“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
Foundation Scriptures: John 14:8-11
John 14:8-11 – Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Many in this world are crying out for someone to show them the Father. Our mandate from Heaven, as believers, is to show them the Father. We do this by introducing them to the Savior—JESUS.
God is a giver. John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Some individuals do not comprehend the goodness of the Father God because they only consider the example of their earthly father which may have let them down.
According to some resources: 24 million kids or 34% of all children in the United States live in a home without their father present.
Children from fatherless homes account for:
- 63% of youth suicides
- 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes
- 71% of pregnant teenagers
- 71% of all high school dropouts
- 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers
- 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger
- 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders
- 85% of all youths sitting in prisons
- 90% of all homeless and runaway children
As Christians, we are to represent the true Father God through the person of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. The only hope for this world is Jesus.
Psalm 68:5-6 – A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in the families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
Romans 8:14-16 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
God is good and merciful. Psalms 118:1 – O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
God is love: 1 John 4:8 – He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
The Prodigal Son (The Father God’s nature is to forgive.)
Luke 15:11-24 – 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.