Abba Father
Galatians 4:3-7
Intro: We are through the Spirit of
Christ made heirs and joint heirs with Jesus. We have been given all the privileges that come with sonship. We are the sons
of God, and he is our father. We were strangers, but now we are his children; therefore, we are subject to his blessings.
It is like the story of the boy who was taken by his father to the fair. His dad said that he could ride all the rides and
play all the games that he wanted. He bought a roll of tickets that the boy could never use up, and he promised that there
was more where that came from, if needed. Another boy came along and put out his hand asking for a ticket, but the Father
refused him. The tickets were for the son, but the son came by and said, “It’s okay to give him all the tickets
he asks for, Dad. He’s my best friend.” The father gave the boy all the tickets he asked for out of love for his
son! Through the Spirit of Christ, we are the sons of the Father. Thanks God for the Heavenly Father:
I Cor 8:5‑6 “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there
be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
Eph 4:4‑6 “There
is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
I Jn
3:1‑3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of
God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Isa
63:16 “Doubtless thou art our father...” “thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from
everlasting.”
Isa 64:8 “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the
clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Rom 8:14‑17
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint‑heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Abba
Father as noted in Romans 8 and our text denotes a very personal relationship. Our Father:
I. Patient with us: Luke 15, Prodigal Son
II. Pulls us: John 6:44 “No
man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
III. Places us: Ps 68:5 “A
father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” When we were no part of him,
he placed us in him and in his blessings. He has given us a place in the family, fortune, favor, fellowship, forever,
forgiven.
IV. Protects us:
Ex 4:22-23 “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say
unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.”
God means business about protecting his children.
V. Paddles us: II Samuel 7:14 “I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I
will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.” Hebrews 12:5-11 “And
ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the
Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be
without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our
flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits,
and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers
of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
VI. Prepared for us a place: John 14
Conclusion: Are you a son of the Father?
Have you ever been born again? If you have, you can cast all your cares on him. He can meet all your needs!
