There is no greater job than being a father. It is a huge calling. The desire of every father's heart should be that their kids know that they are loved by them and loved by the Lord. Their desire should be that their children follow Jesus and chase after him all the days of their lives. There is a gr eat weight to that and we will all stand before God and have to give account to what we did for the children we have been entrusted with.
National Fatherhood Initiative
Those that end up in juvenile detention centers, a large portion come from fatherless homes. Children that come from fatherless homes have a 2X likelihood to be in jail by 30. They have a 4X risk of being in poverty. A majority of youth suicide come from children of fatherless homes. There seems to be a link to adult depression and growing up without a father. Little girls without fathers are 7X more likely to become pregnant as teenagers. Fatherless children are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.
It is not enough to just exist in the home. It is important to be loving and stable and spiritual.
New study from the Institute for Family Studies
-People who had a "very good" relationship with their father have a 73% odds of having a belief in God. -They also found out that when a father monitored their children's tv and internet usage, their children were far more likely to pray daily, identify as a Christian and believe in Jesus as adults.
National Study of Youth and religion (02-03) 3500 people from 4 generations
-Children raised by a loving and close father were 2X more likely to adopt and maintain their parent's religious faith compared to children who said their fathers were cold or distant or authoritarian.
-The emotional quality of a child's relationship with their father had a significantly stronger statistical correlation to long-term faith retention than their relationship with their mother.
1994 Swiss Federal Statistical Office Study on the demographic characteristics of language & religion.
-When only mothers took children to church, children had a 15% chance of continued attendance.
-When only fathers took children to church, children had a 55% chance of continued attendance.
-When both parents took children to church, children had a 72% chance of continued attendance.
1977 Journal for Scientific Study of Religion (Early childhood 4-11 yrs. regardless of race or wealth)
The found a correlation between subjects' images of their fathers and those of God, but no correlation between their image of their mothers and those of God. Those with the most negative image of their father had the most negative image of God.
The way that our children view God is a huge reflection of how as fathers we are raising them.
Raising children is not just women's work. Fathers play a roll too. You are shaping your child's view on who God is. So what do you do about it?
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (ESV) "Now this is the commandment-the statutes and the rules-that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 'Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.'"
Your faithfulness affects generations...also eternity
Your faithfulness or lack of faithfulness affects generations. Many are in church because our parents taught us about the Lord, and many of our parents' parents taught them about the Lord. We should pray for our children that they would be saved, that they would grow in faith. We should pray for godly spouses for each of them. We should be praying for their children to also be saved. We should pray for every person in your line to be saved until the Lord returns.
Fathers, you are the shepherd of your family.
The teaching in Deuteronomy means that you are the chief educator when it comes to teaching your children the faith. You should enlist your wife in this and always be on the same page. You are to pass it on to your family. You are the "pastors" of your family.
Principle Disciplinarian
"Wait until your father gets home!"
Ephesians 6:4 (ESV) "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Dads you sometimes have to be the bad guy and moms you have to let him lead. Guard you heart, correct them because you love them. Do not provoke them to wrath.
Proverbs 13:24 (ESV) "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him."
If we love our children we can't let them have everything they want all of the time. We have to set up boundaries for them and stick to them. We have to be men of our words and stick to them.
Be a persuader, an encourager and a motivator!
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV) "For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."
Your are persuading them toward the truth, you are encouraging them and motivating them to walk in truth.
Be a provider
1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV) "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
It is hard today, but it is something God has called us to provide.
Be a protector
Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV) "And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and the officials and to the rest of the people, 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your homes.'"
Ephesians 5:25 (ESV) "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, "
We as fathers should lay down our own wants and needs for your family. If someone must go without.... it needs to dad. Dad you are the last line of defense for your family. God has called us to protect our families. We are to protect in a physical sense, but also emotionally and spiritually, we are to protect our family in every way.
Be there and be present.
All the stuff in the world will make up for your presence. You cannot teach, train, discipline, love...if you are not there. Be present. Prioritize them over the game, the fishing, the hobby, time with friends. Family First!
Be Great!
God has given everyone of us a gift. He has given you a task, a job, be the best you can be at that job. Use your gift! Also as a father set an example and repent of your sins, don't let anything hinder you and sin that entangles you!
Proverbs 17:6 (ESV) "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers."
"The glory of children is their fathers." What does this mean?
"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a father who is evil, who is notorious for his terrible deeds? You, as the child, would feel the humiliation of it. There would be a residual shame where you, as the man's child, would be embarrassed to be related to him. You'd be tainted by his legacy. You might even consider changing your name so people would stop asking, 'You're not related to that guy, are you?'
On the other hand, have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a father who is great, who is known for doing very good things? As his child, you would wear his name with pride. As a family member, you'd feel the thrill of being related to him. There would be a residual glory that would extend for many generations. You'd feel good when someone asked., 'Oh, are you related to that guy?' -Tim Challies
Be the man that you kids can be proud of and look up to and say "That's my dad!"
Honor your father
Honor him with your presence, your words, your gifts, provide for their needs. Have some grace for your dad. Spend time with him. Ask him how you can honor him and love him better.
Closing Scripture
Proverbs 23:22-25 (ESV) "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice."
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
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