What Would Jesus Do? Part 8: As a Father

And if you would turn your Bibles to John chapter 15, John chapter 15 is the first passage of scripture we're going to look at this morning. There'll be several we're going to look and add in a few others that I'll be reminding you of this morning. On Sunday nights, amen. On Sunday nights, we start a series entitled, what would Jesus do? And it's a study looking not only at the word of God and the principles there but looking also at the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and how he dealt with situations that he came across in his ministry that are recorded in the word of God for us.

And we're going to move that series to Sunday morning this morning and we're going to move what we're doing on the Holy Spirit this Sunday night tonight because it's Father's Day and I wanted to preach something this morning as we honor our fathers particularly on the subject. So, my message is entitled this, what would Jesus do as a father? What would Jesus do as a father? Now, although Christ was not a father in the flesh, you say, well, Jesus wasn't a father. He didn't have any children.

Well, that is and isn't true and we'll get to that in a moment but I can think of several reasons why Jesus chose not to have children in the flesh. First of all, he knew he was going to die at age 33. We don't know at what age we're going to go to meet the Lord. For some of us, the age of 33 passed quite a long time ago. We don't know when that day will be.

And but Jesus did and he knew that at 33 years old, he was going to die on the cross and shortly after his resurrection would ascend back to his father in heaven. It was his desire, I'm sure not to leave a family without a father. His earthly ministry did not fit very well with being an earthly father. He spent three years of his ministry going from city and city to town to town. It would have made difficult being a father.

Number three, the ramifications of the sinless son of God having children with a sinful human being would have been a distraction in the minds of many caused taken away from his real purpose. Christ's real purpose was to bring people into God's family not by physical birth, not by the will of the flesh but by the will of the what? Spirit. By the will of the spirit and he brought us into God's family by spiritual birth, by grace, through faith, in his, him, and his finished work on Calvary and not by the work and the acts of the flesh. So, there are, I'm sure other reasons you could come up with why Jesus did not have children in the flesh.

But most of all, he came for a greater purpose to make us part of the family of God. Anyone proposing extra biblical scenarios concerning Christ and Mary Magdalene or or others is either trying to discredit Christ altogether or distract people. From the truth. Satan is very good at both of those and so there's many false doctrines, many false teachers today that try to distract us from the truth or discredit our savior altogether. They're wrong.

One day, they will stand before God and give an account. It is our responsibility to stick with what? To stick with the truth of the word of God. However, having said that, Christ being one with the father as he so declared in John chapter 10 and verse 30, also knows what it's like to be a father. The one who created the home, the one who established the family, who created fathers is Jesus Christ.

Amen. So, he knows what it's like to be a father and there's much that we can learn from his actions and from his word and Isaiah Isaiah chapter nine and verse six, it even calls Jesus Christ the everlasting what? Father, the everlasting father. So, while Jesus didn't have a son in the flesh, Jesus has many, many, many children in the spirit. And there's much we can learn from his ministry and from his word today about being a good father.

The first one is this, a father should love his children sincerely and selflessly. Good morning, John. A father should love his children sincerely and selflessly. Who demonstrated that for us? Jesus Christ.

John three sixteen, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God gave of his son sincerely and selflessly for who? For you. Romans five eight, but God commended or demonstrated his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He didn't die as it says in Romans chapter five for the best person that ever was. He he didn't die for for people who measured up to his standard. He didn't die for people. Excuse me, that loved him with all their heart and were serving him. No, he died for sinners.

He died for those that were his enemies that he might make them his what? His friends, his servants, and his children. This is the sincere and selfless love of Jesus Christ that he demonstrated on the cross of Calvary for us and that he lived every day of his life on Earth before his apostles. Look if you would in John chapter 15. Look in John chapter 15.

And look if you would in verse nine Jesus said to his disciples, as the father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue you in my life. Jesus says, as the father so loved the son, so have I loved you and those weren't empty words for his actions had demonstrated his care and his love. For his disciples. In verse 12, he says, this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this than a man what? Praise God. That a man lay down his life for his friends and that's what Jesus did for us. He laid down his life but he laid down his life when we were not yet his friends. But his enemies.

