Fathers 24

Father 24

Ephesians 6:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Lead Your Children Spiritually

Lead Them By Example – Not do as I say and not as I do.

Study Gods word and also teach your children, by example of following the Lord

Lead Your Children Responsibly

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 “6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

There is both a positive and negative command in Ephesians 6:4. Negatively, fathers shouldn’t “provoke [their] children to wrath.” Some fathers create unreasonable expectations and rules for their children as a form of raising “right behavior” kids. This discourages children instead of raising them to know and honor a Father God who loves them.

In other words, the spiritual upbringing of our children must be active, thorough, constant and persistent.

Lead Your Children in Kindness and Discipline

Good fathers discipline their children, respectfully, consistently, and in love and kindness. They teach them right from wrong. They point children to dependency on Jesus and his grace-mercy.

This kind of discipline combined with spiritual discipleship cultivates the respect of children, and a willingness to obey. This kind of respect for authority begins at home. Children who don’t respect their parents won’t respect other authority, whether teachers, law enforcement, pastors, or God himself.

If you love your children, you will create clear boundaries for them and discipline fairly. For those men navigating the difficult waters of parenthood, there is perhaps no more important directive than this.

Proverbs 13:24 “24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

Leading Your Children Pays Dividends

God’s design for the family and fathers is the best way to raise our children. An intentional, engaged Dad give benefits to a child’s character development that continue through adulthood.

Proverbs 22:6 “6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Love Your Children

Love Your Children In The Way He or She Should Go!

B. Show Them 3. Act like you love them 4. Give them your time

Give Thanks For God’s Blessing

Being a dad is a gift from God

Pray for Your Children

A. Pray for your children night and day. B. Pray a wall-hedge of protection around them. C. Watch and Pray!

Even If You Aren’t a Father

The New Testament writers often portrayed themselves as “fathers” to those under their spiritual care, even if they were not fathers themselves. For example, in writing to Thessalonian believers, Paul says: “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children” (1 Thessalonians 2:11). Similarly, the Apostle John writes, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4). For these men, there was nothing greater than knowing that those who fell under their spiritual care were walking “worthy of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:12).

To Conclude

Much more can be said about the responsibilities of fathers. For example, how a father treats his wife will carry powerful lessons for his children when it comes time for them to marry. Elders are called to manage their households well and raise God-fearing children. (1 Timothy 3:4-5; also Titus 1:6). And fathers are to be compassionate (Psalm 103:13) and generous with their children (Matthew 7:9-11). The Bible is a handbook of godly fatherhood and manhood. In raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, there is great, God-given blessing. “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him” (Proverbs 23:24).

What a tremendous responsibility we have as a dad

I’m Glad I have God to help me and to look to.

Lets look at our Heavenly Father

I. God Is A Rewarder - Heb. 11:6 "…he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." A. Perfect Judge - 2 Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 1. Always right 2. Never wrong A. Perfect Gifts B. Chastens His Children because He Loves Them II. God Is Trustworthy - Prov. 29:25 "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." A. Never let you down B. Never forgets what you need C. Always meets your needs 1. Spiritual 2. Physical 3. Prov. 3:5,6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

III. God Tells Us How We Can Please Him - 2 Tim. 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." A. His Word Never Changes - He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! B. The Written Word - 1. Cuts - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb. 4:12 2. Divides - Denominations, Families, Churches C. For Today - 2 Tim.4:2-4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. IV. God Is Always There to Listen - 1 John 5:14 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." A. Good Listener B. He Always Hears Us - Never hard of hearing C. Never too busy! D. He knows what you need more than you do Conclusion: We can always trust our Heavenly Father!

Mold our lives after our Heavenly Father!