The Influence of Father's

A young man was to be sentenced to the penitentiary. The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his father--a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, "The Law of Trusts." "Do you remember your father?" asked the magistrate. "I remember him well, your honor," came the reply. Then trying to probe the offender's conscience, the judge said, "As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?" There was a pause. Then the judge received an answer he had not expected. "I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, 'Run along, boy; I'm busy!' When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying "Run along, son; this book must be finished!' Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend." The magistrate muttered to himself, "Alas! Finished the book, but lost the boy!"

Homemade, February, 1989.Introduction

The influence of mother’s and fathers can and does have profound impact.

On Mother’s Day, we considered the influence of mother’s through 7 biblical examples/models. In the next two weeks we will consider the influence of father’s using 7 biblical examples.

Hezekiah, a godly king, was told he would be sick and die. He pleaded with God for more time, a request that God granted. He added 15 years to his life.

In a prayer written after his healing, he makes this remark…

Isaiah 38:19

In this simple little statement, we are reminded of a profound truth…father’s you have the power to influence, through teaching, instructing, and reminding of God’s faithfulness to the next generation so that they too become followers of God.

Fathers, YOU ARE having an influence in the lives of your children, the question is, what kind of influence are we having?

Are you influencing their absence and indifference or are you influencing through devotion to God?

Let’s consider these seven examples and be challenged by so doing.

Outline

Bid Idea: The influence of father’s is an essential element in the design of God for the family.

Seven ways father’s should exercise this influence.

Courtesy of Billy Apostolon (With a few modifications)

ISAIAH 38:19

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE PAUL.

He knew the person of prayer; Eph. 3:7-12; Heb 4:14-16

He knew how to pray; 1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 18:1-8

He depended on prayer; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1; Heb 13:18

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH OBEDIENCE, LIKE JOSHUA.

He was obedient in his report of the land of Canaan; Num. 14:6–9.

He was obedient in crossing the Jordan; Josh. 3:13–17.

He was obedient in conquering Jericho; Josh. 6:3–5, 20.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PURITY, LIKE JOSEPH.

He was a godly person; Gen. 39:6.

He resisted temptation; Gen. 39:12.

He exchanged kindness for hatred; Gen. 37:28; 42:16.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH UNCONDITIONAL PRAISE, LIKE JOB.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his family; Job 1:13-21.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his health; Job 2:1-10.

Job had unconditional praise that ended in reward; Job 42:12–17.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH FAITH, LIKE ABRAHAM.

By faith Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees and journeyed to Canaan; Heb. 11:8-9.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac; Heb. 11:17-18.

By faith Abraham looked up; Heb. 11:10

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DECISIONS, LIKE MOSES.

Moses chose against being Pharaohs’ daughters’ son; Heb. 11:24.

Moses chose against sin; Heb. 11:25.

Moses chose against Egypt’s treasures; Heb. 11:26.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH A VISION, LIKE NOAH.

Noah’s vision was of a perishing world; Gen. 6:13.

Noah’s vision was of a way of escape; Heb. 11:7.

Noah’s vision brought him safety; Gen. 8:16.

Sermon Body

Why is the influence of a father so central and critical in the lives our children?

God designed it that way.

As the one designed for and entrusted with the responsibility to lead, God intended for men to instruct, to model, to protect, and to shape those under their care. This of course includes children but is also not limited to it.

It is a representation of God’s authority, role, and care

What negative impact are we seeing due to the lack of positive influence from fathers?

Lack of future generations being raised with integrity, responsibility, and honor.

Lack of respect and care for women and children

A leadership void in our society.

Increased crime

Decreased understanding of true masculinity and manhood.

More broken homes

What are some of the most critical ways father’s influence is needed?

To teach, instruct, and model true what it means to lead, protect, and serve.

To protect and guard the innocent

To protect and guard the defenseless

To teach Christ like character in the next generation

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE PAUL.

We talked about prayer with the Mothers, and again we come to it here.

The fact that we take time to talk about it with both ought to clue us in to the fact that it is so important.

Consider for a moment, what will make our prayer more passionate and more of a priority? What will increase its value for us?

When you know the person to whom you are speaking. And the more you know the person, the greater the desire and fervency of the prayer.

Paul is our example here. His prayer was passionate namely because he knew the person to whom he was speaking.

He knew the person of prayer; Eph. 1:3-23; Heb 4:14-16

Look at the way Paul describes his understanding of God.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Notice how that affects his prayers

Ephesians 1:15-23

Paul’s prayers were so rich and vibrant, so passionate and bold BECAUSE He understood (at least as best as any of us can) who God was and what He had done for us.

This knowledge, this intimacy fueled his prayer and his conversation with God and for others.

His desire was for others to know God with the same depth and knowledge he had and that they would share i his passion for God all the same as well.

Now notice the confidence this knowledge and intimacy gives Paul to approach God.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Again, Hebrews is anonymous but it believed to be Paul’s writing

Do you see it? The depth of Paul’s knowledge of God and the richness of his passion for God, INCREASED his fervency in prayer with God and for others.

Why?

Because the more he knew of God, the more he wanted to talk with and be near to Him AND the more he wanted others to be as well.

Because what is prayer other than intimate and personal conversation?

Prayer is a conversation with God.

And why does one have a conversation?

Several reasons:

Want/need something

Getting to know someone

Instruction/teaching someone

Enjoy conversing with the person to whom you are speaking

Listen, have we ever considered that the reason we do not pray more often or more fervently is because we don’t enjoy it?

And if you have considered this, have you considered WHY you don’t enjoy it?

Have you considered that because our knowledge of God is too small and therefore our desire to communion with him too little?

Personally, I find that the more I learn, the deeper my knowledge and passion for God goes, the more I want to pray, the more passionate my prayers when I do pray.

What’s more, Paul not only knew WHO he was praying to, he knew HOW to pray.

Does your commitment to prayer, your example/model of prayer reveal your intimacy, knowledge, and desire for the one to whom you speak? How? In what way(s)?

What is the difference between a mechanical prayer and a passionate, knowledge filled prayer?

Intensity, urgency, fervency

Commitment to persisting in prayer

He knew how to pray; 1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 18:1-8

1 Thess 5:17

Without ceasing.

What does this mean?

In a constant mindset of prayer.

Constant communion and conversation.

In a constant readiness to pray

With a first impulse

Do you find yourself in regular conversation with God, even about the little things of life.

