Father’s Day

 

Today, I give honor to all fathers. I give honor to my wonderful biological father and father in law. I give honor to the GREATEST Father of all, Jesus. I’m truly here only by His grace and love.

We live in a society where so many aren’t willing to do what is right, yet complain because everything is going wrong. I ask each and every father to decide to change that today. To make the decision Joshua did.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

Your responsibility as a father is to instill character into your children and God will hold you to it.

 

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

 

It is your job to teach them who Jesus is or the world will teach them who He is not!

 

Discipline your children! Teach them the difference between right and wrong. Teach them that there are consequences for their actions.

Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

 

Bless your children! The Old Testament fathers laid hands on their children and blessed them.

Pray for them! There is power in prayer! Be a prayer warrior protecting your child, covering them with His Word and His blessings.

Be an example! Children learn from what they see. So practice what you preach, be what God has called you to be. Teach faithfulness, show faith, show respect and honor to our God and obey His Word. Show compassion, love and mercy. For if you live one way in front of people and live another way when no one is around, your children will do the same.

I challenge you, this church challenges you, and God commands you to raise up your children in the ways of the Lord. In order to do that you have to know yourself first hand what God has instructed you to do and what not to do.

Church is important, Bible Study is important. Coming just once a month isn’t enough to grow, nor to be saved, for God has said on judgment day He will respond to those of whom He is pleased, “Well done thou good, and faithful, servant.” He will not call you faithful if you are not. He will not call you His servant if you are not.

We all have choices and the freedom of choice to decide who and what you will follow, but it shows in your actions whom you serve.

God entrusted you with the children you have to raise them to obey Him, to know Him, to Honor Him, and to love Him. We decide every day what sermon our children will hear and see from us. Do they see and hear you praying? Do they see you fasting? Do they see you reading His Word? Do they hear of His goodness, His promises, and His Word?

We need our men, our fathers to be men of valor. Valor is defined as: noun 1. boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery:

We are in a battle every day for our families, for our souls. God is calling each of us to a higher place in Him to a level of boldness, a level of determination.

When Noah was told to build an ark, he did what he was asked to do. Even without it making “sense” to build an ark on dry land where they had never seen rain. Noah’s sons saw Noah simply trust and obey God. Even when tired, even when ridiculed, even when years had passed, in the end they saw how Noah’s simple obedience saved not only his life, but their life as well.

God is calling you to save yourself and your families as well. To choose, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Not just in good times, not just in convenient times, but in all times.

There was a Christian movie showing called “Courageous”. It was geared towards making men step up and being the godly men God has called them to be. It made a Resolution (which is: a firm decision to do or not to do something:) I would like to challenge each of our fathers to each of these resolutions:

I do solemnly resolve, before God, to take full responsibility for my wife, my children, and myself.

I will love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I will be faithful to my wife; to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I will bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I will train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I will confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I will pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I will work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I will learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I will seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I will courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

I will choose this day and will not waiver: AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.