Fathers Day
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Learning a Legacy from Biblical Fathers
Online Sermon:
http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567
What makes a person a good dad? When we think
about the ideal father, we think of a person who is loving, kind,
and filled with empathy and compassion. The person who is
consistently available to show us he cares not only by his
words “I love you” but also by willfully and joyfully getting
involved in our
lives. It is in the
walks in the parks,
the singing songs by
a campfire, fishing
trips, musical
jamborees, and the
family decorating
the Christmas tree
that results in us
having found of
memories of the
person we call dad. Is it not the man who picked us up,
bandaged our scraped knees, and reassured us that yes, we
would soon be able to ride our bikes safely and effortlessly that
we with great pride and joy, call our father? Are not the men
who goes to countless hockey, basketball, football games,
dance, and music recitals that makes their love for their
Isaac M. Kikawada, “Noah and the Ark: The Hero of the
Flood,” ed. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible
Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 1123.
1
children the most apparent to them? Surely the man who treats
his wife with respect, kindness and love goes a long way
towards creating an environment that enables our children to
feel safe to explore this strange world that can be at times quite
challenging and frightening. A great dad is strong, filled with
wisdom, compassion, and empathy for he too knows what it is
like to think that failure is one’s inevitable destination when it
is but a mere steppingstone of learning and success. While
many people say that since every child is different none of
them ever comes with a handbook; I would disagree for the
Bible is a beautiful love letter from our Creator explaining His
expectations on how we are to rightly raise the children that He
has entrusted to our care! The following sermon is not going to
review all the attributes of being a great dad but will review six
fathers mentioned in the Bible to outline six does and don’t
lessons of raising children rightly in the eyes of our heavenly
Father.
Lesson 1: The Compass (Noah)
If one is to successfully navigate through the challenges
that comes from raising our children to be righteous while
living in a fallen world, then one will need the right compass!
One almost gets whip lash to read at the end of Genesis chapter
one that “God said all He made was very good” (31) and then
just seven to ten genealogies later1 to read that “the Lord saw
how great the wickedness of humans had become on the earth
and He regretted making human beings (6:5-6)! You think it is
hard to live in this “ME” generation and think about whatever
is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, or praiseworthy
(Philippians 4:8), imagine what it must have been like for Noah
to raise his three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth in the ways of
the Lord that all others had rejected! There would have been
great pressure for Noah to conform the ways of this world for
in “not belonging” to this world he invited great ridicule (John
15:19) upon himself and his children! Anyone can handle
momentary
criticism but it
likely took Noah
about 55 to 80
years to build the
ark … that is a lot
of years of harsh
criticism!2 Dad it
is impossible to
raise your children
to be right in God’s
sight based on your own strength and definition of what is right
but with the Bible, Holy Spirit and prayer as your compass the
narrow path God wants both you and your children to take
(Matthew 7:13-14) is not only clear but easily traversed. Like
Noah, show your children how much God means to you by
living His word and rejoicing in His blessings not only in the
good but bad times as well. And when you do not know what
is the “right” path to take may your children see you on your
knees looking up to the Lord who gives you wisdom, strength,
truth, and courage to follow in His footsteps …for where He
leads you will follow!
2
Taken from the following website:
https://www.compellingtruth.org/Noahs-ark-questions.html
Dad may your children never see you
conforming to the patterns of this world
(Romans 12:1-2) but instead see you inviting
the Potter to transform your mind into the
image in which you were fearfully and
wonderfully made (Psalms 139:13-14)!
Lesson 2: Course Corrections (Manasseh)
Dad no matter how badly you fall short of God’s glory,
and we all do from time to time, show your children how
important it is to offer your Creator a contrite and broken heart
to be forgiven! When Manasseh was just twelve years old, he
became king of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 33:1). His dad,
Hezekiah, was a good role model who “did what was good and
right and faithful before the Lord his God” (31:20). Even when
pride was found in his heart he repented, and God’s wrath did
not fall upon him (32:26). In thinking it was not worthwhile to
retain the knowledge of God, His son, Manasseh however
chose to be like those in Noah’s time for every inclination of
his heart was pure evil! He rebuilt the high places his Father
Hezekiah had demolished, erected altars to the Baals, made
Asherah poles, bowed to the stary hosts and worshipped them
(33:3), sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Gen
Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens,
consulted mediums and spiritists (33:6), and even had a foreign
image placed in the Lord’s very own temple (33:7)! So, what
could we ever possibly learn about being a good dad from such
an evil king … plenty! First Dad be very careful to always
obey the Lord. The mighty arm of God’s wrath of discipline is
to be greatly feared. Just ask Manasseh who was defeated by
the king of Assyria,
had a hook placed in
his nose, bound with
bronze shackles, and
taken to Babylon to a
dungy prison (33:1011)! Second, there is
no sin that cannot be
forgiven by He who
is filled with grace
and mercy (1 John
1:9)! Thankfully this story has a happy ending. Manasseh
greatly humbled himself and sought the favor of the Lord and
as a result was not only forgiven but allowed to return to
Jerusalem to reign again (33:12-13). And lastly, it is never too
late to pick up God’s compass and make even 180-degree
course corrections in your life.
