WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.459 Happy Father's Day everyone. 00:00:03.459 --> 00:00:11.080 So today is a special day, a day we take time to celebrate and thank our dads and father figures 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:17.879 ! So I thought it would be meaningful to reflect on some father figures from the Bible and what 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:24.760 ! we can learn from them. So let's start with Adam. Adam was the very first human father, 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:30.220 but as we know he made a big mistake. He disobeyed God and that decision had huge consequences. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:37.100 But here's the thing, instead of owning up to it, Adam blamed others. How often do we do this? 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:44.460 So what can we take from that? Godly fathers and really all of us should take responsibility 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:50.060 for our actions. It's not about being perfect, but about being honest and accountable. 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:59.940 Next up, Moses. Now Moses was a pretty big deal. Father of two sons, led the entire Hebrew nation 00:00:59.940 --> 00:01:06.640 out of slavery in Egypt. That's no small task. Can you imagine how hard that would have been? 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:13.480 He spent 40 years guiding the Israelites through the wilderness, helping them grow and learn along 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:21.560 the way. So what does Moses show us? That with God, all things are possible. And also, that even the best 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:27.060 leaders aren't perfect. Moses had his struggles too, and he reminds us that we all need God's grace. 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:35.540 So now, let's talk about the father and the prodigal son. We don't get his name, so let's just call him 00:01:35.540 --> 00:01:41.140 the father for today. And as we've just heard, the story starts with a wealthy man and his two sons. 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:45.960 One day, the younger son asks for his share of the inheritance, basically saying, 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:52.900 Dad, I want my money now, even though you're still alive. Bold, right? The father gives it to him, 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:58.980 and the son takes off to a faraway place. He blows all the money on wild living, ends up broke, 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:05.019 and finds himself working in a pig pen just to survive. How awful would that be? The smell, 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:11.579 the mud, the mess. Eventually, he realises, you know what? Even my dad's servants live better than 00:02:11.579 --> 00:02:17.500 this. So he decides to go home and work as a servant. The brave decision shows how challenging 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:23.560 his life must have become. But here's the beautiful part. While he's still a long way off, his father 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:29.519 sees him. He doesn't wait. He runs to him, hugs him, kisses him, and throws a huge feast to celebrate 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:38.160 his return. How would we feel if this happened? So what does this tell us? The father never stopped 00:02:38.160 --> 00:02:43.400 hoping. He probably looked out every day, wondering if his son would come back. And when he did, the 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:48.860 father did not scold him or make him grovel. He welcomed him with open arms. Even the smell of the 00:02:48.860 --> 00:03:00.420 pigs couldn't keep this dad away. Did we do this? So what's the takeaway for us today? Whether you're a 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:05.880 father, a mentor, or just someone trying to live a life of love and faith, be like the father in this 00:03:05.880 --> 00:03:12.720 story. Be kind and compassionate, even when it's hard. Learn from Adam's mistake and take responsibility. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:21.139 Follow Moses' example of perseverance and trust in God. Jesus said in Matthew 5, verse 48, 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:26.900 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect. This might sound impossible, but 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:31.620 God wouldn't ask us to aim for something that we couldn't grow into. It's about striving to 00:03:31.620 --> 00:03:40.180 be more like him every day. Let's finally remember Proverbs 27, verse 23. 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:47.080 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks. Give careful attention to your herds. In other words, 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:53.260 look after people God's place in your life and care for them deeply. While I was at Focus Bible 00:03:53.260 --> 00:04:00.100 study last week on Wednesdays, we were discussing Proverbs 3, verse 5. Trust in the Lord with all 00:04:00.100 --> 00:04:06.740 your heart and lean on your own understanding. When times get tough, we need support, like the sun in 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:12.460 the parable. God gave me a picture while reading this verse. Perhaps if you close your eyes and 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:17.680 imagine it with me. You're standing in a maze and you're lost and you can't find your way out. 00:04:18.400 --> 00:04:24.720 Every turn you take brings you up against the hedge and as you pray for direction, you feel God 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:31.280 clearly saying to walk in a straight line. You're scared as last time you did that, you walked into a 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:37.599 hedge. You trust in him and as you walk, God orientates the maze, rotating it around you so 00:04:37.599 --> 00:04:44.219 you just have to walk a straight line. In no time at all, you reach the exit of the maze and see the 00:04:44.219 --> 00:04:50.099 sun and the beautiful day in front of you. This is kind of what like dads do. They help us go through 00:04:50.099 --> 00:04:56.719 tough journeys and help us wear everything. So let's say it loud and clear. Thank you for always 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:03.080 being their dad. Let's rise to the challenge of being faithful, loving and compassionate, just like 00:05:03.080 --> 00:05:10.040 our Heavenly Father. Now go into a short time of a closing prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:15.560 today as this is a special day, a day to honour and celebrate the fathers and father figures in our 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:22.580 lives. Thank you for their strength, their guidance, their sacrifices and their love. Lord, we lift up 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:28.719 every father here today. May you bless them with wisdom, patience and courage as they lead to their 00:05:28.719 --> 00:05:35.300 families. Help them walk closely with you to reflect your love and to be a source of strength and comfort 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:41.519 to those around them. We also remember those whom today is difficult and those who have lost fathers, 00:05:42.039 --> 00:05:47.839 those who never knew theirs and those who carry pain from the past. May your peace and healing be with 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:55.159 them. Teach us, Lord, to love, to like and to be like the Father in the parable, to forgive freely, 00:05:55.539 --> 00:06:01.060 to embrace with compassion and to hope without giving up. Help us grow into the people you've called 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:08.139 us to be. As we go from here, may we carry your love in our hearts and share it with the world around us. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:10.779 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.