast love of our heavenly Father. This divine love speaks into the core of our being, affirming that we are His beloved children, called to a life of purpose and belonging. The voice of God is a constant in the flux of life, offering security and significance that cannot be shaken by external circumstances. Embracing this identity means rejecting the lies that seek to define us by our wounds or inadequacies and instead, claiming the truth of our heritage as children of the King. [07:40]
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:1 (ESV)
Reflection: What are some lies about your identity that you need to surrender to God in order to fully embrace your status as His beloved child?
Day 3: Standing Firm Against Temptation
Temptation often preys on our vulnerabilities, questioning our provision, protection, and position. Yet, as Jesus demonstrated in the wilderness, our defense lies in the truth of God's Word and the assurance of His presence. To stand firm against the enemy's schemes, one must not only know Scripture but also intimately know the Author. This knowledge enables us to discern truth from lies and to live out our faith with conviction, secure in the love and power of our heavenly Father. [07:40]
"But he said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'" - Luke 11:28 (ESV)
Reflection: What specific temptation do you need to confront with the truth of God's Word today, and how can you apply that truth in a practical way?
Day 4: Embracing Wilderness Growth
The wilderness experiences of life, while challenging, are not designed to harm us but to draw us closer to God. In these times of trial and uncertainty, we are invited to lean into the fatherhood of God, allowing Him to heal our wounds and to use our pain for growth. These moments become opportunities for transformation, where we can experience God's faithfulness and love in new depths, emerging stronger and more rooted in our identity as His children. [07:40]
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." - 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Reflection: Can you identify a wilderness experience in your life where you can invite God in to heal and use it for your growth?
Day 5: Rediscovering Identity in Community
The journey of rediscovering our identity as children of God is not a solitary endeavor but one that flourishes in the context of community. Together, we are called to fellowship, to share our stories, and to support one another as we seek to hear the roar of our Father and walk in the light of His truth. In this shared pursuit, we find encouragement, accountability, and a collective strength that helps us to grow in our understanding of God's fatherhood and our place in His family. [07:40]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively engage in your faith community to both give and receive support in the journey of understanding your identity in God?
Quotes
- "God the father is your father. That's it, pretty simple." [18:43](Download)
- "As I began to unpack and understand the impact of my father's absence, the lack of his Roar, if you will, as I went into my own Wilderness, I felt that loss of significance." [20:10](Download)
- "Jesus had the community of the father and the son and the spirit... Jesus went into the Wilderness knowing his father in Heaven... Jesus knew the author and he had experienced the power of His Roar." [25:37](Download)
- "One of the most revolutionary things Jesus did was to tell us that we have a father... Jesus came along and shocked the religious order of things when others wouldn't even say the name of God lest it become less holy somehow." [26:22](Download)
- "Jesus is in the wilderness and even though he doesn't have food... he knows the source of his provision... he knows the community of the father and the spirit... he understood his position and the father's voice roared out of heaven and it spoke over him." [30:52](Download)
- "Without rediscovering the fatherhood of God in my life, I would have stayed lost in the wilderness." [31:37](Download)
- "Child of God, perhaps the next step on your journey is to ReDiscover the intimacy that Jesus, lacking even his own Earthly father, had with his heavenly father and know that God the father is your father." [32:18](Download)
- "Start with the fatherhood of God and pray as Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father who is present and strong surrounding us, who is Holy and Powerful like a lion roaring at the Devils that chase us." [33:49](Download)
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