The NECESSITY For GODLY FATHERS-III—Malachi 4:6(:4-6)
Attention:
Adaptation:
The proud father brought home a backyard swing set for his children & immediately started to assemble it with all the neighborhood children anxiously waiting to play on it.
After too long a time of reading the directions, attempting to fit bolt A into slot B, etc., he finally gave up & called upon an old handyman working in a neighboring yard.
The old-timer came over, threw the directions away, & in a short while had the set completely assembled.
The father said, “It's beyond me, how you got it together without even reading instructions.”
The old-timer replied, “To tell the truth, I can't read. And when you can't read, you've got to think!”
We can sometimes get to the point where our lives become confused, simply because we are willing to swap good sense for the sake of legalities.
Fathers, you have surely been in situations requiring you to ‘think’ & ‘use your noggin’, by simply obeying God, rather than to complicate things by heeding even good-intentioned, yet fleshly-driven direction from others!
Need:
The biblical testimony is that Godly Fathers are absolutely necessary for a family to be what God wants it to be.
Yes, Godly Fathers are a vital part of God’s design, even though we are immersed in a world that tells us differently!
The prophet Malachi linked the importance of godly fathers to a positive outcome for mankind’s very existence.
Godly fathers are vital to our existence.
But What makes them vital?
3 validations that godly fathers are vital for our very existence.
Previously we found that...
Godly Fathers are vital as Those Who...
1—REMEMBER GOD’s WORD & WILL(4:4)
2. APPLY WHAT THEY REMEMBER(4:5)
Today we’ll explore the truth that...
3—Godly Fathers are vital as Those Who...
RESCUE The EARTH From YHWH’s CURSE(4:6)
:6—“And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come & strike the earth with a curse.””
The “he” is referring to “Elijah” of verse :5.
The purpose of Elijah’s coming before the great & dreadful Day of the LORD(:5), is to rescue the spiritual well-being of mankind. And God’s plan is to accomplish that by rescuing the spiritual well-being of individuals in individual families.
So the result of Elijah’s ministry, is to have a positive effect upon this world. And that positive effect is deemed necessary by God Himself! Because God is very concerned about the spiritual well-being of everyone.
•2Pet. 3:9—The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Elijah’s arrival will initiate the “turning” of the very “hearts of the fathers” of Israel(the faithful), to their “children” & vice-versa...
•We learned last time that ‘John The Baptist’ fulfilled the arrival of the prophet Elijah, by his operating “in the spirit & power of Elijah”(Lk. 1:17). John the Baptist(‘Elijah’) announced the coming & arrival of ‘Immanuel’—Jesus, ‘God with us.’
The “turning” of “father’s” “hearts” & their “children’s” “hearts” toward one another, will ultimately take place permanently, due to the permanence of salvation that Jesus gained for mankind thru His sacrifice on the Cross!
A “father’s” God-ordained design, as head of his own household, is to live life before his “children” in such a way, as to raise them to be God’s own ‘special treasure’/‘peculiar people’(1Pet. 2:9-10), that are dedicated to Him as their God. Just as YHWH Himself lovingly seeks for all His spiritual children.
The presence of arrogant, self-centered, unbelief(3:13-15) in the world, AND the coming of the Day of YaHWeH to remove that unbelief(4:1), actually hinges upon “fathers” loving their “children” enough to share God’s truth with them.
“Fathers” who love their “children” deeply, look out, NOT ONLY for their “children’s” PHYSICAL well-being, but ALSO for their SPIRITUAL well-being! And the result, eventually effects the spiritual well-being of others.
And in turn, that collateral effect of multiplication, secures the well-being of their nation...And so ultimately progresses globally!
These ‘turned hearts’ represent a MUTUAL respect & love that God—the ‘I Am’—intends & expects to be shared between “fathers” & their “children.”
Without “father’s” attentions upon their own “children” & families, there can be no relief & no stopping the potential of God’s “curse” which will bring about an end to sin in the earth...
