Papa's Promise...He Will Not Leave Us As Orphans

In our outreach ministry the core value has been intimacy with the Father from day one. I've preached it, advocated it, ministered inner healing for it with our ministry members. I've even stepped out in faith and imparted it ..... to the degree that I was walking in His love, I deeply wanted it to come alive in others.  Instinctively, I knew in my deepest knowing that this revelation was key to Kingdom living at the level Papa desires for all His kids, and to a great degree, a necessity for what we are going to face in the near future.

I'd given my l life to Christ back in 1971 during the Jesus movement days, 44 years ago, and spent until 2005 kicking, clawing and scratching and now and then giving up totally on finding approval and validation as a Christian. I never realized that what I was longing for was sonship...an intimate, sealed and forever irrevocable relationship with my Father in Heaven.

For me, being a Christian was about belonging to a group during those decades.....and who of us has not been lost and alone in a crowd. Don't get me wrong, that membership is absolutely vital, and
increasingly more important as time winds down towards fulfillment of all things (Heb 10:25). But I (and all of us need ) needed more.

One day while driving home from work I had to pull over quickly. I had suddenly realized that the Lord had seated Himself in the seat next to me. Not visibly, but in every other imaginable tangible way. I couldn't get into a parking lot quick enough, His Presence so heavy and overwhelming.  And then He spoke to me 12 simple words that have changed my life forever.

"Jim, I did use you. Will you let me use you again?"  You see, I had believed a lie for years. I had believed that He had "used" (abused) me to bless others-- - set others free, while leaving me an orphan, hurting and lonely.

Now you would think those words would sting and validate the lie I had believed. But no! There was so much love and acceptance and validation in that invitation that I instantly knew I was a son. I didn't have verbiage or scripture for it at that time, but I knew that I knew that I knew. You see, for me, I needed it presented that way. I'd grown up longing for the connection that a son finds while working next to his father; doing the things he did, with joy, laughter; conquering together the things men conquer. But instead, I got disapproval and ridicule because I wasn't good enough, quick enough, precise enough. My father had an orphan spirit (I'll share his story in another blog!!), and that's all he could give to me at that time.

In 12 words Papa unlocked my heart into Heaven's assignments, Heaven's power and joy; the joy of hand in hand conquering of kingdoms opposed to His reign of goodness and mercy!  The key to my heart was very lovingly and thoughtfully made; just for me.  He touched my emptiness with His Father's heart, knowing exactly what I'd respond to.

Is there one master key for experiencing intimacy with the Father? I'd have to say "No. But there is a Master Blank Key from which He cuts the custom key for each of us. It's shaped like a Cross with a heart on the end and it's cut from the very flesh of His own Son." Oh what amazing love, that we might not just be called sons, but by His predestined plan actually become sons. Rom 8:19,29.

In Father's Love,
Jim Hepting