A FATHER’S LEGACY
INTRODUCTION:
I hope you enjoyed the video for this morning! It speaks to what I want to share about this morning, “A FATHER’S LEGACY!”
It has been said, “YOU NEVER KNOW A MAN’S TRUE WORTH TILL HE’S GONE!” I believe that with all my heart! No matter what you do, Dad, you’ll never be fully appreciated till after you’re gone! It’s not that no one cares it’s just the nature of life!
It was true of Jesus! Nobody on earth, even those closest to Him, fully appreciated Him till after His death! They were dumbfounded & overwhelmed with grief, they were beside themselves without Him in their midst.
I’m watching my father & realizing my time with him is limited! My wife knows what it is to miss her dad more than I can imagine. Many of you here this morning know exactly what I speak of.
What I said about “Knowing a man’s true worth...” is very right at this juncture of my sermon. I hear many of you speak about your fathers & in doing so you’re speaking of the “LEGACY” he left you!
Every man leaves a “LEGACY” behind them especially to their children! My dad’s “LEGACY” is experienced in my life right now but that someday when he is gone it will be so much the more than it is right now! The older I get the more profound my dad’s impact and mark on me is!
#1. DAD
Dad, today is “FATHER’S DAY” the day that you are celebrated in our society! It seems to be the one day in the year, in our society, that we don’t make Dads out to be buffoons, weak minded, silly and just stupid! That really bothers me & not just because I’m a dad but because its wrong. Society should hold up and respect Fathers so that Children will respect their Fathers!
Dad! Your “LEGACY” will be passed on to your children! Your “LEGACY” should not be one of being a buffoon, weak minded, silly stupid person! Your “LEGACY” should be one of HONOR, TRADITION, INTEGRITY, TRUTHFULNESS, CHARACTER & GODLINESS!
The greatest aspect of “LEGACY” you will leave your children & grandchildren is your “GODLINESS!”
My dad is far from perfect but I have my dad’s sense of humor, his work ethic, his passion, his peace, his concern, his outlook on life, his good points and some of his not so good points, but the “LEGACY” he leaves me has a heritage I would not change for anything! I am who I am, in large part, because of his “INPUT & IMPACT” on my life! I can’t change that nor would I want to!
Someday when he is gone I’ll be able to look at him in the mirror and be as “PROUD” then as I am now for the father that God gave me!
In Proverbs 20:7 Solomon speaks of the “LEGACY” a father leaves behind.
“The just/righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”
Dad, today is “FATHER’S DAY” the day that you are celebrated in our society! Your “LEGACY” will be passed on to your children!
Your “LEGACY” will passed on to your children whether they like it or not! Solomon said;
“The just/righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”
Did you hear that Dad?
“...His children are blessed after him.”
They are blessed not by the money you leave, not by the house or houses you leave, not by the property you leave but by the “LEGACY” you leave them! That rich heritage of “GODLINESS!”
Proverbs 22:6 says...
“Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he/she is old he will not depart from it.”
Train them the “GODLY VALUES”that will keep them when you’re gone!
“GODLY VALUES” that will see them through the trials & hardships of life because they will go through them!
“GODLY VALUES” that will sustain them in hard economic time!
“GODLY VALUES” that will strengthen them in sickness & in health!
“GODLY VALUES” that will hold a marriage together if & when the other partner doesn’t seem to want to!
“GODLY VALUES” that will cause them to pick the right mate for life!
“GODLY VALUES” that will help them raise “YOUR” grandchildren!
The “GODLY VALUES” of the “LEGACY” you leave will help secure their place with you in heaven!
Dad, you’re to be “STRONG & GENTLE”, “FIRM & SOFT”, “BOLD & MEEK”, “JUST & FAIR”, “COURAGEOUS & WISE” most of all, “GODLY & LOVING!” Show most of all by “EXAMPLE” what it means to be a “GODLY MAN, HUSBAND & DAD!”
#2. Wives
Ephesians 5:22 says
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
Wives, let me tell you something. You hold a power to your husband you may not realize! His self worth is wrapped up in you to a large degree! If he can make you happy and own your “LOVE & RESPECT” he feels ten foot tall & bullet proof!
And here is something else for you! Your children will only respect him as much as you respect him! You always hold him up in the highest esteem in front of your children, even if he’s wrong once in a while!
Never go behind his back and speak ill of him to your children! You love him “EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, & most of all SPIRITUALLY!” You fulfill his dreams and he’ll fulfill yours!
#3. CHILDREN:
Ephesians 6:2 says to you...
“Honor your FATHER & MOTHER...that it may be well with you & you may live long...”
Your dad may not always be right but your reason he’s a dad & a real dad isn’t always looking for you to agree with him because he has your best interests at his heart foremost! For his family he will “KILL & DIE!”
Your life will go well for you when you respect him, obey him, love him, honor him & cherish him!
It’s a funny thing being a dad! One day you’re the hero, then you’re just a dad, then you’re an idiot, then somewhere along the way you start being that wise old sage and hero again.
The saddest part is that when it comes around the second time age has crept up, grey hair is profound, wrinkles show, the walk is slower, the bones creek, the miles are showing the wear & tear but the...
“LOVE IS STILL BURNING HOTTER THAN EVER FOR YOU BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER STOPPED BEING YOUR DAD!”
You will never go wrong “LOVING, RESPECTING, & HONORING” your dad! No matter who he is or what he has or has not done!
IT IS A GODLY PRINCIPAL!
CLOSING:
Dads we want to honor you this morning! If you would come up here we have a gift for you & then I want your family to come up & gather around you as we pray!
