WHAT IS A DAD

 

Father’s Day – Prov 3:1-2 – June 15^th 2008

 

Intro:  Every year I get the privilege of being involved in a Father’s Day Service and to commend and exhort Fathers.  Dad, did you know the official flower of Father’s Day is the Dandelion.  The more you stomp or trampled on it the better it grows.

 

1.  Solomon opens with a simple exhortation.  He says, “my son do not forget my

     Teaching, but keep my commands in your heart.”  Solomon wanted his children

     To understand that what e was teaching them was from the word of God and the

     Experience he had gained.  Solomon was the wisest man of his day.  He had done

     Everything he could to gain wisdom and knowledge.  Only one man in the Bible

     Was wider than Solomon and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

a.  Solomon wanted his children and the audience he was writing to understand that

     if you keep a Father’s teaching in your heart.  When principles are in your heart

     most likely they will transferred to life. 

b.  Follow sound godly principles will save you from a multitudes of sins and disasters.

c.  Solomon reveals the reason or incentive to keeps these commands.  It is 1292 promise

     in the Bible.  It has a two part blessing.  They will prolong your life for many years.

    And bring your prosperity. 

d.  The Bible does teach if we honour our parents that it will go well with us and we will

     live a long life.  As Paul said this  in Eph 6:3.  It is a commandment with a promise.

     That is what Solomon is saying in a nutshell.

e.  In essence what is being said, is learn from your parents examples and also the lessons

     they teach and become the people God’s wants you to be.

 

2.  C.W. Kenington writes.  There is one essential qualification for a good father:  He

      Must be a Christian.

 

a.  There are four reasons a father needs to be a Christian,.  There are as follows,

 

1.  To lead his children to salvation in Christ.   This is the greatest need of every person.

     In John 3:18, John reminds his readers that those who do not believe in God’s only

     Son are condemned to a lost eternity.  No father wants to see this happen.  So it

     Becomes of every father  to bring that message to his family.  Paul exhorts father in

     Eph 6:4 to train up their children in the fear and admonition of  the Lord.

2.  To impart to his children the understanding of life.  We must teach by word and

     Example that the purpose of life is not to satisfy self.  Jesus taught in Luke 12:23 that

     Life was more than, food, clothing and shelter.  This just creates worry and unbelief.

     It is more than security, significance and self worth.  The purpose of life is to glorify

     God.  Jesus taught this in Matt 5:16 in the Sermon on the Mount..  Not seeing this

     Creates a sub par life.  Jesus said in John 10:10, I have come to give you life and more

     Abundantly.

 

 

 

3.  To give his children moral guidance.  For some they think morals are pictures on a

     Wall and scruples are money in Russia.  The world advocates and promotes a godless

      Lifestyle.  A situation ethics and no concrete foundation for life.  A good father will

      Resist that and teach their children there are absolutes, commandments and

      Consequences to our choices.  Gal 6:8 states that God is not mocked, whatever we

      Sow we shall reap.  Fathers must have grounds for the demands they make on their

      Children.  The standard is the Word of God, the Bible.  It has proven it reliability

      Down through centuries.

4.  To love his children to the fullest.  Human love can sometimes turn us from God’s

     way.  That is why Paul says again in Eph 6:3 for fathers not to exasperate their

     children or cause them to have wrath.  Let us not make unreasonable demands on

     our family.  Use the statement, “I am the ma of the household or I am dad so you have

     to obey me no matter what.” 

 

a.  A godly father, is willing to admit he is wrong, ask forgiveness.  Be a role model and

     mentor.  Let us be fair and honest, don’t spoil your children or be lax in discipline..

b.  A godly father teaches the truths of God’s word by his lifestyle not by what he says.

c.  That is why we must let divine love direct our dealings.  Divine love always does what

     is best.  Divine love is from the Holy Spirit.  Only a Christian dad has God’s

     indwelling Spirit.  Dad I encourage you to get to know God so much better so you can

     impart greater blessings and teaching to your children. 

 

Conclusion.

 

Here are some marks of a dedicated Christian Father.   

 

1.  He is committed to Christ everyday.

2.  He is Christian in both word and deed.  He listens to God’s word and does what it

     Says; his children see Christ in him.

3.  He is a man that reads the Bible himself and communicates to his children.  That is

     Where daily devotion with your spouse and children are so important. 

4.  He is a man of prayer.  There is nothing like children seeing their father praying. 

     This leaves a lasting impression on them. 

5.  He takes his children to the house of Lord himself.  This says to our children that

     God’s house is important.  You don’t just go when it is a holiday, special occasion

     Or when you feel like it.  Nothing kills strong faith and spirituality than inconsistency

     And partial obedience.  We sent the stage.  This statistic reflect this truth.  When a

     Mother comes to the Lord, 50% of the time children will come to know Christ.  When

     A father comes to know the Lord 80% of the time the children will come.  Dad we set

     The stage.  It has been said that 85% of a children’s self worth come from the father.

     Dad we need to be there for our children and begin to start again.  1634 &1636