Do you talk with him both about the big and little things of life?

Perhaps you are familiar with the movie, Fiddler on the Roof. Tevya, the main character of the movie is often depicted in his conversations with God.

Like this one.... (Play Video)

Certainly our prayers take on the forms of supplications/requests. We are never at a lack for things to ask for.

But our prayers can (and should) also take on the form of Adoration, confession, and thanksgiving. (ACTS model).

And frankly, it can be about the mundane details of life, like a lame horse.

Do you find yourself in regular communication with God? Or are you only one of those, at meal times, or church kind of pray-ers?

Not only should it be without ceasing, it should be persistent.

Luke 18:1-8

Without ceasing

With persistence

Persistence can be an evidence of faith. A sign of conviction.

A faithful claiming of the promise of God.

A faithful act of obedience and trust in who God is.

Our persistence can be a statement that says, we believe you, we trust you, and we depend upon you.

Certainly we can get petulant and demanding and come with the wrong attitude.

But when we come in faith, persistent in claiming the promises and person of God, it is a display of faith that pleases him.

It is hard to pray over and over again for the same thing and not see anything come of it. But sometimes, God calls us to as a display of faith. How much do we desire it? How much do we believe it? How much do we trust God?

This begs a whole lot of questions, because it is also certainly true that we can ask for the wrong things. But even when we ask for the right things, God may not and does not always answer yes right away or provide it right away. Sometimes, the goal is not the answer of prayer but our persistence in prayer.

Finally, not only did Paul knew the person of prayer, how to pray, but he also depended on prayer.

He depended on prayer; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1; Heb 13:18

1 Thess 5:25

2 Thess 3:1

Heb 13:18

He sought prayer. He asked for it.

And he asked for specific things.

It is noteworthy to point out that when you look at the recorded prayers of Paul and the requests for prayer from Paul, the majority of what he prayed for or sought prayer for was spiritual in nature.

Only about 10% of what he prayed for had to do with physical needs.

Many of the bold prayer focuses on our Wed prayer sheet, come from those passages.

Paul was a man dependent upon prayer.

He asked for it. And he gave specific, spiritual ways in which they could pray.

E.G. - I remember clearly texting a buddy a year or so back. I mentioned I was praying for healing, from relief of pain that he was enduring. He wrote back and thanked me but stated he would rather me pray for joy in the midst of the pain instead of deliverance from it. Not that deliverance and relief weren’t a desire for him.....merely that he had a greater goal and purpose than relief. He wanted Christ likeness even if that meant enduring the pain and asking for joy instead of relief. What if we all had this perspective? I remember being very humbled and (in a sense) rebuked by the request as it pointed out my temporal focus more than my eternal and spiritual.

Father’s we can influence through prayer, like Paul through KNOWING WHO we pray to, being PERSISTENT in prayer, and be DEPENDING on it.

How does knowing WHO we pray to strengthen our influence of prayer?

Gives a greater motivation to pray

Can pray with more specificity

How do we increase our knowledge of the one to whom we pray?

Spend time in the word

Spend time in prayer

Spend time around those who do the same

Keep our influences clear from worldly and unbiblical influences.

Conclusion, Part 1

Concluded here due to time.

Will resume with point 2

Introduction Part 2

Every church court, every pastor, missionary, and ruling elder, every Sabbath-schoolteacher, and colporteur, out of love for the generation to come, should make the establishment of Family-Worship an object of separate and earnest endeavor. Every father of a family should consider himself as charged with the souls of those with whom he hopes to leave behind him, and as contributing to the future propagation of the truth, by every act of devotion performed in his house. Wherever he has a tent, God should have an altar.

📷 James Alexander

Father’s do you view your role in this sacred of a manner?

Do you take seriously the charge entrusted to you in your children?

Before I launch into this....I have addressed the question, what if I do not have children?

My answer....adopt one.

But what about children who are fatherless?

Children who do not even know their fathers; whose fathers have passed away; whose fathers have left and are absent except for an occasional visit; father’s who are present physically but absent in every other way?

We are saying that the influence of a father is an essential element in the design of God for the family, so what do we do with children who are fatherless?

If they are passed away or completely absent....church…step up…men, adopt a child and speak into their life. Be purposeful in bringing a fatherly influence despite not sharing genetics or even the same roof.

If they are partial present or present in body only, church, let’s step up and encourage these men to be father, train them, encourage one another, provide helps and support for men to be fathers.

And if they won’t, then we do our best to step into the gap or find someone who will step in and provide a godly influence.

Because, I unapologetically declare that....

Outline

Bid Idea: The influence of father’s is an essential element in the design of God for the family.

And we need to embrace and support this as earnestly as we are able to.

Seven ways father’s should exercise this influence.

Courtesy of Billy Apostolon (With a few modifications)

ISAIAH 38:19

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE PAUL.

He knew the person of prayer; Eph. 3:7-12; Heb 4:14-16

He knew how to pray; 1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 18:1-8

He depended on prayer; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1; Heb 13:18

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH OBEDIENCE, LIKE JOSHUA.

He was obedient in his report of the land of Canaan; Num. 14:6–9.

He was obedient in crossing the Jordan; Josh. 3:13–17.

He was obedient in conquering Jericho; Josh. 6:3–5, 20.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PURITY, LIKE JOSEPH.

He was a godly person; Gen. 39:6.

He resisted temptation; Gen. 39:12.

He exchanged kindness for hatred; Gen. 37:28; 42:16.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH UNCONDITIONAL PRAISE, LIKE JOB.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his family; Job 1:13-21.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his health; Job 2:1-10.

Job had unconditional praise that ended in reward; Job 42:12–17.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH FAITH, LIKE ABRAHAM.

By faith Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees and journeyed to Canaan; Heb. 11:8-9.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac; Heb. 11:17-18.

By faith Abraham looked up; Heb. 11:10

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DECISIONS, LIKE MOSES.

Moses chose against being Pharaohs’ daughters’ son; Heb. 11:24.

Moses chose against sin; Heb. 11:25.

Moses chose against Egypt’s treasures; Heb. 11:26.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH A VISION, LIKE NOAH.

Noah’s vision was of a perishing world; Gen. 6:13.

Noah’s vision was of a way of escape; Heb. 11:7.

Noah’s vision brought him safety; Gen. 8:16.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH OBEDIENCE, LIKE JOSHUA.

