Honoring Fathers

 (This post is from my notes as Pastor Allan brought the Sunday morning message at church.)

 

 

It is important to honor our father.  In this world today, there is so much “Put Down,” on men. 

 

My dad was a great guy, but there were faults too.  He taught me to walk up and down, in and out like a roller coaster.  There were situations where my Dad was not honest and was difficult to depend on.  It has affected the way we look at God. 

We face God and say, “You remind me of my Dad.”  Can I depend on you God?  Many of us have ‘Daddy issues.”

I have worn many hats:  Son, student, pastor, husband, but the best one is to be a Father.

We come to church to worship and we praise Jesus, but how often do we approach the Father. 

Psalms 68:5  God is in his holy habitation.  God is a father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows.

God is our provider, our protector and He cares about us everyone.

Jesus tells my favorite story about the Prodigal Son who returns to his Father.  He came to his senses and made a decision to go back home.  His father was expecting his return.  His father did not give up on his son.  Our father’s love endures and is ever compassionate, and rejoices in the return.  This is about repentance and relationship restored that was once broken.

Sometimes we give up on some people, but God never gives up.  You were worth it for God the Father to give His Only Son to die for you.  It is about having a relationship with our Father God. 

1 John 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

We are debtors after the flesh and are led of the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:16,17 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

We are God’s children and we can call out 'Abba Father.'  We have been grafted into the blood line and have become co-heirs with Christ.  We are no longer bound by fear, but are covered by grace and love, becoming joint-heirs with Christ.

You can’t get any closer than that.

Of ourselves, we aren’t perfect, but because we are “one” with Jesus, we are being perfected.

“Daddy” is a term of affection.  Relationship with our Father we will understand His Father’s heart, to protect and care for you.

Pastor’s 6 year old daughter brought up a stool to sit next to her Dad.  She was acting up a bit and fell.  Pastor picked her up in a hug and comforted her as he patted her on the back.

Pastor said, Our Father God, picks us up when we fall and gives us comfort.

We fellowship with God, but we also need a relationship with one another.

 

Pastor called Father's to the front and 16 men came forward.  He prayed a prayer of blessing over them and gave each one a small gift.