“Blessed Father’s Day”

Pastor Jerry

Ephesians 5:25-33

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Have any of you read the book entitled, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus? Basically the book simply emphasized that what men say and what men mean are two different things. Please allow me to translate for you some phrases that men say, but what they actually mean! For example…

When a man says “IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN”
He means: “I have no idea how it works”

When a man says “CAN I HELP WITH DINNER”
He means: “Why isn’t it ready yet?”

When a man says ’OH, DON’T FUSS, I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT’S NO BIG DEAL”
He means: “I probably need stiches, but I will bleed to death before I admit I’m hurt!”

Today is Father’s Day, a special day to honor dads. It seems to me that, Father’s Day is not as big of a deal as Mother’s Day. But I’m glad there is a Father’s Day. It gives us a chance to honor those who stand at the helm, and who lead their family through life’s battles.

James Dobson, in his book, “Dare To Discipline,” says, “Good fathers are made, not born.” Then he goes on to suggest 3 specific things for a father to keep in mind.

1. Children oftentimes follow in the footsteps of their father. During the earliest years of a child’s life he or she usually spends a great deal of time with the mother. But the passing years bring a change, and father often becomes the example in attitude and action that a child follows. The father should be a spiritual leader in the home.

2. The Second thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Next to his own close and personal relationship with God, a father’s top priority should be to love his wife. Paul tells the Ephesian husbands (and us) to love their wives “…just as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) If there is that kind of love in the family, then that home is blessed indeed.

3. Thirdly, a Christian father will arrange to spend time with his children. Fathers, I can say without a doubt that being a good father and a good husband is the most challenging responsibility we can ever face. If you’re like most men – even those who may have had a poor or harmful experience with their own father – you want to be a good father. But to be a good father you need a model, an example of a father that you can pattern yourself after. Is there such a thing as a perfect father?

Yes, there is, and today, let’s see what we can learn about being a father by looking at God, the perfect Father.

I. GOD LOVES HIS CHILDREN
There are many passages of scripture that speak of God’s love for His children: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) God did not wait for us to meet His expectations. He did not wait until we measured up to His standards. He simply loved us and He loved us first. He may be angry when we disobey Him but He never, ever stops loving us. Yes, God loves His children and so should we!

II. GOD ENCOURAGES HIS CHILDREN
God throughout Scripture encouraged his children. He not only encouraged them with His words, but with His presence, and with His assistance. Sadly, many parents, are more prone to send messages laced with criticism than with encouragement. It is so important to watch our words. The apostle Paul challenges us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29)

III. GOD DISCIPLINES HIS CHILDREN
God is good. He is a loving father. He is a perfect father. His intentions and actions are never evil or unloving. Yet He disciplines His children. He disciplines because of His goodness. He does not discipline in spite of His love, He disciplines because of His love.  Proverbs 3:12 says, “The Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

The man who disciplines his children wisely is reflecting the character of God. We discipline because we love our children. It teaches them responsibility. It teaches them that wrong actions have negative consequences. It helps them to live rightly.

God is a perfect Father and a model that we should follow. However, we earthly fathers are not God and we are not perfect fathers. Some of you may have NOT been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord by your father. That is a regret! But now that you are grown, it’s on YOU. No longer can any of us blame bad childhoods or bad parenting when we are the man of our house. It’s your time to provide for your family, to be the example that God expects you to be. Anything less means you don’t love.

I do not know where you are at this morning, but I know that our heavenly Father is wanting us to come to Him, whether we have made mistakes as a parent, or mistakes as a wayward child, He is waiting with open arms for you. God does not limit His love or time or circumstance to when we can come home to Him. That’s why He sent His Son to pay for our mistakes! This world needs Jesus! We need Jesus!

God our Heavenly Father already has made His desire known, to come home to Him, today, what are you going to do with it?