The subject of father is one that is very close to my heart.  God has blessed me with three wonderful, amazing, challenging…and most of all, rewarding children of my own.  But today is not only about you men that have a house full of kids…it’s for all of you really.  

For you ladies…today you’ll be encouraged because you will see and you will hear many things that you know so deeply to be true; that a little girl needs her daddy.  She needs him to protect her, to love her, to prepare her for a world of boys that will want her attention but may very well care nothing for her heart…  

You’ll see and you’ll hear today, mom’s, something you already know but so often is so difficult to say without feeling like you’re axe grinding or harping on us dad’s; that a little boy needs his daddy.  He needs him to teach him how to be a man, how to live, how to treat people, how to protect and love and serve with integrity, security and strength…He needs him to prepare him for a world that will want his effort but may very well care nothing for his heart…  

And you know what, we know they need us…we know it…because once….we were them…you were them, everyone of us…that is part of God’s perfect design of life…for us to begin as little ones…to grow…and the to somehow find our way back to the innocence of childhood…and then discover that even still, we so need our Father’s love, our Father’s covering, our Father’s leadership.

And so today is not only about you men that have a house full of urchins, as my mom used to say.  And today is not only about you women who know so surely how important daddy’s are to their little ones, but today is also for you single men, you single women, you who do not have little ones even…

You see, the subject of father is one that is very close to my heart…because as much as I yearned for a father growing up…not someone who was in and out one month out of the year, and not someone who my mom would take me to meet in a parking lot every other Friday afternoon and then come back and get me Sunday afternoon, and not someone who was around for a few years until the fighting became too fierce, so he left…but a real daddy…one who would show me, teach me, hold me, secure me, love me…but he wasn’t there…ever.  

And I know now, as I look back now, I see how God…He comforted me…as Psalm 68:5 says His name is Yah >  a Father to the Fatherless…He brings out those who are bound, He brings them into prosperity…

And check this out single men, single women, ya’ll who don’t have kids…one way that God comforted me, and upheld me…is that He sent to me men and women who were not my daddy, but they provided as best they could some of those things that I’ve mentioned…and I’m so thankful for them.

My grandfather, Papa…my best friend’s father Tom….my friend John…who was simply a single man…that saw a broken child and it broke his heart.  So today, yes it’s Father’s Day and we will talk a bit about Dad’s and their impact and importance, but understand…please hear me…God has called each one of you men to see the world through the Father’s eyes…God has called each one of you women to see the world through the Father’s eyes…because it is straight up FULL of His broken children…and His heart is broken for them.  

If we can get that, if we can do that…there will be no more church division…there will be no more counseling…there will be no more dissatisfaction and anger in your life…because you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Father’s Spirit and power, and purpose, and love, and grace, and fellowship…will reign in your hearts…peace will reign. (Phil 4)

Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 4…and pick it up with me at verse 14…

I do not write these things to shame you (or make you feel inadequate or make you feel badly) but as my beloved children I warn you.  (The word there for warn is Nutheteo which also means to “encourage”)  For though you might have ten thousand instructors (pidagogos – only other place its used is in Gal 3 and it refers to the law) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.  Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

You see, though we have ten thousand men and ten thousand women and ten thousand people that want to tell us what is right, or maybe one person that wants to tell us ten thousand things wrong about us…we have very few that are willing to love us…to lead us into peace…to guide us into grace…VERY few.  

You know…all of you are leading somewhere…it’s VERY few that accept that fact…that cherish that call, that realize and take ownership of that truth.  

But specifically dads, get this dads…make no mistake pops…men…(mom’s and ladies you know this), they’re watching!  

Those little ones dad, you are leading them…and they are following you dad…Because to them you ARE father, larger than life…good or bad, safe or not, wise or foolish…to them, you’re dad and so the responsibility is great.  It is one that cannot be denied and it cannot be rejected…you are called to be as Paul says, a father in Christ Jesus!  And they ARE watching.  

I brought a few short clips to show you men today because you’re so visual!  HA…(watch the "Watching" video)…

First Video - "Watching"

Men, they’re watching you…

Watching the way you treat people.  Paul back in 1 Corinthians 4, before he called to task the men of God naming them as school-masters, law givers, tough and uninvolved rather than fathers…look what he says back in verse 12…”We labor, working with our hands.  Being reviled we bless, being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat.”  They’re watching men…everyone, especially your children…they’re learning how to treat people.

They’re watching the way you live.  Paul back in 1 Corinthians 4, before he called to task the men of God naming them as school-masters, law givers, tough and uninvolved rather than fathers…look what he says back in verse 1…”Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ.”  They’re watching you dads…to see if Jesus is real…to see if the Bible really does hold the powerful words of the truth and the life…they’re learning to trust God at His Word through you dad…or maybe they’re not…(hands raised illustration?)

They’re watching how you choose to spend your time.  Look back in 1 Corinthians 4, before he called to task the men of God naming them as school-masters, tough and uninvolved rather than fathers…look what he says back in verse 2…”Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”  They’re watching you fathers…the world is watching you guys…you’re wives are watching you men…to see how you choose to expend the hours of each day that are entrusted to you by God…and the little ones…they’re learning what is and is not important to a man…what is and is not important in life…they see very very clearly, by the way you spend your time, what is and is not important to daddy.

