(Attributes of the Good Father)
TEXTS: John 10:14-15, Psalms 23:1-4 (NKJV)
John 10:14-15
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Psalms 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not [a]want. 2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;
He leads me beside the [c]still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For thou are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
- THE PRIEST. – The Father as a Priest.
- There are three main ministries of Christ associated with fatherhood: those of PRIEST, PROPHET, and KING.
- Since the eternal character and nature of God is that of FATHER, it follows that every father in a certain sense represents God. In a certain sense, we may say that a father, a good father, is the most God-like thing a man can become. It is a man’s highest achievement.
- As a priest, the father represents his family to God in intercession and prayer. As a prophet, he represents God to his family. And as a king, he governs his family on behalf of God.
- If a father succeeds as the intercessor, he will probably also succeed as the prophet and as the king. But if he does not understand and practice the ministry of intercession for his family then it will be very difficult indeed for him to be either prophet or king in his family.
SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES:
Job 1:4-5
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and [a]sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed[b] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
Job offered regular sacrifices on behalf of his children.
- The offering of that sacrifice in Old Testament terminology corresponds to the ministry of intercessory prayer on behalf of our children under the New Covenant in Jesus Christ.
- Every father is called to be an intercessor for his children. That’s Priesthood
- As PRIESTS, it is part of our roles to hold in position the SPIRITUAL UMBRELLA over our homes. It matters how we hold that umbrella.
EXODUS 12:3, 7, 12 &13
3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.
12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
- It was the fathers’ (PRIESTS’) responsibility to perform the above rituals.
- It was the FATHER who selected, killed, and sprinkled the blood on the doorposts.
- By this they placed a Spiritual Embargo and established a ‘NO-FLY ZONE’ against the devil over their households
- THE PROVIDER –The Father as a Provider
- Our God – God the father – The Good Shepherd is a provider.
- He is Called Jehovah Jireh.
Philippians 4:19-20:
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- He provides ALL NEEDS.
Genesis 3:21
21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
- God the FATHER provided coverings for their nakedness and covered their shame.
Matthew 7:11
11 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!
- He provides good things for His children.
Psalms 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah
Psalms 34:10
The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
- The description of God as a SHEPHERD captures His role as a PROVIDER
3. THE PROTECTOR –The Father as a protector.
2 Chronicles 16:8-9
8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
- God – The Good Father is forever watching over His children.
- All your ways and doings are always before Him.
- And is and will always be interested in your affairs because YOU ARE HIS.
Isaiah 49:15-16 (NIV)
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget,I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
- ENGRAVED: Carved into. Inscribed, incision.
VS
- EMBOSSED: Stitched/stuck onto, Raised to stand out. On the surface
- We are ENGRAVED into Him and not EMBOSSED onto Him.
- No one, not even the devil can snatch us away from the Father’s hand because we are engraved into Him. – We are part of Him.
- Whatever touches us, touches Him
- Because we are ONE WITH THE FATHER.
4. THE PRESENT FATHER
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
- PRESENCE is powerful.
Exodus 33:14
14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
- In verse 2, it was the Angel that was promised to go with them but
- In VERSE 14, GOD HIMSELF promises to go with Moses and the Israelites
- The Power of Presence especially the presence of a ‘GOOD FATHER’ is invaluable.
Matthew 28:18-20:
“…and LO I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen”
Psalms 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, A[a] very present help in trouble.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Psalms 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not [a]want. 2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures; He leads me beside the [c]still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For thou are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
- Psalms 23 captures all four attributes of a good father.
- PRIEST
– “The Lord is my Shepherd”
- PROVIDER
– “He makes me lie down in green pastures” – That speaks of provision
– “He leads me besides still waters” – This also speaks of Provision
- PRESENCE:
- “I will fear no evil; for thou are with me”
- PROTECTION:
- “Your rod and staff, they comfort me”
John 10:14-15 – Also embodies all four attributes and more.
- The word ‘SHEPHERD’ speaks of his PRIESTHOOD.
- And the job of a shepherd (THE PRIEST) is that of PROVISION, PRESENCE and PROTECTION of the sheep of his pasture.
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