WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 What a joy to be with you. 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:17.000 And for this purpose of thinking through of how to parent our children in ways that would really bring honor to the Lord and benefit to our kids as they grow up and keep us sane in the midst of it. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.000 So it's a joy. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:21.000 It really is to be with you. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.000 Jody and I have done this a number of times at different places. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.000 This isn't the first time. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:43.000 But on the other hand, we kind of approach it a little bit differently than some do with a bit more of a theological center to it, instead of it being just kind of a list of principles or rules or practices or that sort of thing, all of which can be very helpful. 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:49.000 But I think thinking of it in a theological way is really helpful. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:51.000 So that's what we're going to do. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:56.000 Jody's going to be talking to the women tomorrow in a breakout session. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.000 So the women, you really want to be here for that. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:02.000 I know what she's going to say, and it's really important. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.000 So try to be here tomorrow for that. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:08.000 Yes, handouts for each of these sessions we'll have. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:14.000 So they're getting the one out for tonight to you right now. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.000 So let me just pray real quickly. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:20.000 Again, you can continue handing out while we're doing that, and then we'll get going here. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:33.000 Father, thank you so much for this privilege of being able to come together to think about one of the most important tasks that you give us to do as we marry and then have children. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Certainly one of the most important areas of our lives then becomes raising those children. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:58.000 And so, Father, we pray that you would grant us insight from your word, that you would speak to us through that word and through your spirit's work among us, that we may know that we have heard from you, Lord, in gaining some insight in how to parent our children. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:04.000 And we commit this doubt to you in Christ's name and pray this in His name, amen. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:09.000 So this title of this first one is Parenting Our Children as God Fathers Us. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:15.000 Let me give you the big idea first before I launch into what's on the handout here. 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:20.000 The big idea is this, that God is the original Father. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:38.000 It is not the case that God has called Father because He looked at us and He said, you know, there are homes out there with leaders of those homes, they're called fathers, and because they have authority in their homes and because they function in that way of responsibility, that that kind of matches what I am to them. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:43.000 So I'll be Father also, you know, to follow in line with what they are as fathers. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:46.000 No, it's just the other way around. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:50.000 God is the eternal Father of the eternal Son. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:54.000 There never was a time when the Father is not the Father. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:59.000 It's an eternal reality, and the Son is the eternal Son of the eternal Father. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:06.000 So Father-Son reality exists apart from creation. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:12.000 So when God makes the world, isn't it amazing that He takes that name Father? 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.000 Wow! And He gives it to people like me. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.000 That's just an amazing thing. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:25.000 And one of the things that I think we're to take from that is we learn from Him what it is to be a Father. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:30.000 It's not that He looks at us and says, oh, that's what a Father is, I'll name myself the same way. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.000 Uh-uh. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.000 It's rather He is the prototype. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:36.000 He's the original. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:41.000 He's the perfection of fatherhood. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:51.000 And then He says, I'm going to name you men who are responsible in your homes and have wives. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.000 I'm going to call you fathers of your children. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:07.000 And so there's a sense in which we can look at God as an example of how we should, for men in particular, father our children as God fathers us. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:10.000 But of course it extends to the wife as well. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:16.000 Children obey your parents, honor your father and mother, right? 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:17.000 So it applies to them too. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:23.000 Hence the title, Parenting our Children as God Fathers Us. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:37.000 So there's a more direct application to fathers, but it also applies to mom and dad both, as they look to God as the example of how parenting should take place, how fathering should take place. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:42.000 So that's kind of the big idea on this, which raises the question then, doesn't it? 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:44.000 How does God father us? 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.000 Ah, you're on the page then with me. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:47.000 Okay, let's begin. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:49.000 You've got the handout now. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:55.000 Introduction, our father, beginning words of the Lord's Prayer, our father who is in heaven. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:56.000 Let's say it together. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:00.000 Our father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:05.000 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:12.000 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses and forgive those who trespass against us. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:17.000 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:22.000 For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:23.000 Amen. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:38.000 Our father, how astonishing, remarkable, nearly unbelievable that Jesus would command his disciples to pray to God, addressing him with our father. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:42.000 Of course, many of us don't find this particularly astonishing or remarkable. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:47.000 We're quite accustomed to thinking of God his father and praying to him as father. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:59.000 But when Jesus gave this command, pray this way, our father who is in heaven, it was utterly astonishing, remarkable and nearly unbelievable. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:00.000 Why? 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.000 Well, there are two main reasons. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:12.000 The first is this, that the Jewish world of Jesus' day never, aha, I'll defend that in just a moment, never referred to God as father. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:21.000 So if you look at Jewish literature from say 200 years before Christ to 200 years after Christ, guess what? 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:28.000 There is not one single recorded reference in that Jewish literature of referring to God as father. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:34.000 So when Jesus says our father, it is shocking. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:36.000 It's just too intimate. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:38.000 It's too near. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.000 It's too close. 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:40.000 You don't do that. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.000 But that's what Jesus does, right? 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:47.000 So for example, the Jesus Seminar, do you remember those crazy guys? 