Understanding and Accessing
The Father’s Blessing
May 6, 2011
Marketplace Summit
Portland, OR
Dr. Bruce Cook
Copyright 2010
Father God is the Role Model
• God said, “I will be a father to the
fatherless.” “God sets the lonely in
families.” (Psalm 68:5-6, NIV)
• For you did not receive a spirit that makes
you a slave again to fear, but you received
the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry
Abba, Father. (Rom. 8:15)
• Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit
of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who
calls out, Abba, Father. (Gal. 4:6)
Types of Fathers
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Absent Father (Death, Divorce, Military, Travel)
Abusive Father (Verbal, Physical, Sexual)
Active Father (Sports, Adventure, Activities)
Addictive Father (Gambling, Pornography, Sex, Alcohol,
Drugs, Tobacco, Anger, Gluttony, Workaholic, Cursing)
Apathetic Father (Disconnected, Defeated, Don’t Care)
Authoritarian Father (My way or the Highway, Shape up
or Ship out, Controlling, Manipulative, Taskmaster)
Passive Father (Ahab, Enabler, Silent)
Unavailable Father (Emotionally Unavailable)
Healthy Father (Good man but does not know the Lord)
Godly Father (Priest of the Home, Spiritual Leader)
The Roles of a Father
• Protection
• Provision
• Identity
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Acceptance
Affirmation
Involvement
Investment
Effects of Father Wounds
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Distorted/Inaccurate View of God
Distorted/Inaccurate View of Authority
Distorted/Inaccurate View of Self (False Identity)
Distorted/Inaccurate View of Others (Race, Sex)
Rejection
Abandonment
Loss of Intimacy & Identity
Trauma/Abuse/Betrayal/Inability to Trust/
Insecurity/Low Self-Esteem/Shame/Guilt/Self-Sabotage
Fear, Unrighteous Anger (Rage/Fury), Depression
Rebellion, Control & Manipulation
Seek Approval/Works Orientation/Need to Earn Love
The High Cost of Fatherlessness
• Saul (kingdom was removed from him and his house or
lineage & he and his sons were killed together in battle)
• David (4 of his sons died as punishment for his murder
of Uriah the Hittite, Solomon’s heart turned after foreign
women and their idols). Israel was divided into two
kingdoms during the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam
(I Kings 12:1-24, 14:21-31; 2 Chron 10-12)
• Eli (his sons Hophni and Phinehas were dishonest,
disorderly, disobedient and derelict—they died on the
same day, followed by their father) (I Sam. 2:27-36,
4:11-22)
• Abraham (brought forth Ishmael)
• Lot (his daughters raped him & committed incest, wife
was turned into a pillar of salt)
The High Cost of Fatherlessness
• Fatherlessness breeds orphans, slaves and
bastards instead of sons, priests and kings.
• 90% of all repeat offenders in the US prison
system come from one-parent or broken homes.
• God raises up men and women to be fathers to
nations and industries. George Washington is
known as the father of America. Bill Gates is
known as the father of the software industry.
• Joseph -- “I am a father to Pharaoh.” (Gen. 45:8)
• We are called to father our spheres of influence
Fathering Technology
• “Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering
for each of them [his 10 children], thinking, ‘Perhaps my
children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’
This was Job’s regular custom.” (Job 1:1-5)
• Affirmation—Yahweh said, “This is my Son whom I love;
with him I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke
3:22)
• Technology of Adoption—”In love he predestined us to
be adopted as his sons through Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 1:5)
Rom. 8:14-17, “For you did not receive a spirit that
makes you a slave again unto fear, but you received the
Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba Father.’ The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s
children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs…”
Examples of Father Blessings
• Moses Blesses the Children of Israel
(Deut. 28-30)
• God Blesses Abraham to become a Father
of Nations (Gen. 17:1-22; Gen. 22:15-18)
• Isaac blesses Jacob and Esau (Gen. 27)
• Israel (Jacob) blesses his 12 sons and the
2 sons of Joseph (Gen. 48-49)
• God the Father blesses Jesus the Christ
Elements of a Father’s Blessing
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Sonship
Inheritance
Birthright
Authority
Character
Identity
Affirmation
Approval
Discernment
Prophecy
Protection
Assignment
Conclusion and Activating Prayer
• Father’s Blessing Prayer for those on the
call.