THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD By Bayo Abraham

Matthew 6:9
'After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.'

Until we understand the concept of the Fatherhood of God, we cannot enjoy God fully. We fret and enter into anxiety all the time is because we are ignorant of His love, care, provident, etc. for us.

When the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching His disciples how to pray, He began with the above quoted sentence. He made them to realized that when they settle the issue of God's Fatherhood by entrenching it in their hearts,the problem of Christians living with fear, uncertainty, insecurity, jealousy, envy, bitterness, etc shall be nonessential.

This concept was not strange to Old Testament saints. The Almighty layed the foundation of the history of mankind with this same concept. He created everything man needed before He made man as His work of sixth day. Genesis 1: 1-28.

The Prophet called Him 'The Everlasting Father'. Isaiah 9:6.

When people loss site of Who He was to them in the Old Testament as it is with many Christians today, He addressed them sorrowfully thus :

' A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? Malachi 1:6

We serve God carelessly these days because we fail to realize how close our heavenly Father is to us. Also, we didn't recognise His love for us. He loves you than you love yourself.

Jeremiah 29:11 ' For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.' John 13:1 Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

If we know that our earthly father desires and wants the best for us, how much more our Heavenly Father. He imprinted this on the heart of early Church when He said, 'Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.' 1 Peter 5:7.

His caring dated back to when we have not entered our mothers womb. If He could do all things to protect us from wicked family members and merciless midwives how would He not carter for us now?

Isaiah 46:3-4 'Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.'

Beloved, rest in Him. All power in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth is His. That is why He is ALMIGHTY. Let this sink into your spirit. Do all things in this consciousness and your life and ministry shall never remain the same.

Honour Him. Serve Him as Father. Relate with Him in the light of Fatherhood. Rest on His bosom. Love Him dearly and passionately. Confide in Him, He will not divulge your secret. He cannot betray you. And importantly, fear Him. An African adage says 'The same teeth the dog uses to play with her puppies she also bites them with.'

CONCLUSION: 

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Are you a son of God? If you are, be confident He is on your side.

Bayo Abraham

MORE THAN MERE MAN (John 1:45-46) By Bayo Abraham

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

Beloved, you are more than who people think you are. Psalm 139:14. -I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

God does not see as man sees.

In Ezekiel 37:1-10, People saw dry bones, men saw worthless trash, but God saw a group of powerful soldiers who are great army. What people see concerning you is not a finality. It is the testimony of God that we should hold on to.

In Exodus 4:10 Moses saw a stammerer, but the Almighty saw a deliverer.

In Judges 6:15. Gideon saw himself negatively. He said, 'Oh my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my fathers house.' But, God saw a mighty man of valour.

In Luke 5:1-6, People saw a failed and unlearned fisherman in Peter, but God saw a great evangelist. This was obvious in Acts 4:14 thus. 'Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.'

In John 4: 6-42, The whole world saw an harlot who had six men passing through her life. However, God saw in her an evangelist of repute. It is not what people think or see in you presently that matters, but what you cooperate with God to do in your life.

There is a seed of greatness in you. Can you see this? Because, God needs your cooperation before He could do what He determine to do in your life. Give Him chance. Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

The Saviour of the whole world appeared on the scene, but He was not recognized. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to know who you really are.

Your location, background, educational status, gender, and your present situation does not count for what God is about to do in your life. Hebrews 11:9 By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

Nobody gave the madman of Garderer any chance. God located him and turned him to an evangelist. The world has not seen the last of you. You are going out from here hotter, brighter and purer in the mighty name of Jesus.

Ones debtors, rejected and discontented followed David and later became mighty men. Never write yourself off. 1 Samuel 22:2. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. 1 Chronicles 12:21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

Beloved, you are a raw material for a finished product. When God finish what He is about to do, the whole world would marvel.

Do you have faith in what God says you are? Faith is not passive. You've got to take decisive action. Equip and develop yourself spiritually, physically and ministerially. Raw material cannot amount to anything except it pass through process.

Though we are mere men and women, we don't have to die like that. We've got to put our imprint on the sand of time. Release your potentials through prayers, studying at the Lord's feet and self development. As you do these, the Lord shall crown your effort in Jesus name.

We shall meet on the mountain top in Jesus name.

Shallom.

Bayo Abraham.