MY HEAVENLY FATHER WATCHES OVER ME

Text: Matthew 6:25-33 and Matthew 7:7-11

 

Jesus exploded all the stereotypes about God when He came to earth.

1.  He showed that God is not some kind of impersonal force.

2.  He showed that God is not some kind of angry tyrant waiting to deal you a bummer in life.

3.  He showed that God is not some apathetic creator that really doesn't care about what's happening on the earth.

In fact, Jesus defined God in two words in Matthew 6:9…"Our Father."

  • God want us to think of Him as a Father. That is a radical idea. In the Old Testament God is only called "Father" seven times. In this chapter alone, Jesus calls Him Father over ten times and Jesus called God Father and told us to call God "Father" over seventy times in the gospels.
  • God wants you to know Him like a Father.

  The point I want to make is simply this: God is a person not a power.

  I like that because:

1.  I can relate to a person.

2.  I can get to know a person.

3.  I can have a relationship with a person.

What kind of Father is God? What is He really like?

The Bible shows that God has four characteristics in His Fatherliness toward us. Let's consider them in this study to get a clear understanding of what kind of Father God is to His children.

I.  God is a Caring Father

A.  God wants you to know that you are loved and cared for. You matter to God.

1.  God cares about you.

2.  God loves you.

3.  God is interested in you.

Psalm 104:13, "As a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compassion on those who honor Him."

 

·This is God's most outstanding characteristic. He's caring, loving and compassionate.

B.  I Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

1. Does God care about your health?

2. Does He care about your house payment?

3.  Does He care about how you get along in your family?

4.  Does He care about whether you're a success or a failure in life? Does it even matter to Him?

The answer to these questions is yes; He cares.

Psalms 35:37, "The Lord delights in the well being of His servants." The Good News translation says, "The Lord is pleased with the success of His servants."

II.  God is a Consistent Father

A.  James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from the Father who does not change like shifting shadows."

1.  He's reliable. He can be counted upon.

2.  He's worthy of trust.

B.  Some father's are unpredictable. They are fickle.

1.  Inconsistent fathers produce insecure kids.

2.  God is a consistent Father. He's not moody. He never has a bad day. He never wakes up grouchy.

3.  He loves you just as much on your bad day as He does on your good day. And the reason is because He's consistent. It's not based on who you are---but who He is.

C.  II Timothy 2:13, "Even if we are faithless He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself."

1.  Isn't that an incredible verse?

2.  It says even when we're unfaithful and inconsistent and unreliable, God can be counted on.

3.  Because of His very nature He cannot disown Himself. By nature He is reliable, consistent, and faithful.

This is such good news because everything in the world is changing constantly. While everything else is falling apart and changing on us daily, there is one thing we can always count on:

·We can always count on God to always act the same way toward us no matter how we feel.

·He is always caring and consistent no matter what we think--no matter what we feel--no matter what we do.

D.  Malachi 3:6, God says, "I the Lord do not change."

1.  He is immutable - unchanging.

2.  Everything else shifts and changes but God is as stable as a rock.

3.  Nothing changes with Him and for us that is good news.

E.  Psalm 18:20,  "What a God He is! All His promises prove true."

1.  God always keeps His promises.

2.  If God says it, you can count on it.

III. God is a Close Father.

A.  The Bible makes it clear that God is nearby when you need Him. He's available - He's accessible.

1.  Paul talks about this in Acts 17:27 when he talks about God being everywhere. "God did this so people would reach out for Him and find Him since He is not far from each of us."

2.  He is not out in never never land. He is a close God. 

B.  Three encouraging things we need to know about our close God.

1.  God is never too busy for us!

      Psalm 145:18, "The Lord is near to all who call on Him."

            a.  When you pray you don't get a busy signal.

            b.  When you say, "I've got a burden Lord and I need to talk to you about

                it." God doesn't say, "Not now, I'm busy."

            c.  His switchboard is never full. He can handle all the requests made to

                Him. He is never too busy for you. You can talk to Him at anytime.

2.  God loves to meet your need.

            a.  Matthew 7:11, "If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how

                much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask

               Him."

            b.  Matthew 6:31-32, "So don't worry saying "What are we going to eat or

                what shall we wear? Your Heavenly Father knows you need these

                 things."

            c.  God has unlimited resources with which to meet your needs. His

                 provisions are never diminished.

3.  God is sympathetic to our hurts.

            a.  When you say, "I'm feeling low today." God understands for He is able

                 to look right into you.

            b.  He can understand why you are hurting many times when you don't

                 even know why you are hurting.

            c.  God can check it out. He knows. He understands completely.

C.  Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

1.  Have you ever been crushed in spirit? If you've lived any length of time you have been crushed in spirit.

2.  If you've had a difficulty this week, this month or this year --God understands.

3.  He is sympathetic. He is close to the broken hearted.

4.  He saves those who are crushed in spirit.

D.  The term Jesus used for Father in the Bible is the word - "Abba."

1.  Jesus spoke Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek.

2.  Jesus obviously read Greek and could speak it but the common language was Aramaic.

3.  The Aramaic word for Father was Abba.

It's obviously a real simple word that a baby could learn first, like papa, dada, or abba. Daddy is what it means.

5.  It's an intimate term. God says when you come to Him, that's the kind of relationship God wants you to relate to Him.

6.  God is a caring Father, a consistent Father, and a close Father  
     and lastly.....

God is a Capable Father.

A. Nothing is beyond His ability or His resources.

1.  Nothing ever taxes Him. Whatever problem you've got - at work - at home - at school - God can handle it. He is a capable Father.

2.  Luke 1:37, "For nothing is impossible with God."

3.  Ephesians 3:20 (LB), " God is able to do far more than we would ever dare or even dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes."

4. God says:

            a.  Think of the biggest thing you can think of and I can top that.

            b.  Think of the biggest problem you can give me and I can handle it.

            c.  Think of the biggest request you'd like to make and I can meet it

5.  Why? Because He is a capable Father.

B.  God wants to meet your needs.

1.  He wants you to stop looking everywhere else to have those needs met.

     He wants you to look to Him.

2.  Philippians 4:19, "My God shall supply all of your needs…."

            a.  That means everything from finances on down. All your needs.

            b.  God takes care of His children. He is a loving Father.

Conclusion:

God says, "As your Heavenly Father…."

1.  I can meet every need you'll ever face.

2.  I want to meet every need you'll ever face.

3.  I will meet every need you'll ever face…..

If you will only trust me!  

 

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