Fathers Day

1st September 2013

1. Introduction

• Today we celebrate Fathers and Fatherhood – Day to honour and appreciate.
• There are always mixed responses to celebrating Fathers’ Day.
• The word ‘Father’ is how Jesus taught us to address God.  (Matt 6:9)
• Yet the word ‘Father’ draws out many mixed emotions from peoples hearts.
  e.g. warmth; loving memories; appreciation, gratitude, honour, laughter
  e.g. disappointment, grief, fear, abandonment, bitterness, pain, emptiness, hate, anger
• Most of the challenges in church life is our culture stem from failure or absence of Fathering.  (Mal 4:6)

2. Honour brings Blessing

· Eph 6:2-3 Honour your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise that it may be well with you, and you may live long in the earth.

· Honour = G5091 = to fix a value upon, to place weight upon, respect, to prize, to hold in heart with value as someone precious.

· Honour is our gift – it is something we do from heart.

• Consequences impact:

(i) Relationships and success in life.                  (ii) Physical health.
e.g. Boy in Singapore – spirit of infirmity => bitterness in heart to Father.

3. Fathers Shape The Hearts of Children

· Fathering a child is a physical act – becoming a Father is a spiritual issue a heart issue.

· Role of Father is more than providing for daily needs – food, shelter, education.

- when that is done the father thinks his worth is finished.

· Role of Father is to shape the heart of children to fulfill destiny.
e.g. prodigal son – lost money – gained legacy. (Luk 15)

· Luke 3:21-22 God the Father impacts the heart of His Son.

a) Free access – open heaven => open heart to connect in covenant relationship.

b) Words of Identity => You are my beloved Son.

c) Words of Affirmation => Beloved; Well pleased

d) Touch => Spirit of God came upon Him

e) Legacy => Spirit of God is Spirit of Sonship – ever present guarding & disciplining.

Heb 2:8 Through Son – learned obedience.

4. Jesus Revealed True Sonship.

a) Intimate heart relationship.                                       (Jn 1:30 ‘I and the Father are one.’)

b) Reflected Fathers DNA/Character.             (Jn 14:9 ‘has seen me has seen the Father’)

c) Obedience.                                                    (Jn 5:19 ‘do only things if see Father doing’)

d) Strong sense personal destiny.      (Heb 12:2 ‘For joy set before him, he endured cross’)

e) Honour.                                                             (Jn 17:4 ‘if have glorified you on the earth’)

f) Legacy.                                            (Jn 20:21 ‘As the Father sent me so I am sending you’)

5. The Offer of Spiritual Sonship.

Jn 1:12  ‘As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His name.’

· We are all one decision from becoming a child of God.

· We all must clearly decide to live out our sonship.

· Change begins when we recognize our need and let Holy Spirit turn our heart!

Application Questions

· What feelings/responses arise when you hear the word Father?

· Are there any unresolved issues with your father, that Holy Spirit is prompting you to face and forgive?

· What do you need to do to give your father gifts of honour?

· Have you come to know God as your heavenly Father?