Being A Faithful Father

Being a Faithful Father

1Thes. 2:10-13

I thank God today for faithful God fearing fathers. Dads I today I want you to know the importance of your role as a dad in the life of your children and our society and the great responsibility that has been placed upon our shoulders. God has given us a great privilege and priority to be called dad. I have some statistics for you.

•63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.

•90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.

•85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)

•80% with anger problems come from fatherless homes --14 times the average. (Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)

•71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (National Principals Association Report)

•75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes – 10 times the average. (Rainbows for All God’s Children)

•70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Sept. 1988)

•85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Fulton Co. Georgia, Texas Dept. of Correction)

•Clearly, fathers represent a lot more than just a paycheck to a child; they represent safety, stability, protection, discipline, instruction, guidance, friendship, and someone to look up to.

I. We Must be an Example to our Children v.10

A.Our Conduct must be Holy

1. Our conduct matters and is crucial in the future of our children.

2. Children follow and live by the example set before them. Their outcome is greatly determined by how they see us live. WE CAN PASS DOWN EVIL OR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

3. The Old Testament gives several illustrations on this truth.

1Ki 22:52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

2Ch 22:3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

2Ch 22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.

2Ch 26:4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

2Ch 26:5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

4. Paul lived holy in the face of the pressures and persecutions of his day. He gave credibility to the Christian faith. This brought stability and security to the Thessalonians.

5. It matters how we live.

B.Our Character must be Honorable

1. We must live a life that is blameless, even if accused there would be no foundation for truth.

2. Our walk must be consistent with our words; when it’s not, that’s hypocrisy.

a. Don’t do as I do, do as I say.

3. Our children need to see consistency in their father life.

4. We must never be one way here and another way there.

5. How we are in private is really how we are.

6. If we don’t want our children lying then we shouldn’t lie. If we don’t want our children cussing we shouldn’t cuss. If we want them to be honorable we should be honorable, and so on……

II. We Must be an Encourager to our Children v.11-12

A.To Help Them Overcome Discouragement v.11

1. In a society that demands perfection, and sets a standard that nobody can reach, it is easy for our children to feel over whelmed and discouraged.

2. The people in whom Paul was addressing where becoming discouraged by the pressures around them.

3. Paul came to them as a father to put his arms around them to help cheer them along.

4. The word exhort means to come along one’s side and comfort them encouraging them to continue on.

5. As Paul encouraged these to give their best, we must encourage our children to give their best, and when they have done this that is sufficient.

6. Be willing to charge or testify to your children. Share with them your personal experiences, let them know they’re not alone.

Eph 6:4a And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:

Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

a. Standards that are out of reach

b. Lack of Trust

c. Over Discipline

d. Being over critical

e. Not Rendering Praise for a job well done

B.To Help Them Overpower Defilement v.12

1. Purity is a problem in our society just as it was in Paul’s day.

2. There is so much trying to allure our children into immorality.

3. It is the responsibility of the Father to encourage his children to be faithful to stand in righteousness, to live above the influence.

4. The word charge in v.11 carries a 2nd meaning, it means to insist.

5. Paul when charging this church, he understood the influences that their society had on them, so he reminded them and insisted they lived to please God.

6. We are to set a biblical standard of righteousness in our homes and insist that our children respect that and live to please God.

7. Our children need to understand that is their duty to God to live holy. For He is continually inviting and urging them to take up the responsibility to live for the His Kingdom.

Eph 6:4b but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

III. We Must be an Evangelist to our Children v. 13

A.To Guide Them to put Their Faith in Christ

1. This is the single most important responsibility that we have as parents: leading our children to the Lord.

2. We must faithfully preach and share the word of God with them.

3. Never alter the truth, just simply share the truth about their eternal destiny.

Exo 13:8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

Deu 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deu_11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

B.To Guide Them to put Their Focus on Christ

1. Our desire as dads is to see our children grow and mature.

2. God purpose for the believer is to bear fruit throughout their Christian life

3. The only way we can guarantee success in their lives is by guiding them to stay focused on Christ.

4. The word that saved them is the same word that will sustain, strengthen, sanctify, satisfy, counsels, corrects, mature, and instruct them.

5. We must encourage them and train them to spend time with God.