Handling The Ups And Downs Of Life
Part 6 - How Do We Handle Fatherhood?
Is. 64:8

Is. 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Anyone that has been a father, knows that it has its ups and downs.

Just how important are fathers? What do they contribute? Who cares if they are around or not? Well I think they are important. Fathers, you can make a difference in the lives of your children, grandchildren, and so forth. Recent reports about the importance of dad at home show numerous problems with children that lack a father at home.

I think we need to recognize the role of a father in rearing children. Can you see the parallel of God the Father to fathers? When we understand that our children are in a sense like clay - we mold them. We help make them like they are.

First, I want to look at Jacob and some mistakes that he made, and the problems involved…

Jacob set the example of craftiness - Gen. 25:31-33

Took advantage of Esau's mistake

Took advantage of Esau's disbelief (who would have thought…)

Jacob reaped the benefits of treachery - By the way he treated his brother

Lost his brother and even his mother - found in Gen. 27

His children followed suit - with their treatment of their brother Joseph

Jacob's dishonesty stalked him

(but he learned a lesson - he realized it is God who will take care of us) - Gen. 31:38-42

Laban's treatment:

38This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. 39That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. 40Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. 41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

 

Jacob still revered his father (and he wanted to go home) - Gen. 31:53

53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

Jacob still had to deal with his brother Esau

(Our problems we cause, still tend to hang around)

When he was to meet his brother, his concern was for his…

Sheep? No
Goats? No
Cattle? No
Camels? No
Servants? No
Family? YES

We see a great change…
Jacob was known as the Supplanter - ouster or replacement

Now he will be known as Israel because he had prevailed

 

Let me ask you…
How will you prevail as a father? What example will/do/did you put forth?

I want to look at four simple things fathers need to do today…

First, they need to…

Set the example and love their wives as Christ loves the church

They need to see that…
They (wives) are special
They (wives) are worthy
Men are responsible

Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Second, they should…
Pay tribute and honor their parents that their lives may be long on this earth

 

Ephesians 6:1-3 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Society's norm has shifted from a position of respect, recognition and reverence to a position of ridicule, rejection, and removal.

Third, they need to…
Pass the baton and follow the Savior - what a gift they can give them!

2 Chronicles 26:4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

Example, excitement (eagerness) and enlistment

Eph. 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Love, love and really love

And fourth…

Provide the environment and train your children (well)

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

Let us not forget the awesome responsibility we have and the life changing actions we take.

Let me read again…

Is. 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

 

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 061602am