Upbringing

And I challenge you this morning. If either sit on the couch and recline and say my dad wasn't there.

No one was there a guarantee.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, God sent men in your life to play that role just a portion of the upcoming message titled upbringing Pastor Robert on shop Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview.

Our focus is on making Christ visible from the way we worship to the way we serve the way we love one another.

Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online@clearviewb.org and join us for the rest of this week's message yesterday. Ron and Elizabeth had organized a mini golf tournament.

When I first about it. Heard about it I thought it was going to be at the golf course, but it was at the pub foot range. And honestly, we had the best time and it was amazing to see how kids are like their dad's girls and boys on his amazing active dads active kids was very important for me to see is how much children need their fathers how much they need their dads in their lives, not just boys. Also girls.

They need dads in their lives. In our culture in which we live. There is a prevalent believe that fathers are like an accessory you know you have a cell phone and you have a cell phone cover. You need the cover to make phone calls. You don't need the cover to text. When you look at the word of God. When you look at what the Bible has to say. Fathers are not an accessory. They are primary in a child's life.

That's where a message about this morning's call upbringing and begin to see how that works and how important that is.

So if you have your Bibles for Sprint's chapter 4.

Let's all stand once again for the reading of God's word. Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthian church, but I want you to pay careful attention to the relationship he describes that he has with a young man by the name of Timothy so pay attention to his words first Clintons for 15 for though you might have 10 pounds in instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. How much do we need to hear that statement today. We have a lot of people who claim they know what this means and that means they just don't know what it means to be a father to be a father. There are three things we can talk about in a few moments is important as a father to be an instructor to be a model and also a protector.

Paul says that her many instructors but not many fathers, because to be a father requires something more. What else is required. Paul says if you do not have many fathers for in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you imitate me there's a model instruction, imitation, but here comes the third one in first Clintons 417 for this reason I have sent Timothy to you who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord who would remind you of my ways in Christ. As I teach everywhere in every church, but in chapter 16 verse 10.

If you would quickly turn their return to the screen. And if Timothy comes see that he may be with you without fear.

If you know the history, the background of the Corinthian church. They were fussing and fighting among them sales there were different parties.

Paul's and Apollo Susan peters and Jesus as party and they were fussing and Paul says I know what's going on in your charges. Make sure you better not intimidate and hurt Timothy but send him on his journey and peace that he may come to me for I am waiting for him with the brethren, which means if he doesn't come in a certain amount of time. I know somethings up and this may be a tough message for some of you either. Your father was not there or he was not the man he was supposed to be, or you are not the father you were supposed to be, or you're not the son of the daughter you were supposed to be you disappointed your parents and this morning, cry out from your heart from your heart. God give you grace to give me your grace.

And he will are you saved is a what is it take to be saved. John 112 says, but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God were all God's creatures were all God's creation, but it's only when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior as your king that you are adopted into his family have been adopted. If not, as I pray for God's blessing on this message right now.

Where were you are. You need your adoption papers you need to pray and seek Jesus save me. I want to be a child of the King. I would be a child of the living true God.

In light of father's day today. I'm doing something kind of different that typically I will have a passage of the Bible Rod go to books of the Bible. The series 2 sections of the Bible this morning.

I want to do something different. I want to dwell on the father son relationship that Paul had with his son in the ministry. Timothy if you go back to first Clintons chapter 4 and verse 17 on the screen it says.

For this reason, Paul says I have sent to you, Timothy who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord that if you know your Bible you know that Timothy was not Paul's biological son. We know that because it tells us in acts Luke tells us in acts chapter 16 verse one. He says that Paul when he came to Derby and Lysistrata and and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy okay.

Who was Timothy Luke tells us in the he was the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek and just the way Luke phrase is that it seems that Timothy's father never converted to Judaism. He always remained a Gentile Greek the back of the time of Jesus about this this. I did some research and intermarriage was practice. We don't know how many how many people were marrying outside Judaism.

