A GODLY FATHER
Genesis 18:19
Calvary Baptist Church
June 15, 2003
This is message number 6 of 6 in our 2003 series on the family, beginning Mothers Day and ending Fathers Day.
INTRODUCTION:
• In chapter 19, God is about to destroy Sodom.
• Abraham is so faithful that God will not hide this fact from him.
• What is it about Abraham that so impresses God?
• Our text reveals the answer.
A WORD OF CAUTION
Caution: We must be careful not to scorn those with grown children who are out of the "way". We must realize that children have a mind, will, heart of their own. And they must have a faith of their own. Even the guidelines for pastors apply to children 13 and under.
Today we look to the Scriptures for an example of a godly father where we find a tremendous testimony from God himself about Abraham.
TEXT: 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
I. He Has a Relationship “I know him.”
Not just omnipotence.
God knew who he was.
Dad, the best thing you can do for the relationship with your children is to make sure that you have a relationship with God. One that is personal, intimate and dynamic!
Psalm 1:6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
II. He Has a Reputation
A. With God
In our previous point, we saw that God knew who he was.
But God also knew what he was.
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.
B. With His Children
"Command his children ... after him"
We must be an example.
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Tim. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
POEM: 3670. Son’s Little Eyes Upon You
There are little eyes upon you,
And they’re watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly take in
Every word that you say;
There are little hands all eager
To do everything that you do.
And a little boy who’s dreaming
Of the day he’ll be like you.
You’re the little fellow’s idol,
You’re the wisest of the wise;
In his little mind about you
No suspicions ever rise;
He believes in you devotedly,
Holds that all you say and do
He will say and do in your way
When he’s grown up just like you.
There’s a wide-eyed little fellow
Who believes you’re always right
And his ears are always open,
And he watches day and night.
You are setting an example
Every day in all you do
For the little boy who’s waiting
To grow up to be like you.
—Selected
III. He Has a Regimen (Routine)
“Command” - Heb., tsavah, to give a charge, an order. To put or set in order.
This would include servants.
DEFINITION: Regimen
1. a regulated routine of therapy or exercise designed to promote health
2. any system that is in place
QUOTE: He would "Lay his injunctions on them, use his authority with them, give them all needful instructions, and take such methods with them as would tend to propagate and preserve the true religion after his death. (Gill)
GIVE ONLY THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS! (Previous chapter from our text).
Genesis 17:23-27 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. [24] And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. [25] And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. [26] In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. [27] And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
HUMOR
• Abraham brought everyone together to obey God’s command.
• I’ve said it’s time to go to McDonalds, and my children have jumped up and down.
• I’ve said it is Six Flags day, and the same result.
• Abraham said, It’s circumcision day.
• One of the slower servants jumped up and down while everybody just looked at him.
• “Oh, I didn’t know.”
HUMOR
When you were young, do you remember just enjoying school being out, ready for a lazy Summer. Then mom yells, “Spring Cleaning.” You looked, but there was no where to hide. You were in mom’s regimen. We need some spiritual housecleaning in our Baptist Churches today!!!
This would include servants.
QUOTE: He would "Lay his injunctions on them, use his authority with them, give them all needful instructions, and take such methods with them as would tend to propagate and preserve the true religion after his death.” (John Gill)
Abraham laid down the law.
ILLUS: Dad, when is the last time you checked the content of the CD’s your children listen to? When is the last time you went online and downloaded the lyrics from some of the pop stars today to find out what they are really pumping into your child’s head? No matter how big the pump, when there is a hole in the side of the tire, the result is going to be a flat. When, in their entertainment, children have a spiritual leak, the result is going to be a child whose faith is flat! I have never yet seen a child surrender his/her heart to the Lord until they first surrender their eyes and ears!
IV. He Has a Resolve “He will command,” and “they shall keep”
Joshua 24:15 If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
V. He Has a Result (in mind)
“And they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;”
A. Keep The Way.
What better? If when I die, my children have reared their children the same way, in the same faith in which they were brought up, I will die a happy man!
B. Do Justice and Judgment.
justice = what is fair and right to God and to man.
judgment = the ability to discern all things, to divide between good and evil.
Not stay near Mama. Not produce lots of grandkids & keep them close.
When I moved from Greenville to Anderson (about 25 miles), mom thought I had dropped off the face of the earth. She came to visit once and asked what channels we get down here. Then we told her we might be moving to Sylva, N.C. That was another planet. I think of missionary David Edens. He could not even make it home for his father’s funeral. But I know his dad was proud. How about you? What are you trying to produce. Children that go to Tri-County and get a job and raise a family? Bid deal! That is what every lost person in this world wants! When we will we see some dads that will send their children to a Christian camp? When we will see dads that will sacrifice and send their children to Christian colleges? When will we see Calvary produce from our ranks a preacher, a missionary?
VI. He Has a Reward
“That the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
• God had promised Abraham that he would make of him a great nation.
• All that could have been lost had Isaac turned away.
• Abraham did his part to bring his family to faith.
• Perhaps the greatest testimony of Abraham’s fathering is seen in Gen. 22.
• Isaac trusts him completely!
Genesis 22:1-18 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. [2] And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. [3] And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. [4] Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. [5] And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you, [6] And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. [7] And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? [8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. [9] And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. [10] And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. [11] And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. [12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. [14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. [15] And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, [16] And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: [17] That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; [18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
ILLUS: A child loved his dad but seldom saw him. The man was so busy with so many things to do. The child collected bottles and cans, did odd jobs and seemed to be always trying to make money. One day he asked his father, “How much do you make in an hour?” The dad said, “$20.00, why?” After another week of work, the boy asked his dad to borrow $10.00. “Why do you need the money?,” the dad asked. “Well, I’ve worked hard dad, but I still only have $10.00. If I could just get another $10.00 I would have enough for what I want most in the world. Dad, could I please buy one hour of your time?”
QUOTE: Mothers and fathers are granted a single decade in which to lay a foundation of values and attitudes that will help their children cope with the future pressures and problems of adulthood. James C. Dobson (1936- )
