The Role of God the Father

Jesus Christ and the apostles made some extraordinary statements about God the Father. Actually remarkable statements. Let's take a look at one of them over in Matthew 11, verse 25. Matthew 11, verse 25, in this context, Jesus is actually talking to his Father in prayer.

And he says this, as we begin the message today, he says, At that time, Jesus answered, and he said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus calls his Father the Lord of heaven and earth here in this verse. Think about what those words mean. You know, they tell us that the Father is the supreme ruler over the entire universe. You know, it's a remarkable statement that Jesus Christ has made here, a remarkable revelation by Jesus Christ that his Father is Lord over the heaven and the earth. Jesus made some other remarkable statements. I'm just going to refer to one or two of them here.

You can write this down or you can look it up if you'd like. John 14, verse 28, where Jesus said in John 14, verse 28, My Father is greater than I. Jesus made it clear that he is greater than I am. He's deferring, in a sense, to the Father, that there be no misunderstanding that the Father is greater.

He's greater than me. You know, I don't know how many of you out there are Trekkies. Star Trek fans, anybody? Okay, there's a few hands going up. So, I'll relay a little bit of information. Of course, there's been movies, there's been television series, several television series, but the one I'm going to refer to is the one where the captain was Jean-Luc Picard.

Remember him? Jean-Luc Picard, for some of you that are Star Trek followers. Well, anyhow, when that series first began, it's actually his assistant who was called Commander Riker, also known as number one. Some of you know the story. But when the series first started, really, the captain was nowhere in sight, but the commander was there. He was dealing with certain situations, getting ready for a mission, and there were certain things that came up that were urgent, that were needful, that had to be taken care of.

And he did an incredible job. He handled it with professionalism. He made the right choices under stress and difficulties, and he did fantastic. And you're thinking, well, where's the captain? And finally, eventually, they introduced the captain into the series, Jean-Luc Picard, his Frenchman. And after a while, you saw that as amazing as Commander Riker was, the Captain Picard, you could see why he was the captain. You could see why he was the one that ultimately was in charge and had the responsibility over the lives of his crew.

And so, it was an even more amazing thing when he was revealed. And so, as amazing as Jesus Christ is, there's a little bit of apparel there. As amazing as he is, he came to reveal someone that was greater than he. We're going to cover some other extraordinary statements that Jesus said. I mean, he said there's nobody...someone called him good, and he said, well, there's nobody...why do you call me good? There's nobody good but one, and that's the Father. He continually deferred to the Father in so many different areas.

So, there's other remarkable statements that Jesus has said, and we'll cover those in a moment, but let's go over to Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 13. Now, it's the apostles Paul's turn to make an extraordinary statement about the Father. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse number 3. The statement comes in the introductory portion of his letter that he's writing to our brothers and sisters in Ephesus, right there in the first chapter, third verse.

He says, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. You know, Paul says some extraordinary things here that he makes very, very clear that this God, the Father, is the God of Jesus Christ.

Do you see that there? He's also the Father of Jesus Christ. Do we see that here in verse number 3? This supreme being is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul understood that this supreme being was God to Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ himself has a God, and it is the Father. And then Paul goes on to say in this verse, that God the Father is He that has blessed us. It's God the Father that has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

God the Father is vital. He's very essential. He's an essential part of the salvation process, and yet many overlook the role of God the Father in this whole process of redemption, this redemptive salvation. The title of the message today is the role of the Father, the role of God the Father. And I suppose my purpose today is to focus on the role of the Father in this process of salvation, because sometimes I think it's easier for us to think of it in terms of Jesus Christ, the role of Christ, and He does have His role, and it's also an important and vital role. But I want to make sure that we are recognizing the scriptural basis for the role of the Father as well, because today it seems like many focused exclusively on the role of Jesus Christ in greater Christianity, and they overlook the role of God the Father. So today we'll focus on the role of God the Father, and I hope to see or hope to show you that this role is much greater than we may have realized. So let's explore from Scripture some of the roles of God the Father. Let's turn over to John 6, verse 43. John 6, verse 43. We'll begin to see here one of God's roles. John 6, verse 43.

