Kingdom Father

Introduction

There are all kinds of fathers in our community today.

The family man

The provider/workaholic

The stay-at-home dad

The Disciplinarian

The absentee father

The religious father

The foster father

The stepfather

The second father

And the list goes on and on.

Fatherhood is a concept and trait that originated in the heart of God. For God sees himself and calls himself the Heavenly Father. This idea of "The Father God" runs all through the Bible from cover to cover. So it is no accident that God created man in his image, making him a father.

We have been discussing the roles we play in the kingdom of God now. In this series, "Kingdom Come," we have addressed a kingdom woman, a kingdom Church, kingdom marriage, kingdom kids, and now a kingdom father.

The premier of “Show Us The Father” coming out in September.

John 14:6–11 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

A kingdom father represents the heart and character of his Father in heaven. Being a kingdom father is no easy task, but it is one that we as Christian fathers must achieve. So, dads, I want to encourage you today with some practical steps that you can take to become a kingdom father.

The Lord's Prayer in Matthew six provides us with a beautiful picture of our heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:9–13 AV

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Our Heavenly Father:

Loves us

Cares for us

Provides our needs

Forgives our sin

Protects and delivers us from evil

Through the Holy Spirit, He teaches and guides us into all truth and disciplines us to bring about the fruits of righteousness.

From these characteristics, we can form a good picture of a kingdom father.

A heart to love and care

Hands to provide and protect

A mind to teach and instruct

A will to bring peace through righteousness

It would be great if every father were a kingdom father, but reality tells a different story. You have sinful fathers dealing with wicked children, which can lead to disastrous consequences. If we are to bring hope to our community, it is incumbent upon us to show them who our heavenly father is. Kingdom fatherhood must start in our own homes if we are to be an example to our community.

Leading the Way

There are two very different ways in the world: different ways of thinking, ways of doing, and different ideas of success. There is the way of the world and the way of Christ. Jesus spoke of it in a narrow and broad way.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

The Narrow Way

Jesus is the narrow way, the path less traveled. But, unfortunately, most are traveling the course of this world leads to destruction.

Proverbs 14:12 (ESV)

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Kingdom fathers not only choose the narrow way of Christ but lead their children in the way.

Illustration: Abraham and his faithfulness to lead is children

Genesis 18:17–19 ESV

17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Kingdom fathers lead the way.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The way of the Spirit (The fruit of the spirit)

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The way of the Son (Sacrificial living, placing others before yourself)

Philippians 2:3–5 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

The way of the Father (Set apart through righteousness)

2 Corinthians 6:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Training the Way

Illustrate the ways of the father with real-life examples.

Use the church as a means of teaching.

Serving others through community projects like the Boys and Girls Club on July 24th.

Discipline for righteousness and not out of rage.

Hebrews 12:9–11 ESV

9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Leave a legacy for your children to follow.