Faithful Messenger

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
Stanley Sherman
INTRODUCTION:
A. Today is FATHER'S DAY--a time set aside to honor our fathers;
1. And to remind us of what they mean to our lives and show them our appreciation.
2. It should also be a day when we fathers take a look at our own fatherhood role
a. evaluating our strengths and weaknesses
b. and determining to improve our attitudes, behaviour and activity in this very
important role.
B. Let's take a look first of all at what good fatherhood is, and then share some ideas
about how we can meaningfully honor our fathers.
DISCUSSION:
A. Biologically speaking, just about any male may become a father.
1. But, is that the real definition of a father?
a. Is that what being a father really means?
b. Surely that is not its extent!
2. A real father has the great responsibility of being the leader or head of his family,
and is to be the spiritual leader of his home.
B. To help us understand and appreciate the definition and role of a father, lets spell
our the word and use it as an acronym (words from the the letters of another word).
1. F -- A father is a friend to his children.
a. Not necessarily a "pal" which implies equality on the children's level, but a
friend--who enjoys life with his children.
b. They mutually enjoy one another's company and enjoy being with each other.
c. Father's take quality time for their children.
(1) Everyone seems to be on the fast track in the rat race nowadays; but,
fathers must week out the trivial and prioritize what is really important.
(2) I know that I, like many fathers, if we had it to do all over again, would
spend much more time with our children.
(3) Delores Curran in her book, Traits of Healthy Families, says that lack of
time together is one of the greatest enemies to family life.
(4) One study finds that fathers spend only an average of 10 minutes per week
with their children.
(5) Dr. Charlie Shedd conducted a contest several years ago called, "One
Neat Dad". The contestants were asked to write a recommendation of their
dads. Here are the 10 highest ranking qualities wanted for fathers:
(a) He takes time for me. (This was number one).
(b) He listens to me.
(c) He plays with me.
(d) He lets me help him.
(e) He invites me to go places with him.
(f) He treats my mother well.
(g) He lets me say what I think.
(h) He is nice to my friends.
(i) He only punishes me when I deserve it.
(j) He is not afraid to admit when he is wrong.
d. Someone has said, "Being a father is a tough job; and, by the time some of us
have learned how to be one, we were suddenly grandfathers."
e. An unknown poet wrote a poem entitled, What shall I give my son?
"What shall you give to one small boy? A glamorous game, a tinseled toy?
A Barlow knife, a puzzle pack, a train that runs on a curving track?
A picture book, a real live pet? No, there's plenty of time
for such things yet.
Give him a day for his very own--just one small boy and his dad alone.
A walk in the woods, a romp in the park, a fishing trip from dawn to dark.
Give the gift that only you can--the companionship of his Old Man!
Games are outgrown, and toys decay--but he'll never forget if you
give him a day."
(2) A -- a father is an ally.
a. Little kids brag about their fathers being the strongest, the greatest dad who
could beat anybody else's dad!--but does that belief continue?
(1) When they get older is dad still the greatest man in their life?
(2) When problems come, when the storms of life overwhelm them can
they count on us to stand beside them, uphold them with the reputation
we had with them when they were little?
b. A good pattern to follow is to look at the fatherhood of God in the Bible.
(1) EPHESIANS 6:4 "...Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring
them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
(2) God says He is always with us...He will never leave us for forsake us,
He works all things out together for our good (Romans 8:28).
(3) He disciplines us for our good.
(4) He encourages those things that help us to grow and be safe and
secure against the temptations and trials of life, and only forbids our
indulgence in those things that will harm and destroy our lives.
(5) Those traits are what makes God and feeble us--good fathers.
c. Kids can count on a good father being consistent and can rely and know
where their father stands on things. A father is an ally that can be counted
for wisdom and right advice and guidance.
d. This ties into the next letter...
(3) T-- is for trainer.
a. It is not the school's responsibility to train your child, nor the TV, not even
the church.
b. It is your responsibility, fathers.
c. Another version of EPHESIANS 6:4 reads "Fathers, do no exasperate
your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the
Lord."
d. PROVERBS 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he
is old he will not depart from it."
(1) This doesn't apply only to verbal instruction.
(2) Children are impressed and affected by attitudes and habits they see
in your life. By behaviour and example. What is your training like in
that area?
