So then, where has our Father in heaven gone? Have you seen Him?
Years ago at the founding of America here in the west, the church of God was sustained by women, as usual. Even to this day, we see female attendance in the institutionalized pews at least in the 70% range. Men seem AWOL by and large, as usual.
This led to the gals naming God as the “sweet Savior” and other feminized terminology. This evolution is detailed in Stephen Prothero’s expose called American Jesus – How the Son of God Became A National Icon (Buy American Jesus Here). Indeed, when I was first saved and for the ensuing years, it was all about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. But…
Not to be outdone, the so-called charismatic wing of the faith virtually abandoned Jesus as the primary emphasis and called out to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost. To this day, the insignia of this tribe is the dove, reflecting the event after the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by His cousin.
OK, then. Where is our Father in all this?
Nowhere, actually. He’s MIA.
Notice the music and the conversation that surrounds your life and faith. What do you experience?
As in most things in western Christianity this very day, we may boldly proclaim to retreat to the safest place of truth. Where might that be? Observe what is the most popular, called the doctrine-teaching, and investigate the exact opposite.
Let’s not take my word for it. Let’s take God’s Word for it!
Look no further than the apostle Paul in his great treatise in the book to the saints at Ephesus. Here we see overwhelming evidence into the heart of God Himself.
Since the Holy Scriptures are held in very low regard for most western Christians, a review of God’s writing style may be in order. The Bible is an Eastern document that is high context. That means that the audience has a high knowledge of the surrounding culture and it’s goings on. So, the Bible authors needed to write only the bare minimum to save parchment and ink.
Therefore, what content used in the the writings was extremely important. Any repetition of words, principles, and practice provides clues to God’s earnestness. Our western practice of emphasizing things missing in the Scriptures is a serious offense to God.
Don’t believe it? What did He say at the end of the Revelation about adding or taking away from the prophetic words? God Himself adds the plagues to these human beings. Not nice to those who believe that God is eternally nice. He’s not. He’s holy and just. That describes His love.
So, then, the content and the style is vital, no? What does God reveal through Paul in Ephesians? Let’s take a brief look. Don’t trust your feelings, for they can often deceive us. For instance, when Paul writes the word “God” he’s almost always speaking about our Father.
This is no way is to take away from the preeminence of Jesus Christ, our Lord! But our Father is not subject to Christ…but Christ is subject to the Father, so our Father will be all in all (1 Cor. 15.23-28). Almost without exception, our Father is mentioned first, then Christ.
The Father’s Preeminence in Ephesians
For an example, we now turn to the book of Ephesians to view this fact. Be careful to slowly read this and let in sink in deeply please.
Ephesians 1:1-23 (NASB) – The Blessings of Redemption
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God (our Father), To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He (our Father), chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him (our Father). In love He (our Father) predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself (our Father) , according to the kind intention of His (our Father) will, to the praise of the glory of His (our Father) grace, which He (our Father) freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Jesus).
What a start! Do you see a trend here? Now the Spirit through Paul turns to Christ, but our Father maintains His prominence:
In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His (our Father) grace which He (our Father) lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He (our Father) made known to us the mystery of His (our Father) will, according to His (our Father) kind intention which He (our Father) purposed in Him (Jesus) with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His (our Father) purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will (our Father), to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His (our Father) glory.
Paul goes on:
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s (our Father) own possession, to the praise of His glory(our Father).
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God (our Father) of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father (our Father) of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him (our Father).
Paul’s prayer for his church plant:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His (our Father) calling, what are the riches of the glory of His (our Father) inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His (our Father) power toward us who believe.
These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His (our Father) might which He (our Father) brought about in Christ, when He (our Father) raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His (our Father) right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He (our Father) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Let’s explore the rest of this book and our Father through these passages.
In Ephesians 2 (NASB) – Made Alive in Christ
But God (our Father), being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He (our Father) loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and (our Father) raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He (our Father) might show the surpassing riches of His (our Father) grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (our Father); not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His (our Father) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God (our Father) prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s (our Father) household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God (our Father) in the Spirit.
Who is Paul’s great prayer in the 3rd chapter directed toward?
Ephesians 3:1-20 (NASB) – Paul’s Stewardship
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s (our Father) grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s (our Father) grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God (our Father) who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He (our Father) carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father (our Father), from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He (our Father) would grant you, according to the riches of His (our Father) glory, to be strengthened with power through His (our Father) Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (our Father).
