HOFC Sermon Archive: Father’s Day 2024 Father’s, the Image of God

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INTRODUCTION

Today is Sunday. June 16^th, 2024 – Father’s Day

There are many things to think about on Father’s Day as a man. Some of us are fathers, stepfathers, and fathers-in-law. Even if we are not a father, we still have one. So, this day can bring a lot of memories, thoughts, and things into consideration.

Fathers play a critical role in the family dynamic. We see the devastating effects of fatherless homes and have all the scientific and statistical data showing how the household and the children suffer without a father present.

Do you know what

a. 63% of youth suicides – no hope/feel unloved or unwanted

b. 90% of runaways – searching for acceptance

c. 85% of behavioral disorders – no discipline/correction/teaching

d. 71% of high School Dropouts – no respect for authority or teaching

e. 70% of Juvenile Detainees – no respect for authority/laws

f. 75% of Substance Abusers – to escape

g. And 26 of the 27 deadliest mass shootings have in common? – anger and hate, self-loathing opens the door to sin and destruction

They all originate from fatherless homes.

Fatherless children have

a. 4x more significant risk of poverty – single mother raising kids/trying to work

b. 7x more likely to become pregnant as a teen – chasing a man’s love

c. More likely to go to prison – hates authority

d. More likely to commit a crime – selfish and self-centered

e. More likely to use drugs and alcohol – to escape

f. 2x more likely to suffer obesity – self-medicating with food in place of love

Currently, 17.4 million children live in fatherless homes.

However, you may not realize that there is more than one way for a father to be absent from the home. These statistics are one story, but the father who is absent through not spending time with the children, absent emotionally, absent spiritually, or a negative influence such as an alcoholic or abusive, either physically, verbally, or emotionally, can have devastating effects as well. In my life, this was through a stepfather, but it can just as easily take place with a biological father.

God did not save us and place His Holy Spirit within us so that we could be sub-standard husbands, mediocre fathers, or weak and feckless examples of men.

He inhabits us so that we can be the light and salt of the Earth. As an example of a godly man, drawing others to Salvation and the forgiveness of sins!

Matthew 23:11-12 “…the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

The great godly man is a servant with sacrificial love, which is godly love.

Placing God first and above all things.

Then, his spouse who he is ONE with.

Then his children and grandchildren.

Then the local congregation.

Lastly, his job.

This is a whole different sermon, but we have looked at these scriptures many, many times over the years and understand why.

If a man wants to be a great man, a godly man, he must show sacrificial love to God, his spouse, his children and grandchildren, the local church, and at work, as if he is working for the Lord (a witness of God as salt and light).

My father was not abusive. He was kind and had a gentle spirit. However, he was both an alcoholic and an absent father from the home because all he ever did was work.

Growing up, he was never around, always at work, and he was asleep or passed out when he was home. He did very little with us. In fact, after he left our family and divorced my mother, we children barely noticed a difference with him no longer living there.

I. GODLY HUSBANDS/FATHERS

a. Godly Fathers are FIRST, Godly Husbands

i. Ephesians 5:25-30 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [n]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body.”

1. Loves his wife (I Corinthians 13)

2. Gives himself up for her – placing her needs before his own (sacrificial love)

3. Sanctifies her (approves, accepts and sees no flaws)

4. He sees her in all her glory, with no spot or wrinkle

5. She is flawless, holy, blameless

6. Love her as your own body, as yourself

ii. Shame on those who say the scripture is misogynistic or anti-woman

iii. And shame on men who speak ill of their wives in any way. You are one flesh, and in condemning her, you condemn yourself.

iv. “Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered (estranged or alienated) against them.” – Colossians 3:19

Godly fathers MUST be godly husbands!

b. A Godly Husband wants Godly Home

i. Joshua 24:15 “…as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”

ii. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.”

c. A Godly Husband is a Godly Father who cares for their children

i. 1 Timothy 5:8 “…if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

1. Before one uses this verse to justify being a workaholic, remember you are called to provide far more than financial support to your family!

2. There are plenty of examples in the world of well-off fathers who are absent from their children's lives yet provide financial support.

3. As a child, I would rather be poor and have a godly father who was there for me than rich and never see my father.

II. A GODLY FATHER IS TO TEACH AND GUIDE IN HOLINESS

a. A Father is an Example to His Children

As a father, the way you live, choices you make, things you say are good or bad, how you honor your wife, how you treat others, how you treat the bible and church, how you talk about God and His Holy Word, how you speak in general, everything you say and do IS an example and teaching your children…whether godly or otherwise.

i. Proverbs 20:6-7 “Many a man will call out his own loving-kindness, But a faithful man, who can find? 7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him.”

ii. Proverbs 3:11-12 “My son, do not reject the instruction of Yahweh Or loathe His rebuke, 12 For whom Yahweh loves He rebukes, Even as a father rebukes the son in whom he delights.”

iii. 1 Timothy 6:6-12 “godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

b. Correct Correction

i. Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

ii. Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, do not enrage your children, so that they will not lose heart.”

iii. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

c. Godly Discipline

i. Proverbs 29:17 “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; And he will give delight to your soul.”

ii. If they do not listen

1. Proverbs 11:28-30 “He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the ignorant fool will be a slave to the wise of heart. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.”

2. Proverbs 17:25 “A foolish son is a displeasure to his father And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.”

iii. Act your age

1. Titus 2:1 “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be reasonable, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in devotion.”

2. 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

3. Being a godly husband, godly father, and a godly man requires being spiritually mature, which only comes from studying the word of God and submitting to the Spirit of God.

III. THE REWARDS FOR BEING A GODLY FATHER

a. Blessings

i. Proverbs 23:22-24 “Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and discipline and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.”

ii. 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

b. When they Grow, they will share the Lord

i. Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty deeds.”

c. Children and Grandchildren are rewards and blessings from God

i. Psalm 127:3-5a “Behold, children are an inheritance of Yahweh, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them;”

ii. Matthew 18:1-6 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever therefore will humble himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

iii. Proverbs 17:6 “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the beauty of sons is their fathers.”

CONCLUSION

Father’s…

1 Chronicles 16:11 “Inquire of Yahweh and His strength; Seek His face continually.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

This verse is often misused, misunderstood, and misapplied.

In context…what are “all things” you can do that Paul speaks of? Look back at verses 11-12

Philippians 4:11-12 “for I learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know how to get along with humble means,

and I also know how to live in abundance;

in any and all things I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry,

both of having abundance and suffering need.”

In both good times and bad, Paul learned to rely on the Lord, trust in Him, and be content in all situations. Seeking Him continually, asking for His strength, it IS possible to be a godly husband, a godly father, and a godly man!

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