We don't know for sure, but one thing we know that it didn't happen and the rabbis did not find that problematic. As long as the Gentile person was going to convert to Judaism, but if the Gentile person was not going to convert. This was a whole different issue. So can you imagine reading Luke and reading Paul more than likely Timothy's father, the Gentile Greek person never converted to Judaism. How do you think he was treated when he was probably with his mom's people all his dad was that Greek Gentile.

I really know why she married him when he went over to his Greek side of the family. Can you imagine what they did. Yeah, they think they're better than us those Jewish people that think they're better than us and then we find out that more than likely in Paul's first missionary journey. There was something that Took Pl. in Timothy's mother's life.

In fact, listen to second Timothy 15 Paul says when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

It could very well be that in Paul's first missionary journey as he was going across Asia minor, which is modern-day Turkey somehow someway Timothy's grandmother Lois got saved and not only her, but her daughter Timothy's mother, Eunice also got saved and Timothy was probably a young child I don't know maybe 810 years of age maybe older he got saved to.

I would assume folks more than likely all relations were cut off with his father. I mean not only is is his mother Jewish, but now she has converted to this sect, this colt of Christianity.

More than likely that part of Timothy's live the father's side was cut off.

No, I want to say something at this point. Hopefully that will apply to you where you are the gospel can be very costly. You see, we have the idea that if we follow Jesus Christ wholeheartedly give our life to him start attending church serving in charge of our family would be very happy is not always the case. In fact, if they are churchgoing family and deliver around here. They will give you a lot of headache by going over there walking to go with us was wrong with our church you're getting this post.

Listen, the gospel can be very costly.

More than likely Timothy was cut off from his family relations with his father because now he is a Christian. Jesus said something so important in Matthew chapter 1037 he says he who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Honor your father and your mother obey them, but when it comes to Jesus cries there comes a place where you say I love you mama love you dad, but I want to follow him on following Jesus Christ. Let's go back to acts chapter 16 verse two he meaning Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren, who were at Lysistrata and corneum. But here's something Paul sees this young man maybe was a teenager maybe was 15, 16 years of age. We don't know for sure but I believe he was very young policies Timothy. He knows his mother.

He knows his grandmother and he sees this young man who has a heart for Jesus Christ, but there is no doubt in his life and Paul's heart goes out to him. Listen to this verse, Paul wanted him to go on with him. He wanted Timothy to accompany him in his missionary journey, but I listen to verse three and he took him hold onto your hats. If you have any on and circumcised him. At that point I would've said Paula. Appreciate you being my father figure in all but the you know Wheeling being on a dude that okay we don't we don't have to do the circumcision part like and you just like Ray for me and encourage me send me off to a good school to send me a check time to time circumcised if you know anything about the apostle Paul.

He was dead set against circumcision and he thought he fought tooth and nail against circumcision. He stood up even to Peter who was the head of the apostles and said absolutely not.

If you can to make the Gentiles be circumcised, then you are a hypocrite because you don't keep the law all the way and when Titus was another Greek believer. They were saying. Titus need to be circumcised and Paul's is absolutely not. I'm not gonna let him be circumcised because you don't have to be circumcised nor to be saved if Paul has said this and this is how he believes that even at that very pointless and even at that very point he was going from church to church sending the message that they no longer have to be circumcised. Why in the world did he make Timothy get circumcised or listen to that verse again. Verse three and he took him and circumcised him. Listen because of the Jews who were in that region. For they all knew that his father was Greek everywhere that Timothy went there like yeah that's that's that kid and his dad is the Gentile have a father in his life and now he is a Christian, but even in the Christian circles yeah idea that they got saved in Paul's first missionary journey, but over who was his father he don't have one. When Paul heard about that is that oh yeah you can have a father Timothy, I need you to be circumcised from this day on your my son rarely go if someone says who's your father. You tell them I am your father, but you know what if they will S1 to get circumcised. The next time someone says but but but see, he's not really Jewish is a policy he's not really Jewish member his father's death all you want to check because he is process was not about circumcision. It was about son ship.

Paul would never compromise the gospel. This was not about offending people are not offending people. This was about son I want you to be known as my son from here on how amazing it is that when we don't have the personal life God brings several people in my own life. I came here when I was 17 years of age, grade, dad still a great dad.

