Fatherhood
Emmanuel Christian Church 6.9.24
INTRODUCTION: A mere four weeks ago, we celebrated the role of
motherhood- and rightly so because it is one of the very few core
principles that collectively serve as the foundation of good society.
As important as motherhood is however, it’s very existence is
dependent on another role- that of fatherhood. Our materialist,
atheist, culture has attacked both of these roles in an attempt to
render them irrelevant in the name of progressive ideology. But
instead of delivering “progress”, they’ve delivered illegitimacy,
poverty, crime and social decay. The attack on the nuclear family in
general and fatherhood especially, can be traced to EVERY problem
we face today.
PROPOSITION: So, As Father’s Day approaches, I’d like for us to
give some serious thought to the importance of fatherhood. There
are only two thoughts I’d like for us to consider from God’s Word this
morning. The first is that…
Fatherhood is at the heart of the God’s Word.
- To make that point, Let’s consider two of the Bible’s leading
father figures: Adam (the physical father of all mankind) and
Abraham (the spiritual father of all who have faith in God)
- We begin with our father in the flesh, Adam and his relationship
with God- it was that of creation to Creator.
(Genesis 2:7) the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the
ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man
became a living being.
- Can you imagine the scene?
- God takes the dust of the ground and miraculously
morphs its elements into the flesh, blood and bone of the
first human body!
- Still and lifeless, the body He’s created is nothing more
than an incredibly complex biological machine.- And then, in one of history’s greatest moments, God
Himself breathes life into the nostrils of man!
- Can you imagine what Adam saw?
- As his eyes fluttered open for the first time, and as his
brain processed the input of his optic nerves, Adam
beheld the face of God!
- Certainly, with no previous experience or understanding,
there must have been a great deal of uncertainty in
Adam’s mind- who was this One responsible for his life.
TRANSITION: Curiously, the Book of Genesis does not record Adam
and his wife addressing God as “Father”! Instead we find them
using the term “YHWH” (translated in Bible as LORD)- it became for
the Jews (and remains for many today) the unpronounced name of
God.
- Next, let’s consider Abraham’s relationship with God- it was that of
servant to Master.
(Genesis 12:1) The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country,
your people and your father's household and go to the land I will
show you.(Genesis 12:4) So Abram left, as the LORD had told him;
and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he
set out from Haran.
- What an interesting exchange! What would you have done if
God appeared to you late in life and gave you the instruction
to leave everything you’ve ever known behind?
- Abraham’s response to God was unhesitating obedience, for
he saw himself as nothing more than a servant obliged to do
the bidding of his Master.
- In all of the Old Testament, there are only 5 references to God
in the role of father.
- Deuteronomy 1:31 “…the LORD your God carried you,
as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you
reached this place.”
- the prophet doesn’t call God the Father of Israel, but
says God carried them like a father through their
desert wanderings.
- Psalm 68:5 David calls God “a father to the fatherless”.- Psalm 89:26 The Psalmist speaks prophetically of Christ
calling God “his father”.
- Isaiah 9:6 The prophet speaks of the coming Messiah in
the role of Father.
- Malachi 2:10 The prophet in asking a rhetorical question
states: “…have we not all one Father?”
- HOWEVER, In the New Testament, God is presented in the
role of Father 45 times!
- Nearly one forth the size of the Old Testament, the New
Testament contains 9 times more references to God as
“our Father”. (a ratio of 1:36?)
- Certainly, we can trace this change to the work of Christ
on our behalf, but the numbers themselves speak of
God’s heart for his relationship with us. God’s desire is
not that we would relate to Him as Creator- although He
is our Creator; God’s desire is not that we would relate to
Him as Master- although He is our Master; God’s desire
is that we relate to Him as our Father!
APPLICATION: Fatherhood is not a man-made, patriarchal social
construct- it is God’s personal design for our most important
relationship! To honor, and revere fatherhood is to honor and revere
God. Which brings me to my second point this morning…
Fatherhood is at the heart of our relationship with God.
- God conducts Himself toward us as the ultimate example of
fatherhood.
- Let’s consider the GODLY role of Father as PROVIDER.
- Listen to Jesus from His sermon on the mount.
Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks
receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will
be opened. 9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you,
then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts
to those who ask him!- The role of father as provider to his family is primary. The idea
that it can be replaced by some progressive socialist
alternative has been proven to be absolutely false.
- The role of “father” is God’s gift to the church, family and
society at large. Men who pursue that role are partners with
God in blessing the people around them.
- God’s word speaks directly to the role of Father as Provider
when it says…
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like
shifting shadows.
- Let’s consider the GODLY role of father as TEACHER
Hebrews 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as
sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not
disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are
illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had
human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How
much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
- Another vital role of every father is that of teacher, trainer
mentor of his children (this is the idea contained in the use of
the term “discipline” in the passage we just read).
- When an earthly father trains and disciplines his own children,
he is communicating his love for them.
- Of pastor/elders in the church, God’s word implies their
“fatherly” role in the fellowship…
1 Timothy 3:4 He must manage his own family well and see that his
children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know
how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's
church?)
- Finally, let’s consider the GODLY role of father as REDEEMER
John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not
receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 childrenborn not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's
will, but born of God.
- Can you hear the sequence of events?
- God Fathered Mankind in the Creation.
- Mankind rejected God the Father.
- God the Father put on flesh and visited rebellious mankind.
- Surrendering Himself for His own Creation, God the Father
made a way by which the rebels could be redeemed.
- And if that wasn’t enough, he adopted those former rebels as
His very own children!
- The privilege to call God our “Father” does not come by
way of our physical creation - (our first birth into this sin
broken world). We are NOT all God’s children!
- Jesus clearly said we MUST be born again if God is to be
our Father.
CONCLUSION: Human father’s are providers for their families, and
teachers of their children, BUT only God the Father has the power to
fulfill the role of REDEEMER. But here’s the truth- earthly fathers
are the family’s most powerful of influencers! Research shows
that more families go to church when father leads the way; and
children walk the path of Christ when they watch their fathers walk
before them.
Fatherhood- it’s the very heartbeat of God, and the foundation of
our relationship with Him!
Next week: We’ll consider the story of a remarkable father who isn’t
remembered for being a remarkable father! His name is Job.