They’re watching you dad.  They’re watching to see how you handle adversity.  How you stand in the times that are tough… Look back in 1 Corinthians 4, before he called to task the men of God naming them as school-masters, tough and uninvolved rather than fathers…look what he says back in verse 3…”But with me, IT IS A VERY SMALL THING, that I should be judged by you or a human court.”  That word for judged in the Greek is Anakrino which actually means “sifted…or accused…or estimated…better yet…underestimated.”  It is a small thing to Paul…is it to you dad?  It was once said that you can tell the character of a man by the cause that disrupts him.  They’re watching you fathers…and they’re learning how to stand strong or how to sway in the passing wind.  They’re learning from you dad’s.

Why?  Because you are their covering…you are their example for what is and what isn’t in life.  They’re looking for guidance, they’re looking for the way, for goodness, for truth…They’re crying out for integrity, for security…You’re teaching them how to live…and what you teach, they will learn…and ultimately, where you go they will go…how you live, they will live…the choices you make, they will make…Great is your calling dad, great is your example you men of God…

An unknown author once said, “Dad’s guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.”  Men, dads, you are guiding…make no mistake.  And where you guide, they indeed will be…

I have another short video for you….(Watch the "In His Shoes" video).

Second Video - "In His Shoes"

They adore you dad’s…the little ones men, they adore you!  And although we have ten thousand teachers…we have VERY FEW fathers.  Very few that are willing to lead in a way that is well pleasing to the Lord…in a way that is worthy of the role that you have been entrusted with…

Turn over to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2, verse 10.  You are witnesses, and God also (can you call God as witness to your commitment to your children dad’s…can you call God as witness to your commitment to the broken of this world, ladies and gentlemen…can you call Him as a witness to you being a father…and as witness to you not being a schoolmaster?)  Paul can…and he does here…

You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Men are often so reluctant and so poor at being fathers to their children…and Christians are often so weak at being fathers to this world of broken children…because they aren’t through being children themselves…and so they lead and so they guide and so they teach…as school-masters…tough and uninvolved…and we end up with children that grow into adults who are insecure, confused, void of integrity, selfish, hard and lost…

Oh but men, if we would but be the fathers that God has called us to be, Psalm 112 tells us that our descendants will be mighty, upright, and blessed!  Their homes will be filled with wealth and riches and righteousness will endure within them throughout their lives.  They will be a light that arises in the darkness…gracious and compassionate…they will not be afraid…their hearts will be steadfast and they will themselves be fathers!

So where are you fathers?  When will you show up men?  You set the tone for the home!  You are constantly being observed!  And a good father…listen…a good father shows up when times are good…and when times are bad…not as school-masters, tough and uninvolved!  But rather with comfort, encouragement and Godly resolve.  

A good father doesn’t laugh at dreams no matter how impossible they may be.  A good father will stand when they are not able, will laugh with them, cry with them, admit when he’s wrong…play with them and show them what it is to honor God and walk in truth.  And as we just saw in Psalm 112, the home will be blessed…your home WILL BE blessed…

So many of you are teachers…how many are fathers?  I have one more short clip to leave you with dads (watch the "Playtime" video).

Third Video - "Playtime"

There is no substitute for your attention dad.  There is no substitute for your guidance dad.  Great is your calling...and great are the rewards…and I have great news…your condition is not your conclusion.  We all want to be great dads…powerful Christians, good leaders…but the truth is, many times we’re not > BUT YOU’RE NOT THROUGH YET!  God has given you more breath, more time, more grace!

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people, which are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray, and seek Me and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear them, forgive them and heal their land!”

There were those that just knew it was the end for Jesus when He breathed His last there on the cross…that it was all over for Him.  But it wasn’t…on the third day He opened His eyes, He got up, He left the tomb behind and walked out into power and life and victory.  

Science cannot explain that.  Nature cannot explain that.  Astrophysics cannot explain that.  Mathematics cannot explain that.  The president cannot explain that.  Fortune tellers cannot explain that…yet it is true and there is freedom in the truth!  Do not turn to a busted idol for your truth…it was not over for Him and it is not over for you!  You’re just getting started!  

Look to the Author of your faith and mine…look to the one who not only has truth but IS the truth…and watch your eyes open, watch your spirit and family and life rise, and watch that tomb…

The tomb of defeat, the tomb of selfishness, the tomb of immaturity, of hardness, of absenteeism…leave it behind and lead > fathers of this world…be led by the Author of life, by the King of Kings…by the Father to the fatherless…lead hard!  Don’t give in to the calling of the devil…to do what though wilt, to seek satisfaction and self –service, that is the mantra tatted on the walls of the halls of hell!

That is what caused that beautiful, the most beautiful and mighty angel Lucifer to be cast forever out of heaven as a bolt of lightning!  That selfish give me, what about me, its about me > decay of a lifestyle….

Lead hard!  So where are you who will heal?  Where are you who will comfort?  Where are you who will rise and worship Yah in the only way acceptable…by leaving yourself well and way behind and putting them first?  

They’re watching, they’re learning…and though we have ten thousand teachers, few fathers.  I call you today, to the few, I commit to you today to be the few!  Join me…in the Jesus’ name!