THE EVERLASTING FATHER

Sermon Notes, June 15, 2014

Maj. Will Cundiff

Major Will’s Father’s Day sermon was titled “The Everlasting Father,” which is one of God’s names in Isaiah 9.

Adam and Eve introduced death into the world when they broke the one rule God, our Heavenly Father, gave them in Eden.  Rebellion was not planned, but it was allowed by God.  He knew we couldn’t bridge the gap between ourselves and God.  He knew we would need a Savior.  He called out to us by giving us the Law and the Prophets.  In Malachi 3:7, God is scolding His people, reminding them of how they have not kept his laws and decrees.  But, he tells them “Return to me and I will return to you.”

After Malachi, there were 400 years of silence.  God’s people suffered.  His people did not want to be reached.  Major Will told about a man who didn’t want to be reached: his wife and daughter wanted him to go to church with them, but he wouldn’t.  They lived in a place with very cold winters.  Every year birds would come to their big picture window, sitting on the sill, until they froze and fell to the ground.  The man tried to shoo them away; he tried putting heaters outside so they could be warm; he even built a shed for them, but they wouldn’t go—they continued to sit on the sill outside the window until they froze.  He said to himself “If only I was a bird!  I could tell them where to go for shelter, and they wouldn’t die!”  Then he realized—that is just what Jesus did: He came as one of us so He could bridge the gap between us and God.  Jesus emptied himself of heavenly attributes and became one cell in Mary’s womb. 

God created us.  Over time, He’s created about 17 billion of us, and no two of us are alike.  He created us for a purpose.  He cares about every small detail in our lives.  He planned a perfect life path for each one of us.  He wants to communicate with us, and He wants us to communicate with Him.

How?  Pray.  Maybe put an empty chair in front of you for God, and talk to Him like you’d talk to anyone.  Be in constant contact with Him.  He shows us how in The Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13)  Have a conversation with Him.  Then listen.  He will tell you what to do.  As the song says, “What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.”