[0:00] Amen. Well, it's been a blessing to be here this morning and a joy. And I, too, want to say Happy Father's Day to all of us fathers.
[0:15] And it's happy to be a father when you have children that want to serve God and a blessing.
[0:26] But it's a high calling to be a father. Last Sunday I said something about, you know, not in preaching, but we talked about making our calling and election sure.
[0:45] And I had a burden for that, and I still do, and I'd like to talk to the fathers today, mostly. Also children and wives. But primarily to us fathers, it means it's Father's Day.
[1:00] So why don't we just pause to pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are a good father, that you love us. You are our perfect example of what a father should be.
[1:14] Lord, we thank you for that. Thank you for giving us your son and for not calling those 10,000 angels to stop those evil men.
[1:26] But you went all the way to the cross so that we can be saved. We can be set free and we can know you. And whereby we call you Abba Father.
[1:36] Lord, you're a loving father. We thank you for that. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for being here with us. Lord, I pray you'd give me strength today to share your word and that it would speak to all of our hearts, Lord.
[1:52] For your honor and glory, for your praise. For your name's sake, Lord, we come to you. Be with those that can't be here with us today, Lord. And pray you'd be near them and guide them, Lord.
[2:04] Especially, Lord, we pray for James this morning that you would just be with him. And as he is bringing or has brought your word to the church back in Ohio, Lord.
[2:17] Just bless them with safety as they travel home this week. We also pray, Lord, for Chuck's wife this morning. Be with Shirley, I pray you'd bring healing to her, Lord.
[2:28] And restore whatever is wrong there. We just lift her up to you, to your throne of grace. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Making our calling and election sure.
[2:44] What is our calling? What does God want from fathers? What does God want from fathers? What does God want from fathers? In Proverbs chapter 14, if you want to turn there, there's a few verses I'd like to look at there.
[3:02] Proverbs chapter 14. In verse 12, it says, There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
[3:16] Death. It's a fairly familiar scripture, but there's a way that seems right to a man. It seems right, feels right.
[3:31] But it's the way of death. What is he talking about? Isn't he talking about a way that seems right to me, but it's the flesh?
[3:42] It's the way of the flesh. It's the old man. It's not the way of God. The way where that leads us is to the ways of death. Let's drop down to verse number 26, same chapter.
[3:59] It says, In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. Verse 27, the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death.
[4:15] It's like he gives an answer to that verse 12 where it says that the way of man leads to death.
[4:26] Now he says, But the fear of the Lord, I believe this is foundational for being a godly father. It's simply to have the fear of the Lord.
[4:39] It brings strong confidence. So if you lack confidence this morning, and we lack wisdom, we lack things that we need to be a godly father in our age, we can have that confidence.
[4:59] But where does it come from? Where does that confidence come from? I believe it's the fear of the Lord. Having the fear of the Lord, and not only that, not only do we have confidence as fathers, but it says that our children shall have a place of refuge, a place of security, a place of contentment, refuge, however you want to describe that word.
[5:30] And if there was ever a time that children need a place of refuge, it's today. A place of security, a place where they belong.
[5:41] And I know this morning I'm only talking to maybe just a handful of us fathers in here. I want to preach this by God's grace as if I was talking to a hundred fathers.
[5:55] Because we need it in our land. We need to hear it. And it's a challenge. I'm not here to make you feel comfortable or good about yourself. You know, sometimes those messages are needed.
[6:09] But I think we need to be challenged in our day as fathers. What God sees in fatherhood. And it's not about making us feel all cozy inside.
[6:21] But rather to lay out a challenge to rise up and be men of God. And, you know, there's young men here too that someday, Lord willing, you'll be fathers as well.
[6:32] It seems like that always keeps happening. You know, you're a young man for a while and the next thing we know you're a father. And your father becomes a grandfather, right?
[6:44] It happened to me very quickly it seems like. So listen. Even if you're not married, I encourage you to listen to the message.
[6:55] And get a vision. Allow God to put a vision into your heart for your future. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.
[7:08] We need life in our homes. We need life in our personal life. But the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.
