Fall 1993

Abba Father
Nancy Warner

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,
and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of
mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God
omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and
give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is
come, and His wife hath made herself ready" Rev 19:6-7.

This is the worship of the overcomer, the Bride, at the marriage supper of the Lamb. There is "singing and rejoicing" for the time of the marriage has come and, they are ready. They are singing "Hallelujah" for they have come to experientially know that "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

There is a reason for this recognition of His omnipotent reign. They had fully placed their lives under His governmental rule, and through many struggles they have overcome. Looking back, they now see how the Lord had used all of the circumstances of their lives to prepare them so they could be chosen to participate in this occasion. They are giving testimony to His (omnipotent)Lordship and are rejoicing, for the marriage of the Lamb is about to take place and, they are ready.

This joyful worship is quite different from those in Revelation 7:10, a multitude which no man could number, which are "crying" with a loud voice saying, "Salvation." These had failed to make themselves ready.

There is a familiar song, "He is Lord, He is Lord, He is risen from the dead, and He is Lord." All can sing this song, for the Word tells us that every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This song excludes no one.

But there is another song that is coming forth. There are those who can truly sing "He's my Lord," but the number narrows. There is a big difference between singing "He is Lord," and "He is my Lord." There is a condition that must be met.

It is vitally important that our relationship to the sovereign rule of God becomes a personal reality within each one of us. This will determine whether we will be found "rejoicing" with these at the marriage supper of the Lamb, or "crying" with those who missed.

The words "Almighty" and "Omnipotent" are used to speak of God, but there is a difference. The word Almighty reveals The all ruling God, while Omnipotent applies this rule of The Lord our God to our lives.

The word Almighty, derived from "all" and "might" is used often in the Old Testament. It is also used once in Hebrews and eight times in Revelation. It has to do with the sovereign power, might, and the strength of our God.

The word Omnipotent comes from "omni" meaning all, and "potent." The word potent comes from three Latin words: master, husband, and he is able. This expresses a personal relationship with, as well as an intimate knowledge of, the power and the might of the Almighty. The word "Omnipotent" is used only once in the Bible, in the Bridal worship before the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the song that the Lord seeks in the earth today.

The day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But there is no special pleasure for the Lord in this, unless this song had become a personal reality within the life of the one who is singing it, while they are yet in the time and place of choosing.

The Lord desires each one of us to become as "tuned instruments" that we might sing this new song, "The Lord our God omnipotent reigneth" during this final hour of preparation.

This song emerges as the result of a personal choice that must be made; the total, unconditional submission of our lives to His workmanship. This means that we must both choose and submit to His governmental rule. Those who have done this understand that He is the Almighty who rules in the heavens and overall nations, but they have experienced the joy and blessing of a personal relationship with Him that has developed through their experiential submission to His Lordship. This has produced within them this song that our Lord longs to hear.

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of
His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" Gal 4:6.

"Abba Father" is the heart cry of a mature son who is established in His Lordship. In response to this, because we are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of His Son into our hearts crying "Abba Father." Our very being then "resonates" with His being in this new song.

What is the "spirit" of His Son that He is sending into our hearts?" The answer can be found in the unquestioning submission of Jesus to His Father.

"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 14:36.

"Abba Father" is found three times in the Bible. When Jesus prayed "Abba Father" in the Garden, He was saying, "Father, everything is possible with you, you can take this cup from me, but nevertheless not my will, but your will be done."

"Abba" is a personal name that is always used with "Father." It denotes an unquestioning trust that transcends reason. "Father" indicates an intelligent comprehension of a relationship. The two words put together, "Abba Father" brings an unquestioning, total trust along with an intelligent confidence into an intimate, personal relationship.

David was aware of his covenant relationship with the Lord. He had a great respect and reverence for God.

"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David
my servant ... God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of
the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about
him" Psalm 89:3,7.

Along with this, David was established in the strength and the faithfulness of God. Therefore, he was able to say,

"O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to
thy faithfulness round about thee? ... Thou hast a mighty arm:
strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and
judgment are the habitation of thy throne ... Blessed is the
people that know the joyful sound ... In thy name shall they
rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be
exalted" Psalm 89:8, 13-16.

David experienced this "Abba" relationship which is so clearly expressed by Jesus as He cried out "Abba Father." In the following verses, the Father, through David, spoke of this experience.

"He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock
of my salvation. Also I will make Him my firstborn, higher
than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for Him
for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with Him. His
seed also will I make to endure for ever, and His Throne as
the days of heaven" Psalm 89:26-29.

David knew that in the time of trouble he would be able to cry out to the Lord as "my Father" (Abba) because of the personal relationship he had with the One he knew as "The Rock of my salvation."

Between verses 38 and 45 in this passage of Scripture, David uses the word, "Thou" twelve times. He saw everything as coming from the Hand of the Lord. The devil is not mentioned here at all, just "Thou," speaking of the Lord.

David had an unquestioning trust in the Lord. God chose him because he knew that he would cry unto him, "My Father, my God, the Rock of my salvation."

The Lord is waiting for those who will not rely on their own strength, but will place unquestioning trust in Him. He is waiting to hear our song of personal trust in Him. When He hears this, He will answer.

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto
you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy
upon you ... blessed are all they that wait for Him" Isa 30:18

"For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep
no more: He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy
cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee" Isa 30:19.

When the disciples were in the ship and a storm arose, Jesus came walking toward them on the water. He would have passed them by, but they cried out, and immediately Jesus responded. Then Peter asked if he could come to Him, on the water.

Peter was in a place where he had to become not only submissive, but totally dependent upon the Lord. As he walked on the water toward Jesus, Peter saw the waves and began to sink. But he cried out, and immediately the Lord stretched out his hand and caught him. Then Jesus and Peter walked back to the boat together.

Peter experienced the saving power of the Lord's right hand. We may think we will not make Peter's mistake because we will have enough faith. But it is not our faith that will deliver us, rather, it is His saving power and faithfulness that only waits for our cry. Immediately, His right Hand will reach down to bring us through our difficulty.

Later Peter could say, "I felt the Lord's hand when He grasped me as I sank; I felt His power as He lifted me; I felt His love as we walked back to boat together." Peter had a personal revelation of the keeping power of His God.

There are new realms in the spirit to which the Lord is calling us. If we are afraid, we will choose to stay in the boat and criticize the one who steps out and begins to sink. But the one in the boat will never know the experience of His intervention in their behalf.

Peter said, "Lord, is this you?" and the Lord answered, "It is I, do not be afraid." When something is happening ask, "Lord, is this you?" and He will answer. When the Lord is walking in areas we have not been birthed into, we must trust Him as we begin to move towards Him. We cannot do this on our own; we must listen for Him to bid us come.

When this "word" comes, we must step out. We will be unable to do so unless we are established in His Lordship and have an unquestioning trust in Him. Then, should our faith fail, His faithfulness and saving power will bring us through, as we cry out to Him.

Habakkuk 2:4 tells us that "the just shall live by His faith," or better, "by faith in His faithfulness." Only then will we be able to cry out "Abba Father" and experience His faithfulness.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God. 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" Rom 8:14-16.

We are no longer servants, rather we are children of God. We may call Him "Abba Father" as we have a legal right to use this name. Therefore, the Lord is waiting to hear this new song from us; "Abba Father, all things are possible for You, nevertheless, not my will but Thy will be done."

"Alleluia, the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns." This is the choir that is looking for new members, and is accepting auditions now.