FATHERS DAY THOUGHTS: THE TENFOLD BLESSING OF A FATHER
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OUTLINE
1. A FATHER LOVES
2. A FATHER INSTRUCTS
3. A FATHER PROVIDES
4. A FATHER PROTECTS
5. A FATHER ENCOURAGES
6. A FATHER DISCIPLINES
7. A FATHER FORGIVES
8. A FATHER PRAYS
9. A FATHER CARES
10.A FATHER BLESSES
INTRODUCTION
The Lord wants us to honour our fathers and mothers and He has promised to bless our lives when we do that. We live in a generation that considers it fashionable to dishonour their parents. But the Lord wants His people to be grateful and appreciative of their parents and give them the honour due to them. A godly father is a great blessing and a priceless treasure. We must be deeply grateful to the Lord for the blessing of a godly father.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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EPHESIANS 6:2-3
"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—
"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
PROVERBS 30:11
"There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;
THE MESSAGE
FATHERS DAY THOUGHTS: THE TENFOLD BLESSING OF A FATHER
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1. A FATHER LOVES
A godly father loves his children. Our heavenly Father has lavished His love on us by making us His children. The heart of a godly father is filled with deep love for his children. David loved his son Absalom even though Absalom had turned against him. Even though David’s men won the victory over Absalom , David was filled with deep sorrow because Absalom was killed in the battle. He wept and said that he would have preferred to die in the place of Absalom. Such is the love in the heart of godly father towards his children. The Lord wants fathers to love their children with such a deep love. We must be grateful and appreciative of the love that we have received from our fathers.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 JOHN 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 SAMUEL 18:5, 28-33
The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Praise be to the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king."
The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was."
The king said, "Stand aside and wait here." So he stepped aside and stood there.
Then the Cushite arrived and said, "My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has delivered you today from all who rose up against you."
The king asked the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The Cushite replied, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man."
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!"
2. A FATHER INSTRUCTS
A godly father intructs and guides his children. The Lord Jesus was guided and intructed by His Heavenly Father during His life on earth. The Lord chose Abraham to instruct and direct his family in the ways of the Lord and teach them to do what is right and just. A godly father will instruct his children and train them to walk in the way of the Lord. He will instill in them the moral values needed to live a righteous life. He will teach them the truths that will help them to succeed in life. He will set a good example for his children to follow. We must be grateful for the instructions and the examples of godly fathers.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 5:19-23
Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
GENESIS 18:17-19
Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
DEUTERONOMY 11:18-21
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,
so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:10-12
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
PROVERBS 4:1
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
PROVERBS 6:20
My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
PROVERBS 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
3. A FATHER PROVIDES
A godly father provides for his family. Our Heavenly Father has promised to meet all our needs when we seek first the kingdom of God. As children of God we are heirs to everything that God has. A godly father will be faithful in his responsibility to meet the needs of his family. He will labour diligently to provide for his family. A good man leaves an inheritance for his descendants. We must be grateful to our fathers for all that they have provided for us and for their sacrifices and labours for our sake.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 TIMOTHY 5:8
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
MATTHEW 7:9-11
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
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!
PROVERBS 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children,but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
PROVERBS 19:14
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:14
Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
MATTHEW 6:31-33
So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
ROMANS 8:15-17
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,Father."
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
4. A FATHER PROTECTS
A godly father protects his family. Our Heavenly Father keeps us safely in His Hand and protects us. A godly father is a protection to the family. His children feel safe and secure in his presence and in his care. He keeps them from harm and danger. In this evil world , people try to exploit and afflict injustice on widows and fatherless children as they think that they do not have any protection. But the Lord warns that He Himself would fight for their cause. We must be grateful to our fathers for their protection in our lives.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 10:27-29
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
EXODUS 22:22-24
"Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.
If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.
My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.
PROVERBS 23:10-11
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
for their Defender is strong;he will take up their case against you.
PSALM 68:5
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
JEREMIAH 49:11
Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives.Your widows too can trust in me."
JAMES 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
5. A FATHER ENCOURAGES
A godly father encourages his children. Our Heavenly Father encourages us and removes the fears from our hearts. The Lord encouraged Joshua to take up the task of leading His people and promised to be with him always. A godly father encourages his children and builds up their confidence to succeed in life. He will do everything he can to develop their God-given skills and talents and abilities. He will beleive in his children and encourage them even if nobody else does as it will help them to overcome all the obstacles and criticisms. The Lord does not want fathers to discourage or embitter or frustrate their children by their words or actions or attitudes. Instead fathers should train and guide their children in the way of the Lord. we must be grateful for the encouragement we have received from our fathers.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 CHRONICLES 28:20
David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
JOSHUA 1:5-9
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
EPHESIANS 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
COLOSSIANS 3:21
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
6. A FATHER DISCIPLINES
A godly father disciplines his children. Our Heavenly Father disciplines His children so that they may share in His holiness. A godly father disciplines and corrects his children. He will not allow his children to go unchecked in the path of unrighteousness as it will lead to their destruction. Discipline and correction may be painful when administered but it will result in a harvest of righteousness and peace.A godly father will fulfill his responsibility of disciplining his children . We must be grateful for the discipline that we have received from our fathers and realise that it is proof of their love for us.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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HEBREWS 12:5-11
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
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!
