A Special Father's Day - Father Of The Fatherless

A SPECIAL FATHERS DAY by William K. Akehurst

This MUST READ for Fathers and the FatherLESS.

My calling came from the Word in Proverbs 4:1.

From 6/18/06, my first “fatherless” father’s day, with excerpts from the book, ‘God’s promises to Fathers’ by Jack Countryman

Proverbs 4:1 was speaking directly to me… “Young Man, Listen to me as you would your father”

Psalm 68:5 says that God is the Father of the fatherless

As I prepared this morning’s message, I remembered an earlier time in my life when I was behind a pulpit on Father’s day, I was 16 years old. I was getting ready to enter into my High School Senior year.

That Father’s day, my grandfather, my dad and myself, were asked to speak and deliver a message to the congregation at Camp Chapel. 3 generations of Akehursts, speaking of the God of our Fathers. Showing the ‘faith of our fathers’. I remember speaking of visions of the future, but not knowing exactly which way my life would turn out, I would trust in the Lord to direct my paths as it says in Proverbs 3:5-6.

…….more

18 months ago, I turned 40… On my birthday, at the office, a fellow came to me and said…“Welcome to the Club!” I didn’t know what he meant at first, then, he added ‘the 40 and over club.’

As I look out in this room, you all have joined several more clubs from the 40 and over.

Earlier this year, I joined a new club. It was one that I wasn’t actually looking forward to joining, but I knew sooner or later, I would be a member. As I look out in this room, almost everyone here is part of this club…our Father’s have gone on before us.

On March 1st, I joined the Club of the Fatherless.

On March 4th, As I took my bible, I grabbed the Life Application Bible which is a Living Translation or paraphrase. As it was the 4th day of the month, I turned to Proverbs 4, and the 1st verse said this to me…

“Young man, listen to me as you would to your father”

Proverbs 4:1 KJV

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to have understanding.

NLT

Young men, listen to me as you would to your father

WOW! Did you here that. Young man…listen to me…as you would your father…

Well as you can imagine, I was quite blown away. Here is the Bible, God’s word, SPEAKING to ME.

God was saying…Bill, read my Word and Listen to ME as you would have listened to your Father.

Psalm 68:5 says that God is the Father of the fatherless

Psalm 68:5 (KJV)

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

Today is a special day.

This is a Very Special Father’s Day…

* * * * *

Society – this next generation has the worst case of fatherlessness EVER

Men make their mark and disappear. Children grow up without the father figure.

I was blessed to have a father who cared for me as his son. Now Dad made his mistakes too, but he tried to be a good father.

And a Good father is one who

loves his children

cares and provides for his children

nurtures and protects his children

I have spoken with many of you in the past months, and some of you probably do not consider today a good day to remember your Father. Some of you had a pretty rough childhood. Some of you didn’t get along with your father or didn’t even know him.

But I have GOOD NEWS!

GOD himself says…

2 Corinthians 6:18

18 “ I will be a Father to you,

And you shall be My sons and daughters,

Says the LORD Almighty.”

GOD IS – the PERFECT FATHER

God Loves us

The Father’s love for his children

1 John 3:1a

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

John 14:21,23

21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John 16:27

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

* * * * *

From the book ‘God’s promises to Fathers’ by Jack Countryman…

a. God Freely Gives You…

Eternal Hope

John 3:16 says whoever believes in Him should have eternal life.