Yesterday’s Sermon

OK folks, here you go, the message notes from yesterday.

Advice for Fathers

The message went well, and God greatly blessed our entire service. I believe many were blessed, and not just by the sermon but by the Lord during the whole service. I’m so grateful for that. God is good and is doing good things here. Thank you to all who have been praying for me, even if only just a little bit.

Also, on the topic of fathering, since yesterday was Father’s Day, I would like to post something I posted on my CandidHQ blog earlier this year concerning fathering. Enjoy! (And comment also, if you have something to say.)

We hear a lot in our Christian culture today about fathers. “Fathers are the key.” “It’s vital that we have fathers who are involved.” “If we fail or succeed with fathers, the rest of the family follows suit.” This seems to be the attitude and general perspective of many wise and helpful teachers and commenters.

While I certainly see the value in all of this, and it cannot be denied that fathers are vitally important to the leadership and success of a home/family, I would like to point out one thing that seems to be missing often in these discussions.
 
A godly father is A key to a successful family. A wise mother is A key to a happy household. To raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord there are many important and useful tools we might call “keys”. But THE key, THE pivotal factor is Jesus Christ. He is THE key to having godly children.
 
A father certainly has responsibilities, and should he shirk those it will bring hurt and destruction to his family. But even if he abandons his family, God does not. Our heavenly Father continues to love, and to woo, and to draw us all toward himself whether or not our earthly fathers are “successful” or even present. Christ (who is called in Isaiah the “Everlasting Father”) is able to overcome whatever destruction a father may leave in his wake. Our Lord is one who brings healing and restores the damaged and hurting person to a wonderful and glorious future. God has plans to prosper those of us with good fathers and those of us with bad or absent fathers. Just because a person has had a difficult relationship with their father does not mean their Heavenly Father has given up, or is incapable of helping that person be a truly Spirit-filled and growing Believer.
 
Fathers need to know that they are important, they need to know their responsibility and how to fulfill their role in the home. But they also need to know that even if they completely and royally screw things up, God is still able to give beauty for ashes, and help their children become Godly people. They have to know and see that the Lord is involved in the training of their children, and He has a vested interest in seeing them become successful, regardless of their circumstances. Fathers should not take ALL the responsibility upon themselves, nor should we put it there.
 
Christ is THE answer, He is THE way, and fathers should be casting their cares upon Him, and also recognizing the power of God is upon them to help them raise their children and be good husbands to their wives.
 
Whew! Glad to get that out. I hope this has encouraged you and that you have caught the spirit in which I am speaking these things. I also hope I haven’t taken too much of your day.  Thanks for reading! If you have thoughts or questions, feel free to voice them.