What a Father Does
Ephesians 6:4
… Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. [NKJV]
OPENING REMARKS:
A. Father’s Day
.. Today is Father’s Day.
1. Observe
. This day we honor and remember those men in our lives who are or were a father to us.
. Some call these men “Father,” some call him “Pops,” some call him “Dad” or “Daddy,” and still others just call them by their name or perhaps even as my son often calls me – “Big Guy.”
. No matter how you address this man in your life – it is hoped, especially today, that you can honor him and pray that God will give him wisdom in being a father.
2. Understand
. We do not honor fathers today simply because we honored our mothers last month.
. We do not honor fathers today because Sonora Dodd first came up with the idea in 1901.
. We do not honor fathers today because President Calvin Coolidge promoted the day as a national observance in 1924.
. We do not honor fathers today because President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
. We do not honor fathers today because President Nixon made it a national holiday.
. Instead, we honor fathers today because they have had a key role in our lives and we are grateful for all of their sacrifice on our behalf. ----- [Kemuel Travis, Sermon: A Godly Father, www.SermonCentral.com, downloaded 03 June 08 (adapted).] -----
B. Celebration Time
.. If you are like most for this day – you buy dad a card and sometimes a gift.
.. Many have a cookout or dad is treated to a meal at a restaurant w/o having to pay.
.. If your father has passed on – some will put flowers on his grave, others will just reminisce/smile.
NOTE: No matter how you celebrate this day – your focus is to honor your father.
C. Where do you fit in:
Mark Twain
When I was a boy of 14 my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in 7 years. ----- [Steve Shepherd, Sermon: Father’s Day 2000, www.SermonCentral.com, downloaded 03, June 08.] -----
.. Dad viewed over the years –
Age 1-3 Dad gets a nice gift & card that his wife has bought for their child.
Age 4-7 Dad gets a crayon drawn card & a novelty gift from the child.
Age 8-10 Dad gets a funny card along with a useful gift–handkerchiefs or a tie.
Age 11-13 Dad gets a funny card and a gift his wife knows he wants.
Age 14-15 Dad gets a funny card and sometimes a gift.
Age 16-19 Dad gets a I’m sorry | I did not have any money this year!
Age 20-30 Dad gets a “What would you like for me to buy you?”
Age 31-50 Dad gets a card, a shirt or perhaps a nice tie | a phone call if he is not near.
Age 50 + Dad gets a I sure do miss him – I wish I could talk to him today.
NOTE: Remember the gift is not important – BUT / “Treatment”| “Honor” | “Respect” are:
Exodus 20:12 – (cf. Ephesians 6:1-3)
Honor your father and mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”
D. Dads get a bad rap today –
.. Post-Modern Culture view – men are portrayed in a non-flattering way:
. They are made to look like bumbling idiots in TV sitcoms and on commercials.
. Women’s organizations say that dads are not needed – they teach that a woman can do just as good of a job or perhaps even better at raising a family w/o a man and science has helped to promote that thought greatly by investigating ways for women to conceive w/o a man.
. Often dads are displayed as being self-centered, uncaring, selfish, and especially unloving when it comes to children. They are portrayed as someone that the children can not trust to keep their word. They are seen to be behaving badly and are not a good role model for kids.
.. However, this is not reality – the majority of dads are usually very good fathers.
. We may think that they are weird by the things they wear, that they lack emotion when we are excited, that they are always complaining when we want, or that they seem to be always someplace else in their minds, when we engage them – but all in all for most fathers – when your situation calls for no other person to look to for help – dad is the one who is there. Kids love their moms, but usually it is dad they look to for their help – this is because most dads are very good fathers and are extremely proud of their children with a special love for them that only a father can know.
. You may not think that your dad is the greatest person that you have ever known or you may believe that he not worth your time – if this describes your thoughts about your dad – please take a moment and remember that he is your earthly father and that most likely he is doing the best that he can and someday when you get to be a father – then perhaps you will be able to learn from his mistakes and do a much better job with your children.
Proverbs 23:22
Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
TEXT:
Our text speaks of a father’s responsibility to:
Honor Yourself
Honor Family
Honor God
I. Honor Yourself –
A. Men – “Be Men!”
1. Fathers
.. Today you need to realize that now more than any ever you need to become a godly influence to your family and especially to your children. There is a --- No Holds Bar on the Culture of Today --- in regards to influencing your family
2. Listen Men ...
. Our world needs godly men – Live godly – be a testimony of your Saviour – Joshua 24:15b.
. Your wives needs a godly man... a Godly man honors his wife - 1 Pet. 3:7.
. Your children needs a godly man... a Godly man rules his house well – 1 Tim 3:4.
. Your church needs a godly men... a Godly man’s good testimony – 3 John v. 12.
. Your business needs godly men... a Godly man looks for his blessings – James 4:13-17.
. Your community and your nation need godly men... there will be no awakening/revival unless God’s people demonstrate their faith – this must start with men – James 2;14-18.
.. What the world really needs today are some GODLY MEN! Will you be one of them? ----- [Jerry Shirley, June 2004, Sermon: Men Behaving...Godly!, Psalms 112:1-10 (adapted)] -----
B. Do not provoke your children to anger.
1. If we honor ourselves as men
We will not provoke our children to be angry with us and/or everyone else. Instead we will teach them that sometimes men have to walk a straight line in order to be responsible children.
.. Provoke
Gk. means: to anger – i.e. enrage (Strong).
This Greek word occurs only twice in the NT – (Ephesians 6:4 [our text] and Romans 10:19 | I will make you [Israel] jealous by that which is not a nation).
