June 16, 2019
Morning Service

Mark Twain was quoted saying “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned.”

I know you have heard that quote before because I have now used it three years in a row on this special day set aside to honor our fathers.  It is truly amazing all the advice our fathers gave us when we were young that we thought was so lame and out of date at the time, now have become words that we are either glad we followed or regretted that we didn’t.  “Always check the oil.”  “Budget your money and never spend more than you make.”  “It is okay to have nice stuff, but you don’t have to tell the whole world you have it.”  “Work hard and do what your told when you are told what to do.”  “Always watch out for the other driver.”  “You don’t have to go to church, you get to go to church.”  I certainly hope some saying from your father comes to mind and I hope you are rejoicing that you followed it and not regretting you ignored it!  (Cam story) Paul told this to the Ephesian church:

 Eph. 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  (2)  "HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER," which is the first commandment with promise: (3) "THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU AND YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."

        Paul is calling each of us to obey our parents while we are in their home and under their care, but we are to always honor them our entire loves for the commitment and sacrifices they made for us.  In doing this we bring honor to them and to God as well as bringing a blessing of long life to ourselves upon this earth.  Mother and Father’s Day can get just a little bit too commercial, but in reality you can make a better case scripturally for us to celebrate them even over celebrating Christmas.  Honoring our parents is a commandment from the Lord and it should be done with the proper attitude, as we have been talking about lately.  The honor should come from our heart and not out of necessity or guilt.  Try to rejoice in the fact that you still have parents to honor or you still have the memories of them that you can cling to.  Honor and respect them on this and every day.  Paul told the Colossians this:

 

Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

        As you honor your father today do it because you are honoring Jesus as well.  I certainly realize that all parents are not perfect, we all have our faults and struggles, but we are commanded to honor them so did it well.

 

Now we can switch gears and talk to the fathers.  It is a true blessing for God to allow you to be a father.  Listen to Psalms 127:

 

 

 

Psa 127:1-5 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  (2)  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.  (3)  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.  (4)  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.  (5)  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

        “Happy is the man whose quiver is full.” It is vitally important fathers that you build your house upon the foundation of the Lord.  A house built on any other foundation will be built in vain.  A father can teach a child many things on how to succeed in this life, but that may only last a lifetime.  The one thing that you must do that lasts for eternity is introduce them to Jesus Christ and model a life that reflects His love through your life.  You can only take someone where you have been yourself, so your personal relationship with Jesus needs to be a priority relationship.  That relationship then will become the foundation of your household to build upon.   Let’s return to Ephesians 6 and read that next verse:

 

Eph 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

        Being a parent isn’t easy, it takes tons of patience and sacrifices on your part.  We are not to allow frustration and anger to dictate the discipline we hand out to our children provoking them to wrath.  We are to act in love, mercy, and compassion just as our Heavenly Father corrects us.  The best and only effective way to train up your child in the fear and admonition of the Lord is to model it.  Do your best to imitate Christ.  Your child will more times than not mirror your actions as they grow older.  Your son will likely treat his wife just as you treat his mother.  He will handle adversity in the same manner you display it to him.  If you do not love and develop within your daughter that she is accepted just as she is, she will seek someone else for her security that is designed to come from her daddy.  If they do not know that Jesus loves them more than you do and He will always be there for them never leaving them alone, they will search for that love and acceptance elsewhere.  If you fail in these avenues, it does not mean your children are destined to fail, but if you succeed they have will have a greater chance to succeed and be assured God will bless your efforts.

            I am asking you to fulfill some very big roles in your child’s life.  Be a carpenter who builds his house to last, building it upon the foundation of Christ.  Be a security guard who is watching what your children watch, protecting them physically and spiritually, and pointing out the hidden dangers that lie ahead.  Be a servant to sacrifice your needs for theirs and others while teaching them to do the same thing.  Be a coach to celebrate their victories and to recover from their defeats.  Be a father who gives much more presence than he does presents.  Be the friend who introduces them to their best friend, Savior and Lord.  Leave them a legacy that does not point to your accomplishments, but to Jesus.

 

“Only Jesus” Casting Crowns