A Good Father – Part 1 of 2

In today's edition of the Baptist Bible with consumer brand. I'm Thomas Mann for another message from God's will and this was Sarah Bradley, Junior inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace.

I'd like to send you a sample copy of our publication in which you will find messages that I believe will be edifying just requested when writing this and will send it to you free of charge. The address is the Baptist Bible. Our box 17 oh 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 and now we bring you the first part of the message that was preached here at Cincinnati church last year on Father's Day. As you know today is Father's Day and it has been designated as a time to express appreciation to one's father on her father's under strictly a place for that, but I think it's important as there's a day set aside.

With that designation to be reminded of what a good father is as more and more families break up the fathers are gone or even if they're still in the home. They are distracted. They're not intricately involved in the discipline and the training of the children. The need for understanding what a good father is is more acute than ever. Phil Cook and his blonde recommended a few weeks ago that in anticipation of Father's Day that men would participate in what he called disconnect to re-connect the rights mobile devices, computers, and social media are wonderful things in the faith transform our lives and our world, and countless positive way. But make no mistake why we are more connected than ever. And maybe because we are more connected than ever. We are more disconnected than ever. From our family and never texted your child in his or her room to tell him that dinner is ready. Are instant messages replacing conversation at the dinner table. Are you talking to your kids about their status or reading about it on Facebook.

Remember your kids watch your behavior more than they listen to your word and when they see you unable to disconnect from email, text messages and twitter you're telling them that what's on your phone is more important to you than they are.

And this man suggested that there be 24 hours involving this Father's Day weekend when you totally disconnect from all of these devices to reconnect with your children. Well I don't know that 24 hours of disconnecting would accomplish what needs to be done now understand we all use these devices in our day-to-day activities. Many of you rely on them heavily in your business operations. But may this be a reminder to us all that we need to be connected connected with wife, children, friends, brother and sisters in the church and if that involves some extended disconnect from other distractions. May we be willing to make that move.

If we were to ask just taking a survey on the street. What is a good father that we get a lot of answers but we're concerned today to know what a good father is by biblical definition. I read Psalm 112 beginning with the first verse.

Praise ye the Lord blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delighted greatly in his commandments, his seed shall be mighty upon the earth. The generation of the upright shall be blessed. This man is blessed this man is happy. This man is joyful in his day-to-day activities because he fears the Lord, and he delights greatly in his commandments. He doesn't feel to be imposed upon by the commandments of God is not looking for loopholes to get around them is not like rejecting them. He receives them. He delights in them. What then is a good father, a good father is one that fears God and desires to honor him and it says that he delights in his commandments.

He accepts responsibility.

Whatever commandment is given whatever is expected of the accepts responsibility. He provides guidance and direction. He is a good example. Another obviously a great many things that could be said and scriptures that could be examined and trying to determine what is a good father to look at five. I hope that these things will be impressed upon your mind that you may be able to remember. First of all, a good father. Fears greatly. Secondly, he submits humbly. Thirdly, he leads faithfully.

Fourthly, he instructs consistently and fifth in love's abundantly doubts about what you mean he fears greatly by recording our text were talking about fearing God, but fearing other things, but fearing God that makes a dramatic difference in anybody's life without a man who doesn't believe in God might do many things that others would admire.

Say he provides a great living for his family. He works part gives him everything they could mark from the standpoint of material possessions he sees to it that they have every opportunity he sees it there involved in every conceivable activity even spends time with a makes it possible for them to get the best education tries to prepare them so that they can make the most money by well in society but from a biblical standpoint.

If a man doesn't fear God is not a good father returned to Psalm 25. Here we find what it means to actually fear� But the question becomes about is not what you talking about fearing God. I thought the Scripture say perfect love casts out fear doesn't mean that because you have perfect love you and fear God anymore means you don't fear anything else you fear. Only God were not talking about a slavish fear. Regular afraid to approach him and call upon his name but you have a reverent all when you think about God have the utmost respect for him. He respect his word. God means what he says you know that God will punish sin you fear God. Psalm 25 verse 14 says the secret of the Lord is with them, but fear him, and he will show them his covenant people are always looking for some secret, some special formula as to what they need to do and understand in bringing up their children.

