FATHER'S DAY Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV) - Children s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

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1 Happy Father's Day to all our Dads! Love and blessings always! FATHER'S DAY Texts: James 4:14 (NKJV) - For what is your life? Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV) - Children s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. A. Today, we especially welcome and honor all our dads. Men, this is our special day our one special day. Let me say that again: it's our one special day. Right? 1. One little guy was overheard explaining the meaning of Father's Day to his younger brother: "It's very much like Mother's Day, only you get to spend a whole lot less on the gift." 2. Dads have their own world of experiences and responses for their kids. You are probably a dad if you've ever said the following: a. This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you. b. Quiet. I m watching the ball game. c. Don t forget to check the oil. d. Bring back ALL the change! e. How should I know? Ask your mother. f. I m not made of money! g. When I was your age. I walked 5 miles to and from school every day and it was uphill both ways. h. You are going and you will have fun! i. Who s paying the bills around here, anyway?

2 j. If you break your leg, don t come running to me! k. Don t put your feet on the furniture. Your mother will kill you. l. Get down before you kill yourself. On second thought, go ahead. m. Quit playing with your food. n. Be quiet! Can t you see I m trying to think? o. Why? Because I said so! p. If you don t quit that, I m going to call your mother. q. You better get that junk picked up before your mother comes in here. r. Just wait until you have kids of your own! s. I wasn't asleep; I was just resting my eyes. 3. A man is called upon to fulfill many roles: provider, protector, nurturer, example, educator and role model, among others. Being a dad is not only one of the most important responsibilities he will ever fulfill, it is one of life's greatest character-building experiences. 4. As we've been teaching in this recent series (Pay It!), there's a price to pay for fatherhood if it's done right. How to be a Dad Your Family Will Honor! B. Be A Man 1. What does that mean? Much more than a person's gender, it involves values that will never be surrendered regardless of the cost, suffering, or inconvenience John 2:12-14 (NKJV) - I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name s sake. [13] I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. [14] I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I

3 have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. 3. While John addressed three different groups of the male gender, I believe he was actually speaking to the three areas of a man's heart: the child, the father, and the young man. 4. From verse 12, I'm going to admit what women have always suspected about us. If men are honest, they will acknowledge that there's still a little boy inside who needs to be loved and nurtured. That's why men sometimes fall prey to a certain type woman who will 'use' them and they never saw it coming. a. Since men have these childish impulses, at times their actions are immature. b. It's important to know that even though a man wants you to think he has it 'altogether' (even when he doesn't), God understands our weaknesses and reminds that we are forgiven...for His sake. 5. In verse 13, John refers to something special that happens when a man becomes the kind of father who takes time to nurture and raise his children: he begins to understand the heart of our Heavenly Father. a. I am making a distinction toward the father who nurtures and raises his children. Unless you experience the sacrifice and pain of long term nurturing and mentoring, you will never completely understand the Father 'heart' of God. b. For those who have no biological children, you can still understand what I'm referring to if you've sacrificed your time and effort to mentor and develop another person. 6. Also in verse 13, John refers to another aspect of a man's heart. He speaks about the strength of young men. In this congregation today are men of different ages; but don't make the mistake of saying, old men. a. Inside every older man is the spirit of a man who is still young.

4 b. In Hosea 7:9, God said that grey hairs were here and there in Ephraim's head, but he knew it not. Since you shave that same face everyday, comb the same hair, and look at the same image in the mirror, the changes are so subtle, you can't realize how you have aged until you look at a photo from several years ago. 7. Since life passes so much faster than we think, notice James 4:14 (NKJV) - For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. a. Every time I read or hear this verse, I can visualize a diesel tractortrailer rig sitting at a truck stop somewhere in a northern state in the dead of winter. While the driver gets a hot cup of coffee, he leaves the engine running. b. I can still see the flaps clattering on the twin exhaust stacks as the motor expels vapor. But in a moment, the wind catches the vapor and it's gone. 8. Or listen to Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:12 (NIV) - Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them. C. Be a man of God. 1. Men of God aren't perfect, even though they do their best. 2. A man of God prays. a. Prayer is an act of dependency. It is never shameful for a man to admit that he doesn't have answers for everything and that he needs the help of Almighty God. b. It's not easy to be a dad, have a good marriage, build a business or succeed in a meaningful career. Because real men are not afraid to admit they need help, they pray.

5 c. By example, they teach their families to rely on a power that's so much higher than man's abilities. 3. A man of God spends time reading God's Word. a. Whether you're constructing a building or an airplane, nothing worthwhile is built without a blueprint. Even if the drawing or image is only in your mind, you must know what the finished product will look like. b. That's also true of our lives. God's Word gives us the blueprint for a successful life. 4. A man of God worships. a. Everyone worships something. For some, it may be money. For others, recreation, sports, pleasure, or fame. b. A man of God chooses to worship the right thing. D. Be a man of God who is a priest for his family. 1. Priests perform many duties. Time will not permit me to mention them all; but most of those duties are familiar. 2. The important function I want to mention is: priests listen. a. It has been said, "Parents spend the first part of a child s life urging him to talk and walk. For the remainder of his childhood, the parent is telling him to sit down and keep quiet. b. Listen to your child. I keep hearing these horrific stories of kids entering a school (or this week, a church), and needlessly killing many people. c. I always wonder if anyone in that home noticed that something was wrong! 3. Children have dreams. Dads should listen and encourage the fulfillment of those childhood dreams. 4. Fathers can help a child's dreams come true.

6 a. One of my favorite stories is that of Rick Hoyt, born with cerebral palsy, and his dad, Dick Hoyt. Though this incurable disease made running impossible, he still dreamed of running like other children. b. Rick's mind was normal, but the sickness had robbed him of his voice and the use of his limbs. With the aid of a computer that synthesized a human voice, he was able to attend school. c. When a classmate was involved in an accident that left him paralyzed, Rick asked, "Dad, would you be willing to run with me in a marathon? I want to do this to help raise funds for my friend. I have to let him know that life goes on, even after being paralyzed." d. The problem was that ten years earlier, his dad had suffered a heart attack. But Dick was so moved by his son's request, he agreed. e. The purpose for the first marathon was to help Rick's injured and disabled classmate. It was accomplished by placing Rick in a special cart and his dad pushing the cart as he ran. f. After completing a second marathon, Rick asked if his dad would help him compete in an Iron Man Triathlon, which is the toughest competition known. His dad agreed. g. This triathlon consists of swimming 4 km, cycling 180 km, and running 42 km, for a total of miles! Watch how he did it. (0:00-3:53) 5. As a priest, dads instill their values in the hearts of their children. What's important to a dad will eventually be important to his family. a. Malachi 2:7 (NKJV) - For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." b. Proverbs 1:8 (NKJV) - My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

7 6. As a priest, dads can determine whether or not God will be important to his children. He does this by the life he lives, the values he portrays, and setting a good example before his family about God. E. Be a man who can show love! 1. There is a price to pay in building a family. I say this because families of our day are in trouble! 2. You must be vulnerable to make a relationship work. 3. A video produced in Vietnam uses this caption: "There are no perfect fathers, but fathers love perfectly" (