I would like to start by saying thank you to my Pastor and his amazing wife. I love and appreciate your faithfulness, servitude, and dedication to my family and I, then, also to this amazing body of believers. This is the greatest opportunity I have ever been given.
Secondly I have to say a special thank you to my wife, the most amazing woman…ever. She makes me a better Father, husband, Youth Pastor, and friend. She is the greatest mother in the world, the most giving, selfless person I know and God blessed me with her over 16 years ago. Tk you are beautiful, and there are none to compare to you and the other things I’ll have to save for her ears only…this is a family church.
1. Go Serve is our theme for this month and this morning I am going to enlighten you that Fatherhood is a branch of service.
a. Unlike the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or the Coast Guard fatherhood is a branch of service all its own.
i. I live to serve my God.
ii. I live to serve my family.
iii. I live to serve my church family.
iv. I live to serve the lost.
v. I live to serve the world.
b. Society brings confusion when it says “serve yourself”, while God has instructed us to “serve others.”
i. Society says abandon your family, God says embrace them, console them, protect them, honor them, provide for them, teach and train them, and lay down your life for them.
ii. Society says work, work, work and give your children everything they ever want and that will be what’s best for them and I’m here to tell you today that is simply not enough.
c. Wives, children, and families need 3 things for a family’s success.
1. Face time. Physical. Emotional.
2. Faith time. Spiritual. Eternal.
3. Future time. Rewarding. Your family will always need you.
a. I have to be engaged in all of these for it to work.
b. They say that, “If a child is 15 years old and younger they will do what they are told. If a child is 15 years and older they will do what you have shown them.”
d. Key word here that I hope is ringing out in your brain and heart…TIME.
2. The greatest witness I have to the entire world of my love for Jesus Christ is in, to and through my family.
a. If the world can see me love them, respect them, encourage them, equip them, provide for them, serve them, then they will see the love of Christ being modeled.
b. If the world just sees me hate them, disrespect them, mistreat them, ignore them, abandon them, and put everything else first beside them then how will they ever see the love of Christ modeled to them?
c. Early Christians were confused as being so much like Christ their enemies coined the phrase “Christians” as a demeaning stereotypical phrase term used in hate.
i. We have men who could never be confused as being Christians.
ii. As a matter of fact there wouldn’t be enough evidence to convict you of jay walking let alone Christ following.
iii. That is not going to be me!
1. If loving God was a crime I’ve decided I’m gonna be an “Outlaw.”
2. I want to be confused with bearing the image of the Son.
3. Hate me, demean me, be confused with my conduct, and stereotype me all you want…I’m a son.
4. I’m a Spirit Filled, Christ following, bible believing, and world changing “Christian.”
John 1:1 “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.”
· The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Christ modeled with His words, His prayers, His life, His walk, and to His family how to live the Christ life.
3. What does that look like for you?
· God planted a seed in the ground by the name of Jesus Christ His one and only Son.
o I love all people but I would never, could never sacrifice one of my children for any of you nor for the world.
§ I am that selfish.
o I will never let anyone talk down to my children/students and I believe I am speaking for God the Father when I say don’t you ever talk down to any other human being, “Those are my children.”
· God gave His Son to us and we say wow what a sacrifice He made but God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit say, “Wow what an investment we made.”
o God said, “I’ll give up my only Son”, Jesus said, “I’ll lay aside my immortality, put on mortality and lay down my life for the entire human race.”
o Then the Spirit of God said, “I will live in them and them in me and will empower them to tell the world of this great gift of salvation.”
· We have become adopted by the Father as if we are all His one and only sons and daughters.
o Being born into the family means the benefits of the family are mine, the blessings of the family are mine, the reputation of the family is mine, the inheritance of the family is mine and the responsibilities of the family are mine.
o God loves His family beyond service, beyond performance, beyond gifting, and way beyond what He can receive from them.
§ God’s love for His children is immeasurable, incomprehensible, infinite, everlasting, merciful, and perfect.
§ I’m telling you of the Father beyond all Father’s this morning.
In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."
This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons even Ironman. Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S.
In a triathlon, Dick will pull Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached to a vest around his waist and to the front of the boat for the swimming stage. For the biking stage, Rick will ride a special two-seater bicycle, and then Dick will push Rick in his custom made running chair (for the running stage).
Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded, "The thing I'd most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once."
The 2009 Boston Marathon was officially Team Hoyt's 1000th race. Dick Hoyt hopes that he is able to push Rick in the Boston Marathon when he is 70 years old (2011)! Neither Dick nor Rick are ready to retire.
