[0:00] It is good to be here, even though there's many missing, but good to see you again.
[0:19] ! Today, being Father's Day, I want to look at some of that this morning. It's something I'm not sure I've ever done necessarily, but even a message directed at Father's is good for all of us.
[0:42] And what we've heard, what Brother Tim shared was, it applies to us as fathers.
[0:57] And it applies to all of us. And if you continue on in what you have spoken this morning, you'll someday be a good father.
[1:07] Because those are the things that will make a man a successful father.
[1:19] You know, I'm going to start with this verse in Psalm 103.
[1:30] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. As a father pitieth his children, all of us that are fathers, you know what he's saying here.
[1:51] You know, you've watched your children. Maybe when they were small, they, you know, they're starting to walk and they tumble and fall.
[2:04] They climb up the stairs and they roll down. And all of those mishaps in the growing up years. And you pity your children when they hurt themselves.
[2:17] You try to protect them from harm and danger and the evil round about us. But here he says that the Lord pities us, those that fear him, in the same way as a father pities his children.
[2:41] Thinking about a father's love for his children.
[2:55] And then I was also thinking of the love of God for us. And this verse, I believe, has been quoted, if not read this morning, Revelation 3.19.
[3:10] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous, therefore, and repent. If the Lord loves us, he will rebuke us, he will chasten us, as we heard.
[3:31] But if a father loves his children, he will also rebuke and chasten his children. He will not just let them grow up to be a wild man.
[3:46] But to grow up, to be taught. And we will be looking at a lot of these things. But to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
[3:58] And to teach them. To teach them to live this temperate life that we heard about this morning. Self-control and all of those things.
[4:11] Now, I want to read. I want to start in 1 Corinthians. And build on this thought.
[4:25] In 1 Corinthians 11. In verse 3, it says, But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ.
[4:37] And the head of the woman is the man. And the head of Christ is God. So we're talking to men this morning. And all of us, yes.
[4:48] So he says here that the head of man is Christ. And so if a man will fulfill his calling of God.
[5:01] If a man will walk a life of self-control. A temperate life. If a man will fulfill and be useful in the kingdom of God.
[5:13] There's only one way. And that is as he finds his place under the headship of Jesus Christ. And so we will be talking about this for a while.
[5:24] And moving on through some of these things. What does it mean to have Christ as your head? I believe that as we think of a head.
[5:39] Our physical head. What happens there? It's the control center of the body, right? Nothing happens without it.
[5:55] The body, the head controls all movement and everything of the body. It's where our thoughts and our decisions come from.
[6:08] It's where it's the headquarters of our intellect. It's our brain.
[6:19] Is Jesus our head? Are we a part of the body of Christ? Are we under his control?
[6:31] The head controls the body and gives direction to every member. Do we receive? And a lot of things that we do that you don't have to think.
[6:44] Well, now I'm going to breathe so I don't die. It's automatically. The head takes care of those things and keeps us functioning. The head controls the body and gives direction to every member.
[7:03] Do we receive our direction from the Lord Jesus through the power and direction of the Spirit of God? If he is our head, then we are led by the Spirit of God.
[7:21] Are we? Do we allow him to direct us? Do we allow him to make decisions for our life and to direct us in the decisions we make?
[7:40] By the word of God and the Spirit of God, we can know the will of God. Christ. In Colossians 1.18 says, talks about Christ being the head that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[8:00] Christ might have the preeminence in all things, all of our life, all of our lives. He wants to have the preeminence.
[8:12] He wants to direct our path. He wants to lead us in the way that he would have us to go. Our lives need to revolve around Christ, not around ourselves.
[8:31] Does our life revolve around Christ and his kingdom and his church? Or does our life revolve around self and our ambitions and our hopes and our dreams?
[8:47] What are our priorities? Do we have our priorities right? What is number one in our life? Is Jesus Christ number one?
[9:05] If Christ is number one, then our families need to be number two. Yes, even above ourselves.
[9:16] And we'll see that in a little bit in Ephesians where Christ talks about that sacrificial love that Jesus had for the church.
[9:28] Is Christ number one? What are our priorities? Is your life in order? Is your life in order?
[9:40] Or has something else taken over that number one spot? Has your job taken over that number one spot? Or pleasure?
[9:53] Or hobbies? It can be anything. It can be anything. Usually, it's because, like Timothy says, lovers of our own selves.
[10:13] Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Are our priorities in order? You know, if they're not in order, then the next thing we see is probably our family is at the bottom of the list instead of at the top of the list.
