Becoming Godly Father’s
A. Leading Your Family
B. Follow God in all your ways
C. Learn to Love like God
DBF Father’s Day Sermon, 6/15/03
I have already told most of you of my testimony. I did not come from a Godly home, nor did I have a Godly Father.
It really wasn’t his fault, because he had never accepted Christ, so he went about in the ignorance of the world thinking himself to be wise.
I love my dad, always have and I always will, yet after becoming a Christian in 1988 I knew that I would be required to walk quite a different path than that path he had shown me.
In this beautiful time of year, I look around Bristol Bay and everything is flowering, renewing itself, just as God has planned it and ordained it.
Well we as new Christian Fathers and Older Christian Fathers are doing just that aren’t we? We are being renewed in the word of God daily or at least we should be…Amen.
I was just in Iliamna and witnessed the some of the 5000 acres burned a few weeks ago. It looks so bad and smells pretty bad also, yet in confidence I can predict that God will have that land green by this time next year. Why, because God has ordained it that when a forest fire blazes the nutrients from that fire will start to fertilize the re-growth process. God is so good to forests and fathers.
We will look at words of wisdom from God’s word today in our process of remaking ourselves daily into the image of Jesus Christ.
Leading Your Family
Joshua 24:14-25 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. [15] And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. [16] And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; [17] For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: [18] And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God. [19] And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. [20] If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. [21] And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. [22] And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. [23] Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. [24] And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. [25] So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
After I accepted Christ, I knew that there were things and manners in which I must learn to lead. How should I lead?
Simple… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
You mean we have to choose, good or bad, fun or other, God or Satan?
I pray that you will choose God, but we must all make the choice, and a Godly father will lead his house to make the choice in favor of God and of life.
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
A wise father will learn then lead his family in what are the most important decisions and directions in life.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Follow God in all your ways
Psalm 118:1-29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. [2] Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. [3] Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. [4] Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. [5] I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. [6] The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? [7] The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. [8] It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. [9] It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. [10] All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. [11] They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. [12] They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. [13] Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me. [14] The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. [15] The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. [16] The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. [17] I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. [18] The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. [19] Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: [20] This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. [21] I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. [22] The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. [23] This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. [24] This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. [25] Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. [26] Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. [27] God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. [28] Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. [29] O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Learn to Love like God
Luke 15:11-32 And he said, A certain man had two sons: [12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. [13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. [14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. [15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. [17] And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, [19] And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. [20] And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. [21] And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. [22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: [23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. [25] Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. [27] And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. [28] And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. [29] And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: [30] But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. [31] And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. [32] It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Jesus shows all aspiring father’s so well the blessing’s of a truly Godly Father in looking after his son even after he has done so much, in hope that he might come back to his roots.
We so easily toss away those things that should be utmost in our minds and lives.
Are you needing a place to come to in order to know God’s perfect will for you, your children, your family and extended family?
You can only glean God’s wisdom by coming to HIM.
If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior we ask you to come forward today. You as the Prodigal son do not have to remain apart from Jesus, come and humble yourself, HE waits.
If you have any prayer needs or concerns we ask you to bring them, we would consider it a great honor to pray with and for you.
Again men, Happy Father’s day, please show the love and light of Christ in your family and community as you continue to strive for the light that is in Christ Jesus Our Lord.
Bruce Landry
NCBC
ranger1401@hotmail.com
