Fathers Of The Heavenly Father

FATHERS OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER

HUMOR:MARRIAGE JOKES

1. Marriage made in Heaven — So is thunder in lightening!!

2. Love is a dream — Marriage is an alarm clock

3. A honeymoon is a Short Pause - between - I Do and You Better

4. Lady went to get a divorce—

Lawyer: “Do you have ground?”

Lady: “About 2 acres”

Lawyer: “Do you have a grudge?”

Lady: “No we have a carport”

Lawyer: “Does your husband beat you up?”

Lady: “No I get beat up for him everyday”

Lawyer: Screamed- “Lady what is your problem!”

Lady: “ Oh that is easy- We just can’t communicate.”

TEXT: EPH. 6:1-4; EPH. 5:1, 21-33; TITUS 2:1-15

INTRO: HOW CAN YOU BE A GODLY FATHER? ANY ONE CAN FATHER A CHILD!!

I. BE AN IMITATOR OF GOD. (Eph. 5:1)

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Does anyone remember who Jim Anderson was on television in the late 50’s and early 60’s? He was the wise father, played by Robert Young, on the show "Father Knows Best".

On this show it seems that the father always knew what was right.

He always made the right decisions. He always knew what was best.

Fathers and mothers are very often wise, very often right, and very often they know what is best.

I have discovered over the years that my own dad and mom are very often wise, very often right, and very often know what is best! I am appreciative for the upbringing and the continued support that my parents have given me.

However, Jim Anderson on television was not perfect.

Dad Davis is not perfect.

Your father wasn’t or isn’t perfect.

As a father, or in any other way, I’m not perfect.

In reality fathers do not always know what’s best.

That’s because we all have a faulty human nature.

Everyone of us is a sinner! That means we are fallible.

I have good news! There is a father who always knows best.

The father who always knows best is our Heavenly Father.

Because He is God, He is always right, always accurate, always loving, and always knows best. He is far superior to any of us

human fathers or mothers.

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Determine that He is to be your only example of how to be a Father.

II. ASSUME YOUR GODLY POSITION AS HEAD OF THE FAMILY. (vvs.21-24)

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Implies responsibility, not rulership.

Means to provide;

To make Biblical decisions;

To protect.

III. LOVE YOUR WIFE. (vs.25)

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Your relationship with your wife affects how you function as a father. (love = good, fighting = bad)

2. Again, our example: Christ. Love your wife as much as you love yourself.

3. Wives are to love their Husbands. Titus 2:1-5

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

IV. PROPERLY RAISE YOUR CHILDREN. (6:4)

Explain "provoke." You have the responsibility to teach them the ways of God. (salvation, relationship and responsibility to God, right and wrong)

1. CRITERIA FOR AN EFFECTIVE GODLY FATHER -Titus 1.5-9

A father must be blameless as a manager of his children for God.

A father must not be arrogant but sensitive in leading his children to make good decisions, not forcing on them his own ideas and opinions.

A father must not be quickly angered hut in control of his own spirit, demonstrating the fruitfulness of the Spirit-filled life before his children.

A father must not be bonded to booze but spend instead long periods of time with Christ so that it is evident to his children that Christ is the greatest influence in his life.