Happy Father’s Day!

Successful Fathers Successful Fathers

SUC. CESS. FUL adj. 1 Of persons, obtaining what one desires or intends; especially having reached a high degree of worldly prosperity

How would define being successful? One’s definition of success would depend upon his vantage point Successful hunt; successful school year; successful shopping trip How would you define success as a father?

Would again depend on one’s vantage point Many would claim success if child(ren) established successful business, graduated college, made lots of money Others would maintain successful if child(ren) had happy marriages

Others would see selves as successful if child(ren) made it to adulthood without getting into trouble From standpoint of Christian father, how define being successful? Have some Biblical snapshots of successful fathers

Can study the qualities of faithful Biblical fathers and apply their principles of success to our lives How can 21 st century fathers be successful at fatherhood?

Walk With God 11A12

Three great things are said of Enoch He Walked With God

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis 5:21-24 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis 5:21-24

Three great things are said of Enoch He Walked With God He Pleased God

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5

Three great things are said of Enoch He Walked With God He Pleased God He Preached For God

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 14, 15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 14, 15

Fathers, do your children see you walking with God daily? Enoch’s children were blessed to know that their father was the recipient of God’s favor Do you “walk with God?”

Move With Fear 11A12

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7

Like Enoch, Noah was a preacher for God

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; II Peter 2:4, 5 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; II Peter 2:4, 5

Like Enoch, Noah was a preacher for God Of all that were alive in his day, only Noah found grace in God’s eyes

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me

that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:5-8 that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:5-8

Like Enoch, Noah was a preacher for God Of all that were alive in his day, only Noah found grace in God’s eyes Noah had more respect for God and family than he did for the scoffers of his day

Fathers, do your children know that you respect God and His word? Are you seen by God as Noah was in his day? Must have been a reason beyond just the fact that he was their father that caused his sons to obey his preaching

Be Known of God 11A12

And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Genesis 18:17-19 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Genesis 18:17-19

Does God have that kind of assurance in you as a father? On at least three occasions Abraham was described as a father

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: Romans 4:11

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. Romans 4:16

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Romans 4:18

Does God have that kind of assurance in you as a father? On at least three occasions Abraham was described as a father His faithfulness as a father to Isaac served him well as the father of all the faithful

Father, are you bringing up your children to know the Lord and to be known by Him? The part you play in their lives might well make the difference between heaven and hell for them

Serve The Lord 11A12

The mention of his name invokes images of a faithful spy, a successful general, a loyal leader of a tremendous mass of people, and a man who prompted God to lengthen a day to affect the outcome of a battle for his people But, Joshua was foremost a faithful family man

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

His determination to have a God- fearing family is inspiring Any life withdrawn from service to God becomes meaningless As a father, “choose you this day” Whom your family will serve, and lead it in that faithful service to God

Be Righteous Before God 11A12

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Luke 1:5, 6 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Luke 1:5, 6

Little else is known of this man Highly commended by God even before he became a father Young man, are you making preparations even now for being the kind of father God would one day have you to be? To have God call him “righteous” is sufficient

Be a Just Man 11A12

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. Matthew 1:18, 19 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. Matthew 1:18, 19

God chose a “just” man to serve as the earthly “father” of His own Son Joseph was also one who was merciful, compassionate, mindful of worship responsibilities and a follower of heavenly commands Could God have chosen you to fill this position?

Successful Father? Successful Father?

Successful fathers “walk with God” Successful fathers “move with fear” Successful fathers are known of God Successful fathers serve the Lord Successful fathers are righteous before God Successful fathers are “just” men

-from an outline by Neil Richey