Message for THE LORD'S DAY MORNING, June 21, 2015 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Father's Day We Honor Our Fathers Exodus 20:12 (NKJV) Please turn with me to EXODUS chapter twenty. And let's read verse 12. Exodus 20:12 (NKJV) Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. Let us pray... ******************* I N T R O D U C T I O N Illustration: Years ago the captain of a large passenger ship set sail with his family from Liverpool, England to New York. One night while everyone was asleep, the ship ran into a terrible storm. The winds blew fiercely and waves crashed over the sides of the boat, nearly capsizing it. Everything movable was sent tumbling and crashing, and the passengers were fearful they were going to die. The Captain's little 8 year old daughter was awakened and frantically cried out, Mother, what is happening? After telling her they had run into a bad storm, the little girl asked, Is my father at the helm? The mother reassured her daughter, Yes honey, your father is at the helm. And with that, the little girl laid her head on her pillow and went back to sleep. *********
Scripturally speaking, the father is to be at the helm of the home. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:23 (NKJV) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Fathers, if our families are going to survive in this 21 st Century, we as men must be at the helm of the ship. -Our wives need for us to be godly husbands. -Our children need for us to be godly fathers. -Our grandchildren need for us to be godly grandfathers. And if you don't think your role as a Christian husband and father is critically important, consider these staggering statistics: *75% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. *63% of youth suicide victims come from fatherless homes. *90% of all runaway teens are from fatherless homes. *85% of all children being treated for behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. *80% of all rapists come from fatherless homes. *75% of all adolescents in chemical rehabilitation centers are from fatherless homes. *85% of all youths in detention centers or prisons are from fatherless homes. Men, these statistics reveal a very important truth and that is: OUR LIVES MATTER...OUR LIVES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ****************
In our scripture text, GOD commands us to Honor Our Fathers. And on this special day that is set aside each year to do just that, I realize it may be easier for some of you to honor your father than it is for others. *Some of you may have very positive images of your father. Perhaps when you were growing up your father took you to Church each week...and he prayed at the dinner table...and perhaps you saw him reading his Bible each night before he went to bed. And perhaps you remember the godly example he set...and how loving and encouraging he was. If that's the kind of dad you had, count your blessings, and thank God for your Christian father. *But perhaps some of you here this morning have negative images of your father. Perhaps you didn't grow up in a Christian home, and you can't ever remember your dad even darkening the doors of a Church building. Perhaps your dad drank a lot, and swore a lot, and maybe at times was abusive. Perhaps he was cold and not affectionate. Perhaps he never had a word of praise for you and never said, I love you. Perhaps you loved your dad, but you wanted and needed for him to be so much more. Let's face it, Father's Day can be very tough for those of you who have those kinds of negative images of your father. For just a few minutes let's focus on all you fathers who are here this morning. First of all... I. We Honor You Fathers For Your HARD WORK 1. The Book of Proverbs has much to say about a man and his work. Proverbs 12:11 (NKJV) He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding. Proverbs 12:24 (NKJV) The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
Proverbs 14:23 (NKJV) In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty. Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV) Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. 2. Fathers, do you that GOD ordained us to work and to provide for our families from the very beginning? Even before God created Eve, and before the fall GOD had already put Adam to work in the Garden of Eden. Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NKJV) 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 3. A father's work is something we often take for granted. Driven by his love for his family, a father gets up and goes off to work every morning, five or six days a week, for thirty to forty years, at a job he sometimes loves, but most of the time hates. He makes enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table and a roof over his family's head, but few ever get rich at what they do. Every now and then he may get a small raise or a little bonus check, but most the time there's hardly even a word of appreciation. And when a dad's thirty or forty years of work are through what does he get? Maybe a watch with his name engraved on it or a little plaque to thank him for his years of service; or perhaps nothing more than a few handshakes and quiet goodbyes from the buddies he worked with all those years.
4. Fathers, this morning we honor you for your HARD WORK. We honor you for the sacrifices you have made over the years to provide for the FINANCIAL and PHYSICAL NEEDS of your family. But not only do we honor you fathers for your HARD WORK... II. We Honor You Fathers For Your HELPFUL WISDOM 1. In the fourth chapter of Proverbs we find Solomon passing along helpful wisdom to his children that he himself had received from his father, King David. Listen closely... Proverbs 4:1-5 (NKJV) 1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; 2 For I give you good doctrine: do not forsake my law. 3 When I was my father s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 He also taught me, and said to me: Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. 5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 2. In verse 10 Solomon goes on to tell his children if they will heed his wisdom they will enjoy a long life. In verse 14 he counsels his children to stay off the path of the wicked and stay away from evil. In verse 23 he counsels his children to carefully guard their hearts and the things they pursue.. In verse 24 he counsels his children to carefully guard their tongues and the words they say. In verse 25 he counsels them to carefully guard their eyes and the things they look at. And in verse 26 Solomon counsels his children to carefully guard their feet and the places they go.
