The Everlasting Father

THE EVERLASTING FATHER: (25-29)
Isaiah 9:6 reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
The mind boggling thought in this text is this. Jesus Christ, the child, was born of a virgin; Jesus Christ, the Son, was prophesied and conceived by the Holy Spirit; He walked on this earth, and grew weary physically. He thirsted, hungered, and slept. He felt the pain of rebuke and wept of Jerusalem. He felt the pain of the whip and the nails in His hands. He experienced death for me. He descended into hell for me. He faced Satan and the bandits of hell for me. He conquered them, for me.
It is HE who is my mighty God and everlasting Father.
That is doctrinally and theologically correct, but intellectually difficult to understand unless you are a believer.
Isaiah reveals our omniscience, omnipotent, immutable and wonderful God.
But Isaiah brings the idea of our mighty God to our living rooms. Isaiah says, “He is the everlasting Father.”
I realized as a young Christian dad, I needed someone to pattern my life after. I discovered Ephesians 5:1. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” The word “followers” means to mimic or imitate your life after God.
Our everlasting Father has been the perfect example for me to follow. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. But, as long as I have the right goal and pursue my everlasting Father, changes will continue to come.
Consider this question: Do you know the Father? Most people piously will answer, “yes.” But consider something. The disciples had spend 3 ½ years, 24 - 7 with Jesus and didn’t know Him.
In John 14, Phillip asked Jesus to show them the Father. For Jesus said, to Phillip in John 14:9, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
As awesome and as awe inspiring that God is, He is as our everlasting Father.
As we look at our everlasting father, may I encourage everyone of you too realize we are to all follow God.
But, dads, I will talk to you mainly this morning. A true Biblical earthly father is one of the greatest assets in society. He is strong and steadfast, and stands alone.
He is a loving husband and dad and loyal Christian to God’s church.
He is a learner of the word and a leader among the body of believers.
He is a man of honor and humility. He isn’t to big to admit he has made a mistake and he isn’t to proud to say, “I’m sorry.”

The greatest need of our society, home, government, nation and church is men and women who will get to know the Father, and follow Him. The world needs leaders, not followers. Our churches need men, not mice.
I am not taking away from women in our society and church. They have their role in the Scriptures. They are a vital part of society.
But, the reason many Christians don’t understand the idea of God being our wonderful everlasting Father, is because, so many earthly fathers have lacked the strong attributes of God.
And it is vital that men stop and build the attributes of God in their lives.
Dads, men I admonish you, be a leader. Be a man among men. Get to know the everlasting Father and become like Him.

An earthly father must give his life to becoming what God has called him to become, and that is the spiritual leader of the home, and in the church.
The great Patriarch, Moses, gave direction to the men of Israel, in the book of Deuteronomy, to teach the word of God to their children. Solomon gave direction to the fathers to teach the word of God.
Today, most men have left that to the Sunday school teacher, the Christian school teacher, the youth director or the pastor.
Christian men should know the importance of being the spiritual leaders in their homes, for Satan does. And because Satan knows that a strong godly father is one of the greatest witnesses in the home, in the church and in society, his goal is to shut those fathers down, and to keep them from being followers of God and the fathers God intended them to be.

