Great Fathers

Genesis 18:19

Great Fathers

There was an article in the associated press about 10 years ago, about a father who stopped at a convenience store to get himself a drink for the road. In the back of the car was his 6 year old son who was asleep. The father not wanting to wake his son, pulled in to the station and left the car running while he went in, but when he came out, the car was missing. Someone had stolen the car and his son.

As the story goes, the father contacted the police and through the cell phone that was left in the car, they were able to locate the stolen auto. But by the time they had arrived to the car, the thief was already gone. Amazingly, the little boy in the back of the car was still asleep.

Now the thief escaped so he got away, but the father ended up being charged for endangering the welfare of a minor. Talk about a bone-headed mistake.

I will admit I have made some mistakes as a father, some that I look back and ask myself why I did that. Like give kids sugar 15 minutes before their bed time. Why did I do that?

And if you are here today, there are some mistakes you might have made as well. But from all the things we can potentially do, there is one thing as a father, as a parent that we don’t need to mess up on, and that is our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Now the Bible has a lot to say to parents, particularly the father, and men we need to listen to what the heavenly father has to say to us. Men, do you want to be a better father? Do you want to be a father that makes good decisions instead of bad ones. Then listen to what this verse has to say.

(Read Scripture)

This verse the Lord is referencing Abraham, but honestly, this is a verse that speaks to every father in this room.

Now Abraham is consider the father of Israel. The nation really began with him, and he is considered a great father, a father of many nations. Now you are here today, and here is the question, do you want to be a great father? A father that makes good decisions instead of bad mistakes? Well, God tells us what we need to be great fathers.

Point 1 - Relationship with the Father (For I know him)

· For Abraham to be a great father, he needed a great father and that great father can only be found in Heaven.

· Now I know that some of us have grown up with some poor examples of fatherhood, some of you grew up without a dad, some barely saw your father, some saw all the bad things that your dad did.

· Here is the great news, you do not have to be defined by your earthly father, you can be defined by your heavenly father.

· Now every person here needs a relationship with Jesus. A personal relationship, not an association but a relationship.

· You see, your relationship with Christ is what defines you here in this world.

· If you have a poor relationship with the Lord, it will be evident in your life. But if you have a strong relationship with the Lord that will be evident as well.

· Abraham had a strong relationship with God, he knew the Lord and the Lord knew him.

· God was not missing in Abraham’s life, and friend you will not be the husband, father, and friend if God is not in your life.

· Every great father is a father that has the Great Heavenly Father in their life.

Point 2 - Responsible for the Family (he will command his children and household)

· Now the second thing that we see is that great father is “responsible for the family”

· The scripture says here, that he will command his children and household, they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.

· You know in our society, the role of fatherhood has been relegated to the woman. No wonder we have men growing up to dress like women.

· Men, we must understand that we have a responsibility to the family. Who is it that is training our children?

· We need to understand we need to be responsible for our children and be a part of their lives.

· You know a man will invest in a dog, they will spend time with that dog and train that dog, and at night they will lock the dog up in its crate so the dog will not go running off.

· And yet, we have children, we neglect spending time with them, we don’t train them like we should, and at night we just open the door and let them run free.

· Men, it is time we took our responsibility seriously. Do you know who your kids are hanging out with? Do you know where they are going?

· That ole boy come easing up to your door and wants to take your daughter out? That should be a good time to clean the guns.

· And if you got a boy, train them how to be godly men. We have a responsibility to our children.

· We have a responsibility to our wives as well – you see the scripture told us household.

· We are to be men who care and love those in our house. Husbands love your wives. Wives give your husband something to love.

· Because you see, it is the husbands job to command over his home. And we need to take the words of Joshua seriously. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

Point 3 - Reaps in the Future (the Lord may bring upon)

· Now a great father has a relationship with the Father, and responsibility to his family, and we see a great father reaps in the future.

· You know Abraham didn’t immediately become a great father of Israel. It wasn’t until he showed his faith unto the Lord that the Lord blessed him.

· I look at many aged men, and I think wow they are blessed. God sure has touched their lives.

· God blessed Abraham with a wonderful home, a loving family, he took care of his needs and was there for him when trouble came.

· You want that for your life today? Then friend what you need to do is look to the Lord.

· What did Abraham reap in the future he reaped the blessings of God upon his life.

· You know we as men try to do things on our own, we try to take care of everything by ourselves. You know what you can’t do on your own? You can’t bless yourself.

· Others can bless you but you really can’t bless yourself. Oh, you can pray for blessings, but you can’t make that blessing come, because we are incapable.

· But you know who can bless us? The Lord. And when you live for the Lord the blessing will come.

Wrap It Up

· You know Abraham was blessed to be a father of many nations, I don’t know what that is like, but I know what it is like to be a father to three kids.

· It is not an easy task. But God never said it was going to be easy. But he did say he would be there to help me.

· I look around at us today, and I see the desire that we want to be more like the Lord, to be a better father, husband, and friend.

· For us to have that desire to be fulfilled, we need to take responsibility today and come and surrender ourselves to the Heavenly Father who can show us how to be great fathers.