Jesus said and answered and said to them, Don't murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. So Jesus tells us that one of God's roles is that God the Father is the one that draws us. He's the one that calls us. You know, as you and I began to have a personal relationship with the truth and beginning to understand the truth, when God began to open up our minds, Jesus said it's the Father that was doing that in you. You know, when I talk to people about baptism, and we counsel about baptism, and they're beginning to understand things, as we all went through this different process, the process of salvation begins with God the Father. And it begins with God the Father beginning to open up our minds. He looked down there. He saw someone that said, you know, that is someone that will respond to me. There's a good chance they're going to respond to me if I open their eyes.

That was God the Father individually working with you and with me. Let's notice also, let's go back to Matthew 11 and verse 25. You know, Jesus Christ has many responsibilities and roles, but this apparently is not one of them. He leaves that to the Father. It's the Father that individually worked with you and I. Let's go back to Matthew 11 and verse 25. That's the scripture we read earlier here about that the Father is the Lord of heaven and earth, but there's more here. So let's go ahead and take a look here. Matthew 11 and verse 25. He says at that time, Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and you have revealed them to babes. Jesus is musing on something here. He's talking to God and He's thanking the Father. He says, you know what? I thank you that you have hidden these things from some and you revealed them to others and you did that. And He says, and I'm beginning to realize the wisdom in what you were doing, that you've hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and you've revealed them to babes. And verse 26, even so, Father, so it seemed good in your sight. So it appears clear that's the Father's role and responsibility to do this, to hide things from some, to reveal things to others. And it doesn't appear to be Jesus's role, but the Father's. And Jesus sees the wisdom and how the Father is doing this. Let's notice another Scripture which reveals that it's God the Father that calls us. Let's go over to 1 Peter chapter 5. 1 Peter chapter 5.

And we're going to pick it up here in verse number 10. 1 Peter chapter 5. And verse number 10. But may the God of all grace, so who are we talking about here? May the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. We're talking about the Father here. The Father is this God of all grace. We're talking about Peter's referring to two separate beings here. The Father and Jesus Christ. But may the God of all grace who called us. God is the Father is the God of all grace who's called us to His eternal glory. Wow! What is that? God the Father is calling you and I to His eternal glory. Now, I don't know if I can wrap my mind around what His eternal glory is, but it's got to be huge. It's got to be big. And it's got to be good. And that's what God is calling us to His eternal glory. Notice through Christ, and so He utilizes His Son through Christ Jesus. And so God is calling us to His eternal glory. Yet He uses Christ through Christ, it says. But the Father has the primary role. He doesn't have the secondary role. He has the primary role, which is the primary responsibility that He has. And as it goes on to say in verse 10, He has the primary responsibility to perfect us, to establish us, to strengthen us, and to settle us. And so it's God the Father who calls us into the church, the Greek word ekklesia, not a building, but He calls us into a group of people, of called out ones in assembly. And it's the assembly of the Father. He's the one that's called us.

For then, what did God intend? I believe that Scriptures reveal here that we are to look primarily to the Father. You know, not that we are diminishing the important role of Jesus Christ, I'm not saying that, but ultimately God, even Jesus is pointing us to the Father. There's a reason why He's doing that. He points us to the Father as the supreme being, that He is the one that Jesus came to reveal and to point you and I to. So we don't want to neglect the scriptural record of the Father, because there's a lot of that out there that basically raises the role of Jesus Christ and seems to push down the role of the Father. And we don't want to get caught in that, because we tend to be surrounded by a greater quote-unquote Christianity that we could be influenced by, but the Scriptures are very clear. So we want to make sure that we understand the role of the Father. You know, again, I don't want to diminish the role of Christ. He is, after all, King of Kings. He's our intercessor. He's our high priest. You know, there's so many things that He does for us. You know, we are to take on His mind, the mind of Christ, His nature. He has shown us the way to live. He's an example. He's an older brother. You know, we're going to rise, hopefully, God willing, as first fruits to meet Him in the air and to rule with Him in the Kingdom.

