Father's Day - so focus is on men/dads.
Question: how important is dad???
According to stats:
1) 71% of H.S. dropouts come from fatherless homes
2) 90% of homeless runaways come from a fatherless home
3) 70% of all juveniles in state reform schools come from a fatherless home.
4) 85% of imprisoned youths grew up in a fatherless home.
5) 43% of adult inmates grew up in a single parent home - generally without a dad
6) 80% of rapists come from a fatherless home.
7) crime rates in ALL categories are highest among those raised without a dad
8) boys raised in a single parent home are twice as likely to commit a crime that lead to incarceration
9) boys raised in step-families are 3xs as likely to commit a crime that leads to incarceration
10) 95% of men on death row HATED their fathers.
Dads and daughters:
1) teenage girls living in a fatherless home are 60% more likely to be invoived in premarital sex than those in 2 parent homes.
2) 90% of girls with anorexia (nervosa) lake a close relationship with their father
3) girls growing up in a home where dad is absent are far more likely to exhibit:
A) low motivation for achievement
B) a tendency to choose immediate ratification rather than self discipline for later rewards
C) greater tendency toward group influence/peer pressure
D) lower self esteem
4) A woman's delf esteem largely determined by 2 men in her life - ie: her dad and her 1st husband
ie: Kids growing up in a home with a father present have a distinct advantage!
They are less likely to live in poverty
abuse drugs and alcohol
do jail time
be sexually active as teens
even be obese
They do better in school
Have a larger vocabulary!
Take healthy risks (which translates into confidence in abilities)
This more than just in childhood - = adolescence, adulthood
Point: not saying that single moms can't (many do well!!)
Doesn't mean kids without a father can't achieve. Many moms raise excellent children.
Point: = dads Make a Difference. Their influence is HUGE!
Conversion Stats:
When child is the 1st to convert, family will convert 4% of the time
When mom is the 1st. to convert, family will convert 17% of the time.
When dad is the 1st. to convert, family will convert 93% of the time.
Church attendance as adults
If only mom attends church, 30% will attend as adults
If only dad attends church 70% will attends as adults.
Why? Because it's not a grown up thing. A woman thing.
Not saying Mom is less important. Point = dads Make a Difference!!!
Which adds weight to 1 Tim. 5:8
All this to say, men "rise up, man up, do better, clime higher. 1 Cor. 16:13
These people came out of a pagan society, had no Jewish background.
Many men want this... yet fail to rise! Why??
(1) Selfishness - ie want what I want! Even while are wanting what God wants!!!
This is human-ness!! (Rom 3:23 with Rom. 7)
(2) Fear - of God's calling! What might He ask of me? What will I have to give up? take up? IF I surrender, I lose control!!! (= issue for all people ... especially for men!!)
(3) Ignorance - ie what exactly am I to do? to rise up to? AND ... How exactly am I to do that??
(4) Despair!! ie: I've tried and failed ... repeatedly!! Therefore, why bother? I Give Up!!
On one hand, this is not every man's battle!!! Because not all are attempting to "rise up". (especially to God's standard/calling)
However, it is the battle of many men, especially the Christian man!!
So;;; A Story - is not a teaching, is an illustration of a teaching!!!
Gen. 32:22-31
On one hand, the views vary as to who Jacob was wrestling with. Angel? pre-incarnate Christ?
However, the consensus = Jacob ... (1) WRESTLED with God
(2) WRESTLED with himself!
Note: Focus - Gen. 32:27 - "what is your name?"/ = declare your name. name yourself = confession!!
Was a confession of: (1) his character "supplanter, trickster, manipulator, user of people, dishonorable
(2) his failure (s) ie: financial success ... relational failure!!! (w/father, brother, father-in-law, GOD!!)
(3) his predicament - fleeing father-in-law, facing brother's wrath ... all by his own doing!!
(4) his inability ... to fix this ... to fix himself!! He was morally and relationally inadequate!! In essence, he was confessing to his inability.
Therefore: (5) his need ... of DIVINE assistance!!! He spent 30 years climbing the ladder of business world .. only to realize he was sliding down in the world that really matters!!
NOW he recognizes and admits this....
Result = turning point!! Jacob into Israel! (Prince of God)
That's the story!!!
Any application here? for us??
APPLICATION!!
#1. declaring your name is the 1st. step in Rising Up - because - we don't fix what ain't broke!!
Example: Step #1 in AA = admitting the problem
Note: this doesn't mean "I'm broken and failing in every way!!"
This = "I'm failing in many ways." "I'm failing in the most important ways!"
#2. declaring your name is admitting and confessing....
(A) your flaws, faults - on one hand, your character is NOT ALL your fault. However, your conduct is!!!
and (B) your inability to fix it. (AA steps 1-3)
(NOTE: non of this is gender specific!! Applies to all!)
#3. declaring your name is designed to help you UP, NOT to push you down, hold you down.
Point = see truth, admit truth, turn to God ... RISE UP!!
#4. the naming is only the 1st step. (AA = 12 steps!)
now must continue to move forward!
On one hand, this is a very important turning point.
However, requires follow up to be effective.
#5. the naming is not a 1 time event
must continue to recognize, admit, correct
In the story .... Gen. 32:31 Jacob didn't look blessed!! But ... he was and he knew it.
And in time people stopped calling him Jacob and used Israel - Gen. 32:27 - 28
You'll never be perfect. But you CAN RISE UP!!
And... it's never too late to start!!!
Closing Scripture: 1 Cor. 16;13
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