A group of expectant fathers were in a waiting room, while their wives were in the process of delivering babies. A nurse came in and announced to one man that his wife had just given birth to twins. "That's quite a coincidence" he responded, "I play for the Minnesota Twins!" A few minutes later another nurse came in and announced to another man that he was the father of triplets. "That's amazing," he exclaimed, "I work for the 3M company." At that point, a third man slipped off his chair and laid down on the floor. Somebody asked him if he was feeling ill. "No," he responded, "I happen to work for the 7-Up company."
Many of the greatest joys I have had in my life deal with my family. For the last thirty three years this means my wife and children. I have so many memories that I cherish - especially when the kids were little. There is just something special about the relationship between a parent and a child.
Maybe it is the permanence of the relationship. Friends often times come and go. Even if you have had a friend for many years there is always the chance of an offense that ends that friendship. Marriages are intended by God to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, too often that isn’t the case. There can be things done in a relationship that can end a marriage. Though it is designed to be permanent, it is not guaranteed.
The parent/child relationship, however, can never be severed. It can be strained, but in this lifetime you are given only one mother and father. Nothing can ever change that. And if you have children they will always be your children no matter what happens in life.
The parent/child relationship is permanent. I believe this is why God pictures His relationship with believers this way.
1 John 3:2 – “Beloved, now are we the sons of God” (powerpoint)
Galatians 3:26 – “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (powerpoint)
Galatians 4:6-7 – “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (powerpoint)
Jesus said, in Matthew 5:48, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (powerpoint)
Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (powerpoint)
***** 1 Corinthians 1:3
Today, in case you haven’t guessed, I want to talk to you about fathers. Really, I want to talk to you about what the Bible has to say about parenting. So this message applies to both the men and the women that are here this morning. (title powerpoint)
Now maybe you are sitting there thinking, “Pastor, I don’t have much of an influence in my children’s lives anymore. They have families of their own, they live far away, or they think they have it all figured out and want me to mind my own business.”
Or maybe you’re here thinking, “I don’t have any children”. So this is going to be one of those parenting messages I have to sit through in May or June. “As a matter of fact, why are you preaching this message at all in the month of September?”
I do not want to address parenting of children who have our DNA. Instead, I want to talk to you about spiritual children. Every one of us who are Christians ought to desire to give birth to spiritual children. While I’m at it, we ought to think about adoption also.
Giving birth to spiritual children means we lead people to understand their need for a Savior and we are used by God as they come to Christ. When I refer to adoption, I am talking about coming alongside those who have placed their faith in Christ but have never matured.
They are like babies that have been birthed and the baby is then abandoned. Who among us would not come along and care for that child? To protect it, nurture it, and teach it what it needs to live a productive life.
Yet there are baby Christians everywhere my friends with no idea how to resist the lures and temptations that this world and the devil offer to render them useless in the cause of Christ. Beloved, we must not stand idly by any longer.
According to a recent study, young men with high self-esteem shared some common childhood influences. There were three major characteristics of their families. (powerpoint)
(1) The high-esteem group was clearly more loved and appreciated at home than the low-esteem group. (powerpoint) (2) The high-esteem group came from homes where parents had been significantly more strict in their approach to discipline. By contrast, the parents of the low-esteem group had created insecurity and dependence through their permissiveness. These children were more likely to feel that the rules were not enforced because no one cared enough to get involved.
(powerpoint) (3) The homes of the high-esteem group were also characterized by democracy and openness. Once the boundaries were established, there was freedom for individual personalities to grow and develop. Thus, the overall atmosphere was marked by acceptance and emotional safety.
Dr. James Dobson, Focus of the Family Bulletin, July 1994.
Unfortunately this is difficult when we consider the following fact:
With divorce and dual careers, parents spend 40% less time with their children than parents did a generation ago.
Charles Colson, Christianity Today, March 7, 1994
It is very difficult to influence people if we don’t spend time with them.
The apostle Paul spent eighteen months in Corinth when starting the church. During this time the believers in Corinth knew they were loved; knew the standards that were expected of followers of Christ; and were aware of their newfound freedoms given to one who is under the grace of God.
