LASTING ADVICE FROM A LOVING FATHER
Preached: January 2, 2022
Humor: You Win Daddy
The story is told of a father of five children who came home with a toy. He summoned his children and asked which of them should be given the present. "Who is the most obedient one here? Who never talks back to Mom and does everything that Mom says to do?" He inquired. There were a few seconds of silence, and then all of the children said in one accord: "You play with it Daddy!"
READ Text: Proverbs 3:1-6
(1) My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: (2) For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
(3) Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: (4) So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. (5)Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
(6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
INTRODUCTION:
Doctor George Campbell Morgan D.D. (9 December 1863 – 16 May 1945) was a British evangelist, preacher, a leading Bible teacher, and a prolific author. A contemporary of Rodney "Gipsy" Smith, Morgan preached his first sermon at age 13. He was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London in the 1900s
G. Campell Morgan, known by many in his day, as the Price of Expository Preachers said these words: “This text has a peculiar place in my heart. It has been with me day by day for 33 years. It was on the morning when I was first leaving for school that my father said to me as his last word, ‘“I want ot give you a text for school and for life; and that was Proverbs 3:6. He gave it to me without note or comment, save the note of his own godly life. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.”’
This proved to be “Lasting Advice from a Loving Father.
Application: There were many times CG Morgan failed God and failed to acknowledge Him, but in all those failures he proved God’s promise true.
Likewise, I have read this, memorized it and tried to keep it in mind in my own circumstance, but also when giving advice and direction to others.
I am sure most everyone is familiar with at least all or part of Proverbs 3.
NOTE: If you had just a few minutes, and a few words to give your child, or anyone advice, what would you say? What would it be?
I would like to focus on one verse, verse 6.
(6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Read it again with me (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This verse has brought wisdom and light to my heart so many times.
I have shared it with so many in an array of different settings!
It has been -
• A compass in a time of confusion.
• A map in the day of madness.
• A defining guide in the time of distraction.
If heeded –
• It would provide the much-needed wisdom we so often ask for.
• It would provide the much-needed humility we so desperately lack.
• It would provide the much-needed stability we so definitely need.
SUMMARY: When I think of all the verses which give hope, provide direction, it is this verse that seems to cover every aspect of our lives.
Ponder with me for a few minutes:
1. What is the primary CONTEXT of this verse?
2. What is the clear COMMAND of this verse?
3. What is the specific PROMISE of this verse?
4. What is the needed APPLICATION of this verse?
I. THE CONTEXT: (3:1-6)
The book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom, and it deals with every aspect of a person’s life and practice.
• The Hebrew word for “Proverbs” is “comparison.”
• This book is a collection of the Proverbs of King Solomon, and is made up of mostly short, witty sayings given to us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Proverbs deal with every aspect of life.
NOTE: Verse 1 indicates that Solomon is addressing his son personally, but every son and every daughter respectfully.
Notice now…
II. THE COMMAND (3:6a) “In all thy ways acknowledge Him,”
• Having to do with the Present. “Acknowledge Him.”
• Having to do with all aspects of our life. “In all thy ways!”
These are comprehensive words: They cover every aspect of our lives from the moment we became true believers in God and His Son, Jesus Christ!
This is “Godliness!”
• Godliness in short is to see God in all we do, in all we are and should be.
• Godliness is to hold ourselves accountable to Him.
What might the opposite of that life be? Atheism, ungodliness, being without God, and not acknowledging God.
The opposite of Atheism is Godliness!
• Godliness is a life lived regarding God in all our ways!
• Godliness is a life lived with reverence to God in all our ways!
Ungodliness is a life lived with no reference to God.
• Ungodliness is a life lived by disregarding God in all our ways!
• Ungodliness is a life lived with no reverence to God in all our ways!
NOTE: That is the danger of which this father warns his son.
See verse 1: My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
HOW? Reread with me: (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Word Meaning: Acknowledge.
• Heb. verb signifies "to know, recognize."
• Has the idea of “seeing, of clear vision.” To consider in all parts, to reflect on.
To acknowledge God, therefore is to recognize Him in all our dealings and undertakings. To see God’s overruling providence, which works all things together for His our good and His purpose.
To Acknowledge God is not just a theory. It is not just to give lip-service to.
• To Acknowledge is to engages the whole energies of the soul.
• To Acknowledge is seeing God’s power, wisdom, providence, goodness, and justice in all our life!
It reminds us that in all our ways, God is and should be.
Some people genuinely believe that God found only in a holy shrine, only in the church or monastery.
God is a Spirit, and they who worship Him, worship Him in spirit and truth!
It dismisses the idea that God is only in the sanctuary, the church building.
The Preacher’s Mistake
Once a pastor of austerity
Climbed up in a high church steeple,
To be nearer God,
So that he might hand His word down to the people.
And in sermon script he daily wrote
What he thought was sent from heaven;
And he dropped it down on the people’s heads
Two times one day in seven.
In his age God said, “Come down and die.”