*Without godly “fathers”, the entire planet will fall into the unavoidable DESTINY of ‘unrepentant sin’—And that DESTINY earnes ‘destruction’ from God. That ‘destruction’ will then allow God to reign perfectly freely, with perfect love, & having no opposition to the Kingdom of God...
1Cor. 7:13-14—“And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the [godly]wife, & the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the [godly]husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”
Eph. 6:4—“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training[nurture] & admonition[urging/warning] of the Lord.”
1Jn. 2:28—“And now, little children[church], abide in Him[Christ], that when He appears, we may have confidence & not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
A ‘destiny’ for “the earth” WITHOUT God’s “curse”, can NEVER be ushered in by force of hand, or be maintained by law, while simultaneously denying the power in Christ’s sacrifice!
A ‘destiny’ for “the earth” WITHOUT God’s “curse”, can only occur, IF “fathers” are dedicated ‘inwardly’ to Christ as their personal Savior & Lord! And by that power of Jesus as their Savior & Lord, they will insist on instilling the knowledge of Christ, in their “children”!
Luke records our Malachi verse :6 with the prophecy of Zacharias(John the Baptist’s father). Together it gives a more pointed nuance of “the disobedient.” And those “disobedient” must return to “the wisdom of the just.”
Lk. 1:16-17—““And he[John the Baptist] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. “He will also go before Him in the spirit & power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ & the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.””
So the need to “turn” both “children’s” & “father’s” “hearts” toward one another, pictures a ‘lack of compliance’ or ‘disobedience’ toward God in Malachi’s day & in our day. Their “hearts” were, are, & will be turned against one another, so that that situation must be corrected(made right)!
•That ‘disobedience’ toward God, can POTENTIALLY be reversed, & brought back to a spiritually healthy & heartfelt reverence for God & godly service!...AKA—Repentance must reign!
*“Lest” signifies that this entire verse is a ‘conditional’ or either-or statement. It depends on your willingness or lack-of-willingness to heed God’s direction.
•The ‘blessings’, as well as the “curse”, that all families on “earth” potentially receive, is entirely CONDITIONAL on the willingness of those families to receive them!
•All people of all generations ultimately either benefit or suffer, because of the beliefs & actions of those who consider themselves to be ‘children of God’!
•So, All people will either benefit or suffer, in direct response to HOW a godly “father” involves himself with his “children”, & in direct response to WHAT a godly “father” allows & puts into his “children’s” lives! Your work in the Lord makes all the difference!
God has an ideal & ultimate plan. And His ‘plan’ can be either enabled & enacted, OR frustrated, depending upon the desires & actions of “the fathers” in relation to their “children.”
“The threat here is that, if this restoration were not effected, Messiah's coming would prove “a curse” to the “earth,” not a blessing.”—JFB
“Turn”—bwv shoob—1) To return, turn back. Strong—To turn back(hence--Away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively(not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally--To retreat; often adverbial--Again; a primitive root.
“Hearts”—bl leb—1) Inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding—1a) Inner part, midst. Strong—The heart; also used(figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will & even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything.
“Fathers”—ba awb—Strong—Father(in a literal & immediate, or figurative & remote application); a primitive word.
“Children”—Nb ben—1) Son, grandson, child, member of a group. Strong—A son(as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense(of literal & figurative relationship, including Grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc.)
“Strike”—hkn naw-kaw'—1) To strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill. Strong—To strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); a primitive root.
“Curse”—Mrx khay'-rem—1) A thing devoted, thing dedicated, ban, devotion; 2) A net, thing perforated; 3) Have been utterly destroyed, (appointed to)utter destruction. Strong—physical(as shutting in) A net(either literally or figuratively); usually--A doomed object; abstract--Extermination.
Argumentation:
Rom. 8:18-25—“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans & labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
A “father’s” mission either ‘hinders’ OR ‘releases’ creation’s bondage.
