Everlasting Father

Review
• This series is based out of a passage in the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

• This passage is often quoted around Christmas time because it was a prophesy to the Israelites about the coming Messiah, the Savior.
• They aren’t just any names. Isaiah wasn’t just listing some nice qualities about the coming Messiah. They are the names of God, who He is.
o Wonderful – Incomprehensible, Wonder-worker (Miracle-worker)
o Counselor – Omniscient, Wise counsel based on truth
o Mighty God - Omnipotent

EVERLASTING FATHER
• When it comes to the phrase, Everlasting Father, we typically don’t think of Jesus.
o Jesus and the Heavenly Father share the same attributes even if they have different roles (John 10:30, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15-17)
• Also, in ancient times, the “father of the nation” was viewed in much the same way as the father of a family.
o It was the father who was to protect and provide for his children
• We have information about God in the New Testament that the Israelites didn’t possess. Most of what we learn about the kind of father God is, is from the NT
• God wasn’t just going to be a “father” in the sense that he would be a national ruler, he was going to be a personal Father.

Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT) But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

1) God loves us so much that he would purchase our freedom with the life of his son.
2) God adopts us into his family as adopted children. He desires to have a deep, lasting relationship with us
• The kind of relationship he desires is that of a father with a small child.
o The word Abba is an Aramaic word that means “Father.” It was a common term that expressed affection and confidence and trust. Abba signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father and his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “daddy.” That’s the relationship God wants with you
o Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God delights in us. Do you believe that?
3) God desires to share his kingdom with us. We are now heirs of the Kingdom of God

The title, “Everlasting Father” tells us more. “Everlasting” tells us several things.
1) It speaks of his immutable (unchanging) nature
Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
2) It means that Jesus will be with us forever
3) We inherit a kingdom that will never end
So how should we respond to this information?
• Our identity should come from who our Father is and our position as children and heirs of God. Being an adopted child of God is the greatest honor that could be bestowed on us.
• How do you view yourself?
o Unlovable, screw-up, unworthy, less-than?
o Created in the image of God, Known, loved and accepted?
o So valuable that God would pay the highest price imaginable for you? (Romans 5:8)

This knowledge should change the way we live. We should change the way we live to match our family
• Being children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords calls us to a higher standard, a different way of life. (Ephesians 4:1)
• God gives us commandments and rules to live by that represent his family. Those rules to live by are for us and for others
o As we represent our eternal family to others, it should cause others to want to be a part of it as well.

• Our relationship with the Everlasting Father as an adopted child is the source of our hope and the security of our future. (1 Peter 1:3-4)
• All of us are so aware that this world is broken. But at the same time, it’s all we know.
• Jesus understood this better than any of us. We see this tension between this life that we are now living and the Kingdom of God in the Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13)
o Jesus started with acknowledging that we are not the main point - God is.
o God’s Kingdom, now our kingdom, is more important than earthly things.
o But then, realizing that we do live here on this earth right now, he moves the prayer to talk about our needs and how only God can truly provide what we need.

Application
• Do you need to readjust your view of God?
• Do you need to focus more on the Kingdom of our Everlasting Father?
• Are there adjustments you need to make to live a life worthy of the call?

Scriptures to consider
• Isaiah 9:6
• John 1:1-3 (Everlasting Father)
• Romans 8:14-17 (Everlasting Father)
• Isaiah 63:16; John 20:17; Gal. 4:6

Questions for Small Group
(Ice Breaker - What’s your favorite dad joke/funny dad story?)
1. What characteristics do you think of when you hear the word Father?
2. What have you learned about God the Father through your own experience with your dad, or your experience with your children?
3. Regardless of your personal experience, how would you describe the ideal father/child relationship?
4. What does the Bible mean when it talks about the Everlasting Father?
5. Read Romans 8:14-17, why do you think God chose to relate to us through a Father/child relationship?
6. What is your response to being adopted into the family of God? What expectations do you think God has of us as adopted members of His family?
7. How are you going to think differently about God this week? How does this impact how you celebrate Christ this season?
For more resources go to realliferesources.org