His Name Shall Be: Everlasting Father

In this heartfelt episode of The Heartbeat of Faith, hosted by Dr. Andre Farley, the concept of 'father' takes center stage, stirring deep emotions within us all. As we approach the Christmas season, these emotions can be particularly intense for many of us. Some will carry the bittersweet memories of a wonderful father who has passed on, while others may bear the weight of unfulfilled desires for the love of an absent father. These emotions resonate with the human experience, but within this shared journey, there's an opportunity for healing and reclamation. The episode explores the profound connection between Jesus and the role of a father, inviting you to reflect on your own emotions, whether they evoke pain or joy.

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The Bible places significant importance on fatherhood, as fathers are tasked with leading their families through tumultuous and uncertain times. Throughout biblical history, there are instances where fathers like Jacob faced immense challenges, such as protecting their families from imminent threats. The Bible doesn't always present exemplary fathers; instead, it shows a pattern of repeated sins and neglect that can cascade to future generations. The narratives of Israel's kings serve as a striking example of this, where the sins of one generation trickled down to the next. In this context, 'father' is a word that can evoke intense emotions, both due to the legacy of earthly fathers and the profound qualities of Jesus, who offers an unmatchable love and acceptance, filling the void in our lives. Despite the imperfections of human fathers, Jesus stands as a beacon of love and affirmation, offering an endless source of joy and acceptance, regardless of the season.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray. I will not leave you orphans. I
will come to you yet a little while, and the
world will see me no more, but you will see me.
Because I live, you will live also, John Chapter fourteen,
Verses eighteen and nineteen. Heavenly Father, thank you for your love, patience,

(00:25):
and attention toward me. When I am lonely, you provide companionship.
When I am weary, you provide rest. When unsure of myself,
you uplift me and reveal the path forward. Thank you
for being a good father and a consistent presence in
my life when everything else seems inconsistent. You have all

(00:48):
the qualities of a good father. Teach me to live
from you, not merely for you. I want to draw
life from you and reflect your spirit. Teach me to
be paid as you are, patient, comforting as you are comforting,
and wise as you are wise. I depend on you,

(01:08):
Holy Spirit, so I might encourage those who find themselves
alone or aimless. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen, Thank
you for praying with me today. Now discover the profound
intricacies of the heartbeat of faith with doctor Andrew Farley.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Father is a word that evokes intense emotion in all
of us. During this Christmas season, many will feel a
special kind of sorrow, either because they were blessed to
have a wonderful father who's now gone, or because deep
desires for the love of an absent father remain unfulfilled.

Speaker 3 (01:59):
For unto a 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 counselor
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace,
of the increase of his government and peace. There shall

(02:19):
be no end upon the throne of David, and upon
his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with
judgment and with justice. From henceforth ever forever, the zeal
of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Isaiah nine
six through seven.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
When you hear Jesus referred to as a father, what
kind of reaction does that evoke? Pain? Joy? Perhaps there's
an opportunity this Christmas to experience healing and reclaim what
you've lost. Hello, and welcome to another episode of the
Heartbeat of Faith podcast. I'm doctor Andrew Farley. It's been

(03:04):
a joy joining you each day as we seek God's
truth in the greatest stories ever told. It's Christmas, and
we've been looking at Jesus through Isaiah nine. Isaiah holds
a Christmas prophecy about the birth of the Messiah. Isaiah
gives Jesus five names, Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

(03:30):
and the Prince of Peace. Today we look at the
title Everlasting Father. Isaiah isn't confusing God the Son with
God the Father, as it is with all his titles.
Isaiah is communicating the character traits of Jesus Christ. He
embodies all the strong, nurturing and wise qualities of our

(03:54):
heavenly Father.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
Jesus up to the women weeping and asked, why is
everyone making such a commotion. The child is only sleeping.
The woman scoffed at him. His words seemed insensitive and
almost evil. However, behind Jesus's questions were a promise. He
took Jirus, his wife, and the three men with him upstairs.
They entered the door, and there lying on the bed

(04:21):
was the girl's lifeless body. She could not have been
more than twelve. Her once rosy cheeks were white. Jesus
walked over to her body slowly and knelt by the
side of her bed. He held her little hand in
his Jesus's eyes waddered as he held the little girl.
Death was never God's intention. He is the author of life.

