What
Made Abraham Such a Great Father?
Genesis
18:16-19
DATE:
16 June, 1996 AM
PLACE: BBC Blarney
I. Introduction -
A. What would it take to be the BEST Dad? Is there a pattern to follow? A recipe to follow? Is it even possible? Well you better believe it is. God is very interested in every Dad in this room being the best!
B. This message might not seem to apply to some of you simply because you are not a “father”. But the Bible has a way of working on more than one type of person at a time - the principles are universal
C. Even though you may not be a “Dad,” you need to learn what God expects of Dads today because it will also apply to most everyone in this room!
II. Background (Gen 18:16-18) The Life of Abraham
A. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, is living in the wicked city of Sodom.
B. The Lord shows up and debates on whether or not to let Abraham in on what was about to happen to Sodom and Gomorra.
C. God decides to include Abraham in on His plans to destroy the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorra simply because of the kind of person that Abraham was.
D. And, the kind of person that Abraham, was turns out to be the best example of fatherhood for us to learn from, outside of God the Father!
III. Message - To Be the Best Dad Possible (Gen 18:18,19
A. Know God (Jer 9:23,24) - “For I know him...” - The Best Dad is a Saved Dad! Heaven-bound son of God!
1. Evidently, God is very proud of Abraham. Why? Because of a great act of goodness or good work? No, just simply because of the right kind of faith (Gen 15:1,5,6; Heb 11:6)!
2. Not just knowing ABOUT God, but being known BY God (Gal 4:8,9; Mt 7:21-23) as a child of God, born again - in God’s family
3. Most people could care less about God - especially men these days! But not Christian men (Cf 1 Cor 1:18). Real men, and real godly fathers want to know God, and walk with God!
4. Abraham was known as the Friend of God (Jam 2:23). He walked with God every day. Loved God. Relied on God for everything!
5. What does God know about you? Faker? Fraud? Religious? saved!
B. Take Responsibility for Your Family (Josh 24:15) - “...that HE will command...” - The Best Dad is a Responsible Dad
1. It’s not good enough to just take responsibility for providing a home for your family, and food for the table, and clothes on everyone’s backs - if a parent neglects the health, or welfare of their family, they are considered scum - and rightly so!
2. What about the spiritual welfare of his family (Dt 6:6,7)? Most men these days leave it to the schools, and to wives, and to church - don’t think that we will do your job! We can’t! We can only work WITH you, and help you do what GOD expects YOU to do!
3. A responsible Dad knows that he was given his responsibilities not by the government, nor by society, but by God, and will have to give an account to God how he handled them (Rom 14:12)!
4. An irresponsible Dad is worse than an irresponsible child - because more people are affected, and never get the chance to live in a home where Christ alone is honoured instead of cussed at!!!
5. You had better take responsibility for how your children know God - do they know Him as just “a god” (new age), or as Saviour?
C. Lead Your Family by Example (Philp 4:9) - “...and his household AFTER him...” - The Best Dad is a Leader - not dictator!
1. Most homes are yelling pits - people screaming at each other, barking orders, telling children what to do
2. But no leadership. Few men LEAD their families! Oh yeah, they TELL everyone what to do, but THEY wont do it themselves as an example of HOW to do things!
3. Throughout my life, the most important and influential people in my life were those who SHOWED me how to live for God!
4. The BEST thing I can do for my children is not just TELL them what to do, but to LIVE it in front of them, and challenge them to follow me as I follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1)
D. Be Consistent (1 Cor 4:2) - The Best Dad is Faithful
1. Most of us are real good at “talking” - but very sorry at “doing.” And even worse at “consistently” doing!
2. Too easy to be consistent at doing nothing. Everyone does that!
3. It takes work to do something for God, and not back down!
4. What ever you do for Christ, keep it up (Acts 20-24; 2 Tim 4:7)
5. The worse thing our wives and families have against us gentlemen, is that we don’t stay with our commitment - that is NOT right!
E. Be Interested in Righteousness, and not just in Yourself (2 Tim 2:19) - “... and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment...” The Best Dad is Burdened (concerned) for God
1. Burdened to keep the way of the Lord - not interested in a home where everyone does their “own thing,” going their own ways!
2. Burdened for the salvation of their family - fearful of their children’s salvation - praying, weeping, and concerned!
2. Burdened for the filling of the Holy Spirit - for service
3. Burdened for souls on their way to hell - to do something
4. Burdened for the bad testimony that God has gotten over the years with all the so called “Christians” living ungodly lifestyles!!!
5. Burdened to know this Book inside-out so that he can minister its words to every situation in life (Tit 1:9)
F. Be a Blessing (Gen 18:18,19) - “...all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him...” - The best Dad IS a Blessing! Be someone whom God blesses THROUGH, not just TO!
