The Godly Father

Intro

It is a sad state of affairs we have found ourselves in here in the west. So much of our population have grown up w/out fathers or real father figures. In fact, it’s proven that children who grow up w/out fathers are more likely to turn to crime, drugs, and gang life. Fathers hold a powerful position over the destiny of their kids! Fathers are to be leaders in their households, and serve as good examples for their children.

So great is the impact of fathers, that daughters look to their dads and learn what kind of men they should be with. Sons look to their dads and learn what they will think a “real man” looks like, because to them that’s what Dad is! As kids,my friends and I thought our dad’s were the next best thing to super heroes and we wanted to be just like them! That is, if our fathers were present enough to be in their lives. I thank God that my dad was present in my life, imperfect as he is and though I’ve had to unlearn some things, he is a man who is present in the lives of his children to do the best he can for us. Many of my friends growing up were not so lucky.

God also puts a great deal of responsibility on fathers and has much to say to the men who are given that role. This morning, I want to look at a few of these passages, and encourage our fathers this morning in the Lord.

Fathers Encourage Children

Ephesians 6:4 CSB

4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21 CSB

21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged.

To the fathers here in these two verses we see that fathers are not to bring discouragement and resentment on their children.

Do not be men who tear down your children, or only remind them of the things which they do wrong. Rather, encourage and edify your children! I know that your biological children are grown and mostly have families of their own, but your responsibility to them, just as with the mothers, doesn’t end when they leave the nest.

Paul says to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord, some versions might say discipline and admonition. The word for training means education — teach them the way of the Lord and have them apply themselves to the Word of Christ our Lord to learn from Him! This applies just as much to how you deal with grandchildren and those who you might take under your wing who are not your biological children.

The word also carries with it in the verb form a connotation of discipline and reproof or correction. In Heb. 12.3-11 we find that God corrects us as a loving Father, for if He did not He would be treating us as illegitimate sons. God treats us as sons in disciplining us, and fathers need to discipline their own from time to time, yes? This is part of bringing them up in the way of the Lord.

For, if you were to neglect bringing them up in the Lord, they would be brought up in the world and taught all its many abominations from gluttons, God-haters, and the like. Therefore, it is up to the fathers to do their best to raise up their children in the Lord and bring them to Christ that they may be Christians, and not lost in the world.

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 CSB

11 As you know, like a father with his own children, 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Here again, we see that fathers treat their children with care: Comforting, encouraging, and imploring them to walk worthy of God.

Here, is Paul talking to his own biological children? No! Rather, he is talking to his spiritual children in the Thessalonian church. However, it teaches us how we as men can take up the role of fatherhood as God gives it to us.

Godly fathers are not those who make their kids bear the weight of their own unhealthiness, nor are they those who constantly criticize and belittle, or subject to all manner of different abuses — fathers, much like our Heavenly Father, are comforters and encouragers to their children, be it biological or spiritual!

Matthew 28:18–19 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

1 Timothy 3:4–5 CSB

4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)

Finally, I wan’t to build on the idea of training up the children God gives us, by saying that it is not enough to make sure they are well educated. Their intellectual grasp of Scripture means nothing if they don’t know how to live it out and apply themselves to it — this is where discipleship comes in!

Discipleship means taking someone along with you, and getting dirty with them to show them how to walk as a member of God’s church faithful to the Lord with an enduring faith.

Fathers, regardless of the age of your children, or if they are yours biologically or someone you’re fortunate to step into that role with, it is your responsibility to disciple your children! If your daughters will look to you and find their ideal husband, and if your sons will look to you and find their idea of masculinity, then it is up to you to live a life which shows them what discipleship to Christ is. It is up to you not only to educate them, but to show them what it means to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus! Your example and instruction to them is something that remains invaluable to their spiritual growth.

Outro.

Now, fathers, once again I say all of this believing that the men here are good and God-fearing fathers for all their children! I have two goals in presenting this lesson:

That we may look at the Word and be spurred on to continue doing as God directs us to.

That through looking at a little of God’s teaching on fathers, perhaps there is a part of this that has struck your heart which you know you need to do better at!

If this be the case, by all means repent and get about being who God calls you to be!

However, I am no here to reprimand. I sincerely hope that our look at fatherhood this morning has served to encourage all of you to keep on and grow in your leadership roles. Dads are invaluable, and with a dad’s help there is something special that happens which can help your children grow in the Lord as Christians.