Is God Your Father ?

(John 5:17) "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." One of the greatest truths that is taught in the New Testament is the truth that God can be "our Father." The world thinks that God is our Father from birth, but that is not taught in scripture. The only way that one can become a child of God is to be "born again" into the family of God. Until then, one is still guilty of his/her sin and therefore not in the family of God. (Rom. 9:8) "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." Jesus called God "My Father," and by doing so he made himself equal with God, for he is the "only begotten of the Father," (John 1: 14), (meaning that he is the only Son of God's loins), but everyone that is born again by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:6), can be "adopted" into the family of Jesus Christ and The Father. (Rom. 8:15) "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." Thank God that we who are saved can now through Jesus Christ go directly into The Father's presence because we are now "sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). Oh that we would truly realize both the power and the privilege of this great relationship with God.
 

God’s Lessons Always Teach Us Faith

God has a purpose for every trial and situation that you find yourself in, in life. Sometimes we as believers think that because we're saved we shouldn't have to go through some of the hard things that happen to others in life, but this isn't true. (Lam. 3:27) says that, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." It's good, to go through hard times early in life, so that when we're older we will be stronger, more mature, and more able to handle trials. Peter also taught us that the lessons of sufferings and trials in life are needed for God to do His perfecting work in us. (1 Peter 5:10) says, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." God's lessons are not fun, but they teach us by personal experience that in times where we can't, He can. The feeding of the 5,000 was a lesson of divine provision, where God simply spread the little that they had to supply the impossible. The lesson of the storm on the Sea of Galilee was a lesson on the ability of Christ to comfort us when in fear and in distress. They all teach us that God is close at hand and able to handle every trial that we may find ourselves in.
 

Worshipping In Spirit And In Truth

(John 4:23) "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." The above verse speaks of a worship that is in obedience to God's Spirit and His truth. It was spoken to the Samaritan woman at the well by Jesus as he shared with her, her need to drink of the "living water" of Christ. All who believe in Jesus receive this gift (or living water) when they receive the Holy Spirit's power. This power is a fathomless spring of water to those who surrender in obedience to the will and truth of God. Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39).  Brethren, this power within us is able to accomplish all that the Word of God promises, but we must first learn to surrender to God's Spirit and then abide in his truth. Jesus said, "without me you can do nothing," and that's exactly why nothing happens. Staying connected to the vine is our responsibility, for when we are connected the rivers of living water will flow !