06/17/2012
“Blessed Be the Father …”
Please open your Bible with me to the Book of Matthew chapter six.
Look with me at verse six. Matthew 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
(7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
For Father’s Day 2012, I want you to sure of what Jesus meant when He said “Pray to thy Father,” and “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of,: and “therefore pray ye: Our Father.”
When I preach a sermon on fathers, I’m convinced of one thing; that my purpose should be to put as much meaning as possible into Fathers Day for fathers. And I believe the message should also encourage dads.
The fact that there has been a revival of fatherhood over the past twenty-five years in our country is nothing short of remarkable; especially in light of the fact that still today there are millions of children in America who are “fatherless.”
Jesus referred to the Father no less than one hundred and sixty-five times.
I’ve titled today’s sermon “Blessed Be The Father …” Shall we pray?
My hope today is to show you what the Bible says about the Fatherhood of God. I have prayed that the Holy Spirit would show you what He is like.
The world may have a bit of confusion as to what or who they think God is. But when they and we see God as He truly is, we can know Him as He truly is. And what is God? Well, one thing we know is this. God is like a father. But what’s even greater than that is this. God is a Father. God’s nature is the nature of a father.
I realize it’s Father’s Day. But I’d like to offer you a word about our politicians. Here’s what one of our great presidents, President Teddy Roosevelt said some one hundred years ago about those who serve in public office in our country. "What we need in our public officials is not genius, not even brilliancy, so much as the exercise of the ordinary, rather commonplace qualities of honesty, courage, and common sense -- the qualities that make a man a good husband, a good father, a good neighbor."
Well, folks, if we needed those qualities in the beginning of the twentieth century, we certainly need them today. And even more. We need to see God as He really is. And according to the Bible, God is a Father.
And what does that mean? What does that look like? A father cares for his children. A father loves his children. He is someone who cares and has time and has good character and is kind and loving and gentle and willing to serve and trustworthy and patient and attentive to the needs of his children.
What do you know about God? Is He a Father to you?
Folks, if God is a Father, and He is, then you can be sure that He loves and cares and understands and is gentle and attentive to your needs. If He’s a Father, He can’t help but be this way towards you. God is the Ideal Father.
So, for those of you who aren’t quite sure what God is like, see Him as He is – a Father with all the qualities of fatherhood.
But I’ve noticed something about God’s fatherliness as I’ve read through the Bible. I’ve notice this. A father’s first concern is those in his own family. The natural way with life is that a father cares for those inside his home.
Look with me at verse six. Matthew 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
(7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
For Father’s Day 2012, I want you to sure of what Jesus meant when He said “Pray to thy Father,” and “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of,: and “therefore pray ye: Our Father.”
When I preach a sermon on fathers, I’m convinced of one thing; that my purpose should be to put as much meaning as possible into Fathers Day for fathers. And I believe the message should also encourage dads.
The fact that there has been a revival of fatherhood over the past twenty-five years in our country is nothing short of remarkable; especially in light of the fact that still today there are millions of children in America who are “fatherless.”
Jesus referred to the Father no less than one hundred and sixty-five times.
I’ve titled today’s sermon “Blessed Be The Father …” Shall we pray?
My hope today is to show you what the Bible says about the Fatherhood of God. I have prayed that the Holy Spirit would show you what He is like.
The world may have a bit of confusion as to what or who they think God is. But when they and we see God as He truly is, we can know Him as He truly is. And what is God? Well, one thing we know is this. God is like a father. But what’s even greater than that is this. God is a Father. God’s nature is the nature of a father.
I realize it’s Father’s Day. But I’d like to offer you a word about our politicians. Here’s what one of our great presidents, President Teddy Roosevelt said some one hundred years ago about those who serve in public office in our country. "What we need in our public officials is not genius, not even brilliancy, so much as the exercise of the ordinary, rather commonplace qualities of honesty, courage, and common sense -- the qualities that make a man a good husband, a good father, a good neighbor."
Well, folks, if we needed those qualities in the beginning of the twentieth century, we certainly need them today. And even more. We need to see God as He really is. And according to the Bible, God is a Father.
And what does that mean? What does that look like? A father cares for his children. A father loves his children. He is someone who cares and has time and has good character and is kind and loving and gentle and willing to serve and trustworthy and patient and attentive to the needs of his children.
What do you know about God? Is He a Father to you?
Folks, if God is a Father, and He is, then you can be sure that He loves and cares and understands and is gentle and attentive to your needs. If He’s a Father, He can’t help but be this way towards you. God is the Ideal Father.
So, for those of you who aren’t quite sure what God is like, see Him as He is – a Father with all the qualities of fatherhood.
But I’ve noticed something about God’s fatherliness as I’ve read through the Bible. I’ve notice this. A father’s first concern is those in his own family. The natural way with life is that a father cares for those inside his home.