What happens when a person gets saved?
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
A new creature which means this person is different now.
He is a new creature.
We could preach many messages on what this looks like, all the different changes that will take place.
Today I am speaking about fathers and I am speaking to fathers.
We meet a man in the book of Luke who encounters an angel of the Lord.
Luke 1:13-17 (KJV)
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
This man named Zacharias is going to have a son.
His son John is going to have a ministry and the fruit of his ministry will be :
1. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
2. to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and
3. the disobedient to the wisdom of the just;
4. to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Did you catch what the second one was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children?
What was John the Baptist’s ministry?
The apostle Paul tells us.
Acts 19:4 (KJV)
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
John preached Christ and at the preaching of Christ men were saved.
When a man gets saved there is a natural response to the supernatural gift of salvation, that this man’s heart is turned toward his children.
There is a great attack on fatherhood these days.
I have met many men who have a great concern for their children and for that I praise God.
Today I want to speak of these attacks on fatherhood and it is my prayer that there would be a response to these things.
A concern for your children is good but, not good enough.
Missing Fathers
The first evil is missing fathers.
The God of heaven has a great concern for children who are growing up without a father.
How do I know this?
The word fatherless is in the bible 43 times.
So, the fatherless is nothing new?
But, what is happening that so many children are being raised without a father?
An estimated 24.7 million children (36.3%) live absent of their biological father.
Our prison population is filled with men and women who had drunkard, abusive, uninvolved, or in many cases, no father at all.
The Bible tells us what can happen when a child is without an involved father.
Proverbs 29:15-17 (KJV) 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. 17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Children left to themselves will not only bring shame to their mother, but also to their community.
The world has continually pulled men away from their God-given role as a father.
How is this happening?
Irresponsible Men
Men and women are bearing children before marriage.
Hebrews 13:4 (KJV)
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
God judges sexual relationships outside of marriage.
The world says go ahead, everyone is doing it, no one gets hurt, do not let some religious creed prevent you from having fun.
Meanwhile, women are giving birth to unwanted children and the men are deserting them.
God will judge.
Children: Burden or Blessing
The world we live in today says children are a burden.
One of the most popular questions that I get concerning my family is “How can you afford it?”
Our lives are about choices.
I have chosen to afford children.
I choose to go home to family every day after work.
Psalm 127:3-5 (KJV) 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
No Need For a Dad
Men are being told by the world that a father’s presence in the rearing of a child is not needed.
Women are choosing to have children without a father.
Our government is allowing homosexual partners to adopt children.
Two women or two men raising children is not God’s design and is not best for the child.
The Bible tells us that the man is to guide, protect, and provide for the home.
1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
When the father is not doing what he is supposed to be doing, then the family has a great need and God knows it.
James 1:27 (KJV) 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The fatherless child; the Bible calls this child afflicted.
In their affliction, what affliction, being fatherless.
Every child needs a father; I do not care what the feminist says, or the homosexuals.
Every child has a need for a father.
Men Chasing After Something Else
Men are drawn away from fatherhood by chasing after worldly things.
I believe there are jobs and professions that a Christian should not have.
I also believe that there are even more jobs and professions that fathers should not have.
Many men have lusted after position, wealth, and even fame in their line of work- leaving children at home, only seeing their children once and a while.
Remember what Paul had said about Demas.
2 Timothy 4:10 (KJV)
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.
How many times could we have said that so and so had forsaken his role as a father having loved this present world.
What about the father who has been pulled down the road of a sinful addiction alcohol, pornography, adultery, drug abuse, or some other carnal or immoral activity.
James 1:13-16 (KJV) 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
James 1:15 tells something is going to die if it has not already.
Men, if you are a drunkard, addicted to porn, adulterers, or a drug abuser repent now before something dies.
Men have also been drawn away from fatherhood for some hobby.
Men spend more time on the golf course, in front of the sports channel, movie channel, or news channel, race track and hanging out with buddies than they do with their kids.
This is a sin.
I also believe it is sin to be too involved in ministry, that your children never see you.
I believe we as fathers have to maintain a balance to all that we do.
We are to involve our children in all that we do.
The bible has an answer for all these things and I call it hands on fatherhood
Hands on Father
The Bibles teaches the father to have hands on training.
Genesis 18:17-19 (KJV) 17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Abraham’s seed will have blessing, why?
The Bible says of Abraham that he will command his household in the ways of God.
Deuteronomy 6:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
God is holding the men of Israel responsible to the keeping and teaching of God’s ways, “thou, thou sons, thou son’s sons”.
Then God tells the men on how to do that.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (KJV) 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Ephesians 6:4 (KJV) 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Father’s we are to be involved in our children’s lives.
Father’s we are to guide our homes.
Fathers, we are to command our children in the ways of God.
God has called men to be leaders in his church to be examples.
The bishop/pastor/elder and the deacons are to be examples in.
1 Timothy 3:4-5 (KJV)
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
God has called all men to rule well their own homes.
This will bring generations of blessings.
Fathers, grandfathers, what kind of time do you spend with your children and is it quality time.
What kind of influence have you been to generations to come?
Fathers, like it or not, you are leading.
Are you leading your children to God or away from God?
Did you know men, that we have a perfect example of a father?
A Heavenly Father
HE is the God of Heaven and Earth and HE is also my Heavenly Father.
My Heavenly Father desires to have fellowship with me, His child.
My Heavenly Father knows everything about me.
My Heavenly Father supplies all my needs.
My Heavenly Father leads me into all truth.
My Heavenly Father disciplines me when I do not obey.
My Heavenly Father always does what is best for me.
My Heavenly Father provided a way of salvation for me.
You might have grown up without a father.
You might have had a bad father.
You might have had a good father.
How do you line up with the My Heavenly father?
Do you desire fellowship with your children?
How well do you know your children?
Do you supply your children’s’ needs?
Do you lead your children in truth?
Do you discipline your children?
Do you do what is best for your children?
Does your child know what salvation is?
Whether you are intentional or not, you are leading your children.
What a beautiful example I have in my Heavenly Father.
What a beautiful relationship I have with my Heavenly Father.
My fear this evening is that there might be some of you who does not know the God of Heaven and earth as your father.
John 1:12 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
My heavenly father can be your heavenly father by believing on Jesus.
Maybe HE is your heavenly Father and you continually fall short as a father.
Seek God continually for HIS wisdom and strength for the high calling of fatherhood.
Seek God continually for the souls of your children.
Pastor Jason LaPat
jasonlapat@yahoo.com
06/19/2011
Pastor Jason LaPat
jasonlapat@yahoo.com
06/19/2011
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