A Child of God - Part 2

In part one we see that the children of creation betrayed their Father, the living God. In doing so they lost the legal right to approach God and are described by the Apostle Paul as "...without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12) Notice first, "without Christ." Although Christ had not come to redeem man for several thousand years after the fall, the fact is, there is no life, no ability or right to approach God without Him. Although Paul is addressing Gentiles here, he goes on to address Jews also. Though Jews had God's law, His oracles, yet, without Christ, they were no different than Gentile unbelievers in their approach toward God with the exception of the High Priest once a year under the law of Moses. So this applies to all people everywhere. We see this clearly as the Apostle Paul tells us, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5) and the Apostle Peter reveals, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Next, we see that man is a stranger from the covenants of the promise. In other words, man has no claims on God apart from His "Covenants" especially His "New Covenant" established through Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)  Man had forfeited every right which God has conferred upon him at the fall. Before the fall, God had given man the lega1 right to approach Him and a stand before Him. We see this in the Garden. (Genesis 3:8) Although this was after the fall, it paints the picture of man's relationship with God the Father and His children. But now, do to man's betrayal, his treason, he forfeited his position and is described as "having no hope and without God in the world."  

Hopeless and Godless, and in the world where Satan has completely corrupted everything through sin, who also has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14), shows us that man's position apart from Christ, is certainly desperate. But more than this, as we saw in part one, man had become a partaker of satanic nature. Satan was now his father. (John 8:44) He is not only a subject of Satan, but is also become spiritua1ly dead. Adam was no longer able to stand in God's presence after he sinned. Furthermore, he was driven from the Garden of Eden God, and then God placed a cherubim wielding a flaming sword to block the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24) God would not permit man to eat of the tree of life until the sin problem had been settled. Think how awful it would have been if man had eaten of tree of life while under the sway of sin. Man would live forever and yet the destructive nature of sin would still have been unleashed upon the earth. In other words, all of mankind would follow in their father's footsteps, the devil, that is, "steel, kill and destroy" but never physically die.  It staggers the imagination to even try to think of something so horrific.

The Book of Job is seen as the oldest book of the Bible. Job recognized man's awful dilemma and need for a mediator, “For God is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both." (Job 9:32-33)  In other words, there is no mediator between man and God who has a legal standing with God and at the same time can sympathize, understand and represent man before God. This is Job's cry for a mediator, but it is not the cry of Job alone. This is actually the cry of man throughout the ages. All through the ages man has created religions and every way possible to appease himself and hopefully be accepted by God. Yet the Bible tells us, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) This means exactly what it says, "for ALL have sinned!"  

Today, man can no more approach God without a mediator than he could in the days of Job or Israel. The deceptions of Satan have brought most of mankind to believe if they live a good moral life, that this is al1 God requires of them. By living a "good" life, and if there is a Heaven they have as much right to it as those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However, neither this kind of thinking, nor any amount of the finest education, nor the best of man's good works (feed the hungry, clothe the poor, etc.) will ever give him right standing with God. Proverbs tells us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12) In all of mans efforts and so called good deeds, man needs a mediator. 

Although these truths may not be encouraging, the reality of such thing should bring every believer to grips with just how privileged each one of us are, to be a child of God. To have a Father whose only desire is to give His best to all humanity, especially to believers, His family. This should cause us to be just as caring and loving to others as our Father is to us. Jesus tells us, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11) The Apostle Paul tells us, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) These are but a few promises that we have in Christ. As we look ahead to what it means to be a child of God, I pray that we will never forget who and what we were, according to Ephesians 2:12, before the Father drew us to Jesus, the "Mediator between God and men."

A Child of God - 1

Many times in the New Testament we see that when one truly accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they become a child of God, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) But what does it mean to be a child of God, a son or a daughter? Let us begin by looking at creation. Notice, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-3)  

The first thing that God started with, was the earth. From day one, through day six, God created everything that pertained to the natural or physical realm. Without much thought it is obvious to see, although most likely refuted among scientists, the earth is the center of creation, the center of the universe. If astronomers could find a way to measure the distance from earth to the end of the universe, and continue to take measurement at one degree increments for three hundred and sixty degrees, they would find this to be true.

