The Cry of the Father ’ s heart Understanding the heart of Father God for His sons and daughters

Keynote Scripture “ I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love, and I was to them as one who lifts up and eases the yoke over their cheeks, and I bent down to them and gently laid food before them. ” Hosea 11:4 (Amplified Bible)

Why is the fatherheart significant? There is a deep cry in the heart of man for relationship. This reflects the cry of Father God for relationship with His sons and daughters. Satan has destroyed both the image of God as a loving father and he has caused havoc and chaos in many of our earthly families by “ binding the fathers ”.

A worldwide cry! There is a generation of “ orphans ” crying out to God. Only by knowing the Father heart of God as a son or daughter can true and lasting healing be achieved. Worldwide people live in rejection and fear and seek to fill the void within with things – jobs, cars, money, toys, alcohol, sex, drugs – but none of this can truly satisfy!

Foundational truths God presents Himself as a loving father in the context of a Jewish family and culture. Satan has sought to destroy this image and remove effective fathers. (John 10:10) Our earthly fathers are a lens which distorts our understanding of the heart of Father God.

God calls Himself a Father! “Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? Deuteronomy 32:6 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,..” Matthew 6:9

The Jewish Context Jewish and OT thought and culture is very different to that in which we live today. Daniel 10:20 talks of the Prince of Greece coming – he is still here! Greek thought is people centred with rule of the people by the people. Jewish thought is father centred with leaders chosen by God.

God ’ s view of us The Father is for us and not against us! The Father desires that His children do great exploits and be successful in their calls and destiny. The Father seeks sons and daughters who will submit to the Father out of love. Many father-child relationships and relationships with God have been cursed and broken.

Satan ’ s strategy of destruction “In fact, no-one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. “ Mark 3:27 By destroying the strong man Satan has easy access to the wife, the children and the generations to come.

Satan ’ s strategy of destruction Satan has successfully distorted the image of Father God and many (including Christians) live with a totally false image of Father God. “ You belong to your father, the devil, …. holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ” John 8:44

Images of the father The passive father The performance oriented father The abusive father The absent father The authoritarian father The ‘ good ’ father All these images are distorted to a degree and this means we cannot truly see our heavenly Father for who he is.

What God thinks about you? “ And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17

God ’ s view of you This is my son ….. IDENTITY whom I love ….. RELATIONSHIP with him I am well pleased ….. VALUE