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YWAM DTS Notes Father Heart of God based on lectures by Peter Warren

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 1 John 3:1 (KJV)

I am so glad to be a child of God, loved by Him.  There are many in the world that don’t recognize that precious relationship, because they don’t know Him yet.

I was feeling not as close to the Lord as I would like.   We always as believers should hunger and thirst for more of Him but I felt like there was some blockage.  As I asked Him about it, He seemed to show me the area of being a workaholic, a problem area I had recognized before but still usually viewed as a strength rather than a weakness.

I was reminded again this week, how much I need to praise God, not just thank Him, not just give Him my requests, but really praise Him and seek His voice and His will.  I really enjoyed the base intercessory prayer time with a group of staff I didn’t really know, we followed the usual pattern of praise, confession, and waiting on the Lord with the assignment of praying for all the children and families on the base.

Satan’s strategies

I was reminded again of what happened perhaps even before mankind was created and that was the spiritual war in heaven.  Where Satan exalted himself above God and was cast out. 

Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept* away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had* a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world ; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." Rev 12:3-12 (NASB)

I was reminded of his schemes of deception as I found that like me another student was formerly a Christian Scientist who also sang Onward Christian Soldiers each week while were believing the Enemies lies.  A new insight was in the area of Satan being the ruler of this world.  I thought God gave him that authority and didn’t understand why, but the truth is we humans give him that authority.  Our sin empowers the devil and his borders are expanded.

Taking a stand on issues 

Compromising absolutes is liberalism, insisting on relatives is legalism.

1.      There are different names for God

·        Creator Is. 40:28

·        Redeemer Job 19:25

·        King of King / Lord of Lords Rev. 19:16

·        Faithful and just I John 1:9

·        FATHER But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8 Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Matt 6:9  But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Gal 4:4-7 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation. Psalms 68:5 (NASB) and I Samuel 16.

There is a difference between burden and calling.  A burden for a need is not necessarily a calling. 

God and the issue of suffering

Six reasons for suffering

1.      Man’s selfishness

God created us in His image Gen. 1:26

A.      Not according to His nature but according to His character.  God’s nature:

·  Infinite

·  Omnipresent Prov. 15:3

·  Omnipotent Heb. 1:3

·  Omniscient I John 3:20

·  Eternal – past Col. 1:17 future Gen. 31:33

·  Unchanging (immutable) Mal. 3:6

·  Triune  Gen. 1:26

·  Glorious Ex. 33:20-33

B.      According to His character or personality

Mind, emotions or feelings, and will

I Cor. 2:16; Is. 1:18; Gen 18

The opposite of love is selfishness.  Most suffering comes as a result of mans selfishness.  “Suffering is the price that had to be paid, for freedom and love to exist at all” C.S. Lewis.

2.      A fixed environment

A.      The sequence

·        God creates a physical world

·        God makes man free

·        The physical world is neutral with a fixed environment of physical and chemical laws

·        If matter has a fixed environment and obeys constant laws, it will not always be equally agreeable to every person.

3.      The devil

A.      War was declared against the Kingdom of God.  And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world ; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him  Rev 12:7-9 (NASB)

B.      Lucifer attempted to overthrow God’s Kingdom “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. 14 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' 15 "Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15 (NASB)

C.      The devil and the demons have a free will also.

"Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." Matt 12:43-45 (NASB)

                     D.  God’s will is not always being done.  The Lord is not slow about
                          His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward
                          you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to    
                          repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9         

4.      The fall of man

 The impact of sin entering the world was twofold

A.      Physical death Romans 6:23

B.      The erosion of the earth.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now Romans 8:20-22 (NASB)

5.      Ignorant and unwise choices (doing stupid things)

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is Eph 5:15-17 (NASB)

   6.  God is the author of suffering sometimes.  Therefore, those also who
                suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful
                Creator in doing what is right. 1 Peter 4:19 (NASB) 

Six reasons:

A.       To develop character in us

     II Cor. 12:7-10 humility

             James 1:3 patience

             Hebrews 5:8 obedience

B.        To make us more sensitive to others who suffer  II  

C.       Cor.1:3-4

D.       To judge or punish sin Num. 12:1-16; Acts 5:1-11; also an evil spirit from the Lord in I Samuel 16:14 and I Kings 22:20-22

E.        To test our true motives II Chron. 32:31 and Gen. 22:12

F.        To release a greater measure of His Spirit Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. II Cor 12:10 (NASB)

G.       That we might know Him

      …that I may know Him and the power of His             resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