[7:19] This fear of the Lord is not a fear where we are scared of God. Not that kind of fear. Not the fear of man. But the fear of the Lord is that fear that grips our heart that we don't want to displease.
[7:35] We don't want to offend a holy God. We want to walk right before our God. It's that kind of a fear that we honor and respect Him.
[7:49] The Most High. It says that fountain of life is to depart from the snares of death.
[8:03] You know, there's many of those snares, aren't there? There's many a snare of death. But the fear of the Lord will help us depart from those snares.
[8:15] Fathers, we are responsible for our families. We are responsible. Is the fear of the Lord established in our homes?
[8:29] In your home? A place that is free from those snares of death and destruction. We have a void of the fear of God in many fathers that are claiming to follow God.
[8:47] They have no fear before their eyes. No fear of God before their eyes. The Bible talks about that in the New Testament even. About not having any fear before their eyes.
[8:58] So they make choices and decisions based on their own understanding rather than based on the heart of God. Men that don't care about what God thinks.
[9:12] Let us not be deceived by this. But let us rise up and be done with lesser things. Be done with that easy-believism and light-hearted foolishness.
[9:24] And let us become men of God. Men of valor. Men that love God and love His truth. Men with purpose and direction. Men that always ask, What does God say about this?
[9:41] What does God think about this subject? Or this issue? Or this place? Or whatever. Whatever it is that we deal with. What does God think?
[9:52] That should always be our first question. Not what makes me look good or sound right. What does God think? That's men with purpose and direction.
[10:07] Men that have the fear of God always before their eyes. It's the opposite of having no fear of God. I believe that this is foundational to being a godly father.
[10:21] Father. And a godly husband. And you know, it's very, very important. If you forget anything else in the message, at least let's remember, we need the fear of God in our life.
[10:35] We need to care about what God thinks. It's something that is almost lost in our society. Father. Father. Father. Fathers, it's our job to teach our children the things of God.
[10:49] It's our job to teach. Yes, it's the ladies too. It's the moms, yes. But I believe it's the father's responsibility to make sure that's happening.
[11:04] That's happening. It shouldn't be the other way around. In Deuteronomy, familiar scripture, Deuteronomy chapter 6, verse 5, it says, and God is talking to his people, the Israelites, and he says, And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
[11:24] And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. So first of all, it's established in your heart. And then verse 7, it says, And thou shalt teach them diligently unto who?
[11:42] Thy children. Teach them unto thy children. And shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house. Yes, when we're sitting on the recliner, tired.
[11:57] We're to talk to the children. And when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
[12:10] Kind of a tongue twister there. But when you read this verse, it's basically saying that you teach your children all the time. You take every opportunity to teach your children the things of God.
[12:24] This was in the Old Testament, I realize. But God put the responsibility of teaching our children on us men, on us fathers.
[12:38] Primarily. And we might say on parents. That wouldn't be wrong to say that. Let's turn our Bible to Joshua chapter 24.
[12:59] Mike, could you get me some water, please? Joshua chapter 24. When one man stood up for God.
[13:12] Let's see what happens when Joshua, a man of God, stood for God. In verse 14, it says, Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt.
[13:32] And serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve.
[13:42] Whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
[13:56] And that's a verse that many people, I think we do, have above our doors or somewhere in our houses. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
[14:13] We see a determination, a commitment, a resolve that Joshua had. You can do what you want, he's saying. Thank you.
[14:24] You can do what you want. You can serve idols if you want. But you need to make up your mind, is what he's telling the people. And then he lays out direction.
[14:35] He says, well, but as for me and my house, putting that responsibility of my house, meaning my family, we are going to serve the Lord.
[14:50] That should grip our hearts. That statement. Is that resolve in your heart? Is it in your heart, young men that aren't even married yet?
[15:03] That can happen in your heart right now. You can make that resolve, that commitment today. As for me and my house, whatever that means, we will serve the Lord.
[15:14] We will fear the Lord. We'll keep reading here in verse 16. Now this is the response from the people.
[15:29] I don't know how many people there were, but I'm sure there were many. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods.
[15:41] For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed.
[16:01] And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelled in the land. Therefore, we also serve the Lord, for he is our God.