He is 82 years of age. Yesterday, I thought it was his birthday, but is July 15 so I called him and Nicole come. This is not aspartate today so I called them up as that happy bird that had his leg well okay your month early but that's okay.

I'll take you like or no. When I came here and I was that kid not persecuted, but I was a kid with no father in my life. And then God sent men into my life who care about me, who loved me, who encouraged me prayed for me and the one who made the most good. The greatest impact on my life was.

Nicole's dad. I know the first time the cold home easy-going to date me to meet my dad and us showed up as you know the story saw him to the cafeteria window and I said absolutely not. He was a big called man as it they will even find my body as I know this is a really truly am not joking. You want to date me. Gotta meet my dad and sure enough I went to meet him one handshake and I felt really a means of filled that warmth that love that this man had for me and he never met me in my life and I tell Nicole and she knows this is true.

She knows what's coming. I loved her dad before. I love her amount was what happened between you and me, but I'm not letting him go, but I can look back on my old life, God brought godly man who encouraged me and played that role of a father. Even though my father was 5000 miles away and I challenge you this morning. You can either sit on the couch and recline and say my dad was in there no one was there a guarantee if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, God sent men in your life to play that role. Think about what I want to switch gears over here, Paul fill that role in Timothy's life. We don't have time to go to the entire two letters someone to pick out certain verses that I believe are so impactful and have touched my life.

What does Paul tell him about life as his father spiritually speaking symbolically. His father, the first thing we see is Paul is giving him confidence listen to first Timothy chapter 1 verse 18. He says this charge I commit to you son Timothy in that amazing intimacy brother Timothy Cole laborer Timothy. He says this charge I commit to use son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you that by them you may wage the good warfare would be seeing that statement is Paul giving Timothy confidence in life. Confidence confidences telling you son telling a daughter you can do it.

I believe in you. Listen again to Paul's words in first Timothy 118 this charge I commit to use son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, which means this Sunday can fail because her prophecies given about your success something else. He talks to him about church first Timothy 315 right so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the charge of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. We need fathers who would teach our children the value of church life. Of course I know it's all this teaching Timothy about how to organize a church allowable. I'm aware of that but I believe in this portion. You can also see Paul telling Timothy son, church matters, church matters, their fathers, who get in their cars truck whatever as they leave the church they're tearing everything down, tearing everything down from the music to the lights to the preaching to the to the full year to the Sunday school teacher or somebody who was in charge is a bunch of hypocrites over the what you think is going to your child's mind. The Holy Spirit is working in that little heart and that young man. The young girl's life.

And here you are pontificating about how much you know the Bible and how he made a mistake right there and if you have issues with anybody in the church family.

I strongly suggest don't share it in for you children. It changes their demeanor. I reached out to shake hands with with young people and realized there was a coldness there. You know what happened because you had a problem with me a problem with somebody else or something then go your way and you made the blunder of talking about in front of them and guess what you moved on. You reconciled. It's all fine by you, but they got infected. As long as you're in my house under my roof, going to church. The thinking, why, why do we even put ourselves through this fine once I get out from under your roof. I'm not going back to Jerusalem and church role was out of a job yet but you trash talk that the whole time is making sense. Listen again appalled.

Paul says I write to you so that you may know how you want to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is a charge of the living God in the pillar and ground of the truth is that there is no perfect church but you teach them the value of the fellowship, self-respect for this and read when I talk about self-esteem. Culture talks a lot about self esteem. When I talk about self-esteem were talking about self-respect.

Listen to what Paul says in first Timothy chapter 4 in verse 12 he says son let no one despise your youth would be an example to the believers, in word and conduct in love in spirit and faith, and purity after my daughter's you stand strong you stand tall. It doesn't matter who it is you stand your ground same to my sons only by look down on teach them self-respect. Teach them communication again. This one deserves to be in red communication. Listen to what Paul tells Timothy about how to communicate with people at different ages of life for 75 one. Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as a father. Of course this is in the context of church and ministry. But isn't that something.

Our culture needs to learn young people need to know how to talk to adults. Paul tells Timothy son do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as a father younger men as brothers older women as mothers and here's a beautiful one. Younger women as sisters. With all purity. Learn how to communicate with older men older women younger men younger women.

