Fostering Our Relationship with Abba

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Joy in Fellowship
2. Layers of Teaching on Healing and Authority
3. The Missing Element: The One Truth
4. The Parables Misunderstood by Religion
5. The Father's Sacrifice: God's Love Revealed
6. Fostering the Relationship with Abba
7. Closing Encouragement

Introduction: Joy in Fellowship

Pastor Leonard and Pastor Lori open the session by expressing their heartfelt joy in being able to connect with the audience. Pastor Leonard shares that it brings joy to his heart to spend time with them. Pastor Lori agrees, adding that the people have become very dear to them. They express that they are constantly praying for everyone, especially those who have reached out to them, and they carry these people in their hearts daily.

Layers of Teaching on Healing and Authority

Pastor Leonard introduces the theme by discussing a book Pastor Lori was reading and notes that while he may not always fully agree with every teaching or book, he is open to letting God speak. He mentions how, through his own experience, he has encountered various teachings within the body of Christ, such as:

Planting the Word- He describes the teaching that believers are to plant the Word of God like a seed and continually water it without digging it up.

Commanding and Confessing- He shares his own experience of spending much time commanding and confessing healing, but notes that these actions did not always produce healing immediately.

Standing on the Word- He explains the teaching that believers must make a stand on God's Word, as Pastor Lori did during her struggle with colonic inertia, which was deemed incurable.

Believing and Dealing with Doubt- He discusses how believers are taught that doubt can negate belief, likening it to being tied between two horses pulling in opposite directions.

Watching Confession- He humorously recalls being afraid to ask Pastor Lori how she felt, fearing a negative confession would open the door to sickness.

Standing in Faith- He mentions the teaching to stand in faith, but highlights that often the type of faith, whether mental or God-faith, is not always clarified.

In all these, Pastor Leonard acknowledges, "There's truth in it."

The Missing Element: The One Truth

Pastor Leonard stresses that while all these teachings contain truth, they are expressions of a deeper, central truth. He states that many teachings focus on truth after truth, yet neglect the source truth that gives power to all others.

He emphasizes that "There is one truth only one that gives expression and gives power to all those other truths." That truth is fostering a relationship with Abba Father. He explains the word "foster" means to promote the development of something regarded as good, and in this context, fostering a relationship with Abba is the supreme truth believers must hold on to.

The Parables Misunderstood by Religion

Pastor Lori reads two parables from Matthew:

Matthew 13:44-46- "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Pastor Leonard explains how they were taught these parables for over 30 years to mean that believers must give up everything for the kingdom of God. He points out that this teaching is a deception of religion.

The Father's Sacrifice: God's Love Revealed

Pastor Leonard reveals the true meaning of the parables:

John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

1 John 4:10- " Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

He explains that these parables are about God's sacrifice, not ours. God the Father saw the world, saw us, deemed us valuable and priceless, and gave everything—His Son for our redemption. The message is about the Father's love and sacrifice, not about what we must do to earn the kingdom.

Fostering the Relationship with Abba

Pastor Leonard emphasizes that all the truths, such as commanding, confessing, standing, believing, and using authority, are only expressions that flow naturally when the relationship with Abba is fostered. He explains that when we grow in understanding how much Abba loves us, how accepted we are, we will learn to rest in this above all else.

He concludes that "The other truths will simply be expressions, and when those expressions come into light, that's when you act on them."

Closing Encouragement

Pastor Lori encourages the listeners to "let the resting place of God's love be the very root and source of your life." Pastor Leonard agrees and closes the message by reminding everyone that. "We love you and Abba loves you all the more. We'll see you again in a couple of days."

We hope this article blessed you. Share this teaching with someone who needs to be reminded of Abba's love and rest in His finished work.