Sunday 06/16/19
Series: Walking the Talk
Message – Like Father like son
Podcast: Download (141.1MB)
Articles exploring the importance of a father’s influence:
Like Father like son
We often hear it said that a Mother’s work is never done, and Mother’s make the world go around and nothing is stronger than a mother’s love. Of course all of these statements are OVER-stated and place womanhood in a position of superior importance to men. While it is most certainly true that the work a GOOD and NOBLE wife &/or mother does touches every aspect of our lives and is invaluable and is continual – tell me whose isn’t?
While it is true that wives and mothers make the world go around – this is equally true of husbands and fathers.
And while a wife & mother’s love is certainly special and unique to all other loves…. is powerful, warming, comforting and is itself a world to live in – so is a good husband & father’s love. The are both utterly unique, invaluable, indispensable and cannot be compared for importance or strength.
One thing is for sure – if there is a love that is ever sung about it is a Mother’s love and if there is ever a love that is under-rated and largely unrecognized it is that of a good father.
In keeping with this, I ran across this quote from Billy Graham yesterday and being Father’s day I thought it worth mentioning, for I believe it is true!
A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.
“By this your Father is Glorified that you bear much fruit – so you will be My disciples indeed.”
The Jewish nation in covenant with God through the law and circumcision considered God their Father.
Matt. 5:13-16, NKJV “(13) You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (14) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
God’s true children have this attribute – They listen to (Shema) His words.
Proof 1:
John 8:39-47, HCSB “(39) Our father is Abraham!” they replied. “If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did. (40) But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! (41) You’re doing what your father does.”
“We weren’t born of sexual immorality,” they said. “We have one Father–God.”
(42) Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on My own, but He sent Me. (43) Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to My word. (44) You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars. (45) Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. (46) Who among you can convict Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me? (47) The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”
Proof 2:
Matt. 12:46-50, HCSB “(46) He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly His mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to Him. (47) Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” (48) But He replied to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” (49) And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! (50) For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother.”
Proof 3:
Attributes of our Father: 1Cor. 2:16, AMP “(16) For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. [Isa. 40:13.]”
His attributes and purposes for us are good!
Matt. 7:7-11, Weymouth “(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 it is always he who asks that receives, he who seeks that finds, and he who knocks that has the door opened to him. (9) What man is there among you, who if his son shall ask him for bread will offer him a stone? (10) Or if the son shall ask him for a fish will offer him a snake? (11) If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Attribute: Love
Matt. 5:43-48, HCSB “(43) You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. (44) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (46) For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? (47) And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? (48) Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Perfect in this verse means wanting nothing in terms of mature and approved character in morality.
Luke 6:27-36, HCSB “(27) But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (28) bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (29) If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. (30) Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don’t ask for them back. (31) Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. (32) If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. (33) If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. (34) And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. (35) But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. (36) Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”
Attribute: Not boastful or Vain Glorious
Matt. 6:1-34, Weymouth “But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with your Father who is in Heaven. (2) ‘When you give in charity, never blow a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets in order that their praises may be sung by men. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward. (3) But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing, (4) that your charities may be in secret; and then your Father–He who sees in secret–will recompense you.”
“(5) And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward. (6) But you, whenever you pray, go into your own room and shut the door: then pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father–He who sees in secret–will recompense you. (7) “And when praying, do not use needless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they expect to be listened to because of their multitude of words. (8) Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him. (9) “In this manner therefore pray: ‘Our Father who art in Heaven, may Thy name be kept holy; (10) let Thy kingdom come; let Thy will be done, as in Heaven so on earth; (11) give us to-day our bread for the day; (12) and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us; (13) and bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the Evil one.’ (14) “For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also; (15) but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.”
How can your have a REAL relationship with God which requires trust when you seek honor from man?
Attribute: He is a treasure
(See value where it really lies – in relationship with you Maker)
“(16) When any of you fast, never assume gloomy looks as the hypocrites do; for they disfigure their faces in order that it may be evident to men that they are fasting. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward. (17) But, whenever you fast, pour perfume on your hair and wash your face, (18) that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father–He who sees in secret–will recompense you. (19) “Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the moth and wear-and-tear destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where neither the moth nor wear-and-tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your wealth is, there also will your heart be. (22) “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted; (23) but if your eyesight is bad, your whole body will be dark. If however the very light within you is darkness, how dense must the darkness be! (24) “No man can be the bondservant of two masters; for either he will dislike one and like the other, or he will attach himself to one and think slightingly of the other. You cannot be the bondservants both of God and of gold.”
God Bless!
I hope this message will bless you richly…not because I taught it, but because it reveals Christ. He alone is our blessing and if in any way – whether big or small, 100% accurate or even just partially so – I have revealed our great God and Savior to you in a relationally knowable way, then this was time well spent on both our parts.
We at Living Grace Fellowship encourage you to place your trust in Jesus Christ, deliberately choosing Him and bowing the knee to Him as your Master and Lord, so as to come to realize Him as your Savior.
You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. The fact that you exist… that you are His creation, says you were in His heart, you are His delight!
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Blessings!