[16:14] And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
[16:26] If ye forsake the Lord and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt and consume you.
[16:37] After that, he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay, but we will serve the Lord. You see, these people had a problem. They were saying it, but they were still dabbling with idols.
[16:53] And Joshua is setting the record straight. He's setting the course straight for them. That God will not accept you unless you really mean it, really serve the Lord.
[17:08] Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you, the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
[17:20] Now therefore, put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. He is making it very clear that you can't serve both.
[17:37] You can't love the world and serve God. Verse 24, And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord, our God, we will serve, and his voice we will obey.
[17:56] So they did in the end make that commitment. They did say they will serve the Lord. But they were having that problem, that tug of war, that, you know, they wanted to be with the people that were not of God.
[18:13] He wanted to fellowship with them. They wanted to be worldly like them, or whatever, you know, idolatry. Things that God hated. And Joshua is calling them, saying, It's one or the other.
[18:27] I believe that was the word. But in the end, they said, We will serve. God, we will serve. And his voice, we will obey.
[18:40] Thankfully, they made the right decision. But what I wanted to look at was just simply the courage and the steadfastness of one man that stood for truth and said, I will.
[18:57] Me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And how that had its effect on a whole body of people in a positive way.
[19:08] And you know that, not only for those people, but still today, that statement, as for me and my house, we still put that on our wall, don't we? All across the world, that statement, all these thousands of years since Joshua.
[19:26] God's people still hear that word. If one brother will stand for truth, it will have its effect. Some, at least, will take the challenge and rise up and stand.
[19:46] Apostle Paul, he encouraged us to stand, having done all to stand. And we want to look at that later on. What are we talking about?
[19:56] Standing for what? I want to look at a few more Proverbs, verses in Proverbs.
[20:07] In chapter 29, I want to talk a little bit about our children now, as far as father's responsibility again.
[20:20] But in Proverbs 29, verse 15, it says, the rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
[20:35] It's not hard to see these play out, is it? It's not hard to see that when parents do not give a rod of correction, they don't believe in discipline for a small child.
[20:49] it's not hard to see that that child, that mother's ashamed. Right? Sometimes we discipline and we're still ashamed by how our children act.
[21:02] But listen, we do what God commands. We just, we do what God tells us to do in these areas. And we don't have to be ashamed. But, when a child is left to himself, in the end, that child will bring his mother to shame.
[21:23] When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases. But the righteous shall see their fall. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest.
[21:36] Yea, ye shall have delight unto thy soul. And then it says, where there is no vision, the people perish. But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
[21:49] You know, we need a vision for these things. We need to have a godly vision, a heavenly vision, for our families, and for what God wants.
[22:00] But how many times have we seen where somebody is just fighting on, and on, and on with a child, and they just, they just try to coax, and make them good, and they just can't.
[22:12] But here's the answer. It says, to correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest. Have you ever seen that? You just want to go help them correct that child, and don't they realize that they could have peace, they could have rest?
[22:30] Just take care of the bad attitude. Just take care of the, the Bible gives us the direction, but you know, people don't want to listen to that anymore. So they face the consequences of a spoiled child.
[22:47] It's one thing when they're spoiled when they're two or three, but it's another thing when they're fifteen. Right? The Bible gives us direction.
[22:58] Praise the Lord. But where there is no vision, the people perish. Remember that verse. We need a vision from God. I had to think of that verse.
[23:15] You don't have to turn to it, but in Matthew 7, where Jesus said, Or what man is there of you whom, if his son asks for bread, he will give him a stone? Wouldn't that be a hard-hearted man?
[23:30] He asks for bread. What dad would just hand him a stone? Or if he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent, a snake? And then he goes on, he says, If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
[23:52] You have a heavenly Father that gives good, gives you good gifts. But I, this morning, I was reading that verse, something new came to me.
[24:04] You know, we would never, I don't know any father that would intentionally give his son a stone instead of good food, or a snake instead of good food.
[24:20] But what about spiritually? That hit me this morning. What about spiritually? When our children need life, they need bread, they need to hear from heaven, they need comfort, they need spiritual things, the word of God perhaps, prayer, and we just ignore it and we don't give them anything to eat.