· For over 25 years, he’s been his son’s hands, feet, and closest friend.
· Much like our Heavenly Father, he’s refused to let circumstances beat his boy. It’s not always been easy . . . But their “souls have sculpted” because of the challenges they’ve faced together.
4. Fatherhood is the absolute privilege of my life.
o I love being Tara ’s husband and the father of Alec, Chase and Madi.
o It’s my ultimate calling!
Malachi 2:14-16 “You cry out, "Why doesn't the LORD accept my worship?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. 15 Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.16 "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife."
· “Guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife” means to have the same commitment to marriage that God has to His promises for His people.
Luke “But that doesn't mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God's law to be overturned.”
o God’s Word is Living, Eternal, and Trustworthy.
o Our passion should be reserved exclusively for our spouse.
o Some people change jobs, mates and friends, but never think of changing themselves.
o That’s a problem in our society today with men so selfish, so arrogant, so prideful, so addicted, so ready to flirt with every demon that hell would desire to throw at us.
§ Laying down all that they have built for a moment of sin that would last only a season but cost them a lifetime of punishment.
Galatians 6:9 “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.”
· What price are you willing to pay for your family to be a “Major Dad?”
Malachi 4:5,6 "Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives.6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse."
Illustrate here: Fatherless Stats.
o What price? God paid His price in full. What about you?
o God is here to help you dad you just have to lay the pride down long enough to see, hear, and experience Him.
· I’m astounded in this technological age we have guided missiles but so many misguided men.
o Everyone wants direction but no one wants correction.
§ What kind of dad are you?
§ Major dad?
§ Player dad?
§ Weekend dad?
§ Absentee dad?
§ $ dad?
· Not just any dad will do.
· Kid's lives are enhanced by dads who are emotionally present, validating, & able to comfort in times of distress.
o Not dismiss themselves in the hard times.
o Dismiss themselves to their own wants and desires.
1 Peter 3:7 “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”
· If a man is not considerate and respectful of his wife, his prayers will not be heard, because a living, vibrant, passionate relationship with God depends on right relationships with others.
· Your relationship with God is paralleled with your relationship with others.
· Paralleled. Matching. Same as.
o We have Fathers whose cars are dressed better than their children.
o Father’s hobbies that get filled with finances and focus and their children starve for affection, affirmation, and attention.
o Father’s who choose to abandon their wives, children, and God.
o Father’s more concerned about their personal image than the family name.
§ Don’t shame your family.
§ Don’t shame the family of God!
o Father’s who will contribute to the moment of passion but not the lifetime of commitment.
§ That just makes you a coward.
· I’m talking about Father’s who will lay down their lives for their children.
· I’m talking about father’s who will lay down their lives for the lives of others children.
· These are men in God’s eyes, and these are men in my eyes.
Ephesians “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her”
Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.2 "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise:3 If you honor your father and mother, "things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
Australian coat of arms.
· The Red Kangaroo and Emu that support the shield are the unofficial animal emblems of the nation.
· It is often claimed these animals were chosen because neither animal can move backward, only forward, progress. Progression!
o Move forward. Change course.
· In reality both animals can move backwards, but infrequently do.
· If you don't deal with your mess at home...you'll bring that mess into the church.
o Strong men build strong homes.
o Strong homes build strong churches.
o Strong churches build strong communities.
o Strong communities build strong cities, etc.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
· Your childhood father.
o Absentee Father.
o Abusive Father.
o Long distance dad.
o Unknown Father.
o Uncaring, selfish Father.
o Substance abuse Father.
o Workaholic Father.
· I’ve asked God a billion times why my father couldn’t hold himself together for me.
o Wasn’t I enough?
o Where was the model of Christ for me?
o Where is the model of Christ for me?
· God finally spoke to me on this and declared that He took me on as His own special project.
· I am His son and that what my father was unable, unwilling, to model out, He would model out for me.
· He has continued to send Fathers into my life to model Fatherhood.
· Identity-the state of having unique identifying characteristics held by no other person or thing. Individuality, uniqueness, distinctiveness, who a person is.
Psalm 68:5 “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this is God, whose dwelling is holy.”
· Pastor Mike why did God call you to the fatherless? Elijah? Curse?
Deuteronomy 28:1-10 "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.2 You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God: 3 Your towns and your fields will be blessed. 4 Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. 5 Your fruit baskets and breadboards
will be blessed. 6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. 7 "The LORD will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven! 8 "The LORD will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. 9 "If you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways, the LORD will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do.10 Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.”
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