Hi Church,
Well, we had a another very special Sunday as we celebrated Father’s Day. The Worship, the prayers, the scripture, the communion, and the message all pointed us towards the Father’s Heart towards us. His love has certainly been lavished upon us through Jesus Christ our Lord. This lavishness was represented by the cream and iced donuts that Amanda presented to the men for morning tea, what a great yum moment that was. John Ives preached a special message that called men into their responsibility to be the priest of their family and cover them with the authority and the love of the Heavenly father as we stand under His Shadow and protection. John quoted many scriptures but one of the stand outs was Ps 91.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
John gave a living example picture as a reference of a family standing under an umbrella which stood under the umbrella held by God. Whist ever we remain close to God his protection is over us. Men were called to bring their families close to God.
He also called the men of the day to have an Elijah spirit as he quoted Malachi 4.
5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
That we would be those fathers who would have hearts for their children.
This will require a shift in priority to make sure our kids are not last on the list of our time and emotions, that we be present for them in person and in heart.
Second, we must forgive our own fathers passed or alive and release them of hurt and pain they inflicted on us, so that we can come into a deeper relationship with our Heavenly father.
Fathering is so important, society is suffering because they don’t know how, and the church has a responsibility to do it well so we can be an example that the world can imitate.
As they follow our example it will lead them into relationship with the Son and the same love he experienced from His Father. John 17:
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
What a beautiful healing awaits us Church. As we are loved with same love, God the Father has for God the Son Jesus, so Lets share it boldly.
Love you Church.
Ps Greg and Amanda