Are y'all awake this morning. That is your job to teach your children how to talk to people something else and again this is in no particular order that your relationship with Christ. Teach your children what it means to have a strong relationship with Jesus ice. Listen to what Paul says to Timothy in second Timmy chapter 2 verse one you there for my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

I want each one of my kids to have a strong relationship with Christ.

Something else endurance teaching your children not to give up second Timothy two verse three. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. You see, there is the imagery from a soldier. No one engage in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier also if anyone competes in athletics so first thing is, as a soldier son don't run off the battlefield as an athlete, anyone competes in athletic. He is not crown until he competes according to the rules and is not enough to just compare with a soldier and an athlete verse six the hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Teach your children the importance of endurance something else. Teaching children what it means to be focused focused. This is what Paul says to Timothy in second Timothy two verse 23 and I know he's talking to him as a pastor but is something more happening here, he said, but avoid foolish and ignorant disputes knowing that they generate strife and his servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach patient in humility correcting those who are in opposition, which means son, do not waste your time quibbling and fussing and quarreling with people to talk to the adult parents here. Do you do you do you like to start trouble between once on and a daughter. Are you the kind who likes to pick your your your children against each other because it's a sin you like the like is my favorite girl as a small boy, are you the type.

Oh I love my son, daughter, you know, don't care are you the type who likes to stir the pot is a shame if you have done that you need to apologize not only to your family but repent before God is a God. That's not a godly that's not what a godly parent should have done.

I know parents who have literally tore their family apart because of their selfishness and listen because of immaturity, something else avoid bad company this and what Paul says about this in second Timothy chapter 3 verse one he says but know this, but in the last days perilous times will come from men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, posters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, he's talking to his son is a son. There will be people who will not listen to their parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despise ours of God, traders, headstrong hottie lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Here's the key point and from such people turn away. We lost friends because we told our sons and our daughters know you can spend the night. That's okay frigid it if if if if if you don't let your children who hang out with them, who will because they could share the gospel know I should share the gospel. Called with the salt and the light would use would you throw your children out there to tame the wolves and then don't come in here and say I don't know what happened to Sheila drives. Now I don't know what happened but he is floating around out why because you said don't avoid them. Just go along with this, and what else, something else is happening here last one here. Time is very short go home and read this. These two epistles, Paul talks about his own personal example that in second Timothy chapter 3 and will put right up here. It's not enough just to preach at your children but you also have to live that life but you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance, listen, you have followed my life bad you have to live it out.

And here's the last one I can go on and on for the last number go back to the verse that I read in the opening dads are called to be the protector's number. What Paul told the Corinthian believers in first Quinton chapter 16 is it an Timothy comes seeing that he may be with you without fear. Don't any of you try to hurt my son and he says for he does the work of the Lord as I also do therefore let no one despise him but send him on his journey in peace that he may come to me for I am waiting for him. If I don't see my son. I know what's happened and I'm coming for him. How many girls are out there whose dad never came for them. And out of this message may be hard and harsh for some of you because you live that you been there and you see your failures before this message is not to condemn this message to help you do things differently. From this point on, but how many girls wished their dad had said, hey, if you're not there by this time I'm coming how many boys out there Wednesday.

Dad had stood up for them when they were being bullied or being taught down or made fun of the dads never came a challenge to this morning's don't get discouraged. Don't lose heart, look back and say God, where have I failed if I failed here because I see my failures on preaching does not see where I failed, do things different in this season of my life I can turn back time I can make my kids young again and start over is not possible from this season and live this stage in life that I want to do some things different and there are many young man young ladies that that you can be that father in their life that uncle circumcising people, but you can come along and sound. Praying for Yum encouraging if you ever need anything let me know via Paul and some Timothy's life.

If you do not know Christ as your Savior. Today is a day to be alive to Christ, receive your adoption papers become a child thank you so much for joining us for this message. Dad play a critical role in helping shape having us to learn more about God is how was it biological that will shake under your dad recognize the impact they've had on your life.

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