But what's interesting is that some think, when they think of the Kingdom, they also think of Jesus Christ primarily as well. But the Kingdom of God is actually a reference to the Father. The Kingdom of God is a reference to the Father's Kingdom. Let's notice that over in Matthew 26 and verse 29. Matthew 26 and verse 29. Jesus said, I say to you, I'm not going to drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, or until that day, until I drink it new with you, notice, in my Father's Kingdom. Jesus refers to the Kingdom of God as His Father's Kingdom. You know, I'll just refer to the model prayer. I think most of us know it, is that when we pray, you know, we pray, you know, our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Jesus Christ continually refers to the Kingdom of God as the Father's Kingdom, and He tells that when we pray, we should pray that the Father's Kingdom will come to the earth. You know, we're in Matthew. Let's go over to Matthew chapter 13, just a few pages back, verse number 43. Matthew chapter 13 and verse number 43.

It says, And the righteous was thine forth as the Son in the kingdom of their Father. This is the Father's Kingdom. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. In one last scripture in Matthew, and I know we're going through a lot of scriptures, but it's all here in the same book. Matthew chapter 7, verse 21.

Matthew chapter 7, 21. Jesus Christ continually points us to the Father. He continually defers to the Father. He tells us that the Father is greater, and He tells us that this is the Father's Kingdom that's coming. He says here in Matthew chapter 7, verse 21, Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father. So He defers to the Father again. And He says, You know what? And He has the role of Lord, and that's a message for another day. You know, Jesus is Lord, and that's a role, that's a responsibility that He has in the plan of God and in the family of God. But He says the important thing here, you know, you can call me Lord, Lord, but if you're not doing the will of our Father, of my Father, that's the important thing. And so He defers to the Father's will. Now, let's go to another Scripture to see how this maybe plays out a little bit further here as we look at some other Scriptures. Let's go over to Revelation 5. Revelation 5. And we'll pick it up here in verse number 8.

Now, when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. So what we're going to see portrayed here is that God is on His throne. It portrays the Lamb in the midst of the throne. And when John, the writer here, portrays God on the throne here, He's portraying the Father. And Jesus Christ is either at His side or is in the midst of the throne. But again, let's notice the focus here on the Father in this text is very high. Verse number 9.

So when John uses the word God here, overwhelmingly here, it's a reference to the Father. We're redeemed to God the Father, not to Jesus Christ. We're redeemed and reconciled to our Father. Verse number 9.

Now, if we were to think of the Kingdom of God in terms of Jesus Christ, you might read and say here, well, we're kings and priests to Jesus Christ. No, that's not what it's saying. Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests to our Father. Verse 10.

So what it's referring to our God here, it's referring to the Father. We're talking about two different beings here, the Lamb and the Father, the Lamb referring to Christ. Let's go back to Revelation chapter 1 and verse 4. We'll see this here maybe a little more clearly here in this context. Revelation chapter 1 and verse number 4. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne. Now, his throne, I think we'll see, is referring to the Father's throne. Where it references that it is he who is, he who was, he who is to come is referring to the Father. Verse number 5. And from Jesus Christ. So that's not confusing. We're talking about two beings here. The Father is referenced here in verse 4 and then Christ is referenced in verse 5. And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler over the kings of the earth, part of the role that he plays, to him who loved us and washed us from our sins and in his own blood and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father. So there we see it again, the last part of this verse here, or in verse number 6 here, that Jesus has made us kings and priests to his God. So again, referring that Jesus himself has a God, the Father. And he's made us kings and priests to that God who is the Father. No confusion here. It's very clear. Let's go over to Daniel chapter 7. Daniel chapter 7 here. Jesus Christ does have a kingdom, but it's a kingdom that he receives from the Father. It's the kingdom of God that is then administered through Jesus Christ. So let's notice something here. Daniel 7 is a prophecy that gives reference to that, and it speaks of a coming kingdom. And I think the point of this scriptural reference here is it makes it clear that this kingdom is a kingdom that is coming from the Father to Jesus Christ. Daniel chapter 7, and we'll pick it up here in verse number 13. Daniel is having a vision. He says, I was watching in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of Man. Now that's a New Testament term referring to Jesus Christ. It's not used much in the Old Testament, but here it is. And behold one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He came to the ancient of days. So it's pretty clear here. We have Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, and the Father, the ancient of days, two different beings. And they brought Him near before Him. In verse 14, then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom. So God the Father is giving something to Jesus Christ. That all people's nations and languages should serve Him, referring to Christ. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away in His kingdom, the one which shall not be destroyed. So it is indeed the kingdom, and it's the reference of Christ, but it's the kingdom of the Father which He is giving to Jesus Christ from the Father to administer. So the Father works through Jesus Christ, as we see here. Let's go back to Revelation chapter 11.

