The Power of the Father in the Parables

this parable is in the form of a rhetorical question. Not all follow this pattern.

Matthew 7:7–11 NASB95

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

While teaching on Persisting in Prayer, Jesus commends Fatherhood.

Godly dad’s don’t claim perfection, they offer direction.

New Testament (7:6–12—Imitating God’s Gifts)

Jesus adapts a standard Jewish argument here called qal vahomer: arguing from the lesser to the greater (if the lesser is true, how much more the greater). Fish and bread were basic staples, integral to the diet of most of Jesus’ hearers; they do not stand for the fineries of the wealthy.

Now moms you are important as well. God made you to compliment each other. Dad’s have a unique contribution to raising Godly kids.

Dad’s Presence has a powerful impact on families and children.

Negative inference here

Best Study is 18% of kids will be regular church attenders without dad.

But if dad alone goes, 66% of children grow up to be regular attenders.

You can find these statistics at the Census Bureau, the National Fatherhood Initiative, Barna and Lifeway. They may nuance them a bit but the substance remains the same. We need cheer dads.

63% of youth suicides come from fatherless homes.

71% of High School Drop outs come from fatherless homes.

75% of all adolescents in addiction treatment facilities come from fatherless homes.

85% of all children with behavioral problems come from fatherless homes.

85% of all youth in prison come from fatherless homes.

90% of runaway children come from fatherless homes.

By the way, fatherlessness has really taken over those in poverty (it doesn’t matter the ethnicity of the parents or the child. The fatherless rate is over 70% for those in poverty regardless of their background). So the fight against poverty and the cycles of poverty will have to include a plan to encourage and value fathers. (And the

You can produce kids and not be a parent.

You can be married and not be a mate.

You can be a dad, but that doesn’t make you mature.

So we need to honor the dads who have been there for their kids and remind those of us who may not have had an involved dad, that the Father in Heaven wants you. Perhaps you are here as a single mom and you think the odds stack up against you. I want you to believe you will be guarded by God and your kids will not be part of those stats. But they will experience Psalm 68.

Psalm 68:4–6 (NLT)

4 Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence! 5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. 6 God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.

Thank you dad’s for teaching your kids Character.

Proverbs 20:7 (LEB)

7 He who walks in his integrity is righteous; happy are his children who follow him.

By providing for their kids, Father’s demonstrate God’s goodness.

James 1:17 (NLT)

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

By offering a secure relationship, you teach your children Responsibility.

Malachi 4:6 (NLT)

6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Luke 1:17 (LEB)

17 And he will go on before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people made ready.”

Deland McCuloh and Sherman Smith.

If the father does not attend church and mother does, the best statistic is that 18% of children will grow up and attend church.

If the father attends church and the mother does not, 66% of kids grow up and attend church.

If both father and mother attend church, 75% of kids grow up to be part of a church.

Loving Father, thank You for sending Jesus to come as our perfect example of a godly Man, a Man Who demonstrated that godly living means to walk in spirit and truth, in submission to the Holy Spirit and in obedience to You, His heavenly Father.

Lord, I lift up Christian men everywhere and pray that Your Spirit of grace and truth may rest and remain on each Lord, I speak the blessing of Deuteronomy 28 over these men’s lives. I ask that you would cause a hunger and a thirst within their hearts to please you and to faithfully obey you so that they can walk fully in the blessings you have for them. Lord, as they walk in obedience to you, bless them in the city and in the country. Bless their children, the work of their hands and all that they produce. Bless their food. Bless them as they come in, and as they go out. Father, cause all of these blessings to chase them down and overtake them. Overwhelm these men with your goodness, God, so that your glory may be evident in their lives.

God, I also pray for these men to have courage in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit, reveal yourself to them in such a way that they would know in their hearts that they do not carry a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Ignite courage inside of them, so much so that they would swell with confidence in you. Not in themselves, Lord, but in you – the God who made them, walks with them, and lives inside of them.

Just as you told Jacob to be strong and very courageous, I pray that these men would be strong and very courageous! There is so much that you want to give your sons, Father. I ask that you would cause a boldness to rise up in them that would empower them to go and take possession of everything that you have set apart just for them. Lord, give them the tenacity to keep pursuing that which you have said is already theirs. I know that there will be enemies who oppose them while they attempt to do this. I pray that they would know and be reassured that they have you, the God of angel’s armies, fighting on their side, and that the victory is already theirs.

Lord, I worship you and I give you all the glory for blessing these men in my life and for giving them courage. I love you and honor you, and I seal this prayer in the blood of Jesus Christ.

Amen.