Fathers for 2005

 

 

 

“And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”

Deuteronomy 32:46-47

Introduction:

  1. We live in the perilous times of the last days, when an effeminate and compromising brand of Christianity is destroying souls, families, and churches (II Tim 3:1 – 4:5). A great antidote is to have strong, godly fathers.
    1. Yes, it is ministers that must war against this insidious enemy of true religion (II Tim 3:14-17; 4:1-5).
    2. But it is also true that fathers can manage marriages, homes, children, and grandchildren to God’s glory.
    3. If fathers do not apply themselves diligently and faithfully, the perilous times will take our children.
  2. The number of dysfunctional homes, juvenile problems, crime, broken marriages, and assorted other problems can be traced to an AWOL father or fathers, for the buck stops with dads. They are responsible.
  3. A mighty man is a wonderful and noble thing, but he may not be a father in spite of that honor (Psalm 127:4).
    1. A father requires a woman that is willing and able to bear children (Genesis 16:1-3; 29:31-35; 30:1-13).
    2. However, the Lord must bless a man with children, for conception is of Him (Ps 68:6; 127:3; 128:3-4).
    3. Children greatly increase a man’s honor and worldly influence (Psalm 112:1-3; 127:4-5; Eccl 4:9-12).
    4. Fathering children biologically does not prove any superiority to street mutts impregnating bitches.
  4. There are goals that every father must have clearly and constantly before him to guide his daily conduct.
    1. Have you communicated God’s truth to the next generation (Deut 6:4-9; Ps 78:1-8; Is 38:19; Joel 1:1-3)?
    2. Will your grandchildren crown you well with honor? Do your children glory in you (Proverbs 17:6)?
    3. Does your performance as a father, by the character of your sons, defend you before enemies (Pro 27:11)?
    4. Will your children benefit from having had you as their father over other men? Or are they ashamed?
    5. Wise children make very happy fathers (Prov 10:1; 15:20; 23:15-16,24-25; 29:3,17). It is your choice!
    6. Foolish children greatly grieve fathers (Prov 10:1 17:21,25; 19:13,26; 28:7; 29:15). It is your choice!
    7. The greatest measure of love for another is to help them please Christ now and stand before Him soon!
  5. This sermon is being preached to the whole church instead of just a men’s session for several reasons.
    1. The timing on the first Sunday of the year and the solemnity of the morning assembly serve the purpose.
    2. It is good for fathers to know their wives and children know what they ought to do for the greater guilt!
    3. The wives and children need to hear it also and prepare to assist, encourage, and cooperate, respectively.
    4. Young fathers without children need to set their hearts and minds to be such fathers when children arrive.
    5. Empty-nest fathers and/or grandfathers are not exempt, as their expanding family tree increases their duty.
  6. Read Psalm 78:1-8 to see the goals and methods God ordained for fathers to build godly generations.
  7. This is a very simple sermon, intended mainly to convict fathers. See below for much more material.

#1: A GOOD FATHER IS A LEADER

  1. A good father does what is right confidently and firmly; and his children follow his holy example.
  2. Leadership has nothing to do with arrogance, barking, domineering, name-calling, or yelling.
  3. It has everything to do with being an example for your children (Pr 17:6; Phil 3:17; Ezek 16:44).
  4. Fathers are to command their children to keep God’s way after them (Gen 18:19; Deut 32:46-47).
  5. Joshua was sure of himself, rejected popular opinion, and did not consult his children (Josh 24:15).
  6. If you are not opinionated from the word of God as a father, you have severe problems facing you.
  7. God, as our Father in heaven, sets Himself forward as our Great Example (Matthew 5:43-48).
  8. Are you a glorious example of those things that God and you want your children to become?
  9. Ministers are to exemplify the godly conduct of ruling one’s house as a father (I Timothy 3:4).
  10. Provide your family the peace and security they desire by taking full charge in family matters.
  11. Fearing the Lord, a godly marriage, a ruled spirit and mouth, and all other things must be illustrated.

