A Father’s Advice
Griffith Baptist Church – 6/15/08
A.M. Service
Text: 1 Kings 2:1-4
Key verse: 1 Kings 2:2 - I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
The Introduction
The bride was very nervous. It was right before the wedding and she wasn’t sure she could even walk down aisle. So her father gave her some words of wisdom. He said to her. “There’s only three things you need to focus on. If you focus on these three things, you’ll be fine. The first is walking down the aisle. Just focus on walking down the aisle of the church. I know it’s rather long, but just concentrate on that. Don’t get caught up with those on either side of the aisle. Just focus on getting to the end of the aisle. Next, focus on the altar. It is your destination today. Make your way down the aisle to the altar. There you will stand before God with the man you love and will make vows to God and him. Focus on the altar –for the altar represents the love God has for you in Jesus Christ. Lastly, focus on the hymn just before signing of the Register. In poetry and song, the hymn embodies God’s love for you in Christ, your love for your husband and his love for you. So, to help you not be so nervous, focus on those three things. Walking down the AISLE, Standing before the ALTAR and Listening to the HYMN. The bride was very thankful to her Dad for his words of advice. The family and friends gathered watched as she walked down the aisle. They saw the look of calm on her face. But as she passed them, they began to chuckle quietly. For along with the look of calm, she was mumbling three words over and over again to help calm her nerves. “Aisle, Altar, Hymn… Aisle, Altar, Hymn… Aisle, Altar, Hymn.”
Advice is very important and seldom given anymore.
It isn’t that advice is not always good but it isn’t always welcome
Advice is not only given in words but in our walk.
A father’s counsel to His children is the most precious gift, outside of salvation, that any man can give.
How you live, not just the words you say or the commands you give, will teach your children.
There are three wise counsels, or precious jewels of advice that David gives Solomon.
Transition Statement: First wise counsel is this, Live a life your children can model.
Body
1. Live A Life Your Children Can Model (2)
A. Strength of character (be strong)
i. "Character is like the foundation of a house. Most of it is below the surface."
ii. We need to teach our children strength of character:
a. We are raising a generation of children who know nothing of character
b. They have fathers who are worthless and absent
c. A cover article in the February 27 issue of U. S. News & World Report concluded that: Dad is destiny. More than any other factor, a father’s presence in the family will determine a child’s success and happiness.” The article noted that nearly two out of every five children in America do not live with their fathers. New Man, May/June 1995, p. 10
d. Families are failing because fathers are failing their families
iii. For the Christian father, it is all about God - Psalms 27:14 – Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. and Psalms 31:24 - Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
iv. Character is built through facing life with God leading the way – Romans 5:1-5 - 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
v. You have to be strong even when it is not popular
a. Every man ought to be a minister in his own home – 1 Thessalonians 2:11 – As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, (spoken to a minister comparing it to a father) and 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 minister is to nurture or instruct [2nd Tim. 3:16] and admonish or warn [1st Thess. 5:12])
b. You cannot keep silent for God and raise your children for God.
c. It is on you to drill it into your children, in love and consistency and with fire, the things of God – read Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
B. Evidence of character (show yourself a man)
i. Be tough but stay tender
ii. Families must see the evidence of God’s influence in your life
iii. Your Christlike focus - Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
iv. Your open influence - 1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye (Be on guard.), stand fast in the faith (Stand true to what you believe.), quit you like men (Be courageous.), be strong (Be strong.).
Transition Statement: Second wise counsel is this, instruct them to live for God above all else.
2. Instruct Them To Live for God Above All Else (3)
A. Continue to be Faithful (keep the charge of the Lord your God)
i. To be given a charge is to carry on the work others have done before you to an equal or greater degree. To impose a duty, responsibility, or obligation on
ii. The charge is the same as saying “stand guard” “watch the watch” serve the service”
iii. This is to pass along to our children the faith we say we hold so dearly.
iv. To many pass along a wood, hay and stubble faith when what is most endurable is the gold, silver and precious stones.
v. Psalms 127:1-5:
a. 1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (The Lord, #1 in the home)
b. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. (anything else is a waste of time without God)
c. 3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (children are a gift that must be handled well)
d. 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. (your aim better be true)
e. 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Will your children have and show the spiritual discipline that will bring honor to you as a father and to your Heavenly Father)
B. Keep a closeness with God (walk in His ways)
i. Never allow anything to take the place of God in your life
ii. You make sure that as much as you possible can, your children walk with God.
iii. They ought to be:
a. Saved (pray for your children and grandchildren and great grandchildren from conception that they would be saved and when they are, help them live their faith)
b. In church
c. Reading their Bible
d. Praying
e. Serving, obeying, giving
C. Obey His Word no matter what (keep His . . .)
i. Statutes - Consider all his appointments to be holy, just, and good
ii. Commandments - Whatever He has told you to do, do it; what He has forbidden you to do, don’t do it.
iii. Judgments or Testimonies - What he has determined to be right, is essentially and inherently right; what he has determined to be wrong or evil, is inherently and essentially so.
iv. Testimonies - Bear witness to all to which he has borne witness.
v. Bottom Line: Do as your told, when you are told to do it, and don’t ever question or look back over your shoulder in doubt. God said it, that settles it, I’ll do it.
vi. Father’s, you determine the spiritual direction of your house. Joshua did not hesitate when he said, “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord”. (Josh 24:15)
D. The result:
i. At the end of verse 3:
a. Success in all you and your children do
b. Life goes much better when we are dead center in God’s will
c. Life is much better when we joyfully obey and don’t try to fight God
Transition Statement: Last, David leaves his son, Solomon with this counsel, leave a legacy that is strong.
3. Leave a Legacy That Is Strong (4)
A. There are two main ways God gives promises:
i. Unconditional promises – I will do this no matter what you do
a. Example: God’s love – God loves humanity no matter what humanity does
b. Example: Abram promised to be the progenitor of a great nation without a stated condition - Genesis 12:2 - And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
ii. Conditional promises – I will do this in response to what you do
a. Example: Receiving Christ – Romans 10:9-10 - 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
b. God’s love is unconditional
c. The condition upon which salvation is obtained is belief.
d. God will not refuse anyone who comes to him believing
e. Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
• Grace is the gift through the avenue of faith (the condition)
• Faith is active. It is a verb.
• Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
• NOTE: By the way, this is not saying that faith is works. Faith is an inward response to the movement of God and is an act of the will. True works are an act that demonstrate continued faith in God after salvation has occurred. Any other works are just window dressing in an empty store on a closed street. It looks great, but accomplishes no purpose.
B. This is a conditional promise given to David
i. If:
a. Learn to exercise care in their daily walk in this world
b. They are wholeheartedly faithful
ii. Than:
a. I will bless your offspring like I blessed you
b. They will have success in their lives
Concluding Statement: Fathers, your life does not consist only in bringing home a paycheck and providing and protecting your family. As the leader in the home, it is your God-given responsibility to be the minister in your home and instruct them in the Word. We need more Godly fathers to step up and take their spiritual work in the family very seriously.
Conclusion:
Fathers, do your children see you praying?
Do they know you read your Bible?
Do they know you obey your Bible?
Do they hear and see you, on bended knee, submitting yourself to God and lifting up their names before the throne of grace?
Do they see your passion for God?
