I. BEHOLD: Everlasting Father
A. Outside Time
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. —Revelation 22:13 CSB
Explosion of light/ expansion of Universe
The black around the cone is nothing. Nothing is beyond us. We think in terms of time, space, matter, and energy.
Quantum Fluctuations (Laws of Nature) We can have something out of nothing is we have Laws. Laws that predate the Universe.
Laws of nature are a set of forces: 1. Not physical 2. Acts on the physical 3.Creates the physical out of nothing 4. Predates the Universe
The only nuance is this… Is that force active in our Universe. These 4 things are the biblical definition of God. Everlasting. He wants you to behold Him as Father.
B. Everlasting Now
He cannot be disappointed.
He lives in all of our Nows!
II. BEHOLD: Everlasting Teacher | Guide
A. Teacher
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. —Psalm 139:23–24 CSB
Wants to teach us the everlasting way.
His way. In life and in death and everything in between. In every relationship to every bolt you use to fix your muffler.
God wants to be included in everything we do! To teach us His way.
B. Coach
Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; 12 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights. —Proverbs 3:11–12 CSB
He wants to show us the way and then He wants to walk in the way.
He wants to shout from the sidelines. Post up!
He wants to encourage us. I know you can do this. I have created you to do this.
C. Cheerleader
Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? —Matthew 26:53 CSB
He cheers you on!
Celebrates in your victories and picks you up in your failures.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because there is no time! Get up we got more to do.
D. Comforter
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. —2 Corinthians 1:3–4 CSB
He comforts us in our lows. When we are hurt. When we have sorrow.
He forgives us when we cannot forgive ourselves.
III. BEHOLD: Everlasting Gift Giver
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. —James 1:17 CSB
A. Gift of Life
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 CSB
Not death - We live in a world where the culture of death is normalized.
We have been at war for over 20 years. It never comes up.
Children threatened their parents with suicide.
People BELIEVE they have the right to torture and kill.
A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. —John 10:10 CSB
Jesus came to flip the script. To give life! Life abundant and free!
B. Gifts of Service
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. —1 Peter 4:8–11 ESV
We have been given gifts to serve Jesus’ body. The Church. This fact has been lost in the greater church culture.
In our culture, churches are where we are to be served. We are there for personal growth. To learn and gain knowledge.
These gifts of service He planned for you since the beginning.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. —Ephesians 2:10 CSB
These gifts of service let us partner with Him in what He is doing.
C. Gift of Home
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? —John 14:2 CSB
If you are in Christ you have a place to come home to.
He has prepared that place for just you. It will fit you perfectly. When you enter it you will feel His welcome.
You will be celebrated home. Your father Jesus will be so excited for you to be home. The Scripture says it is precious in His sight the death of His saints.
Summary
See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. —1 John 3:1 CSB
We are God’s children. He is with us and will be with us not to the end, but past the end. Those who have confessed Jesus as their Savior and Lord have become His. He is not just our Father for now, but forever. Praise His wonderful name. Behold Him as your Everlasting Father.
Sing to God! Sing praises to his name. Exalt him who rides on the clouds— his name is the Lord—and celebrate before him. 5 God in his holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows. —Psalm 68:4–5 CSB
He wants to be your Father today. Will you receive Him?