3 examples of obedience from the life of Joshua.

He was obedient in his report of the land of Canaan; Num. 14:6–9.

Let’s begin reading in Numbers 13:25. We will read through Numbers 14:12

If you are familiar with the story, Moses sends 12 spies to scout out the land that God has promised to them.

The report is mixed. YES, there is great abundance and rich provision! BUT, the land is full of giants and mighty people’s that the dwell in the land are “too great” for us to defeat.

So 10 cry out in objection and defeat leading the majority of the nation of Israel to do so as well.

ONLY TWO, Joshua and Caleb (of the 12 spies) were convinced of God’s power and might to save, to keep his promise of giving them the land. And they encouraged the people to trust and obey God.

Because of this, they will be the only two over the age of 20 that will be permitted to enter the promised land from this generation.

Joshua and Caleb understood that the scouting out of the land was never intended as a survey of whether it was possible to take the land....this was already promised. The scout was merely to view the land and gain an understanding of the lay of the land and make a plan for their entrance into it.

Joshua and Caleb only ever saw the land through eyes of faith and thus, were not discouraged when the saw the inhabitants of the land.

Their God, our God, was bigger.

They were an example of obedience though all others, ones who should have known better from all the signs given them (Numbers 14:11-12).

They stood alone against any entire nation that rejection God and his promises.

There may be times in our lives we are called to stand upon truth, to be obedient even when it means doing so alone.

Will we trust God and love God enough to take that stand when that time comes?

Joshua was obedient when spying out the land.

Joshua was obedient in crossing the Jordan.

How do you keep from being discouraged when you see the enemies and opposition of life?

Stay rooted in the word

Stay connected in prayer

Stay supported by the body

Ever and always increase your knowledge of God through faithful reading of the word and sitting under the teaching of it.

How do you influence your children to keep faith in the face of opposition?

Same as above.

Teach them to see the larger purpose of trouble, of suffering, of hardship.

Tell them often of how God works in and through the problems you personally face.

He was obedient in crossing the Jordan; Josh. 3:1–17.

After the death of Moses, Joshua was given charge to lead the people of Israel in his stead.

God gave Joshua the task of beginning the conquest for the promised land.

The parting of the Jordan River was to be a sign for the people of Israel that God’s blessing upon Moses had been transferred to Joshua.

It was to be a sign that God, without fail, would drive out the people of the land before the Israelites.

Joshua can be seen throughout the Moses narrative shadowing Moses and being prepared, groomed to take over after Moses. Perhaps not fully understood at the time, looking back now, we see it. The book of Joshua is all about this transition and chapter 3 here reveals a very purposeful shift as God begins to elevate Joshua as Moses’ replacement.

Like Moses before Him, God would ask Joshua to do hard, “impossible” things.

In this confirmation and switch, God was going to ask Joshua to do things that did not make any earthly sense. His faith and trust in God would be tested and strengthened as he did so.

But in each case, we will see Joshua shine, his faith stand strong, and be used of God to bring the people of Israel at last into the promised land.

We, like them, will be asked at times to do “impossible” things.

Father’s (ALL of us), we are being asked everyday to do hard things. Impossible things.

Stand firm in our resolution of the truth even when others, professed follower of Jesus included, are compromising and falling.

Share the gospel with that family member, that neighbor, that antagonistic coworker (or other designation), the waiter/waitress we serves us, etc.

Sacrifice to help another, either with our time or our resources.

Take the gospel into closed and dangerous countries, willingly embracing the risk and the cost of bearing the gospel to all the known world.

Endure a broken relationship, marriage, family by persisting and remaining for the Glory of God, for the sake of the other, for our own sanctification in order that we may allow the Spirit to reveal Christ in us.

Endure restrictive and “backward” ways for the protection of our spiritual well being.

His influence of obedience, his example of obedience can be seen as well in his obedience at Jericho.

What “impossible” things are you being asked to do today?

How can you take this “impossible” thing and influence your children for God sake with it?

He was obedient in conquering Jericho; Josh. 6:1-7, 20.

The manner in which this victory was handed to Israel is ANYTHING but conventional and goes against EVERYTHING human logic and wisdom tell us.

And yet, we never see Joshua balking or hesitating when God gave him these unconventional instructions.

Listen, father’s, men, followers of Jesus, God may not speak to us in the same way he spoke to Joshua, to Moses of old, but he does speak. His WORD is living and active and His SPIRIT abide within.

Are we willing to be and being obedient to the revealed will of God in His word no matter how contrary to worldly wisdom it may be?

Are we influence through our obedience to His commands, to his will, and through our example of faith in unwaveringly submitting to His commands.

Father’s, we can influence by our example of obedience, no matter how hard or how great the cost.

Obedience to God is ALWAYS rewarded and blessed.

What hard or impossible thing are you being called to do? Are you resisting obeying on account of how hard or impossible it may be?

In addition to influencing through prayer and obedience, we can influence through purity.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PURITY, LIKE JOSEPH.

He was a godly person; Gen. 39:1-6

Joseph excelled in all that he did.

Precisely because God’s favor and blessing was upon him.

Because Joseph feared God and chose to honor him above all else. Genesis 39:9

Or, was Joseph a man of faith because God’s favor and blessing rested upon him?

In a sense, both.

Truth is, apart from the work of grace, none of us possesses faith.

Romans 12:3 - God has assigned to each a measure of faith

2 Timothy 2:24-25 - In giving the qualifications for church leaders, we are told that they must correct their opponents with gentleness because it may be that God would grant them repentance. This little statement reveals a large truth that we often overlook.

Namely, repentance is a gift of grace, granted by God

Just as faith is assigned

Meaning, apart from God’s work of grace, none would be given faith or come to repentance. The fact that any of us do is a testament to HIS grace, not our goodness.

So, in truth, God’s blessing upon Joseph is entirely of God’s own doing. He chose him to bless him and then granted him faith to be the man of righteousness we see.

BUT, as Joseph responded to and acted upon the faith and repentance that God‘s grace granted, God’s blessing continue to pour forth in abundance upon abundance.

Joseph was a young man who trusted in God and committed himself to God’s way

Not perfect in any way, but righteous and devoted to God, entrusting himself to Him.

Because of his faith and devotion, God’s blessing and favor rested upon him.

Jospeh’s life is one big bold spotlight of God’s favor upon Joseph and of Joseph’s incredible growth in faith.

