Father's Day Treats

Intro:

When I remembered that today was Father’s Day, I started to debate whether or not to continue through our Daniel Study… and I decided that it might be nice to have a little change of pace and do a message that is geared towards the father’s in our congregation.

Last October, for Pastor appreciation, The Venture Club kids made Melissa and I a sign out of different candies and candy bars… (have picture slide)

Sign

and this is what it says… “Pastor and Melissa are Sweetarts. They are always there to pick up the Pieces or if we are in a Crunch. Sometimes we act like Airheads or Nerds, but you have made a Mound of difference in our lives.

Thank you for getting us in Doublemint condition for Heaven! Your teachings and preachings are making us Smarties in the Word of God. You both deserve a 100 Grand every Payday.

Hugs and Kisses from everyone at Venture Club.”

And then there was a little note on the bottom of this candy filled sign that said “Please share with family.... and Lily”

I wanted to do something similar this morning and so I have a bag full of Father’s Day Treats that I hope will help drive home some spiritual principles this morning.

I don’t have a main passage of Scripture this morning, as I will be referencing several, so I will allow you to remain seated as we go through each one.

Meat:

The First one that I have, which is also the first point on your outline… is a box of…

1. Fruit Roll-Ups

Now, I could’ve used a fruit basket as the example here, however, I am not much of a fruit eater, but I do enjoy a fruit roll-up every once in a while… especially if I haven’t had the joy of having anything stuck in my teeth for a while…

Now I know that there isn’t a lick of fruit in this box, which is probably why I like it so much… but it can be used as a reminder of God’s instruction that…

1.1 We are to Bear Fruit

God wants us to have children! Before sin entered the world, people wouldn’t have had any issues getting pregnant. Everything would’ve been working exactly the way God designed it.

However, since the fall in Genesis chapter 3, sin has tainted every area of the world, including some couples ability to have children, due to issues with either the man’s body or the woman’s.

People blame God for that, when in reality, the problem has always been that initial fall, that first sin of mankind, back in the garden of Eden.

But, when God first created Adam and Eve, the book of Genesis says this.

Genesis 1:27-28

Genesis 1:27–28 NASB95

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

After the flood, God gave this command to Noah in Gen. 9:1

Genesis 9:1 NKJV

1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

The birth of a child is nothing short of a miracle. Having the opportunity to watch and even participate in the birth of all my children will always be some of my most cherished memories.

I’ll never forget the day that Jonathen was born… Melissa had just given birth and she looks over at me and compassionately asks “Why are you crying?… I’m the one who just gave birth!”

Psalm 127:3–5 “Behold, children are a heritage (a blessing) from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”

Scripture does not specify the exact number that constitutes a "quiver full," but for a warrior preparing for battle, it would be practical to carry more than just one or two arrows… Understanding the culture at the time of this writing provides additional context…

Thousands of years ago, there was no paper money, no stock market, no 401k, no pension, or retirement plans like those we have today. Instead, your children were your retirement plan; they would care for you in your old age. Thus, the more children you had, particularly sons, the more secure your retirement would be.

Here’s the thing about children… They don’t come with an instruction manual, there is no warranty plan… and they are definitely non-refundable.

However, They can take you to life’s highest highs and lowest lows. Each child is different, unique, distinctive and special. What works in raising one child does not necessarily work for another.

But one thing is for sure, in our day and age… children are expensive...

That leads to our second treat… in fact it is one of my favorites… and not just because of it’s name… … the second point on your outline is a…

2. PayDay Bar

1 Timothy 5:8 NASB95

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

This verse reminds us that…

2.1 We need to Provide for our Family

Kids, like any of us need the basics; we need food, clothing, shelter and protection. When we as fathers start a family, we’ve got to give up many of our own wants to take care of the needs of the family. They must come first.

In our selfish, self-centered culture, this is becoming an increasingly bigger problem. So often a family struggles to put food on the table or pay the bills, because dad wants to have the newest truck, and all the fancy toys…

Which, don’t get me wrong, it is ok to have those things… as long as your family is provided for first!

Now, When I talk about putting them first, it’s not just money wise… this also includes your time. I am going to be completely honest… this is an area that I struggle in myself, and I’m trying to get better with it.

But the reality is, your Children (and your spouse) desperately need your most valued possession… you… ... your time. … There is no better choice of a father’s time than to invest it into the lives of his own family…

Fishing, hunting, golfing (if that’s your thing), trips to the store…

Kenneth Chaflin, a seminary professor who often speaks and writes about building stronger families was home getting ready to eat supper before heading off to a speaking engagement.

His 5yr old daughter came and said, “Daddy will you stay home with me tonight?” Her plea pierced his soul. He thought within himself, “How could I tell her no because I have to go and speak and tell others, “How a Good Father Ought to Be”?

It was too late to cancel the meeting, so he tried to soften her disappointment and make her feel important by asking her to help him with his speech. He asked her to describe what she thought it meant to be a good daddy. He jotted down her response:

• To catch a fish

• Build a fire

• Fly a kite

• Catch a butterfly

• Plant a flower

• Get a kitty out of the mud

He folded the paper, went to his meeting and while he was sitting on the platform waiting to be introduced, he looked at this list and suddenly it hit him. Nothing that his daughter wanted in an “ideal father” required money. What she wanted was his time.

Beyond the basics of food, shelter, clothing and protection, what a child needs most is time with Dad!

