Fearlessly Courageous
11/7/2022
Desk of Dennis Piller
Abba Father – How close are you?
The culture in Christ's time was one of great reverence for the term … FATHER….GOD ALMIGHTY, was solemn. Jesus created real questions and even tension when he said I want more than that! I want you to be so close, so secure, so trusting, to call him Abba… meaning Daddy. Jesus showed us that the Almighty God is our Abba Father! Our dear Papa! (Mark 14:36). The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of all of us who follow Jesus and He intercedes for us from deep within, crying out, “Abba Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 6:4)
Steve Gaines said “Ultimately what drives our worship and our intimacy with God is the sense of him being Father God. It’s only through Christ and a living gospel that we can enter into a father-child relationship with God”. When you think of a good dad, what do you envision? What do you think that should look like?
Be there – listens – supportive – encouraging – empowering – forgiving – trustworthy – long-suffering – loving – understanding – compassionate – tenderhearted – a rock of strength – knows what’s best for you – has plans to prosper you – empowering – giver of peace – giver of grace – protector!
I could go on.
What do you think when you read that? It’s really hard not to look in the mirror at our roles as fathers. Look there is no avoiding the conviction when you look through that prism and search our own souls. But right now, we are looking at who God the Father is, through His own words. Praying the way, He modeled us to pray gives us just a glimpse of what a GREAT FATHER He is! And what his heart is to us. How intimate He wants to be with us. That is what a father-child relationship is supposed to be in its purest form.
We can’t get our heads around that without the help of the Holy Spirit. Without real humility. Without a hunger, a craving, and complete dependency on a Holy and Pure Abba Father. We have some serious prayer needs on the altar before God. Pastor Dale and another Pastor in London. We had a number of men stand tonight at Courageous because they to had “A Week”.
This is a time that we need our dad.
Our Abba Father to swoop us up into His arms.
I see so many parents every Sunday with an arm full of babies and other 3 and 4-year-olds scampering in front of them and I always stop and smile. Staying close to Father in prayer is about that. Staying close…talking freely…maybe even a little babbling to Dad…words sometimes that only he can understand. But he does. Pray with me this week for others who need our Intercession. They need us to step up as brothers and sisters in Christ to battle because they are too weak to battle.
Do you remember I asked you last week to pray and send me uplifting words that I can present to Pastor Dale and our London Pastor to encourage them in their walk? I am praying for you that you will take the time to draw close to God for others…(Don't forget) knowing God will show up for your needs because that’s the Father that he is.
You meditative scripture: The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of all of us who follow Jesus and He intercedes for us from deep within, crying out, “Abba Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 6:4)
Psalm 45 – Fairest of All – by Shane & Shane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCTFpPmQyHQ
