There’s something about religion that must terrify people with God in order to get them to live according to what they think are God’s rules. That’s why religion has to treat God like an angry ruler, demanding conformity or doling out consequences to the disobedient.
Even though we talk about God loving us, most believers grow up as unloved children, trying hard to perform the way they think God expects of them. What amazes me so much about the Gospels is that Jesus came talking about a Father who loves us, who invites us into his house so that he can transform us. This transformation only happens in people who are secure in their Father’s affection for them. I think this is the biggest battle that must be won in our hearts to experience the life of Jesus. We have to stop living to appease him as live as the loved children we are. Nothing will transform us faster.
And because we don’t know how to live as beloved children of his, we have no idea how to relate to our brothers and sisters. Often we act like competitors, tearing each other down to feel better about ourselves or trying to get to the top of the authority pyramid so we can lord it over others. Beloved children don’t live that way. They don’t need to. In living loved, they will love in return and experience the fullness of New Testament community without the need for rules and rituals. That’s why I am convinced that getting our relationship with God right is far more important than finding a right way to do church. If we do the former it will bear the fruit of the latter. If we don’t do the former, nothing we ever do will truly look like his church on the earth.
That’s why I’m excited today to post a teaching I gave over a year ago that lies at the heart of everything we share here at Lifestream. Sharing The Father’s Affection was videotaped and we’ve been able to put it into a file that people can stream over the Internet. Though this isn’t my favorite kind of venue, it did allow us to get this recorded in video. And this is the most important stuff I share with people who want to discover what fullness in the life of Jesus looks like.
As with most video files, broadband is recommended or great, great patience and a good dial-up connection. And for those without either, we’ve also included it in an audio-only version.
![The Security of Father's Love [Audio] by Wayne Jacobsen](https://www.lifestream.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SecurityFathersLove.jpg)
Wayne-
Thank you so much for sharing this link. I just finished listening to the audio and was deeply touched by the way God spoke thought you. If we could only grasp this concept, the love of God, we could see such a shift in our thinking…I do pray this becomes a reality in the lives of people close to me and I pray in becomes my reality as well.
Wayne-
Thank you so much for sharing this link. I just finished listening to the audio and was deeply touched by the way God spoke thought you. If we could only grasp this concept, the love of God, we could see such a shift in our thinking…I do pray this becomes a reality in the lives of people close to me and I pray in becomes my reality as well.
i’ve just forwarded this link to several people. i was so blown away all over again by the father’s love. thanks wayne for making this video available. it may not be your favorite venue, but father’s heart takes center stage.
i’ve just forwarded this link to several people. i was so blown away all over again by the father’s love. thanks wayne for making this video available. it may not be your favorite venue, but father’s heart takes center stage.
Wayne,
Thanks so much for putting this out there.
I was riding the commuter bus this morning reading ‘Divine Nobodies’ by Jim Palmer and had just read the chapter about the girl in the wheel-chair teaching him how much Father loves us. It was taking all that I had not to cry in front of everyone on the bus. Then I get to work, and decide to listen to this and you share a very similar experience with the 4 year old girl who had some serious health problems. My co-workers probably think I’ve lost it, because I couldn’t contain the tears any longer. I know God has done a lot of healing in my heart since I first found your website — Funny thing is that everytime I start to get comfortable, he takes me even deeper! Wow!
You think God is trying to tell me something, or what?
Wayne,
Thanks so much for putting this out there.
I was riding the commuter bus this morning reading ‘Divine Nobodies’ by Jim Palmer and had just read the chapter about the girl in the wheel-chair teaching him how much Father loves us. It was taking all that I had not to cry in front of everyone on the bus. Then I get to work, and decide to listen to this and you share a very similar experience with the 4 year old girl who had some serious health problems. My co-workers probably think I’ve lost it, because I couldn’t contain the tears any longer. I know God has done a lot of healing in my heart since I first found your website — Funny thing is that everytime I start to get comfortable, he takes me even deeper! Wow!
You think God is trying to tell me something, or what?
Wayne- The message of Grace is slowly, gently getting through my thick head and my tired heart. And like Rick’s experience, we were at the “Y” last night with the kids and it was all I could do to keep from bawling watching a 12-year-old with severe disabilities in the pool. (I knew he was 12 because I had offered to help his helper get him out of the pool the day before.)
How I longed to lay hands on the little guy and see the power of Jesus heal him.
And then today, I listened to this message on my MP3 player.
I’ve told more than one person about how God is changing my perspective on the Cross. And it’s SO nice to be able to refer them to here.
Warmly, Theresa
Wayne- The message of Grace is slowly, gently getting through my thick head and my tired heart. And like Rick’s experience, we were at the “Y” last night with the kids and it was all I could do to keep from bawling watching a 12-year-old with severe disabilities in the pool. (I knew he was 12 because I had offered to help his helper get him out of the pool the day before.)
How I longed to lay hands on the little guy and see the power of Jesus heal him.
And then today, I listened to this message on my MP3 player.
I’ve told more than one person about how God is changing my perspective on the Cross. And it’s SO nice to be able to refer them to here.
Warmly, Theresa
This message is the best thing you do; I want it to be the best thing I do as well. I fight so hard to protect my wounded heart. Father is really showing me that he wants that job, so I can really enter into Sabbath Rest with Him. That fight keeps me from understanding His love. Death to self and its many hephenated sins – self-protection, self-pity, self-importance – is terrifying. Like the lady on the plane, thanks for helping me once again to relax and to let go.
Pam
This message is the best thing you do; I want it to be the best thing I do as well. I fight so hard to protect my wounded heart. Father is really showing me that he wants that job, so I can really enter into Sabbath Rest with Him. That fight keeps me from understanding His love. Death to self and its many hephenated sins – self-protection, self-pity, self-importance – is terrifying. Like the lady on the plane, thanks for helping me once again to relax and to let go.
Pam