In fact, I was amazed to read one survey that said in the past 10 years there have been 75,000 books written on child rearing, and that obviously includes not just those from a Christian perspective, but the world as well. What psychologists and psychiatrists have recommended about bringing up children so there are all kinds of opinions and plans and formulas out there but here's the starting place. As far as what God declares the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. If you start with the fear of God on the right track towards you. You can't make things right in your children's life.

If it's not right in your own life. If you're not walking with God.

If you are not fearing him if you're not communing with him. He can't possibly be effective as a godly father Psalm 86 verse 11 Teach Me Thy Way, Lord, I will walk in thy truth and unite my heart to fear thy name, fearing God then will help you to keep on the right path. You don't fear the Lord for don't understand the seriousness of serving him and honoring him veer off course to be distracted to be influenced by the thinking of the world and in Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding is the key to wisdom so many have the idea today that if I can go to some prestigious school if I can get a degree that gives me special recognition, and indeed I'm a wise man but that's not the standard we find here the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom that's that's where it starts.

You can't can't can't even get on the right track without the fear of God one more here in the book of Proverbs chapter 14 verse 26 in the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and his children should have a place of refuge. Here's the benefit and blessing upon your children that if you fear the Lord, you have confidence.

Confidence not in yourself but confidence in the Lord and your children will have a place of refuge. They go to feel a sense of security because of your relationship with God. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death, failure to fear God is very detrimental in Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 14 Lord through Moses was addressing the people about what would transpire after they had completed their wilderness wanderings and came into the land of promise and they would live in houses that they had not built on for the for trees that they had not planted and there would be a tendency to become complacent and they might well be influenced by the gods of the keys and around them and he said you will be given to the worship of violence.

Of course this very thing happened and it brought great trouble about the structure that cause them to be carried into captivity of failure to fear God means that you will have a tendency to go after idols annex not just an Old Testament concept. Jude says little children, keep yourselves from idols like so I've never been tempted my life to worship an idol. I would worship a little statue I would worship in a kind of a false God, anything that gets so big in your life.

It's a controlling factor whether it be your interest in your job, your love for money. Your desire for proceeds to impress other people. So I think you're important in your successful and you're doing well becomes an idol. Anything that's more important to you, not just because I � what's important is all God is more important know what does that mean the way you live everyday how you spend your time. The things you read the things you talk about the places you go how you spend your money on this reveal what's in your heart. Fear of God keep us from idolatry and God makes many wonderful promises to those that fear if you have vital them that this is a part of the father's life.

Deuteronomy chapter 5 verse 29. All that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep my commandments always that it might be well with them and with their children forever promises then to those that fear God, that God is going to do something special for their children.

God's going to be watching over them is going to be a blessing that will be beyond what you might imagine, but it starts with the fear of God, not Proverbs 29 verse 25 says that the fear of man brings a snare to your to fear God and not others. Some men fear their life for their children. I counseled with parents in the past that were disturbed about the conduct of the child and said but you know were just afraid to take too strong to stand here one particular talked about the picture that their son had put on the wall of his bedroom and said it's totally inappropriate but were just afraid if we take it down that it's going to upset him so terribly that it would just we just can't deal with how sad that it appears here's a father that's more fearful of his teenage son that he is God. Fear man brings a snare. Sometimes that's a fear of other people's opinion.

Some of my relatives on the say what some of my friends was I when I was going to say if I take this firm stand about how out of bring my children up how to deal with them.

The restrictions are to put on them going to be disturbed by all the blessings that are promised to those that fear God, we saw that in our text in Psalm 112 verses one and two and then going on in that same Psalm verse seven says he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord them on the fears God is not unstable is not tossed about by the opinions of men by the trends of society. These trusting the Lord his heart is established you shall not be afraid until PC's desire upon his enemy.

What a difference. Then Psalm 128 verse one Blessed is everyone that fear the Lord netbook is in his ways.

