June-09-fathers Day-sd

The Preacher’s Notebook The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC (Delivered by E-mail and Us Postage Through Subscription as an Extension of the Pulpit Ministry of this Church)

Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858 – E-Mail: [email protected] Copyright (C) 2009. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.

Vol. III

June 2009 – Special Day Issue

Issue 6

Fathers A FATHER’S DAY RESOURCE Father’s Day is a day on which many people of the United States and Canada express gratitude to their fathers by giving gifts and greeting cards. Father’s Day always comes on the third Sunday of June. The practice was started by Mrs. Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington after listening to a Mother’s Day Sermon. In 1909 she drew up a petition recommending the adoption of a national father’s day. The Spokane Ministerial Association and the local YMCA supported it and through these efforts, Spokane celebrated the first FATHER’S DAY on June 19, 1910. Over the years, many resolutions to make this day an official national holiday were introduced. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge recommended national observance of the occasion in order “...to establish more intimate relationships between fathers and their children, and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” Finally, in 1972, President Richard M. Nixon signed FATHER’S DAY into law. Father’s Day has become one of the most favored special Sundays of the year. On these days in every church, faithful pastors will press the need for godly fathers and strong homes through husbands that achieve Biblical standards. The word “Father” is not only the identity of biological kinship, it is a title of honor given to those who establish anything important in human affairs. We find that this list of notable fathers includes the Father of Our Country, George Washington. The Father of History is said to be Herodotus, who wrote the first great history of Greece and the ancient world. The Father of Medicine is, of course, Hippocrates in whose memory each modern physician takes his oath of service. The Bible speaks of “The Father of Lies” in a scornful notation of Satan in John 8:44. The rank of fathers is a great classification of which I enjoy a place because of my biological kinship to the children I have fathered. There is a responsibility that descends on each father that must be carried to bring these children into adulthood and to CHRIST. The ancient Diogenes taught that if the sons swore, the father was to be struck. It is sure that the father has a deep reaching influence on the child. Fathers have planted their genes in the child but also the father can cultivate the virtues of godly living in his children. (Deut. 4:9) Some of the fathers of the Bible will teach a mighty lesson in the needs of fathers. First we see the “Father of the Race” in Adam. Adam was the preacher of the message of the fall and the redemption of GOD through the blood of another. Even though this is true, the New -1-

Testament charges the first Adam with the deed of bringing SIN upon the race. (Rom. 5:12) Sin is seated deep in our kinship with this father. Secondly, after the flood of Genesis chapter six we see the father of the restored Earth. This father is Noah and he was a preacher of righteousness but while he saved the race on the ark, he carried the sin of fallen mankind in his heart of the ark. (Heb. 11:7) Then we meet the father of the Royal House. David is one of the greatest fathers of the Old Testament but can not be found spotless for he cried that his sin was ever before him. The sad story is told in every generation. If there is not one to hopen us we shall all be failures. All fathers need one to cleanse us from the sins of our own fathers. (Ex. 20:5) The glad truth is that there IS one who can purify the race of fathers. He is the Father of Redemption through Grace and Truth. This last Adam (Christ) is the progenitor of a renewed nature. (“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of GOD and our FATHER...” Gal. 1:4) Fathers who have failed can be completed in HIM and fitted for fatherhood and the future. Let each father pray to be found in CHRIST for the distress of our needy souls. I- The Beloved Father – Israel (Gen. 46:29) (“And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.”) II- The Alienated Father – David (2 Sam. 14:24 “And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.”) III- The Bereaved Father – David (2 Sam. 18:33 “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”) IV- The Kind Father – “Much more...” (Matt. 7:9-11 “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”) V- The Compassionate Father – The prodigal’s Father (Luke 15:20 “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”) To Fathers: “Parents who wish to train up their children in the way they should go, must go in the way in which they would have their children go.” (Bacon) To children: “...the voice of parents is the voice ...of Heaven’s lieutenants.” (Shakespear) “Whosoever makes his father’s heart to bleed, shall have a child that will revenge the deed.” (Thomas Randolph) To Both: “It is a wise father who knows his own child. It is a wise child who knows its own father.” (Shakespeare in the “Merchant of Venice” )

