WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.439 Let me at the beginning here, first of all, just thank the Massaro small group for their 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:18.480 ! willingness to do that memory work. We have been blessed in our series through the book of Ephesians 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:26.560 ! with one person and group after another reciting various chapters of the book of Ephesians. It's 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:31.919 been our blessing, hasn't it? The wide diversity of individuals that have been willing to kind of 00:00:31.919 --> 00:00:40.799 step up and do that very difficult, hard thing. I do want you to know that we are looking for one 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:52.200 more person, couple, group, family, whatever, to tackle Ephesians chapter 4. That is the only one 00:00:52.200 --> 00:01:02.600 remaining in the current iteration, and I am...and you have Ephesians 4. Is it three that I'm looking 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:17.879 for? Well, it's my first mistake of the day. Okay. I'll try it this way. I need one other person, 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:25.959 family, etc., to volunteer to do whatever chapter I haven't decided needs to be done. Yes! But thank 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:35.379 you, Tom. It has been a great blessing, and so I need one other person, group, etc., to tackle that. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:43.259 Second thing, we are taking care of some preliminaries. This is...I'm going to preach this 00:01:43.260 --> 00:01:50.160 morning from Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4, which is God's explicit instruction to those who are fathers 00:01:50.160 --> 00:01:56.620 that says, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and 00:01:56.620 --> 00:02:04.939 admonition of the Lord. That being said, from the text, this book is an excellent, excellent, excellent 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:18.240 book. You want the title? What every man wishes his father had told him by Byron Forrest Yon. 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:29.199 What every man wishes his father had told him by Byron Forrest Yon. Okay? And I would encourage you 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:41.179 strongly to get the copy and read it and take it to heart. This copy belongs to Tim Bauer, and I want to 00:02:41.179 --> 00:02:57.780 be sure that you get it right there. Yeah. Or what every woman wishes her mother? Father. Okay. Have you 00:02:57.780 --> 00:03:07.259 started on that one yet? I have a copy of that one as well, but I will tell you, listen, what's it say in 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:15.360 Ecclesiastes of the making of books there is no end? Something like that? This is a good book, and it's a 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:21.500 good book with broad application. You know, there are some times that I recommend in my earlier life when I 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:27.759 was younger, I used to recommend some books that most everybody else said, yeah, I'm glad you're a 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:28.759 person. I'm glad you're a good book. I'm glad you're a good book. I'm glad you're a good book. 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:38.539 You know, but this is an excellent book. You'll be blessed by it. Now, take your Bibles and open in that book. 00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:45.039 And go to Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:04:00.659 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction 00:04:00.659 --> 00:04:03.819 of the Lord. Let's pray. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:11.439 Father God, this morning as we take the Word in hand, we're reminded that 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:18.879 that your Word is a lamp and a light, that your Word is settled in the heavens, 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:28.659 that your Word is the express declaration of your purpose and your will, and that it is the means 00:04:28.659 --> 00:04:36.240 whereby your children may receive abundant blessings. We also understand, Lord, that 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:44.900 the comprehension and apprehension, the process of taking the Word and letting it sink into our life 00:04:44.900 --> 00:04:50.780 and then letting it produce behavior that brings glory to Christ is not something that happens 00:04:50.780 --> 00:04:56.699 just because we decide we're going to think about it for a while, but it happens because of the work 00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:05.240 of the Spirit of God. Now, we want to be yielded to you. We recognize that you have things to say that are 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:10.120 supremely important, and we need to hear it. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:17.079 And I pray, Father, this morning that as the Word is being preached, that your Spirit would drive it 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:22.600 firmly home in the hearts of all of those who are men and fathers today. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:29.660 And those that are sitting here, perhaps, that do not know Christ, even as they listen to the wisdom 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:37.460 that you have for fathers, practical as it is, that your Spirit would be drawing them to recognize 00:05:37.460 --> 00:05:45.100 the desperate condition of their soul, and they would call out upon the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved. 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:52.660 And we ask this in Jesus' name and for His glory. Amen. 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:58.780 Amen. It's kind of interesting that I would begin by recommending a book. 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:08.160 And it's a good book, but I want to tell you that that book is nothing compared to this one. 00:06:09.640 --> 00:06:20.160 And this book gives us 20 short words that are absolutely at the heart of what it takes to be a godly father. