Like Father, Like Son (John 5:19)

Society’s View of Fatherhood

How does The World view fatherhood?

In our culture fatherhood is viewed as important. There are many studies that show the benefits of having an “active” father and the pain of not having an “active” one. There is no denying the value our culture places in it. The difference then lies in what is considered “ACTIVE”. You see in our culture a man’s ability to provide, protect and be present makeup the most crucial part of fatherhood. Decades ago, all a father had to do was basically make sure his children were provided for. There was no need for any emotions. I know this because i’ve heard from many older men say this about their childhood and maybe you have as well.

Now a days while a bit different, the same could be said. Provision is in many ways proof of how good a father is: “My kid got on the latest shoes, clothes, video games, phone…. whooooot I AM A GOOD FATHER”.

As I prepared this message, I was speaking to my wife about a week ago about it and she gave me a pretty tough pill to swallow. She told me “Babe, when you preach you talk about the bible which is great, but I think you can become even more relatable if once in a while you were vulnerable and transparent with your life’s experience” And well today I think i will apply that, so can i get a bit vulnerable?

God’s View of Fatherhood

Why God, The Father?

God shares with The World the view that providing and protecting are an important part of Fatherhood. But you see, God goes a step further then that. To Him It’s not just enough to be able to provide and protect. God places a greater importance on Fatherhood. He demonstrates this in the most simple way that we can so easily overlook. Let’s think about this for a second. We know and believe in the trinity. We believe God to be 3 in 1. God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit. We know that God goes by many names with specific and unique meanings. We know that God is known by many different attributes.

So why then, out every term that He could have used for us to refer to Him, does He choose FATHER? Not God The King, God The Creator, God The Almighty but God The Father. When we pray don’t we say in the name of THE FATHER, The Son and The Holy Spirit? When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray He said “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven….” This is not based on common biology, we know that God is not human like us. God stoops down to our human level to illustrate the level of commitment and love that He wants to share with us. It’s crazy how much God loves us!!!! When someone really wants you to understand they do anything possible to illustrate how much they care. Sometimes people tell their loves ones “I love you so much that I would do…. whatever, you fill in the blank”. And here we have The creator of the universe saying “I love you so much that I want to be a Father to you”

SIDE NOTE: If you’ve never had what the world calls an “active” father then let me tell you that you have an active one in God that loves you so much! A Father that is always pursuing your heart, looking to be in your life with open arms ready to love you. You may not always have noticed but He has always been there cheering you on, walking besides you. Desiring for you to say “Abba Father”. His commitment to you is unquestionable. They may have ran out of your life, but God is always running towards your life!

Fatherhood in the OT

God first refers Himself as a Father figure in the Old Testament book of Exodus, where He likens the people of Israel to His firstborn. Fathers during those times in the Hebrew culture were viewed in the highest honor. Before God had established people to be priesthood. Every father was the priest of their families. Fathers like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Job all offered sacrifices on behalf of their families. It was the Father that was at the forefront leading their families into a life of Godliness. It was their responsibility to make sure their families were right before the eyes of God.

Fathers are a source, an extension

Here is where the real difference lies between how God and The World views Fatherhood. You see, in the world if you are able to provide, protect and be present in the life of your family, then you are viewed as a good father. But in God’s eyes it goes beyond that. It’s not enough to just make sure your kids are fed. It’s not enough for your kids to feel safe because your around. It’s not enough to say “Hey i am present in my kids life, I am there”. No, you see because while every role in the family is important, God would hold the fathers accountable for their families. They represented their families. Or another way to put it, when God sees the children and I’ll include wife, what God should be seeing IS AN EXTENT OF WHAT THE FATHER IS.

You see Fathers, we are a source of life to our families. Here on earth we are a source out of which our families draw life from. We are a reference point for our children’s on how to live a godly life. “Monkey see, monkey do”. I’m not calling anyone a monkey just using a phrase we’ve all heard. Our children therefore are an extension of who we are! We are a well of water from which our families draw from.

