John 14: 1-20

Tony Fitzgerald

It is a joy to communicate with you some thoughts and beliefs that God has made real to me over the past years concerning the subject of Fathering. These truths have helped form my approach to ministry and laid a strong foundation from which I have endeavored to build upon. They are also some of the pivotal foundation truths on which Churches are built, men and woman are mentored and the Kingdom of God advances.

A number of years ago, after a series of bizarre events that left me stranded in Barcelona, Spain, I found myself sitting at the airport with a friend waiting to board a plane to London. It had been a very frustrating few days and the day ahead promised to be long. In other words my attitude left something to be desired. The small boarding area was tightly packed and opposite me was a woman with a young daughter. The child would run at me and try to jump on my toes then return to her mother laughing. This continued until one time she ran at me and hit me in the chest. By now I was becoming slightly amused. She did it one more time and realizing I was playing with her she stopped, looked me in the eye and said, "Are you my daddy?" I replied, "No I am not, but if I was, I would be thrilled that you were my daughter."

As I sat there, I heard the cry in that young child's heart to know who her daddy was. I further realized that there are millions of people like her, not only looking for an answer to that question in the natural, but also in their spiritual life where they are endeavoring to serve God, but do not know Him as Father.

I have come to understand that fundamentally God is a Father. He deals with us, corrects, supports and leads us, all from this truth. In other words, everything He does is from His Father's heart. When this understanding becomes real to us it affects the way we approach our life, the way we see ourselves and others, and the way we conduct our relationships.

One of the wonderful teachings of Jesus on this subject is John 14: 1-20. Here Jesus takes us on a journey of understanding the centrality of knowing God as Father. From knowing this truth He points out that the works that He did we can do and even greater.

Many have come to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, the Holy Spirit as the one who empowers, but still struggle to know God as Father in a personal way. It is my prayer for you that you might grow in your understanding of the Fatherhood of God which will enable you to reach your destiny.

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