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  YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER
  by C.H. Spurgeon
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the loving relationship between God and
His children, highlighting the privilege of calling Him 'Our Father' and
the significance of the word 'Father' in representing heaven, love, and
security.

Topics: "Fatherhood Of God", "Loving Obedience"
Scripture References: Psalm 103:13, Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:2, John 1:12, Romans 8:15, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:5, Hebrews 12:9, 1 John 3:1

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DESCRIPTION
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C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the profound relationship between God and His
people, who are both His creation and His adopted children through
Christ. He highlights the privilege of addressing God as 'Our Father,'
which carries both authority and affection, urging believers to respond
with loving obedience rather than servile fear. Spurgeon illustrates the
depth of a father's love, asserting that just as earthly fathers care
for their children, our heavenly Father provides and protects us with
even greater devotion. The sermon calls for a joyful and willing service
to God, recognizing His mercy and love as the foundation of our
relationship with Him. Ultimately, the term 'Father' encapsulates all
our needs and desires, offering a glimpse of heaven itself.

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CONTENT
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God's people are doubly His children, they are His offspring by
creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are
privileged to call Him, "Our Father which art in heaven." Father! Oh,
what precious word is that. Here is authority: "If I be a Father, where
is mine honour?" If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is
affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke
rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered--
which would not be withheld even if it might.

The obedience which God's children yield to Him must be loving
obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their
taskmaster's toil, but run in the way of His commands because it is your
Father's way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because
righteousness is your Father's will, and His will should be the will of
His child. Father!--Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in
love, that the King's crown is forgotten in the King's face, and His
sceptre becomes, not a rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy--the
sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of Him who
wields it.

Father!--Here is honour and love. How great is a Father's love to his
children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not
attempt, a father's heart and hand must do for his sons. They are his
offspring, he must bless them; they are his children, he must show
himself strong in their defence. If an earthly father watches over his
children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly
Father? Abba, Father! He who can say this, hath uttered better music
than cherubim or seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of
that word--Father! There is all I can ask; all my necessities can
demand; all my wishes can desire. I have all in all to all eternity when
I can say, "Father."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ch-spurgeon/your-heavenly-father/
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