Being a Father

Being a Father

June 20,2010

Introduction

As we probably all know, today is celebrated as Father's Day. Father's Day is not a Biblical holiday. In fact, Father's Day is a rather recent addition to our list of holidays.

From Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia, we have this brief explanation of Father's Day:

Father's Day, holiday celebrated in the U.S. on third Sunday in June; children honor their fathers with cards, gifts; generally believed to have originated in Spokane, Wash., in 1910, based on suggestion of Mrs. John Bruce Dodd; national observance dates from 1924

What does the Bible say about Fatherhood?

Body

I. Children are to honor their father and mother.

(Eph 6:1-3 NKJV) "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. {2} "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: {3} "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

A. Father's must require honor of their children.

(Eph 6:4 NKJV) "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."

1. We are to encourage our children.

Jim Valvano said, My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

B. The father is an important key part of the home.--He’s the rule maker--Under God.

Eph 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

1. God expects men to be the rule makers--He holds us responsible for making and enforcing the rules.

2. Eli is an example of a father who failed.

(1 Samuel 3:10-15 NKJV) "Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." (11) Then the LORD said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. (12) "In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. (13) "For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. (14) "And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." (15) So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision."

2. Eli had made some attempt to restrain his sons, but apparently, his attempts were not good enough.

(1 Samuel 2:22-24 NKJV) "Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. (23) So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. (24) "No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord's people transgress.

C. The father is an important key part of the home.--He’s the spiritual leader.

(Eph 6:4 NKJV) "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."

III. Father's are to be honorable.

A. First and foremost, we must honor God by our example.

B. We are to lead by example.

Clarence Budington Kelland said of his father, “He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”

(Mat 18:6-10 NKJV) ""But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. {7} "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! . . . {10} "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

B. The importance of the relationship between fathers and children as emphasized in the Old Testament closes.

(Mal 4:5-6 NKJV) "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. {6} And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.""

1. Father's are the authority figure from which children are to learn respect.

2. Father's are also providers and are a powerful image to children as to what their heavenly Father is like.

III. Christian fathers must be Christian men.

A. Paul says that Christian men are to act like men.

(1 Cor 16:13 NKJV) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

(1 Cor 16:13 NIV) Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

B. We are to be loving as fathers.

1. Philip Whitmore said. “Any fool can be a Father, but it takes a real man to be a Daddy!! “

2. (1 Cor 16:14 NIV) Do everything in love

C. First of all, Christian fathers are to be Christian husbands.

1. No greater gift can a man give his children than that of a solid Christian home that begins with parents who are committed to each other.

(Eph 5:25-33 NKJV) "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, {26} that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, {27} that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. {28} So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. . . . {33} Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

2. A Christian home must have a committed love as its foundation.

IV. What is the joy of being a father?

A. It takes children who walk in the light to make father's happy.

(3 John 1:4 NIV) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

V. Our earthly fathers are important representatives of God.

(Mat 6:9 NKJV) "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Our fathers are to provide for our food, clothing, and shelter.
They provide love, help and encouragement.
They provide us with instruction and guidance.
If they are harsh, or uncaring, they reflect upon God, whether they intend to or not.

Conclusion

I. Today we have talked about our earthly fathers.

II. What about your heavenly Father?

III. How do you relate to Him?

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