Gospel centered Father's
Notes
Transcript
Announcements
Announcements
Introduction
Introduction
Happy Father’s day!
Today we are going to continue our gospel story series because I believe it lines up well with the day. Turn over to Psalm 23.
Many of you are familiar with this verse. It is often read at funerals and while it may provide comfort there, I believe it is better used while we live.
I believe that in this Psalm we see traits of our Heavenly Father that we need to understand and appreciate while we live for Him.
One of the greatest thing’s that dad’s have contributed to society are not the stunning good looks that they each posses but their amazing sense of humor.
I thought it would be appropriate for us all to bask in the awesomeness of a few dad jokes this morning. Ready?
Before I do, let me tell you this story:
I think most of you know we have animals at our house. We have two dogs that we have had since just shortly after we got married. Scruffy and Daisy. Then Juan has a dog, Bella, who is currently residing with us and then we have a cat.
Look, it’s not that I hate cats, I just don’t want to take care of the cat. Sarah and Evan both were wanting the cat so I put a stipulation on it: I’m not taking care of it.
Then here we are the other day in the kitchen and Evan comes in and says
"Dad, can you put the cat out?" I said “What? I didn't know it was on fire."
See, amazing sense of humor
But seriously though, we were out the the other day getting some tacos at taco bell. Have you been there since they rebranded? It looks amazing inside and out.
We got our food and sat down then one of the kids took a bite of food and I stopped them and said “Hey, you know we don’t sit down and just start eating. Do you have something you need to say?” “the kid said I don’t know”
So I told them “We are eating tacos…lettuce pray.”
Remember, It's inappropriate to make a 'dad joke' if you're not a dad. It's a faux pa.
HA HA
Now that you have had time to bask in the awesomeness of dad jokes, let’s talk about the other great things a provide brings to the table.
Our Heavenly Father is the great example to all of us dads as to how we are love our children and families.
ladies, non fathers, be sure to listen today…I know you’ll get something from the message as well.
In Psalm 23 we see more than a comfort at our death bed, we see traits of our Heavenly father that we can only know by faith in the gospel and can only be exhibited appropriately by yielding to the Holy Spirit of God.
Dad’s play an important role in the home. For those in single parent or father absent homes, you are in our prayers. Don’t neglect the godly men and women that are apart of LBC to turn to for help. I promise you, if you’ll let us, we will happily make ourselves available.
Today I pray the message accomplishes a few things: 1. If you haven’t trusted in Jesus as your Savior and don’t have a relationship with your Heavenly Father, I’d like for you to see how amazing He is and make that choice to trust in Him. 2. Christians, I hope you will see these traits and remember who your God is and what He will do if you will turn towards Him. 3. Dad’s, see the responsibilty you have and seek to live up to it. Don’t make excuses…Jesus took away your excuses. Lean on Him.
Follow along as I read
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
PRAY
I. Our Father Provides
I. Our Father Provides
One of the names of God is “Jehova-Jireh” which means “The Lord Provides”
Other ways of understanding this first verse are to say “ The Lord is my Shepherd, I have what I need.”
We have what we need as believers because we have God. Not his blessings, not anything else, just Him. The blessings of God that are given by His grace and mercy are not what we pursue, we pursue Him.
This first verse serves as the theme of this Psalm.
shall not want
For rest and refreshment (Psa 23:2), restoration and righteousness (Psa 23:3), protection in trouble (Psa 23:4), provision in the wilderness (Psa 23:5), and a home to go to at the end of the day (Psa 23:6).
As we celebrate our Heavenly father and what He provides everyday we today recognize Dad’s for what they provide.
Dad’s one of the best ways to honor God and love your family is to provide for them as best you can. While physical provision is important, and I do believe in what the bible says “If a man does not work, he should not eat,” what you provide to your family spiritually is more important.
A quick note on physical provision…You may find yourself with a disability preventing you from doing certain things, don’t beat yourself up over the life God has given you or the “thorn in the flesh” as Paul had that was a reminder of God.
However every father can provide spirtually for their family.
Notice in verse 2 the rest and refreshment the shepherd provides to the sheep. After a day of grazing from field to field he brings them to green pastures and still waters.