For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands about me and it shall be well with the thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house. My children like olive plants round about my table the whole that thus shall the man be blessed that the earth Lord that if you think this is all an Old Testament principal chapter 1 verse 50. When Mary is praying that beautiful prayer she speaks of the blessings that come upon those that fear God of the second thing that identifies a good father. He submits humbly how that might raise a question in your mind. So what on earth you're talking about the fathers to be a leader and he is but there's an area where he must submit humbly and by that I mean that he must love his wife plan doesn't love his wife and treat her like he loves her, is not a good father. The closest relationship between two human beings that God has made possible is between husband and wife that supersedes the relationship that you have with your children.

Let's look at the book of Ephesians chapter 5 in your see why use the word submit verse 20. Give thanks always for all things unto God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. So this is still an outgrowth of fearing God and how is it that you're submitting yourself wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands is on the Lord 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 bottom and stop after they read that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church and they forget the rest of he is the Savior of the body. Jesus Christ gave himself sacrifice his life for his bride. Therefore as the church is subject under Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. Verse 28 so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth him self how to man be a good father, loving his wife. If you love her, you will not speak to her unkindly.

Ephesians chapter 4 verse 29 let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers and corrupt communication could be inappropriate words ungodly words. It could be the tone of voice. It could be the anger and the volume that is used to convey displeasure. Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth.

It's the minister grace is to edify the edify means to build up when I talk about flattery were talking about building up speaking that which will help which will encourage which will instruct which will give appropriate words of appreciation. So if a man loves his wife as God commands them to do. Love his wife as Christ loved the church is not going to be unkind. Colossians chapter 3 verse 19 says husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

It's very easy. As years passed by their differences, their conflicts for men become bitter says zone.

I try to be reasonable. My life is so emotional she just on potential and I'm I'm tired of putting up with. I put forth the best possible effort to be a good husband and she didn't appreciate me and so you become bitter and that's the very thing God forbids be not bitter against them solace if I regard iniquity in my heart. The Lord will not hear you might be wondering why your prayers have been heard to hear your prayer if you're bitter against your wife, any route that out.

Deal with it asked the Lord to forgive you. The man loves his wife is going to be patient with her prescriptions 13 for says love sufferance long, not short tempered, but constantly criticizing, appreciating her appreciating the fact that sometimes the Lord has given her insight into things that you don't have a lot of woman's intuition. Sometimes that's a God-given ability to see some things and perceiving some things at the men just don't get the land has the idea that he's the smartest thing that ever came down the road. He's got it all together. He knows everything. He is in the dark and is in deep trouble. Lord did not give Eve to Adam just aggravating.

Hayes had had leader and she's a helpmate and she's be appreciated that if your lover you want to honor her. You can't turn around to your children and say honor your father and your mother and the children see you don't honor your wife because you put her down.

You criticize her you talk to her in a gruff tone have no respect for your disrupting your whole effort to be a good father you're not honoring God submit submit to what God says about your obligation always human beings wait, wait, like to have to be responsible and be accountable for our failures.

It's so much easier to point the finger somewhere else. Men say to me in a counseling situation sometime but her husband that she was more cooperative. If you want so difficult.

But how to live like this. This is done say you husbands that have sweet little quiet wives and never express an opinion and always agree with you. Just always fit right in and do everything you want to get you love those, but if it one of these cantankerous souls that really can make it rough on him. Once line of your excuse will monitor loves of my life to one thing will help you.

Just remember this if you are a child of God you are a part of the church of the firstborn.

How does God love his church. How did Christ love his bride, the church lay down his life for as a part of that body is a part of the church. Are you always on your best behavior, are you always doing coach things so well that no wonder the Lord love me I'm I'm I'm so lovable about it altogether under everything like this if you got the right concept. You are absolutely amazed that God would love you in spite of your many failures sins and shortcomings. So if you love your wife as Christ loved the church you love her with all of her faults and failings, you all in descriptors have a lot to say about fathers. There's a great responsibility assigned them. They are to be the leader in their phone as we have pointed out, first of all, it means that individual must fear great atmosphere, therefore there is a desire to honor and to adhere to the teaching of his word in all matters. Secondly, we have considered that a good father is one who humbly submits and submits to the will of God in the matter of his relationship with his wife if he is not loving his wife as he ought he will fail to be the right example and a good father. Next time we will bring you the concluding part of this mess with the Lord richly bless and and you