Some Fathers the Bible Speaks Of I- Adam – The federal head of the race of mankind (Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45) Speaks of corruption (Gen. 3:1; Psa. 12:6-7) thru the serpent: As there was a corruption of GOD’S Word in Gen. 3; we see the three sentinels to corruption of HIS Word in the Scripture: A- Commandment (Deut. 4:2) B- Commendation (Prov. 30:6) C- Condemnation (Rev. 22:19) II- Cain – The head of all those who reject GOD’S redemption. (“The way of Cain...” Jude 11) Speaks of -2-

conviction (Gen. 4:13) thru the HOLY GHOST: An unpopular message is that the work of the HOLY GHOST is “CONVICTION.” See John 16:8-11: A- Of sin (Vs 9) B- Of Righteousness (Vs 10) C- Of Judgement (Vs 11) III- Korah – The head of all rebels. (“the gainsaying of Core” Jude 11) Speaks of condemnation (1 Sam. 15:23) thru rebellion: A rebel always follows these steps towards an evil end. A- He sought to “do” what he saw as right. (Num. 16:2) B- He sought the place GOD did not chose for him. (Num. 16:7) C- He perished for his gainsaying (Num. 16:35) (See Prov. 17:11 “An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.”) IV- Hezekiah – The executive head of a nation. Speaks of consecration thru worship (“And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the alter...” I Chron. 29:27) (See Heb. 10:20 “...a new and living way...”). CONSECRATED: A- fruit (John 15:5) B- faith (Heb. 11:6) C- favor (2 Cor. 9:8) V- Isaiah – The spiritual head of a nation. Speaks of confession thru prayer (“I am a man of unclean lips.” Isa. 6:5) (See 1 John 1:9). CONFESSION is good: A- for a nation (Jonah 3:5) B- for a church (1 Peter 4:17) C- for a soul (Psa. 32:5) VI- Joshua – The military head of a nation. Speaks of choice thru determination (“...as for me and my house we will serve the LORD.” Josh. 24:15) (See Deut. 30:19 “...therefore choose life, that thou and thy seed may live.”). Choose in the matter of: A- Salvation (Heb. 11:7) B- Sanctification (1 Thes. 5:23) C- Service (Josh. 24:15)

God’s Plan for Real Fathers “A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.” Psa. 128:1-6) If there’s anything in shortage today it is men. Real Men who will say “...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Not everyone who is a male is a man. I mean a real man, a godly man. You can be born a male, but it takes maturity to be a man. You’re young only once, but you can be immature forever. I am talking about being a real, masculine, virile, Godly, Biblical man. What is real manliness? What is God’s plan for the man? If you get a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a stereo, a CD player, etc., you get a book of instructions. If you get a new automobile, you get a book. God has given us a book. It is the Word of God and from the Word of God we’re going to find God’s plan for the man. We’re not going to get it from Tom Brokaw. We’re not going to get it from Donald Trump. We’re not even going to get it from John Wayne. We’re going to have to find out from God’s Word what God’s plan for the man is. There is a basic fundamental difference between men and women and the devil is doing all that he -3-

