The Importance of Fathers!

Intro: I want to thank God for all our fathers. Fathers are important to their families. Families today are hurting without the presence of a father. For a family to be complete as God ordained it must have a father to help steer the children in the right direction. A father helps children develop emotionally, psychologically, physically and spiritually.

I. Fathers are responsible for their family decisions. Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) ⁷  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:15-17 (NKJV) ¹⁵  Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
a. God appointed Adam as spiritual leader of his family and expected Adam to obey Him. In neglecting the tree of life, of which he was allowed to eat, and eating of the tree of knowledge, which was forbidden, Adam plainly showed a contempt of what God had bestowed on him, and he desired what God did not see fit to give him. He would have what he pleased, and do what he pleased. His sin was, in one word, disobedience to a plain, easy, and express command. His decision would have consequences. So do your decisions dad!

II. Disobedience to God by fathers bring suffering to their families. a. [Gen. 3:8] Because Adam did not obey God's command, he and his wife lost that sweet fellowship with God. In Gen3:15 there would always be a battle between good and evil which has been the cause of mankind's misery. Even Jesus would suffer horrible because of Adam's disobedience. In Gen: 17-19 the ground was cursed because of Adam's disobedience. Later Adam, his wife and his children suffered because of his disobedience and rebellion against God. READ [Gen. 4:1-8] Their first child Cain murdered his brother Abel. Cain indulged malignant anger against Abel. He harbored an evil spirit of discontent and rebellion against God. He wanted his own way. He committed the same sin of disobedience that his father Adam.
Disobedience to God's commands always brings suffering and heartaches. King David was a man after God's own heart but he also disobeyed God's commands and he and his family suffered greatly because of it. How many families are suffering today because of a fathers wrong choices and decisions?

So a father must be sure he is obedient to God's leading. His children are watching.

III. Obedience & service to God brings blessings to a father's family, church and nation. a. Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua's choice to serve God not only affected his family but it also had positive affects on the nation of Israel. Joshua 24:31 (NKJV) ³¹  Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.

So when A dad chooses to Serve God in sincerity and truth, it can only result in blessings for all of his family, his church and his nation. God gives us a choice as to which way we can go. God says in: Deuteronomy 30:15-16 ¹⁵  "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, ¹⁶  in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. Dad, the way of life and good is to love the Lord and walk in His ways and as spiritual leader of your family bring up your children to do the same.
Ephesians 6:4  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.

Conclusion: When a man takes his spiritual leadership role and leads his family to worship, serve, and live for God and when he loves his wife and children and puts them first in his priorities, the entire family will have God's blessings on it.
Each father stands responsible to God for his decisions that he makes as spiritual leader of his family. How are you doing in your responsibilities dad? I pray that you are making wise decisions and choices for your family even if your children are grown. We dads must continue to be spiritual leaders and lift up our children in prayer.

Invitation: Every dad wants his children to be saved and go to Heaven. The way to be saved if you have not been is to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. Jesus said He would not turn away those who come to Him in faith. Let the Holy Spirit show you where you stand with God and make choices accordingly.