Happy Fathers Day. One night a wife found her husband standing over their. newborn baby s crib. Silently she watched him. As he

Transcription

1 Father s Day 2017 Happy Fathers Day One night a wife found her husband standing over their newborn baby s crib. Silently she watched him. As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, skepticism. He would stand back, shake his head and say, "Amazing," while smiling from ear to ear. Touched by his unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, her eyes glistened as she slipped her arms around him. "A penny for your thoughts," she whispered in his ear. "Isn t it amazing!" he replied. "When you take the time and really look close, how can anyone make a crib like that for only $45.99!" See parenthood can be so different between moms and dads.

2 Now how could I do a Fathers Day service without first telling what are so commonly called dad jokes. So here we go... Did you hear about the guy who invented Lifesavers? They say he made a mint.'" "How do you make a Kleenex dance? Put a little boogie in it!" "Two peanuts were walking down the street. One was a salted." "Two guys walk into a bar, the third one ducks." "I had a dream that I was a muffler last night. I woke up exhausted!" "What's Forrest Gump's password? 1forrest1" Want to hear a joke about a piece of paper? Never mind... it's tearable. Did you hear about the circus fire? It was in tents!

3 What did the buffalo say to his son when he dropped him off at school? Bison Did you hear about the man who stole a calendar? He got 12 months. Last night me and my girlfriend watched three DVDs back to back. Luckily I was the one facing the TV. Did you hear about the kidnapping at school? It s fine, he woke up. Have you ever heard of a music group called Cellophane? They mostly wrap. When my wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo, I had to put my foot down. If a child refuses to take a nap, is he resisting a rest? I used to be addicted to hokey pokey, but I turned myself around. Let's face it dads Father s Day isn t quite as big a deal as Mother s Day. On Mother s Day there is a higher

4 attendance at church, mothers often have corsages, emotions run high, and people gather at Mom s house all to pay honor to the hands that rocked the cradle. But on Father s Day the church is not as full, emotions are not as high, and businesses don t profit nearly as much all except for the telephone companies. Well maybe not as much today as now we have cell phones but... Before cellphones became commonplace, Phone companies reported that Mother s Day is the busiest telephone day of the year. But Father s Day was a bigger money-maker for them, because there are more collect calls on Father s Day than on any other day of the year. In Merriam-Webster s Dictionary father comes right before fatigued. Of course, it also comes right after fatheaded, not sure what that means. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that has really marginalized the role of fathers in the family. If you watch television, the father character is usually portrayed as a goofball, an idiot or something like that.

5 Some of those shows are or were hilarious. Tim the tool man Taylor on home improvement funny but he was always blowing things up and looking like an idiot. Or what about Everyone loves Raymond, funny, but again Ray Romano was portrayed as an idiot. What we need to understand is that when dad is undervalued, so is a right relationship with Abba, our Father in Heaven. We ve come a long way from Father Knows Best and the Andy Griffith Show. Mark Twain once said, When I was a boy of 14 my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man learned in 7 years. Father s Day is a time to celebrate the huge contribution made to family life by our nation s dads. A special moment of the year to say thanks for all the sacrifices made, and the hard work done.

6 Here's the thing, When a man becomes a father, he isn t given some sort of rulebook on how to conduct himself. There's no owners manual included. It is something he picks up and learns. How does he learn? For starters the way his own father treated him. And secondly and maybe even more importantly he learns from his relationship with God and by the Word of God. Why do I say maybe even more importantly? Because almost 40% of kids today grow up without dad at home. One of the name s used to describe our God is Jehovah Shammah which means THE GOD WHO IS THERE, And since almost 40% are suffering from the phantom father, there has to be another source of example for the developing dad, and that s the example we have in Jesus Christ. The best dads take their example from Jesus Christ and pass the legacy of the Lord on to their family. The legacy of Christ s love is the greatest gift a father can give, Hundreds of men have fathered children, and simply walked away from the family.

7 Let me say fathering a child does not make a man a father. For to carry the title of father, also carries with it great responsibilities. Other men though living in the family, are so absorbed by there careers that they seldom spend time with the children and the effects can be devastating, not only to the family unit, but we see its effect in our society as well. A recent report tell us: Because of a lack of father figures in the home, in the past 30 years there have been a: 550% increase in violent crime 400% increase in illegitimate births 200% increase in teen. pregnancies. 300% increase in teen suicide More that 70% of all juveniles in state reform institutions come from fatherless homes. The home doesn t need a man in the house, it needs a father!

8 In his book, If I Could Do It All Again, John Dresser shares some things that he would do differently if he could go through his years of being a father all over again. First of all, he writes, if I could do it all over again, I would love my wife more, because by loving my children s mother more, I would create an environment of security in our home. Our love would be something they could see, something they would never have to worry about. At the end of his list, he writes, Last, but certainly not least, I would make God an intimate friend of my family. I would use His name freely. I would communicate to them that He is involved in all our family decisions. I would want them to see me pray and read God s Word and search for His direction and leadership. The greatest legacy a dad leaves behind is the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. I know when a parent dies, their children expect to receive an inheritance. But there is no greater inheritance than the legacy a father leaves concerning the Kingdom of God. And the love that Abba Father has for them, and His desire to have a relationship with them.

