DAD, YOUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY!”
Lighthouse Worship Center - Father’s Day 09
“...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”
Joshua 24:15
INTRODUCTION:
No matter where you are in life, you have been affected in some way by a Father or a Father Figure. Yesterday, I spent some time with Juselin and accidently called Judy his mom. I apologized but he said, “Pastor, you could call them both my parents, my Dad & Mom since they raised me for the most part!”
So you see, there will always be someone in your life that will act as a Father figure, sometimes on purpose sometimes whether they know it or not.
What is a Father? That’s a loaded question. If I were to ask you that this morning I’d get as many different answers as there are people here!
I read one boy said of Father’s Day...
“IT’S THE SAME AS MOTHER’S DAY ONLY YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND AS MUCH MONEY!” (Now who thought that one up!)
On Father’s Day more “COLLECT CALLS” will be made than on any other day of the year! Thanks Dad!
Our society had cheapened Manhood & Fatherhood even more for many years now. I’ve seen in entertainment where most men are treated as idiots and morons!
Being a man in Scripture is a “HIGH CALLING & A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY!” What our society says about being a man is vastly different from what Scripture says about being a Man!
I want to share with you this morning about the “RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING A FATHER!” THE “GREATEST RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING A FATHER!”
My text says that Joshua spoke some immortal words that day on his deathbed! He spoke some immortal words that resonate loudly & clearly today as the day he spoke them.
“...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”
Joshua 24:15
Understand something Dad & Wives! When Joshua said this he was first and foremost a “MAN OF GOD”, Secondly, a “HUSBAND” and Thirdly a “FATHER!” IN THAT ORDER!
He made a decision that “HIS” household would abide by “HIS” words not only because HE WAS IN CHARGE, don’t get me wrong HE WAS IN CHARGE, but that was not the primary reason.
Was it because he was DAD? In that day & society DAD WAS THE MAN! He made the decisions & took the responsibility for those decisions!
Was it because he was a GODLY MAN? Don’t get me wrong HIM BEING A GODLY MAN HAD TREMENDOUS BEARING ON IT!
What was it that caused his family to be obedient to his words! IT ALL OF THESE THINGS BUT IT MOST OF ALL IT WAS BECAUSE
HE LIVED IT!
HE LIVED IT SPIRITUALLY,
HE LIVED IT HUSBANDLY
& HE LIVED IT FATHERLY!
MEN, YOU’LL NOT BE THE “SPIRITUAL LEADER” OF YOUR HOME ONCE IN A WHILE! YOU’LL BE THE “SPIRITUAL LEADER” IN YOUR HOME ALL THE TIME OR NOT AT ALL!
MEN, YOU HAVE A “RESPONSIBILITY” A “GODLY RESPONSIBILITY” TO BE THE “SPIRITUAL LEADER” OF YOUR HOME!
YOU HAVE A “RESPONSIBILITY” FIRST & FOREMOST TO “GOD’ THEN TO YOUR WIFE & CHILDREN!
I’VE TRIED TO BE THE “SPIRITUAL LEADER” OF MY HOME TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY! MANY TIMES I’VE MADE THE WRONG DECISIONS BUT NOT FOR THE LACK OF TRYING!
WOMEN! SOMETHING YOU NEED TO HEAR ALONG WITH THIS IS “YOUR RESPONSIBILITY” TO THE “SPIRITUAL LEADER” OF YOUR HOME!
“YOU” NEED TO ALLOW HIM TO BE THE “SPIRITUAL LEADER” OF THE HOME & CHILDREN!
IF YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING BEHIND HIS BACK WHEN HE MAKES A DECISION YOU DISAGREE WITH THEN “YOU’RE UNDERMINING” HIS “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP & AUTHORITY” IN THE EYES OF YOUR CHILDREN THEREBY “DIMINISHING” HIS “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP & AUTHORITY!”
THE MOST “FRUSTRATED WOMEN” I’VE SEEN AS A PASTOR ARE THE WOMEN LEADING THEIR HOMES SPIRITUALLY & OTHERWISE!
SOMETIMES THIS IS CAUSED BY “MEN WHO DON’T LEAD” & SOMETIMES THIS IS CAUSED BY “WOMEN WHO WANT TO LEAD” IN SPITE OF THEIR HUSBANDS & THIS CAUSES GREAT PROBLEMS IN THE MARRIAGE & HOME!
MEN YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP & AUTHORITY” & WOMEN YOU NEED TO ALWAYS ALLOW YOUR MAN TO HAVE THE “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP & AUTHORITY”
& MEN, IF YOU’RE GOING TO ASSUME THAT “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP & AUTHORITY” YOU BETTER HAVE “GODLY INSPIRATION & GUIDANCE” AT ALL TIMES!
