A Difference Making Dad

One day a mother heard her son saying some pretty unwholesome things. Furious she said, “Young man, where did you learn to talk that way?'" The boy hesitated, looked toward his father, and asked, `Well, Dad, should I tell her?'"

Dads you do have some powerful influence in the lives of your children. The question is what kind of influence are you having (producing) in their lives – a positive/good one or a negative/bad one.

Today we are highlighting and honoring dads – you certainly play a vital role in your family and the lives of your children. And I want you to see this morning you can make a difference – a positive/good one. I want us to look at 4 things about a difference making dad this morning. The 1st one:

1. KNOWING THE LORD

- Dad, 1 of the greatest gifts you can give to your child(ren) – your wife – your family – and also yourself, is to make certain of your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

- Has there been a time in your life when you realized you were a sinner and in need of God’s forgiveness and saving work in your life? And you asked the Lord to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life? If so, you know Him now – and you now have a Heavenly Father Who is present to help you be the best earthly father you can be.

- If you have not – or are not sure today - this is where you need to start. The Bible says in John 1:12 :

John 1:12 NASB95

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

- When you believe / receive the Lord into your life, you can enter into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus right now!

- And then the question becomes: are you growing in your relationship with Him? Are you living for the Lord? Colossians 2:6-7 says: 6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

- When you know the Lord and are growing in the Lord, God will help you to be the best dad you can possibly be. A difference making dad knows the Lord.

TS – The 2nd thing about a differencing making dad…

2. LOVING YOUR WIFE

- In Ephesians 5 in a very important section on family relationships, God gives clear instructions to wives and husbands about how to relate to each other.

- In Ephesians 5:25 Paul says:

Ephesians 5:25 NASB95

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

- Dad, how much do you love your wife? Do you sacrifice for her? Are you willing to give yourself for her?

- The kind of love God is talking about here is sacrificial kind of love – not-self gaining, self-getting, self-serving kind of love! It’s a self-giving kind of love! It’s the kind of love that seeks to be a servant, not a king!

- Dad, could your marriage vastly improve if you loved your wife with this kind of love?

- One of the great needs in the home today is for children to see dads and moms loving each other the way God lays it out in this passage! Especially dads serving their wives.

TS – The 3rdthing about a difference making dad…

3. TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN

- In Deut. 6:4-7 God instructs us to teach our children – Read…

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 NASB95

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

- In the Jewish faith it was the father who was to give the lead instruction in the home.

- Eph. 6:4 says:

Ephesians 6:4 NASB95

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

- Dad, what are you teaching your child (ren) about the Lord? Are you teaching them:

1) The importance of loving the Lord with all their heart?

2) The importance of reading/studying the Bible – do they see you reading/ studying it?

3) The importance of being committed to the Lord / not conforming to the world?

4) The importance of church attendance and participation? Do they see this as a priority in your life?

5) The importance of sharing the Lord with others?

6) The importance of reaching out and helping people in need?

7) The importance of being compassionate and caring?

- Dad, you are either teaching your children these things are important or you are teaching them that these things are not important!

- Understand today that the greatest place of learning for your child is in your home under your love and care and guidance and instruction – definitely not the education system or world.

- Proverbs 22:6 says

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

TS – The 4th thing about a difference making dad…

4. LEADING YOUR HOME

- In Eph. 5:22-23 we’re told:

Ephesians 5:22–23 NASB95

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

- God has established order in the home (the family). And men, this order gives you great responsibility/accountability in the home. Men, God says you are the head of the home, the family.

- God doesn’t say you are the dictator of the home or the king of the home. He says you are the leader of the home – and therefore you are to give leadership!

- Dad, what kind of leadership are you giving to your home (family) today?

- Are you giving:

1) Godly leadership?

2) Effective leadership?

3) Spiritual leadership?

- Are you setting the example for your children?

- Dad, your child(ren) need to see you setting the example – in coming to church – reading the Bible – praying – tithing to your church - helping others in need!

- Sadly too many men today have abdicated their leadership – bailed out – simply aren’t there!

- Dad, God has given you the responsibility to lead your home – to set the example, to set the pace, to make sure your home is running smoothly. And He’s going to hold you accountable for it!

- Remember what Joshua said to the Israelite nation in his farewell address: Joshua 24:14-15 …

Joshua 24:14–15 NASB95

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Conclusion

What really matters when it comes to being a dad? There’s a four stanza poem that is in one of Dr. James Dobson’s books that says it so well. It says:

I may never be as clever as my neighbor down the street,

I may never be as wealthy as some other men that I meet.

I may never have the glory that some other men have had,

But you know one thing, I’ve just got to be successful as these little fellas dad.

There are certain dreams that I cherish, that I’d like to see come true.

And there are things that I’d accomplish before my working time is through.

But the task my heart is set on is to guide these little lads

And make myself successful as those little fellas dad.

Oh, I may never come to glory and I may never gather gold,

And men may count me a failure when my business life is told.

But if he who follows after shall be Godly then I’ll be glad

‘Cause I’ll know I’ve been successful as those little fellas dad.

It’s the one job that I dream of, it’s the task I think of most,

For if I fail these little fellas I have nothing else to boast.

For the wealth and fame I’d gather, all my fortune would be sad

If I failed to be successful as those little fellas dad.

Dad, want to be successful: 1) Know the Lord 2) Love your wife 3) Teach your child(ren) 4) Lead your family well.