I AM THEIR FATHER…I WILL

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   One of the things that is missing in the home is the father.

1.    Some fathers are irresponsible and leave their children.

2.    Some fathers want children, but they do not want to be faithful to the mother of the children.

3.    Some fathers are abusive and cannot be in the home.

4.    Some fathers are rejected by the women due to the woman’s views about men.

 

B.   We need men to step up.

We need men to take responsibility.

We need men to take charge.

 

C.   We need men to say:  “I Am Their Father…I Will.”  What the father is willing to do is vital to the welfare of the home.

 

I.             I WILL BE A PROVIDER

 

A.   1 Timothy 5:8

 

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

 

B.   This is the most basic duty of the father.

1.    He doesn’t have to provide elaborately.

2.    He doesn’t have to provide every need.

3.    He certainly does not have to provide every want.

4.    But, he must provide.

 

C.   Food, clothing, shelter, health care, are the least he can provide.  These necessities involve other provisions:  stove, clothes washer, electricity, a car, medications, etc.

 

D.   None of these things are inexpensive.  Often it takes the mother and the father to provide all that is needed, but the man needs to be the one focused on providing the basics for his home. 

 

II.           I WILL BE A TEACHER

 

A.   Children come into the world as a blank slate. 

1.    They are gifts from God according to Psalm 12:3.

2.    Fathers are stewards of these little ones.  The responsibility of a steward is to be faithful to his stewardship (1 Cor. 4:2). 

 

B.   The one charged with their training is the father (Eph. 6:4).

 

And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

C.   In addition to spiritual training, there is the training of everyday life (Prov.22:6).

 

Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

1.    Have you ever seen a child who was trained to do a difficult task at a very early age? 

a.    Boats, backing trailers, caring for animals like a horse, planting a garden, learning to use a firearm, learning to sew, etc.  These skills never seem to leave the child.  In their adult life, they can do many of these things almost without thinking.

b.    In addition, a father can teach such things as respect for authority, fulfilling one’s responsibilities, how to treat the opposite sex, reverence for God, a work ethic, etc.  In like manner, when children get older these things often stick with them. 

2.    The earlier some things are instilled the better.  Just be careful in how you approach your teaching.  Paul warns fathers:  Provoke not your children to wrath.”

 

III.         I WILL BE A PROTECTOR

 

A.   Evil fills our world today. 

1.    God is out; Satan is in.

2.    The Bible is out; man’s philosophy is in.

3.    Morality is out; sin is in.

4.    Law and order are out; lawlessness is in.

5.    Christianity is out; secularism is in.

6.    The home is out; single-parent homes, gay homes, and government homes are in.

 

B.   Peter was clear that Satan is prowling the earth seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

1.    The younger minds can be poisoned, the greater the likelihood that destruction will follow.

2.    Remember, when they learn things young, they are probably going to continue those things into adulthood.

3.    Every perverse movement from communism to atheism to the LGBTQ community has targeted children in their agendas. 

 

C.   Dads have to stand as guards before their children.

Fathers have to surround their children like a wall.

Fathers have to be willing to rise in the ring to meet all challengers.

 

D.   We see this protective quality in Joseph. 

1.    The circumstance:  Herod was defied by the wise men (Matt. 2:12, 15).

2.    The caution:  An angel warned Joseph is a dream to flee to Egypt (Matt. 2:13).

3.    The compliance (Matt. 2:14-15a)

 

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  and was there until the death of Herod…

 

a.    He was not at home at the time.  He had gone to Jerusalem to be taxed.

b.    Mary had just given birth to the child.  Jesus was a newborn.

c.    The journey was over 250 miles.

d.    They may have stayed in that foreign land about a year.

e.    However, Joseph knew that this was necessary to protect the life of his newborn son, Jesus.