And through faith in him by God's grace and through his selfless sacrifice, we have become the children of God and more than just even friends. In first Corinthians 13, if you turn there, turn to first Corinthians 13. It describes the kind of love that Jesus had for his disciples that our father in heaven has for us and the type of sincere and selfless love fathers that you should have for your children, your young children, your grown children, for they are still your what? They're still your children. And this love shouldn't stop, it shouldn't end, it shouldn't change.

Even though they may not be perfect children because we are certainly not perfect children but this is the kind of love that our father has for us and this should be demonstrated in the life of fathers. Look if you would in first Corinthians thirteen four. The word charity here is another word for love. It's not talking about, you know, giving to an offering or giving to your neighbor. It is in the Greek, the word Agapao and it's the word for selfless, sacrificial, love, the love that we see in Christ, the love that comes from God.

Charity or love, verse four, suffereth long. That means it is very, very patient, very patient. It is kind. It isn't cutting and hurtful and mean. Charity envieth not.

It doesn't envy what others have. It is content and happy and satisfied. Charity vaunteth not itself is not puffed up. True love isn't proud, isn't arrogant. It doesn't push oneself to the forefront but it looks on the things of others, Philippians two.

And exalts others. It does not behave itself unseemly or inappropriately. It seek seek it not her own, does not seek his own benefit over the benefit of others. Is not easily provoked, is not easily provoked. Fathers, do you have a short temper?

That is not the type does not demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ has a very patient, long suffering temper, if you want to call it that, towards us. Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. It thinketh no evil against those that it loves. It rejoices not in iniquity or an injury or hurt that comes to others.

It rejoices in the truth. In the truth. It beareth all things. It believeth all things. It hopeth all things.

It endureth all things. That is the love of God towards us, his children. That is the love that is to be demonstrated in the lives of fathers toward their children. That is the love that Jesus Christ demonstrated for us. Yes, fathers, we fall far short of the holiness and perfection of Jesus Christ but it is our solemn and yet wonderful duty and privilege to become more like him, to demonstrate that love more every day to the children that he has given to us.

So, we see a father should love his children as Christ loved those to whom he ministered and as Christ loved us. A father is to love and respect their mother. A father should love and respect the mother of his children. Look if you would in Ephesians chapter five. If you're in first Corinthians, just a few pages, keep you'll come to Galatians and Ephesians.

If you go too fast, you'll skip it. You'll be in Philippians or Colossians. They're short books. Ephesians five verse 25, okay? Ephesians chapter five and verse 25.

Fathers, it is our responsibility to love our children but it's also our responsibility to love their mother and if we don't love their mother, then we are selling our children short. As well as our wives. In Ephesians chapter five and verse 25, Christ said this, husbands, love your wives. Well, how are we supposed to love our wives? What says here, husband, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.

That's how husbands are to love their wives. As Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. That kind of love that we just talked about, that kind of love that is defined in first Corinthians 13. Verse 26, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, that is the church with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but it should be holy and without blemish. So, ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.

He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth it and cherisheth even as the Lord the church. For we are members of his body and of his flesh and bones. For this, call shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife and they too shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ in the church.

Nevertheless, that everyone of you particular so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband. You get the point? Fathers, husbands, we are to love our wives. Christ loved the church. That's a tall order, a very tall order.

But it is what God has called us to do. It should come natural to those who we do sincerely love. Sometimes, our selfishness gets in the way and we need to be reminded. We have a responsibility to love our children and to love our wives. Today, there are too many young men who do not know how to treat a woman, do not know how to treat their wife, and the reason is, is they didn't have a good example in their father.

Fathers, it's your responsibility to help them learn that. It says in first Peter three seven, likewise, you husbands dwell with them that is your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife is under the weaker vessel and is being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered. The third thing we see is this, a father should therefore also provide for his family. If you love your family, then you should also naturally provide for your family as well. Does God promise to provide for his children?

Yes, he does. The first thing that he's provided for you, if you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, is he's provided you a home in heaven. He's provided you eternal life. He's provided you forgiveness from sin. You didn't provide that for yourself.

The Bible says, salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by what? Not by works. Not by the works of the flesh but by the grace of God and the salvation that's been provided you was not provided by yourself but by your heavenly father. God promises also in Matthew six thirty three, he says, but seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. God says, if you put me first in your life, if you will give me first place, if you'll seek first to do the will of the Lord, then God says, I'll see that you're provided with what you need.