Revelation chapter 11. Pretty familiar Scripture that we often read during the Feast of Trumpets. We've got the seventh trumpet that's being blown, also known as the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15. A resurrection that takes place. Christ comes to the earth. The kingdom is set up on the earth, and we see a reference then to the kingdom. But let's notice specifically the words that are used here. I believe we'll see a Scripture that very clearly relates to the Father here. Revelation chapter 11 and verse number 15. It says, Then the seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord. Now the Father is called Lord here. It's often called God, often called the Father. In this context, it's the word Lord here. We know that it's referring to the Father because it says, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. So there we see here that there's the Father and there's Christ, our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. So we see that rule is established. It says that God the Father, our Lord, and His Christ are establishing rule over the earth. It's not just Jesus Christ that's establishing rule over the earth. That's not what it says. It says our Father and His Christ are establishing rule over the earth. Further, I think what's important for us to understand, and many of us may understand this already, and maybe some of us need to review, is that both God the Father and Jesus Christ are intimately involved in our lives. Both of them. It's not, and it always has been that way. There's never been a time when it hasn't been that way. You know, there are some that may think, well, you know, Christ had preeminence at a certain time of human history, and then the Father had certain preeminence or something like that. That's not what Scripture says, that God the Father and Jesus Christ have been intimately involved all along the way, all the time. There was never a time when the Father had a secondary role. In fact, His role is a primary role. He works through Jesus Christ, even in the Old Testament. Let's take a look at that. Let's go to Acts chapter 3 in verse number 13. Acts chapter 3 in verse number 13.

You know, we've said and mentioned that Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament. In one sense, that's true, in the sense that He was the God being that the Father was using to speak to His people, to speak to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But let's take a look at what the Scripture says here. Acts chapter 3 in verse number 13. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers glorified His servant, Jesus. Wait a minute. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the Father. And He glorified His servant, Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate when He was determined to let Him go. You know, sometimes we don't maybe think about that, but God the Father was the God of the Israelites. He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In fact, He's the God of all. It doesn't matter. God the Father is the God of the heavens and the earth. Now, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. It's that Jesus Christ was there. He was the rock that went with them. He was the Word. He was the spokesman. He was relaying information. God the Father was utilizing Jesus Christ to communicate to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. No doubt. He was the Word. He was the spokesman. Let's go over to John 12, verse 29. John 12, verse 49. Jesus as the Word, the pre-incarnate Christ, was the God being who was communicating with the Israelites. He talked to Abraham. He talked to Moses. But as the Word, He performed in very much the same role in the Old Testament as He did in the New Testament. What was the role He played in the New Testament? John 12, verse 49.

Jesus said, I haven't spoken on my own authority.

But the Father who sent me gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak. The one who became Jesus Christ, who was the Word at that time, He was a messenger, too. And He brought these words from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to the Israelites. Let's go let's notice further that God was involved back in the Old Testament. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 1. The Father has been involved all along the way. Always has been, always will be, and is performing the primary role, not a secondary one. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse number 1.