#2: A GOOD FATHER IS SPIRITUAL

  1. He exalts a heavenly and spiritual approach and perspective by way of example and instruction.
  2. He makes the Lord the center, the end, the judge, the source, the object, and the defense of all things.
  3. He creates a faith-based environment for the whole family in the home for building the fear of God.
  4. Training in practical matters will always be much easier than training in spiritual matters for most.
  5. He knows that the knowledge of God is the most important matter that he can give his children.
  6. There are many verses in support (Ps 148:11-13; Deut 31:12-13; Neh 12:43; II Chron 20:13; etc.).

#3: A GOOD FATHER IS HOLY

  1. He will not expose his children to much of the world; and he will not bring the world into his home.
  2. He knows that all that is in the world is not of the Father and is passing away soon (I John 2:15-17).
  3. He knows that friendship with the world is enmity and spiritual adultery with God (James 4:4).
  4. He knows that you cannot serve two masters, so God and heaven must be the Master (Matt 6:24).
  5. Job was a perfect man that eschewed evil, and he prayed for the forgiveness of his children (Job 1:5).
  6. A symptom of the perilous times is “unholy,” which must be corrected by sober and holy fathers.

#4: A GOOD FATHER IS A TEACHER

  1. He will instruct his children diligently – by repetition, by affection, by Scripture, by application.
  2. Teaching requires verbal instruction from the mouth of the father to the ears of the children, which requires sitting them down, preparing a simple lesson, and explaining it authoritatively and clearly.
  3. Do you know your goals? (1) The fear of the Lord, (2) obedience, (3) responsibility, (4) wisdom, (5) selflessness, (6) independence, (7) enthusiasm, (8) discipline, (9) honesty, and (10) friendliness.
  4. Generating and raising children is nothing; training wise children is a noble accomplishment.
  5. When the apostle Paul addresses fathers, he speaks of their training (Ephesians 6:4).
    1. Nurture. The training, education, discipline, or chastening of a child to bring them up well.
    2. Admonition. To put a person in mind of duties; to counsel against wrong practices; to give authoritative or warning advice; to exhort, to warn.
  6. Paul assumed several aspects of training toward the Thessalonians (I Thess 2:11).
  7. Consider Solomon and David as teachers (Proverbs 1:8; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1-4,10,20; 5:1; 6:20; 7:1; 23:26).
  8. Consider the assumed role of fatherly teaching (Psalm 34:11; 44:1; 48:13; 71:18; 145:4).
  9. Remember that no training is negative training, if you understand a child’s evil nature (Pr 29:15).
  10. Training a child is a commandment (Prov 22:6), but it also has a wonderful promise attached.
  11. A father that is a good trainer has great influence on the future (Ps 78:1-8; Is 38:19; Joel 1:1-3).
  12. Diligent effort is to be given toward teaching your children God’s word (Deut 6:6-9).
  13. The scriptures are our great treasure of fathers (Deut 4:5-10; 6:20-25; 32:46-47; II Tim 3:15).

#5: A GOOD FATHER IS TOUGH

  1. He will require godly conduct from his children, and he will enforce it with any means available.
  2. Do you know the rules? (1) Scripturally, (2) early, (3) severely, (4) lovingly, (5) clearly, (6) proportionately, (7) consistently, (8) instantly, (9) thoroughly, and (10) publicly.
  3. Corporal punishment is assumed a vital aspect of a good father by God’s example (Heb 12:5-11).
  4. Chastening must be done early, and it must not be influenced by crying (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18).
  5. Eli was a wicked father, because he did not restrain his sons from iniquity (I Sam 2:29-30; 3:11-14).

#6: A GOOD FATHER IS PITIFUL

  1. He remembers children are weak and so applies instruction, correction, and discipline appropriately.
  2. The Psalmist compares the mercy and pity of God to that of fathers pitying children (Psalm 103:13).
  3. Pity is defined here as the sober remembering of the state and ability of children (Psalm 103:14).
  4. Fathers cannot provoke children to anger or discourage them, which is common (Eph 6:4; Col 3:21).
  5. Authority and power without understanding is great oppression (Proverbs 28:16).
  6. God is very pitiful and of tender mercy – we should imitate and desire it (Jam 5:11).
  7. Do you forgive and overlook their failures as God did those of Israel (Psalm 78:38-39)?
  8. Could you be the father of the prodigal? Do you accept repentance? (Luke 15:11-32).
  9. Do you rejoice to show mercy (Proverbs 19:11; James 2:13)? Should God treat you the same?
  10. The apostle Paul dealt with the Thessalonians as a nurse and father combined (I Thess 2:7,11).
  11. Moses assumed that fathers would carry young children in their arms (Numbers 11:12).
  12. Do you have a tender spirit toward your children, even as you rebuke them (Jer 31:20)?

