Worship Devotional XXX
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 6/20/2020.
Worship Devotional for 6/21/20
~ Father's Day ~
How do you know who you are? Where do you find your identity? It can be tempting to believe that we have identity in the things of the world. Sometimes we identify ourselves by what we do, whether for work or for recreation. Sometimes it's by what we think — whether we fall into one school of thought or political party, or another — that we identify ourselves. Sometimes, it's by people we know or places we've seen or even things that we dream of. I believe, however, that one of the most foundational ways that we as human beings identify ourselves is by our fathers. We all have some sort of family history. We were named by our parents, and we took on our father's name from birth. The problem is that our earthly fathers are only mere men, and they have all made many mistakes. Whether you've had a wonderful experience growing up with your dad that left you wanting to be like him, or a terrible experience that left you wanting nothing to do with him, or anything in-between, we all have part of our identity from our fathers.
Our earthly identity comes from our earthly fathers. We have received physical life in the world just like every other person who is alive in this world. However, when we believed in the name of Jesus Christ and in who He is and what He did on the cross, we were made spiritually alive! Now, as believers, we have a new, spiritual identity in Christ the Son of God.
Galatians 3:24 - 4:7:
"The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise.
Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
This week, with Sunday being Father's Day, is about our identity which comes from our Father in heaven. He is the One who provides for all of our needs, who delivers and protects and defends us, and who lavishes His great and faithful and everlasting love upon us. The world is lost in darkness without faith in Jesus. They try to tell us who we are or who we are supposed to be. But their words are utterly empty and worthless. The truth about who we are — regardless of how we feel or of the mistakes that we make or of the circumstances we find ourselves in — comes from what God says about us. And He has declared once and for all that we who believe belong to Him forever and ever. Hallelujah!
Whatever the story with your dad or as a dad may be, remember that you have a perfect Father in heaven who loves you and always works for your good. He has promised to be with you and to keep you and to love you no matter what. Let's hold onto that and remind ourselves and each other of this great and astounding truth this week as we sing praises to God the Father.
Here are the songs:
1) Father You Are All We Need by Citizens & Saints
When Jesus preached what we know as the Sermon On The Mount, He taught His disciples how to pray with what we refer to as The Lord's Prayer. He said in Matthew 6:7-13:
"When you pray, don't babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they'll be heard for their many words. Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him. Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
This song is based on the Lord's prayer. It is a confession that God our Father is all we need, and through the song we have an opportunity to offer thanks for how He has provided for us. May all our satisfaction be in Him who has set us free by His grace. In a culture where evil seeks to hide His face, may we fix our eyes on Him by faith.
2) Children Of God by Third Day
This song is written with 1 Peter 1:3, 1 John 3:1, and Romans 8:15-16 in mind. That is, that we are the children of God according to His word! We have been adopted into His family through faith in His Son because of the great love of God the Father. The blood of Jesus His Son was shed to purchase our redemption, and God's Spirit is in us as a seal of our adoption. This is our reason to rejoice. This is our reason to stand with confidence and to praise God with all that we are.
Romans 8:15:
"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'"
Galatians 4:6-7:
"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Hebrews 2:11-15:
"For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to them brothers, saying: 'I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.' Again, 'I will trust in Him.' And again, 'Here I am with the children God gave Me.'
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the Devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death."
Psalm 32:7:
"You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance."
4) Who You Say I Am by Hillsong
John 8:30-35:
"As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'
'We are descendants of Abraham,' they answered Him, 'and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, 'You will become free'?'
Jesus responded, 'I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.'"
As we continue in God's word, we learn who we are in Him. He speaks the truth about our real identity, which is in Him. As we learn the truth of who we are, we find the freedom that is guaranteed to us in Christ Jesus because of what He did on the cross. We sing this song as a declaration of that truth, that we and all who listen may truly believe in the love God has for us.
5) How Deep The Father's Love For Us by Stuart Townend
1 John 4:7-10:
"Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Scriptures:
Psalm 32:7
Malachi 4 (esp. v. 6)
Matthew 6, 7:7-12, 11:25-30
John 8:30-36, 14:1-11
Romans 5:1-11, 8 (esp. vv. 14-17)
Galatians 3:19 - 4:7 & 4:21 - 5:26
Ephesians 1-2
Colossians 1:11-14
Hebrews 1-2 (esp. 2:10-15), 12:1-13, 13:5-6
James 1:16-18
1 Peter 1
1 John 2:12-17, 3:1-3, 4:7-19
I'm so excited to declare with you all this week that we are who God says we are, based on who He is. Happy Father's Day! All glory be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1 John 3:1:
"Look at how great a 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."