1. Everybody wants the blessings of God - health, family, money
2. But so few want God’s blessings for others when it will cost them
3. The best kind of a Dad is one who thinks of you first ahead of himself, and that is a channel that God uses to meet your need!
4. The Christians in this room should not be known for how God has or is blessing them, but for how God blesses THROUGH them!!!
IV. Conclusion - How To Be The Best Dad Possible
A. Know God - The Best Dad is a Saved Dad! Are you truly saved?
B. Take Responsibility for Your Family - The best dad is responsible. Take responsibility for the spiritual well-being of your wife, your family! Whether you want to or not, God will hold you responsible!
C. Lead Your Family by Example - The best Dad is a leader. Start living right, in your home instead of just requiring everyone else to!
D. Be Consistent - The Best Dad is Faithful. What ever decisions you make today, keep them! Be consistent, and faithful for Christ!
E. Be Interested in Righteousness, and not just in Yourself - The Best Dad is Burdened for God - Be concerned about important things
1. Burdened to keep the way of the Lord
2. Burdened for the salvation of their family
2. Burdened for the filling of the Holy Spirit - for service
3. Burdened for souls on their way to hell - to do something
4. Burdened about the bad testimony that God has
5. Burdened to know this Book
F. Be a Blessing - The Best Dad IS a Blessing! Someone whom God blesses THROUGH, not just TO!
What
Made Abraham Such a Great Father?
Genesis
18:16-19
I. Introduction - What would it take to be the BEST Dad?
II. Background (Gen 18:16-18) - The Life of Abraham
And, the kind of person that Abraham, was turns out to be the best example of fatherhood for us to learn from, outside of God the Father!
III. Message - To Be the Best Dad Possible (Gen 18:18,19
A. Know God (Jer 9:23,24) “For I know him...” - He is a Saved Dad!
1. Evidently God is proud of Abraham. (Gen 15:1,5,6; Heb 11:6)
2. Not just knowing ABOUT God, but being known BY God (Gal 4:8,9; Mt 7:21-23) as a child of God, born again - in God’s family
B. Take Responsibility for Your Family (Josh 24:15) - “...that HE will command...” - The Best Dad is a Responsible Dad
1. The spiritual welfare of his family (Dt 6:6,7), not just physical
2. We will have to give an account to God (Rom 14:12)!
C. Lead Your Family by Example (Philp 4:9) - “...and his household AFTER him...” - The Best Dad is a Leader - not dictator!
The BEST thing I can do for my children is not just TELL them what to do, but to LIVE it in front of them, and challenge them to follow me as I follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1)
D. Be Consistent (1Cor 4:2) - The Best Dad is Faithful. Most of us are real good at “talking” - but very sorry at “doing.” And even worse at “consistently” doing! What ever you do for Christ, keep it up (Act 20-24; 2Ti 4:7)
E. Be Interested in Right Things, and not just in Yourself (2 Tim 2:19) - “... and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment...” The Best Dad is Burdened (concerned) for God
1. Burdened to keep the way of the Lord - not interested in a home where everyone does their “own thing,” going their own ways!
2. Burdened for the salvation of their family
3. Burdened for the filling of the Holy Spirit - for service
4. Burdened for souls on their way to hell - to do something
F. Be a Blessing (Gen 18:18,19) - “...all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him...” - The Best Dad IS a Blessing! Be someone whom God blesses THROUGH, not just TO!
1. Everybody wants the blessings of God - health, family, money
2. But so few want God’s blessings for others when it will cost them
How
to Be The Best Dad Possible!
Learned
from the Life of Abraham in Genesis 18:16-19
1.
Be a Christian Dad - Be born
again by repenting of your sins, and trusting Jesus Christ for complete
forgiveness (John 3:3-7)!
2.
Take responsibility for the
spiritual well-being of your home (Joshua 24:15). Pray with your wife, and your
children. Lead them in family devotions. Instruct them in God’s way. Don’t
leave this to others!
3.
Lead your family. Don’t
expect your family to do things that you wont do yourself. Let them follow you
as you serve the Lord Jesus (Philippians 4:9).
4.
Be consistent in your walk
with Christ (1 Corinthians 4:2). Don’t make promises, and then not keep them.
5.
Be interested in doing right,
even when it costs you your time, your prestige, and your pride (2 Timothy
2:19). Your family will respect you, and love you far greater than you know!
6.
Be a blessing in everything you
do. Your family ought to love to be around you (Genesis 18:18)!
The
glory of children are their fathers.
Proverbs
17:6
A
Father’s Day Check-List, from BBC Blarney