God, and who are we referring to, I think we'll see it's the Father, rather, God the Father, who in times past spoke to the fathers by the prophets. God the Father was speaking to the Old Testament prophets by His prophets, and they relayed the information from the Father to the Israelites. God, who in times past spoke to the fathers by the prophets, has in these days spoken unto us by His Son. So it's not a misstatement. God has always been involved. He was always directing. It was His plan. The Church of God is His Church. The kingdom of God is His kingdom. And yet we live in a society where it seems that many believe that the one who's doing most everything in their eyes is Jesus Christ. Some even pray to Jesus Christ. But the example that Jesus Christ gave to us is that when you pray, say, or address, our Father. And He used our. He didn't say, pray to your Father, which suggests that Jesus, again, looks to the Father as His God and His Father. When you pray, say, our Father. And so the Father has always been involved, and He's administered through Jesus Christ many, many different things. And it's the Father individually who calls us. Now, they share some of the same roles. They're shared together sometimes, some of the same roles, but there are some things that they do separate. And when it comes to the calling that you and I had, that was individually from the Father. And so that's the Father that actually forgives us. Now, Jesus Christ is an intercessor, but it's the Father's the one that we repent to, and the Father's the one that forgives us. It's the Father who sends the Holy Spirit. He sent the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. We see that in Acts chapter 2 and verse 33, where the Father sent the Holy Spirit. So they're intimately involved in everything that we do, but the Father's greater, and He's not at a distance. He's not off and away. Going back to Hebrews chapter 1, we see verse 1, that, of course, God's spoken times past to the Fathers by the prophets, His in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He, referring to the Father, has appointed the Son heir of all things, and through whom also He made the worlds. So who made the worlds? Was it the Father or the Son? Which one was it? Well, in a sense, it was both, but it says the Father made the worlds through Jesus Christ. So the Father was the instigator, like the architect, and Jesus Christ was the active maker. The Father was the designer, and Jesus Christ was the implementer of the plan.

But see, it started up here with God the Father. This is His plan. This is His family. He's the one that thought of it first, and He engaged His Son, Jesus Christ, to begin to... who was the word prior to Him being His Son, who was the Word. Let's do this. It started with God the Father, the fact that you and I are here.

Verse number three, referring to Jesus being the brightness of His, the Father's glory, the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, again, part of the role of Jesus Christ, which was discussed in a different message, then He sat down, Jesus sat down, at the right hand of the majesty on high.

Jesus defers to the Father, when you're sitting at somebody's right hand, that's suggesting that you're... they're greater than I am. And so Jesus continues to acknowledge that, and He's okay with that, because He knows that's the way it is. Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse number 1. 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 1.

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves in greater, quote-unquote, Christianity, whatever happened to the Father? There's a reason why I think He's pressed down. There's a reason. Our enemy has a reason for that. 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 1. Let's go ahead and take a look at that. Paul writing to the Corinthians here in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. I'll pick it up here in verse number 1. Now, concerning things offered to idols... so that's the topic here is idols, but he brings in some things here. I'm glad that this topic and this issue came up in the church, because Paul shares... yeah, shares some things with us here. Now, concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge, and knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. Verse 2, if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet, as he ought to know. If anyone loves God, this one is known by him. Therefore, concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world. You know, it's a piece of stone, it's a piece of wood, it's not anything Paul is saying. And we know that there is no other God but one. Now, that's interesting how he puts that. He doesn't say there's no other God but they, or there's no other God but two. He says there's no other God but one. That's what is actually written here. Verse number five, for even if there are so-called gods, and you'll notice that's a small g referring to false gods that don't even exist, for even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, and there were in their culture of that day. Verse six, yet for us there is only one God, and he identifies it. It's the Father, and it means what it says. There's only one God. There's only one supreme being that everyone looks to, including Jesus Christ. There's only one God, the Father, of whom are all things. He's the originator. That's why we're here. That's why we exist, because of the Father. Of course, the Son is involved now, too, and engaged most definitely. So the Father is the one that generated the plan of having a family. The thought and the plan began with him. It began in his mind. He generates the plan. He generates the purpose. He generates the calling. He generates the focus. The Father's role includes, among other things, being God, the one and only God overall. That's a huge responsibility.

It's a huge responsibility to be a Father of a spiritual family.

