TLDR;
This video is about understanding God as the creator of family, particularly focusing on His role as a Father. It explores how to live as God's child by understanding His attributes of leading, linking, and lavishing. The sermon addresses the challenges of relating to God as a Father due to personal experiences with earthly fathers and emphasizes the intimate relationship God offers through Jesus Christ. It encourages believers to embrace their inheritance as children of God and to obey His will in all aspects of life.
- God leads, links, and lavishes.
- Live as God's child.
- Intimate relationship with God through Jesus.
Opening [0:00]
The video introduces the "Knowing God, the Creator of Family" series, coinciding with National Family Month in the Philippines. The series aims to explore God's attributes and biblical portrayals of family. The initial message focuses on God as a Father, examining what can be learned from this perspective and how to live as His child, referencing examples such as Adam and Eve and the prodigal son.
1. He is a Father who leads (v14) [9:05]
The speaker introduces the first attribute of God as a Father: He leads. According to Romans 8:14, those led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. The speaker clarifies that not everyone is a child of God, but all are creations of God. To become a child of God, one must receive and believe in Jesus. God leads His children through His Spirit, which is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The speaker uses the example of Adam and Eve to illustrate God's leadership, highlighting that God provides, protects, and disciplines. God gave them life, food, and the command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil to protect them. The speaker shares a personal story about his father protecting him as a child, relating it to God's desire to protect His children. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of disobedience, noting that God disciplines those He loves for their betterment. The application is to let God lead your life and not try to control circumstances.
2. He is a Father who links (v15-16) [22:49]
The speaker explains that God links, referencing Romans 8:15-16, emphasizing the spirit of adoption through which we cry out, "Abba, Father." He contextualizes this by explaining that in the Old Testament, the concept of a father was distant, whereas, in Greco-Roman culture, the father had absolute power (Patria Potestas). Paul uses "Abba, Father" to show an intimate relationship, contrasting the distant or authoritarian views of fatherhood. "Abba" is a Hebrew word for "daddy" or "papa," indicating a personal, close relationship. The speaker highlights that despite technological connectivity, people are becoming more lonely, and God offers a direct link through Jesus. He explains that adoption in Roman law meant losing all ties to the old family, including debts, and gaining full inheritance rights in the new family. This reinforces the message of God's intimate link with believers, as He adopts them, cancels their debts (sins), and grants them full inheritance rights.
Testimony Sharer - Ken Carangue [33:39]
Ken Carangue shares his personal testimony of experiencing God's adoption. He recounts a difficult childhood marked by loss, rejection, and abuse. Despite these challenges, he encountered God's love through a Christian community and his ex-stepmother, who adopted him. This experience showed him that God's love is constant even when humans fail. Ken emphasizes that God's adoption didn't erase his past trauma but gave him the strength to move forward and forgive those who hurt him. He and his wife responded to God's call to adopt, welcoming three boys into their family. Ken concludes by affirming that God redeems broken stories and offers belonging, acceptance, and healing to the fatherless.
3. He is a Father who lavishes (v15-16) [44:32]
The speaker discusses the third attribute: God lavishes, referencing Romans 8:17, which states that as children, we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. This means inheriting every spiritual blessing, glory, and the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. The speaker uses the parable of the prodigal son to illustrate God's lavish love. The father in the story represents God, who waits for His children, runs to meet them, embraces them, and restores their position in the family. The speaker emphasizes that the father's love is extravagant and undeserved. He challenges the audience to live like heirs, generously sharing God's love with others and obeying His will. The speaker concludes by highlighting Jesus' obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane as a model for living as God's child, emphasizing that obedience brings blessings.
Closing [51:00]
The speaker encourages everyone to live as God's child by allowing God to lead, nurturing their relationship with Him, and living like heirs who have received extravagant love. He invites those who are unsure if they are children of God to receive Jesus into their lives, surrendering to Him and believing in His sacrifice on the cross.
Sunday Fast Track [57:25]
Introduction to the Sunday Fast Track segment with Gyra de Jose and Pastor Edric Mendoza.
1. How do we navigate through Biblical parenting in spite of matriarchal society norms? [58:02]
The question addresses how to follow God's design for families in a matriarchal society. Pastor Edric clarifies that the issue is not the strength of the mother, but whether the father fulfills his role as the spiritual leader. He references Psalm 78 and Ephesians 6:4, emphasizing that fathers should raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. He advises mothers to step down to allow fathers to step up and suggests finding male friends who can reinforce this perspective.
2. How do we encourage fathers to be intentional in family leadership? [1:00:02]
The question asks how to empower husbands or fathers to lead, especially if they are laid-back or lack a biblical model. Pastor Edric speaks directly to fathers, emphasizing that they need to be spiritual leaders and that obedience to God's design brings blessings. He encourages them to attend the Made Man conference to learn God's design and become more active and engaged.
3. Are all people children of God? [1:01:31]
Pastor Edric reiterates that not all people are children of God, but all are His creation. Children of God are those who have received Jesus, believe in Him, and have been adopted into God's family.
4. How does one be part of God's family? [1:02:07]
To become part of God's family, Pastor Edric advises joining a D-group (small group) in CCF. He suggests three ways to do this: online portals, Welcome Wednesday, and face-to-face meetings at the center.