Guiding Principles For Fathers

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.

Καὶ οἱ πατέρες, μὴ παροργίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἀλλὰ ἐκτρέφετε αὐτὰ ἐν παιδείᾳ καὶ νουθεσίᾳ Κυρίου.

INTRODUCTION:

Dad, as your children look at your life, what do they see? If you allowed them to make an honest evaluation of your life as a father; What kind of evaluation would you get?

In Ephesians 6:4; God gives us some guiding principles for fathers.

A - Background and command.

I - BE AN INSPIRATION, NOT A PROVOCATION (Ephesians 6:4a) (Col. 3:21)

(Ephesians 6:4a)

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.

Καὶ οἱ πατέρες, μὴ παροργίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν = And you fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.

(Colossians 3:21 )

21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

“οἱ πατέρες, μὴ ἐρεθίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἵνα μὴ ἀθυμῶσιν.”= You fathers, do not cause your children to become resentful, or you will cause them to become discouraged (disheartened).

What can you do to make sure that you are an inspiration and not a provocation?

A - Make sure you are a Christian.

1- Have you experienced the transforming power of Christ? (2 Cor. 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2- Are you resting in grace or attempting to gain heaven on your own?

(Eph. 2: 8—9, 10)

(Ephesians 2:8–9)

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

(Ephesians 2:10 )

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

B - Make sure you are maintaining a growing intimacy with Christ.

1- How would you characterize your personal walk with Jesus?

2- You are to be growing in Him.

(Eph. 4:15; 2 Peter 3:17—18)

(Ephesians 4:15)

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

(2 Peter 3:17–18)

17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

C - Make sure you don’t demand what you don’t live.

1- Are you teaching your children one lesson with your lips, and another with your life?

ILL : His Lesson (KMB pg. 209)

Joseph had been sent to bed by his mother for using profane language. When his father came home she sent him upstairs to punish the boy. "I'll teach that young fellow to swear," he roared, and started up the stairs. He tripped on the top step and even his wife held her ears for a few moments. "You'd better come down now," she called to him after the air had cleared somewhat, "he's had enough for his first lesson." —Illinois Farmer

Guidance goes beyond words!

II - BE A TEACHER OF GODLINESS (Ephesians 6:4b)

Ephesians 6:4b (NLT)

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.

What can you do to be a teacher of Godliness?

A - Pray daily for your children.

Example of Job (Job 1:1-5)

Job 1:1–5 (NLT)

1 There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.

2 He had seven sons and three daughters.

3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

4 Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them.

5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

1- For their Salvation.

2- For their Sanctification.

3- For their Spouse (or future spouse).

4- For their Service to Christ.

B - Teach your children Biblical principles for living.

(Deut. 4:9,10; 11:18—19)

(Deuteronomy 4:9)

9 “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

(Deuteronomy 4:10)

10 Never forget the day when you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, ‘Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also.’

(Deuteronomy 11:18–19)

18 “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.

19 Teach them 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.

1- The lessons are to be ongoing.

2- The lessons are to be lived out before the children.

a. Living in faith.

b. Lordship of Christ

*Joshua:”As for me & my house.”

(Joshua 24:15)

Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

C - Give your children Scriptural answers to Life’s Problems.

1- Teach them that God’s word has the answer to all of the problems we

(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

D - Teach your children to have a growing intimacy with Christ.

1- Through prayer, Scripture meditation, obedience.

2- Teach them that they belong to God.

* Give them to God – Samuel was given to God. (I Sam. 1:11; 1:20, 27-28; 2:11)

(1 Samuel 1:11)

11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”

(1 Samuel 1:20)

20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”

(1 Samuel 1:27–28)

27 I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request.

28 Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.

(1 Samuel 2:11)

11 Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.

CONCLUSION:

* HIS GREATEST SERMON (KMB 213—14)

Many years ago a farmer had an unusually fine crop of grain. Just a few days before it was ready to harvest, there came a terrible hail and wind storm. The entire crop was demolished.

After the storm was over, the farmer, with his little son went out on the porch. The little boy looked at what was formerly the beautiful field of wheat, and then with tears in his eyes he looked up at his dad, expecting to hear words of despair.

All at once his father started to sing softly, "Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee." Years after, the little boy, grown to manhood, said, "That was the greatest sermon I ever heard."

The farmer lost a grain crop, but who knows but that that was the turning point in the boy's life? He saw the faith of a godly father in practice.