“LEADERSHIP & AUTHORITY” WILL ALWAYS BE TESTED FROM TIME TO TIME SO YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR “SPIRITUAL DUCKS IN A ROW” WHEN THAT HAPPENS!
Please, understand something about “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP & AUTHORITY” it is not without it’s “DIFFICULTIES” nor without it’s “SORROWS & HARDSHIPS!” BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT THOSE THINGS, IT’S ABOUT WHAT IS “RIGHT” IN THE EYES OF GOD!
IT’S ABOUT MEN LISTENING TO GOD & TO THEIR WIVES BUT ULTIMATELY “STANDING BEFORE GOD” IN RESPONSIBILITY OF DECISION MAKING IN THEIR HOMES!
MEN, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE MEN ARE DEGRADED OPENLY IN THE MEDIA, TELEVISION & PRINT! BUT IN THE ARENA OF GOD MEN ARE HELD IN ESTEEM WITH GODLY RESPONSIBILITIES!
DAD, YOUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITIES!
I. SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE FAMILY!
What an awesomely powerful, great & daunting “RESPONSIBILITY!” How is that to be accomplished by just a mere man? Face it guys! You may be that RAMBO in the mirror or that Frank Sinatra in the Shower, or John Wayne on your John Deere mower, but really, you’re just a MERE MAN!
You accomplish that by first being a....
A. Spiritual Man
It takes a Spiritual Man to say, “As for ME..!”
B. Spiritual Husband
It takes a Spiritual Man to say, “As for ME and My house...”
C. Spiritual Father
It takes a Spiritual Man to say, “As for ME and MY house we will serve the Lord.”
II. PROVIDER OF THE FAMILY!
A. Providing is more than money!
There are many men who can provide money, a roof, food, clothes, etc. but how about “GODLY LEADERSHIP?” Godly Leadership is not something bought like a fishing rod or a rifle! It is cultivated over time with DEDICATION TO & LOVE FOR GOD, & GODLINESS & GODLY THINGS!
B. Provider is more than activities
Spending time with your children & family “IS” important even critical but spending time with them in “CHURCH” & in the “WORD” & in “PRAYER” are the most CRITICAL ACTIVITIES YOU’LL EVER DO & THEY DON’T COST A WHOLE LOT! We used to spend time with our boys in “PRAYER, SCRIPTURE & CHURCH!” You may think, “Well that didn’t get you very far did it?” Let me tell you something about Fatherhood! You can do all you can but eventually your children will come to make some of their own decisions good or bad. But what you have taught them “they will never escape from” nor the Holy Spirit that deals with them for a life time will never forsake them! THAT IS GOD’S PROMISE TO FATHERS & MOTHERS!
C. Providing as the Head of the Family
Leading is just that, it is LEADING! Dropping your kids off at church is “NOT LEADING” them to the House of God! Fatherhood isn’t being “IN CHARGE” just for the sake of “BEING IN CHARGE!” Being the head of the family involves “SACRIFICE OF THE HIGHEST DEGREE!” It involves giving up of the things that you want & some even deserve! But true Fatherhood is not about self, it’s about Family, Wife & Children! I BELIEVE THAT TRUE FATHERHOOD IS MORE SPIRITUAL THAN NOT! YOU PROVIDE AS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY BY
III. HEAD LOVER OF THE FAMILY
A. God First
Love God with all you hear, soul & body!
B. Wife Second
Love the Gift of your Wife that God gave to you. She is your LOVER, FRIEND, CONFIDANT & (OUTSIDE OF GOD’S WORD) IS YOUR GREATEST SOURCE OF TRUTH & YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT! SHE’LL TELL YOU WHEN YOU’RE RIGHT & WHEN YOU’RE WRONG!
C. Children third
Children are the opportunity for God to shine through you the most! When your children look at you they should see God in your face, see God in your actions, hear God in your voice & words, feel God in your hug & touch! You are to be the example of God in their lives, through love, forgiveness, understanding, care, concern, meeting their needs emotionally, physically, financially & most of all SPIRITUALLY!
Understand that in this order it doesn’t mean you love children LAST, LESS OR LEAST! It simply means you understand the pecking order that God set up and you abide by that pecking order. In doing so you create an “ATMOSPHERE OF GODLINESS” by God’s example and yours to your family.
Closing:
(LOOK FOR SALVATION FIRST!) Fellows you are a gift to your home! In YOU ALONE lies the manliness of God incarnate! You are Man, Husband & Father! Let your life & life shine as THE FATHER DOES TO YOU TO YOUR FAMILY!
In my eyes, many may disagree, but being a Man in this World & Society is the Hardest thing! But with God’s help it can be done, well & Successfully!
Men, I want you to come down to the front & we want to honor you as Fathers, as Heros of our society as you fulfill the Role of Father!