. There is a thin line between disciplining a child and provoking the child to anger.
. This does not mean you will not make the child to be mad at you! –
Hebrews 12:11
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
.. However –
. We are not to deliberately or carelessly exasperate (i.e. to irritate or annoy to the point of being enraged – Webster’s Collegiate Dict.) our children.
. We are not to push our children to the point of violence or self-destruction.
2. We are not through our stubbornness to lead them into sin:
. Overprotection - Fathers have to trust their children
. Discouragement - Fathers need to believe in their children
. Overindulgence - Fathers sometimes need to say No!
. Neglect - Fathers need to spend some time at home
. Favoritism - Never place another child over the other
. Excessive Discipline | Throw your weight around - kills the child’s spirit
. Unrealistic Goals - Children are not perfect – sometimes they fail
.. Do not to provoke your children to anger – does not mean that men have to be perfect fathers, none of us are perfect (Romans 3:23). What it does mean is that we are to strive to treat our children with respect and love in the Lord. We do this by honoring ourselves and acting like men.
C. Leave a Legacy –
1. Cherished Possession
.. We all have different last names – mine is Allen.
. It has passed on for many generations:
. Father to father is Allen
. My Grandfather was an Allen
. My Father was an Allen
. I am an Allen
. My son Jason is an Allen
. We should cherish the integrity of our name! Son remember - you are an Allen. Honor the name!
.. But – over and above me being an Allen, I am a father –
. Remembering what an anonymous father [once] wrote:
. One Hundred Years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove … but [that] the world may be different because I was important in the life of our children. ----- [A Checklist for Dads by Robert Leroe on Ephesians 6:4 – SermonCentral.com (adapted)] -----
II Honor Family –
Bring them up in training … of the Lord –
.. What is important to you?
. Job, prestige, sports, material goods - family | God
A. Know as the father you are responsible for the spiritual well-being of your family.
.. Training [Discipline]
Gk. – The act of providing guidance for responsible living, upbringing, training, instructing … as it is obtained by discipline, correction (Bauer’s Lexicon). This Greek word occurs only six times in the
NT - Ephesians 6:4 (our text), 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is given … for training in righteousness,” Hebrews 12:5, 7, 8 & 11 – “… chastening (KJV), discipline (NASB) …”
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Exodus 12:24, 26-27a
You shall observe this thing [Passover] as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. … And it shall be, when your children say to you, What do you mean by this service? That you shall say …
Joshua 4:6-7a
That this [memorial stones from the Jordan River] may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, What do these stones mean to you? Then you shall answer them …
B. Practice – Practice – Practice makes perfect! [Train by showing] -
. Be Responsible - 1 Timothy 5:8 – provide for his own household
. Be a Protector - 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – the Lord is faithful God protects
. Be a Teacher - Proverbs 5:1 – son, pay attention to my wisdom
. Be a Friend - Proverbs 18:24 – to have friends, must be friendly
. Be a Leader - John 21:19 - Christ to Peter – “Follow Me!”
. Be a Parent - Luke 2:48 – Son … your father (Joseph) & I (Mary) have sought you
III. Honor God –
A. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Was written to help individuals to come to an understanding of why they are on this earth – that purpose is to bring Glory To God.
1 Chronicles 16:8-10
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
1. Admonition
Gk. – lit. a putting in mind. This Greek word is found only three times in the NT – Ephesians 6:4 (our text), 1 Corinthians 10:11 – “example,” Titus 3:10 – “warning (admonition – NKJV).”
.. Our children learn by watching their father
Proverbs 4:1a
Hear, my children the instruction of a father …
.. As he:
. Honors God – As his Sovereign Lord – children learn to trust God’s providence
. Loves God – For his salvation – children learn that salvation is precious
. Prays – For his well-being and yours – children see that we talk to God, not just dictate our desires
. Reads God’s Word – For direction – children see our instruction book of faith, rule, and practice
. Tells others of his faith – children see their father no only talks of God – he shares Him too
. Attends church – With his family – children learn that going to God’s house is important.
B. Dads
If your faith in Christ is genuine – then ask yourself – “Is my spiritual life worth imitating? What will be my legacy? What will you offspring be like? Does like produce like? – Live Godly!
.. How do you think your children will answer that question?
Will they say that you:
. Honor yourself
. Honor Family
. Honor God
1. What a testimony:
Like Father, Like Son | Daughter
.. What will your offspring look like –
. 5 years
. 10 years
. Years after you are gone
CONCLUSION:
.. Father’s Day –
. A time to reflect on the past
. A time to meditate on the present
. A time to consider the future
.. What do you see?
INVITATION:
A. W/O Christ: No personal relationship –
1. Perhaps DAD something has been said today that has caused you to see that you are not a Christian. If that is the case I would like to point you to Calvary’s cross. For here is where you will find the crucified Lord Jesus Christ – God’s answer for fallen man to find forgiveness of their sins.
.. Then and only then can you begin to understand the meaning of being a father.
2. You may say – I am not a dad – what about me. Just as your father must needs go to Calvary’s cross for his salvation – so too, must you run to the cross for yourself.
.. I urge you today to repent of your sinful life before God and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for salvation.
B. Christ: Lord and Savior –
.. To all those who know Christ as their savior – I hope today to Honor your Heavenly Father. If your earthly father is still alive today – call him if possible | pray for him most assuredly.
.. Always Open to All –
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
Bruce Allen
Underwood Baptist Church
bea0210@hotmail.com
www.pilgrimskeyboard.blogspot.com
June 15, 2008