Therefore, when temptation came knocking, Joseph resisted.

He resisted temptation; Gen. 39:6-12

Listen, the strength of our love for God and desire for Him will determine the strength we resist when temptation comes knocking.

The strength and passion of our love for God will determine how hard we are willing to fight.

It will determine what cost to self we are willing to pay to deny ourselves and the desires of the flesh.

Our love for God and our passion for Him will determine what self imposed boundaries and limitations we will impose upon ourself to protect ourselves from sin.

Our love for God and passion for righteousness will determine the things we watch, the sources we read, the activities we engage in, the people we turn to for counsel and advice, and every other action, thought, and desire we possess will be altered and changed by these truths.

Life is really a WAR OF PASSIONS. Life is really a conflict of DESIRES.

That which we desire more will win. And so the goal of our lives is to pursue a greater passion for God than for anything else.

This means, at times, we have to purposefully deprive, give up, cut off, limit, sacrifice other passions of the flesh…

Not necessarily because they are wrong in and of themselves,

Not necessarily because they are sin

BUT because they compete for and detract from our pursuit of a singular passion for God.

Listen, father’s…..men….husbands…..Do you set an example of limiting passions so that your passion for God shines and grows?

We can only truly be passionate about a few things in life at one time. Truth is, we do not have time to be truly passionate about many things in this life. That which we are passionate about will take our time, energy, and resources. Thus, we cannot be truly passionate for a multitude of things.

What are you truly passionate about? How do you priorities expose that?

Are you purposefully cutting off other passions which threaten THE SINGULAR PASSION we should have for God?

Joseph will win the war of passions here, for no other reason than his passion for God was greater than his lust for fleshly pleasure.

Joseph refused…cited honor and love for God as his reason.

Genesis 39:9

How can I dishonor GOD? How can I sin against him? For Joseph, it was not even entirely about his boss, his owner. It was not about his status, position, or prestige. It was about honoring and obeying God.

These things are SOOOOO easy to say and much harder to do, I get it.

Grab a buddy. Pair up, and form an accountable, supportive relationship in which you are helping each other to protect your singular passion for God.

Ask one another daily, weekly often, how are you protecting your passion for God this week?

How are you growing in your passion for God this week?

What passions are threatening or limiting your passion for God?

Be engaged in each other‘s lives enough to be able to see warning signs and be loving enough to step in with admonishment and rebuke when necessary.

Never forget we are in a war against an adversary who WANTS to inflict as much pain and misery, destruction and death as he is possibly able to.

Grow your passions for God, ask God for the increase, and guard your life against any and all passions that would suck the desire for God from your life.

Like Joseph, we can influence through purity.

Father’s, are you influencing your children to sexual purity? Are you taking the lead in your home to protect them from unintentional or deliberate exposure to sexual sin and temptation? Are you teaching, instructing, and discussing sexual purity with your children? Are you modeling it? Are you living it yourself?

And this is not just sexual purity, but purity from hatred and unforgiveness.

In what way(s) is life a war of passions?

Passion of the flesh warring against the Spirit.

The desires of the flesh conflict with the commands of God. Only a desire to please God and obey him can defeat the desires of the flesh.

Why is it so critical to be connected to the body in our pursuit of purity?

We cannot do it alone

We need accountability

We are stronger together

Private sin enslaves and has a greater hold than public, confessed sin

There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors

He exchanged kindness for hatred; Gen. 37:28; 42:16.

Being a righteous man, being a man of faith in God, he saw the bigger purpose in his brother‘s betrayal and hurt.

He chose to trust God and for GOD‘s sake, forgive his brothers.

And even when his brother’s struggled to accept the authenticity of his, he remained firm in his forgiveness and love for them.

Joseph refused to harbor bitterness and malice towards his brothers. He refused to retaliate and get even. He refused vengeance when the rest of the world would have told him he was justified in doing so.

Why, because he understood that their sin against him was under the guiding and directing hand of God in heaven and he was able to find peace with the fact that God used man’s sin for a greater purpose.

He was able to forgive and reject hatred because his trust was in God; his purpose, identity, and security were in God, not in the man or man’s approval, acceptance, or love.

Joseph was pure in his trust and passion for God.

Joseph was pure in his commitment to loving and forgiving as God loves and forgives.

Fathers, husband, men, followers of Christ….we can influence when we are similarly committed.

Are you modeling before your family a spirit of grace, forgiveness, and compassion?

Are you teaching your children how to love one another, forgive one another, and see God’s hand in the hurts they experience at the hands of others?

How are we responding when man sins against us?

Do we teach, not only that we should forgive, but WHY we should forgive?

Fathers, it is my prayer that we influence through purity, both in the sexual realm as well as the forgiveness realm.

What is so deadly about resentment, anger, and bitterness?

It eats away and erodes all that is good and true.

It rots and destroys everything it touches

It rejects Christ and the very forgiveness that he died to achieve.

It ruins and destroys fellowship with the body and with Christ.

Conclusion, Part 2

Father’s you have the ability to influence through prayer, through obedience and through purity.

Last week I shared this illustration....

Homemade, February, 1989.Introduction

As we conclude for this morning, let me paint you a very different portrait than that one.

If you do get lost, some of you will have to wade through your mother’s tears and leap over your father’s prayers and your minister’s entreaties. You will have to force a passage through the warnings of godly people and the examples of pious relatives. Why this effort to destroy your own souls?

C.H. Spurgeon

May we not be the father who loses his children because he is absent and uninvolved!

May we make it hard, placing as many obstacles as possible as possible in the path of waywardness. May we teach, instruct, pray, and fight for the spiritual welfare of our children for the sake of God’s name, for our children’s sake, and for the protection of their souls.

May we influence through prayer, through obedience, and through purity so that we find ourselves ever growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God.

Introduction, Part 3

If we measure our success as parents solely by what our children become, there is no inviolable guarantee in Scripture that we will experience absolute success on those terms… The true measure of success for Christian parents is the parents’ own character. To the degree that we have followed God’s design for parenting, we have succeeded as parents before God.

Successful Christian Parenting, 1998, p. 17. John MacArthur

Listen, successful parenting is not determined by how our children turn out. They are accountable and responsible for what they do with the teaching and instruction they are given.

Successful parenting is determined by how well we submit to God’s design, commands, and will for us as parents.

We cannot change them or their hearts.