      Phil 3:10 I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; Job 42:5 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. Psalms 119:71 (NASB)

The places closest to Jesus in heaven are reserved for those who have suffered in His name.  Matt. 5:11-12; Heb. 11:35; Matt. 20:20-23

The Father heart of God can be seen in the story of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32  v. 20 His father saw him and had compassion on him

The older brother made comparisons and felt rejected.  Characteristics of the Father:

1.        Slow to anger v. 12, Psalm 103:8

2.            He was just v. 12, one son asked for the inheritance both received.  God always does the right thing.  In Hebrew and Greek just and righteous are the same words.  Heb. tsedek  Grk. Dikaios 

3.            The father took care of his own v. 17

4.            He was longing and searching for restoration v. 20

          Why didn’t the father go after his son?  He allowed him free will.

·        Parable in Luke 15 the lost sheep, was lost foolishly

·        The Lost coin was lost accidentally

·        The lost son, was lost willfully

Four words for love in Greek

·        Eros – sexual love and romance

·        Storge – like

·        Phileo – brotherly love

·        Agapao – unconditional love

5.            He was compassionate v. 20

6.            He was affectionate v. 20

7.            He ran v. 20, Rom. 5:8 God took the initiative

8.            He was generous v. 11, 22-23; Rom. 8:32

9.            He was exuberant (knew how to throw a good party) vv. 23-24

      Luke 15:7

10.        Forgiving

11.        Humble

12.        Gracious

13.        Passionate passere – Latin meaning whatever I am willing suffer for

14.        Met him, where he was at.

15.        A good listener and reasoner as seen with the older son.

Barriers that keep us from experiencing God

Detailed description of problem areas

1.      Anger Luke 15:28  often a sign of covered hurt

2.      Seeking value (acceptance) through performance

a.    perfectionism

b.    workaholism

c.     comparison with others

3.      Superficial relationships with God and Man

4.      Feelings of inferiority – five evidences:

a.      constant comparison with others

b.      external attitudes of superiority

c.       criticism

d.      communication problems

·        difficulty talking Ex. 4:10

·        talking too much Acts 7:22

e.      believing lies about myself – I see myself:

·        Ugly

·        I don’t fit in

·        No one understands me

·        I’m never going to make it

·        I can’t do anything right

·        God doesn’t love me

5.      Identity through others or positions I perceive as significant

·        Rock stars

·        Sports figures

·        Spiritual leaders

·        Job

·        Possessions

6.      Bitterness towards those who’ve hurt me

7.      Self rejection -words of self criticism

Steps to wholeness

1.      Take personal responsibility for my sin

2.      Go back to the place or time of rejection

3.      How did it make you feel?  (Identify the feelings – dirty, guilty, hurt abandoned, afraid, defeated; unwanted, unloved, jealous, inferior…)

4.      Ask God, “Where were You when this happened?”

a.      Let Him speak to you, He may say:

·        I allowed it

·        I had nothing to do with it

·        It broke my heart

b.      If He is silent, verbalize your trust in Him

5.      Feel the liberty to express your frustration to God

It is okay to get angry as long as you don’t sin Eph. 4:26

There is a process to grieving loss – denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and resolution

6.      If this wound has affected my identity, use three steps

a.      identify the lie about myself (these will be especially strong if I have verbalized them or someone else has.  Prov. 18:21

b.      Write it down

c.       Wait on the Lord for His perspective.  He speaks the truth that sets me free.  Ps. 51:6 and John 8:32

Parental shortcomings (that could affect the way I see God)

1.      Injustice – punishing me for things I didn’t do.  I may then believe God is unjust

2.      Overly strict discipline.  I may then believe God is harsh or legalistic.

3.      Preferential treatment, may be due to personality differences between parents and children.  Giving more attention (love) to other members of the family.  I may then believe God is biased or arbitrary.

4.      Anger – taking out frustrations on me.  I may then believe God has a short temper.

5.      Abuse – verbal, physical, or sexual.  I may then be afraid of God.

6.      Absence – not being there when I needed them, abandonment.  I may then believe God won’t be there when I need Him.

7.      Hypocrisy – telling me not to do things that they do in areas of morality.  I may then believe that God can’t be trusted.

8.      Unkept promises – never doing something they said they would do.  I may then believe that God is unfaithful.  

Overview of God’s work the last 6,000 years

1.      God created us to be in relationship with Him.  He didn’t start out as a warrior, but war was declared against Him.  