[24:48] Is that like giving them a stone? Cold heart? What if they want to fish and what if they need a good example and we give them poison, give them a snake?
[25:11] That really gripped my heart this morning, just thinking about that. What do we allow in our homes?
[25:22] Is it poison? Is it good? Is it healthy? Is it good for their soul? Are we feeding them, nurturing them? The next verse I had is actually that verse.
[25:37] And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. How do we nurture? How do we admonish in the Lord?
[25:52] What a wonderful heavenly Father we have. In Hebrews 12, if you want to turn to Hebrews chapter 12, we'll go to verse 6. Talks about the Lord's love.
[26:10] It says, For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons.
[26:26] For what son when, for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then ye are bastards and not sons.
[26:42] He's saying here that if you are not under the chastisement of God, if you and I are not under our Heavenly Father, and if He's not chastening us, if He's not helping us to grow spiritually and correcting us, I look at it more as a correction.
[27:04] Giving us correction. We start going off the wrong path, God says, no, you shouldn't go down that path. And He brings that correction. And God is saying here that if that is not happening in our life, then we are illegitimate children.
[27:22] We're not God's children. That's what it's saying. Verse 9, Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, meaning physical fathers.
[27:36] And they corrected us and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? Shouldn't we be under the Heavenly Fathers?
[27:51] Subjection. Submitted to Him. For they verily for a few days chastened us after our own pleasure.
[28:02] He's talking about our earthly fathers. But He, for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.
[28:18] Nevertheless, after it yielded the peaceful fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down in the feeble knees.
[28:30] You know, it's not pleasant when God chastens it. It's not pleasant to be corrected. It's not pleasant. Just like a little child, it's not pleasant at the moment. It hurts.
[28:42] But the peaceful fruits that come afterwards. And now He's spiritualizing this and saying that we need to allow it into our lives.
[28:57] To welcome it. And then He says, yes, in verse 12, Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down in the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet lest that that which is lame be turned out of the way.
[29:10] But let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. So if there's no holiness, you won't see God.
[29:24] Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled. Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
[29:44] I want to just look at verse 15 there for a moment. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God. You know, there's a place of failure.
[29:56] There's a place where we can fail that grace. And we need to, I believe, as church body to look out for each other in these areas. To watch and to make sure that my brother is not failing in the grace of God.
[30:13] We help each other. We care for each other in these areas. Why? Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled.
[30:25] It's very easy to happen where there's a root of bitterness that spring up. So let's be our brother's keeper in these areas. Let's encourage each other in the Lord, in the Lord's way.
[30:39] I want to look at children. I want to look at children for a few minutes and then also at wives, their place in all this. Children, we are called children to obey your parents.
[30:57] Do you know what the Bible says about a child that does not obey their parents? what God said in the Old Testament and I'm very glad it's in the Old Testament.
[31:10] Some of us might be dead if it wasn't. But in Deuteronomy chapter 21, I want to look at a few verses there. If you want to, you can turn there but I'm looking at about maybe five verses.
[31:28] It says in Deuteronomy, God says to His people, if a man have a stubborn or rebellious son which will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother.
[31:46] Do you know this is in the Bible? You need to really look at this. And that when they have chastened Him, so now they discipline Him, will not hearken unto them.
[31:59] He still won't listen. verse 19, then shall His father and His mother lay hold on Him and bring Him out unto the elders of the city and unto the gate of His place.
[32:15] And they shall say unto the elders of the city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard. And all the men of His city shall stone Him with stones that He die.
[32:34] So shalt thou put away evil from among you and all Israel shall hear and fear. That's some strong language.
[32:45] But I believe that in the Old Testament, God wanted His people to know the seriousness of rebellion.
[32:56] Rebelling against God, rebelling against the authority structure that He had set up. I wonder if anybody got stoned.
[33:10] But that's why God thought of it. That should grip our hearts. We're glad to be in the day of grace. Where that law is not being applied literally.
[33:27] But that rebellious heart, that heart that rises up and says, no, I will do it my way. This is what God thinks about that. In Ephesians 6, it says, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
[33:42] Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth. Do you think maybe Paul was referring back to Deuteronomy saying, if you honor your father and mother, you'll live?
