June 16, 2012

In our study of Ephesians we are learning what it means for a men of God to "fight right." First, you must stand guard clad in the Armor of God.

Second, you must serve your wife.

And, third, you must shape your Children

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise — “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  "Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:1-4

 

A.     Demand Their Obedience, V.1

Demand they obey you.

Demand they obey their mother.

Demand they obey God.

Demonstrate obedience to God. 

B.    Demand Their Respect, Vv. 2-3

Clear expectations and boundaries – family mission statement

Clear example – show them what it looks like

Clear execution – show them how to do it

C.    Disciple – Don’t Dictate, V. 4

Discipline according to principles – set up guardrails and teach them to “drive safely”

Discipline positively not negatively – “Say NO in order to say YES to better things”

Demonstrate disciplined living

Guys, your kids need you more than you know. They need you more than they even know! God wired each of us to need a father – earthly father AND Heavenly FATHER.

Much of what is wrong with our American culture can be traced back to the failure of FATHERS. LISTEN TO THIS:

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS – IF POOR FATHERS CREATED THE PROBLEM THEN GOOD FATHERS CAN HELP TURN IT AROUND!

THINK ABOUT THIS:

MEN – IF YOU HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND YOU WIN THEM BOTH TO THE LORD AND BRING THEM UP IN THE FAITH – AND BOTH OF THEM RAISE TWO CHILDREN IN THE FAITH AS WELL AND THAT PATTERN CONTINUES THOSE TEN GENERATIONS ALONE WOULD PRODUCE 1,024 FAITHFUL BELIEVERS.

IF THERE ARE FOUR CHILDREN IN EACH GENERATION WHO BELIEVE AND PASS ON THEIR FAITH THAT 1,024 BECOMES 260,000 FROM YOUR FAMILY ALONE!

SAY THERE ARE SIX CHILDREN IN EACH GENERATION THAT NUMBER GROWS TO OVER 10,000,000 JUST FROM YOUR DESCENDANTS!

LOCAL CHURCHES LIKE OURS WITH GODLY MEN LIKE YOU WHO COMMIT TO BEING COURAGEOUS HUSBANDS AND DADS ARE THE HOPE OF THE WORLD!

WILL YOU COMMIT TO STAND STRONG IN HIS ARMOR AND FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY?

WILL YOU SERVE YOUR WIFE – WINNING HER TRUST AND RESPECT AND LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR HER?

WILL YOU SHAPE YOUR CHILDREN IN THE FAITH AND MAKE SURE THEY COME TO KNOW CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR?

WILL YOU BEGIN THIS MORNING?