How Much Time Do I Have Left as a Father to Meet God’s Expectations and Receive the Joys of Being a Father In Christ?

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

Introduction -- Father's, we need to understand God's expectations of Fathers. In Ephesians 6:4, Paul defines God’s expectations of fathers: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.". Also, Proverbs 22:6 presents what expectations we might have if fathers adhere to God’s expectations: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.". Dads are to bring up their children in "the way they should go" (their calling).

Discipline, wisely administered by fathers, is an important attribute and need for fathers, as the author of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 12:9-11: “. . . we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”.

Today’s Message -- The Five Needs of Fathers: 1) Companionship – As God said in Genesis 2:18, the majority of men were made not to be alone; 2) Respect – honor, appreciation, respect, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:33: “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."; 3) Know How to Face Temptation -- when we are tempted (temptation is not a sin), God will provide us a way out of succumbing to the temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:13; 4) Not to Be Foolish -- Proverbs 13:20; and 5) and Remember that God, the Father, Expects You to Be a Father -- Ephesians 6:4 and Proverbs 22:6, tells us that fathers are to train their children so that their children are raised: “in the way he should go’ and in a way that meets God’s expectations of both the father and the child. Men are motivated when they know they will be held accountable, and God is holding us accountable for how we fathers raise our children.

There is a void of faithful men and fathers today; therefore, fathers’, should ask God to help you to be faithful as a father. Fathers should hope that, when we are judged by God, that He tells us: “Well done good and faithful servant!”.

“God, how many more {hours, days, and years} do I have, as a father, to meet your expectations and to receive the joys of being a father”.

 

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6; Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 19:22; Ephesians 5:33; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Proverbs 13:20; Hebrews 12:9-11.

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WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “The Apostle John Tells You: ‘You who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life’”:  www.AWFTL.org/watch

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