Faith of Our Fathers

Could I begin with a word of testimony? I am blessed to be the son of godly parents. It is my personal blessing to seek to follow after the faith of my father. He is a many whose faith still inspires me.

Also, I know the blessing of being a father and a grandfather. Psalm 127:3 tells us, "behold, children are a heritage from the LORD…" When we hear that son and daughter cry their first cry and hold the in our arms the first time, we know something of the greatness of the blessing and responsibility of being a father. Yes, children are a heritage from our Lord.

Great are the blessing of grandparents! "Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father (Proverbs 17:6)."

We would all agree if someone said, "American needs godly fathers." But, is it not more important for us to know in our hearts that our children, our sons and daughters need godly fathers.

This morning’s sermon title is certainly not original. But, the title points us to our spiritual fathers we find the Scriptures--Old and New Testament.

We can draw from our Biblical heritage of fathers such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We can identify with fathers such as Isaiah and Hosea. They were human and imperfect just as we are. Yes, we can learn from their spiritual strengths and weaknesses. Yes, we seek the "Faith of our Fathers" as we pick up the challenge of being godly fathers. We are looking to the "Faith our Fathers" as we turn in our Bibles to Ephesians 6:4)."

Ephesians 6:4

The entire book of Ephesians stands with this text for fathers. Fathers who seek the help of Ephesians 6:4 can know that the book of Ephesians can be a defensive wall that will enable us as fathers to protect our families. Also, the message of the Ephesians can be an offensive wedge that will enable us as fathers to lead our families forward in the name of Jesus Christ. The more we as fathers apply the message of Ephesians, the better we will be able to shape our faith into the faith of our fathers.

We are going to race some of the important steps of following the faith of our fathers. First, we must live worthy of our calling. "Therefore, I the prisoner of the LORD, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of your calling with which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1)." Yes, we are called of God to live for Jesus Christ, and to lead our families for Jesus Christ.

Faith of our fathers tells us that the call to be a parent is a godly calling. Ephesians 6:4 reminds us of our calling to bring up our sons and daughters up "in the nurture and admonition of the LORD."

Second, fathers must live a life of Biblical love. The standard of Biblical love is the self-sacrificing love of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, b imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also live you and gave Himself up for us, and offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma (Ephesians 5:1-2).

This kind of sacrifice is described in Romans 12:1. "Therefore, I urge you, brethern, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of service."

Godly sacrifices we make for our families, for our children, are sacrifices to our LORD also. Yes, the faith our fathers calls us to live a life of love.

Next, as fathers, we must make the most of our time. "Making the most of your time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:`6)." Sometimes children have fathers who are excellent hunters, fisherman, businessmen, professionals, experts on sports, and do-it-yourself for almost anything, but do not have time for their children. The faith of our fathers tells us we must make the most of our time.

The faith of our fathers would show us that fathers seek to be filled with the Spirit. This is Ephesians 5:18. "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." Way too many fathers get drunk and are seen drunk by their own children! Fathers are to be under the daily influence of the Holy Spirit. Being a father requires, the help, insight, patience, and faith that comes from being filled with the Spirit.

The next two steps of the faith of our fathers takes us a few steps beyond this passage. Fathers are to be strong in the LORD. "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might (Ephesians 5:10)."

Where do we get the strength we need to live out the faith of our fathers? The Lord is our strength. God’s Word is crammed promises of strength we must have to be godly fathers. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)." "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)."

Fathers who are seeking to the faith of our fathers are to be men of prayer. "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18a)." The more our sons and daughters grow and develop, the less we can directly affect their lives. My son and daughter are fast approaching middle age, but I can always intercede for them. I can always bring them to the throne of grace through prayer.

Faith of our fathers tells us that fathers must live lives worthy of their calling. Fathers must live lives of Biblical love. Fathers must make the most of time. Fathers are to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Fathers must be strong in the LORD. Fathers are to be men of prayer.

This is absolutely important. Fathers are to love their wives. It is not an accident or a coincidence that what Ephesians says abut children and fathers follows the wonderful husband-wife passage of Ephesians 5:21-33. What a statement about the love a husband has for his wife. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ love the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25)."

I officiate weddings from time to time. Sometimes I attend weddings. I hear what other pastors say about weddings. Weddings are important for the husband, wife, and their respective families. Weddings are important to the church. They are important to our LORD.

Sometimes I cringe at the attitudes that surround weddings. Sometimes there is no concern or sense that before anything else a wedding is a time of worship. Sometimes there is such an interest in what should be done or when it should be done that the LORD is left out. The wedding can become an end to itself. The Lord’s intention is that after the wedding comes a marriage for life with God as the third party.

How successful would homes and marriages be if the husbands who become fathers would seek this kind of love, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church!"

Here in Ephesians 6:4 Paul is inspired of the Holy Spirit gives us a brief and powerful word of encouragement for fathers. This word from our Lord is both negative and positive, The Scriptures tell us what not to do and what to do as we live out the faith of our fathers.

This verse begins with what not to do as a father. I am reading the first portion of Ephesians 6:4 from the Amplified Bible. "Fathers do not irritate an provoke your children to anger--do not exasperate them to resentment…."

Fathers often ruled their households with severity and domineering authority in the pagan world when Paul wrote Ephesians. This was true in many Jewish households. Yes, fathers should exercise godly authority over their sons and daughters. But, there should not e severity, harshness, and unkindness.

Martin Luther had difficulty praying "Our Father" because of the forbidding severity of his father. He believed "spare the rod and spoil the child" was wise counsel. However, he felt a father should keep an apple beside the rod to give the child who does well.

The second portion of Ephesians 6:4 shows us what to do and be as fathers. Again, I am reading from the Amplified Bible. "But rear them (tenderly) in the training and instruction of the LORD."

"Bring them up" or "rear them" speaks to the development of character. "Nurture" or "training" is teaching the child all that is essential to becoming a godly adult. "Admonition" or "discipline" describes correction and warning that is essential for shaping godly ethics. This enables a child to have a Christian heritage of godliness and blessing.

How can we have the help we must have to move toward the faith of our fathers? I am convinced the Lord has given us the best and most effective help. These helps are easy to know. However, they are important helps for godly fathers.

First, the faith of our fathers tells us we first must know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The words of Ephesians addressed to fathers were written to born again believers in Jesus Christ. Some fathers this morning must claim Ephesians 2:8. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior gives us a life of grace. The faith of our fathers is all about grace.

The life of grace includes a daily encounter with God’s presence through the Bible. Each day the Scriptures encourage us, inspire us, guide us, and confront us. The faith of our fathers requires that we use this basic tool of the faith of our fathers.

This life of grace includes the body of Jesus Christ. We cannot bring up our sons and daughters in the discipline and instruction of the LORD without the spiritual influence of the church. The body of Christ reinforces all we seek and teach our children about godliness.

Yes, we seek the faith of our fathers. This is the final verse of Faith of Our Fathers.

Faith of our fathers!

We love friend and foe in all our strife.

And preach thee, too, as love knows how,

By kindly words and virtuous life:

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death!