Sunday Sermon
FORTIFYING GOD'S TYPE OF FATHERHOOD
Date: June 18, 2007
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Mark 7:10
Listen to Audio Sermon

(MARK 7:10)
Mark 7:10 (Amplified Bible)

10For Moses said, Honor (revere with tenderness of feeling and deference) your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely die.(A)

WE CAN SEE BY THE OPENING SCRIPTURE THAT GOD PLACES A HIGH PRIORITY ON BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER. IF YOU DID NOT HONOR THEM IN THE PROPER WAY, IT WOULD MEAN DEATH.

GOD ESTEEMS FATHERHOOD SO GREATLY THAT HE CALLS HIMSELF THE EVERLASTING FATHER IN ISA 9:6.

Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified Bible)

6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.(A)

GOD USES THIS WORD (FATHER) AS A PROMISE OF HOW HE WANTS TO TREAT ISRAEL. WHEN HE SAYS A FATHER THAT IS EVERLASTING, WHAT WAS HE SAYING ?

EVERLASTING MEANS:
1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future

a) ancient (of past time)
b) for ever (of future time)

1) of continuous existence

c) for ever (of God's existence)

AND FATHER MEANS I.E. VERB TO MAKE ONESELF THE FOUNDER, PRODUCER OR AUTHOR OF; TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR; TO CARE OR LOOK AFTER SOMEONE AS A FATHER MIGHT. NOUN: A MAN WHO HAS BEGOTTEN A CHILD. CAPITALIZED ,THE FIRST PERSON OF THE TRINITY.. TO WHOM ONE LOOKS FOR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION. A GOOD ACRONYM WOULD BE:

F - FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD.
A - ALWAYS WITH US.
T - TENDER CARE.
H - HEART SO PURE.
E - EVERLASTING LOVE.
R - REST IN HIM.

FOR ALL THE HURTING ETERNAL REST

OTHER PERSPECTIVES ON HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT FATHERS, HE REFERS TO HIMSELF AS RAISING UP SONS I ISA 1:2
Isaiah 1:2 (Amplified Bible)

2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: I have nourished and brought up sons and have made them great and exalted, but they have rebelled against Me and broken away from Me.
Isaiah 64:8 (Amplified Bible)

8Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand.
CAN YOU SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT A FATHER IS SUPPOSE TO BE IN GOD?S SIGHT ? THE WORD IS USED ABOUT 1,722 TIMES IN THE BIBLE.

SO, HOW DOES THE WORLD SEE FATHERHOOD ? LISTEN TO WHAT I GOT FROM THE INTERNET:
Unjustly or not, I think that sometimes dads feel cheated when it comes to Father's Day. It seems to play second fiddle to Mother's Day. Here's some interesting information I found (www.menstuff.org) comparing the two days:

1. "Mother's Day is about heartstrings. Father's Day is about hardware and last-minute shopping. Father's Day is less revered: not planned as far ahead, less time is spent together as a family and gifts are chintzier. Mother's Day -150 million cards sold. Father's Day, a Hallmark afterthought, sees less than 95 million. While Mother's Day racks 150 million phone calls, Father's Day has 140 million but holds the title for most calls placed collect. Mother's Day ranks as the number one holiday for wired flowers with 23 percent of all holiday floral sales. Father's Day gets beat out by such bloom-crazy events as Thanksgiving. Statistically, men are more likely to get flowers at their funeral than for Father's Day. Mother's Day is the biggest brunch day of the year and a bigger dining out day than Valentine's Day with 38 percent of adults eating out. Father's Day sees 23 percent of adults eating out. It is a bigger day on the golf links which tend to attract a mix of all-male foursomes, couples and dads with kids. Top gift for mom - clothing. Top gift for dad - one of 8 million neckties sold for the occasion. Happy Father's Dad, anyway, dad!"

WHAT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF FATHER?S DAY? JUST LISTEN A MINUTE.

IN 1909 MRS. JOHN B. DODD, OF SPOKANE WASHINGTON, FIRST PROPOSED THE IDEA TO RECOGNIZE FATHERS.
THE IDEA OF FATHER?S DAY WAS OBSERVED ON JUNE 19, 1910 IN SPOKANE. AROUND THE SAME TIME PEOPLE WERE BEGINNING TO CELEBRATE FATHER?S DAY IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE U.S.. MOTHER?S DAY BECAME A RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY IN 1914, IT WASN?T UNTIL 1966 THAT PRESIDENT JOHNSON SIGNED A PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE THIRD SUNDAY OF JUNE FATHER?S DAY. SO IT HASN?T BEEN OFFICIAL THAT LONG, ALTHOUGH PRACTICED FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT, GETTING BACK TO FORTIFYING FATHERHOOD, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORD FATHER SHOULD MEAN. WE NOW KNOW THAT GOD CONSIDERS IT HIGHLY FROM WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS US. AMEN! BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO REALLY HONOR FATHER GOD IN BECOMING, A NOT ONLY A GOOD FATHER BUT, A GREAT FATHER.