Going back to creation and looking at the sixth day, it is recorded, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) The Psalmist David reveals, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." (Psalm 8:3-6)

Now we can see the purpose of creation. It was and is all for man's benefit. Everything was prepared by God for His masterpiece of creation, man. Well, if the reason behind creation, especially the earth was for man, then what was the reason for man? Seeing that God created man in His own image and likeness, there is only one answer. God wanted a family. He wanted sons and daughters. The Apostles Paul reveals, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15) Its clear that God's desire was to have children, sons and daughters. In heaven He had angels to minister to Him. However, other than angels being spirit beings, man is the only thing in all creation that is a direct reflection of the image and likeness of God. There is not one thing like man in all creation.

In the account of creation shown in Genesis, we see that all creation took place in six days. We really have no account of what the length of a day represents in the realm of creation. The closes account that we may draw some understanding from was spoken by Moses, "For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4) and the Apostle Peter, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8) These passages represent the fact that God is not bound by time and space, and as was stated, we have no idea of the time of creation except that we have a 24 hour day and have 7 days representing one week. During the end of day six, God made man. Now, think how wonderful man is in the eyes of God. Only a loving Father would devote so much time in creating everything for his children and also give them the authority over it all.

Another thought to consider, instead of creating the entire human race, God gave man the ability to reproduce himself, which can be said, man was to produce more children for God. We do not know the length of time from the creation of man and his time spent in the Garden of Eden, but we do know that before man produced other children, the most destructive event in the history of God's children took place. We call it the fall of man, but it is more reflective of treason. Man not only rebelled against his creator, but in fact, Father God's children betrayed Him. (Genesis 3:1-6) God had conferred upon man the legal authority to rule creation, but man had forfeited his authority over into the hands of God's enemy, Satan. This brought man into a new, and unfortunate relationship. Instead of the image and likeness of Father God, he now took on the image and likeness of his new father, Satan. (John 8:44)

Although mans treason thwarted God's plan, let us not forget that God is not bound by time and space which places Him in the realm of knowing the beginning and the end at the same time. (Revelation 1:8) Although man's treason separated him from God and he became mortal, subject to death,  (Genesis 2:15-17); gave Satan dominion over creation; (Luke 4:6), brought a blighting curse upon the earth, vegetation and animals (Genesis 3:14, 17); brought all mankind into bondage of Satan (1 John 5:19); and death (Romans 5:12); it did not take the all-knowing Father by surprise or catch Him off guard. No, He already had the plan of restoring His family, man, back to Himself before creation began. (Ephesians 1:4-6) We will look at this wonderful plan of our loving heavenly Father unfold as we look deeper into what it means to be a child of God...

Freedom For All

One of the highlights of summer in the USA is the celebration of Independence Day. From 1776 until the present day, Independence Day has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. Although the United States celebrates Independence Day as a day of freedom from Great Britain's governmental, tyrannical oppression, there is a freedom that is far superior, far greater than any freedom that man can provide. In his first recorded preaching of the gospel, the Apostle Peter said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) This is how one is born again. This is where and how true freedom comes.

It has been said, "To be born free is a privilege; to die free is an awesome responsibility," yet freedom is never free, is it? It always and only comes at great price. The greatest price ever paid for freedom, was paid at Calvary nearly two thousand years ago by the LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So, let's take a moment and look at some of the events that took place to purchase mans true freedom. We begin in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is arrested and taken to the hall of Caiaphas the High Priest. He is then blindfolded and spit upon, His beard pulled out, insulted and struck in the presence of the very High Priest of God. Then we witness the long, cold, weary hours until He is taken before Pilate and then eventually to Herod to be mocked and jeered again. We then witness Him clothed with a mock garment of kingly authority, a mock crown of thorns pressed into His skull, a mock badge of kingly authority placed within His hand, and then the long weary march back to Pilate, where He faces the trial proceedings with bitterness and jealousy aimed at Him. 

We then find Jesus standing calm and quiet with no part in this unnatural scene, except that of the innocent victim of jealousy and hatred. We see Him scourged, His back laid open by the awful Roman lictor. Blood flows, and flesh is torn as the cruel blows fall mercilessly upon His bare back from His neck to His heals. Then His clothes are thrown roughly about Him, and He is started out for Golgotha, staggering beneath the patibulum that He was forced to carry. We see Him fall under its weight, and Simon of Cyrene is compelled to bear it. Then we see Him staggering up the mountain side, surrounded by soldiers. He is stripped naked, laid roughly down upon the stipes where the Roman soldiers with cruel hatred drive the spikes into His hands and feet. With the patibulum and stipes forming a cross, He is then lifted and the cross is dropped into the socket in the rock. Jesus of Nazareth is crucified!

