TITLE: WHO’S YOUR DADDY
SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 2:41-52
I thought it important that we spend a few minutes this morning to recognize what our society has dubbed this Third Sunday of June each year to be “FATHER’S DAY.” We are beginning to see more men return to the Universal Church and experiencing this growth of brothers joining us at PPWC. So today we join this day in America and many other places around the world where men are honored for their accomplishments as fathers. Today, I want us to see how WE NEED MORE THAN JUST FATHER’S - we need DADDY’s!
• We need more than just a figure head
• We need more than a distant parental figure
• We need more than someone to spend two weekends a month or every other holiday
• We need more than someone that sends a card every year on your birthday
• We need men to step up and be Daddy’s
The Bible is full of great examples of not only Father’s but outstanding Daddy’s that we could emulate today.
• ABRAHAM – you remember Abraham don’t you? I was so glad when we stopped singing that song in the church – Father Abraham, Had Many Sons, and Many Son’s Had Father Abraham.
• JOSEPH – you remember who would serve as the Earthly Father of our Savior. Although there are not many versus devoted to him in the Bible, we lift him up as a good hard working father and provider who would raise a child that was not his biological child. A child conceived of the Holy Ghost
• Don’t forget our Heavenly Father - The Father who did what he asked Abraham to do - to offer up his son as a living sacrifice. Only no one was there to stop the hands of His executioners, no ram in the bush was found.
MEN WE NEED TO BECOME DADDY’S TO OUR CHILDREN. This takes a lot of effort! It isn’t going to just happen by accident! We need daddy’s to set the example for their children by a life that we model to them each and every day. This MODELING THE WAY does not end when our children turn 18 and begin to launch out with a career path of their own. We must be the Model that they look up too all the days of our lives. I am finding it more challenging to model the way as a Father the older I get.
• My children, Nieces, Nephews are watching differently now as they approach their 30’s than they did when they were much younger
• My grandchildren watch me differently at their ages
• It is important that they see my commitment as a Daddy, Uncle, Grandfather
• More importantly see the Christ in me
It is up to us to model how to be a Christian, a sincere Christian, not just a Title Wearing Christian. One that is all that he says and does is right not only in the Church, but all aspects of our lives. It’s up to us to model for our children good decision making abilities - decisions based on scripture, and based on our desire to put the Lord first in our lives.
• Do they see you choosing to study your Bible and have a devotion with them
• Or do they just see you flop down in your Lazy Boy chair and click on the TV?
• Do they see you making a wise decision to abstain from alcohol, and to drink juice, iced tea, or water instead?
• Do they see you model the decision to practice compassion, like the Good Samaritan
• Or do they hear you complain about how all that people want is a handout from the world?
Let’s run over and examine our text this morning and catch up with Jesus’ narrative about His Daddy! According to God’s law, it was mandatory for every Jewish male, after becoming an adult to go to the Jewish Feasts.
• In spring it was the Passover followed by the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread
• Passover being the most important one of all
• According to Jewish laws and traditions any male from the age of 12 was considered an adult
• Jesus, being of age, had to attend these feasts but did not spend much time with his parents during the celebrations
In the Jewish Law it was mandatory to attend religious events of the day. Sometimes I think that going to Church and supporting the life of your home Church should be mandatory if we say we are believers. I am always disturbed when Christians find nothing but CRITICISM and WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE CHURCH. But that is how God has designed the Church after the resurrection of Christ. We have a choice to see the beauty of the Church that Christ designed and see and enjoy the beauty of His presence when the saints gather together for Worship or see what is wrong. I am glad it is not mandatory according to our Christian values, that way we must continue to evolve and meet the needs of God’s people as we grow and mature in His grace.
WE NEED DADDY’S TO BECOME ACTIVE IN WHAT THEY TEACH THEIR CHILDREN. Are we more concerned with teaching our children about SPORTS or other PASTIMES than we are about teaching them about the Lord? Teach them how to throw a Baseball – Football - Softball – Sing in School Play. Never teach them how to Read and Study Bible. Are we teaching them how to spend time in the Club, they see us spend time there and no time in the Church. Are we teaching them how to go make babies all over town instead of being an effective Daddy to the ones they already have? Remember PROVERBS 22:6 “TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.”