can do to blur that distinction. The Bible says in Genesis 1:27 that God made them in the beginning, male and female. There are those who are trying to tell us that there is no fundamental difference and they’re doing that in the name of “equality.” Men and woman are equal, but they are not the same. God made man and God made woman. God made them different. God made them different for a purpose. In this Psalm we are going to find out what a Real Father is. In other words; God’s plan for the man. I. A Real Father Will Have a Faithful Walk (Psa. 128:1). A) This verse talks about the pattern that a husband and father is to set before his children. He is to be a worshiping Father. He is to be a godly husband. He is to have a personal walk with almighty God. His wife and children need to see the husband and father walking with God. In the home, the man is a figure, a picture of Almighty God. B) What did Jesus teach us to call God? Our Father. If you’re a child and you have a father then what is your mind going to say? God is like Daddy. We are taught to pray to God, our Father. In the home, the husband represents Almighty God to his children, and the Lord Jesus Christ to his wife. The Bible says that God sent his Spirit into our hearts crying Abba Father. That means Daddy, father. C) Fathers, the reason you ought to live such a godly life is that you are modeling before your family what Almighty God is like and what the Lord Jesus Christ is like. Look at 1 Corinthians 11:3-7. This verse tells us that while God the Father and God the Son are co-equal and co-eternal that God the Father is the head of God the Son and while the husband and the wife are of equal worth, the husband is the head of the wife. And then Paul says in verse 7 speaking of the man, “... he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.” He, the man, is the image and glory of God. The woman is the glory of the man. That is, in the home the man pictures almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The woman pictures the church, the bride of Christ. Men, listen!! Don’t ever get the idea that religion and spirituality is primarily for the woman and the children. God demands more spirituality from the man than the woman. God puts a bigger responsibility on the man than on a woman. And if your home is not right, you share the primary responsibility. Not her and not the children. Men, we are the head of the home. II. A Real Father Will Have a Fruitful Walk (Psa. 128:2). A) God’s plan for the man is to provide for his family. He is to be a provider for the home. This goes all the way back to Genesis 3:19. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.” Now he’s saying it’s not going to be easy. And that ladies is why God gave men a tough exterior. He’s suppose to be tough because he is the primary bread winner. God did not make the woman to be the primary bread winner. God made you ladies, to be the nurturer. C) God made the man to provide. That provision goes beyond food and clothing and housing. If you think that you can give your kids things and put your wife in a beautiful house and you’ve done your job, you’re wrong. You are to provide the emotional and spiritual security of that home. We have a generation today that has forgotten that principle. D) You are not to be only a provider, you are to be a provisionary. That is to say what does my family really need? Have you ever sat down and thought out plans for your family? I have. I have them on my prayer list. I’ve thought out plans for my life and plans for each one of my children. That doesn’t mean that I can rule their homes. I can not.

-4-

But I have something that I can pray for. I have something that I can work towards. I have something that I can hope for. What is God’s plan? What is man’s fruitful work? He is to be a provider and he is to be a protector. III. A Real Father Will Have a Family That Worships (Psa. 128:3-5). A) He’s a man that seeks God’s blessing and therefore becomes God’s blessing. The blessing goes beyond his own family. The blessing goes to the nation. America will never be right until our homes are right. Our homes will never be right till the daddies get right. B) God’s plan is for man to say: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” In verse 3, the picture is of a wife like a tender vine and the children like olive plants. Do you know one thing that they both have in common? They need to be cared for. They need to be cultivated. C) A vine is very fruitful, but it needs support. It needs something to lean upon. So you’re wife is like a vine by the side of the house. And the olive trees, you’re children. In the middle east, if you had olive trees, you would have a source of productivity, a source of wealth. These olive trees, green, productive, beautiful and stable. But they need to be cultivated.

Conclusion of the Matter After we have seen several sermon themes fleshed out in the previous manuscript pages, the only thing that could be more suitable for a preacher to read would be a list of prospective texts for the preparation of the next “Father’s Day” homily. This selection is not definitive but offers many ideas for our project of a few weeks from now (July 21, 2009). Here you are offered a plethora of ten impressive texts with a brief commit on each and its prospective use. 1- A Father's Orders (Deut. 6:4-9) – This classic Old Testament passage, taken from the Pentateuch, is known as the "Shema." (The Hebrew word for the call to attention). These Bible verses offer the basic foundation for biblical parenting, making this Scripture ideal as the most needed text for a Father's Day sermon. 2- A Father's Treasure (Psa. 127:3-5) – Although parents may grow weary and frustrated at times, the Scriptures remind fathers (and mothers) that children are to be treasured as gifts from God. These Bible verses may ring truer in a Father's Day sermon than any other date on the calendar, but they are always true every day of the year. 3- A Father's Discipline (Prov. 3:11-12) – Must fathers be reminded in a Father's Day sermon to discipline their children? Perhaps not, unless they are permissive parents. Discipline is certainly a far cry from punishment, or it ought to be. The motive and method may differ drastically. This Bible passage offers encouragement for godly fathers, attempting to steer their children through Scriptural parenting. Father's Day is a great day to honor those fathers who offer consistent and loving discipline. 4- A Father's Character (Proverbs 10:9) – An honest father, who lives with authenticity and integrity, may be honored and celebrated daily, but particularly on Father's Day. This Bible verse highlights a father who is the same man at home as he is at work, at church or in the public. The Scriptural promise of peace and confidence for such an honest man is a true blessing, especially in this sermon. 5- A Father's Words (Proverbs 17:27) – Words have power to bring encouragement or discouragement, motivation or distress, particularly from a father to a child. This Scriptural admonition points particularly to fathers, who carry nearly unlimited influence over their youngsters, at least for a time. This Bible passage fits neatly into a Father's Day sermon, as it offers a clear description of the speech habits and self control of a godly father. 6- A Father's Leadership (Prov. 23:13-14) – Dads who dare to discipline, tempered with wisdom and -5-