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:29.540 You get these 20 words right, you don't need forest yawn. 00:06:29.760 --> 00:06:32.280 Now, am I saying that you wouldn't benefit? 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:36.300 In the multitude of counselors, there is safety, as the Proverbs recite. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:40.440 There is benefit in hearing what God is doing in other people's lives. 00:06:40.520 --> 00:06:41.560 But let me make this clear. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:46.440 Get these 20 first and let them be etched upon your heart. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:47.420 They are critical. 00:06:47.760 --> 00:06:48.500 They're essential. 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:49.699 They're foundational. 00:06:49.899 --> 00:06:54.399 And I want you to understand this morning that God is speaking explicitly and pointedly 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:57.819 to every one of you who are fathers here today. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:06:59.279 Every one of you. 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:03.519 So let me begin by making the point as we look at the passage. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.519 Dad, God's talking to you. 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:08.500 He's talking to you. 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:11.839 And I want you to understand, as I have often said, 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:16.079 that really the heart of preaching is making God's Word clear 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.159 and putting people on the spot of saying yes or no to God. 00:07:19.159 --> 00:07:23.899 At the end, when you walk out of here, one of the things that I trust has taken place 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:26.579 is that the Spirit of God has taken the Word of God 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:29.560 and He's driven it clearly into the hearts of you who are men 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:34.659 and you are saying, yes, God, by your power and through the work of the Spirit of God, 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:36.539 I will do these things. 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:41.040 And when it's settled and it's done and my day comes to an end 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:43.140 and my life comes to a conclusion, 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:47.960 I want it to be said I did not do the things I shouldn't 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:51.800 and I, by your Spirit, did what I've been called to do. 00:07:53.020 --> 00:07:56.480 So, in one sense, if I am faithful to my calling, 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:00.180 as you who are fathers are driving home, 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:06.780 your interested wife could kind of touch your shoulder or whatever 00:08:06.780 --> 00:08:09.459 and say, honey, so what are you going to do? 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:15.560 And what you ought to say, as a man who has been convicted by the Spirit of God 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:18.220 and prompted by the clarity of the Word of God, 00:08:18.280 --> 00:08:21.720 you say, hey, I got it, I got it, I am not going to provoke 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:25.360 and I will bring my children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:30.240 And from the back seat, some of you kids, go ahead, 00:08:30.580 --> 00:08:34.159 you can say, hey, Daddy, what are you going to do? 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:37.980 And Dad should say, I'm glad you asked. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.860 I want you to know I was listening, I even was taking notes, 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:42.480 and I'm not going to provoke. 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:46.600 And I'm going to bring you up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:51.700 A little note to sell for you who are women, ladies in particular, 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:54.000 probably before you ask him that question, 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.500 you probably ought to kiss him on the lips and blow in his ear 00:08:57.500 --> 00:08:59.259 and run your fingers through his hair and say, 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:02.720 honey, by the way, Pastor coached me. 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:04.379 I wouldn't be doing this otherwise, right? 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:06.639 But, hey, what are you going to do? 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:08.460 I mean, you know, hey, guys, get to it. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:12.639 And so if she misses the boat and she misses it, 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:15.519 get her the CD, you know, make her listen to this and say, 00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:16.980 hey, get with me, help me here. 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:20.000 Now let's get to the point. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:26.240 What we find here in this passage in Ephesians 6, verse 4, 00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:31.940 is God giving fathers an explicit command. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.860 And words are important. 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:41.179 And the word that is used here in verse 4 is different than the one that is used in verse 1. 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:43.399 I want you to look back just for a moment. 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:45.519 It says, children, obey your what? 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:46.000 Parents. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:46.439 Parents. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:51.340 Now parents generally, what we're talking about when we talk about parents? 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:52.939 We're talking about a daddy and a mommy. 00:09:53.059 --> 00:09:55.079 We're talking about both parties in this process. