A Father And His Children

A MAN AND HIS CHILDREN

“Obtaining and Using All Available Resources”

Used in Men Of Integrity Meetings by Luther Sexton

INTRODUCTION:

“Congratulations! It’s a boy!” or “We have a healthy baby girl!” There was more than just a baby born that day. A father was also born. The world will never look the same. Ken Canfield

I. YOUR WIFE (Assuming a traditional two parent home.)

A. Your Children’s Mother.

1. The most valuable resource available to help you grow as a father. She provides another perspective on what your children need and reminds you of commitments you’ve made to them. Ken Canfield

2. “The best thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother.” Dr. Dobson ?

3. By loving your wife, you will enable your kids to love and be loved.

B. The Impact Of Some Mothers In Scripture

1. Ahaziah

II Chronicles 22:2 “Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. 22:3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.”

2. Hannah- Samuel’s Mother; I Samuel 1

a. Childless v. 6

b. Sorrowful v. 7

c. Prayerful v. 10

d. Joyful v. 18

e. Worshipful v. 19

f. Honorable v. 28

I Samuel 1:28 “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”

3. Lois - Eunice -- Timothy Passing the Faith Along

II Timothy 1:5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

II. YOUR CHURCH

A. If we want our children to grow into strong, wise, confident, capable, intelligent, mature Christian adults, we can’t just leave their spiritual and moral development to chance.

1. We can’t assume that they’ll get what they need from their environment.

2. We can’t just turn them over to be shaped and molded by the culture.

3. We have to take seriously our God-given responsibility to teach our children.

Alan Perkins

If a man does not teach his children truth, others will teach them “error.”

Albert Barnes

B. Utilizing the Church

1. By taking your children to church. Don’t send your children to church.

2. By placing them in a Sunday School which teaches the truth.

3. By exposing them and pointing them to examples within the church.

4. By living at home, what you profess in the church.

If you want to confuse and lose your children, play the part of a hypocrite.

5. By praying for the divine aid in his efforts, and for the salvation of their souls.

III. YOUR SELF

A. Supervision

1. Know where your children are at every possible moment.

2. Know what your children are doing at every possible moment.

3. Participate in their activities as much as possible.

4. Discipline your children fairly when necessary.

Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

“Take heed that the misdeeds for which thou correctest thy children be not learned them by thee. Many children learn that wickedness of their parents for which they beat and chastise them.” John Bunyan

B. Provision

I Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his

own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

1. Providing Naturally --Materially without promoting materialism.

2. Providing Educationally -- Goals, Future

3. Providing Emotionally

a. In order for your children to have an appropriate relationship with their heavenly Father, they should first have an appropriate relationship with their earthly father.

b. Do you need to deal with the past? Repent of past failures.

4. Providing Spiritually

Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

a. A godly man is a servant, not a slavemaster.

b. In the nurture. The word used here means “training of a child;” hence education, instruction, discipline. Albert Barnes

c. And admonition. The word used here means literally, “a putting in mind,” then warning, admonition, instruction. Albert Barnes

CONCLUSION:

Being a good father takes sacrifice. As a committed dad, sometimes you have to sacrifice what is good for what is best. Ken Canfield