A Father’s Heart

Proverbs 23:19-25

Proverbs 23:19–25 KJV 1900

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; Among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; Also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: And he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, And she that bare thee shall rejoice.

We believe that the Bible teaches that God expects men to step up and provide strong, loving leadership in the church and in their families.

Introduction: The Bible tells us in

Psalm 127:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; So are children of the youth.

1. Children are a gift from God

2. The Fruit of the womb is a reward

3. Children like arrows – Our children can be one of the greatest ways we influence the world…

Note –

The greatest parenting manual ever written is the Bible – and one of the most helpful portions is the book of Proverbs.

Here we see Solomon’s instructions to Rehoboam. We also see God’s instructions to all of His children. And we learn the heart of all godly fathers for his children…

Note- WE need MEN that will demonstrate to young men and women what is expected of them!!!!

1. Manners

2. Treat women

3. Respect authority

4. Love God

5. Faithful to Church

I. Reminders From a Father’s Heart – verses 19-23, 27-35

A. The Importance of Guidance – verse 19

Note – A Father is to teach a child how to guide his heart, this trains the child to have and accept Personal Responsibility!!!

Note – One way this is done is by establishing land marks – 22:28, 23:10

Proverbs 22:28 KJV 1900

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

Proverbs 23:10 KJV 1900

10 Remove not the old landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

Most of our historical monuments remind us that we never want that to happen again.

Illustration – Many years ago the Duke of Windsor visited America. Upon returning home, he was asked, “What most impressed you?” “The way the Parents obey their children.”

B. The Importance of Guardedness – verse 20

Note – Verse 20 – “Be not among”

(Nearness is likeness)

Definition – Riotous = Without control (who are your children’s friends?)

Dad’s should choose/approve their children’s friends- I know that it is “old Fashioned” but like Tom Farrell said “so is air and water, but you need both of them too…”

“Those that do not love the Lord will not help you serve the Lord”

2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

C. The Importance of Godliness

God desires the earthly Father to point the way to the heavenly Father…A way of Godliness.

Note- men we are the earthly representation of God the Father in Heaven

Note – Hearken – verse 22 (Hear intelligently)

Note – Hold – verse 23 – (Buy the Truth and Sell it Not)

Note- it must be: do as I do! Live the life worth imitating!!!

1. Moral Purity – verse 27-28

Illustration – The World’s philosophy is to teach children how to sin safely…

Illustration – Public school in Minnesota – Teaching explicit information, asking provocative questions on tests.

Note- some of parents ought to go and spend some time in the classroom and walk up and down the halls of the public schools!!!

Get involved in the training and education of your children!!

Some of the teachers and staff may be believers but the curriculum is completely anti-God!!!

1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV 1900

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

2. Abstinence from Alcohol – verse 29-35

Isaiah 5:11 KJV 1900

11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; That continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Proverbs 20:1 KJV 1900

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Alcohol is still the single biggest destroyer of families!!!

According to the CDC: every 50 minutes a person dies because of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol is the 3rd leading preventable cause of death in the United States!

Illustration – Verse 29 –vs- Some Budweiser Commercial

Note – Kids when you see those commercials – Say “The Devil is a liar.”

Note – These are the Reminders of a Father’s Heart!! – We must share our faith and convictions!

Quote – To our forefathers – Faith was an experience…

To our Fathers – Faith was an inheritance…

To us – Faith is a convenience…

To our Children – Our Faith will be a nuisance…

II. Requests From a Father’s Heart – verse 26

A. My Son – Give My Thine Heart

Note – This is what God says to His children. This is what a godly father says to his children.

Note- The world, the flesh and the devil are all vying for the heart of our children…it is up to the Dad’s to maintain that relationship to keep the child’s heart…

Psalm 10:17 KJV 1900

17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Psalm 14:1 KJV 1900

1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good.

Psalm 19:14 KJV 1900

14 Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 26:2 KJV 1900

2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my reins and my heart.

Illustration – Rafting down the River at the Wilds for Senior Week – we trusted the Guide, he had been down the River before…knew where the rocks and dangers were at….

Illustration- ought to trust someone that has been this way before and successfully navigated the path: do not take money advice from someone that is broke; do not take marital advice from someone that is in their 14th marriage; do not take spiritual advice from someone that is not faithful to church; how do you tell- just listen to their conversations and you will find out what is important to them.

Illustration- Dad, trust God. Sons and Daughters, trust Dad. (In your decisions, friendships, clothing styles, etc… “Here’s my heart.”)

B. Observe My Ways

Dad – “Don’t ask for their heart – if you’re not going to live godly before them!

Note – Spend time, mentoring and nurturing.

Illustration – A dad was sitting in his chair reading the Newspaper…Little boy standing in front of dad…Baseball cap and glove – “Dad, play me or trade me.”

That same boy as he gets older is speaking in his heart… “Dad, pray with me or lose me.”

Dad- your children ought to know that you love God, love their mother, love your church, love your pastor, love your ministry that you are involved in….

Turn –

Philippians 4:9 KJV 1900

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

III. Rejoicing From a Father’s Heart – verse 24-25

A. The Father of the Righteous Shall Rejoice

Proverbs 27:11 KJV 1900

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Illustration – May be a dad with a young family who says – I’m not going to teach these things to my children…

Note – Get ready for a broken heart!

Illustration – May be a dad – doing his best – faithful to God’s house etc…Don’t give up!

B. The Mother Shall Be Glad – verse 25

Proverbs 31:28 KJV 1900

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Note – Many wise, single moms here today – Allow the church body to provide mentoring for your children.

Conclusion –

Illustration – Picture of a man with blue ribbon Hog…and the boy all scruffy and dirty involved in the wicked things of this world.

Is God your Heavenly Father?

What does your birth certificate say?

Dad’s what kind of dad are you?

Can you say to your children…I want you to be the kind of Christian that I am?

Men what kind of men are you?

Can you point to your life and tell your children….here is how you serve God?

Ladies- can you point to your life and tell your children I want you to be just like me?

Have you ever trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?