[34:03] I don't know. Just now, that thought just now came to me. How are you honoring your parents? God's heart and commandment that we honor them all our life.
[34:16] How are some ways this can be done? What are some ways that we can dishonor them? And I want to encourage you this morning that it does say in the Lord.
[34:31] And I know for a long time when, after we were married and we switched, went to a different church and the thing about obeying your parents was quickly brought to our attention.
[34:44] And I struggled with it because I wanted to honor my parents. I wanted to honor my father and mother. And I struggled with it for a number of years. Like, how does this work? I'm disobeying them and God says to obey them.
[34:57] And yet, I felt God was leading this way. And I remember a man encouraged me one day and he said, you can never be better than surrender everything to Christ.
[35:10] You can't be better than to follow Jesus. And that honors your parents. Whether they receive it, whether they reject it, whatever they do with it is on them.
[35:24] But you can follow Christ. In fact, there is no greater way than to follow Christ. Paul said, I have no greater joy than to see my children walk in truth.
[35:38] So for those that have struggled with, well, I'm not doing what my parents would want me to do. You know, you have established another home or you're of age or whatever and you want to follow Christ, but, you know, think about it this way.
[35:58] Think about the persecuted church, the ones that gave their life to follow Christ, the early Anabaptist people. Many of them gave their life to follow Christ and do you think they were obeying their parents?
[36:14] A lot of them, their parents may have been with the state church and children got born again and had to leave and gave their life for that.
[36:27] So I wanted to point that out. Following Christ is key. It's important. It's ultimate. But honor your parents.
[36:41] Honor your parents. I feel like I failed in that with my parents. There's ways I could have honored them better. Now let's look at wives in Ephesians.
[36:53] If you want to turn to Ephesians 5. These are familiar verses. And I just want to look at this for a little bit.
[37:06] It's Father's Day. I think we can preach to the wives too a little bit. It says in Ephesians 5 verse 22.
[37:18] It says, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. And this is important that it says unto your own husbands.
[37:31] Not to other men's opinions, but your own husband. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the Savior of the body.
[37:44] Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Then he says, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
[38:06] And I want to also point out here this thing of submission. You know, he's talking, Paul is talking to the church. He's talking to assumed godly men, men that love God, men that follow God and fear God.
[38:22] And if that is not the case, there are times when a wife can't follow her husband. Because when it comes to a choice between following God, following your husband, you have to make the hard choice.
[38:39] Again, a surrender to Christ is the calling for all believers. You can, even in cases like that, a woman can still submit to her husband in some areas, but maybe not in every area if he's ungodly and asking her to do ungodly things.
[39:01] This is talking about godly men in the church. Now, let's look at Genesis 3, where the fall of man happened, what is known to be the fall of man, in Genesis chapter 3, verse 16, when God was talking to Eve, and he gave punishment to the serpent, and to Eve, and to Adam.
[39:29] This is what he said to Eve. Unto the woman he said, there's two things. He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception, and in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children.
[39:45] And here's number two. And thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Now, before you get critical of me, I didn't say those words.
[40:04] None of us men came up with that. It was God's words. God said it. And he said it to the women. But now also for us men, a warning to us men.
[40:21] We probably shouldn't dwell on this very long, especially the rule over part. Right? Let's remember, it was said to Eve.
[40:34] Perhaps we shouldn't dwell on it too long. It was said to the woman, but ladies, you need to consider what your calling is. Thy desire shall be to thy husband.
[40:47] Does that mean that when both have a desire, but one of you, one of yours opinion is different than the other?
[41:01] One of you has a different opinion or desire. Does that mean that she needs to surrender her desire to her husband? You know, perhaps, but not only that, it also, God goes further and he says that you need to allow your husband to rule over you.
[41:27] However you want to apply that to your heart. God will go to the heart. And of course, we also need to recognize, again, that if the husband is not walking with God, if the husband is not in his order, if he's not submitted to his Christ, then it's very difficult, if not impossible, for a Christian lady to follow this order.
