The Blessing of the Father
Father’s Day Sermon, June 21, 2009
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:1-6 NKJV).
The concept of “Father” is very important. Throughout the Bible God has chosen to reveal Himself to us as our Father. No wonder Satan has attacked the home so viciously and especially targeted the father! If he can blur, distort, twist, or pervert the “Father Image” he can greatly hinder people from relating to God. Developmental psychology tells us that the core of our God concept is formed between three and five years of age. Our view of God grows and develops from this early beginning, drawn from our parents to a great extent. How we relate to God depends largely on our concept of God. Our text presents God as Father, the perfect father from whom the whole concept of fatherhood is derived. Even through we earthly fathers fall far short of this, yet, somehow the image of God shows through even with our frailties! Let’s look a few things about God and His blessings.
Our Father is the source of our blessings
Paul is writing from his imprisonment at Rome about A.D. 61 or 62. He may be physically limited, but spiritually he can soar into the heavens. After writing his letter to the Colossians, his heart and mind still overflow with the revelation of the mysteries of God and God’s purpose through Christ of bringing all things together in unity in Him. Central to this purpose is the Church! He begins with a long praise to God for His marvelous plan of redemption. In the Greek verses 3-14 are one long sentence! His heart was full!
God blesses with all spiritual blessings
In heavenly place—Blessings that can only be found in heaven, which only God can give. These blessings can never be found in the human sphere or in human ability, yet they are wonderful realities in every part of human lives. It is from the “heavenly” dimension that we are blessed and able to enjoy these blessings in the temporal realm.
In Christ—God has made available to us “every spiritual blessing” in Christ. We are in Christ by our union with Him through faith. Every blessing He has received because of His offering of Himself for us is also ours because we also are “in Christ.”
God’s action in eternity past—Our Father has Chosen us!
Some have taken this to mean that our destinies are determined and that nothing we do matters. This is far from the meaning of this scripture! The word translated “Chosen” literally means “to mark out before.” Who has God “marked out before” that they will be His? “All who put their trust in Jesus and believe in Him!” Christ is God’s chosen one, and all who are “in Him” are chosen. Paul clarifies this statement in verses 11–13 when he states, “In him we were also chosen. . .who were the first to hope in Christ” . . . “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal. . .”
Here's an illustration: In the early 1990s we were wanting a puppy. Our future daughter in law’s mother had a litter of shelties at the right age for placing in homes. Tracy brought the whole litter over to our house and turned them loose on the kitchen floor. How do you pick a puppy that will be the right dog for you? Each puppy had his or her own nature, some shy, some curious, some dominate, some just sleepy. There was one puppy that showed us special attention. The other were more interested with playing with each other or sleeping, but one little female was so cute and kept wanting to play with us. We picked her and named her Princess. She was the best dog we ever had. Now did we pick her or did she pick us? I think we picked her because she picked us! So, God has determined that to choose all who choose in by believing and trusting in Christ!
Myer Pearlman puts it this way, "Think of this great salvation as a beautiful temple. On the outside, above the door, the inscription reads, 'Enter Whosoever Will.' Once you enter and look to the front, you see the golden inscription 'Welcome, Ye Chosen of the Lord!'"
To be holy and without blame
Holy. The concept is “difference” and “separation” God has chosen us to set us apart for Himself, different that others. Illustration: this church building is different than any of our homes. It is set apart for a dedicated purpose. When we dedicate our homes, we set them apart for God purpose for family living. Recognizing that we are God’s!
Without blame or unblemished. This is a sacrificial word. The sacrifices of old must be without blemish. This speaks of our lives being an acceptable offering to God. Through Christ we are without a flaw as we stand before Him in the splendor of His love.
In Christ you are blessed, chosen, and stand holy and without blame before our wonderful Heavenly Father as He lavishes His abounding, abundant love upon you! Yet, there is still much more. . .
The plan of God includes our adoption into His family as His children.
In ancient times, when Roman Law prevailed, adoption was a very serious procedure. Roman family law was built on the concept of the patria protestas, the father’s power. The father had complete authority over his children, from birth to death, no matter what status or political position one may hold, even to the power to kill his son. So adoption would be giving another complete power over oneself. It was not uncommon for children to be adopted to insure that a family line didn’t die out.
The procedure was very formal and took place before the magistrate. There was a symbolic sale in which copper and scales were used. Twice the biological father sold his son, and twice he symbolically bought him back; finally he sold him a third time, and at the third sale he did knot buy him back. After this, the adopting father had to go to plead his case with the praetor, one the principal Roman magistrates. Then the adoption was complete. The person who had been adopted had all the rights of a legitimate son in his new family and lost absolutely all rights in his old family. In the eyes of the law he was a new person. So new was he that even all debts and obligations connected with his previous family were abolished as if they had never existed. This is what Paul says that God has done for us. We were absolutely in the power of sin and of the world; God, through Jesus, took us out of that power into his; and that adoption wipes out the past and makes us new! (from William Barclay, Daily Study Bible)
Here's an illustration from back in the Roman days, There is a story of a man who had committed a horrible crime. When he was brought before the magistrate for trial everyone expected a speedy sentence and execution. Instead, something moved the heart of the judge. He couldn’t take his eyes off the young man. As he observed the young man, the judge stated, “You remind me of my son who was killed at war some time ago. I’m left without an heir. Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m canceling all charges against you, and also adopting you as my son and heir.” The gasp that went up from the courtroom was nothing compared to the astonished look on the young man’s face. The judge said, “As my son you will be heir to all my estates and holding. You are to live by my values and uphold our family name. All I have is yours!” This is what God has done for us!
This is the model we as fathers are to emulate.
The term “father” carries the concept of “the source of my strength.” Children and those who accept the father’s authority and take on his character. We are to bless our children by providing not only for material needs, but by a constant demonstration of love and care, being strong when we feel weak, being available whenever needed, always walking in faith, integrity, and honesty, shouldering responsibility with faith and dignity, and, most of all, always making our children feel special. God is the model for all fathers. By His grace, even in our weakness, His character will shines through if we walk in faith and humility.
The greatest teaching we do is that which we model. No amount of words can override what is taught by a person’s actions. At the conclusion of the book, Developing Dynamic Disciples, Thomas Trask shares a heart-rending story:
“From the pages of history comes the story of a frontier preacher who took in a stray dog. The dog quickly became the family pet. The preacher’s two sons were especially fond of the dog. The dog was as black as coal, except for three very distinctive white hairs on his tail.
“Later, an ad appeared in the paper for a lost dog that fit the description of the stray, right down to the three white hairs. With the help of his boys, the preacher carefully plucked each of the white hairs. The owner, hearing that a dog fitting the description was at the preacher’s farm, went looking for his pet.
The dog, seeing the man, showed every sign of recognizing him. When the apparent owner started to take the dog, the preacher asked, ‘Didn’t you say your dog had three white hairs on his tail?’ The owner looked and was unable to find the identifying hairs. He left without the dog. Later, a saddened father wrote of this incident, ‘I kept the dog, but lost my boys.’ The names of his two boys were Frank and Jesse James.