Isaiah reveals four thoughts in Isaiah 40:25-29 what we need to know about our heavenly Father. Remember, only a true picture of our heavenly Father will give us a true picture of what an earthly father should be like. That is what Isaiah does in this portion of Scripture.
1 - If I am to honor my heavenly Father, and be the right earthly father, I must have the right impression of God.
Look at Isaiah 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
This time in Judah’s history was about where America is today, spiritually speaking. Judah’s impression and thoughts, of who God really was, had become clouded, by so many ideas and philosophies of religion. Their worship of God was far from sincere, genuine and earnest.
Understand folks that one of the greatest tactics and deceptions of Satan has always been to change the true image of God in your mind. The reason most Christian are not what they should be, is because they have a cloudy and confused image of God.
How do we get the true image of God? The right impression of God will only come, as a person meditates on the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.
There is no other way! If you as a mother or father do not read the Scriptures with great dedication and desire, you will portray to your children a false image of the true and holy God who gave His life for you.
You will then only hear what others say about God. Be smart and get to know God and never forget Him.
Quickly, let me give you two false philosophies presented the past few years:
1) One big false philosophy that has been presented the past fifty years is, “Love your children but don’t spank your children, you will warp their personalities.”
Friend the problem with that is your child is born with an adamic nature. He is a sinner. What I am about to say is politically correct but 100% true. Your child is a selfish, undisciplined brat and he or she needs to be hugged, loved and corrected, verbally, and with a rod. Thus saith the Lord. Read the book of Proverbs.
My wife and daughter and granddaughter went to the beach this past week. Meemaw gave granddaughter some raisins and cheerios to eat. When meemaw asked for some, she selfishly said, no and fussed when her mother tried to get one out of the box. Who taught that girl that?
2) Another false image that is sending people to hell today is many preachers are painted God only as a God of love. God is love, but he is a God of wrath as well.
You will not get the complete, balanced picture of God if you do not read and meditate on all the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation.
For thousands of years, evil men have tried to change man’s image of God.
A - Israel tried to make Him like Baal, a fleshly god.
B - The Catholic Church made him equal with Mary, for they have made Mary co-redemptive with Jesus, and called her the Mother of God.
C - The great downfall of many Protestant churches is they have tried to bring God down to man’s level. They have taken away His holiness and righteousness. They don’t want to think of God as a just judge that will judge every person in the world one day.
How does a person or the church bring God down
to man’s level?
1 – First, they quit teaching doctrine. It is vital that preachers preach the whole Bible, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
What happens is pastors are often put under pressure by backslid or unsaved deacons and members. They say things like, “You won’t build a church that way.” Or, preacher we have to reach the youth, let up on your preaching.” Or, preacher you are going to offend someone, you can’t preach on this or that in the church. You’ll drive people off.”
Folks, if a preacher adopts that idea, it won’t be long before he won’t have anything to preach but God’s love. I’ve been in church long enough to know that in the average church, everybody has at one time or another had family problems, financial problems and every sin problem in the Bible. If I don’t mention sin, I’ll have to leave out over half the Bible.
We have about come to a place in many churches where people don’t think anything is wrong anymore. We need preachers and dads to know the Scriptures and know both sides of God: He loves man but He hates sin. Let me define sin.
A sin is anything that will take you away from your fellowship and time with God. It is anything you do that will lessen your love and honor for God. It is anything that will make you love God less. It is anything that causes you to go against God’s word. It is simply, disobedience in any form.
2 – When a church quits preaching doctrine, they leave out 75% of the Bible and all they have left to preach is love.
God is love and I am glad He is. His love gave me His Son. His love revealed to me His mercy and grace. His love showed me His longsuffering and compassion, but if that is all I know about my heavenly Father, I don’t know Him.
The idea whereby Satan liberalizes churches and makes them compromise and become like the world, to where they only preach the love of God is sin. It is like having a football team with no defense. It is like having a body with no immune system. It is like having a world with no color. When everything is grey, nothing is beautiful.
3 – When a church ceases preaching all the doctrines of the Bible and only preaches love, it confuses people. They get a false image of God. Preaching love only, is a half truth. A half truth is a complete lie, and the true picture of God is not painted.
The church folks and the people no longer know or believe or understand that God is holy. When the holiness of God is not understood, marriage is no longer holy. Our hearts are no longer holy. Our lives are no longer holy. And our worship is no longer holy.
Listen to this statement, “A man’s morality will dictate his theology.” You get to know a man’s life style and you will know why he says what he says and believes what he believers. “A man’s morality dictates his theology.” A man that preaches love only will live a very immoral life.
When churches quit preaching the whole council of God, they no longer have God’s spiritual power or prayer power. So what do they do? In order for these churches to attract crowds, they look to the world.
This began about forty years ago in many churches. When I was sixteen, I went into fifty different churches to give my testimony. I went in Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, and many more. I can tell you, things have changed. Many of these had already turned liberal. Many of these had already ceased to preach on the doctrines of God’s word. What was the next step?
Many started bringing in the Christian comedians. Now folks, I like to laugh and if a church wants to have a comedian come in on Friday night or Saturday night, fine, but not for worship.
Then, they brought in the drama teams. Actors and acting is never to take the place of preaching and worship and praising and singing unto the Lord.
They started having church dances and bringing the ballroom into the basement of the churches. I received letters as pastor of this church for our teens to come to dances at other churches. Folks, that isn’t right. Dancing is sensual. As a Christian you shouldn’t do it. Some teens say, “But, preacher, it doesn’t affect me that way. Then stay home and dance with your mama. I don’t want some man holding on to my wife. I know what is in his head. How? I’m a man too.
Then they brought in the most popular of all worldly activities, they brought in the rock concerts of the world. The youth came and those my age came, because that was when that music came out. That music that told the young people of my generation to have sex in the back seat of the car, is now the music played in most churches today.
Some say, “Well, preacher, it is attracting the youth.” Look at the morals of our youth. Statistics show there isn’t any difference in the teen pregnancies and sexual involvement of youth in the church as youth in the world. Yes! It is wrong to play the world’s music in worship of God.

