There is no force more powerful than the love our heavenly Father has for us, his children. His love can move mountains, stop the roaring seas, heal broken bones and wounded hearts, transform lives, and set free those held captive by sin and shame. So great is his love for you and me that he sent his only Son to die that we might live through him. And in John 17:25-26, Jesus makes an unfathomable statement about how great the depth of God’s love is for us:
O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Do you know that God loves you the way he loves Jesus? His heart is full of affection for you. Jesus always prays perfectly in line with the will of the Father because they are one. So when Jesus prays for God to love us with the same love he has been given, his prayer is in perfect alignment with the heart of our Father.
Romans 8:37-39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Through the death of Christ, the barrier between us and relationship with God was torn in two. The wrath of God was satisfied with Jesus’ death, and now we can experience the full depth of his love. Through Christ, we have been made new so that we can finally walk in unhindered fellowship and oneness with a holy, perfect God.
God loves you simply because he loves you. You don’t have to work for his affection. You don’t have to set yourself straight before God can pour out his love over you. The father in the prodigal son story ran out to meet his son before anything had ever been set right. He didn’t know his son was there to apologize. He didn’t care. He simply wanted to love his child. Your heavenly Father feels the same way about you. He longs to love you right where you are, as you are. He longs to fill you with love to overflowing. He longs for us to experience this love and oneness just as Jesus did when he walked the earth.
As you enter into guided prayer, open up your heart and allow God’s grace to settle in. Allow him to free you from works-based religion and guide you to a lifestyle of relationship. God is not an angry taskmaster who shows affection only when you succeed. He is a loving Father who will always love you no matter what. Take time to receive the depth of his love for you today. Allow his love to heal you, transform you, free you, and lead you to the abundant life he has always longed to give.
Prayer
1. Meditate on the depth of God’s love for you.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”1 John 4:9-10
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans 8:37-39
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”1 John 4:16
2. Where do you need a fresh revelation of God’s grace today? What’s keeping you from receiving the depth of God’s love? In what ways do you need him to show you how good of a Father He truly is?
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a revelation of God’s grace and love. Receive God’s presence and rest in his love. Meditate on and renew your mind to how deeply your heavenly Father loves you.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”Hebrews 4:16
“So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”Matthew 5:45
Preaching Roster: Castle Hill
September
11: Pastor Joshua Stothers: "Beautiful Soles"
18: Pastor Pablo Lillo: "My Ordinary Life..."
25: Pastor Joshua Stothers
Offerings: Castle Hill
September
11: Annual Sacrifice: Keeping our Missionaries on the frontline
18: Local Church - Castle Hill
25: Local Church - Castle Hill
Last Will and Testaments:
Pastor Rodney Woods is available to update or make new Wills during the COVID-19 lockdown, with interviews able to take place via Zoom meeting or on the telephone. Please contact Trust Services on 02 8876 5259 or meganlillo@adventist.org.au to start the process or answer any questions you might have.
Please note this is a free service provided by the Greater Sydney Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for everyone at Castle Hill.
Combined Church: Closing Sabbath via Zoom
Dear Church, you’re all invited to join us for closing Sabbath on September 11, 4:00pm to 5:30pm—online. This our chance to gather for worship, share, pray, sing, grow and enjoy family time together. Why not invite your family and friends to join in?
Zoom Login Information
Topic: Castle Hill Church: Closing Sabbath
Time: September 11, 2021, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
