In our series on God revealed, we tried to know God as he described himself through the inspired writings in the scriptures. We looked at his form and attributes. Today, however, I am strongly convinced that God wants me to share his Fatherhood.
My teenage years were spent mostly in charismatic Christian circles and if there is anything to know about those circles, it is that we are very driven believers in Jesus. We certainly don't mess around in telling others about our faith, the bible, or taking advantage of the spiritual gifts recorded in it.
We pray - loudly.
We heal the sick - confidently.
We believe in having more than enough - because, we are God's heirs. Fist bump. Hi-fives all around.
And we definitely speak, sing, and even dance under the influence of the Spirit of God - all without a shred of bashfulness.
We are CHARISMATIC after all! Lol!
Recently, the place called 'the secret place of the Most High God' has been emphasized more to me.
In my very early days as a 13-year-old believer in Jesus, this was all I knew about the Lord. Beyond the church teachings and activities I had been exposed to by regular church attendance with my family, in this place was my introduction to YHWH by his Holy Spirit. This was beyond that scheduled early morning bible study and prayer 'quiet times' that young Christians are encouraged to develop as a spiritual discipline. It was just me and the Lord talking. As I walked to classes, the dining Hall, the bathroom - in fact everywhere, from my lips, barely audible words were spoken and God always replied as a father.
''You who live in the shelter of ‘Elyon,
who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,
who say to Adonai, “My refuge! My fortress!
My God, in whom I trust!” —''Psalm 91:1-2 CJB
''Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”'' Psalm 91:1-2NIV
There is a lot to do for the Kingdom of God, but what he wants us to get right first and foremost is not our fulfillment of his assignments, but our recognition of our place as his beloved children and prioritizing that individual relationship with himself. God wants to father you himself.
He wants to lead, guide, feed, teach, and direct each one of us by himself. He wants each of us to know his voice through his son -Jesus the Saviour- individually. This is his primary focus.
Please do not get me wrong. Jesus himself said: ''Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers...'' [Matthew 23:34a]. The leaders and offices ordained in the bible for our growth are there for this purpose:
'' to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.'' [Ephesians 4:12-15]
However, Jesus is calling his sheep to himself. He wants to lead you to the place of intimacy with himself. Beyond the work you do (for him, for others, or for yourself), all the noise and limits of humanity, God-the-Father wants to know you as his close son. He just wants to spend time with you.
This place is a place of unfathomable peace and contentment. It is a place of assurance and beauty. It is a place where your priorities are clarified and you begin to see the world through the Father's eyes. Funnily, this is not a place of weakness, it is actually a place of dominion. It is a place where your spirit transcends this world and you gain mastery over it. It is a place of fulfillment. A fulfillment that actually fulfills.
I strongly believe that the reason he is so particular about our learning to live every minute with his presence is that when he calls, it is only those who already know his voice (by association) that will hear him. However, a relationship built on fear of 'missing the rapture' or 'second coming' (depending on your theology) is not going to be a healthy one. Fear is not the motivation for our close father/Son relationship, Love is.
Belief in his acceptance and grace, or just having a willingness to know him, is enough.
The father waits. Please, Come Home.
''Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”John 20:17
''I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ''John 10:16
''You are children of God, and he speaks words of comfort to you. You have forgotten these words:...''Hebrews 12:5a [ERV]
''Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from his Son, Jesus Christ, as we live in truth and love'' 2 John 3
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