Fatherhood - A Gift from God

Message by: Harold Paul

When dads or men get together, they are usually talking about tools and such, and usually don't get down to the nuts and bolts. But today, Harold sought to dispel some of those issues.

There are so many things to talk about being a dad…

Being a dad is not being a dictator. It's about leading your family.

Fathers are also meant to have an uplifting partner. After Paul talks about husbands and wives, he talks about the family - where God needs to be at the center and at the focus.

Ephesians 6:1-4
[1] Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. [2] “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: [3] If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” [4] Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

We can't give what we don't have, so if a man doesn't have Jesus, he can't lead a Godly household.

Again… in this next verse, Paul talks about marriage before the family…

Colossians 3:18-21
[18] Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. [19] Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. [20] Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. [21] Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

In the culture where these verses were written, fathers had the power to sell their children.

In the Word of God, fatherhood is a high calling.

A father is a man of valor… a protector… a leader.

A Godly man is known by what he flees from. Satan is very good at disguising what is not good as good.

After WWII, communism knew the only way to take down Americas might was to destroy the nucleus family. To take the mother out of the home and put her in the workplace and eventually put the father out of the home all together.

What does a father fight for? What does a father need? What is a father loyal to?

The degree that we keep Holy lives dictates the relationship we have with Jesus Christ.

If we feed the desires of the flesh, that's what others will see and will grow. However, if we feed the desires of the Holy Spirit, that's what others will see and will grow.

The mark of maturity or immaturity of a man is in the way he functions in his home as a father…. Or grandfather.

We have an opportunity to make an impact, but it starts at home.

A man who follows the Holy Spirit, leads a home that honors God.

Galatians 5:16-26
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. [17] The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. [18] But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. [19] When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. [22] But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. [25] Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. [26] Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

When you think about it, we don't have our kids for a very long time. Harold reflected on the time he watched his kids so his wife could work part time when the kids were younger, and he remembers it being such a blessed time.

Psalms 127:1-5
[1] Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. [2] It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. [3] Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. [4] Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. [5] How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

This Psalm covers four aspects of life:

• Social

• Civic

• Business

• Family/Domestic

In verse one, Solomon understood that man has a place in the world. He is not saying men shouldn't work, but he's saying without God, a man's work is useless.

As it is Father's Day, we have the duty to protect our families… not just from physical attack, but also spiritual. Fathers need to step up as real men!

It's not that women don't have the same Holy Spirit, but men are called to be the head of the household.

If you're losing sleep over something, you need to give it to God. In verse two, we are reminded that if we hand things to God, like truly give it and entrust it to God, we have rest….

Verse three blatantly reminds us that children are a blessing.

Verses four and five are easy to relate to when you archery hunt (like Harold does). Everything has to be just right when shooting bow and arrow… the bow, the arrow, the release, etc. Every child is their own, unique person…. And none of them come with a handbook! You have to learn by trial and error. Ultimately, you only have one shot. Once the arrow is released, it's gone. Once you have raised and released your child, that's it - you only have one shot for raising each child.

You can train a child in the way they should go doesn't make them make decisions for themselves. Each person has a choice of much good or choice of much evil. Parents raise them, but children make their own choices.

Your quiver may be small, but it can still be full… no matter how many kids you have.

The city gate was where all business was done… it's a place of prominence and influence in their communities.

When Billy Graham was asked if he could change anything from his life, he said he would have taken more time with his family - specifically his kids.

We have so many things going on in our lives, but it is NEVER a burden to prioritize family over everything else in this world - keeping God at the center and priority.

The degree to which we live Holy lives is the degree of which we keep in step with the Holy spirit in our lives.

We have an opportunity to make an impact on this world if we let Jesus have the reins.