How can we deepen our relationship with God as described in John 16:27? The Heart of John 16:27 “For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.” Key truth: The Father’s love is personal and experiential, and it is enjoyed through our love for Jesus and our faith in His divine origin. Recognizing the Father’s Affection • The verb “loves” (phileō) speaks of warm, tender affection—not distant duty. • This love is present tense: continuous, active, unbroken. • Romans 5:5—“the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” • 1 John 3:1—“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.” Responding With Love and Faith 1. Love Jesus – John 14:23: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” – Loving Christ means treasuring Him above every rival affection and aligning our choices with His commands. 2. Believe Jesus Came From the Father – 1 John 4:15: “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” – Faith is not a one-time assent but a daily reliance on His finished work and present reign. Practical Ways to Deepen Relationship • Daily Scripture Intake – Read with expectancy; the same Spirit who inspired the Word illuminates it (John 16:13). – Suggestions: trace every instance of “Father” in John’s Gospel to watch how Jesus models intimacy. • Conversational Prayer – Move beyond lists to real-time dialogue, thanking the Father specifically for evidences of His love. – Hebrews 4:16 encourages confident access to the throne of grace. • Obedient Living – Each act of obedience is an act of love returned (John 15:10). • Fellowship With Believers – Shared joy multiplies awareness of the Father’s goodness (1 John 1:3). • Remembering the Gospel Daily – Preach to yourself the facts of Romans 8:32 and John 3:16; the cross is the clearest display of the Father’s heart. • Practicing Gratitude – Keep a journal of answered prayers and unexpected providences; gratitude tunes the heart to love’s frequency. Guardrails for Ongoing Intimacy • Reject Condemnation – Romans 8:1—“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” • Resist Worldly Affections – 1 John 2:15—love for the world squeezes out love for the Father. • Stay Alert to Deception – 2 Corinthians 11:3 warns that minds can be led astray from “simple devotion to Christ.” Promises to Remember • James 4:8—“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” • Jude 1:21—“Keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” • John 14:18—“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Each step of love-expressed and faith-exercised opens wider the door to enjoy the Father who already delights in you. |
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