“The Impact Of A Good Father” (Father’s Day 2024) (Final Version)

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 06/16/24 (3rd Sunday Message) (Final Version)

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{All scriptures are “NIV84” unless stated}

Message Title:

“The Impact Of A Good Father”

Happy Fathers Day!

We are honoring you today.

All of our fathers.

those who are here.

those who have gone to be with the Lord.

When we CALL it Father’s Day…

there is something that’s bigger than JUST the name.

Because FATHER’S Day includes more than men who contributed to a child. But father figures:

Step fathers:

I know people who have stepped up to help raise other children as their own.

Mentors: Coaches: Friends:

Any male who has had a positive impact on the life of another. Because not every man/family can have children.

but it does NOT mean you haven’t made an impact.

We honor all of you today.

We don’t thank you as much as we should for all you do. It’s not easy…yet many of you are doing a great job.

But TODAY we say, “thank you.”

You make an impact that goes beyond what you know. Share this message today with men, brothers, guys, fellas… Share this to encourage them…

Share this to thank them… Because you all are special.

Not JUST because you’re a present father/mentor/figure. But because you are a believer.

Proverbs 14:26

26 He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.

Not only do YOU men have a secure fortress because of what you believe… Your children will have something that will be a safe place for them as well. What you do benefits others…

Children Are Blessed Because Of Their Fathers!

God honors families because of you. God honors generations because of you.

This means that long after you’ve gone to be with the Lord… he will still be blessing others because of YOUR impact!

Proverbs 20:7

7 The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.

Fathers, Your Children Are Blessed Because Of YOUR Faithfulness To God!

This is something to look at with gratefulness. Because YOU have been chosen.

You aren’t just here…part of your purpose is to have an impact!

God Chose YOU To Have An Impact On Someone!

and because you were chosen… this isn’t just random.

God LED your paths to cross with others…

You Were Called And Built To Walk In This!

The bible tells us specifically:

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

This says something specific: Train up A child.

And THAT is consistent across a number of translations:

King James

New King James English Standard NIV

Amplified New Century

three of these are word for word translations They are specific to say train up “a” child.

They do NOT say:

“Only train up YOUR children”

Fathers this is telling us to make sure to have an impact on others.

The bible says when these children are old… they won’t turn from their training.

The world is full of many “older men/women.” who don’t know where they came from.

because they weren’t properly trained as children… by men and women of God.

Maybe the world would be diﬀerent…

if MORE of us would “train A child.”

This is a major calling…

it’s not easy. it’s hard work.

but it pays oﬀ!

The Lord says you’re blessed for walking in this calling!

Psalm 127:3-5

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

This says that your children are a heritage.

Those who you have an impact on are your heritage. Blessed is the person who has many.

many children…

much influence…

why?

Because if you are a Godly man…

you are training others to know the Lord.

And THAT is a blessing!

Psalm 78:5-7

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Someone has to train our children. either we will do it…

or someone else will…

THAT is how our kids get into stuﬀ…

they are taught things outside of the Lord.

There is an impact that should be made.

Mothers should make it.

But Fathers should do it too!

Good Fathers Help Their Children Know The Lord!

Joshua 24:14-15

14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

as for me and my house…

This is the trait of a good father…

Being a good father isn’t JUST about teaching manners.

it isn’t JUST about explaining how to handle that bully at school. it’s not JUST about attending their games.

it’s not JUST about teaching hard work and discipline.

But it’s making sure they know who your God is!

Psalm78:6-7

6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

What you do doesn’t just aﬀect them now… but this is shaping their future!

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

We are to impress on our children who the Lord is! How do we do that?

{Helping Our Children Know The Lord}

Talk To Our Children About The Lord
Praying With Our Children Each Night
Letting Our Children SEE Us Pray For Them When They Need It
Giving Our Children Opportunities To Pray For Us

This is why the bible tells us to train them. This is how they know the Lord…

There are examples in the bible of training that takes place.

1 Samuel 3:1-5a

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Samuel was ministering before the Lord under Eli.

this was at a time when the word of the Lord was more rare.

Samuel was lying down in the temple when he heard a voice call his name.

He goes to Eli thinking the Lord called him.

1 Samuel 3:5b-8

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.

A second and third time this happened.

Samuel heard the voice of the Lord but thought it was Eli.

There is something important here:

Verse 7

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

There are boys and girls out here who need a relationship with the Lord. Your influence can help them!

Eli could see that the Lord wanted to use Samuel. So what did he do?

Verse 9-11

9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.

The Lord was calling Samuel…

yet ALL it took was someone to point him in the right direction.

This boy would grow up and become a great prophet.

He would anoint another young boy who would become King later. THAT king and all that came after that time…

Eli had a part in that.

Brothers, The Influence You Have With Others Can’t Be Measured!

Timothy in the bible had a mentor… it was Paul.

Paul wrote Timothy to help him better know how to deal with people. Paul even considered him a son.

These letters are in the bible…

letters that influence ALL of us to this day!

Why?

Because one man wanted to help another in the faith.

Thank You Fathers! Your Impact Can Never Be Calculated!

Today we honor our fathers.

We honor those who have helped lead us.

We honor those who have served a positive influence in our lives.

Because you love the Lord… we are blessed.

Because you helped us…

Your impact can never be calculated.

Thank you and may God continue to bless you.