[41:57] because, and we have this in 1 Corinthians 11, where God gives, or Paul there, gives that order, you know, that order of headship.
[42:10] It's Christ, then it's the husband, then it's the wife. And if one of those gets out of line, it's not right. It can't flow right.
[42:21] It just won't work. Either one, when the wife is out, or the husband is out, it's completely out of joint, it's completely out of God's order.
[42:33] So, these things need to be in the order of God. But these are our callings. Now, I mentioned that thing about decisions.
[42:44] So, I'll give an example. If my wife and I have a disagreement on something, on how to do something, or whether we should go somewhere, or whatever, if I look at that verse and say, no, you need to just, you know, no, I need to think about Christ called me to love my wife as he loved the church and laid down his life, right?
[43:14] That's what I need to think about. Now, not carelessly, not if it's something in maybe danger or wrong direction or that kind of thing, then I need to say, no, this is what we're going to do, because I believe this is what God is calling me to do.
[43:31] There is that. But if it's something that is neither here nor there, and it's my preference over her preference, I need to look at that scripture and say, I need to love her like Christ loved the church, and lay that down.
[43:47] And she, on the other hand, needs to perhaps look at these scriptures that I just read, right? And then if that comes together, it's not hard at all. Next thing you know, you're arguing about, no, let's do it your way, right?
[44:01] That's a much better argument. We both win that way. So I wanted to point that out. You know, it's okay, ladies, for you to feel that you would possibly go a different way on any given issue than your husband.
[44:26] But if you have a husband that submits to Christ, the only safe way for you and the only place of protection is under him. That's God's order.
[44:42] I want to go back to fathers and end with that. I'd like to look at a little bit here.
[44:54] Many years ago I heard a message called the Eli Syndrome. I need to keep moving here. The Eli Syndrome. The priest Eli. How he did not do his duty.
[45:08] His sons, we read this in 1 Samuel 3, but his sons were wicked. They were also priests and they cheated and they were fornicators and they were making a mockery out of God.
[45:27] And I'm just going to, for the sake of time, I'll just give it in my own words. But he actually rebuked them, it says. He challenged them verbally.
[45:41] And I've been thinking about this. you know, it sounded like he was right. He was telling his sons, I mean, these sons were priests, so that means they were older, they were probably married or maybe they weren't allowed to be married, I don't even know.
[45:57] But they were priests nonetheless, which means they were adults. They weren't children. And they were sinning. They were living a sinful life. They were basically partying in God's house.
[46:09] sins. And he did correct them verbally. But in verse, in this chapter, I think it's down in verse 13 and 14, it says, For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth, speaking of Eli, because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not.
[46:38] he didn't stop them. And therefore, I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.
[46:52] And these are the words that were spoken to Samuel, the little boy Samuel, when he heard a voice. And then he came to Eli.
[47:03] And then the third time, we know the story, and then God spoke. These words. He wanted this young lad to go tell Eli. And God was speaking.
[47:15] These are the words of God. And he said that it's because he didn't restrain them. You know, we need to take a stand, fathers, in our day, and not just complain to our children.
[47:32] children. That's so common. Where we complain. Church leaders do it too. They complain. They see things they don't like, so they just complain and they complain.
[47:45] And fathers do that against their children all the time. They just, you know, rather than saying, no, we're not going to do this in our house.
[47:56] No, we're not going to dress that way because you're the father. They just complain. That doesn't give any direction.
[48:09] It's a grumbling spirit. And I don't want to do that as a father. But I do want to give direction. And I believe that's God's heart, that we give clear direction unapologetically.
[48:26] It's not popular. You'll be ridiculed, guaranteed. But God gives us the strength.
[48:40] It's way better to say that, no, we're not going to do that and just be clear than it is to allow it and then complain about it. I'm talking about those that are within our home, not after they've left.
[48:56] understand me right. But even then, even then, fathers can give their influence. They can still speak if there's something that's way wrong and so on.
[49:09] But there is the leaving and cleaving as well. Also in Ephesians, it says, Paul says, finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
[49:21] Put on the whole armor of God. And you know, I'm just reading this, just thinking about these verses, that we are in a spiritual battle. We are to take the whole armor of God that he may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand.