We can only teach and seek to influence through OUR obedience to the word.

With that in mind, lets conclude this morning this study on the influence of father’s and see what our role is in presenting the truth through which the Spirit will work.

Outline

Big Idea: The influence of father’s is an essential element in the design of God for the family.

Seven ways father’s should exercise this influence.

Courtesy of Billy Apostolon (With a few modifications)

ISAIAH 38:19

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE PAUL.

He knew the person of prayer; Eph. 3:7-12; Heb 4:14-16

He knew how to pray; 1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 18:1-8

He depended on prayer; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1; Heb 13:18

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH OBEDIENCE, LIKE JOSHUA.

He was obedient in his report of the land of Canaan; Num. 14:6–9.

He was obedient in crossing the Jordan; Josh. 3:13–17.

He was obedient in conquering Jericho; Josh. 6:3–5, 20.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PURITY, LIKE JOSEPH.

He was a godly person; Gen. 39:6.

He resisted temptation; Gen. 39:12.

He exchanged kindness for hatred; Gen. 37:28; 42:16.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH UNCONDITIONAL PRAISE, LIKE JOB.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his family; Job 1:13-21.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his health; Job 2:1-10.

Job had unconditional praise that ended in reward; Job 42:12–17.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH FAITH, LIKE ABRAHAM.

By faith Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees and journeyed to Canaan; Heb. 11:8-9.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac; Heb. 11:17-18.

By faith Abraham looked up; Heb. 11:10

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DECISIONS, LIKE MOSES.

Moses chose against being Pharaohs’ daughters’ son; Heb. 11:24.

Moses chose against sin; Heb. 11:25.

Moses chose against Egypt’s treasures; Heb. 11:26.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH A VISION, LIKE NOAH.

Noah’s vision was of a perishing world; Gen. 6:13.

Noah’s vision was of a way of escape; Heb. 11:7.

Noah’s vision brought him safety; Gen. 8

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH UNCONDITIONAL PRAISE, LIKE JOB.**

**Outline changed from the original

How sad is it that our view of God and our praise/worship of him is often tied to our circumstances?

If things are going well, God is praised. If not, he is cursed.

This type of behavior, the type that praises God only in the blessing, is a type of praise that flows from a small and inadequate view of the person of God.

We saw when we considered the influence of moms that the Caananite woman praised the right person. Her praise was motivated by her knowledge of WHO she was worshipping.

We saw previously that our prayers are fueled and motivated with greater passion when we know the person to whom we are praying. And the greater the knowledge, the greater the passion to pray and converse with God.

Listen, we see a similar truth here.

Job’s unconditional praise of God was based on his knowledge of God and not on his circumstances.

Let me know you two examples of this.

What must we do to combat a conditional, circumstantial attitude/approach to praise?

Increase our knowledge of God

Deepen our intimacy with God

Consistently, regularly give thanks in ALL circumstances

Train ourselves to see God’s purpose and character in the “bad” as well as the good.

Stay connected to the body, to godly minded people who can help us see what we will miss in our flesh.

What is so dangerous with having a conditional, circumstantial attitude regarding praise of God?

We will come to wrong conclusions regarding who God is because we will base it off circumstantial instability rather than on unchanging truth.

We will never face any stability because life is not stable and constant.

Truth becomes subject to feeling rather than truth.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his family; Job 1:13-21.

He rose, shaved his head, fell on the ground, and WORSHIPPED in unconditional praise

Who among us can say that our first response in the midst of grief, loss, and death is WORSHIP?

Worship - the act of giving reverence to someone or something. The act of acknowledging and proclaiming it

Does it seem odd that in the midst of the deepest grief a man can endure (the loss of his family), that he would turn to praise and worship?

To the world it does.

To those of us given the Spirit and who possess faith in God, it does not…at least not as much

In the midst of circumstances beyond our control, where better to turn than to the one who controls all?

In the midst of grief and sorrow too deep to bear, where better to turn than to praise of the one for whom praise never expires or fades?

What better cure for grief and sorrow than praise and worship of the one ever and always worthy of it?

To human wisdom it seems folly and foolish.

To spiritual wisdom, it is the most natural and necessary thing in the midst of grief to worship the one true God.

Why, to our flesh, does worship seem an odd response to suffering?

Because it goes against our feelings and we have been taught and trained to put our feelings first in everything.

Why is worship the best response to suffering?

It takes the focus off of self and places it on God where it belongs

It looks beyond the happiness and circumstantial pleasures of this life to find our fulfillment and joy.

Father’s, when difficulty hits, when trials arrive, when grief strikes, when hurts cut, when sorrow invades, is your first impulse that of worship? Do your children see you worshipping as FIRST recourse in these moments?

Or is your response filled with profanity, curses, complaints, and anger?

Are you leading your children to worship in the midst of their trial and hurt?

Honestly, I was convict here. Not sure I am doing well at this.

In addition to worshipping, he surrendered in unconditional praise.

He shaved his head, tore his robe, he fell upon the ground....later, in chapter 2, we will see him also sitting in sackcloth and ashes…the descriptions revealing the most vulnerable position one could come in for that culture.

The depict a posture of complete and utter despondency, vulnerability, and submission.

Naked I came, naked I go

The lord gives and the Lord takes away

BLESSED BE THE NAME of the Lord

Blessed be....THE VERY ONE WHO has taken all that I value and cherish

Blessed be....the very one who has permitted/inflicted this suffering I now endure

Blessed be…favored be…honored be…abundant and prosperous be…the one to whom all things have been granted and now taken from me.

Job is calling for blessing, prosperity, favor upon the very one whom is also crediting the loss of all that is precious to him.

Stop and ponder that for a moment....

What grace it takes to respond like that.

It is an act of surrender, of faith, of humility.

By blessing the name of God he surrendered to the will, intent, and purpose of God.

By blessing the name of God, by accepting his loss, he trusted in the person of God who permitted and allowed such suffering.

Job’s praise of God was unconditional is that it was not based upon his blessing, abundance, or wealth. It was not based on his circumstance.

In this first attack of Satan, he lost everything but his health. And still, he was committed to unconditional praise.

Father’s, followers of Jesus, does your faith in God respond in similar fashion? Are you teaching your children, the next generation to see God like this?

The second example....

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his health; Job 2:1-10.

In this second attack, God permitted Satan’s hand to be raised against Job’s own flesh.