This was not an exceptional event for Joseph, Mary, and their family, but a customary one. This was not the annual family church time where family only attends on MOTHERS DAY – CHRISTMAS – OR EASTER. Mary and Joseph had provided a climate in which spiritual development was the norm, not the exception to the Rule. Example matters. We all know that whether we admit it or not.
• Studies show that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful
• If only Dad, 55% remain faithful
• If only Mom, 15% remain faithful
• If neither attended regularly, only 6% remain faithful
• The statistics speak for themselves
• The example of parents and adults is more important than all the efforts of the church and Sunday School and Youth ministries
When the Israelites travelled to the various Jewish Feasts, most of them who traveled long distances, would do so in Caravans, they would not travel alone for the mere fact to be protected from robbers who road jacked many lonely travelers during that time. It was customary for women and kids to travel in the front of the caravan and the men at the back.
++++A boy Jesus age - 12-years old could have traveled either way, in the front of the travelers or in the back. Apparently Mary thought Jesus was with Joseph and Joseph thought he was with Mary. What really happened was that Jesus stayed back in Jerusalem and was absorbed in discussions with the Jewish religious leaders. The temple courts were famous throughout Judea as a place of learning. In ACTS 22 we learn that Paul also studied at these places.
• At the time of the Passover the greatest of Rabbis of the land would assemble to teach
• The greatest religious minds would gather and discuss the great truths among themselves
The coming Messiah would no doubt have been a popular discussion topic, for everyone was expecting Him soon. Jesus would have been eager to listen and to ask probing questions.
• It was not his youth, but the depth of his wisdom, that astounded these teachers
In this passage we see that Joseph and Mary are quite anxious or so to speak in anguish to have not seen Jesus for days, not really knowing what happened to him. Though they knew that He was God’s Son, they were unaware of what it entailed and the objectives of His mission.
• Apparently His mission would pierce their hearts like a sword
• This is something they would not be able to handle
There was a process here that Mary and Joseph did not quite understand. During the process they made a few WRONG ASSUMPTIONS. Jesus parents were only carrying out the religious rituals, whereas Jesus was much beyond that, it was all about LEARNING – KNOWING AND DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER.
• His parents were making assumptions about his whereabouts and were unsure of where he really was
• If they had developed a good communication and relationship with Jesus, this misunderstanding would not have occurred
• If they had spent time with Jesus and known His heart, they would have known where He was and would not be searching for Him in all the wrong places
I am trying to spend more time with my own Children as they are all approaching 30 years of age, with our eldest turning 30 next month. I find myself doing more listening now than talking. I want to fully understand their hearts. I want to know their DREAMS – VISIONS - ASPIRATIONS. I want to know how I can help them get to the next level in their lives. I want to understand their hearts and what drives them as they continue to strive for Success.
• When they fall short, I want to understand why
• When they rant on social media, I want to know what motivates that
• When their language may not represent how we raised them, I want to understand what causes that emotion
• Important to develop a different level of relationship with them
Let us not assume wrong things and be UNAWARE OF OUR CHILDREN. It is TIME TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. If we have a good and Godly relationship with our kids, we won’t have to know their whereabouts, we will know where they are - even if we don’t ask them, and they will tell you with that sense of responsibility of the accountability of their lives.
• Just down the road in Duncan, OK
• Last week a 16 year old boy killed his 14 year old ex-girlfriend
• Can we tell it like it is?
• Somebody’s 16 year old son killed somebody’s 14 year old daughter
• 14 year old girl dating?????
• 14 and 16 year old ex-couples
• Some parent raised a 16 year old murderer
• Need to develop a real relationship with our children
• Need to know what they are thinking
• Need to know where they are
• Need to know what is on their minds
• That means we must become a real Daddy in their Lives
• Any man can Father a child, that does not take much effort
• Need more stepping up to be Daddy’s in the lives of these childen
I remember reading about a family some years ago that had been searching in vain for their teenage son for a number of months. Finally they located him in Colorado Springs and went down to see him.
