Father's Day 2020

Introduction

A small boy's definition of Father's Day: "It's just like Mother's Day only you don't spend as much." 

Definition of a father... "A father is a man who carries pictures in his wallet where his money used to be."

Paul Harvey's definition of a father...

"A father is a thing that is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic.... A father never feels worthy of the worship in a child's eyes. He's never quite the hero his daughter thinks, never quite the man his son believes him to be, and this worries him, sometimes. So he works too hard to try and smooth out the rough places in the road for those of his own who will follow him....Fathers are what give daughters away to other men who aren't nearly good enough, so they can have grandchildren who are smarter than anybody's. Fathers make bets with insurance companies about who'll live the longest. One day they lose and the bet's paid off to the part of them they leave behind." --Paul Harvey

A father's tribute...

John Drakeford dedicated one of his books: "To my two sons, Warwick and Brenton, teachers in the art of family living, who in the process have put gray hairs in my head, bills in my pocket, illustrations in my sermons, happiness in my home, and pride in my heart.” jun99

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Isn’t it amazing how God Created man and woman in His image? Each gender fully bears and carries on the image of God and yet each is so different!

We must never forget, though that we are made in the image of God. We are created to lead and love in the world.

Dads, stop counting your shortcomings and start counting your wins.

Today one of the biggest things I want to challenge all of us men to do is to stop counting our shortcomings and start counting more of our wins. Look to see how God is working through us and celebrate that. I know as men we can be our worst critics. We can sometimes never feel like we are enough. I want to encourage you men today. If you hear nothing else, hear me challenge you to count far more of your wins than your losses.

Biblical fathers who set worthy examples to follow

Today we’re going to look at several father’s throughout the Bible and see the worthy examples they left for us.

Of course the ultimate example of a father is our heavenly father. The example he sets is impossibly high but He promises to give us wisdom to be the men God is calling us to be.

Adam-The First Man

Adam had no example to follow except for God’s example.

Adam strayed from following God’s example and the whole world felt the effect of sin. Adam himself experienced the pain of sin with the death of his son Abel murdered by Cain.

Adam shows us the necessity of obeying God and the consequences of sin.

God wants fathers who obey Him completely.

No secret sin is hidden from God’s sight.

It never works out to blame others for your own mistakes.

Godly fathers take responsibility for their own failures and shortcomings.

Noah—a righteous man

Noah faithfully held onto God in the face of wickedness surrounding Him.

The world was literally destroying itself and Noah plodded along obeying God.

Noah wasn’t perfect but in his obedience He saved the world.

Remember obedience to God is a marathon, not a sprint.

Even the most faithful fathers have weaknesses and can fall into sin. This isn’t an excuse, it’s a warning.

Abraham—Genuine faith is what God wants to see.

Abraham obeyed God and served God over a lifetime to father a new nation.

God wants to use us despite our shortcomings...

Remember when Abraham lied about Sara being his wife so he could save his own sking.

…He will even rescue and support us through our mistakes.

God reveals His purpose and his plans over a lifetime of obedience.

God’s purposes and plans are revealed over a lifetime.

Isaac—God loves answering the prayers of Fathers.

Trust God, don’t lie.

Don’t show favoritism to your children.

Jacob—God works with us and despite us for His plans

He schemed and deceived but God worked through Him.

Remember, Jacob was the second born and yet he tricked his brother Esau into giving up his rights.

God wants us to trust Him.

Don’t worry about missing God’s will for your life. God works with your mistakes and bad choices.

Moses—God can do all things

Facing down pharaoh when Egypt was a world superpower.

40 years plus of leading a country .

With God, all things are possible.

David, the King—A Man after God’s own heart.

God wants our whole hearts. God values men willing to examine their hearts in face of their sins.

We can’t hide our sings from God.

Sins have consequences.

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.

God honors men of integrity and trusts them.

Mercy wins. Always.

Obedience may result in humiliation and disgrace before men, but friendship with God.

God the father

God never changes.

God is faithful

God is love.

God created us in His image.

God calls us to spend a lifetime imitating Him.

Dads, stop counting your shortcomings and start counting your wins.