(04:43):
Jesus kissed the little girl's hand and said, talitha komi,
which means little girl, arise. The girl's chest began to
rise steadily up and down. Color was slowly returning to
her face. Jesus smile child as her beautiful brown eyes opened.
She sat up stretched and yawned, as if she had

(05:05):
awoken from a long nap. Jesus laughed with joy as
the others in the room awed in amazement.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
The Bible puts a heavy emphasis on fatherhood. Fathers are
responsible for leading their families through chaos and uncertainty. Jacob
was responsible for protecting his family from imminent threats.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
Jacob lingered there for the night. He sent out droves
of gifts of cattle, goats, and other livestock before him
to gain favor with Esau. Yet there was no predicting
how Esau would receive his gifts, for he pursued Jacob
with four hundred men behind him. That same night, Jacob

(05:53):
arose with his wives and eleven children and sent them
across the stream of Jabok. He sent them a way
to be safe. With everything else he had in his possession,
Jacob was left alone until a man sprang up from
behind him.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
The Bible doesn't give us many examples of excellent fathers. Instead,
there seems to be a pattern of sin, neglect, and
even idolatry that trickled down to the children. The stories
of Israel's kings are a good example of this. Each
son seemed doomed to repeat the sins of his father

(06:32):
before him. The sins of Solomon were seen in his
son Rehobum, which eventually led to the splitting of Israel.

Speaker 3 (06:44):
Once again, Israel was a split kingdom. There were no
perfect kings. The entirety of Israel pointed to the faithfulness
of God to work in imperfect people. Solomon, for all
his wisdom and tactics, a king, fell prey to the
grips of sin. His sins trickled down into the heart
of his son. God would not excuse this, nor would

(07:05):
he abandon Israel altogether. Instead, God would weave Israel's goodness
and evil into one tapestry, ultimately pointing to his grace.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
Father is a word that evokes intense emotion in all
of us. During this Christmas season, many will feel a
special kind of sorrow, either because they were blessed to
have a wonderful father who is now gone, or because
deep desires for the love of an absent father remain unfulfilled.

(07:40):
Whatever our relationship with our earthly father is, we can
find solace and peace in Jesus. He fills every void
in our lives. Jesus, with his fatherly attributes, offers us
a love unmatched by any earthly father. His arms are

(08:01):
always open to us, and he shepherds us in ways
that remind us of what a perfect father would be like.
Despite the difficult experiences many have had with their earthly fathers,
Jesus stands in stark contrast as one who affirms us
and is always close to us. He came to this

(08:22):
broken world to give us the gift of being his
sons and daughters. In him we find an endless source
of love, acceptance, and joy. No matter what season it is, I.

Speaker 3 (08:39):
Will not leave you orphans. I will come to you
yet a little while, and the world will see me
no more, but you will see me. Because I live,
You will live also In that day you will know
that I am in my Father, and you in me,
and I in you. One who has my commandments and

(09:01):
keeps them. That person is one who loves me. One
who loves me will be loved by my Father, and
I will love him and will reveal myself to him.
John fourteen eighteen through twenty one.

Speaker 2 (09:18):
Jesus, our everlasting Father, is the embodiment of love, grace,
and forgiveness. He extends his arms wide open as you're
a member of his family. Through his sacrifice on the Cross,
he qualified you to be a part of his eternal kingdom.
You're not just a distant observer, but a cherished member

(09:41):
of his family. His love for you is unending and
his grace is boundless. In him, you find acceptance, belonging,
and a sense of purpose. You're chosen, loved, and deeply valued. So,
my friend, rest in the assurance that you are forever

(10:02):
embraced by the Everlasting Father who will never let you go.
His love for you is unwavering and his forgiveness is unconditional.
Allow his love and grace to inspire and empower you
as you walk in the fullness of your identity as

(10:22):
a beloved Child of God. Thank you for listening to
today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. If you
enjoyed today's episode or learn something new about the Bible,
share it with a friend or family member, download the
Prey dot com app, and for more encouragement in God's grace,

(10:44):
visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org.