A FATHER'S HEART
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) The heart of God is that of a father's. God is the solid foundation of the family. A father led by God shows character qualities different from those in the world. That's the father's heart!
1. A father's heart
a) A merciful father
i) 20So he got up and went to his father. “But while he (prodigal son) was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20 NIV)
b) A father who blesses his children
i) 27So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. 28May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness - an abundance of grain and new wine. 29May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your other bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:27-29 NIV)
c) An exemplary father
i) 4“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ (1 Kings 9:4-5 NIV)
ii) 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness. (Titus 2:7 NIV)
iii) 21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21 NIV)
iv) 24And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24-25 NIV)
d) A substitute father
i) 11Every day he (Mordecai) walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. (Esther 2: 11 NIV) Mordecai was like a father to Esther.
e) A provider
i) 14So Abraham called that place "The Lord Will Provide". And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." (Genesis 22: 14 NIV)
@1. Provides discipline
#1) 24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. (Proverbs 13:24 NIV)
#2) 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. (Proverbs 22:15 NIV)
#3) 14Punish them with the rod and save them from death. (Proverbs 23:14 NIV)
@2. Provides spiritual teaching
#1) 9Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. (Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV)
#2) 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV)
@3. Priovides godly heritage
#1) 22A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22 NIV)
@4. Provides affection
#1) 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (Malachi 3:10 NIV)
f) Father is a protector
i) 37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (Matthew 23:37 NIV)
2. A report by NGO "The Vision" ministry to men in prison
a) It is reported that 90 - 95% of those in prison have never known the love of a father. All 1,280 prisoners never had a father who love him. Studies reveaals that children raised without fathers commonly lack strength of character, lack "backbone", tend more to have sexually deviant behavior and fall more easily into crime.
b) In 1965 nearly 3 millions mothers were raising children without fathers.
c) In 1975 nearly 10 millions were without fathers.
d) In the 1980's if the hearts of the fathers have not turned to their children, our cities will erupt into holocausts of violence, by gangs and fatherless children.
3. Conclusion
a) What fathers ought to do?
i) Fathers ought to rise up to take their godly roles in this generation to be the "Prophet, Priest and King" in their homes.
ii) Fathers ought to communicate with their children daily, set time aside time together for recreational activities and make their children feel like they are the most important people in your life.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) The heart of God is that of a father's. God is the solid foundation of the family. A father led by God shows character qualities different from those in the world. That's the father's heart!
1. A father's heart
a) A merciful father
i) 20So he got up and went to his father. “But while he (prodigal son) was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20 NIV)
b) A father who blesses his children
i) 27So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. 28May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness - an abundance of grain and new wine. 29May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your other bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:27-29 NIV)
c) An exemplary father
i) 4“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ (1 Kings 9:4-5 NIV)
ii) 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness. (Titus 2:7 NIV)
iii) 21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21 NIV)
iv) 24And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24-25 NIV)
d) A substitute father
i) 11Every day he (Mordecai) walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. (Esther 2: 11 NIV) Mordecai was like a father to Esther.
e) A provider
i) 14So Abraham called that place "The Lord Will Provide". And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." (Genesis 22: 14 NIV)
@1. Provides discipline
#1) 24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. (Proverbs 13:24 NIV)
#2) 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. (Proverbs 22:15 NIV)
#3) 14Punish them with the rod and save them from death. (Proverbs 23:14 NIV)
@2. Provides spiritual teaching
#1) 9Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. (Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV)
#2) 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV)
@3. Priovides godly heritage
#1) 22A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22 NIV)
@4. Provides affection
#1) 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (Malachi 3:10 NIV)
f) Father is a protector
i) 37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (Matthew 23:37 NIV)
2. A report by NGO "The Vision" ministry to men in prison
a) It is reported that 90 - 95% of those in prison have never known the love of a father. All 1,280 prisoners never had a father who love him. Studies reveaals that children raised without fathers commonly lack strength of character, lack "backbone", tend more to have sexually deviant behavior and fall more easily into crime.
b) In 1965 nearly 3 millions mothers were raising children without fathers.
c) In 1975 nearly 10 millions were without fathers.
d) In the 1980's if the hearts of the fathers have not turned to their children, our cities will erupt into holocausts of violence, by gangs and fatherless children.
3. Conclusion
a) What fathers ought to do?
i) Fathers ought to rise up to take their godly roles in this generation to be the "Prophet, Priest and King" in their homes.
ii) Fathers ought to communicate with their children daily, set time aside time together for recreational activities and make their children feel like they are the most important people in your life.
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