A Father's Day Message

Father’s Day

Well, today is Father’s Day and it is right that we should stop and honor Father’s. It is important that we take time to speak on the significance of fatherhood not only on special occasions like today, but as a matter of course because role of the father is being systematically attacked and destroyed in our culture. Our society has attacked the role of Fathers with such a devastating force that sociologists now believe we have sentenced the next generations to disastrous consequences because of this de-valuation of the role of Fathers!

4 Fathers,[c] do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Well, today is Father’s Day and it is right that we should stop and honor Father’s. It is important that we take time to speak on the significance of fatherhood not only on special occasions like today, but as a matter of course because role of the father is being systematically attacked and destroyed in our culture. Our society has attacked the role of Fathers with such devastating force that sociologists now believe we have sentenced the next generations to disastrous consequences because of this de-valuation of the role of Fathers!

In the plan of God, however, that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Whatever may be happening in society around us, we have a responsibility, as Christian Fathers to step up to the plate and execute the role that God has assigned to our hearts and hands to do. What then is the role of a Christian Father in today’s compromising society? Let’s look to the Bible for a few minutes today and I think the answer will be clear.

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

1. Christian Father’s Won’t Provoke their Children’s Wrath:

1. Christian Father’s Won’t Provoke their Children’s Wrath:

The first thing Paul says to Father’s is a word of warning! Don’t provoke your children. Now this doesn’t mean what you think. I don’t know any dad that hasn’t made his children mad. I think it’s in the daddy manual, right after taking out the trash, dads make everybody mad every once in awhile! After all, dad’s often have to say no, dad’s discipline, dads enforce the rules of the family. But in all of this a godly Christian dad should never act out of anger, but his actions no matter how infuriating are done out of love! ~ It’s when a child doesn’t get that message of un-dying, un-ending love that his wrath is kindled. One of the biggest problems of modern society is what psychologist call “Daddy Longing” Dad’s are not there to disciple in love or if they are there they are too busy to show that they care. Today’s children of divorce culture, broken homes and lonely kids are ANGRY! See discipline isn’t what provokes wrath; it’s the lack of love that makes children angry and causes problems.

( Proverb 3:11-12 “My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. 12 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”

“5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?”)

“My child,[e] don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”[f]

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?)

2. Christian Father’s Bring Children Up With Discipline:

The second thing Paul says to Fathers is a word of counsel! After telling dads what not to do he says what you should do is give children plenty of discipline. Now what does that mean? What does that look like? Some people say rearing children, I don’t like that – sounds like pushing them to the rear, I like the term “Bring Them Up”. The bible says raise or bring them up – how? In the discipline of the Lord. Just like a farmer raises tender plants and waters them and covers them from frost and feeds them fertilizer so they’ll grow tall and produce – so fathers are to Discipline or NURTURE their children in the Lord! Now someone will say that’s just spoiling them. No, you don’t have to them everything they want, that’s not disciplining or nurturing that’s being a grandparent. Biblical nurture is laying a godly foundation in love and by example. It requires time & attention!

( “4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”)

3. Christian Father’s Bring Children Up With Instruction:

The last thing Paul says to Fathers is a word of encouragement! After counseling them to nurture their children, he also encourages dads to INSTRUCT their children. Now this is at the heart of being a dad. In this entire section, Paul is giving instruction to Christian parents; the idea is that God designed the Christian home to consist of mother and father each fulfilling their respective roles. Everyone knows that God made mothers to be the best at nurturing – but dad’s are not to abdicate their responsibility to come right along side their wives in the process of child raising and nurturing as well. But where fathers must really step up to the plate is in the area of INSTRUCTING their children. What does that mean? To instruct means to teach! Dads must teach their children the important lessons of life.

Dad if you don’t teach your child how to work, the world will teach them how to steal. If you don’t teach your sons how to love and respect a woman, the world will teach him how to be a sluggard. If you don’t teach your child honesty, the world will teach them to be a cheat!

What are the life lessons fathers must teach their children?

• FEAR GOD – “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

• LOVE GOD – “My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, 2 for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. 3 For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. 4 My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.”

4 My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.

• OBEY GOD – “My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. 2 If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. 3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Today, we honor our Fathers and thank God for His grace and wisdom in instituting the Christian family. Would that we all strive to get back to the blueprint that God designed. Then and only then can we have a nation under God and a society where generations inherit the blessings of God’s favor.

If you are here today and not a Christian you need to know that you have a loving Heavenly Father who longs for you to be in a saving relationship with Him. How? By obeying God’s plan of salvation.