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:58.000 This is maybe 15, 20 years ago, who decided to go through the gospels and vote on which parts of it were authentic and which were not, right? 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:05.000 And the only part of the Lord's Prayer that got a thumbs up, it's completely authentic is our father. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:06.000 That's it. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:12.000 The rest they decided was some level of questionable, whether that was really from the lips of Jesus. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:22.000 But this had to be because there was nothing in Jewish culture or in extant literature that would indicate supporting that way of talking. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:25.000 So, yep, our father, God voted in. 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:26.000 Well, thanks, guys. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:29.000 We really appreciate your work on that. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:34.000 But secondly, here's the second reason that Jesus commanding us to pray our father is remarkable. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:41.000 Jesus himself regularly refers to God as his father, but of course he deserves it. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.000 That is his father. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:47.000 He is the eternal son, the eternally begotten son. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:54.000 You remember John 3, 16, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:59.000 So the one who comes into the world is one who is already son. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:11.000 Now he becomes son in a new way in the incarnation as he becomes son of Mary, son of David, but he's also son of God because he's the eternal son of the father. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:16.000 Though, yes, Jesus himself deserves that name as son of the father. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:25.000 The father deserves that name as father, and he rightly calls God father, but us? 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:30.000 What right do we have to call him father? 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:53.000 Except that we are brought into his family through faith in Christ so that as those who are adopted into the family of God, we call God father. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:57.000 It is stunning, is it not? 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:07.000 So amazingly, Jesus commands his disciples to join him in praying our father who is in heaven. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:12.000 Yes, it truly is astonishing and wonderfully remarkable. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.000 Okay, now what does it mean to address God as father? 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:18.000 Just what kind of father is he? 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:32.000 The biblical concept of God as father, I'm arguing here, has two related ideas which to be thought of and believed in correctly must both be understood and embraced. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.000 This is so important. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.000 Both of these ideas represent God as father. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.000 We'll talk about what they are in just a moment. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:49.000 Both of these ideas represent God as father, but honestly, we have to understand both of them together, not one or the other. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:57.000 Either of these two ideas without the other results in deeply distorted notions of God as father. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:05.000 Only when both are together can we have the right understanding that can nurture our faith and hope in God as our father. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:21.000 And furthermore, just because you can see where this is going, only as we apply both of those understandings of God as father to our parenting, are we mimicking God correctly in how we parent our children. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.000 Do you get the point? 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:27.000 We should parent our children the way God fathers us. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:45.000 Well, both of these are critical, critical for parenting well and mimicking the father who is the prototype, who is the perfect example, who does it with excellence every time. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:58.000 So indeed, understanding how God is father helps us then understand how we should be, should grow to become more like that as parents of our children. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.000 So what are these two ideas? 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:07.000 Well, I'll summarize it here and then develop it through looking at the Lord's Prayer along with some other supporting texts. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.000 So here are these two ideas. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.000 I would put them this way. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:21.000 God our father, first of all, indicates this, that God deserves our worship, our reverence, our loyalty, our following. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:27.000 There is a sense in which God as father means we are obligated. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:29.000 This is not an option. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:43.000 We are obligated to honor Him, to respect Him, to listen to Him, to obey Him, to follow in His ways. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:50.000 We have no option but to do that because His father were children. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:53.000 Children obey your parents. Well, guess what? 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:55.000 God is our father. 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:59.000 So we honor Him. We revere Him. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:05.000 We follow Him. We obey Him. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:12.000 So indeed, God deserves, God as father deserves our worship, reverence, loyalty, following. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.000 Here's the second thing. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.000 Beautiful. Oh my goodness. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:20.000 Aren't you so glad this is a couplet that these two things go together? 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:25.000 Second thing, God as father desires. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.000 You could even say delight sin, right? 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:30.000 It begins with D. You can do that. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.000 It's alliterated, you know, so that's legal. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:41.000 He desires, He delights in our well-being, our renewal, our loveliness, our fullness. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:49.000 So in other words, God as our father is 100% for us. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:51.000 We know that. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:56.000 We know He wants us to thrive, to flourish. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:06.000 We know He wants us to grow and be the fullness of what He has created and redeemed us to be in Christ. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:11.000 As Father, He wants our best. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:15.000 Isn't that, doesn't that give us just such great confidence, right? 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:18.000 In fact, doesn't it inspire us even more back to the first point? 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:25.000 To want to honor Him and revere Him, in part because He's so good to me. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:32.000 He's so faithful. He's so trustworthy. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:40.000 So indeed, you might think of it this way, the greatness of God and the goodness of God. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:43.000 Both represent the fatherhood of God. 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:45.000 He's great. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:56.000 Oh my, is He ever majestically, transcendently great and deserves our honor and allegiance. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:01.000 And He is so unfailingly good. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:13.000 So kind, so gracious, so generous, so forgiving, so lavish in His love. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:16.000 Isn't it wonderful He's both of those? 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.000 Yeah. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:28.000 So indeed, let's examine these two facets of God's fatherhood, particularly as they are demonstrated in the Lord's Prayer. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:36.000 So I just noticed years ago in the Lord's Prayer, that you've got these two things that really comprise the content of the Lord's Prayer. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:43.000 And then I want to buttress that from other passages as well, where you see the themes represented. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:55.000 So beginning of the Lord's Prayer, our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be wholly separate is your name. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:15:01.000 Your kingdom come. Your will be done. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:17.000 On earth in my life, in my situation with my people, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, where those who are there carry it out perfectly in heaven. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:21.000 May we do that increasingly here. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:30.000 Okay, so that opening, those opening verses, verses 9 and 10 of the Lord's Prayer, emphasizes God is the one who is to be honored. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:33.000 Let's realize we're talking about God. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:46.000 He's the only one who is supremely worthy of honor and glory and blessing, of adoration and respect and worship. Why? 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:59.000 Well, let me just remind you, you know this, but the reason God alone is worthy of these things, because God alone possesses within himself intrinsically and eternally every quality in infinite measure. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:03.000 Should we honor what is honorable? 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:08.000 Should we worship what is worthy of worship? 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:15.000 Yes, well, who else is there who is honorable in the ultimate sense? 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:20.000 Who is worthy of worship in the ultimate sense other than God? 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:26.000 He has every...so should we honor wisdom when we see it? 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:31.000 Yeah, wisdom is an amazing thing to behold. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:36.000 Well, who has infinite, perfect wisdom? 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:41.000 God does. Should we stand in awe of beauty? 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.000 Yeah, good as we should. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:46.000 There's a lot of beauty in this country right here. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.000 Should we stand in awe of it? Yes. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:54.000 Well, who is the one who possesses infinite, perfect beauty? 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:58.000 God. And go down the list. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:04.000 Holiness, justice, righteousness, knowledge, power. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:12.000 God possesses all of these things within himself intrinsically and in infinite measure. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.000 So he alone is worthy of all of these things. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:24.000 So indeed, our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name, hallowed, holy, set apart. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.000 Why is his name set apart? 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:34.000 Remember from Isaiah the repeated refrain, there is no one like me, declares the Lord. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:38.000 Oh, indeed, he is sui generis. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.000 That's not supremely kind and generous. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.000 That's not the idea, right? 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.000 Latin for? Anybody? Sui generis. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:50.000 One of a kind. No one like him. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:54.000 Incomparable is this God. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:18:02.000 So he is to be honored and because he is God, we recognize his ways are always right. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:09.000 So our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done. Why? 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:15.000 Well, whose will would you rather have done? 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:21.000 Somebody who is actually a fool and what they're deciding, you want them to be the ones in charge? 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:25.000 Kind of reminds you of something going on in our country at the moment. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.000 But we won't go there, will we? No, we won't. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:33.000 So, you know, you just realize, yes, why would you want God's will to be done? 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.000 Why would you want his kingdom to come? 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.000 God, he knows everything perfectly. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.000 He has perfect wisdom. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.000 He knows exactly what is best to plan. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.000 You can't improve on the ways of God. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.000 Have you come to terms with that? 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:58.000 I'm just thinking in terms of how we live before him as individual Christians. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:04.000 Have you come to terms with that fact when you're pleading with God for something that you really want? 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.000 Pray fervently for something you really want. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:12.000 Have you come to terms with the fact that God knows best, not me? 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:29.000 So the point of prayer is not to convince God of what you know to be best, but rather to bring your request before him, but always end by saying, as Jesus did, not my will, but yours be done. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:32.000 Why would you say that? 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:37.000 Because, you know, his will is always best, always, every time. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:42.000 So indeed, you realize he's the one who is worthy of honor. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:47.000 His kingdom and will should be desired and obeyed. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:50.000 There's three imperatives that are here, right? 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:58.000 They don't sound imperatival, you know, as you hear them, but our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.000 That is a command. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.000 Hallow the name of God. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:04.000 Your kingdom come, command. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:07.000 Bring it. Your will be done. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.000 Bring it. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:11.000 On earth as it is in heaven. Isn't that amazing? 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:16.000 You're so confident in the will of God, you're not just yielding to it. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.000 Okay, I'll accept your will. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:21.000 You're saying, God, do it. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:25.000 Bring it. Your kingdom, your will. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:30.000 And yes, I will hallow your name. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:35.000 Consider it separate because of who you are. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:49.000 So we see from the Lord's Prayer, the beginning two verses then, exalt the greatness and the glory, the majesty, the perfection of God and give us confidence that his ways are right. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:52.000 This is how we approach God in prayer. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.000 This is how we begin. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:21:02.000 You know, so I would encourage you, as you pray in your own prayer times, don't just jump to the list of items so quickly. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:08.000 Meditate a bit on who this is you're praying to, right? 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.000 This glorious, great God and humble yourself before him. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:15.000 Recognize he knows what's best. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:18.000 You want his will to be done and so on. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:28.000 Okay, so in terms of God is Father, this one whom we should respect, this one whom we should follow and obey, notice some other passages that just add support to this. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:32.000 Malachi 1.6, turn with me if you would. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.000 I'm reading from the New American Standard Translation. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:44.000 Malachi, the last of the Old Testament books of the Bible. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:46.000 And you know, Malachi begins. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:50.000 Wow. Just, it's so sad. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:55.000 So many places in the prophets where the people of God have really turned away from him. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:58.000 You know, they're even denying that God loves them. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.000 How have you loved us? 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:06.000 This, you know, that question that begins the book of Malachi is not a question of, let me count the ways of how many ways God has loved us. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:10.000 You know, it's God, you have not loved us. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:12.000 That's the charge against God. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:14.000 So he answers that charge. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:18.000 I mean, in that famous statement, I've loved you, but I've hated your brother Esau. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.000 Right. So we're not going to go into that right now, but you move on down. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:25.000 You come down to verse six. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:28.000 And this is what God says to his people. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:33.000 A son honors his father and a servant, his master. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:39.000 Then if I am father, where is my honor? 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:44.000 If I am master, where is my respect? 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:53.000 Says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:57.000 So it's just it's just a very simple little statement, isn't it? 00:22:57.000 --> 00:23:05.000 But isn't it so telling if I am your father, where is my honor? 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:12.000 So if we sail to honor God, we are sailing to acknowledge his rightful place as father over us. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:17.000 But I just you know, just you got to realize in your own heart, I am the same way. 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:19.000 We're all sinners. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:22.000 So we're all prone to I want my way. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:37.000 You know, I've said many, many times the theme theme song of hell has already been written and sung many, many times by a famous now deceased Italian male soloist. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:40.000 I did it my way. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:42.000 All right. It's a theme song of hell. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.000 That's it right there. 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:46.000 So yes, we're all prone toward this. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.000 I want to do it my way. 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:52.000 Of course, you never see that in your children, do you? 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:55.000 No, never, never shows up. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:58.000 So I mean, this is just hardwired because of sin within us. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:06.000 So it has to it has to it requires the work of the spirit within us to move away from. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:11.000 I want it my way to I want it God's way, right? 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.000 I want it God's way. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:21.000 So this is what God is calling us to is to embrace that and to honor him as the one who has rights over us. 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:24.000 Absolute rights as creator. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.000 He owns us as redeemer. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:32.000 We're twice owned by God and enhance. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:34.000 We honor his name. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:36.000 If I am your father, where is my honor? 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.000 Is it expected? 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:45.000 And of course, the parallel concept that is in that verse, if I'm your master, where is my respect? 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:51.000 So you realize father master, they're not identical, but they're overlapping conceptions. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:53.000 Children obey your parents, right? 00:24:53.000 --> 00:25:00.000 Honor your father and mother, but fathers raise your children in the fear of the Adventist and the Lord. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.000 So you mean there's an ultimate sense that father is the head of the home. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:07.000 And so he's the master, as it were, in sense. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:12.000 So honor and respect is owed to father. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.000 God is father. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:17.000 We owe him honor and respect. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.000 Another passage. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:23.000 First Peter, chapter one, verses 14 to 17. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:30.000 Another place where you see this same idea at verse 14. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:35.000 Now this again, NSB, I think it reads a little differently in the ESV if that's what you're looking at. 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:43.000 But I'm reading from the NSB as obedient children do not be conformed to the former lust, which were yours in your ignorance. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:51.000 But like the holy one who called, you'll be holy yourselves in all your behavior because it is written, you shall be holy for I am holy. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.000 Now just stop right there. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:57.000 God is father is is implied in what has been stated so far, right? 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.000 Did you see it? 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:04.000 Verse 14 as obedient children, well, children of our heavenly father. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:08.000 So it's implied there, but then he makes it explicit in verse 17. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:20.000 If you address as father, the one who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon her. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:22.000 So fear the Lord. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:28.000 I mean, a concept that is much more developed in the wisdom literature in the Old Testament. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:41.000 But here it is repeated in the New Testament where we are to tremble at the thought of going against the will in the ways of God. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:46.000 Because we know he disciplines were coming to Hebrews in just a moment. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:51.000 He disciplines those who stand against him. 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:58.000 And we want to be in a relationship with him in which we. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:03.000 And what's the word I need here? 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:14.000 We draw from him his kind and merciful responses to us, not the heavier hand of his discipline that comes to his children. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:17.000 So move on with me to Hebrews 12. 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:20.000 You'll see it there in Hebrews 12. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:25.000 Again, another passage where we see father is ascribed to God. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:29.000 Verse seven, it is for discipline that you endure. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:36.000 God deals with you as with sons for what son is there who whose father whom his father does not discipline. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:43.000 But if you are without discipline, of which you have become partakers, then all then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:49.000 Furthermore, we had an earthly father to discipline us and we respected them. 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:57.000 Shall we not much more rather be subject to the father of spirits and live? 00:27:57.000 --> 00:28:07.000 So respecting your human father is a mirror reflection of the greater respect and honor that we owe to God. 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:12.000 We also see in that verse the way in which the two are parallel, aren't they? 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:23.000 The way we understand God as father is the way we understand fathers, human fathers as father, our parents in our relationship with them. 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:33.000 So this first theme of the fatherhood of God in the Bible is one that faces us with this reality that we owe to God. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:45.000 Our allegiance, our respect, our devotion, our honor, our worship, our adoration and our obedience to him. 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:51.000 Now, we'll talk more about the application of this, but you begin to see a don't you right away. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:59.000 Fathers in our homes must represent God as father in part because that's how it works. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:03.000 This is what father is you father in the way I father you. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:18.000 But also now listen because your children will learn to honor God as father as they learn to honor you as father. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:21.000 They disrespect you. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:24.000 They disrespect their mother. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:28.000 Also an authority over them. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:30.000 Children will be your parents. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:43.000 Then you're encouraging them, not that there's any necessity in this, but you're encouraging them to think in terms of dishonoring God. 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:53.000 So it's the preparatory way in which we help our children grow to understand we must honor God. 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:57.000 We must give our devotion to him. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:30:00.000 So in summary, God deserves honor and respect. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:05.000 He expects his lordship to be embraced, his will to be done. 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:10.000 He will judge and discipline to bring about obedience and holiness. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.000 OK, that's the first theme of God as father. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:17.000 Roman numeral three. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:27.000 God, our father, desires our well-being and our renewal, our loveliness, our fullness. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:36.000 So notice in the Lord's Prayer, it shifts from this honor of God, the great and glorious God of wisdom and power. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.000 Your will be done. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.000 Your kingdom come. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:50.000 I mean, this God of majesty and authority who reigns over all, it shifts from that to give us this day our daily bread. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:53.000 Isn't that amazing? 00:30:53.000 --> 00:31:04.000 That great, mighty, glorious, hallowed God, caring about every day needs? 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:06.000 Yeah. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.000 Isn't it amazing? 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:11.000 Give us this day our daily bread. 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:19.000 I think Jesus starts there because he starts with probably the most basic need that we know we have. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:22.000 And that's the need to eat every day. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.000 Right? 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:26.000 We just know we need that. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:30.000 And he wants us to think, who's your provider? 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:35.000 Who's the one who will bring to you what you need at the most heart? 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:39.000 Who needs at the most fundamental level of your life? 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:41.000 Your father will. 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:43.000 That's how much he cares for you. 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:49.000 That's how attentive he is to your situation, your needs. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:55.000 So our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name, but give us this day our daily bread. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:32:05.000 And notice the daily bread doesn't indicate merely that it's given to us daily, but it's also a prayer that we are to pray daily. 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:20.000 I think that's part of the point of that term is we come before God again today and again the next day and again the next day because we realize we're dependent again before him for what he alone can provide for us. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:23.000 So don't think Kroger provides your daily needs. 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:34.000 Kroger is a secondary cause in the divine agency as are cows and wheat fields. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:41.000 They're all secondary causes, but the ultimate cause of feeding you is God. 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:44.000 That's why you bow your head at a meal, right? 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:51.000 Doesn't matter if you got it from Kroger, if you're sitting at a restaurant, that just is irrelevant. 00:32:51.000 --> 00:33:04.000 You bow your head and you say, Lord God, thank you for your kindness to provide again for me what I need. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:13.000 And you've given me, I'm expanding a little bit here, and you've given me taste buds to enjoy it. 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:15.000 Isn't that so kind of the Lord? 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:22.000 I mean, I've thought so many, many times he could have made us so that we feel the need to eat and we have to eat, but it just is bland and tasteless. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:26.000 We just do it because we know we have to, because we're going to die if we don't. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.000 But who enjoys eating? 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:45.000 I mean, it could have been that way, but instead he put these little taste buds so that, my goodness, that piece of chicken from Chick-fil-A. Wow, that's tasty. 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:50.000 I'm not on the payroll of Chick-fil-A, by the way, just came to mind. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.000 So give us this day our daily bread. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.000 So indeed, he starts with these daily visions. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:14.000 Notice in Matthew 6, verses 31 to 33, where Jesus hits this a bit more, Matthew 6, 31, do not worry then saying, what shall we eat? What will we drink? 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:17.000 Or what shall we wear for clothing? 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:22.000 For Gentiles eagerly seek all these things. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:26.000 For your heavenly Father, do you see it? 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:28.000 Here it is. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:32.000 This is how attentive he is to your everyday needs. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:38.000 Your heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:45.000 So seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:47.000 Honor him as God. 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:50.000 So don't forget the first part of the Lord's Prayer. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:55.000 Don't just jump into, give us this day our daily needs, our daily bread. 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.000 Don't jump in there. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:00.000 Remember the first part, honor God as God. 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:07.000 And then when you come before him and say, Father, I'm hungry, he will hear your prayers. 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:15.000 So indeed, he knows our physical needs, but then notice, give us a say our daily bread. 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:21.000 But then he goes on and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors. 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:27.000 So it moves from physical needs to spiritual needs. 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:33.000 Are you thinking all along the way here of the relevance of this to human fathers, human parenting? 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:39.000 Physical needs, spiritual needs, getting the point? 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:48.000 Yeah, so the heavenly Father also cares deeply for our spiritual life, spiritual well-being. 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:54.000 So indeed, forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors. 00:35:54.000 --> 00:36:03.000 He knows the only way that we will be able to thrive in our spiritual lives is as our sins are taken care of. 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:09.000 Now, human fathers, of course, can't remove sin in the way only God can do as our heavenly Father. 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:25.000 But nonetheless, we can be instruments in our children's lives of helping them see their sin, helping them face their sin, helping them confess their sin, helping them move beyond their sin, right, all of those ways? 