If you did not begin well in your walk with
God and in fathering His children, don’t give
up, seek, and draw nearer to the Lord (James
4:8), ask for forgiveness and in crying out to
Him Abba, Father you shall find peace and
wisdom that surpasses all understanding
(Philippians 4:6-7).
With God’s help you can show your children was it means to
be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16)!
Lesson 3: Trusting God with the Unknown
Future (Abraham)
To be a good father one must trust the Lord with the
unknown events in your life. Dad we often face decisions
concerning our children that are impossible to ensure a good
outcome because there simply is no way of knowing all the
complexities of the current situation or what the future might
bring! In moments like these the Bible tells us to “trust in the
Lord with all your
heart and lean not on
your own
understanding; in all
ways submit to Him,
and He will make
your paths straight”
(Proverbs 3:5).
While this sounds
simple it is often very
difficult to surrender
our desire to have
control over what is impossible to know or tame, the unknown
future … even to our God whom we know is in control over all
things seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16). But if we are to
become good dads then let us learn to trust in God like Abram
did. When the Lord called Abram to leave his country and go
to an unknown land he took a giant leap of faith, packed up all
his belongings and went on the journey (12:1). Because Abram
believed that God would come good on His promise, “I will
make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make
your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2),
Abram took out his knife and was willing to sleigh his only son
Isaac (22:9-10) because he knew God would raise him from the
dead (Hebrews 11:19). Abram on that day demonstrated to his
son that his trust in the Lord would not falter no matter what
might be asked of him!
Dad, in the face of the most difficult
decisions and especially in the valleys of the
greatest turmoil show your children your
faith by asking, listening, and obeying
whatever the Lord wants you to do!
It is ok to tell the Lord that you often do not know how to
rightly love, nurture, train, and protect the children He has
placed in your care. It is ok to cry out to God for when you do,
He will tell you His perfect and pleasing will for your children
and give you the strength, courage, and ability to show them
the narrow path that leads to righteousness through your
faithful example of trust and holiness in the Him!
Ronald Youngblood, “Eli (Person),” ed. David Noel
Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York:
Doubleday, 1992), 456.
3
Lesson 4: Don’t Overlook Your Child’s
Wanderings (Eli)
Dad when your children wander away from the Lord do
not stand idly by but instead remind and discipline them, if
need be, to help
them understand
how grievous it is to
disobey the Lord!
Let me tell you
what happened to
Eli the high priest3
when he ignored his
son’s wanderings.
Eli had two sons
both of which he
gave Egyptian
names, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 1:3). They greatly
angered God for having “no regard for Him (2:12), treating
with contempt offerings made unto Him (2:17) as well as the
Israelites that came to Shiloh (2:14), and for laying with
women who served at the entrance to the tent of the meeting”
(2:22)!4 And get this both of Eli’s sons were priests! Even
though Eli rebuked both his sons for their wickedness he
refused to either discipline them and/or remove them from their
priestly duties (2:22-25). What Eli refused to do God did by
striking down both of his children in the prime of their lives
(2:33-34). Dad, even though it is not popular in today’s selfRonald Youngblood, “Eli (Person),” ed. David Noel
Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York:
Doubleday, 1992), 456.
4
indulged, anything goes culture to impose one’s will upon
another, refusing to discipline your children fails to set proper
boundaries in their lives that reflect the will of their Creator!
Remember, “God disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens
everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6).
Dad, in disciplining your children do not
“embitter” (Colossians 3:21), or
“exasperate” them (Ephesians 6:4) but
instead with great humbleness, gentleness,
and with a constant willingness to forgive
with open arms choose whatever a loving,
merciful and gracious God tells you to do to
try and correct their wayward behavior.
