A Gift From the Heavenly Father to Earthly Fathers

Before returning to His Father, the Lord Jesus Christ assured His disciples they would not be left as orphans during His absence (John 14:18); rather, His presence would be with them in a most unique and satisfying manner. Jesus informed them that He would request of His Father the gift of the Holy Spirit to replace His physical presence: “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16, NKJV).

THE GIVING NATURE OF GOD, THE HEAVENLY FATHER

God has many gifts to give to His children. The disposition of our Creator God is one of favor toward Adam's helpless race. His giving nature is set forth in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The apostle Paul spoke of God's gift of salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

The same giving nature which was in the Father also existed within 'the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Jesus reminded His disciples of the Father's giving nature: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). To earthly fathers, Jesus said: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).

THE ENDOWING GIFT WHICH THE HEAVENLY FATHER GIVES

The apostle Peter, in his message on the Day of Pentecost, explained to the audience in Jerusalem what had happened to the 120 disciples who were extolling the wonderful works of God in the dialects of all those who had gathered to hear them (Acts 2:8-12). He reminded them Jesus had been raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God. From the Father, Jesus had received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit and poured it out on the waiting disciples (Acts 2:33).

So the gift the Father had bestowed was the promised baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5,8), which Jesus had instructed the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they had received (Luke 24:49).

Jesus had told His disciples that the coming Helper would be the Spirit of Truth and would proceed from the Father through the Son to infill each believer (John 15:26). He also assured them that another Helper of the same kind (John 14:16) - that is, of the same substance - would come. The Holy Spirit is God, just as Jesus is God and just as the Father is God. He is the third Person of the Godhead. So the triune God is at work in the lives of believers, enabling us to carry out the Great Commission and edify our lives.

THE EMPOWERING GIFT WHICH EARTHLY FATHERS NEED

The giving nature of the eternal Father is a great model for earthly fathers. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Heavenly Father is giving of himself to His children. When an earthly father receives the Spirit baptism, he is empowered to be spiritually strong so he has something to give to his family. Today's family needs the spiritual covering and protection that a Spirit-anointed father can give to his family. In the power of the Spirit, a father can be an effective prayer warrior for his wife and children. Being able to pray and intercede in the Spirit is a powerful weapon a father can use to protect his family.

The gift of the Spirit empowers fathers to give a clear witness to the world concerning Jesus Christ, whether on the job or in the public arena. The workplace needs the strong testimony of Spirit-filled fathers who unashamedly make Jesus known there and in their communities. World evangelization at home and abroad will only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father is available to every earthly father today. How appropriate it would be on this Father's Day if every father who has received Christ as Savior would receive this gift of the Spirit and begin to lead each member of his family into this Baptism of power. “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39).

James K. Bridges

James K. Bridges ( 1935-2010) served as general treasurer of the Assemblies of God from 1993 to 2007. Prior that he served as a pastor and in various ministry roles with the North Texas District and Southwestern Assemblies of God University (now called Nelson University).