This is what Jesus in John 5:19 tries to illustrate when saying “…whatever the Father does, the son does in like manner”

This is how God Himself has designed for the family function to be. Now we begin to feel the pressure and responsibility of fatherhood according to God. This is the type of weight that we must become comfortable living with. As fathers we are the wheel that is steering and our families are the ship. We are the ones steering them in a certain direction.

Where are you steering your family?

Fathers, where are you steering your family?

I thank God because this church is one that biblically confronts us, challenges us and forces us to look at ourselves in the mirror and be honest with ourselves. Can i be transparent with you? I’m not saying this from a high horse, meaning I’m not preaching this because i’ve got it all figured out. But the bible teaches me ‘that His grace is all that I need and His power works best in my weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). And this message first confronted me and forced me to look at myself in the mirror and ask myself “What type of source am I being for my family?. Am I being a source of godliness, holiness and faith for them? or a source of hypocrisy, unstableness and of a lukewarm lifestyle. You see, fathers, we know when we are spiritually good because it reflects in our families many times. Or maybe it’s just me, that I can tell when i’m good because my family is good. We’re fearing The Lord, obeying Him and considering Him in everything. Vice verse, I can tell when i’m not good because it reflects on them. Maybe more tolerance for sin, maybe less time with God, maybe talking about other things more then about God, who knows.

But how can we be a source of godly life if we ourselves are not connected to the ultimate source of life, God Himself? God views fatherhood as a branch that extends and blesses our family. He wants to work with our families through us the fathers. While every family member has an important role to play, God is an organized God and desires to use us an extension of blessing for our loved ones. This is God’s design and desire that our children and wives look at us and see Christ and see a reference point on how to live a pleasing life before God. We cannot do this unless we give ourselves over 100% to God with our mind, body and soul. We know deep down inside what percentage of ourselves we are giving to God.

We’re not the only ones

Right now you might find yourself being honest and admitting that you know what you could be doing more, that you can be giving more of yourself to God. Then right now you must be feeling confronted and challenged but I want you to know you’re not the only one that has faced deep struggles in fatherhood.

Let’s look at the life of David for a second. When we talk about David more often then not we talk about a man that was after God’s own heart. A man that slayed giants in the name of The Lord. A man that was an absolute warrior defeating many enemies. A man that was a great King. A man that was a great poet and worshiper. But we don’t often talk about him as a father. You see David in the 2nd book of Samuel, shortly after David deals with the consequences of sleeping with Bathsheba. Then has to deal with a son that rapes his half sister. A couple of chapters later he finds himself having to run away from a power seeking son Absalom that wants to take away his kingdom. I’ll leave it up to you wether you think he was a good father or not but the point is that even a man like David did not always have things going right with his children. You and I are no different sometimes.

Davids fatherhood was under attack by the enemy just like our fatherhood was under attack. You see the enemy knows that if he strikes the head then the body will fall. Church, the enemy knows that God has designed for the father to be a source of godliness for their families. The enemy has conspired with many spiritual campaigns to destroy fatherhood. In the mid 90’s we saw how the enemy flooded this country with all types of drugs. Many fathers in the african american communities especially found themselves a risky yet unique opportunity to make some money selling these high end drugs. Stay with me, what ended happening was that laws like the “Crime Bill of 1994” made it that any type of drug possession no matter the amount resulted in decades of jail time. And what do you think was the devils plan with this? Convince many fathers to enter the drug business in hopes of being able to provide for their families but later find themselves in prison. And now thousands found themselves fatherless growing up seeking that fatherly role and refuge in gangs. This was part of the devils scheme to destroy fatherhood in our communities.

Fathers, what are we to do?

We are under attack fathers. We must understand the schemes of the enemy. Today our attention span as a society has become less and less because of social media and technology. Heck, i find it hard to be engaged in a movie and would sometimes just rather watch the important highlights of it. Our attention span has become less and less while more and more things are competing for our attention

So what should we do fathers?

1. We must set your sights on the realities of heaven… Colossians 3:1

2. 1 Peter 1:13 NKJV Gird up your loins

3. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit

Water/ Pallet example.