I?D LIKE TO BEGIN BY TELLING YOU WHAT I FEEL GOD IS SAYING TO FATHERS THIS DAY ABOUT GETTING TO FULFILL HIS REQUIREMENTS FOR FATHERHOOD.

1. I THINK THAT GOD IS TELLING US THAT A GREAT DAD MUST START OFF BY BEING A GREAT HUSBAND.
LOOK AT EPH 5:25 SAYS:

Ephesians 5:25 (Amplified Bible)

25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

YOU SEE HUSBANDS, ONLY IN TRUE LOVE CAN A TRUE FAMILY BE CONCEIVED. TODAY, MANY CHILDREN ARE CONCEIVED IN THE BACK SEAT OF A CAR AND NOT IN THE MARRIAGE BED. BEING A FATHER REQUIRES FIRST LOVING THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN WITH THAT PURE LOVE THAT GOD DESIRES.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH REBELLION IN CHILDREN TODAY BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCEIVED IN REBELLION. CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THIS ?

FATHERS MUST RAISE THEIR KIDS IN THE LOVE OF GOD AND THAT CANNOT HAPPEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ACTING UNGODLY ALL THEIR LIVES.

YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE WOMAN YOU MARRY AND MAKING HER PREGNANT BEFORE MARRIAGE IS NOT RESPECTING HER. HELLO !

WHEN A MAN AND WOMAN HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE USUALLY IS A SHEDDING OF BLOOD, WITHOUT GETTING INTO DETAILS, THIS IS GOD ORDAINED AND HIS WAY OF LETTING THE COUPLE KNOW THAT THEY ARE ENTERING INTO A COVENANT WITH EACH OTHER THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE COVENANTS THAT GOD ENTERED INTO THERE WAS ALWAYS A SHEDDING OF BLOOD IN THE ANIMAL SACRIFICE. EVEN THE COVENANT WE HAVE WITH CHRIST REQUIRED THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD. CAN YOU SEE THIS AND HOW I WISH EVERY YOUNG PERSON COULD UNDERSTAND THIS. GOD CONSIDERS THE BEARING OF CHILDREN SO IMPORTANT THAT IN THE INITIAL ACT OF SEX IS A SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE. I THINK IF PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE THINKING TWICE BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTIONS
THAT IS WHY I SAY THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE A GREAT FATHER, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE A GREAT HUSBAND.

2.SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH TIME YOU SPEND WITH THEM REFLECTS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. DON?T WAIT FOR SPECIAL TIMES, GRAB THOSE SMALL POCKETS OF TIME AS THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. CALL THEM ON THE PHONE, E-MAIL THEM WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. READ TO THEM AT BED TIME. HELP WITH HOMEWORK, EAT BREAKFAST WITH THEM, DROP THEM OFF AT SCHOOL AND PICK THEM UP IF TIME PERMITS.

3. BE A ROLE MODEL TO THEM. ACT THE WAY YOU WANT THEM TO ACT. ITS NOT JUST TALK, ITS WALKING THE WALK. BE CONSISTENT, KEEP YOUR WORD, STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, MODEL FOR THEM WHAT A REAL CHRISTIAN REALLY IS. BE TRUSTWORTHY, REMAIN LOYAL IN RELATIONSHIPS.

4. TRY TO UNDERSTAND YOUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE NOT ALL ALIKE. THEY ARE DIFFERENT. EVEN TWINS DON?T HAVE THE SAME FINGERPRINTS. HOW DO THEY THINK, WHAT DO THEY LIKE. WHAT DO THEY REALLY NEED FROM YOU MOST?

5. SHOW YOUR CHILDREN AFFECTION. LOTS OF HUGS, KIND WORDS. THEY WANT A SAFE PLACE TO COME TO IN THIS COLD WORLD. MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM EVERYDAY. ITS NOT CORNY! YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW THEY WILL RESPOND TO THAT TYPE OF TREATMENT.

