THE CHARACTER OF THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD 2
In this teaching, we will explore four core truths about the character of God's fatherhood. If we want to understand what the Father is like, we do not have to guess. We have a perfect template, a perfect mirror, and a perfect revelation: Jesus Christ.
When we look at Jesus, we see the Father's heart, character, nature, and operation made visible.
PART 1: CHRIST IS THE PERFECT REVELATION OF THE FATHER
Let us begin with Colossians 1:15 (KJV):
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”
Jesus Christ is the divine portrait of the invisible God. He is the true likeness and perfect revelation of the Father.
Think about what happens when someone is missing. People put up a photograph on walls, notice boards, social media, and other platforms because people need a visible image by which they can identify that person. Once the picture is provided, people can recognize the person.
In the same way, Jesus is heaven's divine portrait of God.
If you want to know what the Father is like, look at Jesus.
If you want to understand the Father's heart, look at Jesus.
If you want to know how the Father treats people, look at Jesus.
If you want to understand the character of the Father, study the character of the Son.
Jesus Himself made this clear in John 14:5–10. When Philip said, “Lord, shew us the Father,” Jesus responded:
“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
This is a powerful truth. We should not create an image of God based on our fears, experiences, disappointments, or human relationships. Jesus is the standard by which we understand the Father's character.
Look at Jesus throughout Scripture.
He welcomed children.
He touched lepers.
He forgave sinners.
He fed the multitudes.
He wept at the tomb of Lazarus.
He restored broken people.
He restored Peter after Peter denied Him.
And even while hanging on the cross, Jesus prayed for the very people who were crucifying Him:
Luke 23:34 (KJV):
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
That is Jesus.
And if Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father, then we must understand that the Father is not different from Jesus in character.
This should also challenge the way we pray.
Jesus commanded us in Matthew 5:44:
«“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”»
So we must ask ourselves: What portrait of God are we using when we pray?
If Jesus prayed for His executioners, what does that tell us about the Father's heart?
If Jesus welcomed the broken, what does that tell us about the Father?
If Jesus restored Peter, what does that tell us about the Father's willingness to restore?
IN CHRIST, WE SEE THE FATHER'S HEART MADE VISIBLE.
Hebrews 1:3 reinforces this truth:
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person…”
The word translated “express image” comes from the Greek charaktēr, referring to an exact impression or representation.
Jesus perfectly reveals God's nature.
Jesus also demonstrated complete confidence in His Father's faithfulness. Even as He approached the cross, He trusted the Father completely.
His confidence was rooted in the knowledge that His Father was dependable, faithful, and true.
That is the Father we see in Christ.
PART 2: THE CROSS IS THE GREATEST EVIDENCE THAT THE FATHER CARES
The second truth is this:
THE CROSS IS THE GREATEST EVIDENCE OF GOD'S LOVE AND CARE.
If someone asks you, “How do you know God loves you?” you do not have to engage in endless arguments.
Point them to the Cross.
Romans 5:8 says:
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Notice the timing.
Christ did not die for us because we had already become perfect.
He died while we were still sinners.
God's love is therefore not merely sentimental. It is sacrificial.
God's love is not based on our performance.
It is not, “Fix yourself first, then I will love you.”
The Cross demonstrates that God's love was already reaching toward humanity.
John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”
The Cross is therefore not merely a symbol of suffering. It is heaven's declaration that God cares.
There are three great declarations we can see in the Gospel:
The Cross says: “I care.”
The Resurrection says: “I have power.”
The Holy Spirit says: “I am with you.”
This gives us confidence in the Father's presence.
If God did not abandon Jesus through the Cross and the grave, we can trust that He will not abandon His children.
Jesus is our elder brother and the firstborn from the dead. He has gone before us, and He reveals what the Father is like.
The Father's treatment of Jesus becomes a powerful pattern of His faithfulness toward us.
The same Father who raised Jesus from the dead is able to sustain, strengthen, preserve, and carry His children.
PART 3: THE FATHER'S CHARACTER IS THE ANCHOR OF OUR FAITH
Our third truth is that the Father's character is the anchor of our faith.
Our theme is: “MY FATHER KNOWS AND CARES.”
One of the greatest mistakes we can make is to build our faith entirely on circumstances.
Circumstances change.
People change.
Economies change.
Opportunities change.
Health situations change.
Doors open and doors close.
But God's character does not change.
Those whose faith was anchored only in circumstances were shaken. But when our faith is anchored in the character of God, we can remain steady even when we do not understand what is happening.
CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, BUT THE FATHER DOES NOT.
Consider Mary in Luke 1:34–38.
When the angel announced that she would give birth to Jesus, Mary asked: “How shall this be?”
That was an intelligent question.
She did not understand the process.
The angel explained what God would do, and Mary responded: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
Mary did not have every detail, but she trusted God's character.
There will be moments in our lives when we will also ask, “How shall this be?”
There will be situations we cannot explain.
There will be prayers we do not understand.
There will be delays.
There will be closed doors.
There will be seasons when we cannot see what God is doing.
But even when we cannot trace God's hand, we can trust His heart.
David expressed this tension beautifully in Psalm 13. He began by asking: “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?”
David was honest about his pain and confusion. Yet by the end of the Psalm, he declared:
«“But I have trusted in thy mercy.”»
David did not suddenly receive an explanation for everything.
His circumstances may not have changed immediately.
But his perspective changed.
WHEN WE CANNOT TRACE HIM, WE CAN TRUST HIM.
Isaiah 46:4 says: “Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you…”
Psalm 84:11 says: “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
PART 4: GOD'S CHARACTER DOES NOT CHANGE WITH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
The fourth and final truth is perhaps one of the most important:
GOD'S CHARACTER DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE.
God is still my Father when my prayer is answered.
He is still my Father when my prayer is delayed.
He is my Father when doors open.
He is still my Father when doors close.
He is my Father on the mountain.
He is still my Father in the valley.
He is my Father in abundance.
He is still my Father in scarcity.
He is my Father when I understand.
He is still my Father when I do not understand.
The consistency is not found in our circumstances.
THE CONSISTENCY IS FOUND IN GOD.
A closed door does not mean God has stopped being Father.
A delay does not mean God has stopped caring.
Silence does not necessarily mean absence.
A difficult season does not mean God has abandoned you.
Our emotions may change.
Our circumstances may change.
Our understanding may change.
But God's character remains constant.
This is why we must learn to trust His heart above His hand.
Sometimes we understand what God has done.
Sometimes we do not.
Sometimes we see the answer immediately.
Sometimes we wait.
But whether we understand His actions or not, we can trust His character.
PERSONAL DECLARATION
My Father knows me.
My Father sees me.
My Father hears me.
My Father loves me.
My Father cares for me.
My Father provides for me.
My Father guides me.
My Father corrects me.
My Father strengthens me.
My Father works with me.
My Father will never abandon me.
I will not live in fear.
I will not be controlled by anxiety.
I will not interpret God's silence as His absence.
I will not interpret delay as denial.
I will trust my Father even when I cannot trace Him in my situation.
I will trust His heart above His hand.
I will rest in His love.
I will follow His lead.
I will seek His kingdom.
I will cast my cares upon Him.
MY FATHER KNOWS.
MY FATHER SEES.
MY FATHER HEARS.
MY FATHER LOVES.
MY FATHER CARES.
AND BECAUSE I KNOW THE CHARACTER OF MY FATHER, I WILL TRUST HIM.
Amen.
