April 11, 2013

From Gary V. Womack... Father and Children (two parts)




FATHERS and CHILDREN
Abraham - Example of a Godly Father

Gen. 12:1-3 God's 3-fold promise to Abram. 
                    (age 75)

Gen. 13:14-16 God repeats His promise to 
                       Abram at Canaan.

Gen. 15:1-6 Again, God assures Abram of His 
                   promise & Abram believed.

SARAI GIVES ABRAM HER MAID SERVANT TO MARRY. (ISHMAEL BORN)

Gen. 17:1-8 Again, God assures Abram of His 
                   promise This time God changes 
                   Abram's name to Abraham

                  (means "father of a multitude")

Gen. 18:9-14 3 men (angels) appear to Abraham 
                      & Sarah at Mamre (age 99) to 
                      announce the coming promise of a 
                      male child.

Gen. 21:5 "Now Abraham was one hundred years 
                  old when his son Isaac was born to 
                  him."

Gen. 22:1-18 Abraham's obedient response to 
                     God's command to offer up his son 
                     - prompted the repeating of God's 
                     promise of future generations in 
                     abundance. ABRAHAM SET AN 
                     EXAMPLE OF FAITHFULNESS FOR 
                     HIS SON, ISAAC.

Num. 1:1 "Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the 
                 Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle
                 of meeting, on the first day of the second 
                 month, in the second year after they had 
                 come out of the land of Egypt, ..."

Num. 1:45-46 "So all who were numbered of the 
                        children of Israel, by their father's
                        houses, from twenty years old and 
                        above, all who were able to go to
                        war in Israel - [46] all who were 
                        numbered were six hundred and 
                        three thousand five hundred and 
                        fifty." (603,550) (Levites not 
                        included) AFTER 430 YEARS - 
                        THEY WENT FROM 70 PEOPLE 
                        TO ABOUT 3,000,000.

Rom. 4:17-22 Abraham - a father of many nations 
                                      - FAITHFUL example to
                                        his son, Isaac.

Psm. 127:3-5 Children are a blessing from God. 
                      Therefore a responsibility for 
                      which we are accountable.



INVITATION

Mt. 25:14-30 Parable of the talents - 
                    Children (like the talents) are 
                    entrusted to us - we are accountable 
                    for pointing them to God.





FATHERS & CHILDREN
Part 2

Characteristics of a Godly Father

BEING A FATHER MEANS MORE THAN "FATHERING" CHILDREN
Many father children & abandon them. God will not leave His children.

Josh. 1:5 "No man shall be able to stand before you 
                 all the days of your life; as I was with 
                 Moses, so I will be with you. I will not 
                 leave you nor forsake you."

Josh. 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong 
                 and of good courage; do not be afraid, 
                 nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God 
                 is with you wherever you go."

A CHILD'S FIRST VIEW OF GOD IS SEEN IN THEIR PARENTS (THEIR FATHER)

HE ACCEPTS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH HIS CHILDREN

Eph. 6:4 "And you, fathers, do not provoke your 
               children to wrath, but bring them up in
               the training and admonition of the Lord."

"do not provoke"Not to be overly severe resulting in bitterness & Not be be overly critical resulting in discouragement never able to  lease their parents.

"TRAINING" (nurture, kjv) = Primarily teaching by example.

"ADMONITION" = Primarily teaching by word
Deut. 6:6-9 God's command to Israel to be diligent in teaching their children.

Pass on to subsequent generations those standards of virtue

Prov. 22:28 "Do not remove the ancient landmark 
                     which your fathers have set."

HE EXERCISES MEASURED DISCIPLINE - NOT ABUSE (verbal or physical)

Heb. 12:5-11 Discipline is an act of LOVE & 
                     should reflect that to the child.

Prov. 119:18 "Chasten your son while there is hope, 
                       and do not set your heart on his 
                       destruction."

Prov. 13:24 "He who spares his rod hates his son, 
                    but he who loves him disciplines him 
                    promptly."

HE SETS AN EXAMPLE OF A GODLY HUSBAND - NOT ABUSIVE

Eph. 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, 
                  as also Christ is head of the church; and 
                  He is the Savior of the body."

HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LOVING HUSBAND - SELFLESSNESS

Eph. 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ 
                  also loved the church and gave
                  Himself for it."

Children need to see their father honoring their mother (not calling her old lady)
Exercizing chivary = opening the door for her - pulling the chair out from the table to seat her

Prov. 31:28 "Her children rise up and call her 
                     blessed; Her husband also, and he
                     praises her:"

HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF DEPENDABILITY & PATIENCE as the Lord is.

2 Pet. 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His 
                  promise, as some count slackness, but
                  is longsuffering toward us, not willing 
                  that any should perish but that all should
                  come to repentance."



INVITATION

HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF COMPASSION & TENDERNESS

Lk. 15:17-24 Compassion when they do wrong & 
                     repent. Not afraid to show affection 
                    (hugs & kisses)


HE IS STILL COMPASSIONATE - DESIRING US AS HIS OBEDIENT CHILD