Verse, as we go on and we for him, and there's one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things. So again, Jesus' role includes being Lord, and that's a message of its own, which we'll address another day. So it says, the Father is the one God, the God overall, even Christ. It's not saying Jesus isn't a God being, because he is. But he's not the supreme being. He's not the Father. He's a separate being from the Father. He is a God being. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 8 tells us that. Maybe we should just turn over there just real quickly. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 8. Jesus is a God being. He's not an angelic being. He's not a human being. As Thomas said, when he finally saw Jesus for the first time, and he said, I won't believe unless I see the wounds in his hands or the hole in his side. And then when he saw, he said, my Lord and my God. And Jesus didn't correct him. We know Jesus is a God being. But let's notice what it says in Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 8. It's talking about Jesus Christ here in Hebrews chapter 1. I've actually touched on some of the verses here already. But let's pick it up here in verse number 5. For which to the angels did he ever say, You're my Son? And he's referring, of course, to Christ. God the Father is referring to Christ. To which of the angels did he say, You're my Son, today I've begotten you. And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son. And when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let the angels of God worship him. So the angels of the Father are to worship the Son. So the word God here in verse 6 is referring to the Father. Let the angels of God the Father worship Jesus. And of the angels, he says, who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son, he says, notice verse 8, he's speaking to the Son, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. So the one that is speaking is the Father, and he's speaking to his Son, and he's telling his Son, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. Now, this is one of the few times in the Scriptures that the word God refers to Jesus Christ. Normally it refers to the Father, but there's a place in the Old Testament where it says, God said, let us make man in our image. It's the word Elohim. It's referring to both of them. That's one of the few times when the English word God means both. But most of the time when we read the word God in the Scriptures, it's referring to the Father. And the only way that you can know for sure is you have to look at the context. And we know the context here in verse number 8 is saying that God the Father is the one who is speaking to his Son and he tells his Son, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. So he refers to his Son as a God being and that is what he is. But he's not God the way the Father is God. There's only one God over all. So we see some of these things here. So we see here in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 6, there's one God the Father and there's one Lord Jesus Christ. And it's referring, of course, to the Father here as being the one God and Jesus as being the one Lord through whom are all things. So God again administers through Christ. He creates through Christ. He works with his children through Jesus Christ.

Now there are some rules where God the Father, I guess we've covered that, where God the Father does things with Christ or through Christ and there's things that he does only himself individually and we touched on that as far as when he worked with you.

You know, we're the children of the Father. We're not the children of Jesus Christ. We're the children of the Father. He is the leader of the family and we're individually called by him. This ecclesia, this assembly, these chosen ones are called out ones of God the Father. And when we pray, we pray to the Father, don't we? And it's the Father who answers. Jesus gave us an example of that as we touched on already in the model prayer. He said, when you pray, you pray to the Father. Now when he answers us, it's the Father who answers us. He has different ways to answer us. He can answer directly. He can answer through Jesus Christ. He can answer through an angel, but it's his choice. So let's go over to Matthew chapter 20. Matthew chapter 20.

God the Father is intimately involved in salvation and we need to see him in a sense in the higher role, really the primary role, that he is performing, the responsibility that he has. Let's notice Matthew chapter 20 in verse 20. It says, Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him. Remember this part of the story? I think it's the two of James and John. The mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons kneeling down and asking something from him. And he, referring to Christ, said to her, What do you wish? And she said, Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand and the other on the left in your kingdom. So here's a reference to the kingdom being Christ. But again, it comes from the Father. Notice verse 22. Jesus says, Hey, wait a minute. This isn't mine to give. Let's read that. Verse 22. But Jesus answered and said, You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I'm able to drink? And to be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with? I don't think they realized how deep that went. And they said to him, Yes, we can do that. Verse 23. So he said to them, Well, you will indeed drink this cup that I'm drinking or will drink and be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with. But notice, but to sit on my right hand, on my left hand, is not mine to give. It is for those to whom it is prepared by my Father. Isn't that interesting? Jesus said, That's not my responsibility. That's not my role. That's reserved specifically for the Father. He's going to make that decision. It's pretty clear, I think. Let's go over to Philippians chapter 1, verse number 3. Philippians chapter 1, verse number 3, again reinforcing the fact that the Father is intimately involved. He has never been distant. He's never been waiting to be involved. He's involved now. He's involved with us.

Why would we pray to the Father if he wasn't involved now, if he was just waiting to get involved more fully later? Philippians chapter 1 and verse number 3.

