The Father Heart of God
One of the subjects that I enjoy teaching on is The Father Heart of God. First we come to know Jesus as our Savior, rejoicing over the brand-new beginning that his forgiveness brings us. Then, through the Holy Spirit, we come to know and understand the presence and power of God in our lives. No longer is God far away, but through the Spirit, He dwells in our hearts. We enjoy a closeness and intimacy with the Master because His presence is with us. But in order to attain to the full stature that belongs to us as “Sons of God” we must have a revelation of how much the Father loves us. We can only properly function as a son if we know the Father.
John proclaims the divine offer this way: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13) We’ve been given the right to become sons, younger brothers of Jesus all serving the same Father, reflecting His eternal glory to a lost and dying planet. That is what this seminar on The Father Heart of God is all about.
I received this letter from a student who attended a retreat where this teaching was given. Here is what he wrote:
Thank you so much for your ministry on the Father’s love at the retreat. God did a great deal of healing in my life. For years I have been subject to feelings of rejection and some resulting shyness of getting into relationships with others. But that has changed. I forgave many people that I’ve held resentment toward and now, to my knowledge, hold nothing against anyone. I feel very free! As you suggested, I pray prayers of blessing on those who have hurt me and what a difference that makes.
I’m glad that you mentioned that healing is a process, and not a one time event. Along the road to healing, a couple of times I got hit pretty hard with thoughts of condemnation. What helped me was refocusing again on Father’s love, and I was lifted out of the depression.
The results of my healing seem to be a bit contagious. My parents are listening to tapes on healing and God is working on them. Some of my friends want to listen to your tapes, and doors keep opening for me to pray for others.
I just want to thank you for the help you extended to me and I pray you will be blessed. The Lord is good!
Your younger brother in Christ,
Dan
TWO REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND THIS SEMINAR
WOUNDED PEOPLE HURT OTHERS
First, broken-hearted people end up hurting others, especially those close to you, such as your parents, spouse, and children. If you have a clear grasp of the love of the Father, you will be secure in that love. Failure to experience his love in an ongoing way will leave you intimidated and competitive in all of your relationships. You will bring pain and heartache to those around you instead of healing and blessing. Hurting people hurt others, whole people heal others.
WOUNDED PEOPLE TEND TO CHOOSE MARRIAGE PARTNERS WHO CONTINUE TO HURT THEM
Second, your choice of a marriage partner, whether they will benefit you or hurt you, depends on how much you let the Father heal you. Hurting people are attracted to others who will perpetuate the pattern of pain. After marriage, the familiar patterns of hurt and pain can continue. The good news is that Jesus can change the patterns and heal our pain! Ben heard this teaching five years ago. Although he forgave others and was touched by the Father, he was skeptical about the idea that the same patterns that he disliked in his father would be present in his own life. While talking to his brother several years later, he realized how much he acted like his father in romantic relationships. That understanding has helped him become more aware of his deficiencies and HELPED him work toward maturity and wholeness.
The Father desires to heal all places of brokenness in our lives so that love will flow from our hearts, rather than resentment and bitterness. In Luke 4:18 Jesus defined his ministry as one coming to “bind up the brokenhearted.” Jesus does not come to condemn, but to bring wholeness and healing to the wounds that we all have experienced.
The Father Heart Seminar
A conference where you’ll find the love you’ve been looking for all your life…
