Introduction

As I’m sure we all know, today is Father’s Day. It’s the holiday after Mother’s Day isn’t it? It’s after Mother’s Day in more ways than one isn’t it? It comes on the calendar after Mother’s Day. It was put on the calendar after Mother’s Day, and often in our hearts, it comes after Mother’s Day. Why is that?

I don’t think God designed men to be the “mothers” of our children, but he gave father’s an awesome role and responsibility. Just how awesome it is is often overlooked.

In Mat 5:14-16, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. {16} "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

In this passage is an expression that we want to keep before us this morning: your Father in heaven. This morning, we want to look at the interesting comparisons between Our heavenly father and our earthly fathers.

Body

I. God is our (1) provider.

A. He is there (2) to protect us from harm.

(Heb 13:5-6 NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." {6} So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

1. Children look to their earthly fathers for safety and protection.

2. Yet it has been stated in the past that 1/3 of American children are not living with their natural fathers?

3. The Old Testament closes with the need of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children.

(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."

B. He is there to (3) provide our food and clothing.

(Mat 6:30-32 NKJV) "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? {31} "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

1. David testified to (4) God’s faithfulness in this respect.

(Psa 37:25 NKJV) I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread..

2. Earthly fathers are to provide for their children.

(1 Tim 5:8 NKJV) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

II. Our heavenly Father provides us with (5) guidance.

A. Jeremiah spoke of God’s guidance for his life.

(Jer 10:23-24 NKJV) O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. {24} O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.

B. His Guidance includes discipline.

(Heb 12:5-12 NKJV) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; {6} For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." {7} If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? {8} But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. {9} Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? {10} For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. {11} Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. {12} Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

C. Paul tells fathers to (6) train their children.

(Eph 6:4 NKJV) And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training¹ and admonition of the Lord.

¹3809. paideia, tutorage; i.e. education or training; by impl. disciplinary correction:--chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

III. Our heavenly Father (7) loves us.

(Jer 31:3 NKJV) The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

A. As earthly fathers, we are to love and nourish our children – Christ assumed that.

(Mat 7:9-11 NKJV) "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? {10} "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? {11} "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

B. God’s ultimate love for us is shown in the gift of His Son.

(John 3:16 NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

IV. Fathers are (8) to be honored.

A. God is to be honored.

(Mal 1:6 NKJV) "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'

B. Children are to (9) honor their fathers.

(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."

1. Children honor their parents by their obedience.

V. Children can be (10) a great blessing to their parents.

A. We have been blessed with three great sons. They are an honor to me by their conduct and their lives.

B. John spoke of the joy he experienced with those whom he had begotten in the faith.

(3 John 1:4 NKJV) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Conclusion

I. Fathers have a different role from that of mother.

II. Our task is an awesome task because we show our children an example of fatherhood, and God is our heavenly Father.

III. Our children are to honor us, and they are to learn to honor their heavenly father as well.

IV. Are you in a right relationship with you father?

V. Are you in a right relationship with God?

Bible Study with Harley Sermons I have Preached

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