Boils, some translations note. A painful sore with a hard core, filled with pus.

Seeking relief, he would pop those sores and drain the pus out of them with a broken piece of pottery

So now, not only has he lost everything, but now his own health is languishing.

And anyone who deals with chronic health issues knows what a toll that can take on a person.

The wife’s response in verse 9 is typical of many.

Just give it up and die, man.

Death has to be better than this, just give it in.

Her worship and praise of God was based on the circumstances and blessing. Once that was gone, she was content to curse God and died.

Side note....this response exposes the depth of her own grief and sorrow at the loss of her children and wealth. It shows the depth of her own lack of faith and her own spiritual strength.

Her speech was that of a foolish woman, Job says.

If we personalize this a bit, those who suggest we curse God when our circumstances are filled with grief, sorrow, and brokenness…well, those people....are fools.

Fool - one with little understanding. One who lacks judgment and prudence.

The wife, and all like her who suggest that God is only worthy of worship when he sends good things our way, they are fools.

Job’s faith sees beyond this.

Shall we receive good from God and not evil? Rhetorical. No.

If God is good, then He is good all the time, even when bad is permitted to come.

God is the one who gives....therefore…he has the right to take away.

Job surrenders and submits to unconditional praise even the darkest of grief and the deepest sorrow.

BECAUSE he KNEW the God whom He served…and KNOWING that God, He TRUSTED that, and KNEW HIM to be praiseworthy in ALL circumstances, so much so that PRAISE was his first impulse.

Dad’s, what are you teaching your children in word and deed about the worthiness of God to be praised in both the good and bad circumstances of life?

Do you teach your children to praise God in difficulty? Do they see you doing the very same?

Listen, this speaks volumes to them about the worth of God. It will do more to draw them to love, adore, and delight in God than any mere words. When they see you praising God unconditionally in times of deep loss, it will leave a portrait of God’s beauty and worth that they will never forget.

In the end, God honored his unconditional praise and worship....

Why would Satan think that an attack on Job’s own flesh would have a greater impact on his faith than that which had already been inflicted upon him through the death and destruction of his children and possessions?

Physical pain, constant pain has a wearing and disheartening affect that can strike deeper than loss of loved ones and possessions. When dealing with constant pain, one’s resolve and convictions can waiver. It can have an emotional and spiritual wearying affect that breaks one down over time.

Job had unconditional praise that ended in reward; Job 42:12–17.

Though the children born afterward could not replace the ones who died, they were an abundant blessing.

The double wealth, and the blessing of more children, were simply an expression of God’s favor and acceptance of Job’s deep anguished worship.

It does NOT stand as a promise that if we worship God in suffering, the same will happen to us, but know this, God is ALWAYS pleased when we worship Him and our worship will ALWAYS be acknowledged with blessing, even if it is not until the life to come.

Father’s....how are you influencing through unconditional praise?

Does your intimacy and passion for Christ show in your unconditional praise in all circumstances?

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH FAITH, LIKE ABRAHAM.

**Outline Changed from Original (Combined 1st and 2nd points and added the third as my own.

Let me show you two examples of faith and then show you why this kind of faith was possible.

By faith Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees and Journeyed to Canaan; Heb. 11:8-9.

Listen, I do not think we can appreciate the magnitude of this decision.

This meant having to step out into the unknown and uncertain with no foundation and security other than unseen God.

This was no small task, no small act of obedience.

I acknowledge it often seems more difficult to trust God than to obey Him. The moral will of God given to us in the Bible is rational and reasonable. The circumstances in which we must trust God often appear irrational and inexplicable….Obeying God is worked out within well-defined boundaries of God’s revealed will. Trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries. We do not know the extent, the duration, or the frequency of the painful, adverse circumstances in which we must frequently trust God. We are always coping with the unknown.

None of us likes uncertainty or instability. None of us likes to live in limbo not knowing what the next moment, day, week, etc holds. We like our habits, our structure, our routine.

Don’t believe me, just try to change something about your established routine and see what happens....lol

And yet, despite this uncertainty and ambiguity, Abraham without question obeys.

For Abraham, as his faith grew, so did the tests and requirements of faith.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac; Heb. 11:17-18.

Which would you consider harder? Leave your home or kill your son?

This child of promise, he is now being told to sacrifice.

He has already sent his other son away and essentially disinherited him because of the struggle between his wife and concubine and because he was NOT the child promised by God, but rather was the product of a weak spot of his faith to trust in and wait upon God.

Isaac is his ONLY option, and yet, now he is being told to sacrifice him.

This is a significantly different test than to leave your home.

And yet, his faith held. It stood firm and fast.

Why?

How?

Because Abraham looked up

By faith Abraham looked up; Hebrews 11:10

Hebrews 11:19

Abraham was able to face these tests of his faith and pass them BECAUSE HE CHOSE TO LOOK UP.

Look up!

(J.R. Miller, "Unto the Hills!" A Meditation on Psalm 121)

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(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

"I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

It is good always to look up. Thousands of people dwarf their lives, and hinder the possibilities of growth in their souls--by looking downward. They keep their eyes ever entangled in mere earthly sights, and miss the glories of the hills that pierce the clouds, and of the heavens that bend over them!

A story is told of a boy who one day found a gold coin on the street. Ever after this--he kept his eyes on the ground as he walked, watching for coins. During a long lifetime, he found a good number of coins--but meanwhile he never saw the flowers and the trees which grew in such wondrous beauty everywhere; he never saw the hills, the mountains, the sweet valleys, the picturesque landscapes; he never saw the blue sky. To him, this lovely world meant only a dusty road, dreary and unbeautiful, merely a place in which to look for coins.

This really is the story of the life of most people. They never lift their eyes off the earth! They live only to gather money, to add field to field, to scheme for power or to find pleasure. Or, if their quest is a little higher, it is still only for earthly things. They never lift up their eyes to God! There is no blue sky in their picture. They cherish no heavenly visions. They are without God in the world.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1-2

Abraham chose to LOOK UP to see GOD rather than his circumstance. Because of his view toward God and His trust in Him, he stands as a testament of faith for all the ages and an example for us to follow.

David too, had such a focus...

Psalm 121

Why was Abraham able to do what he did? Why was David called a man after God’s own heart?

Because they were not focused on this life. They were looking beyond it to eternity, to the architect and builder of all known things.