Why and how can they justify such a lifestyle? Once a church ceases to preach all the doctrine of God’s Word, it will not be long before, that church will allow every sin under the sun in just one or two generations.
Let me show you three illustrations:
We have a church in Greensboro, pastored by Michael S. Usey. The name of that church is College Park Baptist Church. They openly justify the homosexual life styles. God says it is sin. God hates it. God calls it an abomination.
We also have Rabbi Eliezer Havivi of the Beth David Synagogue in Greensboro. He and His congregation justify such wickedness. Why? They do not preach doctrine. They preach only love. They have formed a false image of the true God in their minds.
One time when my wife and I were on vacation, we were looking for a church. We found a Baptist Church. The preacher preached about gossip. The whole message was about some woman in the church calling other women on the phone and stirring up trouble. That was ok, I guess, though I thought it should have been handled privately.
But they were having a big day. It was Tree Day. The service stopped early and everybody went out into the yard to pray for the trees. Why would a church pray for trees? They lost their understanding of who our everlasting Father is.
Another strange activity takes place in October in many churches. It is the blessings of the pets.
A procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, are led to churches for a special ceremony called the Blessing of Pets, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
This article said, there are today over 62 million cats in the U.S. attests to the continuing affection we have for our furry, feathered or finned friends. At Franciscan churches, a friar with a brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. God help us!
Why would churches have “Bring your pet day” and we will pray for them? Why do churches embrace sins that God calls abomination? Why do churches pray for the trees?
They have forgotten who God really is. They have formed an image of God in their minds and they have made him like man.
Read Romans 1: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