[49:41] God is calling men to stand. and that we are called to prayer, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
[50:00] Listen, the purpose, the reason God needs and wants godly men, godly fathers in our day, is not to make us look good, not to make some group of people that are better than another group of people and they are proud and look good in their own eyes.
[50:20] But the purpose of God in this is to bring honor and glory to his name. What is your purpose, Father? Is it just to look good, to have a good, everything is in order in your home and you're a good man, people think well of you?
[50:39] Or is it really to bring glory to his name? Is our purpose for being a godly father and husband, is it in line with Christ, our head?
[50:53] Is it to establish a godly seed upon the earth? A godly seed, one that brings glory to God. Paul said, not I, but Christ.
[51:06] It's not about me and about you, it's about Christ. And bringing honor to him, not shame to his name. We are in an age of evil and technology that is just unprecedented.
[51:22] And we need wisdom. We don't need more earthly wisdom, but we need heavenly wisdom. We need two things come to my mind that we really, really need, and I bless God that we have these.
[51:38] at least the one. But we need a brotherhood. We need a body of Christ to be a part of, where we can have fellowship, where we can have spiritual encouragement, where we can find direction from one another, where we can find a place of safety, freedom, to share our hearts with one another, and to learn from each other.
[52:08] God designed it that way, where iron sharpens iron. And sometimes, yes, sometimes it doesn't feel the best. It's a statement you use, Chuck, right?
[52:21] Iron sharpens iron. And where we rub shoulders, and we know each other, and we pray for one another. When we have a need, we have a struggle, we can pray for each other.
[52:34] We should. And I believe we have that here. We need to thank God for that, where we find strength from each other.
[52:45] And the other one is, we need to pray. We need prayer, like we heard the other night. And that's the one that challenges me the most, is to spend time to pray.
[52:59] We need to pray together as a body. Fervently, we need to pray. But we also need to pray individually. We need to go into that place.
[53:11] We need to shut that door. We need to be intentional. And we need to seek God for wisdom. How can I be a man of God, a man of valor, a man of integrity, of courage, a man with authority, spiritually speaking, authority over the enemy that wants to come and destroy us, destroy our children.
[53:36] We need to pray. We need to spend that time alone with God. If we're going to be victorious and our children are going to be victorious, then we need to be on our knees and praying.
[53:50] Yes, both alone and also as a body. Where are we, fathers? Where are we headed?
[54:02] Where are we going? What's our vision? God given us a vision, His vision. Not just a vision, but His vision. Let's pray.
[54:13] Father, we come to You, Lord. God, we thank You for Your Word. Thank You for giving us direction. Thank You for being that perfect example of what a father looks like.
[54:28] A father that loves. A father that chastens. A father that gives direction. A father that corrects us when we're wrong and because You love us.
[54:40] Lord, I pray that we would get a vision of that as fathers here on earth with our children, as husbands to our wives. Lord, that we would not be afraid of giving direction, but that we wouldn't just be complainers when things are wrong, but that we would give clear direction and be godly and loving at the same time, Lord.
[55:02] Lord, God, we need You. We're in a dark time in this world. We recognize the dangers around us. And, Lord, we need direction for these dear young souls that You've entrusted to us, Lord, that we would raise them for You and for Your glory.
[55:22] And, Lord, we understand, we recognize this morning that the purpose of this is to bring glory to Your name. The glory that only You deserve.
[55:33] Not us. Not I, but Christ. So, Lord, help us as men to not only have a happy Father's Day, but have a Father's Day that You can bring conviction to our hearts, Lord.
[55:47] And You can draw us and make us more Christ-like to our families. Lord, I pray that You bless us as a body and that we would encourage and inspire one another, help the ladies to find their place and to know their place and to walk in it the way You designed, Lord.
[56:07] To be that help, that encourager alongside every godly man. There's a godly woman. Lord, help them to find that calling, Lord, and to sense it from You, Lord Jesus.
[56:22] Help our children, Lord, to be godly and to honor and to obey their parents in the Lord. Just bless them. Bless each one for being here today.
[56:33] In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you all for your time.