Now when I think of Green pastures I see the rolling hills of Tennessee. Farmland as far as you can see sometimes. Beautiful landscape.
As I was studying for this I found out that Israel has some of that but the most likely scene being mentioned here is not two different places but one place.
A green pasture with a small stream in the middle of it. This would be a place for the sheep to rest, relax, and be comfortable.
Not only should the home provide rest, relaxation, and refreshment but anytime your with your family there should be a sense of calm, safety, and a refreshing spirit from all that is going on in the world.
How can you do this? How can you provide like this?
Because you are receiving it from God through Jesus and your faith in the gospel.
If you are not taking the time to allow your Heavenly father to provide you with rest, relaxation, and refreshment, you will be unable to provide it for others.
Provide an example to them in what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Show them how to pray. Teach them to study their Bible. Establish routines in your home that circle around the things of God.
Do you kids do physical chores? We call them responsibilities at our home because we believe no one wants to do chores but everyone must take care of their responsibilities.
Can I suggest you add to their daily routine before they get their phone, tablet, or have access to anything like that…they must spend time with God?
Why? Because Father’s Guide
II. Father’s Guide
II. Father’s Guide
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Moms and Dads it is our responsibility to provide spiritual guidance to our children.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.
To train a child is to tell him the way, show him the way, and let him follow the way. This is the way.
Dad’s, I’m the first to tell you that I want my children to respect me. As they should. I’m also the first to tell you that in pursuit of that respect, I’m afraid there have been times were I’ve sacrificed not only our relationship but happiness and enjoyment they can have in the home.
That’s not to say there isn’t a time and place for discipline and correction, there absolutely is. And during that time your kids may not want to be there…but are there feelings affected by their actions, their punishment, or your improper response?
Our Heavenly Father leads us in the way of righteousness. The word righteousness has been distorted over the years.
In the most basic sense, it means right things. The right things according to God. To live righteously is to live a godly life that exemplifies Christ. One that avoids sin at all costs. One that takes a look in the mirror of the Gospel to only find your own ways, your own righteousness as the filthy rags they are described to be in Isaiah and see your need for Jesus’ love, mercy, and grace.
God leads us in this way as we get closer to Him and desire to know Him.
Your relationship with your Heavenly Father will determine how you live for Him.
Dad’s your relationship with those in your home will determine how much they listen to you.
Their obedience will develop a relationship. The relationship will develop the obedience.
If you punish our way into our kids lives, then we will find ourselves being punished by them as they are older.
Kids have to make their own decisions.
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Teenagers, you make your own decisions. You are not a victim of your circumstances. Don’t have that victim mentality believing people owe you something because your you or thinking that people are out to get you.
Change your mindset and change your life.
Their wisdom or foolishness won’t be completely determined by how you raise them, but it will be heavily influenced it.
As our Heavenly father guides us, Dad’s we are to guide our home.
It’s in verse 4 where we see a transition in the Psalm from talking about the Lord to talking to the Lord.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
We’ve spoke of disciple a little bit already but I want to point out a few things in verse 4 that I think are vitally important to our role as father’s and parents in general.
David is writing here that when get gets into the shadow of death, into the dark and low places of life that he does not fear. When he faces his enemies, he is not afraid. When life throws him for a loop, he knows he will be ok. Why? Becuase God is with Him.
God is with us. Dad’s we are not omnipresent like God is but our families should know that when they get into trouble, when they have hard times, they have a place to go. They have a place of refuge. They have someone who will love them and comfort them.
Notice where the comfort comes from though.
The Shepherds rod and staff.
Now, these are two different objects. The Rod is a short club like object used to defend the sheep from predators and the staff is what we typically think of when we think of Shepherds.
The rod was not used to beat the sheep or to discipline them. The Rod was used to defend them.
We may never know all that the Lord has defended us from.
In Psalm 18 David said “The Lord is my shield” He is our defender.
Dad’s, we are to be the defenders of our home and of our family.
How can we do that?