Paul writing to the Philippians, says, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine, making requests for you with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident in this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you, that's the Father. That's the one that called us. He who has begun a good work in you, he will complete it until the day of Christ. So we're again talking about two separate individuals here, Christ and God the Father. There's no question, there's a reference to God the Father, but he began a work and he'll complete it. He's not waiting to get involved. It's his work. It's his work in you and in me. Let's go to James chapter 1 verse 17. James chapter 1 and verse number 17.

We've been going through the book of James in our in-home Bible studies. Probably been covered, but we'll touch on some of these things here in the context of the message today. James chapter 1 and verse number 17. It says, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and he comes down from the Father of lights with whom there's no variation or shadow of turning. While every good thing in our life, every good gift that we have that makes life enjoyable, every good and perfect gift has come down from the Father. Verse number 18. Of his own will, this is God's the Father's will. He's brought us forth. You know, what we're talking about here is a new birth. We may not see it as we read it in the English here because it's not really that clear, but when you talk about somebody being brought forth, we're talking about somebody that's being birthed. I think even some of the translations say he's birthed us or is in the process of birthing us. So we see of its own will, this is God the Father's will.

In a sense, we had no part in it. Just in a sense, you know, we didn't have any part in our physical birth. We have to respond when he begins to open up our minds to the spiritual birth, this process of eternal life, this process of salvation. We have to respond to him, but he's the initiator as a father. He's the instigator of his own will. He brought us forth by the word of truth. So he utilizes the scriptures. It's a living word. It's not just words of black and white ink on a piece of paper. This is a living word. It's a word of truth. He brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. And we rehearsed over the years in the Holy Days how God utilizes agricultural harvests, a picture harvesting of his children, of having a human family. And in the scriptures, in the Bible, God uses trees and vines and their care to teach us some lessons about what the God the Father is doing. You know, I think I've mentioned in the past, those of you that have been to our home know that just before you get on the gravel road, sometimes known as the bumpy road by our grandchildren, oh, we're on the bumpy road. We must be close to grandma and grandpa's. But just before you get on the bumpy road, there's a vineyard that was planted about four years ago. Some of you have probably seen that. And Jelena and I think, oh, this is just this is our vineyard. You know, we've had a chance to see this from the very beginning. We saw these two men that went out there, they selected some land, and then they began to clear the land. And then they began to treat the soil, preparing it, you know, making sure it's not too acidic or too alkaline. And then they set up the trellises, you know, and then the wires that run between the poles. And then they they planted, you know, this choice variety that could withstand these types of winters. And then as these little plants started to grow, they they train them up these tubes. And then as the as the vine grows further and the branches begin to branch out, that they train the branches along these wires of the trellises, and they tie them with these little plastic twines. And then they dig, and they fertilize her, and they fertilize, and they do all of these things to prepare. And then they protect the vineyard. You know, they've got, we were walking by there one of these, one day, admiring our vineyard.

It's really been kind of neat to see this whole process. And we heard these birds chirping that we've never heard before, a variety that we've never heard before. And we're looking around for this bird sound. We're looking for the physical bird that we're hearing the sound. And we've realized that there were speakers that they had put up, that that was a bird that was a predator of other birds that would eat the grapes. And so these other birds that would eat the grapes wouldn't come because they were fearing the predator bird was there. That would, they might be in danger if they try to get a meal. So they did all this work and they put up, you know, different things that moved to try to scare away different animals and all these things. And so the vineyard, all the work that goes into it, all the hours that they spend. And I said to these guys, you know, it's really been kind of interesting to see this whole process. And I know the hours that you have put in are astronomical. And they said, you know what?

It's a labor of love. It's a labor of love. I thought this was interesting. They're probably learning biblical principles by what they're doing. They said it's a labor of love. Let's go over to Isaiah chapter 5. Isaiah chapter 5, we talk about all the things that go into a vineyard. And what does this have to do with God the Father? Well, let's take a look. Isaiah chapter 5 and verse number 1.

We'll see something here about a vineyard. Isaiah chapter 5 and verse 1, some of the things they do. Now, let me sing to my well beloved, a song of my beloved, regarding his vineyard. My well beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. So even the location of where you're going to plant these plants, these vines, it has to be in a very special place. It's a fruitful hill, in this case. It says, verse 2, he dug it up, all the work that he did. He cleared out its stones, and he planted it with the choicest vine. Picked the very best variety. And again, on a fruitful hill where there was probably lots of sun, and it was to cure, and there was good soil, something you'd want for something like this. And then cleared the stones. He built a tower to protect it.