You won't go wanting. You won't go without. I'll provide what you need. He said, the whole world, the rest of the world, that that's material possessions is what they live for. That's what they worry about.

From day to day to day, it consumes them. But if we'll put Christ first and we'll choose to serve God and not mammon, not money, and not the accumulation of possessions but lay up treasure where? In heaven, God says, he will see that we are provided for. Philippians four nineteen, Paul writes, but my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus, our father in heaven, and Jesus Christ, our savior, have provided us the example. And taking care of the family that he purchased with his blood and that he loves.

Jesus provided for the needs of his disciples as they served him. They did not go hungry. In many occasions, he fed over 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, fourth over 4,000 with seven loaves, those that came to hear him, those that followed him, Jesus, did not leave lacking and wanting. In first Timothy five eight, it says this, but if any provide not for his own house and especially for those of let me start again but if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Infidel means an unbeliever.

Paul writes to Timothy and says, if somebody will not provide for their family, for their home, then, they have failed miserably. If they're able, they should provide. Fathers, it is our responsibility to provide for our families. It is a privilege to be put by God in that position and it is a responsibility. Not just for their material needs but their other needs also.

A father should set a good example for his children. A father should set a good example. In verse 12 again, Jesus said, this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Jesus set the example for his disciples and he could say, honestly, love one another as you have seen me. Love you.

In John chapter 13, in verses 12 to 15, in John 13, Jesus took a towel. I mentioned this the other day. It fit into my sermon and he washed the feet of his disciples. Usually, that's the task of the lowliest servant in the house but Jesus took that task upon himself. In order to demonstrate something to his disciples.

The need to humble themselves and serve one another and not wait to be waited upon but to be the person that waited upon others. For the for that person, Jesus said is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and in John chapter 13 and verse 12, Jesus said, it says, so after he had washed their feet and had taken his garments and was set down again, he said unto them, know you not what I have done to you? You call me master and Lord and you say, well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and master, have washed your feet. You also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. Fathers, we need to practice what we preach. We need to do what we say. We don't need to say, do as I say and not as I do. That's teaching the wrong thing.

That's showing great weakness in what we do. We are to be examples. As fathers that our children can look up to, as we look up to our heavenly father, as the disciples looked up to Jesus Christ. As Paul told Timothy, look if you would in first Timothy four twelve. Look look there if you would with me a moment.

First Timothy four twelve. Paul who is in a sense the spiritual father of Timothy. He he he saw himself as that. He was not the one who saved Timothy. God saved Timothy but he was the one who led Timothy to the Lord who had preached the gospel unto him.

He was the one who in the ministry and become became sort of a substitute father in Timothy's life and he says this to Timothy, he says, let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the believers. He says, Timothy, now it's your turn. It's your turn. You're now the pastor. You're now the example.

You are to set the example. You are to demonstrate the character and the love of Christ before them. You are to demonstrate what it means to be a Christian, a believer because they're looking to you just as our children. Fathers, look to us to be an example. Just as Paul had been an example to Timothy.

We are to also be an example and he gives him some categories here in which Timothy needs to be an example. He says in word, in word, in what we say, we should be an example. If you don't want your children using certain words, don't use them. If you don't want your children talking a certain way, don't talk that way. Be an example in word.

Be a good example and not a bad one. In conversation, the word conversation means in behavior and conduct. God says, fathers, as Paul said to Timothy here, be an example in your conduct, in your everyday behavior. Not just in, not just when you're out in what? Public.

Public. When you're alone at home. We need to be the same person whether we're out in public, whether we're at church, or whether we're at home fathers. We're to set an example because your children know if the person you are at church or the person you are in front of other people is not the same person you are at home. You have a responsibility to be an example in your conduct.

It will affect the hearts of your children. Be an example in word and conversation. Also, in charity. What is that? That's love.

In your love. May it be sincere. May it be expressed. And demonstrated in your home. In your spirit.

In your attitude, may it be a godly one. May it not be a worldly one. May it not be a negative one. May it be a holy one that points your children to the wonderful thing that it is to be a Christian. In faith, in your faith in the Lord, that it's real, that it's genuine, that it's something that you live and you talk about all the time.

And in purity, in your purity, in your morality, in your holy living. Be an example. Christ is our great example. But fathers, particularly to your young children, but also to your grown children, you also are a very important example. What kind of example are we setting?