We watch the mob as it surges backward and forward about the cross. We hear the High Priest hurling his bitter taunts at Jesus, as He suffers unmercifully nailed to the cross suspended between heaven and earth. We hear the mob in their bitter denunciation, led on by their religious leaders, the very priesthood that was looking for their Messiah. It was a hideous and horrific thing that was taking place. The Son of God hanging on the cross was not a sight for angels, nor for men, but for demons only.

However, the vision I want you to have is not of the physical suffering of Jesus, not what man has done, as that is only a means to an end, but come behind the scenes and see the agony of the Son of God, and see Him smitten by God, His Father. The Apostle Peter tells us on the day of Pentecost that He was delivered up by the determinate counsel and the foreknowledge of God. (Acts 2:23) It is here that we see Father God taking our sin nature, sickness, disease, the curse of the law and spiritual death, and placing it all upon Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:4-6, 10; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:18) Jesus has taken man's place, and the whole human race is now represented in Him, as He hangs there under judgment on the accursed tree. God takes your sin and mine, yes, the sin of the whole world, as well as sickness, disease, the curse of the law and spiritual death, and lets it fall upon His Son and as God turns His back to Him, He cries out, "My God, Mu God why have you forsaken Me." (Matthew 27:46) Not only did Jesus go to the cross to acquire mans freedom, but also descend into hell itself to pay the penalty of Man's high treason. (Psalm 16:10; Psalm 88; Acts 2:27) He took upon Himself the awful guilt to pay man's penalty, because God could not, nor would not pardon man until an adequate sacrifice had been made. (Romans 3:21-26)

He died as Jesus our Substitute, the Lamb of God who bore the sin of the world. But Peter tells us, (quoting David, Psalm 16:10) "For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." (Acts 2:27) After three days and nights in hell, Jesus arose as Lord, as Master of death, of hell and of the grave. He speaks to the Apostle John, "I was dead and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:18) The matchless, mighty Christ had gone into the strong mans house and plundered his house and his goods. (Matthew 12:29; Luke 11:21-22) He had conquered Satan completely in honorable combat. He had taken from him his authority, his dominion; He brings it back and offers it to fallen man through His matchless name and grace.

What does this mean to us? It means that every person who repents, confesses with the mouth and believes in the heart, Jesus Christ as Lord and takes Him as his Savior, stands legally acquitted in the presence of God. It means Satan is defeated, and man can be free. This is independence, this is freedom and there is no other freedom from the foundations of the world that has or will ever surpass the freedom that our Heavenly Father has provided for all mankind through the LORD Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17) PTL. This is true Freedom for all!

The Father's Love

 Did you ever have someone come and say to you, "God loves you", but were not really sure that He did (does)?  There are many in the church today that have experienced new birth but are not absolutely sure, deep within their heart, that God loves them. Jesus tells us, "For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (John 16:27)  In this sentence, Jesus has given us a picture of God the Father's Heart. It is a Father who loves His children; a Father whose heart is reaching out tenderly toward His own family. So, take a moment and meditate on the above verse. What comfort there is in this precious thought, that the God of creation, Almighty God, the Father Himself loves us without condition. This means that even with all the burdens, cares and even our failures that we may carry or experience in this life, the Father Himself loves us. No matter whatever the heartache, whatever the struggle, whatever the secret grief, the heart of God the Father yearns over us.

When believers come to accept the surrounding abounding love of the Father, what peace floods the soul; what courage to fight the battle when every reason for living has gone and death would be a relief. We can take the battle up again and carry it on to victory, because we know that He loves us. As long as we are loved, and as long as we can love, there is a reason for being in the world, but when we cease to love and cease to be the object of 1ove, then the reason for being ends. Look at the Words of Jesus, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23) This is such a wonderful promise. The Creator of everything seen and unseen, He who has charge of every form of life, every star in the universe, every blade of grass, every flower and tree, He whose ear is open to the heart of every human, will come in and make His home with us.

The heart can hardly take it in. The mind can barely comprehend the fact that the Father and Son will come and dwell with (in) us. Honestly, it does not seem credible that He will live in us but He has promised to do it. (John 14:16) What a blessing, what a wonder, that the Omnipotent God will come into us and make His home. He does this because of His great love. He comes and gives us wisdom to deal with all areas of this life, (Colossians 3:16); to help us in those dark hours when we do not know what to do, (Psalm 18); to strengthen us in our times of weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9); to give us the ability to know His will, (Colossians 1:9) and much, much more. How the Father's heart yearns for us, craves for us. What a blessing He has bestow upon us, what riches are ours to inherit, what fellowship we can have, all due to the Father's limitless love for us.