How do you acquire and obtain this deep trust of God has evidenced in the life of Abraham? We have an advantage that not even did Abraham have....

In order to trust God, we must always view our adverse circumstances through the eyes of faith, not of sense. And just as the faith of salvation comes through hearing the message of the gospel (Romans 10:17), so the faith to trust God in adversity comes through the Word of God alone. It is only in the Scriptures that we find an adequate view of God’s relationship to and involvement in our painful circumstances. It is only from the Scriptures, applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, that we receive the grace to trust God in adversity.

Father’s, followers of Jesus, do you want to have a lasting legacy, a lasting influence in the lives of your children, in the lives of those around you, you need a firm and sound commitment to be in the word, drinking deeply of it REGULARLY!

Not just reading

Not just memorizing

Studying and meditating

Applying

Why do you think I take the time to write application questions for each sermon?

Why do you think we take time to break into small groups to discuss them?

Why do you think we encourage you to stay and/or to complete them on your own at home?

Because knowledge of the word is not enough. LOVE for it; A PASSION for it; Deep meditation over it that leads to proper and biblical application, an apprehending of it is what it takes.

Abraham could only do what he did and respond the way he did because he knew God and GREW in that knowledge and love; grew in his trust of God so that when God spoke, Abraham listened, trusted, and obeyed.

Father’s - Where are you struggling to trust God? Because trust me, it is obvious to your children. Are you teaching unequivocal and unhesitating trust in person of God? Are you modeling it? Do your children see it and are they being positively influenced by it?

What obstacles tend to distract us or prevent us from looking up?

Busyness

Tiredness/weariness

Depression/discouragement

Fear

Anger

Trials and hardships

Pleasures and comforts of this life

Ease

Prosperity and abundance

What can we do better, as a church body, to help one another look to Jesus?

Purposefully and intentionally share more of our spiritual lives, joys, trials, temptations, hardship, struggles with each other. Share more about our study and meditations.

Pray for one another specifically and regularly and LET ONE ANOTHER KNOW when we do.

ASK often how one another are staying encouraged spiritually, what they are learning, how we can pray.

When struggles come up, stopping and praying in the moment; sharing scripture with each other.

Be more invested beyond 1 hour a week when we sit in our favorite pew

What is preventing you from LOOKING UP to see Jesus? What must you do to remove the obstacle that is keeping you from seeing God?

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DECISIONS, LIKE MOSES.

Again, we saw this with mother’s and Rebekah. She made the right decision, the hard decision to go with the servant and marry Isaac, a stranger.

Let’s consider it again with father’s briefly.

Three choices Moses made that left an indelible influence that we can learn from today.

3 choices he made that make all the difference in the kind of influence you will have.

These three choices can also fit into the classifications found in 1 John 2:16

Moses chose against being Pharaohs’ daughters’ son; Heb. 11:24.

Pride of Life

He chose against status and position.

His standing, reputation, and position before men meant nothing to him compared to his standing and position before God.

Men, this is a hard one for us. We desire respect from others. We desire to looked well upon by others. I mean, it is true for all of us, but men especially desire respect.

Status and position, we think, brings that respect. We will cling to our status, our position with the tenacity of mama lion protecting her young because we feel it supplies to us something that is necessary and needed to be a man.

And yet, here Moses forsakes all of it, choosing to be brought low, rather than claim the status he was given as Pharaoh’s grandson.

Men, hear me, status and position are NOT more important than our intimacy and fellowship with God.

Do not let them become a stumbling block to true fellowship and intimacy with God by elevating it to too a place of importance.

Men, who tend to care deeply about what people think of them, despite the outward appearance otherwise, do you place God’s opinion of you and your standing before Him WELL ABOVE man’s?

He also chose against sin.

Why do men desire respect from others? Is it wrong to desire respect? Explain your answer. When is it wrong to desire respect?

We know we were born to lead. We were created to reflect the authority and headship of God. Thus, the desire for respect and to be respectable is a God given sense and desire to help us carry out our role as image bearers of God.

No, it is not wrong to desire respect. The commands of scripture dictate respect be afforded to certain people, positions.

It becomes wrong when we make that desired respect our highest ambition, over and above pleasing God and keeping Him first place.

Why is it so hard to not elevate status and position to a place of supremacy in our lives?

Because we desire to be respected, affirmed, valued, and counted worthy in the eyes of others. This desire is strong and it can be hard to keep it in its proper place.

Moses chose against sin; Heb. 11:25.

Desires of the Flesh

Rom. 13:14; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:2; 2 Pet. 2:18

He chose against the lust of the flesh, the pleasures and joys of satisfying sin’s every whim and desire.

Just because it feels good does not make it good.

Moses would have had every pleasure imaginable at his finger tips. As grandson to Pharoah, he would have had power, influence, control, and resources at his disposal, virtually unchecked and certainly unfiltered.

This is almost too much temptation for the weak flesh.

And yet, Moses sets is aside.

Frankly, we need more of this today, men. We need more men willing to forsake the enticements and pleasures of the flesh in favor of honoring Christ first.

Too many fathers are running after their passions with little to no self control. They are not teaching restraint or self control but the opposite…indulgence.

Men, father’s, do you regularly choose against sin or are you regularly indulging in it? What example are you leaving for your children? How are you teaching and training them to choose against sin.

Moses chose against Egypt’s treasures; Heb. 11:26.

He rejected all the wealth of Egypt.

Desires of the Eyes

Ecc 4:8

He chose against wealth, prosperity, possessions, ease, comfort, and the delights of things.

He chose poverty and rags over wealth.

Proverbs 15:16

We live for wealth, possessions, prosperity in our world today.

But it is not all that. Scripture warns time and time again against it. The love of money is the root of all evil.

Moses understood what many do not. All the wealth in the world cannot compare to Christ.

WHY? HOW? Why did Moses make these choices? How was he able to make decisions that ran contrary to the desires of the flesh; the natural desires?

Hebrews 11:26-27

He considered the reproach of Christ greater than the wealth of Egypt. Vs. 26

He endured as seeing him who is invisible - Vs. 27

Answer....he kept his gaze firmly fixed on God, who is the greatest prize, possessions, object of wealth, being of infinite worth, whose approval matters more than all others, who is the source of true satisfaction and pleasure.