9 Austin L. Sorensen put it eloquently when he said, A child is not likely to find a father in God unless he finds something of God in his father. Today I want to look at a story of a father found in Mark chapter 5. Mark 5: When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live. 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. In this portion of scripture we are told of a man by the name of Jairus, he was a religious man, a ruler of the local synagogue, but he was also a father. Jesus had just delivered a possessed man upon arriving at the shore and some people had gathered around him.

10 But we now focus upon one individual, one of the rulers of the Synagogue Jarius was a presiding elder of the synagogue-his position made him one of the most prominent men of the congregation. He was neither a teacher nor a preacher, but was responsible for the order of the synagogue service. He was the keeper of the sacred books (which were the property of the community). Every service he appointed someone to lead in prayer & someone to read the scripture--if there was a visiting rabbi he would invite him to read from the scriptures and even comment on them. So here we see a man with a high social position, a man known among the people, a man of prestige and power, but a man who had a desperate need. This man s little girl, the apple of his eye, was dying. The first this I want to bring out about this man is:

11 1. HE WAS NOT ASHAMED TO SEEK OUT JESUS: Notice he sought out Jesus, he did not send his wife, or someone from the church. He had a need and he wanted to see the circumstance change, so he went to find this Rabbi that others were talking about. When you took on the role of a father, you also need to take on the responsibilities of the father. Ephesians 6:4 tells us, Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Listen to the Amplified translation, Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord. Regardless of his social position, of the onlookers, Jarius humbly knelt before Jesus, pleading with him asking Him to please come, my child is dying.

12 Fathers, it is alright to let your children see that you have limitations, its ok to see you weep and ask Jesus to help in your situation. Let them know there are somethings you cannot do on your own, show them that you have faith in the one you serve, faith in the one you go to church to worship, and sing about. Let them hear you calling out to the Name of the Lord, not just in church. Fathers we must be seeker of Him. Seekers for His wisdom, His strength, and His guidance for the sake of the family Let your children know, that you are not ashamed of the Gospel, nor the God of the Gospel. Lead them to God, walk with them in God, Experience God together don t miss out making those kind of memories. We must show them that we are committed first to God, then your marriage, and also to the family. The second thing I want you notice:

13 2. HE WAS NOT ASHAMED TO BRING CHRIST INTO HIS HOME: Jesus sets out following Jarius to his home. Why was this a big deal Don't forget Jesus was to many in the religious crowd, a friend of sinners, a winebibber, that the work he was doing was by the power of the devil and not of God. So for some of the religious folks of the day to have this man, this Jesus, come under their own roof could be spiritual suicide. Dads, there are people you work with, friends, that may not understand--but as a Christian father, one thing that is a must for your family is, the Lord of Glory needs to be invited and able to reside under your roof. One thing we need more than ever in the world today is christian homes where Christ resides. Homes where Christ is welcome, homes where Christ is more than a picture on the wall, but a place where his

14 presence is acknowledged and felt and where His name is honored, and his word is obeyed. Psalm 127:1 tells us, Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Joshua 24:15 - But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Back to Mark 5. Mark 5: While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. Your daughter is dead, they said. Why bother the teacher anymore? 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, Don t be afraid; just believe. 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people

15 crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep. 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. Here's the point I want to make here. We need to get rid of all the distractions. Jesus only let a few come with him. There will always be nah Sayers, but just as Jesus told Jarius, don't be afraid, just believe. He is coming to your house to say the same thing. The situation may look bleak, the circumstances not looking so good, but get rid of the distractions and trust in a Him. The Author and finisher of your faith. Mark 5: He took her by the hand and said to her, Talitha koum! (which means Little girl, I say to you, get up! ). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

16 What took him from his daughters side, to seek out a Jewish teacher, what compelled him to fall at Jesus feet and cry out I beg you, please come, what would cause a man to forget his place in society, and what others might think or say. Love--He loved his daughter, and this love said I will do what I have to do, go where I have to go--to see that your made whole. Scripture doesn't say how long this 12 year old girl lived, it doesn't mention if she got married and had children of her own. But one thing I am sure of not a day went by that she didn't think about what her dad had done, wasn't for him, I would not be here. she had to think if it If it wasn't for him seeking the One that could make the situation change... Maybe she had children of her own and if so I can imagine her telling her children you know papa sought a man, no not just a man but the Son of a God and invited him to his house and because of him putting everything he knew and had on the line you are here today as well

17 Her life, her living was an example of the POWER of God Here me--love is not giving a child all they ask for. Love is not a closet full of toys, and drawers full of clothes, it is not a large allowance. Love is showing our children what really matters and that is a relationship with Jesus. Dads, let s be godly fathers so that our children can find a father in God. If you grew up without a father or much of one, then Father s Day may just be another fatherless day to you. But if that s the case, I want to encourage you to find a Father in God. (Play skit guys video) - 11 min.