God Bless Good Fathers
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God Bless Good Fathers!
Why the Lord Trusted Abram: Gen18.19
Where Have All the Fathers Gone?
- Men shirk leadership at home >> seed anarchy in society (Ex20.6).
- Divorce judges, by default, grant custody of children to Mom.
- Over 1/3 of nation's kids in single-parent homes. Poor fatherless kids.
Good Fathers...Have Good Wives
- The 1st Command: "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen1.28).
- A bitter, disrespectful wife will breed foolish children: Prov19.13&14.
- Marry a crown and a fruitful vine: Prov12.4 / Psa128.3.
Get a wife who loves God & respects her husband >> good children.
Dad is a Real Man
- Good, hard-working men provide for family: Prov13.22.
- Through respect for God, give them shelter: Prov14.26.
- Walk honest, brave, upright -- model of maturity: Prov20.7.
Good fathers and their children - proud of each other! Prov17.6
Wisdom for Raising Children
- Delight in your children -- and train them: Prov3.11,12
- Seek their blessing -- for many generations: Prov4.1-4
- Loving them -- is hard at times -- but leads to life: Prov13.24 / 22.6
We must show our children who God is -- Heb12.5-11.
Fathers are Spiritual Leaders
- Job was a priest for his family (Job1.4,5) / Moses: "teach" (Dt6.7)
- Elders and deacons must guide their family well (1Tim3.4,5,12)
- Nothing makes Dad's day as children living in truth (see3Jn4)
First, Honor Your Father in Heaven
- A real man honors and serves the LORD. First, He trains you up!
- Then, you can be a good example and trainer to your children (Eph6.4).
- Be their mentor in humility, repentance, and obedience to Jesus.
Now, that's leaving a legacy for your children.
God, the Father, yearns for His wayward children to come home (Lk15.20-24)
notes by David Teel Saturday, June 14, 2014
special thanks to Mark Driscoll, Seattle WA