The next item in my bag helps us to understand the reason why…

3. A Teacher’s Apple

Prov. 22:6

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

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

3.1 We need to Teach our Children

This Proverb does not promise that training a child with biblical principles will inevitably lead them to commit their life to Christ and consistently live in a way that honors Him. Unfortunately, many interpret it this way and become angry or blame God when their children stray. The truth is, at some point, each child must make their own decision about whether to follow Christ or live in sin.

However, it is our duty to teach them biblical principals and this verse emphasizes the importance of early education and moral guidance. It suggests that instilling good values, discipline, and the right path in children from a young age will have a lasting impact on their lives… whether they choose to follow them or not.

There are real world demands and we need to challenge them early academically, athletically, mechanically, musically, artistically, etc. They need to learn how to take risks, even fail, then get up and try again.

We need to teach our children relational skills. We have a generation of kids today that know how to use every single feature on a cell phone and can find anything you want on that phone in 30 seconds or less. But ask them to engage in a meaningful face-to-face conversation, resolve a conflict, or show empathy and understanding, and you will find that many will find it almost impossible.

A lot of people think that this teaching needs to be done at Church or at School, but God’s Word says differently…

Deuteronomy 6:5–7 “5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

Dad’s… it’s not the churches responsibility or the schools responsibility to teach your children the ways of God… it is ours… and the best way to teach your children, is to lead by example.

If you don’t want them to say certain words, then you don’t say them. You don’t want them to do certain things, then you don’t do them… Teach by example.

There is a part of teaching that is hard for any parent… and that is symbolized by… #4 on the outline…

4. Beef Jerky

Proverbs 19:18 NASB95

18 Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

This verse reminds us that as fathers, when necessary we have to bring the beef…

4.1 We need to Discipline our Children

If there is no respect for the laws of the home, how can you expect that there will be respect for the laws of the land, how can you expect there will be respect for the laws of God? Children need discipline.

Discipline comes from the same root word as disciple. It encompasses both positive and negative forms. To often when we think of discipline in the home, we naturally think of the negative.

Discipline is much more than punishment, it is love in action.

The writer of Hebrews says this..

Hebrews 12:5–7 “… “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

And then vv. 9-11 of the same chapter…

Hebrews 12:9–11 “9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Dad’s there are going to be days when our children might think we are jerks… when we bring the beef, but we are not responsible for their feelings toward us. Your primary purpose is not to win a popularity contest with them… There will be days when in their rash, selfish and immature states, they may utter the words “I hate you.” But believe me, there will be a day when they’ll understand, respect and love you for your values, your morals and your consistency, as you go through the process of training them in the ways of the Lord.

#5 on the outline… kind of follows along the same lines… and is represented by…

5. Twizzlers

Colossians 3:21 NKJV

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

This is a great reminder that as life happens and gets all twisted up…

5.1 We to be Flexible

We have to have common sense. You can’t be too rigid. Life happens and it throws us all kinds of curves and twists. We’ve got to have some flexibility or we’ll snap.

Sometimes if a child messes up, the best thing is to have a good laugh.

Again, from Proverbs…

Proverbs 17:22“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

It can’t be all work and no play. Kids need the fun times, play times, light hearted – horsing around times. It’s okay to love and serve the Lord and have fun too!

#6…

6. The Milky Way

Colossians 3:2 NASB95

2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

This reminds us that…

6.1 We need the right Focus

We need to point our kids to a future that is out of this world. We need to focus on the God of the universe. We need to impart spiritual values and truth to them. What a misfortune to provide everything else for our children but fail to give them an eternal destiny.

Every child is being bombarded with images of pleasure, power, lust and hate. Without direct intervention, they learn to make value judgments from these images that lead to high speed crashes down the wrong roads of life.

Without the right focus, they will choose to do what they want, over what God wants, every time…

And lastly this morning… #7…

7. Life Savers

This represents one of the most important things that you can do for your children…

7.1 We need to Pray for our Children

One of the most powerful tools in raising our kids – is prayer.

Bob Host-etler is a writer and speaker, and he has put out an article with 31 specific virtues to pray for your kids:

Let me share just a few…

First and foremost, we pray for their …

1. Salvation – Using the words of 2 Timothy 2:10 “Lord, let salvation spring up with my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”

Secondly, we pray that they...

2. Grow in Grace – Using the words of 2 Peter 3:18 “I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

We pray for their…

3. Self-Control – Using the Words of 1 Thess. 5:6 “Father, help my children not to be like many other around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do.”

We Pray that they will have a…

4. Love for God’s Word – using the words of Psalm 19:10 “May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than silver, purer than gold and sweeter than honey from out of the comb.”

And finally this Father’s Day, we pray that our children not only have a love for God’s word, but that they also have a...

5. Passion for God – Using the Words of Psalm 63:8, “Lord, please instill in my children a soul that ‘follows close behind You’, one that clings passionately to You.”

Closing:

Father’s, I encourage you, as you find yourself eating these treats in the future, to let the Holy Spirit pin the messages to your heart and challenge you to rise to the challenge of being a godly father.

Men, whether you are a father or not, we are all called to be an example of Christ to those in our lives…

I am going to ask the men to stand with me… and we can recite together a paraphrased version of the prayer of the Psalmist from Psalm 101:2…

“I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should.” - Psalm 101:2