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:59.939 But in this case, the Scriptures explicitly speak to fathers. 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:05.639 And I want you to understand that while mothers play a very important role in the lives of children, 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:09.860 she is not the one that God holds responsible first. 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:13.879 She is not the one that God looks to first. 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:26.740 The first responsibility for what happens in the lives of children in a Christian home falls on the Father. 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:32.560 By the way, I was thinking earlier this week as I was studying about the process whereby, 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:38.700 where Moses, towards the end of his ministry, he recited the law to the nation of Israel. 00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:41.520 And one of the things that they would do is he would say, 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:43.960 cursed is the man that does blah, blah, blah. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:46.840 And then guess what people would say at the end of that? 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:50.020 What would they say? 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.379 It was a Baptist amen. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:56.680 Okay? 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.000 By Baptists. 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:00.900 I mean, Baptists are very reserved and hold those in abeyance. 00:11:01.040 --> 00:11:02.840 You know, it's like we don't say amen very often. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.280 But what, do you know what amen means, by the way? 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:07.039 It means what? 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:08.980 Right on. 00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:09.519 That's what it means. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:09.959 Yeah! 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:10.899 That's it. 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:16.319 And so we're looking at this passage, and I want you to understand that God is speaking, 00:11:16.439 --> 00:11:20.500 and He's saying, dads, fathers, this is your responsibility. 00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:23.879 And all the men in the congregation that are fathers said, 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:24.980 right on! 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:25.480 That's me! 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:26.120 I hear it! 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:26.779 I got it! 00:11:27.339 --> 00:11:27.919 It's for me. 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:35.079 So to put it bluntly, God says, Christian dad, you're the one who is first responsible for 00:11:35.079 --> 00:11:35.979 your child's upbringing. 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:43.479 That means that the Christian father cannot be passive, wussy. 00:11:44.579 --> 00:11:49.579 He is going to be called to account, and he will not be able to say, well, I want you 00:11:49.579 --> 00:11:56.259 to understand that I was out there banging the door, making it work, and doing my responsibilities. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:57.779 I will never forget. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:05.720 A number of years ago, I was in a funeral home, and I knew the family moderately well, 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.159 relatively new. 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:12.819 This was my first ministry, and I went to this calling hours, and here is this dear lady lying 00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:13.419 in the casket. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:18.000 She was a godly, wonderful woman, and the husband was standing there doing the thing 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:23.360 that normally goes along, and he says, I want you to know that my wife was responsible 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:26.259 for the spiritual well-being of our home. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:29.519 Now, what's a pastor supposed to say in a moment like that? 00:12:31.680 --> 00:12:35.800 I did my best to act like, yeah, right. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:39.440 But I thought to myself later on, let me tell you something. 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:43.779 At the end of the day, God expects men to be the spiritual leaders in their home, and He 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:49.420 expects you, fathers, to be the one who care for the well-being of your home. 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:58.719 While there are certain other expectations that fathers are given by God, such as, it 00:12:58.719 --> 00:13:02.399 says in 1 Timothy that a man that does not provide for his household is what? 00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:04.319 Worse than an infidel. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:07.179 God expects a father to be the one that provides for his family. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:11.979 But I want you to understand that in this passage in Ephesians, it is quite evident that Paul 00:13:11.979 --> 00:13:17.259 the apostle, as he knew what was going on in the church, he recognized we've got a bigger, 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:23.039 a more significant problem, a greater challenge to the well-being of the bride of Christ than 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:25.200 daddies who aren't showing up and doing their work. 00:13:25.439 --> 00:13:28.519 We're concerned about what's happening spiritually. 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:34.980 And so he says, fathers, I've got some instruction for you. 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:38.000 And so I want you to think about this, dads. 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.600 You can write it on your notes. 