2.      God creates man and places man on earth.  Why in the same place as the Enemy?  Love must have an alternative, it must be a free choice. 

3.      We all chose selfishness (the opposite of love), our own way.

Four consequences:

·        It broke God’s heart Gen. 6:5-6

·        It separated us from Him Gen. 3:8; Is. 59:2

·        It empowered the Devil.  Whenever there is sin, the borders of the Enemy are expanded.  Luke 4:5-6, who delivered the earth to Satan?  Mankind did.

·        It condemned us to death Rom. 6:23.

Justice dictates that a law must have a corresponding equal penalty to protect it.  The law of love is so great the only penalty equal to it, is death.  Jesus paid the penalty so we could be justified by faith in Him.  Rom. 8:3-4

Why isn’t everyone saved by Christ’s death and resurrection?  Because it’s not just a legal transaction, God is looking for the restoration of the love relationship by faith.  Jesus satisfied 100% of the requirement of the Law.  Heb. 4:15 indicates He was tempted in every way but without sin.

4.      In Christ, God has given us a new identity II Cor. 5:17.

Truth confirmed

Justice dictates that a law must have a corresponding equal penalty to protect it.  The law of love is so great the only penalty equal to it, is death.  Jesus paid the penalty so we could be justified by faith in Him. 

Why isn’t everyone saved by Christ’s death and resurrection?  Because it’s not just a legal transaction, God is looking for the restoration of the love relationship by faith.

God is my Father and loves me unconditionally.

Through the years a number of patients asked me about the reasons God allows suffering.  I had a two part sermon series I used to preach when doing pulpit supply on the subject that was very similar to what Peter presented.  Amen and Amen.  

What God is saying to me

I thought too of the marks of ownership and acceptance evidenced by the ring, the robe, and the sandals. 

The new area that God seemed to really put His finger on this week was in the problem area of seeking value, acceptance and love through performance.  I want to hear God say, “well done, thou good and faithful servant.” I have been a workaholic most of my life, I have had a degree of perfectionism, and have compared myself with others.  I have known with my mind that I don’t need to earn God’s favor but with my heart and my actions I have been working like crazy, I don’t need to compete for God’s love.  I know that God loves me unconditionally but I have been so driven to work, always thinking I have hundreds of things to do and not just sometimes sitting quiet before the Lord.  I identified with another student who said she had been a Martha and needs to be a Mary, sitting at the Master’s feet. My busyness has kept from relationships with other people and with the Lord.

Implementation

I am so thankful for this time in Crossroad DTS where I don’t have to minister, but rather can be ministered to, a time to receive and not give.  A time to be silent and draw closer to God not receive more knowledge.

Areas God has brought to my attention

The area of preferential treatment on God’s part was a question I had, I asked about “Jacob I loved and Esau I hated”.  Peter’s answer was similar to the one given on the website at http://www.gotquestions.org/Jacob-Esau-love-hate.html

Question:  "Why did God love Jacob and hate Esau (Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13)?"

Answer:  Malachi 1:2-3 declares, “’I have loved you,’” says the LORD. But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' ‘Was not Esau Jacob's brother?’ the LORD says. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.’ Malachi 1:2-3 is quoted an alluded to in Romans 9:10-13, “Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad — in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls — she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’” Why did God love Jacob and hate Esau? If God is love (1 John 4:8,16), how could He hate anyone?

When studying the Bible, it is crucially important to always study the context of a particular Bible verse or passage. In these instances, the Prophet Malachi and the Apostle Paul are using the name “Esau” to refer to the Edomites, who were the descendants of Esau. Isaac and Rebekah had two sons, Esau and Jacob. God chose Jacob (whom He later renamed Israel) to be the father of His chosen people, the Israelites. God rejected Esau (who was also called Edom), and did not choose him to be the father of His chosen people. Esau’s and his descendants, the Edomites, were in many ways blessed by God (Genesis 33:9; Genesis chapter 36).

So, considering the context, God loving Jacob and hating Esau has nothing to do with the human emotions of love and hate. It has everything to do with God choosing one man and his descendants and rejecting another man and his descendants. God choose Abraham out of all the men in the world. The Bible very well could say, “Abraham I loved, and every other man I hated.” God choose Abraham’s son Isaac instead of Abraham’s son Ishmael. The Bible very well could say, “Isaac I loved, and Ishmael I hated.” Romans chapter 9 makes it abundantly clear that loving Jacob and hating Esau was entirely related to which of them God chose. Hundreds of years after Jacob and Esau had died, the Israelites and Edomites became bitter enemies.