Devoted And Godly Fathers

 

A father can be defined in many ways, but the bible shows him as the head of the family, the ruler, the provider, and as the one who trains his children in the fear of God.

1. The Man As The Head

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

(From the foundation of the world, God chose men to be the head of the family)

2. The Man As The Ruler

1 Timothy 3:1-4

1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

3. The Man As The Provider

1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

4.The Man As The Teachers

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

Children need to know that they are loved; that way they will learn to express love for others. Sometimes we expect too much from our children and show little or no affection toward them.

The bible very clearly challenges fathers to be the spiritual leader in their homes, because the ultimate responsibility for what a family becomes belongs to the father. The primary part of that responsibility is striking a balance between love and discipline.

Abraham, our great father of faith, was a devoted father. He did not only fear the lord, but he taught his household to fear The Lord also. While Isaac was still a boy, he taught him how to make sacrifices unto The Lord. He taught him how to build an altar properly and the type of sacrifice to offer on it.

Genesis 22:1-7

1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

 

Isaac questioned Abraham, because this wasn’t his first time accompanying his father to make a sacrifice to God. Abraham spent time with his son, teaching him the things of God.

Fathers are the spiritual authorities in their homes; it is their responsibility to see to the spiritual wellness of the family and to train up their children in the ways of The Lord.

A devoted and godly father will not leave the welfare of his children to their mother alone.

Luke 8:41-42

41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

When was the last time you fell before Jesus Christ, asking him for the prosperity of your children and the spiritual advancement of your home?

One of the biggest threats to the next generation is the breakdown of the family.

A lifelong marriages provides the foundation for social order.

Did you know?

70% of black babies and 20% of white babies born in America are born out of wedlock. Most of them will never know their fathers, or a father’s love.

Only 1/3 of children born in America will live with both biological parents through age 18.

How does this affect us?

85% of children with behavior disorders are from fatherless homes.

71% of high school drop-outs are from fatherless homes.

70% of teen pregnancies are from fatherless homes.

80% of rapists are from fatherless homes.

75% of teen patients in drug abuse centers are from fatherless homes.

70% of juveniles in correctional institutions are from fatherless homes.

85% of youths in prison are from fatherless homes.

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.

All of this evidence points to family’s breakup; the physical absence of fathers.

How can you stop the trend?

1. Commit your life totally to Christ and raise your family to do the same!
2. Lead your family by example; be a good role model to them.

One of the greatest responsibilities of a parent is to lead their children to the kingdom of heaven. We rely upon our heavenly father to provide guidance by his word. We learn to be givers by his example of giving.

You see god doesn’t tell us to do something that he hasn’t already experienced himself.

What kind of seed are you sowing in the lives of your children?

What kind of legacy are you leaving for them?