patience, actually demonstrate their love for their children. Fathers who care enough to pay attention and exercise godly authority can steer their offspring in a positive direction. Although this Scripture may seem aimed at correcting children, as it is, the passage is also fitting for a Father's Day text, because it offers important instruction for parenting. 7- A Father's Sonship (Prov. 23:22) – Although they may grow into adults, sons remain sons of their parents, as long as those parents live. This Bible verse offers a wonderful Father's Day reminder for fathers. Although adults may not be guided daily by their own parents, they are still called by Scripture to respect and honor them. This Bible verse is most appropriate for a Father's Day sermon. As fathers enjoy the affection and gifts of Father's Day, may they remember to honor and bless their own dads as well. 8- A Father's Testimony (Joel 1:3) – Wise words are not lost on younger generations, even when they do not seem to be listening. The lessons and legacies of the past can only be continued, if they are shared with future generations. This Old Testament Bible verse admonishes fathers to pass on their experiences, stories and lessons of faith to their offspring. What could be a more appropriate Scripture for a Father's Day sermon? 9- A Father's Temper (Eph. 6:4) – Has any father not been irritated or annoyed at some time by the behavior, words or attitudes of his children? Even so, the Scriptures warn fathers about the dangers of provoking children through overbearing and unfair parenting. This Bible verse contains plenty of truth for a Father's Day sermon on fatherhood with firmness and fairness, the blessed balance. 10- A Father's Patience (Col. 3:21) – This Bible verse might be a strategic tandem for the previous one in a Father's Day sermon, as it confirms the Scriptural truth expressed in Eph. 6:4. Perhaps the fact that the Apostle Paul had opportunity to address the same issue with both the Ephesian and Colossian churches indicates that this may be a common concern for fathers and children. Why not address this issue in a Father's Day sermon from these texts? Our current treatment has come to an end for the present, we must break off our discussion for now and our thoughts will soon be called to other pastoral issues but as sure as all living in the human family are “sons” and “daughters,” we will not forget the roots of our parentage. Let us be sure that we move forward with this conscience thought that we a responsibility to that parentage in some way. Father’s Day allows each of us to acknowledge and exercise that obligation. Happy Father’s Day!!!

-6-

This Periodical is printed by Gospel Publishing and Colportage, a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC, and is designed for education, evangelism, and edification. If we may assist you in knowing more about Christ and the Christian life, please write us without obligation: First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs PO Box 388, Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858

Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2 These Sermons are used through the subscription to an E-Mail list maintained by Bro. Preslar ([email protected]) and are the copyrighted property of Dr. Terry W. Preslar. This document is part of a growing collection that is part of the Fresh Waters Digital Library. Re-distribution is allowed with this restriction: This document must not be disassembled or reverse engineered and all pages must be distributed together. This material may not be used in any commercial manner. All files in this series are in the PDF file format and can be read with the free pdf reader fro adobe called acrobat reader. It is hoped that this restriction will not hinder the effective use of this sermon/essay in the teaching and preaching of this document. – The Editor

“...when thou comest, bring with thee...the books, but especially the parchments. (2 Tim. 4:13) Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2 P.O. Box 388 Mineral Springs, N.C. 28108 1(704)843-3858 E-Mail: [email protected]

First Baptist Church PO Box 388 Mineral Springs, NC 28108