(4) H--is for helper, healer, and harbinger (or, forerunner).
a. You remember your dad when you were little as the one you ran to when
your body or your feelings were hurting. He spoke softly, put his arm
around you and fixed whatever was hurting.
b. He taught you to hunt and fish and ride a bike and play ball--all the stuff
he did as a kid--and you trusted his help because he was a harbinger--
he had done it before and was thus a reliable trainer and helper.
c. Would your kids like to learn to do what you used to have fun doing?...
to hear and learn ways that you learned to survive in the woods perhaps
or to be resourceful and self-reliant?
(5) E--is for edifier and encourager.
a. To edify means to build up. To encourage means to give hope and urge
on to success.
b. Can you remember your dad enthusiastically yelling and cheering you on
during your sports games?
c. Can you remember him patiently helping you with homework or in pr
paring your Bible class lessons?
d. Can you picture him swelling with pride at your accomplishments--even
if they were little craft projects?
e. We always wanted to please dad and make us proud of us. Why?
(1) To have his approval was key.
(2) Even Jesus said of His Father God--"...I do always those things that
please Him" (JOHN 8:29)
f. Do your children look to you as the object of impressing--even now when
perhaps they are grown? How is your encouragement factor?
(6) R--is for role model.
a. PROVERBS 17:6 "The glory of children are their fathers."
b. What a great privilege it is to be a father, and yet what an awesome
responsibility!
c. Whether your child succeeds or fails is basically in your hands, dad!
(l) You don't realize the power in your hands to shape the destiny of
your children--even for future generations.
(2) In describing a rebellious period in the history of the children of Israel
2 KINGS 17:4l says, "So these nations feared the Lord and also
served their graven images, both their children and their children's
children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day."
d. "As did their fathers so do they."
(1) Edgar Allen Poe, the famous writer, died an alcoholic. He one time
said "I learned to love the flavor of good wine sitting at my father's
table."
(2) Two men lived during the same years in the early history of our country.
One, Max Jukes, a Dutch settler in New York, had two sons. Both boys
married into a family in which there were six daughters, five of whom,
including the one they married, were very immoral in character.
(a) A private investigator, R.L. Dugdale, was one time appointed to
investigate New York prisons. In the course of his work he ran
across this Jukes family. He outlined their genealogical history
through five generations and found descending directly from these
unfavorable marriages a rotten, putrid stream of poverty, prostitu-
tion, illegitimacy and crime. Of the 709 descendants investigated
he found that one-fifth were criminals. Nearly one-fourth were
paupers supported at government expense. About one-fourth were
illegitimate. Of the women, one out of every six was a prostitute.
Dealing with crimes committed by this family cost taxpayers an
estimated $1,300,000.
(b) Of course, no definite statistics could portray the indirect moral
and social evil issuing forth from this line of family influence.
The other man of that period in history who was a contemporary of
Max Jukes was JONATHAN EDWARDS.
(a) He was a minister and a strict disciplinarian--a very moral man.
Tracing his family genealogical line, we find as his direct descen-
dants: 12 college presidents, 265 college graduates, 65 college
professors (and this is all when colleges honored Biblical roots),
further, there were 60 physicians, 100 ministers, 75 army officers
60 prominent authors, 100 lawyers, 30 judges, 80 public officials
such as governors, mayors and state officials, 3 congressmen,
2 United States senators, and one vice president of the United
States.
(b) The Bible says, "as did their fathers, so do they." and there
is another passage in Ezekiel 16:44 "As is the mother, so is
her daughter."
e. Fathers, you are a role model for your children--for good or bad. What
precedent are you setting for your children and future generations?
(1) The famous preacher, Billy Sunday, once said, "Every man is some
boy's hero...If every man lived right today, no boy would go to hell
tomorrow."
(2) A poet has written:
"Lives of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, may take heart again."
f. Fathers, is not starting a good stream of religious and moral influence--
based on the word of God--worth a lifetime of righteous living? Will
everyone turn out great--probably not. But, at least if some descendants
prove unworthy--it will not be your fault.
g. Poem: "His little arms crept 'round my neck
and I heard him say
Four simple words I shan't forget--
Four words that made me pray.
They turned a mirror on my soul,
On secrets no one knew.
They startled me, I hear them yet;
He said, "I'll be like you."
h."A careful father I must be--a little fellow follows me!"
C. And now let us turn our attention to how we can best honor our fathers not only on
Father's Day, but on every day from now on!
1. EPHESIANS 6:1-3 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER; which is the first commandment
with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the
earth."
a. MALACHI 1:6 "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..."
b. Unlike our Heavenly Father, we earthly fathers are not perfect. But we look
to God as our perfect role model. When one is perfect there is no question
veracity (or truthfulness or accuracy). But we often are far from perfect.