• He was unrecognizable
• Hair knotted and not washed for months
• Unkempt beard, and disgusting odor reeked from his body
He had been living with other teenagers in some shack in the woods. It was evident that he had been on drugs, alcohol and you name it.
• If the parents had developed a relationship with him, either he would not go in that direction or they would know where to find him
• They just didn’t know him even though he was born and raised in their home
• Finally they took him to the hotel where they were residing
• Gave him a good bath and stayed with him for a couple of days
• Then left him at the shack again
• What could they really do now
• Absolutely nothing, except pray for his life!
• If only they had developed the proper relationship with him in advance
• Pray that the young man would come to himself
We need Daddy’s to become active in how they relate to their kids. You have to ask yourself, “HOW GOOD IS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAVE WITH MY CHILDREN?” I honestly think that it’s not good enough unless you have a separate relationship with each one of your kids, on a one to one basis. When we have a tough subject to discuss, if I don’t like something I am seeing in my grown children, I understand them on a one on one basis
• Our oldest, I can be direct and don’t soften the words
• Our middle, I have to beat around the bush a little, but stick to the point
• Our youngest, I have to really soften my words and use examples
• Separate relationship with each and deal with them on one on one basis based upon our relationship
These earthly parents in our text search until they find their what they believed to be their lost child. It is at this point that Mary had to let go of her child and let him become a man – GODS SON, THE MESSIAH.
• Fearful that she hadn’t been careful enough with this God-given child
• She searched frantically for Him
• Apparently Mary and Joseph were looking for a boy
• Not the young man who was in the temple astounding the religious leaders with His questions
• It is hard to let go of people or projects we have nurtured
• It is both sweet and painful to see our children as adults
• Our students as teachers
• Our subordinates as managers
• Our inspirations as institutions
When the time comes to step back and let go, we must do so in spite of the hurt. Then our protégés can exercise their wings, take flight, and soar to the heights God intended for them. Sometimes we get the shock of our lives when we see our kids doing which we never anticipated or imagined for the simple reason that we really never saw them growing up to be matured but to remain as our babies. There is nothing more heartbreaking that to hear parents always referring to the grown children as their babies and then they wonder why they never grow up and make adult decisions in their lives. If we have intimate relationships with our children, we’ll know what they are up to and what their intents are and above all what God is calling them to do.
As parents if we are in the Lord, we have an opportunity to HELP OUR KIDS DISCERN GOD’S CALL UPON THEIR LIVES and even protect it with our lives.
• Apparently if we are not in the Lord our ways will be of the world and the flesh
• We will be unable to have a good relationship with our Godly children and never discover and discern what God’s Call is for them and there is a possibility of us leading them astray
• As Godly parents it is very important for us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit at every moment of our life and be able to exemplify Christ through our lives as well us mentor our children in Godly ways
• We have to be cautious that we are not standing in the way of the Lord for their lives
• Are we leading and directing them in the ways of the Lord?
• Do our children see enough Godly characteristics in us or too much of the world?
• Do you want your daughters dating men like you?
As Mary and Joseph were aware of Jesus being God’s child, Jesus assumed that they knew and understood His passion and therefore would know His whereabouts.
• Apparently they didn’t understand the mission He was on
• Jesus’ parents didn’t understand what He meant about His Father’s house
• They didn’t realize that He was making a DISTINCTION between His EARTHLY FATHER and HEAVENLY FATHER
• Jesus knew He had a unique relationship with God
To understand the unique calling of our children takes not only effort but our relationship with God. Jesus already knew His CALL – SUFFERING – CROSS - SALVATION. His parents would not be able to grasp and grapple with it. They would be utterly broken and shattered. It is very important for us to understand ‘OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS’ for our Godly kids. If we don’t, we’ll always be in contention with them as the importance they give to their heavenly Father would be more what they give us more than what we will anticipate and at times may get hurt.