Look at just how great the Father's love is for you, "And 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." (John 17:26) The Father loves you even as He loved Jesus. You may not be able to understand it. It may not sound reasonable, but it is true and utterly beautiful to not only think about, but moreover receive it in your heart. Not only is God love (1 John 4:16), but He gives His love nature to us. (1 John 4:7-11) Think about it, if we walk in love, we will never sin. Isn't that wonderful? God's love solves the problem of the human condition. To live in love's realm; to learn love's language; love's methods and love's way, will set us completely free (1 John 4:17-19) and we will speak aloud, "God is love; this God of love is my Father; I am His child and He truly loves me. (1 John 3:1)

So how can I come to know the love of the Father? Learn to think in terms of love. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Learn to give in to love so that your actions are a reflection of Jesus, who is love. Let the Jesus kind of love reign in your heart until every thought and all of your words will be covered in love. So, today let us declare that we are going to let the love of God rule us in every way, in all that we think, do and say. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Open your heart and receive God's love today, knowing that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ." (Romans 8:39)

Our Father's House

In past, we saw what the scriptures tells us about God the Father and His family, that is, believers. What a wonderful privilege it is to receive new birth and immediately become a child of God. Now every believer is a legal partaker of all the promises of God and are now members of the house or household of God. The house of God is often referred to in the Old Testament as a physical Tabernacle or Temple. Many in the church today still hold on to that concept that the House of God is a material building or structure where believers gather together for church functions. However, the Bible paints an entirely different picture. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) The apostle Peter tells us, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house..." (1 Peter 2:5) Both Peter and Paul are not talking about an edifice, but believers themselves are the temple, the spiritual house of God, His dwelling place. Paul also tell us, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10)

Here God's Family is given a very choice name, "the Household of Faith." This reveals another wonderful truth. All believers are blood-brothers (and sisters). We have partaken of the same nature, as well as being heirs and joint heirs of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:17) We are not Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, Charismatics or even non-denominational. To those who have come into new birth through faith in Jesus Christ, we are God's sons and daughters, God's Family, His house on earth. As members of the Family, we are to minister to each other and watch over each other in love. Paul tells us, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19)  All believers everywhere need to drop everything that we use which separates us from one another and realize this very important fact, God desires to live with His children. He does not want to be simply a guest in our individual lives, no, He wants to have a Father's place in our lives and hearts (John 14:23) and as children of God, we are to be one. (John 17:22)

Think about this. Perhaps the most wonderful fact is, God did not create the whole human race at the same time, but He created one man and one woman and permitted them to be the father and mother of His house to produce for Him more children. This shows the eternal responsibility of fatherhood and  motherhood not only in the natural sense, but moreover, in the spiritual sense. The Apostle Paul says it this way, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) But how can Christ be formed in believers, (His house, the church), if we do not want Him. What do I mean by this? No matter what denomination, group of churches or whether an independent congregation, according to statistics, the average church service lasts approximately one hour. 

We may say things like, "we come together to meet with God", "we come together to worship God", but the reality is, for most, we come together to practice our religion in the name of being "sensitive to each others time or to those we are trying to reach." We sing songs instead of truly worshiping in spirit and truth. We hear so called relevant sermons that makes us feel good about ourselves, but rarely have any spiritual affect upon those who hear, because they are meant to play upon the emotions and not spiritual transformation. In stead of making disciplines, we fill the church with numerous programs that are simply therapeutic and not spiritually life changing. The sad thing is, we twist the meaning of scripture, to appease our conscience and fit our religious experience and life styles so we can justify what we do or not do. Think about it. How many marriages would survive if a husband and wife squeezed each other into a one hour a week meeting? This is why most congregations never experience a true encounter with God in their church services or programs, but equate an emotional response as an encounter with God.  This is not to say that we cannot be emotional, but that emotions cannot dictate a true encounter with the Living God. Transformation is the results of encountering God. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Jesus said, "..."If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23) This is not referring to the new birth experience, but the continuous presence of God in the church. In Jesus' final instructions to the disciples, He also prays for those who will believe in Him through the preaching of the gospel by the disciples. He says, "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one." (John 17:22) He also says, "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold (to look at; to view attentively; to see; to perceive with the eyes; to enjoy the presence of) My glory which You have given Me." (John 17:24)     

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21) This is not about an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, per se, it is about the continuous manifestation of God in His house, the church. Honestly, where is the manifestation of the Lord in His house? Where is the manifestation of oneness in His house? Where is the manifestation of His power in His house? Where is the manifestation of His glory in His house?  Why has the majority of the church become an institution working at pleasing man rather than a living Body seeking to please God? Look at the words of the Apostles Peter and John, "But Peter and John replied to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you (man) and obey you (man) rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves]." (Acts 4:19 AMP) They said this under persecution. They wanted to please God, not man and were willing to face the consequences, be what they may. Look at the words of the Apostle Paul, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) I guess we can say, if Paul were to please man, he would not be pleasing to Christ.

