Father and Son
In our series on Jesus style ministry we’ve looked at how Jesus started with an ordinary life, lived among ordinary people allowing Him to understand and relate to the people He was reaching. He focused on building transformational relationships that were life changing. And He majored on the heart. In this final part of the series we’re going to look at the power behind Jesus ministry: His relationship with His Father.
Jesus style ministry is rooted in strong, life-giving communion with the Father. Jesus’ favorite name for God was “Father.” In the Old Testament “Father” is used 15 times, in the New Testament, it is used over 200 times.
The two times God speaks audibly in the Gospels he says the same thing. At Jesus’ baptism: And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 11:17) And at Jesus’ transfiguration: Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7).
Throughout His time on earth Jesus revealed by example what this kind of love relationship was like. He depended completely on His Father for daily direction, power and provision and obediently carried out every instruction. He often left the demands of ministry just to find a secluded place to be alone with His Father.
For every hour that Jesus spent in public, there seem to have been many, many more spent in private contemplation.
For every hour spent with the crowds, many, many more were spent with small group training and teaching. Jesus’ disciples saw His relationship with His Father and they wanted to know the Father the way Jesus did too (John 14:8).
What about us?
Do we long for that kind of intimacy with our Heavenly Father?
God wants to relate to us as a Father to His child and He’s given us the privilege of drawing near to Him.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us.. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his [children].” – Ephesians 1:3-5
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” – 1 John 3:1
In fact, He chose us before the foundation of the world and waits with open arms for us to enter His loving embrace.
A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing.” – Psalm 68:5-6
So the final point in Jesus Style Ministry, the final destination, is a person.
Love is more than a feeling.
Love is more than an action.
Love is a person to behold.
Jesus Style Ministry flows out of being loved and being in Love with the Father.
“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with signing.” Zephaniah 3:17.
Two things never change – what God says about Himself and what God says about us. What if we allow Him to love us and allow ourselves to love Him back?
To request an mp3 or audio CD of the sermon please email your request to femcpem@gmail.com