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
PROVERBS 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:17-18
"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you,and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
PROVERBS 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
PROVERBS 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.
PROVERBS 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
PROVERBS 23:13-14
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.
7. A FATHER FORGIVES
A godly father forgives his children. Our Heavenly Father forgives our sins and is merciful to us. Even when He is angered by our transgressions and punishes us , He is still compassionate towards and forgives us and does not remain bitter against us. In the parable of the prodigal son , the father showed great love and mercy and forgiveness towards the son who had sinned against him and welcomed him back with open arms when he returned with a repentant heart. The Lord wants fathers to show such mercy and forgiveness towards their children and not retain bitterness or hardness of heart towards their children for their evildoings. We must be grateful to our fathers for the forgiveness we have received from them for our wrong doings.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PSALMS 103:8-13
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
JEREMIAH 31:20
Is not Ephraim my dear son,the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him;I have great compassion for him," declares the LORD.
LUKE 15:11-24
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son,threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
"But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
8. A FATHER PRAYS
A godly father prays for his children. The Lord Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father for His disciples and for all beleivers. His prayers continue to cover us and bless us in our lives. A godly father prays for his children that their lives will be blessed. King David prayed for his son Solomon that the Lord would grant him a heart that is devoted to the Lord that he may succeed in all his endeavours. A father’s prayers are a powerful influence in the lives of his children. we must be grateful for the blessings we have received through the prayers of our fathers.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 17:9-26
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
1 CHRONICLES 29:18-19
O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.
And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."
9. A FATHER CARES
A godly father cares for his children. Our Heavenly Father cares for us and knows every detail of our lives. Therefore we can cast our cares on Him. A godly father cares for his children. He is concerned about every aspect of their lives. He takes time to know and understand his children and shows his concern in every way he can and does his best to help them solve their problems. The Lord does not want fathers to be uncaring and unconcerned about the lives of their children. He wants them to caring fathers. We must be grateful for all the care that we have received from our fathers.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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LUKE 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
1 PETER 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:15
Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
10.A FATHER BLESSES
A godly father blesses his children.Our Heavenly Father blesses His children with His favour and blessing and peace and protection. A godly father pronounces his blessing over his children. The Lord has given the spiritual authority to fathers to impart blessings to their children. Isaac and Jacob invoked this power and pronounced a blessing over their descendants. Joseph had the fathers blessing in his life and was able to overcome all the attacks that he faced in his life. The youngest son of Noah dishonoured his father and received a curse from his father. A godly father exercises his spiritual authority and blesses his children. Children should be careful to honour their fathers in order to receive the fathers blessing. A godly father leaves a blessing to his descendants by living a godly life. He will be careful to avoid living a life of iniquity and thus protect his children from divine judgement. We must be grateful for the fathers blessing that helps us to prosper in life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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NUMBERS 6:22-27
The LORD said to Moses,
"Tell Aaron and his sons, ’This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
" ’ "The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." ’
"So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
GENESIS 27:1-4
When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered.
Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death.
Now then, get your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.
Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die."
GENESIS 48:8-9, 15-16
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"
"They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."
Then he blessed Joseph and said,"May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."
GENESIS 49:1, 22-26
Then Jacob called for his sons and said: "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.
"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring,whose branches climb over a wall.
With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb.
Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains,than the bounty of the age-old hills.Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
GENESIS 9:24-27
When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him,
he said,"Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers."
He also said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
May God extend the territory of Japheth ; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave."
PROVERBS 20:7
The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.
PSALMS 112:1-2
Praise the LORD.Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
EXODUS 20:5-6
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
CONCLUSION
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The Lord wants to do a work of reconciliation in the lives of fathers and children in these last days. He wants to remove the bitterness and hurts and wounds and unforgiveness that may have caused seperation between the fathers and the children.The Lord will turn the hearts of the fathers towards their children so that they will be compassionate towards their children and be concerned about them. He will turn the hearts of the children towards their fathers so that they will love their fathers and honour them and release all bitterness and unforgiveness and distrust from their hearts. The Lord will unite the hearts of the fathers and their children so that they can all live in the fulness of God’s blessings.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MALACHI 4:5-6
"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
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