And Dad if discipline does not work don’t give up but instead
pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16) that what you
cannot do, mold and re-shape their stony heart, you can be rest
assured that He who knit them in their mother’s wombs
(Psalms 139) will never stop inviting them to be transformed
and have their minds renewed (Romans 12:1-2) by their
Master. Just one final word on this fatherly lesson: despite
how wayward your child becomes always let them know how
much you love them and how desperately you want them to
accept the ways of the Lord who is their portion forever
(Lamentations 3:24)!
Lesson 5: The Dangers of Favouritism (Jacob)
Dad love the children God has given you equally,
without favoring one over the other. We have all heard the
expression “mommas” or “daddy’s” girl or boy. When one of
our children more closely resemble our talents, dreams, and
goals or are exceptional at doing things that make us proud,
dad, there is the
temptation to either
love them more or
at least in our
actions appear to do
so. Jacob lived in
the land of Canaan
and had twelve sons
(Genesis 35:23-26).
Because one of his
sons, Joseph, was
born in his old age
the Bible states he “loved Joseph more than his other sons” and
openly showed his favoritism by making him a robe of many
colors (37:3). When Jacob’s other sons “saw that their father
loved him more than any of them, they hated him (Joseph) and
could not speak a kind word to him” (37:4). So enraged with
hatred for Joseph that they initially plotted to kill him but later
changed their minds and chose to sell him as a slave to the
Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver (37:28). They then
dipped Joseph’s robe in goats’ blood and presented it to their
father as proof his favored son was dead (37:31). Even though
God used Joseph’s bleak circumstances to prepare him the way
to become second in command of Egypt and save many lives
(41:41-43, 45:5), Jacob did much damage to his family for
many years all because he favored one son over another. Dad,
your children are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image
of their Creator (Psalms 139:14; Genesis 1:27). They all have
all been purchased at the price of the blood of Christ (John
3:16) and can be saved and receive the spiritual gifting needed
to fulfill whatever divine role God assigns them (1 Corinthians
12).
Your role is to show them the eyes of Christ
in the way you live your life and to instruct
them in the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy
6:4-9). You are to love your sons and
daughters equally and to never stop helping
them to grow in their faith. Your love for
them should not be based on what they do but
on what God through Christ has already
done for you!
Lesson 6: Our Heavenly Father as a Role Model
(God)
And finally, dad if you are looking for a role model to
emulate in raising your children then look up to your heavenly
Father! I was fortunate to have a God-fearing dad who trained
me in the ways I should go (Proverbs 22:6) and loved all my
siblings equally but I realize many of you don’t have this kind
of role model to look up too. Unfortunately, there are many
dads out here that are abusive, non loving, unkind, and a “Godhaters” (Romans 1:28). If you happen to have such a dad to
whom to you look to as a role model in raising your children?
While you should certainly look up to other God-fearing dads
as role models do so with caution that not all their ways are to
be emulated. Scripture states we all have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and if any of us say
we don’t sin then
God says
otherwise (1 John
1:10)! Dad none
of us are perfect or
even close! If we
are to aspire to
become like any
dad in the Bible,
then we aught to
always choose to
emulate God the
Father in heaven!
He who knit our children in their mother’s womb is the only
one who truly knows what His divine plan is for their lives.
Only God is sinless (1 John 1:5), all powerful (Colossians 1:16;
Jeremiah 32:17), all knowing (1 John 3:20) and filled with truth
and justice for all (Psalms 50:6; John 14:6). He is our alone is
our Creator and wants us as dads to succeed in raising the
children He has given us with a servant’s heart that truly wants
to please Him. I want to finish with this prayer for all the dads
who read this sermon:
May the Lord, His word and Spirit be your guiding compass in
raising the children God has entrusted to your care. When you
sin against God may you confess and get back onto the narrow
path of righteousness. When you do not know how to raise
your children rightly then may you turn not to the world for
advice but to the known God of Israel and seek and obey His
council. May you discipline your children not to embitter or
exasperate them but in great humbleness, gentleness, and with
a constant willingness to forgive open your arms and choose
whatever a loving, merciful and gracious form of discipline
God tells to do to try and correct their wayward behavior. May
you not show favoritism but instead love all your children
equally and above all my God the Father always be the role
model of the perfect dad you want to emulate. And dad even if
in following this advise your children still don’t grow up to
love the Lord, never stop showing them your intimacy and
obedience to the One who is your portion forever for in doing
so you fulfill your obligation to a holy God to raise your
children to the best of your abilities!