A Father of the Fatherless

Pastor E. Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture: Psalm 68:4-6

I. God is a Father to the fatherless

A. God has a special place in His heart for those who do not have fathers

B. God has a special place in His heart for those who do not have a family

II. God watches over the fatherless

A. Deuteronomy 10:18 God administers justice for the fatherless

B. Deuteronomy 27:19 God will curse those who pervert the justice due to the fatherless

C. Psalm 82:3 God will defend the fatherless

D. Psalm 146:9 God supports the fatherless

E. Isaiah 1:17 God tells His people to defend the fatherless

F. Hosea 14:3 God shows mercy to the fatherless

G. Zechariah 7:10 God warns His people not to oppress the fatherless

H. James 1:27 The purest form of religious works is to visit widows and orphans in their distress

III. Jesus loved children

A. He once lived as a child

B. He allowed the children to come to Him

C. He blessed the children

D. He said the kingdom of God is made of people who have a childlike heart

IV. Jesus taught us to receive God as our Heavenly Father

A. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. All of the rest of us become children of God through spiritual adoption

B. We are adopted as God’s child through the new birth (John 3:1-8)

C. We are born again through calling upon the Lord Jesus to save us from our sins and by making Him the Lord of our life

D. We can have a relationship with God as our Heavenly Father

V. The Spirit of Adoption

A. The “law” of adoption is official in the new birth

B. The Spirit of adoption has already been released by the Father toward us

C. The Spirit of adoption must be released in our hearts toward our Heavenly Father

D. Galatians 4:4-7 God gives His children the Holy Spirit so that they might cry out “Abba, Father”!

VI. Mental obstacles associated with adoption that must be overcome

A. Do they really want me or am I their only option?

B. Do they really accept me as their own?

C. Do they really love me?

D. Do they love me as their own?

VII. The blessings of spiritual adoption:

A. New Heritage (connection to the past)

B. New Name (connection to a father)

C. New Identity (connection to a family)

D. New Blessing (Spiritual empowerment to succeed)

E. New Inheritance (Provision for the future)

VIII. Invitation: God wants to be Your Heavenly Father. Do you want to be adopted as His son or daughter today?