For each one of us to understand who our Daddy is, we must surpass the hoops Mary and Joseph had to undergo.
• We would learn to understand our kids and search for them in the right places ~ for that we need to develop a good and strong relationship with them
• We must seek God’s leading for their call ~ exemplify Christ through our lives so that we can mentor and assist them in discerning their call
• We must know our Father’s business in their lives ~ encourage our kids for God’s mission and call upon their lives. Even at times. it may discourage you
• This will keep your kids strong and encouraged
I am talking about being a GOOD DADDY in the life of your children. Babies being birthed in our neighborhoods all over the land and parents only referring to one another as MY BABIES MOMMMA or MY BABIES DADDY. We need to turn this around. I stopped by this morning to ask you Who’s Your Daddy?
I want to close this morning with a story.
--The setting of the story is a small town in the South, a town where everybody knew everybody else, and where everybody knew everybody else’s business, and where there was a very, very strong sense of what was right, and what was wrong, sinfully wrong.
--There was a young lady who had moved into this town. Folks didn’t know too much about her, but everybody knew her because she was one of the waitresses at the little diner on Main Street. And everybody saw when she became pregnant, and everybody knew when she had her baby boy, but nobody knew who the daddy was.
--Oh there were some folks who had ideas, but nobody could confirm anything, and the young lady wasn’t saying a word. She often had to bring the baby along to the diner, and the owner was very accommodating, even to the point where he put a playpen in the corner of the diner where the little guy almost always played quietly and became quite the center of attention, although not all of the attention was completely charitable.
--There were always as the boy grew older, the scrutinizing seemed to grow. Some folks would even brashly demand to know, “Who’s your daddy, boy?
--And this frightened the poor little boy, who did not know who his father was, or why all these people kept pressing him about it.
--About the time this boy was in 6th or 7th grade, a new preacher was assigned to the one church in town. Folks seemed happy with the new preacher, and this boy overheard some of their praises, so he thought he would slip into church one Sunday and see for himself.
--There was something about the service that seemed to touch his heart, and when the preacher started telling the stories from Scripture, he was enthralled. Every week he would go to church. He could hardly wait to hear more stories of Jesus and about how God loved everyone.
--Of course, he waited until the service had started and then would slip in the back door, and he would always get away before the singing of the last hymn. The last thing he wanted was for somebody to grab him and stare into his face, saying, “Who’s your daddy, boy?”
--Then one Sunday it happened. The last hymn was just beautiful. The melody seemed to just pour over him and the words went right to his heart. He had bowed his head just to let this special feeling wash over him, and then the music stopped and when he looked up, there was the whole choir between him and the door, each one taking their good old time greeting the preacher.
--H tried to squeeze between an alto and a tenor when a hand reached out from a white robe and caught his shoulder. And now that same voice he loved to hear from the pulpit was speaking directly to him: “Hey there, young man, not so fast. Folks want to say hello to you before you just run out the door, and I especially want to tell you how glad I am to see you here every week.”
--“What’s your name, young man?” This boy replied by just giving his first name, let’s say Billy. “Billy, hmm,” said the preacher. No family name – WHO’S YOUR DADDY?”
--There it was – the dreaded question – but he couldn’t run. The whole choir was surrounding him, looking at him and the preacher’s one hand was on his shoulder, as he placed his other hand under his chin and lifted his face and looked square in his eye. But this look was different. There was kindness in the preacher’s eyes, even a twinkle as he said, “Wait, I can see it, it is just as clear as can be – YOUR’RE A CHILD OF GOD!”
--That was a turning point in our boy’s life. There was no more shame, no need to hide from the community – HE WAS A CHILD OF GOD.
When all is said and done. Whether your Dad was active in your life or not. Whether you knew your Dad or not. I stopped by to ask – Who’s Your Daddy? I am glad to report this morning on this Father’s Day 2013 that we are all Children of our Heavenly Father.