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:30.000 But God alone can forgive sin. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:35.000 I mean, goodness, if we could do that for our children, we would. We would. 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:40.000 We'd get them all in heaven right now. But we can't, but he can. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:45.000 So we go to him and say, please, Father, forgive me. 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:59.000 Remove the guilt of sin from my heart. Help me to feel instead the peace and joy, the acceptance that I have with you for sins forgiven. 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:02.000 Oh, how precious that is. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:06.000 And only then, we can mirror that with our children when they confess. 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:25.000 When God forgives their sins, we can help them feel the joy of acceptance, of a sense of peace and joy in the relationship with each other because of sins that are removed. 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:29.000 God removed them, but we're part of the process in that. 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:40.000 So physical needs, spiritual needs. And then the spiritual continues, not only the past thing, forgive us for what we've done in the past, but my goodness, protect us from what's ahead. 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:46.000 Right. So that's where he goes next. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:37:46.000 --> 00:38:03.000 So indeed, Lord, guide my steps as I walk in this life that you keep me from the temptations that you know are so difficult for me that could trip me up. 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:06.000 Please guard my way. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:22.000 And again, God can do that in a miraculous way, but parents can be instrumental in helping their children, not only in getting past the sins of the past, but also moving forward in ways that are wiser than before. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:30.000 Right. In ways that are avoiding the kinds of things that have tripped them up in the past. 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:33.000 Right. 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:45.000 And you know what those kinds of things are with your own kids. You know what they're prone toward in terms of sins of their lives or attractions that they have to things that really end up being a problem for them. 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:47.000 So help them with that. Right. 00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:55.000 So again, we can't do it in the miraculous way God does, but we can be instruments in his hands in helping them with that. 00:38:55.000 --> 00:39:07.000 So spiritual needs of the past, spiritual formation as we move forward in our lives. And then, of course, the end of the Lord's Prayer was likely an editor's edition later on. 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:18.000 But nonetheless, it just resounds with such a beautiful summation at the end for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:26.000 OK, so God is for his people. Just hear that. Know that. Take that to heart. He is for you. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:37.000 Let me just a moment on that. If you have any doubts as a believer that God is one hundred percent for you. 00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:41.000 I know you will not trust him. 00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:54.000 I can just predict this right now because you don't trust someone who you think doesn't have your back, isn't for you. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:40:08.000 Don't doubt, please don't doubt the love that God has for you as a believer. Do not doubt that. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:14.000 He who did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:22.000 How will he not with him freely give us all things to all things must be interpreted as not. 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:26.000 I mean, to get a new Mercedes. How about that? 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:36.000 Every everything that is good and building up for your life, he will not hold one thing back. 00:40:36.000 --> 00:41:02.000 Believe that God is for you. So yes, he's the mighty exalted, holy, revered God who also hears so fervently, thoroughly, perfectly, unfailingly for his people. 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:14.000 For their everyday needs, for getting them past what's in their background, what's in the past for them and moving them forward in ways that will be more productive. 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:18.000 He is for you. Trust him. 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:20.000 And now a couple of the passages that help us see this. 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:32.000 Psalm 89, such an interesting Psalm, Psalm that refers to the Davidic covenant. That is the covenant made with David back in 2 Samuel 7. 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:35.000 We're not going to turn to it. Just turn to Psalm 89 if you would like to. 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:43.000 But in that passage in 2 Samuel 7, God promises David that he will have a son who will sit upon his throne forever. 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:56.000 So this Davidic covenant establishes then the line that goes to Jesus, the ultimate greater son of David, is one that has to go through David, has to come from him. 00:41:56.000 --> 00:42:10.000 So he is referred to as a son of God. David is a firstborn. So look with me at verse 20. 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:24.000 I have found David, my servant. With my holy oil I have anointed him, with whom my hand will be established, my arm will strengthen him, the enemy will not deceive him nor will the son of wickedness afflict him. 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:39.000 But I shall crush his adversaries before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and my steadfast love will be with him and in my name his horn will be exalted. 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:50.000 I shall also set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He will cry to me, you are my father. You see that there? You are my father, my God and the rock of my salvation. 00:42:50.000 --> 00:43:16.000 Now notice in that one verse right there in verse 26, you have both aspects of crying to God as this great mighty God who is powerful and worthy of honor, but this God who will rescue me, this God who cares, this God who will deliver. You see it? He will cry to me, you are my father, my God and the rock of my salvation. 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:25.000 I will also make him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for him forever. 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:32.000 My covenant shall be confirmed to him. I will establish his descendants forever as his throne as the days of heaven. 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:49.000 So this passage also reflects upon that God is father to David in a particular way as the promised one through whom the Messiah will come of protection and provision for him. 00:43:49.000 --> 00:44:02.000 Second Corinthians 1 verses 2 to 4, another passage that highlights God as father in this way of care for us. So Paul begins, Second Corinthians. 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:14.000 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy, our brother to the church of God, which is at Corinth with all the saints who were throughout Achaia. 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:36.000 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction. 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:48.000 Circle the word all. You will never be afflicted in any way in your life that God is not there. 00:44:48.000 --> 00:45:12.000 You talk about pastoral oversight. You know, this is an incredible promise of God so that he who comforts us in all of our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:26.000 So this this is God as Father, the Father of mercies, the Father who comforts, the Father who cares, the Father who comes. He won't fail to come. 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:36.000 He's not too busy. He's not out of town. He'll be there. Now we can't do that. I mean, we can't always do that with our children. 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:40.000 We can't, you know, husbands can't always do that with their wives. Wives can't always do that with their husbands. 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:48.000 But guess who always does, can and does. God your Father. 00:45:48.000 --> 00:46:00.000 OK, then finally, James one, sixteen to eighteen. 00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:14.000 Do not be deceived. James writes by beloved brethren, every good thing given, every perfect gift. Does the ESV say every, every? 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:28.000 It does good because it is. It is every good thing given. Every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father. 00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:34.000 Now he's called here the Father of lights. Why do you suppose that would be the case? 00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:41.000 Well, what is lights bring to mind? Oh, beauty, splendor, majesty. 