I know that is extreme to you. Every one of you know that homosexuality and praying for trees and having church prayer for your dog is silly. But, I said all of this to just say, folks, the world has a false image of God because so many churches, pastors and even Christians have a false image of God.
1 – I must have the right impression of God (thoughts)
2 – If I am to honor my heavenly Father, and be the right earthly father, I must have the right image (likeness) God – v 26.
Impression means, the right thoughts embossed in my soul, whereas the image of God is when I see His likeness.
Next, Isaiah admonishes us to lift our eyes from this world to the heavens and observe, look to and study who God is. Read verse 26.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Isaiah says, lift up your eyes. Quit looking around at the creatures of this world, including man, and behold the Creator of the universe.
That does not mean to walk around with your nose in the air, examining the stars. If you do that and it rains, you will drown.
It means to examine the high and mighty and eternal things of God.
It means to know His Word and, you will know Him.
As I read the Scriptures two main images of God pierce my soul: Fear and love.
I fear Him for He is holy and I love Him because He is merciful.
Let’s talk about those thoughts for a few moments: God is Holy. Those who worship Him will worship Him in spirit and truth.
Worship is a time of searching our hearts. It is a time of coming into His presence. It is a time of exalting God. It beings when we confess our sins. It is a time of cleansing It is a time of prayer. It is a time of harmony and unity.
It is not a time of dancing and jumping and gyrating. It is not a time of jokes and drama and rock and roll.
This text also reveals that God has no equal. No one has even come in second, to God. If God’s reason for coming in this world was to be an athlete, there would be no competition. If He ran a marathon, He would run it under a second. If he played baseball, He would hit a home run every time at bat. If He played football, He would score at touchdown every play. If He played basketball, He would never miss a shot. If he went into business, He would own all the business of the world. But, He did not come to reveal His physical or mental abilities, for there is no equal.
He came to reveal Himself, ultimately, as the Everlasting Father and there is no equal.
As the Word, He is the wonderful counselor.
As the mighty God, He created the universe. He set the orbital patterns of every star and galaxy. He weighted the 187 quintillion gallons of water in the hollow of His hand and measured the universe at 157 billion light years across in His span.
As the Son, He was born of a virgin and became the Savior of the world, who was crucified, buried and risen again. All who would repent and believe may have eternal life.
An ultimately, one day, He will be the everlasting Father. He is that to us today, somewhat, but not completely.
Why would I say “Not completely?” Today, many of God’s children suffer, hunger and go through difficult times because sin is running its course. But, one day, when we cross over to the other side, we will never want for anything. He will be our complete protector and provider.
Just like today, many good fathers give their heart to their kids, the best they know how and their kids get a certain age and turn their back on the Lord. Why? It is called sin! It is called rebellion. Many a dad and mom’s hearts break over wayward children. God knows how you feel dear dad and mom, for His heart breaks also.

As the everlasting Father, He loves you ten-thousand times more than you love your children. He has given and He continues to give.
He gives life and health and all we posses. He even gives life to the rebel children.
He provides and He protects. He sacrifices and He secures. He cries and He laughs. He is joyful and He is serious, but as my Father, He also disciplines and chastens His own. If I get away and God does not chasten me, I don’t belong to Him.

3 – If I am to honor my heavenly Father, and be the right earthly father, I must have the right idea of God – v 27.
27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
To have the right idea of God I must know His plan and purpose for my life. An idea comes from inspiration. Inspiration comes from study and seeking God with all one’s heart.
Isaiah is saying, don’t be condescending. Don’t be negative. Don’t doubt! In Isaiah’s day many men were making excuses. I don’t know what God wants me to do? And when Isaiah tells them, they say, “I can’t do it. I’m too weak. I’ll never be the man God’s wants me to be.”
Let me say this, you are right. You will never be all of what God wants you to be, if you lived for a thousand years.
But, the key to honoring the Lord is to quit focusing on your self.
As long as you look at your abilities or inabilities, you will feel either weak or proud. Either way, you have failed.
You must get your eyes off your self and put them on Jesus Christ and His Word. Then you can say as Paul, “I can do all things through Jesus Christ.”
We must believe that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” When I get the right idea or God, then I can build my life like His.
Every man in this building can be a leader. Every husband can be used of God, but you must hang out with God. You must abide in Jesus. You must make His Word the love of your life.