(1) But our children, who often are smarter than we give them credit for,
know the attitudes we should hold and the behaviour we ought to
exhibit. They see our faults and our sins.
(2) And they do not expect us to be perfect, but they do expect us to admit
our faults and try to become more the person that we ought to be.
2. Thus, children can honor us with respect, despite our faults, if they see we are
trying to be good fathers.
3. Fathers deserve to be honored--not just by the bare formality of a Fathers Day
card or gift--but by a genuine outpouring of respect.
Many children just go through the motions without honoring at all.
4. You know that we really have two fathers--our earthly father and our heavenly
Father.
a. The two are linked spiritually. You cannot respect one without respecting
the other--really.
b. How are fathers truly honored--Fathers are always honored by obedience.
(1) EPHESIANS 6:1-2 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment
with promise."
(2) Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." (JOHN 14:15).
(3) I JOHN 2:3-4 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His
commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
(4) HEBREWS 5:8-9, "...though Jesus was a son, yet He learned obedience."
c. Do you see it? Genuine honor and respect is always linked to
obedience in the Bible.
5. Now, here are some practical ways to honor your father.
a. Appreciate your father's work.
(1) It isn't an easy task always for a father to fulfill his responsibilities to the
family. There is often tremendous pressure on him in being a father.
(2) Listen to this in I TIMOTHY 5:8 "If any man does not provide for his
own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith,
and is worse than an infidel"
(a) It costs a great deal to raise a family--often its hard for a father to
make ends meet.
(b) Sometimes fathers have to forgo some of their dreams or do with-
out important things in order that his children might be provided
with their necessities and try to fulfill their dreams.
(3) When was the last time you thanked him for all he's done for you--
maybe a lot of things you just took for granted?
b. Ask for his wisdom.
(1) PROVERBS 23:22 "Listen to your father who begot you, and do not
despise your mother when she is old."
(2) Kids sometimes don't think their fathers know anything, until they get
out into the world. Then they realize he knew a lot more than they
thought.
(3) Even after you children have grown up and have your own families--
you should still actively seek the wisdom of your father.
(1) How many times through failures of life I wish I had listened to
my father's advice.
(2) How many regrets I have had to live with, because I thought I was
smarter than him--and took the wrong path.
c. Accept his will.
(1) Again children, be reminded of EPHESIANS 6:1 "Children, obey your
parents in the Lord: for this is right."
(2) God designed your family, and placed your father as head (leader) of
your home. Read Proverbs 6:20-24.
(3) It is always in your best interest to respect and obey God's will and
your father's will when it conforms to the will of God.
d. Allow for your father's weaknesses.
(1) We are not talking about turning a blind eye to sins.
(2) But, realize your father is human, too.
a. Hold him in esteem even when you know of his weaknesses and
mistakes.
b. Pray for him and try to understand and help him, even if you have
to delicately and elusively skirt around his pride to pave the way
for him.
c. In other words, don't ban him from the pedestal of your heart
because of his frailties.
(3) Remember, "we all sin and fall short of the glory of God." (ROMANS
3:23).
(4) I PETER 4:8 "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another,
because love covers a multitude of sins."
e. Attend to his wants and needs.
(1) Just like children, fathers have needs too.
a. Honoring him involves sensitivity.
b. Honoring involves listening and watching out for things.
(2) Fathers often do not ask for much help--especially from their
children. There is a pride factor there, but also a strong desire
not to be a burden or dependant on others.
(3) Keep your eyes open to the needs of your parents--especially as
they grow old.
CONCLUSION:
A. There is no place on this earth as much like heaven as a loving Christian home
where each member is earnestly and sincerely trying to do their part to fulfill
their God-given roles in mutual love, honor, respect, forgiveness and kindness.
1. Such a family can't help but succeed in this life, and leave a rich heritage
to bless the world of the future.
2. Only by forgetting selfish self and putting Jesus first, others second and
yourself last can you spell JOY in your life.
B. It all starts by becoming a Christian and with God as your Father, trusting Him
for guidance through His word, the Bible, and a yielding, obedient spirit.
1. Come to Jesus today in faith. making your faith truly meaningful by repenting
of your past sins, confessing your faith in Jesus, and being baptized into
Christ for the remission of your sins through his cleansing blood in that
act of faithful obedience. He will add you to His family ( church) and heaven
will be your eternal home at the end of your faithful Christian life of service
and sharing Christ with other needy souls.
2. What a happy, wonderful Fathers Day that would be.
C. Have a happy fathers day!
-Copyright 2008 Stanley Sherman