The pastor cried out from the steeple,
“Where art Thou, Lord?”
And the Lord replied, ‘Down here among my people.’
William Croswell Doane, (1832–1913)
To acknowledge God is –
• More than praying.
• More than going to church.
• More than paying tithes.
• More than singing hymns.
• More than reading the Bible.
To acknowledge God is not religious at all.
Acknowledging God is a way of living that touches every aspect of life.
Acknowledging God is and a way of thinking that influence every thought!
NOTE: “In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
CHALLENGE: Do you acknowledge Him?
Don’t look at him or her! Do you acknowledge HIM?
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
• Acknowledging God should create a godly fear, the fear of knowing He is present and is entirely aware of not only our actions and deeds but of the very thought we are considering.
• Acknowledging God is also to use His gifts, His blessings given to us to make Him known to others.
NOTE: “In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
SUMMARY: To acknowledge God in all our ways means to channel all the knowledge, science, technology, power, influence towards whatever direction we head, but see and believe that God is in it!
• When the inventor invents,
• When the cure has been found,
• When the bridge has been built,
• When the tunnel has been dug,
• When the automobile performs,
• When the aircraft flies,
• When the bell rings,
• When the light burns with electricity,
• When the engine runs,
• When the sun is hot,
• When it rains or not,
• When in sickness or health,
• When the crops produce or fail,
• When the chickens lay,
• When the child is born,
• When the loved one dies,
Behind it all is GOD!
“In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
In all thy ways, acknowledge God.
• In church, or out of church
• In business
• In recreation
• In charity
• In amusements
• In hobbies
• In the workplace
• In the study
• In the home
• When among friends
• When in the prescence of enemies
• When in a crowd, or when alone…
“In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
Put God into everything!
“In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
Not Sunday only!
But Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as well!
“In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
• Not just during Christmas!
• Not just during the New Year!
• Not just during Easter!
• Not just during a crisis!
• Not just on Father’s Day or Mother’s Day!
But 365 days a year, 24 hours a day!
“In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
In all thy ways see God, know that He is ever-present.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him,”
To acknowledge God in all thy ways calls for an exercise of faith.
Can you see the “LASTING ADVICE FROM A LOVING FATHER.”
III. THE PROMISE: (3:6b)
(6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Think about that Promise - he shall direct thy paths
When you think about where you have come from, and what you have been through, when was He not there directing?
If we have acknowledged Him, then the truthful testimony is –
• He has always been there.
• He has always been directing and orchestrating.
• He has been working all things together for our good!
NOTE:
• The young person may look ahead and question God’s faithfulness.
• The older person looks back and testifies to His faithfulness!
• The result of years of proving God knows that He did, and He will direct thy paths!
God has many ways of directing our paths:
• Sometimes through trials!
• Sometimes through triumph!
• Sometimes through obstacles.
• Sometimes though clear paths.
• Sometimes through sickness.
• Sometimes through health!
• Sometimes through opposition.
• Sometimes through support.
• Sometimes through poverty!
• Sometimes through prosperity.
• Sometimes through delay!
• Sometimes through immediate deliverance and blessing!
“he shall direct thy paths.”
• Sometimes through immediately thrusting me into the fire.
• Sometimes by allowing what I begged for, even though it was not His desire for me.
• Sometimes he directs through words of encouragement by the saints.
• Sometimes from encouraging words inwardly from the Holy Spirit.
• Sometimes though a psalm, a poem, a hymn.
• Sometimes though a sermon or just a word!
“He shall direct thy paths.”
The Story Behind God Will Take Care of You
Civilla Durfee Martin was a schoolteacher with simple musical experience. She and her husband, Walter Stillman Martin (1862-1935), often wrote gospel songs for revival meetings. “God Will Take Care of You” is an example of their teamwork.
Hymnologist Kenneth Osbeck explains the circumstances of the hymn’s composition:
“It was composed while the Martins were spending several weeks as guests at the Practical Bible Training School at Lestershire, New York, where Mr. Martin was involved in helping the president of the school, John A. Davis, prepare a songbook. The Reverend W. Stillman Martin, a well-known Baptist evangelist, was invited to preach at a church some distance from the Bible school. That Sunday morning, Mrs. Martin became suddenly ill, making it impossible for her to accompany her husband to his speaking engagement. Mr. Martin seriously considered cancelling his speaking assignment, since it would be needful for him to be gone from her for a considerable time. Just then, however, their young son spoke up and said, ‘Father, don’t you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother while you are away?’”
1 Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you, Through ev'ry day,
O’er all the way; He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
2 Through days of toil when heart does fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you. [Refrain]
3 All you may need he will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you. [Refrain]
4 No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast, God will take care of you. [Refrain]
SongwritersCivilla Durfee MartinPublished byPublic Domain
Disclaimer: This sermon is a collection of several sources and I claim no originality to all, only as I have tried to tailor it to develop the sermon. I have sought to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due. I hope it will bless you.