And it's also for storage. And it goes on to say that he did all of this work. Well, brethren, let's go over to John chapter 15, because Jesus is explaining something here.

These two men that we've come to admire that have done so much work in this vineyard, put so much effort in planting, and toil, and sweat. God is the vine dresser, the Father. Let's notice that. Let's notice that. John chapter 15 and verse number 1.

John chapter 15 and verse number 1. Jesus talking to his disciples said, I'm the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Now again, we see two separate roles here. Jesus is the vine. He has a role to play. But the Father also has a role to play. He is the vine dresser. We're going to focus today on the Father's role as the vine dresser. He's the one who attends the vine. He's the one who's the vine dresser. Think about that. The Father is involved a lot more than what most people think. The vine dresser is the owner. He's the one that thought, I want to do this. I want to bear fruit. I want to have a family. Spiritual fruit. This was the Father. Now, Jesus has engaged, no doubt. He's part of it now. But it was the Father. He's the originator. He decided to build it. He decided to plant it. He utilizes his son, Jesus Christ. But he's the one that has spent the time and the effort and cleared the land and set up the trellises and chose the choicest vine and has been training the young vines and the branches to go where they need to gently go. He monitors her insects and for predators. He protects. It's a lot of work.

The vine dresser is extremely busy, which we can attest to by what we've seen. It requires a lot of tension and care every year. Non-stop. Constant. And we've seen and experienced all this within walking distance of our house. And the vine dresser, he knows what the vine needs. He knows what the branches need. He knows the work that's necessary. Verse number two, Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. It's the Father that makes that decision. It's not the Son. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he, referring to the Father, he's the one that prunes.

Father knows how far to go and how far not to go.

This is not Jesus's responsibility. This is the Father's responsibility for you and me. He is intimately involved with you and me as he's striving for you and I to be in his family. A spiritual fruit, a spiritual harvest. And this is the first fruits that we're talking about here that are sitting here, the opportunity that we have. Not an easy time. Maybe a lot easier to be called later in the second resurrection than right now when our enemy still is here. Now, he won't be there in the second resurrection. From Scripture, we know he will have been removed permanently. But blessed and holy are those that are the first fruits, that are part of the first resurrection. Not an easy experience, but the Father knew that you and I could do it.

Now, we have to be engaged. We have to follow the lead of our elder brother, who's showing us the way. And we have to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. But it's the Father that prunes.

He's the one that does that. So we see the function of the vine. The vine typifies Jesus Christ, and we'll talk about that role on another day. But there's also the role of the owner, the originator, the instigator.

In order to bear fruit, he's the one that works with it all the way through from the beginning. Because without the vine dresser, there'd be no vineyard. There'd be no fruit.

So we know the Father is involved. They're both involved. They always have been, and they always will be. The Father's not waiting to somehow find the right time to get involved and to invest himself in the process of salvation. No, he's not waiting. He's been involved all along. In fact, he initiated the process of salvation. Matthew 6, verse 13. Matthew 6, verse 13.

This is the model prayer. We've already touched on the fact in verse 9 that we are to address in, as we pray to our Father, we touched in verse 10, and we're praying that His kingdom will come. As we get to verse number 13, and not to lead us into temptation, but to deliver us from the evil one for Yours. We're talking about the Father. Yours is the kingdom. Yours is the power. Jesus is deferring to the Father, isn't He? Yours is the kingdom. Yours is the power. Yours is the glory, the eternal glory, that we read about earlier. Forever. Brethren, it's the Father's plan. It's the Father's called out ones. It's the Father's assembly. It's the Father's church. It's His people. It's His temple that He's building, utilizing His Son, Jesus Christ. So, brethren, let's not neglect the Father in our focus. Let's be reminded that He is God over all, Lord of heaven and earth. He's going to be the Father of a spiritual family. It's not neglect from the Scriptures that we see clearly now, hopefully, the role of God the Father.