00:13:40.439 --> 00:13:44.580 I will give an account for obeying or disobeying a direct order from God. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.580 Do you understand that? 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:48.360 This is a direct order from God. 00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:52.100 He is saying to you as a father, here's what I expect. 00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:53.560 20 words, not much. 00:13:56.920 --> 00:13:58.560 So let's look at it particularly. 00:13:59.180 --> 00:14:00.520 Number one, don't provoke. 00:14:01.900 --> 00:14:03.900 We're given a negative command first. 00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:11.680 And provocation must have been enough of a problem that Paul recognized that something 00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:12.560 need be said about it. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:17.919 And in the ancient world, I want you to understand that provocation and cruelty was the norm. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:23.059 You didn't have the children's services or anything like that to call on neighbors and 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:25.719 say, I think so-and-so is being unkind to his children. 00:14:25.859 --> 00:14:30.519 In fact, in the ancient world, particularly in the Roman world, the father was the absolute 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.599 final authority. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:38.500 When a child was born, that child was laid at the father's feet. 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:44.440 And if the child picked it up, or if the father picked the child up, that child was adopted 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:50.460 or brought into the family and accepted as his own and had the shelter and protection 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.120 of that dad. 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:55.440 All that a father had to do was not pick that child up. 00:14:55.820 --> 00:15:01.820 And that child was then taken and placed outside and could be abandoned or left to be turned into 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:03.039 a slave or whatever else. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.580 Did you know what the early church did? 00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:09.160 The early church went into the marketplace and picked up a lot of those babies, and the 00:15:09.160 --> 00:15:10.740 first orphanages were Christian homes. 00:15:13.400 --> 00:15:19.020 And in the ancient world, cruelty and unkindness was normal, part of life. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:25.980 And so Paul says here, he says, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath. 00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:29.700 That word provoke means to stir up anger and inner resentment. 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:37.360 And in this case, it really is something that flows out of a father's ungodly behavior and 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.759 attitude. 00:15:37.900 --> 00:15:39.000 Now stop just for a moment. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:44.420 Could the most perfect father in the world have children that grow up angry and resentful? 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:45.700 And the answer is yes. 00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:54.140 God the Father had offspring among whom I am one and you are one, who have had no problem 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:56.899 with anger and difficulties associated with it. 00:15:56.899 --> 00:16:02.080 And the truth of the matter is, is that a perfect dad could create or have a child that 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:03.460 was angry and upset. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:09.199 But Paul is concerned in particular that dads who are Christians, who are spirit-filled, 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:13.360 understand that they are not to be contributors to the child's difficulty. 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:20.039 And so mark also that the word here in the text, it says stop provoking. 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.480 You know what that's saying? 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.439 Dads were doing it. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.860 It was going on. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:30.180 So let me begin by helping you understand in the larger context of what we're looking 00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:30.420 at. 00:16:30.520 --> 00:16:34.560 Christian dads provoke children to anger most often when they're not spirit-filled. 00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.980 Will you not forget that? 00:16:36.640 --> 00:16:42.220 This passage is really about what spirit-filled living is. 00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:47.360 And I trust that one of the things you do when you walk out of here is that, you know, 00:16:47.400 --> 00:16:51.640 dad doesn't say to himself, I'm going to write on the chalkboard a hundred times, do not 00:16:51.640 --> 00:16:52.300 provoke your children. 00:16:52.400 --> 00:16:53.240 Do not provoke your children. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.759 No. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:53.860 No. 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:57.240 The first thing that you do is say, hey, I need to be spirit-filled. 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.399 I need to be spirit-filled. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.620 I need to be spirit-filled. 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:04.579 Because if I'm spirit-filled, I will not provoke my children to wrath. 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:12.179 Let's think here practically about some of the ways that we may provoke children to wrath. 00:17:13.179 --> 00:17:15.720 Number one, by being an angry and threatening dad. 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:19.640 By being an angry and threatening dad. 