[10:35] Now, get a few verses out of Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5.
[10:58] Verse 24. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.
[11:17] What did Christ do that he gave himself for the church? He laid down his life. He died on the cross. He shed his blood.
[11:29] That we can have forgiveness. That we can have a new life in Christ. Sacrificial love. And it is that.
[11:41] Sacrificial love is what he's talking about here when he says, Husbands, love your wives. And along with that, love your children.
[11:52] Your family. Love them with a sacrificial love. Even as Christ gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with a washing of water by the word.
[12:15] That he might present it with a washing of water by the Lord. That he might present it to himself a glorious church. Not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. But it should be holy and without blemish.
[12:27] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh.
[12:38] But nourishes and cherishes it. Even as the Lord the church. For we are members of his body. Of his flesh.
[12:50] Of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave. His father and mother shall be joined unto his wife. And they too shall be one flesh.
[13:01] This is a great mystery. But I speak concerning Christ. And the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular. So love his wife even as himself.
[13:15] And the wife see that she reverends her husband. Men. You know. Thinking about this.
[13:29] And there's other verses. That admonish us. To love our wives. Well that's the easiest thing. Isn't it? Because that's why you married her.
[13:41] Isn't it? But sometimes. In the grind of life.
[13:51] And in the trials of life. We need to be reminded. That love is not just. A feeling that we had. Or have.
[14:02] Love. But love is a decision. Love is a decision. And I don't know. Will we get there or not.
[14:13] But I had to think of the prodigal son. And I believe that that father. You know. When he saw the prodigal coming. Far off.
[14:24] And it didn't just happen that way. I believe. He was watching for him. Why? Because he loved his son. And he was watching for him.
[14:35] And praying that. That he would return. You know. He didn't. Stop loving him. When he left home.
[14:46] No. But he decided. In his heart. To love him anyway. And he showed that love.
[14:57] When he. Received him back. Talking about. Sacrificial love. In. First John.
[15:09] Chapter three. And verse 16. Hereby perceive we. The love of God. Because he laid down. His life for us.
[15:21] And we ought to lay down. Our lives. For the brethren. Love without action.
[15:32] Is that love? Is it? Your words are empty. They're meaningless. How often have we heard that saying?
[15:44] Your actions are so loud. God. I can't hear your words. But. But God. God.
[15:55] Showed his love. By sending his son. And giving his life. For us. And he says.
[16:06] We ought to lay down. Our lives. For the brethren. And if we're expected. To lay down. Our lives. For the brethren. I believe. We're also expected.
[16:17] To lay down. Our lives. For our wives. And our family. To love them. With a sacrificial love. To love them.
[16:27] As Jesus loved us. First Peter.
[16:46] Three. Seven. Likewise. Ye husbands. Dwell with them. According to knowledge.
[16:56] What's he talking about here?
[17:19] You know. Well the New Living Translation says.
[17:32] Treat her as you should. So that your prayers. Will not be hindered. I believe selfishness.
[17:44] Is. Probably the biggest problem. In marriages today. Do we dwell with our wives. According to knowledge.
[17:56] Do we. Do we know. What they're going through. Do we know. The. You know. We. We come home from work. And. And. We had a hard day. And we.
[18:06] We come home. And. What if our wife. Had a hard day. What if. What if. She. Was going through.
[18:17] Some hard trials. What if the children were. Were disobedient. And. And. Into. All kinds of things. Today. And.
[18:28] We come home. And. We just want to. Have the evening. And. The home. Is in disarray. Dwell.
[18:42] With them. According to knowledge. They're. Given to us. For help meet. Not. A servant.
[18:53] Our wives. Are not our servants. They're. We. We. We. We. We. How does it.
[19:03] Word is here. Being heirs. Together. Of the grace. Of life. We walk. Together. You know.
[19:14] We're in this thing. Together. Whatever we face. Whatever comes. Our way. You know. You husbands.
[19:25] You. We. I believe. It's our. Responsibility. To. To take the lead. In teaching. The children. In providing.
[19:37] For the family. In. In discipline. You know. We're. We're. Gone all day. And we come home. We want to. We.
[19:47] We hope. Everything's in order. And. And. And. We can enjoy. An evening. With the children. But what if. What if.
[19:58] There's discipline. That needs to be. Dealt with. You know.
[20:09] We. Don't have the. References. But in Proverbs. talks about. Sparing the rod. And spoiling the child.
