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STRONG SPIRITUAL FATHERS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.          A father very simply is “the male parent” in the home.

 

B.            Let’s remember that it was God who created the home (Gen. 2:18-24).

 

C.           Let’s also remember that it was God who legislated how the home is to be organized (Eph. 5:22-6:4).

 

D.           God made the man, that is, the husband and father, the leader and overseer of the home.

1.                 I Corinthians 11:3

 

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman if the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 

2.             Ephesians 5:23

 

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:  and he is the Savior of the body.

 

3.             Ephesians 6:1

 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord:  for this is right.

 

4.             Ephesians 6:4

 

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

E.              In the church, most would argue that the best father is a Christian father. 

1.                 Christian fathers, however, could be ranked into several different classes.

2.             Therefore, we would argue that the best fathers are “Strong Spiritual Fathers.”

 

F.               In this lesson, let’s look at some of the characteristics of “Strong Spiritual Fathers.”

 

I.                    A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN

 

A.          A Christian is one who has obeyed the initial steps of salvation

1.                 He has believed and been baptized (Mark 16:16).

2.             He has repented of his sins and been baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

3.             He has confessed his faith in Christ and has been immersed (Acts 8:36-39).

4.             He is one who has experienced the new birth (John 3:3-5) and is a new creature in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 5:17).

 

B.            This child of God is more than just a child in name only.  He is one who lives his life in harmony with the teachings of God’s Word.

1.                 He knows that it is essential to observe all things that the Lord has commanded (Matt. 28:20).

2.             He knows that his conversation is to be as becometh the gospel (Phil. 1:27).

3.             He understands that he is to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only (James 1:25).

4.             He is serious about the teaching that it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful (I Cor. 4:2).

5.              He gives diligence to be found of Christ in peace, without spot, and blameless (II Pet. 3:14).

 

II.                  KNOWLEDGEABLE OF GOD’S WORD

 

A.          A faithful Christian father has a deep reverence and awe for God. 

1.                 The writer of Proverbs tells us that this fear is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7).

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:  but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

2.             Veneration for God leads one to gain a deep knowledge of God’s Word.

a.               This can only be acquired through long, tedious study of the truth (II Tim. 2:15).

b.              A father takes God’s Word in hand every day.

1)               He reads it.

2)           He studies it.

3)           He dissects it.

4)           He questions it.

5)            He compares it.

6)           He comes to understand it.

7)            He trusts it.

8)            He meditates on it.

9)           He memorizes it.

10)       He commits to obeying it.

 

B.            The benefits of a knowledge of God’s Word are priceless.

1.                 God’s Word reveals the Father (John 4:24).

2.             God’s Word expresses the Father’s will for one’s life (Rom. 1:17).

3.             God’s Word enables man to be molded into the likeness of the Father (Rom. 12:2).

4.             God’s Word lights the path to the Father’s home (Ps. 119:105).

5.              God’s Word keeps one from sin that separates one from the Father (Ps. 119:11).

 

III.               SETS THE PROPER EXAMPLE

 

A.          An “example” is “a mold” or “a pattern to be followed.”

 

B.            A strong spiritual father is one who should be able to tell his children:  “Follow me to the gates of heaven.”

1.                 He can say as Paul did:  “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (I Cor. 11:1).

2.             He guides his home in the six categories listed by Paul when writing to Timothy about being an example (I Tim. 4:12).

 

…but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

C.           One’s example is vital.

1.                 It manifests one’s knowledge of God’s Word.

2.             It proves one’s commitment to following Jesus Christ.

3.             It opens doors of understanding to one’s family regarding priorities.

4.             It lessens resentment because one is practicing what he is preaching.

5.              It brings admiration from followers because his faith is confirmed to be genuine.

 

IV.              ADMITS HIS MISTAKES

 

A.          The word “mistake” comes from a thirteenth century word that means “to do wrong, to err.”

 

 

 

B.            The mistakes can fall into several categories:

1.                 Wrong opinions and judgments

2.             Wrong or unwise decisions and choices

3.             Bad, sinful behaviors

 

C.           Admitting mistakes involves the outward expression of having committed an error.

1.                 I did not listen well enough.

2.             I did not investigate enough.

3.             I was too quick to judge.

4.             I make too quick of a decision.

5.              I choose the wrong thing.

6.             I acted in appropriately.

7.              I have sinned.

8.              James 5:16a

 

Confess your faults one to another…

 

D.           Admitting to one’s mistakes:

1.                 Shows honesty

2.             Displays humility

3.             Proves one’s humanity

4.             Teaches that perfection is not a necessity

5.              Tells others you need a Savior

 

E.              Some imperatives of admitting wrongs:

1.                 This should be done as soon as possible.  (Ex., David waited until he was caught, II Sam 12:13).

2.             This should be done out of sorrow and genuine repentance (Ex., Pharaoh never manifested a broken heart when he confessed his wrongs, Exo. 9:27; 10:16).

3.             This should be done before those whom we have wronged. 

a.                Judas confessed to the Jewish leaders but never to the Christ (Matt. 27:4).

b.              The prodigal son, however, confessed to his father (Luke 15:21).

 

V.                 SPIRITUALLY CONTROLS HIS HOME

 

A.          Teaches his children

1.                 Ephesians 6:4

 

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

2.             Positive example:  Abraham (Gen. 18:19)

 

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment…

 

3.             Every father needs to ask himself the question:  “How do I carry out the command to teach my children the way of God?”

a.               Taking children to Bible class and worship

b.              Daily devotionals

c.               Listening to spiritual things in the car

d.              Reading Biblical literature to them at night

e.               Memorizing scripture

 

 

B.            Controls his children

1.                 I Timothy 3:4

 

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.

 

a.               The word “ruleth” means “to stand before” and “to preside over.”

b.              “In subjection” is defined as “in subordination, obedient.”

c.               And the term, “gravity,” involves “awe, fear, and resepct.”

2.             Positive example:  Abraham

a.               Isaac went with his father on the three day journey (Gen. 22:3).

b.              Isaac trusted his father when he said God would provide a sacrifice (Gen. 22:8).

c.               Isaac did not rebel when his father placed him on the altar to slay him. (Gen. 22:9).

3.             Again, fathers need to assess how they are doing in controlling their children.

a.               Do my children obey the rules of the house?

b.              Do my children speak to me and their mother respectfully?

 

C.           Disciplines his children

1.                 Proverbs 23:13, 14

 

Withhold not correction from the child:  for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.  Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

 

2.             Negative example:  Eli (I Sam. 3:13)

 

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

 

3.             Fathers need to remember that disciple involves consequences for bad behavior.

a.               Natural consequences (Ex., driving recklessly leads to the loss of the car and higher insurance payments).

b.              Logical consequences (Ex., break the neighbor’s window, pay for the glass by getting paid for several chores around the house, or, hurt the dog, spend a month as a volunteer at the animal shelter).

c.               Arbitrary consequences (Ex., spankings, timeouts, copying sentences).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.          Some might say that good fathers provide for their children, give them a good education, and protect them from evil.

 

B.            These things are essentials for a good father, but they do not necessarily make a man a strong spiritual father.

 

C.           A strong spiritual father:

1.                 Knows about spiritual things.

2.             Practices spiritual things in his life.

3.             Passes on spiritual things to his children.

 

D.           A strong spiritual father should be able to honestly say the words that Joshua said years ago:  “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).