Never speak ill of your family. Dave Pandiscia said it best in our parenting group: Praise in public and discipline in private. Rebuke in private. have some tact about you and don’t go telling all of your kids or spouses wrongdoings to everyone around you or blasting it on facebook.
Be on their side and in their corner. Reprove them and instruct them in private.
The staff was used for just that. Teaching and training.
If the sheep would begin to get away, the shepherd would take the crook of the staff and place it underneath the head of the sheep…don’t do this to your kids…and pull up to back the sheep up to the herd.
It’s with both these instruments the Shepherd would protect the sheep. One from predators outside of the herd and the other from themselves.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: But a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
I’ve said before that we are not here to train children to be children. That one is easy. We are seeking to train them to be godly young men and women.
Without the protection of the crook, of the instruction of the father, the rebuke of the father, we as the sheep in God’s herd would go astray and be taken by wolves.
Your kids will find themselves lost to their own devices if they are allowed to do and roam as they please.
This looks different at different stages of life. In the early years you may always have that crook around their neck, constantly pulling them back and guiding them. Then as they get older, they may fight the crook a little more so you have to use it as needed and appropriately.
As adults, you still have that crook and can exercise the authority and influence that comes with it however remember, they are now at the age where they can run faster from you and even fight against your help. Don’t sacrifice your relationship now for something that won’t wreck them.
As much as we may not like it…they have to make their own mistakes.
The last trait I’d like to point out about our Heavenly Father and one that we as father’s, parents, and really anybody need to have is this
III. A Father Rejoices
III. A Father Rejoices
The word rejoice has a couple of meanings to it.
to feel or show great joy
to cause joy to
I believe our Heavenly Father does both and we should as well.
Where does our joy come from?
The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
We can feel and show great joy when we have a relationship with our Heavenly father. That requires a repentant heart that is willing to empty yourself and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?
It is being completely and totally yielded over to Him. It means responding according to biblical principals and truths that are contrary to your fleshly response.
It’s not you doing something you don’t want to do, it’s you doing what is best for you, for your family, and for the Lord.
When you are filled with the Spirit you can have that joy and show that joy to others.
Which leads to the second definition “to cause joy” That is what is being spoken of here in verses 5 and 6.
Our Heavenly Father is causing joy to the writer in the presence of his enemies. He is refuge in the troubles and trials of life.
Dad’s are you a refuge for your children and family or are you a source of frustration and aggrevation?
Could it be because you have no relationship with your Heavenly father? Could it be because there are areas of sin in your life that your not dealing with? Your lack of joy in the Lord is being communicated to your family through your actions and words.
Now what will you do about it?
In closing this Psalmist makes a joy filled declaration. One that can be interpreted as Heaven and I wont’ argue that but can I say this, you can experience the presence of God while living as well.
Remember, our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit of God now. The question is: Is the Holy Spirit a welcomed guest or do you see Him as a nosy neighbor?
Are you here this morning and never trusted in Jesus as your savior? If that’s you then experiencing the joy of the Lord is impossible. Because you don’t know the Lord.
Being saved and having a relationship with Jesus is one of the best decisions you could ever make. There is a reason you here testimonies of people and how God has changed their life.
If you know you are a sinner, and know you need a Savior then believe that Savior is Jesus and that His death burial and resurreciton paid for your sins.
If you are a Christian this morning, isn’t it great to think about how your Heavenly Father Provide’s, guides, and rejoices over you? Had you forgotten the joy His creation brings Him through Christ? Isn’t it great to know there is somwhere to go in the troubles and trials of life?
Dad’s, There is a great responsiblity on our shoulders. One that we cannot shirk in the name of riches and prestige. One we cannot put on someone else…It’s ours. We are to be the spiritual leaders of our home and point those in our lives to Christ.
Are you? Why not?
Can I help you? Make time for Christ in your life. Spend time with other Christians. Make gathering with them a priority. Too many will say “I’ll come to church if nothing is going on” That’s the wrong attitude…Church is what you have going on and say no to the other things.
Time of Response
Time of Response
Are you here and don’t know for sure that you have a relationship with Jesus? Are you here and don’t know if you died today that you would go to Heaven?
The Bible says in
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
If you tru