#7: A GOOD FATHER IS CONSISTENT

  1. Your conduct and treatment of them should be free from rash, inconsistent, contradictory actions.
  2. It is steady and consistent fathering that builds security and peace for children to expect the same.
  3. It is steady and consistent fathering that trains most thoroughly by way of godly repetition.
  4. The proverb about the dead flies applies to fathers and the respect of their children (Eccl 10:1).
  5. Lot’s hypocrisy caused his sons-in-law to mock his cry to flee the city of Sodom (Gen 19:14).
  6. Peter’s hypocrisy carried away the hearts of believers, even when taught by Paul (Gal 2:11-13).

#8: A GOOD FATHER IS KNOWLEDGEABLE

  1. He knows his children and their general and specific needs well and addresses them accordingly.
  2. Our Father in heaven knows our needs before we even ask Him for them (Matthew 6:8,32).
  3. A glorious king searches out a matter (Prov 25:2). Do you research your children thoroughly?
  4. Solomon knew the temptations of a young man, and he wisely dealt with them all in Proverbs.
  5. Are you a father that has answers for your children? Do you communicate to them clearly?
  6. A knowledgeable father knows what is happening in the world and can smell trouble in a child.

#9: A GOOD FATHER IS KIND AND LOVING

  1. He will generously do good to his children, which we see our heavenly Father do every day.
  2. Jesus assumed that even evil fathers of this world know how to give good gifts (Luke 11:11-13).
  3. A good father recognizes differences in ability and judges accordingly (Matt 25:14-30).
  4. He loves his children with great affection, and he does not get distracted far from them.
  5. A loving father is one who does not dwell in the past – he forgets past failures (Proverbs 17:9).
  6. A loving father will have a friendly relationship, not a critical one, with his children (Prov 18:24).
  7. A loving father communicates (John 15:15), seeks agreement (Amos 3:3), is always there in adversity (Prov 17:17), shares successes (I Sam 30:26), challenges (Prov 27:9,17), sacrifices (John 15:13), and is able to condescend (Rom 12:16).
  8. What have you done recently specifically planned to win the affection of a child?
  9. True love, regardless of how difficult it appears, practices true charity (I Cor 13:4-7).
  10. How much physical affection do you show your children? Is that too low to stoop?

#10: A GOOD FATHER IS PRUDENT

  1. He considers the future wisely and prepares for it, for children cannot think beyond the present.
  2. A good man leaves an inheritance for his children – thus a good father (Prov 13:22).
  3. Do you have your priorities such that your children are where God intended them to be?
  4. A good father is moderate in all things (Phil 4:5). Avoid child-provoking extremes.
  5. A wise father is cautious and discreet. Before making major decisions, he obtains good counsel.

Conclusion:

  1. Wives and children, you have heard the fathers addressed today. You should assist and obey them.
  2. God has chosen us for the perilous times of the last days, and great fathers will overcome the evil.
  3. There is much additional material available in past sermon outlines and other presentation material.
  4. If you did not have a good father, you must listen and work harder, because you have no feel for it.
  5. Lord, help us be the fathers in 2005 that you intended for godly families and that will serve your kingdom here in the earth. Forgive our past failures, recover the lost years, and bless our efforts.

For Further Study:

  1. Sermon Outline: “Colossians 3:21,” which details the simple New Testament instruction for fathers.
  2. Sermon Outline: “Family Planning,” which describes the goals and methods of building a godly family tree.
  3. Sermon Outline: “Righteous Relationships,” which shows the importance and methods of godly relationships.
  4. Sermon Outline: “Marriage – Only in the Lord,” which proves from the Bible the necessity of marrying believers.
  5. Sermon Outline: “Godly Child Training,” which presents child training with an emphasis on spiritual training.
  6. Study Outline: “A Mighty Man’s Life,” is to help a man set his priorities of the ten major areas of duty in his life.