On Sunday the 4th of September, I went to a Father’s Day Service here in New Zealand. We celebrate it on a different day of the year to the United Kingdom.
The reading was from Ephesians 3:14-21, which is one of my favourite scriptures.
“For this reason I bow my kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
These verses start with Paul saying that he bows his knee to the Father. It doesn’t say the Son although I know that he would do that.
I realised that this was the first service I have ever been too since becoming a Christian where I have really approached the Father with understanding. For most of my Christian walk, I have always related to Jesus His Son and have seldom come directly to the Father, for He always seemed a distant figure to me. This wasn’t because I had a bad relationship with my earthly father, but Jesus has always seemed easier to relate to.
Over the last few years I have found my attention being drawn more to scriptures that speak of having a relationship with the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ. The first one that caught my attention was in 1 John 2:15.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” 1 John 2:15.
It speaks here of how the Father is jealous of our love for Him. He wants all of our love. At this time the Spirit was dealing with me concerning ‘loves’ that I had in my life for the things of the world. Especially my love for certain movies, that were capturing my heart.
Another area was with my love of playing squash. There is nothing wrong with that but when the Lord asked me to fast I would say that I couldn’t, because I had a game booked at that time. I have always felt the Lord calling me higher and it requires me to be obedient in things that others may be OK with.
Since I surrendered these areas to God, I have sensed His love deep within me and now know what it means to appreciate and know the love of the Father within. It’s not that I wasn’t saved before, its just that these ‘things’ were a higher priority to me than Father God and He doesn’t bless us with a sense of His presence when this is the case. I can now say that I sense His presence every day, even when there are no outward circumstances to back it up. It really is worth being obedient.
This sacrifice and others, started me on a journey of understanding about ‘knowing’ Jesus, and having an intimate relationship with Him. It’s like a marriage where two become one. I realised that God wants us to be in union with His Son. It’s not that we become God, but rather our approach to the Father is us being wrapped up in Christ. We approach Him in Christ and now we inherit all that Jesus has inherited. The same love that the Father gives His Son we can now experience too. All that Jesus is and has is now ours, because of our life union with His Son.
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 6:16-17
“And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that he is and all that he has. We will experience being co-glorified with him provided that we accept his sufferings as our own.” TPT
Jesus said that He was going to make the Father known to us, and that we would experience the same love as He does from the Father.
“I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
“I have revealed to them who you are and I will continue to make you even more real to them, so that they may experience the same endless love that you have for me, for your love will now live in them, even as I live in them!” John 17:26 TPT
“Jesus answered and said to him, “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
We can now share in all the blessings of Christ’s victory on the cross by faith, because we are in Him. How amazing is that? Jesus said that He wanted us to know these wonderful truths, and His death on the cross and us being ‘co-crucified’ with Him has made it all possible.
“So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you.” John 14:20
When we see ourselves approaching the Father in Jesus, (In Jesus name) we become bolder in our requests, for it’s as if Jesus is asking the Father. Jesus also said in John 16:23-24
“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
“For here is eternal truth: When that time comes you won’t need to ask me for anything, but instead you will go directly to the Father and ask him for anything you desire and he will give it to you, because of your relationship with me.” Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in my name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits!” TPT
We can now go directly to the Father because of our love relationship with Jesus His Son, being one with Him by the cleansing of His blood. We are coming to the Father in His name, in union with Him. In a marriage, the Bride takes on the surname of her husband, and so it is with our marriage to Christ, we are now Christians (little Christs).
The Father said that He would give us anything we asked for, as surely as He would give His Son Jesus what He asked.
Does this now mean that we can now ask for anything and the Father will give it to us? A jet? Winning Lotto? To become a millionaire? I’m not so sure about that, but if that’s’ how the Lord is directing you then it will happen. But one thing I am sure about is found in these verses in Psalm chapter two, particularly Psalm 2:7-8
“I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:7-8
This is a promise given to the Son. If it’s given to Him then it’s given to us too as we come to the Father in Jesus name (in union with Him). This chapter is a psalm for the End Times when the kings of the earth are rebelling against God. He is reminding us that ALL authority has been given to the Son and to us as well.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go…” Matthew 28:18-19
You might say that its just too big a thing to ask for my nation. This promise was offered to the Son and its also offered to us. If Jesus asked for the nations, would the Father give it to Him? Of course He would. Do you believe that you are His Bride, in union with Him? Esther asked the King for her people the Jews, and her request was granted so why not for the Bride of Christ? We too need to believe.
At the turn of the last century Evan Roberts asked God for the nation of Wales and God gave it to him, with an amazing revival that affected the world. The Father wants this prayer in Psalm 2 answered more than we do. It just seems so big, but the Father says that He is able to do far above what we can ever ask for. Look at the end of the verses that I started this message with.
“Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20
Psalm 81:10 tells us to open our mouths wide. He’s actually inviting us to ask big.
“For it was I, Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Only test me! Open your mouth wide and see if I won’t fill it. You will receive every blessing you can use!” TLB
Time is running out and the world is in a mess. We need to come boldly to the throne of grace and ask for our nation before its too late.
The Father said that we can now come directly and boldly to Him in Jesus name and that He will give us anything we ask for. You can be sure that the Father wants to answer this promise that He made to His Son. When you know who you are in Christ then you will also hear Him say,
“You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:7-8
We need to stop being so double minded, and ask for those things that are on the Father’s heart. When we do this all the other things (like finances) will be added unto us.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33