Jesus finish up what we term "The Lord's Prayer" with these words, "For Yours is the Kingdom, Power and Glory forever, Amen." (Matthew 6:13) I certainly cannot speak for all who read this, but I desire the manifestation of God's Kingdom, Power and Glory wherever I am, especially in a church service, than trying to get through religious acts and programs of man that do not transform lives. A congregation that is more concerned about peoples scheduling than desiring the manifestation of God's Kingdom, Power and Glory, should never expect to experience the manifestation of such in their meetings. Jesus tells us, "Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)

I am certainly not trying to be critical toward any congregation, but Jesus did say, "I will build my church." (Matthew 16:18) So, let's open the door of our heart. Let's open the door of His house and stop trying to fit God into our schedules, but let Him takes us into eternity by permitting Him full access to His house on His terms and on His schedule. Let's throw religion out of the church and let the King of Glory in. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Honoring Our Abba

Father's Day is next Sunday and it is a celebration honoring fatherhood and the influence of fathers in society. It was first proposed by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington in 1909. It is currently celebrated in the United States annually on the third Sunday in June. Father's have always played a big part in every society. Unfortunately, there is a father absence crisis in America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.3 million children, that is, 1 in 4, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. Research shows when a child is raised in a father-absent home, he or she is affected in the following ways; there is a four times greater risk of poverty; Seven times more likely to become pregnant as a teen; more likely to have behavioral problems; more likely to face abuse and neglect; two times greater risk of infant mortality; more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol; more likely to go to prison; two times more likely to suffer obesity; more likely to commit crime and two times more likely to drop out of high school.

Although these statistics are real and even heartbreaking, nevertheless their is some wonderful news. God chooses to relate to us in terms we all understand, that is, terms of the family. Family is God's design for the foundation of society. Though God embodies the characteristics of both a father and a mother, yet, in a greater, more passionate way, He presents Himself as our Heavenly Father. When we put our faith in Jesus, we become children of God, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12–13) Jesus Himself taught us to call on God, Father, "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:Our Father in heaven..." (Matthew 6:6-9)

We also see in Psalm 68:4-5 more wonderful news, especially to the fatherless, "Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation." Whether we have had a good earthly father or not, the Bible clearly reveals God, our heavenly Father, the greatest example of fatherhood by revealing to us in His very nature, as a good, good father. In His nature we find the need to be protected, loved, guided, valued, and even disciplined. And God will fulfill that role in our lives if we let Him. There is no need for anyone to be truly fatherless, because God is the perfect Father and He made provision for everyone to become a child of His.

Our Heavenly Father offers Himself as the ideal Father not only to those without earthly fathers, but to all who will come to Him, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37) "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (John 16:26–27) God gave His Son so that we might become His children, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) When we belong to Him, He expects us to call on Him, trusting His goodness. He wants us to give our worries over to Him to carry, "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) and simply have confidence in Him as we desire to have confidence in an earthly father. God is the best Father there is. He will be a Father to the fatherless and He alone is capable of filling every void left by our imperfect earthly fathers. In truth, God is the only perfect Father and the One we all need most.

So, on this Father's Day as we honor our earthly fathers, let us also honor the greatest Father that ever was or will be, Almighty God, our Heavenly Father...

O' The Joy Of It All

Joy is defined as, "To fill with ecstatic happiness, pleasure, or satisfaction." Noah Webster (1828) describes joy as, "The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits; A glorious and triumphant state." Although most people may equate joy as happiness or ecstatic happiness, joy actually goes way beyond happiness on ever level. Reason being, happiness is based solely around ones existing circumstances, the material or physical realm. Remove the thing(s) that brought happiness, happiness then dissipates.   