Also, fathers should train and teach their children in the ways of the Lord. Fathers, it is our responsibility, not the school's responsibility, not the church's responsibility, not the mother's responsibility. Fathers, it is our responsibility to teach and train our children in the ways of the Lord and in the things they need to know. Too often, we have been trained ourselves to think that well, that's not my response. My responsibility is to go out and work and to make money and my responsibility primarily ends with putting food on the table but is that what's God's word says?

Is it? No. It says in Ephesians, we read this to to open this the service in the bulletin. It said, Ephesians six four and you fathers provoke not your children to wrath. Don't provoke them to anger but bring them up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord.

How do fathers provoke their children to anger? Well, they do that by inconsistent discipline. They do that by losing their temper. They do that by withholding their love. Instead, what we should be doing is bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the lords, of the Lord.

That is bringing them up in the teaching and the training and the way of the Lord in a loving way. Nurture In a correcting way, admonition. We have a responsibility. It says in Deuteronomy six verse six and seven and these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shall thou talk of them when thou sitest in thine house and will thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up, fathers, this time we spend with our children is limited. I have a boy that's 15.

He will be a junior in high school next year. Lord willing in a couple years, he'll go off to college. My time with him is limited. He won't always be with me nor will Joshua. I have a privilege for them to be in my home now and for me to train them and teach them in the ways of the Lord.

Jesus had a limited time with his disciples. He had three years. He made the most of it. Fathers, are we making most of the time we have? Our time is limited.

Let's not forget. The responsibility that God has given to us as fathers to teach and train our children and not just push that off on the mother or push that off on the school or push that off on the church. It's our responsibility It's a blessed one. It's a rewarding one. It's an important one.

And fathers should also discipline their children Discipline. The words nurture and admonition also carry a component of discipline, of correction, of rebuke. It is your responsibility not only to always be positive and to and and to tell them how good they're doing and you should. We talked about positive reinforcement last Sunday morning but you also have a responsibility as fathers to discipline your children when they need it and again, that isn't primarily the mother's responsibility. That shouldn't be pushed off onto her.

That should be something as a father that you take the lead on. It's important We don't enjoy correcting our children anymore than our children enjoy being corrected. Your child may look at you and you say this hurts me more than it hurts you and they may look at you as I did when I was a kid. Yeah, sure it does. But in a way it does.

It's not it's not fun but it needs to be done they need a disciplining hand. Jesus Christ corrected and rebuked his disciples when they were wrong. They were not his children in the flesh and they were grown men when they became his disciples. He did not exact corporal punishment on them but he did correct them. But as a father in a home with young children, it is our responsibility to discipline them.

As our heavenly father also disciplines us. It says in Hebrews 12, it says, and you have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, for we are children. In God's household. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth, he want?

Chasten it and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. The Lord chastens us when we're doing wrong because he loves us. He corrects us. He stands in our way. He brings things into our life to say, halt.

Look out. You're going the wrong way because he loves us. When your kids running out into the street in front of a car, do you yell out, halt? Stop. And when you get there and you say, I told you a 100 times to look before you cross the street.

Do you take a moment to discipline them? Why? Because they've got to learn because you love em and if they run out in front of the car, then that's it. You care. God cares for us.

Father's part of caring for your children is being willing to do the hard part in disciplining them. Also, few verses from Proverbs, please listen. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Withhold not correction from the child if thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die.

Thou shalt beat him with a rod and shalt deliver his soul from hell. The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. Now, a rod is a stick. That's what the word rod means. And or paddle.

In our home, it was a ping pong paddle, okay? And to beat means to strike and there is a particular place to strike with a paddle on a young child that makes a point and that is their rear end. That does not bring them permanent injury or harm. I I found it interesting when my kids were little, two years old, that a little pat on their rear end got their attention. It's almost like God made them that way.

I think he did. And for us to withhold all corporal punishment because some fad psychologist says that it warps their personality or because some people abuse it and they do. For us to withhold that which is proper and right doesn't help them. It is our responsibility, fathers, to see that they're disciplined. I remember when I was a kid, I I I don't remember but very few times my father disciplined me in that manner.