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:21.560 Let me read a couple passages to you. 00:17:21.560 --> 00:17:25.600 And some of you sitting here may even know some of these passages from Proverbs. 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:27.520 So you may want to mark these down. 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:32.080 For one, Proverbs chapter 15, verse 1 says, a harsh word stirs up anger. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.259 Say that slowly. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.259 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:36.319 A harsh word stirs up anger. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:43.279 So if you are one of those bellowing, belligerent, angry, stompy, grumpy, you know, kind of attitudinal 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:48.779 dads, sooner or later your child will kind of tire of being intimidated by your attitudes, 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:51.379 and eventually you're going to raise a child like that. 00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:58.840 proverbs 15 or 15 1 a harsh word stirs up anger let me have you look at another one proverbs chapter 00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:10.600 29 verse 22 a man of wrath stirs up strife and one given to anger causes much transgression 00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:15.700 isn't that a good verse to memorize let me let me give you the recitation again so you can look it 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:25.480 up on your own proverbs 29 verse 22 oh i know that verse i don't need it a man of wrath what stirs up 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:32.799 strife and one given to anger causes much transgression so as you are driving home and 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:39.259 your wife says what are you going to do and you're going to say i'm not going to provoke 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:46.579 i will bring them up you may also later on when the kids have dissipated you may say to your wife 00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:53.000 if you have the nerve hey honey have you ever seen me be angry 00:18:53.000 --> 00:19:00.299 it's fair question isn't it ever have you ever seen me go off on the kids 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:07.140 so i want to say to you fathers if you are here and and the truth of matter is is that you are one of 00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:14.600 those moody grumpy loud bangy dads listen to me you may terrorize your children for a period of time 00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:22.200 but you are building a bomb and the day is coming that it'll go up to your heartache well there's 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:29.280 another way that we can provoke our children to wrath and that has that is be by by being passive and not 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:38.339 a spiritual leader by being passive and not a spiritual leader now by the way is it easy for a 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:42.980 for a dad and a father and a husband to be a spiritual leader and all men in here said what 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:49.879 what'd they say it's not very easy it really takes the holy spirit's power because by nature 00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:56.019 everybody smile so i can say it to you all know that you love me uh hey by nature men are tyrants or 00:19:56.019 --> 00:20:01.339 cowards would you agree with that and this business of being a godly humble spiritual leader 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:04.480 we don't get naturally we need help help help help 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:15.759 being passive and not a spiritual leader i think about jacob yes the patriarch jacob you know what kind 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:21.519 of dad he was he was not the best model that's one of the reasons why when i read in the scripture 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:28.720 and says the god of jacob help you i think yes i need him because i'm jacob by the way jacob remember 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:34.259 one of the cases is his daughter diana was raped and he didn't do anything he just kind of sat around 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:41.680 well we haven't and his sons came home and guess what they did they took it into hand and solved the 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:48.480 problem in a very negative way and it was a mess so dad if you sit around and be a wuss i gotta guarantee 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:56.480 you eventually it's not going to work well i think about david when he found out that incest had taken 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:03.099 place in his home and he wasn't willing to deal with it eventually absalom railed against him third 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:08.019 a dad may provoke his children to wrath by being an absentee 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:16.299 it's no secret that part of the rot in israel was found where men had no faithfulness and 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:24.200 commitment to their wife just being a sperm donor to various women is not the same as being committed 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:28.779 to one woman and staying with her and working with the process of raising godly children it takes a lot 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:35.419 of work playing favorites that's another specialty remember joseph by the way what did his brothers 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:42.119 dislike about him besides the fact that he had the coat of many colors he was his daddy's favorite 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:48.379 and we know that playing favorites is something that will get you in trouble we find it in scripture 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:53.599 and so dad if what you want to do is you want to create heartache for your children just go ahead 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:58.779 and play favorites and can i