What is a father Sermon

Good Morning and Happy Fathers Day

In preparation for this morning’s message I consulted a number of dictionaries to find the most correct definition of “father”. It seemed that every source had a different opinion.

Father — is a name applied to

1.   male Parent

2.   any ancestor

3.   a chief, ruler, or elder, the head of a people or tribe

4.   advisors to the king or high governmental officials

5.   an honorary title given to prophets and priests

6.   The author or beginner of anything

In the Old Testament a father was

·       charged with the responsibility of providing for the family.

·       He was permitted to arrange his daughter’s marriage and receive her bride-price (Gen. 34:12; 1 Sam. 18:25).

·       The father also had the right to cancel his daughter’s vows (Num. 30:4-6).

·       He could also sell a daughter into servitude on the condition that she become the wife of her master or his son (Exod. 21:7-9).

Now just so the women don’t feel slighted,

·       In the ancient Near East, the father apparently could sell his sons into servitude for his debts (Isa. 50:1; cf. 2 Kings 4:1).

·       The father was obligated to circumcise his sons (Gen. 17:12, 23)

·       and to educate the children in the Torah (Prov. 3:12; 4:1).

·       Children were to revere and obey the father equally with the mother (Deut. 21:18, 20).

In the New Testament, aside from describing someone as the parent of someone else, the term “father” in most instances refers to God. You will remember that is not only how Jesus addressed God, but also how he taught his disciples to Address God.

But is that how we actually see God? Is he “Dad” or “Pop” or “Daddy”? Or is he “Father” or “Sir” or “My Provider”?

The names we use for “Father” evoke all sorts of emotions in us. Why is that? I believe it is because we attribute the characteristics our earthly father to God and not the other way around. We rate our earthy fathers as good or bad. We have ideals that we think our fathers should live up to.

My husband’s father is one of the best. To hear Dave describe this man is to hear him say, My dad was just like Howard Cunningham, the character Tom Bosley played on the sit-com Happy Days. You know the one who owned the hardware store and let Fonzie move in over the garage; the one who worked long hours and still had time to date his wife on Friday nights and show up at all the kids sporting events. He was the one who encouraged his children to pursue their dreams even if that meant putting aside his own. Howard Cunningham was Dad to Ritchie, Daddy to Joanie and Mr. C to the Fonz. He was a good Dad. AND he was a good representation of our Heavenly Father.

But not all of us can say that. You can pick up any newspaper, any day of the week and read about fathers who abandon, neglect, or do physical and emotional damage to their children. It’s almost become a way of life.

Many Fathers today feel like they are on a run-away treadmill. They put in long on the job or work 2 jobs; to able to give their children the best education; or the latest fashions, or newest electronic devices. They miss sporting events, they miss school plays. They don’t have time to date their wives. They’re too busy trying to make enough money. They’re sacrificing the privilege of being “Dad” and settling for being “provider”.

I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t God our provider? Isn’t that what Dads are supposed to do? Doesn’t Timothy tell us “that a man who does not provide for his family has denied his faith and is worse than an infidel”? Yep! (1 Tim 5:8)

But is that enough? If I were placing an ad in the Sunday paper listing qualifications what would it say? What is the job description for being “Dad”?

First it is important to disclose that the duties are cumulative, rather than changing or evolving, a Dad’s responsibilities are added to as his children age.

When his children are very small he is Daddy, the man they place complete and total trust in. He is their provider, their protector, their first line of defense. He keeps them safe, fed, clothed and entertained.

As they grow and begin to discover things for themselves, Daddy adds guide and teacher to his responsibilities. With this comes the chores of training, rebuking, restraining, and punishing. Again Timothy tells us “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.” (1 Tim 3:4).

As children get older, Daddy’s name changes to simply Dad or Pop. He’s still their provider, protector and teacher, but the responsibilities of his job now include encouragement and discipleship.

Dad’s becomes both leader and coach. He may continue to lead in family Bible study and devotions but his job description now requires him to encourage his family members’ individual growth in their personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” was written by a man whose father not only instructed his children in the law of the Lord but modeled what he taught. Dad needs to be a man of integrity, generous, and loving.

 Again as children get older, Dad takes on a new name – “father”. It’s a more formal name that brings to mind a man of authority.

·       Dad is the guy who taught me how to pitch a softball.

·       father never settled for anything less than straight A’s.

·       Dad took us camping.

·       father worked in a factory for 40 years.

·        

·       Dad paid for the wedding.

·       Father gave the bride away.

The comparison sounds a bit harsh. Dad is the fun loving guy who you want to spend time with, while Father is the solid man you run to in time of crisis. But he’s also the wise man whose council you seek before making that big decision. Father has earned your respect.

If only fatherhood were that simple - three or four natural evolving steps - one day you’re daddy, a few years later your Dad, and then father. Then when you’re old, you graduate Grandpa and your work is done. Right?  Let me ask the Dads and Granddads here this morning, did it work that way for you? Of course not. You became father, the head of the household the day you became your first child’s father.

I can remember my husband coming home from work on May 5th 1987. He sat down at the kitchen table with a panicked looked on his face. When I asked what was wrong, he told me that he had grown up. I looked at him perplexed, and asked what led him to that conclusion. He said he had spent the morning in Personnel adding our new baby boy to his insurance coverage.

So how does that may you a grown-up, I asked?

He said on the line where it says “relationship to insured”

I checked the box that said Father, and it hit me. I was responsible for this life.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them a pattern that not only honors God, but gives fathers in particular a standard to live by.

Turn with me to Matt 9:9

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Father is an honorable name. Do not take it lightly. It comes loaded with authority, responsibility, and accountability. Fathers when you stand in the judgment. You will be asked if you brought honor to office of “father”. If you were God’s representative of Fatherhood on earth…

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Fathers, God has ordained a special job for you. He set a plan in motion the day you were born. He created you specifically for the position of father to your children. You are put together the way you are, so that your children can fulfill the destiny God has for them.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

Fathers, God will sustain you. He knows being Daddy, Dad, and Father is a tough job. But you can do it. He gives you, no, he has already equipped you with everything you need to accomplish this task. Here’s the instruction manual. This is your daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Fathers, be patient, be loving, be kind, be forgiving. We all make mistakes. Forgive not only your children and your spouse, but forgive yourself. The work of father after all is mainly on the job training.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

Fathers, you are not alone. God goes before you, he is your rear guard, and He stands besides you. He loves you and your children more than you can imagine. God is on your side. St. Paul reminds us (8:31) If God be for you, who can be against you?

So on this Father’s Day, June 19, 2005, Let me say to all the fathers here this morning. Thanks. Thanks for accepting the position of father. Not many men would have applied for the job, and fewer would have qualified if they knew all that the job entailed.

I know how fond of change you all are. J Fatherhood with all its demands and responsibilities requires that you be Dad one minute and father the next. Your doing a great job!

I also want to say thanks to God this Father’s Day. I know that I am a demanding child. Sometime I need Him to be Daddy and other times I need my father. Now, I know you feel the same way. So stand with me and let’s say Happy Father’s Day God.