I Will Be A Father To You

Pastor E. Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture: Malachi 4:5-6; 2 Corinthians 6:11-18

I. Many of the deepest sources of pain in our society today comes through fathers

A. Delinquent fathers: Fathers who have failed to live up to their responsibilities as fathers

B. Disconnected fathers: Fathers who are at home but are emotionally disconnected from their child

C. Distracted fathers: Fathers who have allowed other priorities to suffocate their relationship with their child

D. Damaging fathers: Fathers who directly hurt their child through words and behavior

E. Disillusioned fathers: Fathers who have been disillusioned by their own experiences with their fathers and do not know how to be a father

II. God has promised to restore the hearts of the fathers to their children

A. Recognize areas of failure as a father

B. Ask God to forgive you for your failures

C. Ask God to heal you of the emotional baggage that prevents you from being a good father

D. Ask Your Heavenly Father to give you His heart

III. Before we can be good fathers we need to be a good children. We must return back to our heavenly Father (2 Corinthians 6:11-18)

A. We must desire a relationship with God as our heavenly Father: Our hearts are restricted from fellowship with God as our Father because of our own affections elsewhere (v. 11-12)

B. We must break off relationships that destroy fellowship with God as our heavenly Father (v. 14-16)

1. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers

a What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?

b What communion has light with darkness?

c What agreement has Christ with Belial?

d What agreement has the temple of God with idols?

2. Come out from among them and be separate

3. Do not touch the unclean thing

C. We must make our heart a home for God (v. 16): God wants to dwell with us by dwelling in our hearts

D. We must believe God wants to receive us as sons and daughters (v. 17-18)