6. ENJOY YOUR CHILDREN. GO TO THEIR BALL GAMES AND RECITALS. PUSH THEM WHEN THEY NEED TO BE PUSHED, BUT SAVOR EVERY MOMENT WITH THEM. WRESTLE ON THE FLOOR (LET THEM WIN), BUILD A FORT WITH YOUR SON. HAVE A PRETEND TEA PARTY WITH YOUR DAUGHTER. TAKE MY WORD, THEY GROW UP REALLY FAST AND THEN ITS TOO LATE, OR IS IT ?

7. EAT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THERE ARE TOO MANY FAMILIES WHERE THIS IS HARDLY DONE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP WITH SO MANY ACTIVITIES. THIS CAN PROVIDE STRUCTURE TO A HECTIC SCHEDULE. IT GIVES KIDS TIME TO TALK AND YOU THE TIME TO LISTEN.

8. DISCIPLINE WITH A GENTLE SPIRIT. THIS IS REALLY A PART OF A FATHER?S LOVE, WHICH IS WHY IT SHOULD NEVER BE HARD-NOSED. DISCIPLINE?S ROLE IS NOT TO TEAR DOWN OR INTIMIDATE, BUT TO MOLD AND CORRECT. WHEN YOU DO CORRECT, DO IT IN PRIVATE AND BE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR WIFE ARE UNIFIED IN HOW YOU DISCIPLINE. ALSO, BE CONSISTENT.

9. PRAY AND WORSHIP TOGETHER. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES. TO TEACH PRAYER YOU HAVE TO BE A PERSON OF PRAYER, AND TO TEACH WORSHIP, YOU HAVE TO BE A PERSON OF WORSHIP. FATHERS, DO NOT RELEGATE THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO MOM. TAKE THIS DUTY SERIOUSLY. THEY?RE HAS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN THEIR LIVES. THEY NEED AN AUTHORITY THAT PROVIDES MORAL ABSOLUTES IN THEIR LIVES.. THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG, A GOOD AND AN EVIL.

10. REALIZE YOU ARE A FATHER FOR EVER. SOME DAY YOU WILL HAVE TO LET GO OF THE REIGNS AND THEY MUST LEAVE THE NEST. BUT A GREAT FATHER REALIZES THAT AS HE ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN THEIR FREEDOM TO DIRECT THEIR OWN LIVES, HE DOESN?T ABANDON THEM AT A COLLEGE DORM, A WEDDING ALTAR, OR A DOOR OF THEIR FIRST JOB. HE CONTINUES TO ENCOURAGE, COACH AND CONVEY HIS WISDOM TO HIS CHILDREN FOREVER. THE OLDER THEY ARE, THE SMARTER YOU GET, AT LEAST IN THEIR EYES. LIKE OH DAD YOU WERE SO RIGHT!

ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES WE WILL EVER HAVE IS BEING A FATHER, A REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS DAD.

SO WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FATHER?S DAY? TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE JOB YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND ALWAYS CHECK IN WITH YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER EACH DAY FOR HIS TAKE AND STRATEGY ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE.

FIRSTLY , LET US RECOGNIZE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TODAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR FATHER, AND FOR LOOKING AFTER US ALL THE TIME. WE NEED YOUR HELP FATHER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO HELP US TEACH OUR CHILDREN AS GREAT FATHERS THAT YOU WANT US TO BE. YOU ARE A GREAT ROLE MODEL, JESUS YOU ALWAYS LOOKED TO THE FATHER FOR YOUR EVERY WORD AND EVERY ACTION. TEACH US TO DO THE SAME IN OUR LIVES. WE WANT TO SAY TO YOU TODAY ABBA, HAPPY FATHER?S DAY AND MAY OUR GIFT OF OBEDIENCE CONTINUE ON UNTIL YOU CALL US HOME. WE LOVE YOU FATHER AND WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE CARE AND TRUST YOU.

MAYBE YOU ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR. IF YOU HAVEN?T DONE THAT, THAN CHANCES ARE THAT YOU DON?T KNOW YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER. IF THAT?S YOU TODAY AND YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, WE WANT TO PRAY FOR YOU.
ADDRESS THE INTERNET LISTENERS AND PRESENT JESUS TO THEM AS THEIR SAVIOR (SINNER?S PRAYER WITH CHURCH) AND INVITE THEM TO JESUS THE ROCK FELLOWSHIP AT 2 DENMAN AVE, IN CLARK N.J. ALSO HAVE THEM SIGN INTO OUR SIGHT AND LET US KNOW OF YOUR DECISION TO ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR. OR LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF OUR SIGHT. IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT TO CHURCH AND YOU ARE HOUSEBOUND, WE WELCOME YOU TO HAVE CHURCH WITH US ON YOUR COMPUTER. WE WILL BE HERE FOR YOU EVERY WEEK.. AMEN.