00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:46.000 I mean, you have lights that make everything bright and beautiful, don't you? Right. 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:54.000 So the Father of lights who light lightens your life, who brings you these good things. 00:46:54.000 --> 00:47:03.000 And this and this Father of lights is one with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:13.000 So they're all just hold fast to this, my friends. He never changes. 00:47:13.000 --> 00:47:23.000 He's always this way. This Father of lights who is for you, who wants so badly for you to know. 00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:29.000 He hears your prayers. He knows your affliction. He's there is the Father of mercies. 00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:47.000 Second Corinthians one as the Father of lights. James one, he's there to help and comfort and console and bring every good, every perfect gift that you need in your lives. What an amazing Father. 00:47:47.000 --> 00:47:51.000 OK, so both of these things are tied to Father summary on this one is this. 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:59.000 God possesses an unfaltering, unwavering commitment to the well-being of his children. 00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:13.000 He delights in being the one who meets their every need, helps them when they're in trouble, comforts them when sorrowful. His presence brings grace, peace, goodness and joy. 00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:29.000 Now, my friends, this is the same God as the one we talked about earlier, who disciplines his children, who requires their allegiance and obedience. This is not, you know, take your pick, one God or the other. 00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:37.000 This is God whose Father is both of these. Right? And both are so important. 00:48:37.000 --> 00:48:46.000 OK, well, I've already dipped into application, but let's move into that directly and think about this a bit together. 00:48:46.000 --> 00:49:07.000 Fathers, first of all, consider and of course, this is parents more generally, although it has a more direct application to fathers, but it relates to mothers as well in the home. Consider the two ideas together that comprise the biblical portrayal of God as Father and apply it to your own father relationship, fatherly relationship with your children. 00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:21.000 So think first of respect, honor, obedience. Do you expect your children to show you respect, to heed your word precisely because you are their father? 00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:28.000 And for that matter, if Ephesians six children obey your parents, honor your father and mother because you are their parents. 00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:35.000 Right. So we can extend this rightly, justifiably from the Bible to mom and dad. 00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:43.000 Do you expect them to show you respect, heed your word precisely because you are their parents? 00:49:43.000 --> 00:49:53.000 Do you see their obedience to you as foundational for their obedience to God? 00:49:53.000 --> 00:50:00.000 Now, there are many people who end up obeying God who had terrible parents and didn't weren't taught to obey. 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:03.000 So there's not a necessary connection if you don't do it the right way than there. 00:50:03.000 --> 00:50:08.000 So I'm not saying that, but I am saying this, trade up a child in the way you should go. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:12.000 And when he's old, he won't depart from it. That's a general principle. Right. 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:18.000 So generally, our children learn to obey God because they've learned to obey us. 00:50:18.000 --> 00:50:24.000 So I just want to hit on this for a moment. 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:28.000 My sister and then our family, my sister is four years older than I. 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:33.000 They established kind of a, oh, not a slogan. 00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:38.000 What would you call this? A motto, a motto for their home. 00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:46.000 To delay is to disobey. And we practice this with our children. 00:50:46.000 --> 00:50:51.000 So, I mean, here's the problem when you tell your child to do something and they don't do it. 00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:56.000 And you tell them again and they don't do it. You tell them again and it gets a little heated and the volume goes up. 00:50:56.000 --> 00:51:02.000 And then, well, then they learn, oh, mom, dad doesn't mean it until they say it this way. 00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:06.000 Then we know they mean it. Don't do that. 00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:10.000 So to delay is to disobey. So train your children to obey. 00:51:10.000 --> 00:51:15.000 Now, I just ask yourself the question, when does God expect us to obey him? 00:51:15.000 --> 00:51:21.000 Third time, fourth time? And the first two or three don't matter? 00:51:21.000 --> 00:51:25.000 I'm sorry. It just doesn't work that way. 00:51:25.000 --> 00:51:33.000 So be consistent with your kids. 00:51:33.000 --> 00:51:39.000 And especially those of you who have younger children at home, be consistent with them in the early years. 00:51:39.000 --> 00:51:56.000 And I'll tell you, it will relieve you of so much grief that you might end up having in the later years if they learn when they're young to obey their mom and dad that they have to do it. 00:51:56.000 --> 00:52:02.000 You know, so, you know, it's just a matter of being consistent with it. 00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:06.000 I mean, sometimes you know this. I know this. It's just easier to let it go. 00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:09.000 Oh, they didn't listen. They didn't do what I said, but I'm just going to ignore it. 00:52:09.000 --> 00:52:14.000 Well, yeah, you can do that. It's easy, but it's not good. 00:52:14.000 --> 00:52:17.000 It's not the best thing for them to do that. 00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:24.000 And I'm joking. I've just noticed that there is a tendency in parenting nowadays. 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:32.000 Maybe it has been for a long time. And certainly we've seen this in other cultures, too, of just far too much permissiveness. 00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:37.000 Child centered homes where the kids rule. 00:52:37.000 --> 00:52:44.000 We were just in a place recently. This is recorded, isn't it? 00:52:44.000 --> 00:52:48.000 Where we observe this with some children. 00:52:48.000 --> 00:52:54.000 And I actually talked to one of the dads about this because I just thought, you know what? 00:52:54.000 --> 00:53:03.000 This is not going to work well for the family, for the children, for the parents. 00:53:03.000 --> 00:53:11.000 Just by letting this keep going, because you end up then with a place that's oftentimes very unhappy. 00:53:11.000 --> 00:53:14.000 A lot of quarreling and bickering and demanding. 00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:23.000 And instead of, you know, early compliance establishes a home of order and peace. 00:53:23.000 --> 00:53:36.000 So be consistent. In fact, I would be so bold as to say with little children, you always win with them every time. 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:40.000 That's the goal. Always win. 00:53:40.000 --> 00:53:44.000 That is, they do what you say. 00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:53.000 And if they don't do it the first time, there's a pop on the rear end or something that they realize, ah, ah, you can't ignore this. 00:53:53.000 --> 00:54:06.000 And so, and again, this isn't, I'm not, boy, maybe I have to say this in this day and age, I'm not calling for abuse. Being mean or harsh with your children. 00:54:06.000 --> 00:54:20.000 I am not calling for that, but I am calling for consistent and appropriate discipline that will help them learn children obey your parents, honor your father and mother. 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:26.000 Now, let me say one more word about this, particularly to dads in relation to their moms. 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:42.000 One of the most important gifts that you, dad, can give to your wife is to train your children to respect their mother. 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:51.000 She's not going to do it probably. She's too tender. She just is, you know, at least in many, many cases. 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:59.000 Of course, there's a lot of differences here, but, you know, in many, many cases, she just is not going to be the one who enforces the rules with her own kids. 00:54:59.000 --> 00:55:11.000 Dad, you got to be the guy who comes into the room and says, you know, hey, you do not talk to your mother that way. 00:55:11.000 --> 00:55:15.000 You know what? That woman you're talking to, that's my wife. 00:55:15.000 --> 00:55:25.000 I love her with all of my heart. And you just cannot be that way toward my wife, your mother. 00:55:25.000 --> 00:55:31.000 You respect your mother. You do what your mother says. 00:55:31.000 --> 00:55:36.000 And if you don't, I'll tell you, you got me to deal with. 00:55:36.000 --> 00:55:42.000 So, dads, just do this. Do this with your kids. Sit them down. 