THE FATHER’S HEART

June 21-27, 2008

In this lesson, you will learn the importance of knowing the Father’s heart and revelation

from three scriptures on the Father’s heart.

I.          The importance of knowing the Father’s heart.

A.   When you know and understand a person’s heart and someone gives you a

report that does not sound like that person you can say, “That is just not their

heart.” When people do not know the Father’s heart and they hear someone

say that God did something or that something was the will of God, they begin

to question God’s character and integrity. You need to know God is a good God.

II.         Three revelations of the Father’s heart.

A.   He is a good God - James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is

from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is

no variation or shadow of turning.”

1. God’s will for you is good.

2. Temptation and evil are not from God; they come from Satan.

3. The desire and expectation for goodness is from God. It is okay to

believe everything is going to work out for good.

4. The Lord is good. Goodness proceeds from Him because it is His nature.

    Bad things do not come from God but from the devil. Adam and Eve

opened the door to sin and death on the whole human race. Also, bad

things happen because people have freedom of choice.

B.   He is a God who instructs and disciples - Hebrews 12:5-11 – “My son, do

not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are

rebuked by Him” – v. 5. It is evident you are a child of God if He disciplines

you, corrects you, and rebukes you. The purpose is for you to become a

partaker of His holiness and you can live in the peaceable fruit of

righteousness and be in right standing with God.

C.   He is a God who restores – Luke 15:11-32 – the story of the prodigal son.

       The father ran to meet the son and affirmed his love even before the Son

repented, confessed his sins, and received his father’s forgiveness. God

affirms, encourages, blesses, and restores.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• When did you get the revelation of God being a good God?
• Share a recent time when God disciplined and corrected you.
• Do you have the revelation of God being a restorer in your life?

BE A DOER OF THE WORD

This week meditate on the three revelations of the Father’s heart and allow Him to

show you His goodness, His discipline and instruction, and His restoration.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect

gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom

there is no variation or shadow of turning.”