Father’s Day message 2024
This last week we took a team to Honduras to work with IMI’s City of Refuge.
As I pondered the week and the lessons I was learning from God my Father in Honduras – I sat and wrote this sermon one night. I observed a team of workers at IMI and Kids’ actions and attitudes toward others. I learned the stories of these children – how some were rescued out of horrendous situations: Some children their Parents had died and were orphans, some whose parents had to love them enough to give them up because they could not feed them, or educate them, some rescued from the sex slavery, some placed there by the government of Honduras for their protection. Stories of heartache were everywhere that had attacked these children. But I looked at these kids laughing, smiling, singing on the bus, connecting with God and Godly leadership. I saw their response at the prayer times – Their number one prayer request was for their broken families! Not themselves – wow who would have known?
I was pierced to my heart and impacted by these workers- children and comments from other missionary’s working that the compound!
• “I feel so loved here more so than from my family in the states.”
• “I feel honored and respected by the people of Honduras because I am helping them!”
• “The people of Honduras are happy despite being dirt poor! They are great people with a joyful attitude.”
• “I see more happiness here in the people and in the kids than I see in America who has 4 times as much stuff as these people do!”
IMI and the City of Refuge leaders seek to build a culture of Honor – Honor to God – Honor to families – Honor to others – Honor to leaders – honor for each other, for the workers, for missionaries.
So, after observing that week – Here are lessons I learned - this is my take and the message God placed on my heart to share this Father’s Day!
Sermon: Honor!
Thesis: When we choose to honor God the Father, our parents, our leaders and each other God pours out his blessings into our life. When we choose to honor and obey God, we get the blessings and the joy of the Lord. No matter what we have gone through in life we can discover the goodness of God. Trials and tribulations, being poor, being orphans does not have to rob us of our joy in the Lord.
Scriptures: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).
Introduction: Today we have been following the command given to Moses by God on Mt Sinai to honor God our Heavenly Father and fathers. Commands are not suggestions by the way – they are strict – precise and intentional ways we are to Act to our God our parents and others. Honoring them is a God Command – and if we choose to break one of the Big Ten, we are warned it will not go well for your or your life.
Disrespect is running rampant in our western culture – I see it everywhere – disrespect for leaders, parents, pastors and even a lack of respect for the elderly. But in this remote place in Honduras, I saw people being respectful, people deciding to honor others, people committed to honoring God. They choose despite hardship, loss, grief, poverty to Honor God – Honor others.
Honor was part of the culture at IMI – respect for others stressed and promoted – obedience to the rules was pressed and a whole lot of reciprocal love unleashed on the kids who then unleashed that love onto others – like us visiting missionary’s .
The cards were given to us by the kids revealed their reciprocal love.
4 God given directives to Honor God the Father - our parents, and each other!
1) Respectful communication
a. All relationships fall apart when communication falls apart – communication chaos – hostile communication – disrespectful communication will break apart a relationship – they also will destroy a family or even a church.
b. Colossians 3:15-21
i. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
ii. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
iii. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
iv. Rules for Christian Households
1. 18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
2. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
3. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
4. 21Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
5. 22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
6. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
7. 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
8. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
c. Respectful communication means I listen to what others are saying!
i. Respectful communication listens to others – hears their hearts – has empathy for others – and responds appropriately!
1. Example: Our debriefing in the evening and devotions in the morning!
a. My own wanting to hurry things along – I felt the Lord told me to stop and listen!
2) Responsible Obedience
a. Ephesians 6:
i. 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
ii. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
iii. 3“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
iv. 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
1. God blesses those who obey his directives and words – he desires us to be responsible enough to follow what he instructs us to do.
2. One of the Big 10 – is honor your parents – be responsible for your actions and words and be obedient – because disobedience leads to relationship breakups – sin and destruction!
3. Obedience to God is important because:
a. Jesus calls us to obey, and he is the perfect model of obedience.
i. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15, ESV)
b. Obedience is an act of worship.
c. God rewards obedience.
i. Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." (Luke 11:28, NLT)
d. Obedience to God proves our love.
e. Obedience to God demonstrates faith.
b. Obedience in our culture is optional today – we think in our culture I only have to obey if I feel like it – or if I want to. But obedience is a directive of God in His word whether we feel like it or not! Obedience is the sign of a fully devoted follower of Jesus!
3) Reverent Honor
a. Exodus 20:12
i. Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you!
b. Reverence means - deep respect for someone or something.
i. We need to honor our parents as well as have reverence and honor for God the Father.
c. The city of refuge services we did - I observed reverent honor of God the father!
i. I saw them honor their pastor struggling with major health issues!
1. Ron’s story!
4) Reciprocal Love
a. 1 Peter 1:22-25
i. 22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
ii. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
iii. 24For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
iv. 25but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
1. Reciprocated love is love that is felt by both parties in a relationship. In other words, this is a two directional love versus a love where only one individual has feelings of love for another and acts on those feelings.
b. The kids were loved by the workers and they the kids reciprocated that love back to others.
i. The kid hit with the ball and the way they all came to comfort the one hurt!
ii. The death of Karen’s best friend’s dad killed while riding a bike – she found Jesus!
iii. Andrea’s comments to me.
iv. Lizzy’s death of her uncle.
1. They poured into us we poured into them!
Conclusion:
God the Father’s example and commands need to be followed if we want out life to be blessed by God! We need to do the 4 R’s of Honor!
1. Respectful communication!
2. Responsible Obedience!
3. Reverent Honor!
4. Reciprocal love!