Up to this point in his letter, Paul has referred to himself as a servant, a farmer, God’s fellow worker, a builder, a galley slave, and a steward. Now he refers to himself as a spiritual father. (title powerpoint)
PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some would read this letter up to this point and say that Paul has been a bit harsh with the believers in Corinth. Yet Paul is a spiritual father to these believers. As such, there are times when he needs to come across this way because being a father is serious business. You have probably heard the saying, “Anyone can have a child, but it takes a real man to be a father”. And as a father there are times when you need to set your children straight. They have not had the benefit, or misfortune, of life’s lessons. Also, they do not have the wisdom that your years of life should have given you.
In the same way, there is a wisdom and knowledge that we should have acquired as believers through time that we are responsible to pass on to spiritual children.
There are six different attributes we see here in the apostle Paul that we ought to be showing as we encourage others to follow Christ.
The first thing we see is that Paul admonishes, or warns, the believers in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 4:14 – “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.” (powerpoint)
In their conduct the church at Corinth had much to be ashamed of. Paul has only mentioned disunity thus far, but soon we will begin to look at a list of weaknesses in the church.
Yet it is not Paul’s desire to shame them. Their own conscience ought to do this if they take the apostle’s words to heart. Paul says he wants to admonish, or warn them. The Greek,
noutheteo (noo-thet-eh'-o); means to put in mind, with the purpose of warning or reproving gently.
The purpose of this warning is to bring about a change in belief, habit, lifestyle, or whatever is needed or, instead, to face the consequences of ignoring this warning.
It is critical that we warn our spiritual children, whether they sleep under our roof or another, that they are to turn from wickedness and lukewarmness and give their lives to the One who gave them eternal life. (title powerpoint)
In 1 Samuel 2-4 we read about Eli, the priest in Israel, and his sons Hophni and Phinehas. They were evil in their role and functions as priests. Though Eli heard of it his warning, or admonishment, was insufficient to elicit a change. The results were tragic.
***** 1 Samuel 2:22-25
Eventually, God chastises Eli for his inability to admonish his sons properly.
***** 1 Samuel 2:29-31
God tells Eli that his generations will end with his sons. Fast forward a little to a battle scene while Israel is fighting against the Philistines.
***** 1 Samuel 4:12-18
It is critical that a spiritual father, or parent, lovingly criticize wrong beliefs or wrong behavior. This is done with the purpose of bringing correction and change.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 – “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn (same Greek word as in 1 Cor 4:14) those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” (powerpoint)
A loving father will always do what is right and proper for the welfare of his children. To do this we are not to use our own opinions or wisdom. Paul already has told us where our own, or worldly wisdom leads to. God considers it foolishness. We are to warn using the word of God
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (powerpoint)
So let me close by putting us each on the spot this morning. Who are your spiritual children? Maybe they are your own flesh and blood. Maybe they are those who you have come to meet and see them as spiritual babes in need of guidance. (title powerpoint)
Could it be that you don’t have spiritual children. If this is the case I would encourage you to seek them out. There are plenty of orphans to choose from. There are so many who have placed their faith in Christ but wander on the sea of life as a ship without a rudder. Thus, they find themselves tossed to and fro by the storms of life.
Just remember, there is great responsibility in being a parent. We must seek to live a life that we can challenge others to follow our example. Not only is there great responsibility, there is great joy when it is done right.
Maybe you are here today and you don’t have a Father. Oh, I don’t mean an earthly father. Maybe you are in need of a heavenly Father. You may pray, “Our Father, which art in heaven…” But if the truth is told you know of the Father in heaven but you are not His child. You know of Him, but you don’t know Him.
This can change right now. The Bible says the only way to become a child of God is to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Believe you are a sinner – Jesus died for your sins – He rose again – and is now seated at the right hand of the Father – calling out to you to be saved. You can change your relationship with God right now…in this place.
In a world filled with instants – instant coffee, instant oatmeal, instant access to information – we need to be reminded that many things, especially the lasting things, take time to realize.
As we close our time this morning let me encourage you with a brief story:
In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" The old man replied, "Nope, only babies." A frothy question brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes--whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. Growth takes time.
PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
