Enjoying Loving Fellowship With The Father: Galatians 4:4-7
“4) But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5) so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6) Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7) Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7
As you grow, your relationship with the Father will greatly deepen. He is often wrongly viewed as being distant and aloof. The above text tells us that one of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to make us long for the Father as “Dear Daddy.” Romans 8:15-17 says the same thing. The Father views us as His dear children.
Because God is Holy, He is sometimes perceived as being unapproachable. (See 1 Peter 1:15-19) For the Christian living in sin, there is reason for fear and trembling. (See Hebrews 12:28-29) Our God is a consuming fire!
Some Christians wrongfully believe they can live in sin and still have fellowship with the Father. This is self deception and contrary to the Bible. Psalm 4:3 says; “But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him.” 1 John 1:6 says; “If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” According to Isaiah 55:6-13; fellowship with the Father is on His terms and not ours.
But the good news is that when we walk in the light as He is in the light, fellowship with the Father becomes endearing and cleansing. (1 John 1:5-7) We often forget that John 3:16 is about the love of God the Father for a lost world. He loves so much He gave His only Son to redeem lost humanity.
In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus told the story of the prodigal son. But the true story is not about the straying son, rather it is about the loving Father running to meet his son when he returns from his rebellious ways. God the Father always runs and embraces his children when they return to Him. He delights in us!
The byproduct of Freedom Quest is unhindered intimacy with the Father as sinful strongholds are pulled down, the flesh is crucified and the believer starts living with a clear conscious. Freedom Quest Two is a launching pad into unfathomable fellowship with the Father. Soon your inner being will begin crying “abba Father.”
This is why in Freedom Quest One we addressed deception, rebellion, anger and bitterness, sexual immorality, substance abuse, pride and greed and past involvement in spiritism and the occult. These create a wall of separation between people and God the Father. Jesus Christ can set you free from sin and bondage and reconcile you to the Father in deep and unhindered fellowship.
2 Peter 1:5 says the first step on the ladder to building a deep relationship with God in your faith journey is “moral excellence.” (NASV) You cannot experience fellowship with God while living in sinful carnality. When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit will begin to wash and cleanse you from sinful living. (Titus 3:4-7)
Years ago I heard an amazing statement; “Christians are not sinless, but they sin less and less as they grow more and more.” This is part of the regeneration process. If the Holy Spirit of God is in you, He will change you and make you holy.
If you are merely religious, you are self deceived and will fabricate your own moral standard under the false notion that God loves and accepts everyone irregardless of sinful living. I simply point you to Matthew 7:21-23. Your argument is not with me, it is with God.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global