Experiencing the Father's Love
Romans 8:15-16 - "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." (NIV)
Galatians 4:6-7 - "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." (NIV)
1 John 4:16-18 - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (NIV)
Many have heard that the Father loves them. But it can seem like a distant truth. There can be a big gap between what we know in our heads and what we experience in our daily lives. The Father longs to have an intimate relationship with us, so that we can truly say, along with Jesus, "My Father loves me and shows me everything he does." (John 5:20 NIV) This experiential love of the Father is crucial for our comfort, purpose and fruit to come from our lives. Let's look at how to experience his amazing love.
In Mark 10:46-52, we read the story of the blind man who called out to Jesus as he sat on the side of the road. Though the crowd told him to be quiet, the blind man called out all the louder. Jesus stopped and asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?" The man told Jesus that he wanted to see. As the man was healed, Jesus commented that it was the man's faith that brought the healing.
GET IN POSITION. Calling out for our Father is the first step in experiencing his love. When we recognize our need and run to the Father - not being hindered by people around us or our own feelings - we are in position to receive a miracle, to receive his love.
The Psalms are full of declarations of God's unfailing love. Read Psalm 33 as an example. Breakthrough in experiencing the love of the Father comes when we declare the truth… that his unfailing love is here. This declaration should not rise or fall based on our feelings. God will honor the obedience of our declaration and help us sense his love in a fresh way.
WORSHIP. Worship brings on the experience of the love of the Father. When we worship before we "feel" his love, we are stepping out in faith. We are then wide open for the Father to pour his love on us. For it is faith that pleases him and brings great reward (Heb. 11:6).
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16 NIV) Love is defined as sacrifice. The Father and Son gave us the perfect example of showing love. Jesus experienced the love of his Father as he willingly submitted himself to his Father. In his sacrifice, Jesus experienced incredible intimacy with his Father.
GIVE LOVE. Don't wait around to "feel" the love of the Father. Give the love away that He has already put inside you. Once you are obedient to His command to love others, your own experience of the Father's love will grow significantly. God does not want you to bottle up His love. The flowing of His love through you to others will bring an incredible blessing to your life. You will begin experiencing the Father's love in a real and fulfilling way.
For More Study
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Memorization
1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (NIV)
Galatians 4:6-7 - "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." (NIV)
1 John 4:16-18 - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (NIV)
Many have heard that the Father loves them. But it can seem like a distant truth. There can be a big gap between what we know in our heads and what we experience in our daily lives. The Father longs to have an intimate relationship with us, so that we can truly say, along with Jesus, "My Father loves me and shows me everything he does." (John 5:20 NIV) This experiential love of the Father is crucial for our comfort, purpose and fruit to come from our lives. Let's look at how to experience his amazing love.
In Mark 10:46-52, we read the story of the blind man who called out to Jesus as he sat on the side of the road. Though the crowd told him to be quiet, the blind man called out all the louder. Jesus stopped and asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?" The man told Jesus that he wanted to see. As the man was healed, Jesus commented that it was the man's faith that brought the healing.
GET IN POSITION. Calling out for our Father is the first step in experiencing his love. When we recognize our need and run to the Father - not being hindered by people around us or our own feelings - we are in position to receive a miracle, to receive his love.
The Psalms are full of declarations of God's unfailing love. Read Psalm 33 as an example. Breakthrough in experiencing the love of the Father comes when we declare the truth… that his unfailing love is here. This declaration should not rise or fall based on our feelings. God will honor the obedience of our declaration and help us sense his love in a fresh way.
WORSHIP. Worship brings on the experience of the love of the Father. When we worship before we "feel" his love, we are stepping out in faith. We are then wide open for the Father to pour his love on us. For it is faith that pleases him and brings great reward (Heb. 11:6).
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16 NIV) Love is defined as sacrifice. The Father and Son gave us the perfect example of showing love. Jesus experienced the love of his Father as he willingly submitted himself to his Father. In his sacrifice, Jesus experienced incredible intimacy with his Father.
GIVE LOVE. Don't wait around to "feel" the love of the Father. Give the love away that He has already put inside you. Once you are obedient to His command to love others, your own experience of the Father's love will grow significantly. God does not want you to bottle up His love. The flowing of His love through you to others will bring an incredible blessing to your life. You will begin experiencing the Father's love in a real and fulfilling way.
For More Study
- Isaiah 61:1-3
- Romans 8
- 1 John 3
Thoughts and Questions for Application
- How is your positioning to receive the Father's love? Remember, he draws near as we draw near to him (James 4:7).
- Take some time to speak out worship to the Father. Think of specific things to give him thanks for. Remember, worship him even when you do not feel like it.
- Who can you show love to today? Who could you make a sacrifice for?
Memorization
1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (NIV)
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