Cornerstone Independent Baptist Church
06/15/25 Sunday Family Service

  • Introduction

    Turn to John 20:17
    As I mentioned earlier today, I fear that many young people don’t have a good concept of fatherhood today. For some, it’s because they never experienced a loving father for themselves. Others, it may be because our pop culture does not promote being a good father. It’s proven that fatherless homes is a big contributor to many other social problems. A number of years ago, our government began promoting fatherhood because it had become such a problem. You can go to fatherhood.gov to get tips on how to be a good father.
    While I could think of worse ways for my tax dollars to be spent, I could also think of better sources for instructions on fatherhood. It’s not the government’s job to tell me how to be a good father. That’s not the government’s wheel house, if you will. Instead, we look to the Bible.
    In His infinite wisdom, God chose to reveal Himself to us using human relationships that we can understand.
    Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
    At the moment of salvation, I was adopted into God’s family and He became my Father. Tonight, if you a child of God, then I want you to gaze on your Heavenly Father too Whether you are a man, woman, or child, I want you to adore Him tonight.
    Read John 20:16-17
    The first thought I’d like you to meditate on tonight is this:
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    He is my Father - John 20:17
    I don’t fully understand it, but I am completely assured from Scripture that God sees Himself as a father to me.
    Jesus makes that reality very clear in this verse. Notice in verse seventeen:
    John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father…and to my God…”
    Is that all Jesus said?
    Oh no, He said much more!
    “Say unto my brethren… ‘I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.’”
    Jesus was declaring, “He’s not just my Father, He is yours too! Through me, you have access to Him now!” It was as though Jesus was extending an invitation to His disciples! It was as though Jesus was saying, “I am sharing Him with you! He is your Father too!”
    Jesus gave this message to the disciples that had abandoned Him just days ago.
    Jesus said these words to Mary Magdalene, a woman out of whom he had cast seven devils.
    Imagine their wonder when she delivered this message to them.
    Application: If you’re a believer tonight, than you have a Father. “He is my Father.” The God of Heaven is a Father to you. He is personal and He seeks a special relationship with you, His son or daughter.
    Turn to Psalm 103:13
    The second thought I’d like you to meditate on tonight is this:
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    He pities me - Psalm 103:13
    Read Psalm 103:13
    Pity: to love, to have tender compassion
    It is a deep, inward feeling of compassion, grace and mercy. Isaiah uses this word to describe a mother’s love for her nursing baby. Here, it is used of a father’s love, specifically, of God’s love for us.
    Application: Did you know that God has feelings in His heart for you? His heart is stirred with love for you. There is no need that is too small for Him to care about. Nothing happens in your life that He is not intimately aware of. He is deeply attuned with your life. He takes such a deep interest in you.
    This should lift our hearts in adoration of Him! No wonder the Psalmist began and ended this psalm the way that he did.
    Read Psalm 103:1-2, 22
    The third thought I’d like you to meditate on:
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    He is merciful towards me - 2 Corinthians 1:1-3
    Read 2 Corinthians 1:1–3
    The previous point emphasized God’s tender care for us. Here we see God’s mercy.
    He is merciful towards us when we sin against Him
    Psalm 103:8–11 KJV 1900
    The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: Neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
    He is merciful towards us in trials
    Application: Gaze on the Father of mercy.
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    He knows what I need - Matthew 6:8-10
    Read Matthew 6:8–10
    I don’t want to misrepresent God in any way. Don’t think that God’s world revolves around you. Just the opposite. He intends for your world and mine to revolve exclusively around Him. However, Scripture reveals that He does take an intimate interest in you and in your needs.
    Application: Do you tell Him your needs? Do you tell Him in the right way, with the right heart?
    James 4:2 KJV 1900
    Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
    It should be amazing enough that the God of Heaven takes a personal interest in my needs. But there’s more. His interest in His children moves Him to do something about it.
    Because God takes an interest in my needs…
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    He gives good gifts to me - Matthew 7:11
    Read Matthew 7:11
    Application: God’s tender compassion for me leads Him to take a deep interest in me, which moves Him to give good gifts to me. I am His child, and He reminds me of it often.

    Conclusion

    These Meditations on Our Heavenly Father should move us to quiet, humble adoration of Him.
Cornerstone Independent Baptist Church
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