tell you something i was thinking about this this morning um every person's 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:04.759 different there will never be a duplicate of any of us i mean god is infinitely creative when it comes 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:11.500 to snowflakes and people am i right and so you are who you are and so thinking to yourself well i really 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:17.420 like my son that is you know six nine and can slam dunk he's my money child have you ever heard the 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:23.759 phrase money child how many of you know what a money child is a money child is the child that you're 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:30.720 hoping will make so much money that he will buy you a house and a car and a hummer and you know money child 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:38.480 and so you happen to love on the kid that is you know he is the future doctor in your family and 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:44.299 what's the other one well he may be a specialist in digging ditches and you're thinking that's not my 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:51.039 kid you know don't play favorites by the way judith and i only had four of them and i can tell you 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.860 every one of them is radically different 00:22:52.860 --> 00:23:04.160 there's another way and that is neglecting discipline neglecting discipline i pity the child 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:11.200 i really do i pity the child who has been allowed to be sassy and disrespectful to their parents 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:16.259 i wish i could tell you that i didn't see that in our congregation but i do on occasion i'm sad 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:24.720 when i see parents that let their children go off and nothing happens and how do i know that nothing 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:27.440 happens everybody smile everybody look at me so you know i'm talking to you 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:35.000 the reason kids don't put their finger in the light socket over and over again is because somehow or 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:40.200 another there's something that takes place between action and consequences with light sockets do you 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:46.620 understand that in a previous life that means when i was younger i used to be a wallpaper hanger i hung 00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:52.480 wallpaper and uh one of the things that goes with hanging wallpaper is that occasionally you have to cut 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:58.980 around a an outlet you follow an outlet and if you put your razor blade too deep into the outlet get 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:01.539 what's guess what happens does anybody else know besides me 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:13.259 electricity courses through that wet blade and the wet handle and it gets your attention 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:19.420 you know and one of the things that i remember on more than one occasion is saying out loud to myself 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:28.560 that was stupid and and i'll tell you there would be there would be days that would go by where i 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:34.080 didn't have the same experience now when i see children do the same same same over and over and over 00:24:34.080 --> 00:24:40.240 i am figuring out that somehow or another the parent who is involved directly with that child is letting 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:49.300 them go i gotta tell you you raise an angry child when you don't help them learn that they're not the 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:56.980 center of the universe god expects parents to be the ones who deal with misbehavior and discipline 00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:03.099 their child when they're wrong i think about that passage in first kings where it talks about one of 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:09.859 david's sons here's what it says it says his father had never told him no 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:18.039 now there's some of you are saying well i'd say i'm no all the time you know how it is no don't do 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:24.319 that no don't do no no no you know i i'm not talking about just saying the word i'm saying deal with it 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:32.639 right and all god's people said that was really encouraging we got kind of 28 participation on it 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:39.100 an amen okay well let's go to the nowhere we're dealing with this disciplining and anger 00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:41.740 disciplining and anger 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:49.920 can repetitious misbehavior cause parents to become angry fathers in particular 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:55.580 is there anybody that will rave their hand at me and said i had to deal with anger in my home i had 00:25:55.580 --> 00:26:02.380 to my anger earlier in my life i have to confess that as a young father my anger got the best of me on 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:09.420 occasion later on what i learned was helpful is that when something happened i would say to my 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:16.980 my children my sons seemed to be the ones that really tweaked me um i would say to my sons in 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:22.180 particular go to your room and pray about this do you know what i was doing well what was i doing 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:28.260 i was going to the room the other room i was like oh lord please let me let me be objective here let 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:34.900 me think let me pray just uh because being angry doesn't take a specialist do you understand that 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:41.879 