Amos 5:17-24—YHWH thru Amos said,—“In all vineyards there shall be wailing, For I will pass through you,” Says the LORD. Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, & not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the LORD darkness, & not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings & your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let [God’s]justice run down like water, And [God’s]righteousness like a mighty stream.”
1Pet. 4:17—“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; & if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?””
Col. 3:20-21—“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”
Ex. 20:12—““Honor your father & your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
•Since the Church is not Israel, “the land” that is “given” to His people has no national limitation!...Instead it is global!•
Eph. 5:3-7—“But fornication & all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ & God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”
Col. 3:2-11—“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
*But there is an IRONY in all that surrounds the ministry of God-ordained & godly fatherhood!...
The fact that when we are faithful to lead people to salvation thru Jesus...that is, when we are evangelistic in our approach to people, we actually aid heaven in leading people out of hell & into heaven. And we do that by leading them to personal trust in Jesus...Because He is the way, the truth, & the life!(Jn. 14:6)
*2Pet. 3:9—The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
*The IRONY is that WHEN we are intentional about sharing the Good News with people, about Jesus’ personal payment for their personal sin...so that eternal salvation is only thru faith in Jesus...THEN we are knowingly participating in actually SPEEDING-UP, ACCELERATING, & HURRYING the arrival of the final day of the LORD’s judgment!
•2Pet. 3:11-12—“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct & godliness, looking for & hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, & the elements will melt with fervent heat?”
Illustration:
Cory Cannon of Eatontown, NJ was driving his company vehicle thru Lakewood, NJ at around 5 p.m. on the 24th of September, 2018. He spotted what he thought was a toy or something in the road... until it moved! What he was witnessing was a baby girl crawling across the road!
Cory used his work vehicle to slow down traffic behind him & took pictures of the girl as he was exiting the vehicle & halting oncoming cars.
Before Cory could reach the little girl, he witnessed a neighbor come out to the street & return the baby to her home.
Lakewood police said the family had no idea the child had gotten out of their home, & that a door may have been left open by an older sibling.
Fathers, you know you would do your utmost to rescue any child! Fathers, would you also rescue them from hell?!
•RESCUE The EARTH From YHWH’s CURSE
There are huge numbers of sci-fi movies that are based on rescuing our planet from alien attackers &/or cataclysmic events. Isn’t it vastly more realistic to rescue them FROM a certain & eternal hell, by simultaneously rescuing them TO a certain & eternal heaven! Those Who...RESCUE The EARTH From YHWH’s CURSE
America’s Founding Fathers. They were determined to implement the timeless Principles of God & God’s people who are in Christ. This has directly effected our country & thereby the world. In a very real sense, fathers, we hold the potential to at least DELAY/stave-off, the complete destruction of the earth. RESCUE The EARTH From YHWH’s CURSE
*Any disdain for fatherhood in our country & others will certainly be the undoing of not only our nation but of the world!
Application:
?Are YOU Meeting the challenge of RESCUING The EARTH thru your Children/Family?
?Are YOU committed to being a Christ-honoring Godly Father?
?Will YOU be a GODLY example for your entire family?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
When you can't read, you've got to think!
Godly Fathers must throw away worldly instructions on fatherhood & GROW Up in the Lord....MAN Up in the Lord...& STAND Up in the Lord!
•Jesus told those who were worried about living in poverty...
Mat. 6:24-34—“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one & love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one & despise the other. You cannot serve God & mammon. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food & the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; & yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, & tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God & His righteousness, & all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Put teeth & humility in the governance of YOUR family, by trusting Christ today! Fathers...Seize this day, for your family’s sake & for the sake of all mankind!
Action:
Godly Fathers are vital as Those Who...
3. RESCUE The EARTH From YHWH’s CURSE(4:6)
1. REMEMBER GOD’s WORD & WILL(4:4)
2. APPLY WHAT THEY REMEMBER(4:5)
Pt# 3 only! Presented 07/02/2023am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Pt# 2 only! Presented 06/25/2023am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Pt# 1 only! Presented 06/18/2023am(Father’s Day) to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