[20:20] And. And. And. And so on. And we live in a day. When. When. The rod.
[20:31] Is frowned upon. God. God. But I believe. It's. God's way. And without it.
[20:45] There's much fruit. To show. That it does not. Bring the peaceable fruit. Of godliness. Like Hebrews. Says.
[20:56] Our natural fathers. Disciplined us. And yes. It hurt. But it's a necessary.
[21:07] Part. Of growth. In children. Ephesians 6.
[21:22] 4. And ye fathers. Provoke not your children. To wrath. But bring them up. In the nurture. And admonition. Of the lord. Provoke not your children.
[21:35] To wrath. But teach them. Nurture them. Bring them up. In the nurture. And admonition. Of the lord. You know. There's. There's many verses. In the old testament.
[21:47] The. The men were instructed. To. To. To teach their children. Day in. And day out. And to repeat. And repeat. And repeat. The.
[21:57] The commandments. Of God. And so on. And I believe that. It is our responsibility. As husbands. And fathers.
[22:09] To take the lead. In these things. Teach. Diligently. In Deuteronomy. Teach and train.
[22:20] In the ways of God. Provide for the daily needs. Of the family. And that includes. Teaching. Training.
[22:33] Discipline. but he also admonishes us to provoke not your children to wrath how do we do that I believe disciplining in anger could do that or if our children who knows us better than our wife and our family our children if they see a double standard in our life they see that we're one thing at home and something else when we're with others we teach by example there's so much more caught than taught right we teach by example do we want do we want our boys to grow up to be like us or do we do we cringe at the thought does our walk match our talk are we living a double standard
[24:14] I want to turn I want to turn again to Psalm 103 and I look at a little more of this start in verse 8 the Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy he will not always chide neither will he keep his anger forever he has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities for as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him so the question is do we fear God you know if we live our lives with with a with a healthy fear of God in our heart not that we're afraid of him but yet that we that we have that fear in our heart that that that knows that we must live we must live a temperate life a life that is led by the spirit of God a life that is under the headship of our Lord Jesus a life that is directed by him you know if if we as fathers are not under the headship of Jesus and we can't expect our family to be under our headship but God is a God of mercy and he will forgive if we will confess how is that verse in Revelation 3 19 as many as I love
[27:11] I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent be zealous therefore and repent and we will repent he will pour out his love upon us like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him for he knoweth our frame he remembereth that we are dust as for man his days are as grass as a flower of the field so he flourishes for the wind passes over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more but the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto children's children to such as keep his covenant and to those that remember his commandments to do them the Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all man is as grass our days are as grass and as the flower of the field that flourishes and then it is gone you know we're reminded of that we're reminded of that last week we're again reminded of that in our community here in plains this weekend we spend our life and what are we building what are we building we we we build all our life long we build but what are we building are we building for eternity you know the only thing that you can take along to heaven is is is the souls of men your your wife and your family and and the souls that you influence for the kingdom of God all those all those great things that we labor for so much they will perish we cannot take them with us the only thing we can take along is when we lay up treasure in heaven do we have our priorities in the right place how did
[30:04] Jesus say let's take a look believe we can find that Jesus said but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you seek first the kingdom of God where your treasure is there will your heart be also where is our treasure today where is it are we laying up treasure in heaven are we is our family our treasure is our home in heaven our treasure are we building are we building a kingdom here on this earth how is it what will be our legacy after we are gone you know there's a day coming we don't know when but we all have an appointment and we will keep that appointment that's one appointment you will not be late for you will be there at that appointed time and then as people go through your things and as you are remembered here on earth what's the legacy that you have left our days are as grass it will soon be over you know
[32:11] I thinking of the the father of the prodigal son a man that showed unconditional love to a wavered son you know he never wrote him off he never said well my son has turned his back on me and everything I taught him will disown him he's not a part of the family no but I believe he prayed for him every day and when he came back the son said I have sinned against heaven and thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son what did the father say what did he do first of all he saw
[33:49] I'm coming a long way off and he had compassion on him I believe he was watching for him and he was ready and waiting hoping the day would come and finally it did and he ran to him and he met him and he fell on his neck and kissed him and when the son when he said I am no more worthy to be called thy son the father said bring forth the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it let us eat and be merry for this my son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found and they began to be merry do we have this the same heart as this man for our family no matter what they do no matter what path they choose but we are yet there to welcome them back we are there to to help them back to
[35:54] God we are there to help them along the way the heart of a true father sacrificial love do we have it are we living it Thank you.