3. Solomon has touched all the bases. He has passed along his wisdom to his children because he loves them and wants them to enjoy the best life possible. I L L U S T R A T I O N I came across a letter written by a Christian father by the name of Dennis Rainey. Mr. Rainey read this letter to his son Benjamin at his wedding rehearsal dinner. Fathers, listen to the godly wisdom he passes on to his son. God made you to be the man, Benjamin Rainey. His man. When accomplishments and praise come your way, resist pride. Remember the gift Giver. Be a humble man. God s man. When the world lures with lust, tempts with treasure, and entices with influence and power, turn away. Turn from the temporal to the eternal. Be a Kingdom man. Be God s man.when culture decays, step into the battle and be a spiritual warrior for your generation. Be a courageous man. God s man. When the Father of lies attempts to deceive, instead embrace the truth. Live the truth. Let God s Word be the surgeon of your heart. Then you ll be a truthful man. God s man.when hobbies, toys, and games beckon you back to boyhood, turn away from childish things. Step up to manhood. Step into your responsibility and pain. Remember the Savior. He was The Man. The God-man. When you fail, be teachable. When you fail again, don t quit. When you fail others, repent. When others fail you, forgive them 7 X 70 and give grace. Then you ll be a mature man. God s man.
When your job as husband is more difficult than you imagined, love Marsha Kay more than you love yourself. You ve given her a diamond and your heart. Now go for the gold. Be a one-woman man. Be God s man. When the evils of the world assault your family, stand tall and guard. When the burdens of the world weigh on your family, kneel and pray. When the confusion of the world distracts your family, look to the finish line and speak the vision. Be a wise man. God s man. And if God blesses your life with many children (I pray He does) and more of your self must die each day, know that you are never more a man than when you kill self. Be a selfless man. God s man. When life ebbs and age takes its toll, don t step down into retirement. Instead step up and invest in the next generation as a mentor and a patriarch. Finish strong, my son, and be the man. God s man. Never apologize for being God s man. Dream like His man. Think like His man. Act like His man. Love like His man. And so, as a man still becoming God s man, I bless you, Benjamin, as God s man. I will stand shoulder to shoulder beside you as long as God gives me breath. Make Godly wisdom your daily companion. Make His presence your portion and delight. Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:1-2 I love you and I m proud to be your Dad. 4. Fathers, while none of us probably have gone to such great lengths as Dennis Rainey, hopefully we have all passed along some GODLY WISDOM to our children that will help them as they continue on their journey through life.
We Honor You Fathers For Your HARD WORK. We Honor You Fathers For Your HELPFUL WISDOM And finally... III. We Honor You Fathers For Your HOLY WALK Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Illustration: Bro. Allen Smith tells the story about when his son was a little boy playing with a couple of his buddies in the backyard one day. He said, I heard the boys having one of those 'my dad is better than your dad debates. One of the little boys proudly proclaimed, My dad is better than your dad because he knows the mayor of this town. Another little boy said, Well my dad is better than your dad because he knows the governor of this state. Allen Smith said, I held my breath as I waited to hear what my son would say. And after a long pause, my son said, Well that's nothin' my dad knows GOD.
1. I am grateful I had a father who knew GOD. My dad wasn't a perfect man, nor did he claim to be. But my dad walked in holiness, and that was not only evident to all of us in his family, but to all who knew him. ILLUSTRATION: I want to share with you what the late Ashley Futrell wrote about my dad in the Washington Daily News a couple of days after my dad died. BOB G. BRAZIEL He was a man of God. Those words give a vivid and dynamic description of the life and works of Mr. Bob Braziel. In fact, if nothing else should be said, in the minds and hearts of those who knew him and loved him, being a man of God would sufficient. Mr. Bob came to this Pamlico area some four and half years ago as pastor of the Old Ford Church of Christ. Quickly he endeared himself to his congregation as well as to the living community in this area in all walks of life. When in his presence, one could feel the warmth and kindness of a man whose life was dedicated to serving his fellowmen and his God. Mr. Bob walked with the proud and humble alike, and to both he gave a new challenge for everyday living. We've lost a good man and a good citizen. But he gave us an example of living which shall serve as a beacon of light to all those who knew him and gained strength from his friendship. (Washington Daily News, Washington, NC by Senior Editor, Ashley Futrell, December 26, 1992)
2. Fathers, when our life on earth has ended, what greater tribute could be said of us, than HE WAS A MAN OF GOD! Today WE HONOR YOU FOR YOUR HOLY WALK! ********************************************************************************* C O N C L U S I O N As we close this morning, I would like to share a touching article written by the late Erma Bombeck about her dad, shortly after his death. One morning my father didn't get up and go to work. He went to the hospital and died the next day. I hadn't thought that much about him before. He was just someone who left and came home and seemed glad to see everyone at night. He opened the jar of pickles when no one else could. He was the only one in the house who wasn't afraid to go into the basement by himself. He cut himself shaving, but no one kissed it or got too excited about it. It was understood when it rained, he got the car and brought it around to the door. When anyone was sick, he went out to get the prescription filled. He took lots of pictures, but he was never in any of them. Whenever I played house, the mother doll had a lot to do. I never knew what to do with the daddy doll, so I had him say, I'm going off to work now, and I would throw him under the bed. The funeral was in our living room and a lot of people came and brought all kinds of good food and cakes. We had never had so much company before. I went to my room and felt under the bed for the daddy doll. When I found him, I dusted him off and put him on my bed. He never did anything. I didn't know his leaving would hurt so much. Fathers, we want to honor you today while you are living! We Honor You For Your HARD WORK. We Honor You For Your HELPFUL WISDOM. We Honor You For Your HOLY WALK.