Joy on the other hand is not based on the physical realm, because it is spiritual. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..." (Galatians 5:22-23)  Nehemiah tells us, "...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Joy is not something that is based on the physical realm nor is it conjured up, but a realization of the Truth. Joy is a product of the recreated human spirit when one comes to Christ and is born again. So, why is it that many believers do not have joy? Mostly, because they are looking for joy in the wrong place(s). What they miss, is what is pointed out above. They are looking for joy based on material circumstances not realizing that it comes by-way-of a relationship with Jesus Christ. It comes knowing Him and the best way to know Him is through the Word of God. Honestly, a believer without joy is a contradiction in terms. If you are right with God, you ought to have a continual, conspicuous, contagious joy. Any time we look at that natural to fulfill what only the spiritual can fulfill, we will find ourselves on an emotional roller-coaster caught between happiness and dissatisfaction. Joy is nothing of the sort.  

One of the things that many believers have trouble understanding and applying to their daily life, is what James tells us about joy, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials." (James 1:2) Many believers question, "Why does James say this? Doesn't God realize just how severe and or traumatic my circumstances are?" Certainly, God knows every situation that life brings even before we have to face them. (Matthew 6:19-34) He fully understands what our struggles are. (Hebrews 4:15) He will not let us be under the pressures of life that He knows we cannot handle. (1 Corinthians 10:13) So, why do many believers respond to the various trial of life without joy?

The writer of Hebrews gives us some insight concerning this very thing. "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1) Believers are to run the race without allowing ourselves to be hindered by any obstructions, and without giving out or fainting on the way. We are to encourage ourselves by the example of the multitudes who have run the same race before us, and who are now looking out upon us from heaven, where they dwell, and are cheering us on. Believers cannot run the race, "the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:14) with the concerns of the world and or sin in their life. Therefore, it becomes impossible to have "the joy of the Lord" as our strength to overcome every trial in the way that James points out.

But look what Hebrews continues to reveal to us, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) Naturally, Jesus is the greatest example that believers have to live in the abundant life that He said we would have. (John 10:10) Notice, believers are to look to Jesus, not the problem, not the trial. Surely, if you are facing a trial, it is not to say that it does not exist when it truly does. The trial is real. Again, believers are to look to Jesus not the trial. He is the One who will strengthen our faith. But look at the next portion of this scripture, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame..." How could Jesus have joy when He was facing the horrific pain, shame, agony and death of crucifixion? 

He had joy because he was not looking at the pain, shame, agony and death. He was looking at the end result, "sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God." This meant that redemption would now be eternal and available to all mankind. It meant that justice was satisfied (Hebrews 1:3) and the world was reconciled to God the Father. (2 Corinthians 5:18) This was the joy that was set before Jesus. This is why He could endure the indescribable suffering and shame of the cross. So, why does God tell us through James to count it all a joy when you fall into various trials? Because we are to look at the end product or promise in the same way that Jesus did and not focus on the trial. 

When believers look at what a trial can produce in their life rather than the discomfort of the trial, joy is the natural product, just as Jesus had joy, though He face the cross. No matter what the trial is, if believers would turn to God's Word, find the solution and stand on and look to His promises rather than the problem at hand, joy will abound. Jesus tells us, "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24) For instance, say you are lacking in finances, God says, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom." (Luke 6:38) "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) 

These are but a few of the promises of God concerning finances, but are enough to drive home the point. We take God's Word, confess with our mouth and believe with our heart that God is able to do what He says. (Romans 4:21) We then get an image in our mind of the finished product, our financial need met. We then go about our business knowing that God heard us and will give us the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15) We know the problem exists in the natural, but we do not focus on the natural, only on the spiritual, God's Word, His promises. This is what Jesus tells us in a Parable, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)    

The man first scattered (sowed) seed, God's Word (Mark 4:14) and went about the routines of life. He was not idle after sowing the seed and even though he did not know everything there is to know about the earth bringing forth a crop, he knew that his labors of sowing and going about his business, would eventually produce a crop. Every believer has a choice. We can continuously confess (sow) the problem, which means we agree with the problem, and reap a harvest, the problem itself,  or we can confess (sow) God's solutions to the problem, His promises found in His Word, and reap a harvest, the manifestation of His promise. James tells us one of the aspects of "counting it all joy when you fall into various trials," is, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:3-4) What a wonderful promise, "that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." PTL

So, when we face a trial, and we will if we plan to serve Jesus, let us no longer focus on the problem, although it exists, and "look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Looking to Jesus is the same as looking to the Word of God "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh..." (John 1:1, 14) In doing this, the joy of the LORD will rise...