 

 

IV.         I WILL BE A LEADER

 

A.   The man is to be “the head” of the house (1 Cor. 11:3).

 

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 

1.    When the statement is made that the man is the head of the house, some go absolutely crazy in our society.

2.    But, notice that man has a head, Jesus Christ; and Christ has a head, God the Father.

 

B.   As the head, the father leads the home.

1.    A leader is always at the front.

2.    A leader knows where he is going.

3.    A leader knows there will be opposition.

4.    A leader knows how to make decisions.

5.    A leader never gives up.

 

V.           I WILL BE AN ENCOURAGER

 

A.   Children will often find that life is tough.

1.    Their bodies are constantly changing.

2.    They will be confronted with difficulties mentally and physically.

3.    They will be put under a lot of peer pressure.

4.    They will be challenged regarding their loyalties.

5.    They will have their beliefs made fun by others.

 

B.   They will need someone in their corner encouraging them along the way. 

 

C.   The relationship that existed between Paul and Timothy was like unto a father/son relationship.

1.    Paul referred to Timothy as his son in the faith (1 Tim. 1:2).

2.    Paul knew the ministry was challenging, difficult, frustrating, and harmful. 

3.    Therefore, Paul encouraged Timothy.  Two books that bear the name of Timothy give many instructions, that, if heeded, would enable Timothy to persist as a minister of the gospel.

a.    2 Timothy 1:7

 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 

b.    2 Timothy 1:8

 

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner:  but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.

 

c.    2 Timothy 1:13

 

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is  Christ Jesus.

 

d.    2 Timothy 2:1

 

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

 

e.    2 Timothy 2:3

 

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

 

D.   As a father, find your child’s strengths and push them.

As a father, find your child’s weakness and help them to overcome them.

As a father, find your child’s flaws and eliminate them.

As a father, find your child’s skills and give them opportunities.

As a father, be your child’s encourager.

 

VI.         I WILL BE AN PRAYER-WARRIOR

 

A.   There are certain things that fathers have absolutely no control over.

 

B.   When control is lost, we must put our trust in Him who has all control.  We turn our situation over to God.

1.    Father, protect them.

2.    Father, lead them.

3.    Father, deliver them.

4.    Father, forgive them.

5.    Father, embolden them.

 

C.   James 5:16

 

…The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

VII.       I WILL BE A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN

 

A.   This concept is foreign to some.

This concept is ridiculous to others.

 

B.   Think about these things:

1.    God established the home.

2.    God ordered the home as far as the roles therein are concerned.

3.    A man’s wife and his children are gifts from God.

4.    God has provided statutes and rules and commandments to guide the lives of those in the home.

5.    This God who has done all of these things is righteous, holy, pure, and sinless.

 

C.   Why wouldn’t God want someone possessed with His nature heading the institution He gave to man?

1.    He doesn’t want the devil leading the home.

2.    He doesn’t want the carnal-minded leading the home.

3.    He doesn’t want a criminal leading the home.

4.    He doesn’t want an atheist leading the home.

5.    He doesn’t want proud and arrogant leading the home.

 

D.   Surely, He desires someone who is formed in the image of God leading this significant element of human society.

 

E.   We do not find “perfect fathers” in the Bible, but we do find godly men leading their homes (Ex., Noah, Heb. 11:7).

1.    He was a man of faith (Heb. 11:7).

2.    He was obedient to God (Gen. 6:22).

3.    He was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:4).

4.    He saved his family from the destruction of the flood (Heb. 11:7).

 

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became the heir of righteousness which is by faith.

 

F.    We need Noahs, Abrahams, Moses, Joshuas, Gideons, Nehemiahs, Daniels, John the Baptists, and Josephs leading our homes today. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   The title of this lesson is:  “I Am Their Father…I Will.”

 

B.   NOTE:  If you don’t someone else will.  Satan will make sure of it.

 

C.   What is really interesting is that we only have a brief timespan to do these things.  We will have each child in our home between 18 to 22 years.

 

D.   Dear fathers, commit to the words:  “I will.”  If your children are out of the house, exhort your sons to commit to the words:  “I will.”  If you know younger fathers, exhort them to commit to those two little words:  “I will.”