There's one time I will never forget. I remember many times my mother did but I wasn't really afraid in a proper way of my mother because her spankings really didn't hurt. My father's dead and I thought twice about making that mistake again. It is our responsibility fathers to do the hard things as well as the easy things and to teach and to train our kids to be an example to them, to love them with the love of Jesus Christ. For if you do one without the other, then they're not getting what they need.

Likewise, as children, we have responsibility to what? To honor our parents. To love our parents as Christ loved us. To respect and to obey them. Once we leave home, we no longer in the home where they tell us what to do but you can still respect and honor them and you have responsibility to care for them.

Right now, my parents are not dependent upon me or my brother but the day may come when they are. If I honor them, it is my privilege to help, to provide for my parents who help to provide for me. Jesus Christ obeyed his parents in Luke two when they came to pick him back up at the temple after they lost him for three days and and they said, what are you doing here? He said, I'm about my father's business. He meant his father in heaven.

God the father and they didn't quite understand at that point. It says, he went back with them and he obeyed them and did just as they said, okay? Why? Because they were his parents in the flesh and he had a responsibility to obey them and he did and he honored them and he loved them. As he was hanging on a cross, as he was enduring great pain and agony, even as an adult child.

He saw his mother standing at the foot of the cross and he had compassion and he showed love for his mother when he told John the apostle to take care and provide for his mother. He was thinking not about himself but he was thinking about his mom who he loved and cared about. As children, it is our responsibility to honor our father and mother, to show them that same love. To help take care of them in their time of need. Also, and Jesus demonstrated that in his life as well.

Question this morning, we could give several. We'll stop with about three or four. Fathers, how are you doing? How are you doing? Are we becoming more like Christ, being the kind of fathers we ought to be.

Is there areas we fall short in? Is there something God has brought to your mind and you think, boy, I have really failed in this area. Well, you know what you can do? If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just forgives us our sins and he cleanses from all unrighteousness. If you'll come to the Lord and say, God, I'm sorry.

I haven't been the father I should. I've really been failing in this area. You know, something God will not only forgive and cleanse you but strengthen and help you to be the kind of father you ought to be but you gotta confess that before him. You got to purpose in your heart as Daniel did. To honor the Lord and to be the kind of father you should be and not just brush it off.

But we don't change when we just brush it off. Can you do better? Oh, we can all do better. We can all do better but if there's something in particular, God has laid on your heart, deal with that today. How about as a son or a daughter?

Do you honor your parents as you should? Maybe you can do better in that area. Maybe the Lord has touched your heart. Maybe your parents aren't perfect. Guess what?

You're not either. They're your parents. Honor them. Take care of them. My final question this morning is this, is God your father?

Will you say, well, of course, pastor, God's everybody's father because he created us. Therefore, God is our father. No. It's not what I'm asking this morning. Do you know him?

As your father? Does he know you as his son? No, not just a created being of his but as your father in heaven who gave his son for you? That you might be born again into his family by faith in Jesus Christ. Have you come to God and said, God, I'm a sinner in need of a savior.

Have you come to God and said, God, I believe Jesus Christ did die on the cross for my sins and rise again from the dead and I now ask you to be the Lord and savior of my life and forgive my sins. Come into my heart. And help me to live a life pleasing to you. Have you surrendered to God as your father? Are you fighting him?

Are you looking to other things like baptism in the church and good works to get you to heaven? Are you trusting in the only way? Jesus Christ. Is God your father? If not, he can be.

He wants to be. The Bible says, if any man received him, that is Jesus, to them gave he power to become the children of God, the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. If you believe and trust him today, you'll become a child of God and he, your father, will be born into God's family and you'll never leave. He'll keep you. Let's pray.

Dear God, thank you Lord for this day, for the opportunity to worship today, to honor our fathers, but most of all, our heavenly father and I pray Lord if there's something in our life that needs to change. Lord, that you have showed us, that you have brought to to light. Lord, I pray we didn't, I pray we wouldn't brush it off. I pray Lord that we would deal with it today and as this hymn of invitation is given, Lord, if we need to come forward and spend a moment in prayer with you that we would humble ourselves to do that. I pray Lord that we would, if it's your desire to bow our heads and not sing this song and confess something and ask for your help, Lord, that we would do that and I pray Lord if there's someone here today that doesn't know Christ as savior, that they'd be willing to come.

We'd love to show em from God's word how they can be safe today and know it. In Jesus precious name, we pray. Amen.