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By the Spirit, Can You Cry "Abba, Father!" Print E-mail
Wednesday, 24 September 2008 11:48
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:15-16
 
"Abba Father!" Abba means more than the word father means in the English language. It is an expression of deep intimacy between the child and the father. The Spirit of God is what produces the closeness and the sacrificial love. It is needed today. If people will not be led by the spirit, there service will begin to become more of a law. When the intimacy is not close, it becomes more of a fear of the wrong, than a love for the right.

The definition for "Abba" is defined in the Easton Bible Dictionary as:

Ab'ba - This Syriac or Chaldee word is found three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6), and in each case is followed by its Greek equivalent, which is translated "father." It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence. It has no perfect equivalent in our language. It has passed into European languages as an ecclesiastical term, "abbot."


Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:1-6
 
Paul is exhorting people here, who rely on the law, to rely instead on the intimacy of their devoted relationship with God. He was trying to get the people of Galatia, to be drawn to the Spirit of God, so that the motivation for what they do would be "faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6).

Remember when Jesus was in the garden, just before he was to go through the greatest trial he had ever been through, he cried out, "Abba Father."

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. Mark 14:32-36

Abba was said in his time of great difficulty. We all need to be able cry out Abba in our times of great difficulty! If we don’t have that experience, we will not be able to cry with that intimate call of love and know that he cares. Our relationship needs to be at a level of divine closeness and love. At times, trials are confusing and difficult. They are hard on the mind and difficult to be able to work through. They can become things that are impossible for us to bear and go through alone. We will not make it through if we have not learned to rely on that vital closeness of our "Abba Father."
 
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:17-21

Jesus had a burden that his apostles all would be one as the Father and Son are one. He wanted the carnal nature to be set aside so that self would be only for a holy, sacrificial love use. Jesus set himself aside for nothing but a holy, sacrificial love use. He was praying that the apostles might also have the Abba Father to help them. They would then be one with God and one with each other.

Although true love will produce obedience, a bunch of do's and don’ts are not the measure of our love. Merely religious people have tried to authenticate their relationship with God and others by only outside measures, strict disciplined doctrines, and the things that people say, touch, and feel. In order to produce the Church, the people had to be sanctified and have sacrificial love from the depths of their heart and soul. The love of God is what brought them together. The love cry of "Abba Father" from the depths of the heart causes all to be one, or else it is not the Church.
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