Radio Broadcast - Fathers Day 2023

Good morning everyone and to all the fathers out there, happy father’s day!

The beginning of Fatherhood can be one of greatest demonstrations of God’s sovereignty. When wanting to start a family, there’s often a plan. We like to map out finances and timelines that align with our desires. Which in this case, is the desire to have a child. Planning is a good thing, it’s wise, but we always have to remain a loose grip on our plan because ultimately we cannot decide the timeline of events.

Proverbs 16:9 NLT

9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Everything happens in God’s timing. For some the gift of a child may have happened right away and others it may have been many years. Regardless of when it happened, it did happen in God’s timing.

I know many have had to wait even longer than this, but in my family’s case, it took about 5 years. The issue of our infertility pointed out by the doctor’s was on my side. As we talked with doctor’s to see what medical assistance or options there were to improve my status, there was no clear route. Even with medical assistance, one doctor told us “there’s no point in even trying”. Through another doctor who was a specialist dealing with male infertility, he could not find any reasoning for my issues. I tried out so many options of healthy foods, activities, or vitamins that I read about or that were recommended by the specialist. I was told 3 months is when you’ll know if the situation has or can be improved. 3 months later, things were worse. 6 months later, worse than before. At this point, I was notified by the specialist that I would have no more check-ups as there was nothing else that could be done. No matter what I attempted from advice I received from every doctor, my situation was increasingly worse over time.

All the years of trying to improve my situation, there was never good news from a doctor. And at this point every door had been shut. Although the years were challenging in this way, God blessed my wife and I with family and a church family that constantly supported and prayed for us. It’s important to know that in God’s sovereignty over all, he also gives us a means to participate in his work through prayer.

God also blessed me with a wife that only encourages. There was not one time she declared me as the reason for our infertility. Not one time did she try to guilt me on eating better or staying active to better follow the doctor’s suggestions. She never even made me get checked out by a doctor in the first place.

The only thing she would ever say during this challenging time is “If it’s in God’s plan, we will have a child, in his timing.” So we continued to pray and receive prayer from others.

A few months later after having the last door shut with the specialist that I mentioned earlier, we started talking with consultant companies on adopting a child and what steps needed to happen. Then about a month later, we received our first positive pregnancy test.

When I look back on the journey, I'm constantly reminded of the story of Gideon. God did not allow Gideon to take the entire Israelite army into battle against the Midianites. God had the Israelite army decreased from 32,000 to 300. To take on an army of 135,000. The Israelites were now outnumbered 450 to 1 and they defeated the Midianites.

Judges 7:2 NLT

2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.

Every child is created by the power of God. And even though seeking doctor’s advice is not a bad thing, I believe my situation had to be bad enough so I could not boast about actions I took or what any doctor’s did to help. I can only boast about God’s power, grace, and timing from our journey to becoming parents.

I want to now talk about becoming parents. To be clear, any man who’s first child is still in the womb, you are a father. The child God has blessed you with started at conception.

And whether a believer in Christ or not, your child was made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26–27 NLT

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

There are many other scriptures talking about human life, and whether it’s the Old testament or New testament, they are referred to as image bearers of God. Your child was made in the likeness of God. Given the purpose to glorify Him.

As I stare at my daughter, so young and innocent, the one thing that hits me in a major way is that she is going to exist for eternity. There is going to be a day where she must make a decision, to follow Christ or not. And she will also face God one day where she will receive judgement based on that decision. We all have to choose whether to accept God’s son Jesus Christ, or not. And as Father’s we have a responsibility to lead our family in a way that glorifies Christ. There’s so many things I can’t wait to teach my daughter, but the one decision I pray she makes is to follow Christ. Leading your family spiritually is the most important thing you can do. And it’s not just about leading them in reading the Word of God, but also living out what we learn from the Word. We’ll never be perfect, but we must set an example for our children. Showing them what it looks like to be a faithful follower of Christ.

Ephesians 6:4 NLT

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

We cannot lead our family in discipline and instruction from the Lord if we ourselves are not disciplined and do not follow instruction from the Lord. This will require dependence on God for guidance and wisdom. As I think about how to lead my family in following the Lord, sometimes a little anxiety can kick-in. Thinking of all the possible situations that will come up that I may not feel prepared for. One verse that comes to mind, which is what my father always reminded me of when doing anything is:

Matthew 6:33 NLT

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

If you keep your priorities straight, Keeping God first in your life, He will provide all your needs. Physically and spiritually. He’ll help you lead how a father ought to.