Now to Him (our Father) who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him (our Father) be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Notice who Paul bowed his knee to? Notice who has the riches of glory? Notice the fullness? Notice who is able? Notice who has glory forever? Our Father.
The 4th chapter is next.
Ephesians 4:1-32 (NASB) Unity of the Spirit
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father (our Father) of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He (our Father) gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God (our Father), to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God (our Father) because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God (our Father) has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (our Father), by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God (our Father) in Christ also has forgiven you.
And in chapter 5…
Ephesians 5:1-33 (NASB) – Be Imitators of God the Father
Therefore be imitators of God (our Father), as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God (our Father) as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (our Father). Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God (our Father) comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord (our Father).
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord (our Father) is.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.
This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
And finally, those famous closing words about the armor…
Ephesians 6:1-23 (NASB) – Family Relationships & The Armor of God
Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God (our Father) from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord whether slave or free.
And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master (our Father) and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him (our Father).
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God (our Father), so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God (our Father), so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (our Father).
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
When you now begin to notice this emphasis, you’ll see it everywhere in the Word of God.
But…
You must be in the Word.
Are you?
Put away the other books, the audio-video, and the teachers for a time. Maybe a long time. Turn the a-musement off. Turn off the TV. Put away the computers. Ask our Father, and the Spirit of Jesus will respond.
A new friend recently told me he did exactly that. I asked him what his impressions were after this experiment. He looked very sober, didn’t hesitate a second, and replied:
“God is very serious about obedience.”
Does any of this matter? Is there a consequence to ignoring this emphasis?
It must be.
It’s important since God the Father took the time to describe it just so. Our Father in heaven is He who sits on the throne. The Lamb is with Him as They interact.
But it’s our Father who’s on the throne.
Revelation 5:13 (NASB)
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him (our Father). who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
And again – the great day of their wrath:
Revelation 6:16-17 (NASB)
and they (kings, great men, the strong) said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him (our Father). who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
And again:
Revelation 7:10 (NASB)
and they (martyred saints from The Great Tribulation) cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
And finally:
Revelation 22:1-4 (NASB)
Then he showed me (the apostle John) a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God (our Father). and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God (our Father). and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
Years ago, my wife and I went through an intense season of spiritual deliverance. The team who gracious and lovingly took us on spoke primarily of “Father.”
It had a refreshing and satisfying ring to it. I knew in my heart from the Word that this was so, but this was the first time I saw a group of saints naturally practice this. And dare say they too were “Pentecostals.” Lord, I do hate labels, don’t you?
Let’s pray too like Jesus Himself taught us in Matthew 6:
“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your (our Father) name. Your (our Father) kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us (our Father) this day our daily bread. And forgive us (our Father). our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us (our Father) into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours (our Father) is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
If this is still not convincing, let’s see who is subject to the Father…
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 …then comes the end, when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He (Christ) has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He (Christ) must reign until He (Father God) has put all His (Christ) enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
For HE (Father God) HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He (Father God) says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He (Father God) is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ). When all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One (Father God) who subjected all things to Him (Christ), so that God (Father God) may be all in all.
So, the Father is all in all. Not Christ. Let us act in accordance with the pleasure of the Father, and our brother and friend, our Lord Jesus.
It’s our Father’s kingdom. It’s His eternal purpose. Our relationships and His bride, His body, are part of it. But God talks about His kingdom as the centerpiece of who He is and all that does.
The kingdom of our Father shall come. Let us obey and please our Father in all respects. And pray it’s early arrival. For Christ’s sake.
Let’s do our level best to put the Father where He belongs. In the limelight of our lives. We put things on a billboard to make them big for all to see. Can we do the same with our Father who is in heaven and on the throne?
And come quickly, our Lord Jesus. We’re waiting to greet You as You take us to our Father.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
Galen Miller says
I’ve seen this first hand as a missionary in the Phillipians, Russia, and Bulgaria, that there is a satanic plan to take the men out of their place and responsibility in their culture. He will throw everything at us to help us AVOID our Biblical roles as prophet, preiest, and king (the benevolent sacrificing kind) to our family.
Good words Marc
Marc says
Brother Galen – thx for your cross cultural insight. and your enCOURAGEment, dear brother. Let God give us a 1000 men with the passion of Christ and He’ll use us to help change our jerusalem, samaria, and even Bulgaria!