4 – If I am to honor my heavenly Father, and be the right earthly father, I must be the right illustration of God – 28-29 (Example)
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
You will never see God. How can you be like Him? God is not what you see in one’s outward appearance. God is what you see inside a person. Therefore you must read the Scriptures, and listen with spiritual ears if you are to be a light, an example, an illustration of God to your family and church.
Dads, never quit seeking the Lord. Don’t give up on your kids; He has never given up on you.
Never say, “I can’t.” With God all things are possible, only believe.
Dads, never quits searching the Scriptures to know God.
In this text, a father gives energy and strength to his family. He is the example of God and the spiritual leader.
How many of you know my father? Some of you have met him, but you don’t know him. I lived with him for twenty years, I know him. But, I don’t know everything about him.
My dad has many good qualities. He provided for his family. He protected his family. He is prompt. He is scheduled. He is wise. He is disciplined. He is organized. But my dad’s greatest quality may be his generosity.
My dad was a military man with discipline, and I am glad he was. Back in the sixties when the Beatles and long hair became the fad, I asked my dad if I could let my hair grow out like the Beatles. My dad said, “Son as long as you live at this house, you are going to cut your hair short.” Well, I did! When I grew up, I still respected my dad. I knew if I grew my hair out, it would embarrass my dad. I never grew long hair. I didn’t want to ever show him disrespect.
Well, when I met my heavenly Father, I wanted to find out what pleased Him and I wanted to live a life to honor and respect Him also.
I remember the story about a boy who wanted a car to drive to school, so he asked his dad if he would buy him one. His dad said, “I’ll get you a good used car if you do three things. Bring your grades up to a B+. Be home every night by 10:00 and cut your hair.” His hair was down to his shoulders. After four weeks, the boy had been home every night by 10:00. He had brought his grades up to an A-, but he refused to cut his hair. His dad refused to buy him a car. The boy said, “Come on dad, Jesus had long hair.” His dad replied, “Yea, and He walked everywhere he went too.”
How many of you have met my Father? Oh, no, I’m not asking the same question, I am asking, “How many of you have met my heavenly Father?
I found out after living with Him for thirty-five years that my Heavenly Father has many great attributes that are absolutely fantastic. There is no one or nothing to compare to Him. He is lovelier than being with the one you love the most, sitting on the balcony of a cruise ship, watching the sun set over the Hawaiian Islands.
He is mightier than a hurricane that can thrust fear in a people’s heart and destroy man-made structures in a moment. He is just and he is fair. He is kind and He is gentle. But, the greatest attribute of God is His holiness?”
From spending thirty-five years with Him I discovered that He loves me dearly and wants me to live a holy and separate life for Him (Second Corinthians 6:13-18).
He wants me to become like Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28). He wants me to be an ambassador for Him.
He wants me to hate sin, as He does. He wants me to stay away from the wickedness of the world.
He wants me to study His word. He wants me to please Him.
He wants me to come into His presence with my heart pure and my sins clean. That is what He taught me from the love letters He sent me.
That is what He taught the Jews in the tabernacle ceremonies.
That is what he displayed to Solomon and Israel in the Temple ceremonies. That is what Jesus taught me in His words in the New Testament.
That is what the Holy Spirit teaches me every day that I read His word and pray.
Can I ask you that question again? “Do you know my heavenly Father? Understand what I mean. I did not ask you if you have heard what others have said about Him. I did not ask if you have formed an opinion from what another person or preacher preached. I asked, “Have you spent years with Him? That is the only way to know Him.”
Folks, it takes years of personal fellowship with God to get the right image, impression, illustrations and idea of God.

Bryan and Daniel and Christy, my children, lived with me for twenty years or more. They know what makes me happy. They know what I joy in. They know my desires. They can choose to please me with their lives or they could choose to do their thing. I would hope they would please me.
Now, if Bryan came to my house and he had an ear ring in his ear and dressed like a rock star and used fowl language, I would be very disappointed. If he began to drink with his buddies, it would break my heart. Why? Because, I tried to raise him according to what my Heavenly Father wants and according to God’s Word.
I remember telling Daniel, Bryan and Christy what my heart was when they were teenagers. I wanted them to love the Lord and live a life for Him. That is my heart’s desire even today.
I say like John did in Third John 1:4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
My everlasting Father speaks from heaven and says the same. His greatest joy is His children walking in the truth of the Scriptures.

In verse 29, my heavenly Father will give you strength if you are weak, if you will ask Him.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
When you feel like quitting, don’t! Just to get alone with Him in His Word will give you power.
If you feel as if you can’t go, on, get alone with Him. He will give you the grace to keep going.
A father was an experienced cliff climber. He took his son cliff climbing. The dad would go first and drive the stakes in the mountain rocks. He had secured a rope to himself and his son below, who followed behind in his father’s steps. As long as the son followed his dad’s lead, the son was safe from danger. The truth is also spiritual. Our Lord Jesus set the example for us to follow. Jesus told us again and again, “Follow me.” That means follow my example. Pattern your life after me and you will be all that God wants you to be.