There is a true sense in which you must teach your children to fear God, and especially to fear His displeasure. You have not satisfied the responsibilities of parenthood when you have made your child submit to you. If you are consistent and firm in your discipline, your child may obey you because he or she fears violating your standards. That is a fairly easy thing to achieve. But it is not the proper goal of biblical parenting. Your child should fear violating God’s standard, not merely yours. You are only an intermediary with the responsibility of teaching your child to fear God. If your children grow up fearing only your displeasure but not God’s, what will they do when you are not there?

Successful Christian Parenting, 1998, p. 79. John MacArthur

Finally, Father’s can influence with a vision like Noah.

What are your choices revealing about your priorities and heart?

What can we do this week to help another member of the body make choices that honor Christ?

Pray

Reach out

Encourage

Share struggles and victories

Have spiritual conversations

Let our relationships extend beyond our limited weekly gatherings and invest in sharing our lives together.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH A VISION, LIKE NOAH.

I want to make one simple point with this last influence of fathers. And I want to do so by asking 1 simple question.

WHAT IS YOUR END GOAL THAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR CHILDREN’S LIVES?

What do you want to ultimately accomplish in your children’s lives?

Common ones

To pursue their dreams

To be successful

To marry and have kids and be happy

To believe they can do anything they set their mind to

In and of themselves, these are not bad goals and certainly not wrong.

HOWEVER, are they ultimate? Is this the highest you have your sights set?

Is there, should there be a higher goal and purpose than even these?

Consider one example in Noah.

Noah’s vision was of a perishing world; Gen. 6:13.

Noah was given a view of the end of the world.

He was given a view of man’s sin and God’s holy wrath and judgement.

He was given a view that expanded his view beyond himself and even his own family.

He was given a vision that enlarged his view and gave him a greater purpose.

This vision provided the means of escape from this coming judgement.

Noah’s vision was of a way of escape; Heb. 11:7.

Being given a vision of the end of the world, he was also given a vision of how to be spared from it.

God showed him the means to accept if he would by faith embrace it.

Thing is, God has never warned of judgement without also providing the way of and time for escape.

Noah was given warning and the means of escape.

And as result, he was granted safety.

Noah’s vision brought him safety; Gen. 8:16.

Due to his faith and obedience, they were spared and God continued his work of salvation through the person of Noah.

Father’s, what vision do you have for your children?

Is it a vision of not just their spiritual salvation, but of their growth into intimacy with Christ, into maturity in Him?

Does your vision involve a life of service to the purpose and will of God?

Does your vision involve a life of seeking the salvation of the lost?

Does your vision involve more than not getting into trouble, being happy, and pursuing their dreams?

Does your vision involve a purpose beyond themselves, a vision that literally affects eternity?

My vision, my goal…that my children will learn to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

I pray that all that I do points them in that direction over and over again.

What vision do you have for your children? What are you pushing them towards? What is your highest goal for them?

How do we teach our children to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Keep the word before them OFTEN in everything that we do, in all correction, rebuke, teaching, admonition, etc.

Model a love for the word and an application of it.

Point out God EVERYWHERE and ALL THE TIME

Show them God’s goodness in the word and in every day life.

Pray

Conclusion, Part 3

Big Idea: The influence of father’s is an essential element in the design of God for the family.

Seven ways father’s should exercise this influence.

Courtesy of Billy Apostolon (With a few modifications)

ISAIAH 38:19

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE PAUL.

He knew the person of prayer; Eph. 3:7-12; Heb 4:14-16

He knew how to pray; 1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 18:1-8

He depended on prayer; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1; Heb 13:18

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH OBEDIENCE, LIKE JOSHUA.

He was obedient in his report of the land of Canaan; Num. 14:6–9.

He was obedient in crossing the Jordan; Josh. 3:13–17.

He was obedient in conquering Jericho; Josh. 6:3–5, 20.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PURITY, LIKE JOSEPH.

He was a godly person; Gen. 39:6.

He resisted temptation; Gen. 39:12.

He exchanged kindness for hatred; Gen. 37:28; 42:16.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH UNCONDITIONAL PRAISE, LIKE JOB.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his family; Job 1:13-21.

Job had unconditional praise when he lost his health; Job 2:1-10.

Job had unconditional praise that ended in reward; Job 42:12–17.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH FAITH, LIKE ABRAHAM.

By faith Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees and journeyed to Canaan; Heb. 11:8-9.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac; Heb. 11:17-18.

By faith Abraham looked up; Heb. 11:10

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DECISIONS, LIKE MOSES.

Moses chose against being Pharaohs’ daughters’ son; Heb. 11:24.

Moses chose against sin; Heb. 11:25.

Moses chose against Egypt’s treasures; Heb. 11:26.

FATHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH A VISION, LIKE NOAH.

Noah’s vision was of a perishing world; Gen. 6:13.

Noah’s vision was of a way of escape; Heb. 11:7.

Noah’s vision brought him safety; Gen. 8

Let me end with this reminder…IN ALL OF THIS…WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT TO CHANGE HEARTS.

Notice…these are 7 INFLUENCES a father can have. Nothing guarantees they will embrace it or humble themselves before God to walk in it.

Our role is teach, admonish, correct, rebuke, model, and point them in the right direction.

It is God’s job to change the hearts.

No growing occurs, however, without the realization that we cannot progress in our faithfulness to God without the supernatural work of the Spirit. This acknowledgment keeps us from pride in our maturity, or from too hasty judgment of others’ spiritual condition. For instance, I can be tempted to take pride in my parenting by virtue of my children’s wonderful record of scholarship and conduct. However, I may learn upon my entry into heaven that the reason God so blessed me was that my faith was too weak to have persevered with the more troubled children of other Christian parents (whom I too frequently judge for the apparent failings). The challenges of raising a child are as much for the sanctification of the parents as they are for the benefit of the child. Perhaps this is the reason that childbearing and rearing come so early in our adult life cycle. Growing families are God’s pressure cooker to mature many of us quickly for the spiritual trials that he knows are ahead. Only the Spirit knows what is best for the spiritual nurture of each individual, and he matures us by means natural and supernatural that will be fully revealed to us only in glory. Our cause for rejoicing now, however, is faith that our union with Christ makes available to us the work of the Spirit that enables us to change.

Holiness by Grace, Crossway Books, p. 63-63. Bryan Chapell

Father’s, let us influence, by the grace of God given to us, so that our children will see God and desire God and, through the work of the Spirit, be ever growing to become more like Jesus for the glory of God.

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