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:47.000 I don't care what stage they're in with mom right now. You sit them down and say, you know what? 00:55:47.000 --> 00:56:00.000 We're going to establish some rules here that perhaps we should have done earlier in which you respect your mother and you listen to her. You do what she says. No backtalk. 00:56:00.000 --> 00:56:07.000 Now, you can ask politely if you think something else should be done or whatever the case would be. 00:56:07.000 --> 00:56:12.000 But it better be polite. It better be honoring to her. 00:56:12.000 --> 00:56:25.000 So, I think this is just something a dad can do so that when you're at work or you're out of town or you're not there, my goodness, those kids have learned to live with their mother in a way that their mother can survive this. 00:56:25.000 --> 00:56:35.000 You get it? Can thrive with this because their kids are really a joy to be with. 00:56:35.000 --> 00:56:42.000 So dads do that. So, you know, the obedient side of it is a very, very important thing. 00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:52.000 And I just think it takes consistency. It takes the appropriate kinds of discipline that fit the situation. 00:56:52.000 --> 00:57:03.000 It takes wisdom, obviously. And in most cases, it's something that should be led primarily by the dad in the home. 00:57:03.000 --> 00:57:08.000 Now, those of you, some of you out there probably are mothers without a father in the home. 00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:15.000 And it's harder. I know it is, but I've talked with mothers, single moms over the years. 00:57:15.000 --> 00:57:20.000 And I know that you too can do this. It just is harder for you to do it. 00:57:20.000 --> 00:57:23.000 But you just have to with your kids, sit them down and say, you know what? 00:57:23.000 --> 00:57:29.000 The Bible is very clear about this. I stand before you as God stands to me. 00:57:29.000 --> 00:57:44.000 So I have you ever noticed that the commandment, honor your father and mother in the 10 commandments, is in the middle between the vertical, honor God, and the horizontal, how you live with one another. 00:57:44.000 --> 00:57:52.000 What's the bridge commandment? Smack dab in the middle. On honor. Isn't that amazing? 00:57:52.000 --> 00:57:58.000 Honor, which had been given to God earlier, honor your father and mother. 00:57:58.000 --> 00:58:03.000 And as you do that, you learn not to steal. You learn not to commit adultery. 00:58:03.000 --> 00:58:16.000 You learn not to, you know, so these other horizontal ways of living then are taught in homes where children honor their father and mother. 00:58:16.000 --> 00:58:32.000 OK, so think first of that. And I just would encourage you even, you know, go home tonight or tomorrow sometime and talk together as a husband and wife about how we can better help our kids learn to be respectful, to be honoring of us. 00:58:32.000 --> 00:58:40.000 And and obedient. Second, consider love, care, provision, protection, well-being. 00:58:40.000 --> 00:58:50.000 Your children know in the depths of their hearts that their dad and mom loves them and wants their very best. 00:58:50.000 --> 00:58:59.000 Do they see God's love and care for them through their own human parents, love and care for them? 00:58:59.000 --> 00:59:07.000 So this is equally important, isn't it? That your kids know that you are for them. 00:59:07.000 --> 00:59:21.000 You love them. You care for them. Even when you discipline them, you, you know, have this time afterwards, maybe even before, before and after of affirming your love for them. 00:59:21.000 --> 00:59:33.000 Because this discipline is not out of a heart of anger and hatred. It is out of a heart of love that wants their best. 00:59:33.000 --> 00:59:39.000 So you know what? I'm not going to hold back because you need this. 00:59:39.000 --> 00:59:43.000 And then you cuddle with them and you just let them know your love for them. 00:59:43.000 --> 00:59:54.000 I think it's just good to ask yourself this question. Do my children know that I absolutely love them? Do I tell them that? 00:59:54.000 --> 01:00:06.000 You know, my mom and dad were very good parents. My dad had a dad who was a horrible father. He was an alcoholic, ruined their home. 01:00:06.000 --> 01:00:14.000 His mother died at a young age because of how hard life was for them in Fort Valley, Georgia. 01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:22.000 You just, you know, poor farmers and watermelon, cotton, just really tough. 01:00:22.000 --> 01:00:30.000 My dad became a Christian, prayed that the Lord would show him how to be a Christian husband and father because he had never seen one. 01:00:30.000 --> 01:00:38.000 Had no idea what it looked like. And I can tell you as the only son of Bill Ware that God answered that prayer. 01:00:38.000 --> 01:00:52.000 And he was an outstanding father. And he knew this blend of a, I mean, I got spanked hard and consistently. 01:00:52.000 --> 01:01:02.000 But oh my, I never, ever once doubted how much my dad loved me. I knew it. 01:01:02.000 --> 01:01:09.000 He was just all about, you know, what he could do to help me grow and, you know, and advance. 01:01:09.000 --> 01:01:17.000 You know what, I'm a little bit of a tangent here, but one of the things he did was he cultivated in me trust. 01:01:17.000 --> 01:01:25.000 That is, he entrusted to me certain things that you typically wouldn't do with a kid at that age. 01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:35.000 And he just said, Bruce, I trust you. Now don't, you know, if you do something that betrays this trust, of course, that I won't keep trusting you with this. 01:01:35.000 --> 01:01:46.000 But I want you to know I trust you. And so, you know, the idea was prove that the trust is well-founded. Right? 01:01:46.000 --> 01:01:55.000 I am so grateful for that. Right? So there is love. But, but okay, but here's, but he never said to me, Bruce, I love you. 01:01:55.000 --> 01:02:02.000 I wish he had something about that generation. They just didn't do it. At least my parents didn't. 01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:11.000 I craved hearing those words from my dad. I knew he loved me, but I'd never heard him say, Bruce, I love you. 01:02:11.000 --> 01:02:21.000 Do you say it here, kids? Tell them, tell them, hug them, pull them up close. 01:02:21.000 --> 01:02:27.000 Hey, son, daughter, I love you. And then, and then love them in practical ways so they know. 01:02:27.000 --> 01:02:45.000 So, so that when the heavy hand comes, when the obedience is demanded, when, when the honor, the honor is, you know, required of them, they know the one who is requiring that is one who cares so dearly and deeply for their best. 01:02:45.000 --> 01:02:54.000 This is how the two have to go together. Now, all of us can consider also how our walk of faith with God is affected by these things. 01:02:54.000 --> 01:03:00.000 Do we relate to him as the true Heavenly Father that he is? I'm down at the bottom of the page now. 01:03:00.000 --> 01:03:08.000 Think first. This is for all of us in relation to God. First of respect, honor, obedience. Are you quick to obey God? 01:03:08.000 --> 01:03:19.000 Oh, boy, that's an important question to ask. Or do we fight with him about things? Do we want to negotiate things? 01:03:19.000 --> 01:03:23.000 Well, there's no negotiation. You know, the Ten Commandments aren't ten suggestions. 01:03:23.000 --> 01:03:30.000 These weren't worked out with us, you know, and are getting our input. Like, I don't want to say anything that you don't like, you know. 01:03:30.000 --> 01:03:37.000 So are you kidding? This is God. So are we quick to obey? Do we fear the Lord? 01:03:37.000 --> 01:03:44.000 Do we want to please him in all that we do think, say, say and do? Now, I know that none of us will do this perfectly. 01:03:44.000 --> 01:03:55.000 We all fail. You know, we all fail in many ways, as James says. But nonetheless, we grow in wanting to become more and more this way. 01:03:55.000 --> 01:04:03.000 Quick to obey. Quick to hear. Here I am, Lord. Send me. You know, are you just quick to obey? 01:04:03.000 --> 01:04:09.000 And quick to listen and do what God wants us to do and do so because we want to honor him. 01:04:09.000 --> 01:04:17.000 And then second, consider his infinite love, his immeasurable kindness, his unsurpassable longing for your best. 01:04:17.000 --> 01:04:23.000 Do you trust him implicitly? Do you go to him when you are in need? 01:04:23.000 --> 01:04:32.000 Do you honor him as the giver and the provider, the sustainer, the healer, the helper and friend of your life? 01:04:32.000 --> 01:04:42.000 So, my friends, you who are parents out there, parent your children, modeled after how God fathers you. 01:04:42.000 --> 01:04:48.000 And it will revolutionize your home, you know, as you bring both of these things to bear. 01:04:48.000 --> 01:04:57.000 May God help us. Give us wisdom. Give us courage. Give us vision to carry this out for his glory and the good of our families. 01:04:57.000 --> 01:05:06.000 Let's pray. Father, thank you for the opportunity to think of these things together with people who love you and love your word and want to honor you. 01:05:06.000 --> 01:05:19.000 I know that is true, Lord, of these dear people. And we pray that your spirit would be at work in helping each family to grow in ways that would be beneficial in their lives and honoring to you. 01:05:19.000 --> 01:05:21.000 We pray this in Christ's name. Amen. 01:05:21.000 --> 01:05:21.900 Amen. 01:05:21.900 --> 01:05:23.900 You