it just takes listen to me carefully takes a fool a man who cannot control himself 00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:50.200 is worse than a city without walls and if your children would admit to your anger being part of your 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:56.819 parenting style there is a spiritual problem going on in your life and the solution for that 00:26:56.819 --> 00:27:02.119 is first of all if you're a child of god to humble yourself and confess and forsake it and ask for 00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:08.619 the spirit of god to help you if you're here and you don't know christ you need jesus because nobody 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:15.779 but jesus can change the heart well we understand don't provoke don't provoke don't provoke don't provoke 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:23.159 well let's talk about bring them up it says there bring them up in the discipline and instruction 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:33.500 of the lord god gives us a positive command and god expects fathers to do this work of bringing them 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:38.320 up and i want you to understand that bringing them up involves more than feeding them and seeing to it 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:44.120 that they're at the bus stop at the right time the way the spirit of god puts this is that christian 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:51.620 fathers are the ones that are primarily responsible for their children's spiritual maturity and progress 00:27:51.619 --> 00:28:01.199 christian fathers are the ones that have primary responsibility for their child's progress 00:28:01.199 --> 00:28:08.839 should your wife help of course you should she is your helper that's her her divinely appointed 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:14.759 responsibility but at the heart of it you're the one that god expects to be the one who does the work 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:24.119 should teachers help yes should a family youth pastor help and the answer is what yes but let me tell you 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:29.640 the way we are hardwired in this fellowship is that at the end of the day if there's something going on 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:36.359 guess who's going to know about it it's going to be dead it's going to be dead and the one that is 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:41.420 principally expected to be the one that works through that challenge is not the the pastor that does the 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:47.080 counseling or or the the youth leader that works in the situation or or the teacher or the coach it's 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:55.400 the dad that's the one that's responsible i want you to understand that a christian father is to nurture 00:28:55.400 --> 00:29:02.120 and admonish discipline is the other word that is used here and and the two words refer to a very robust 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:06.519 activity that is demanding and really cannot be really delegated 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:13.700 entirely let me give you three illustrations from the bible of how this plays out for one 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:20.960 to nurture to discipline and admonish means to live the truth and teach in the flow of life turn 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:27.319 over in your bible to one of the critical passages on parenting in the book of deuteronomy go back to 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:33.920 deuteronomy chapter 6 we're going to look at it and by the way let me suggest dads if you're sitting here 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:40.860 this morning hey listen do christian fathers need to be encouraged and dealt with in this area and 00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:48.800 what do all of us say yes yes yes one of the things that i would do is encourage you to memorize this 00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:56.100 passage in ephesians chapter 6 verse 4 20 words you can do it with your eyes closed and then if you 00:29:56.099 --> 00:30:04.599 want to kind of step up the food chain go to deuteronomy chapter 6 deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:12.439 through 9 here is moses making a very interesting statement to the nation of israel he says here 00:30:12.439 --> 00:30:18.019 oh israel the lord our god the lord is one in other words god's talking to you buddy he has something to 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:25.900 say you better pay attention verse 6 it says you shall or 5 it says you shall love the lord your 00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:31.119 god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might so where is the starting point 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:38.539 of being an effective father where is it it's loving god it's having a right heart towards god 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:45.240 and loving him by the way if you love him will you be one of these frumpy stompy guys that's always 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:50.039 bellowing and acting like he's a tyrant in his home what's the answer from all of god's people 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:57.880 no if you're full of yourself and not full of god you're going to be a little demagogue in your home 00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:04.460 and a tyrant that temporarily your children will be afraid of but eventually guess what they grow up 00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:13.180 they leave and they say i've had it with that level of anger deuteronomy says this you love the lord 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:21.200 and then you get this word in your heart and then you are to teach them diligently to your children 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:24.799 and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk in the way 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:32.140 and when you lie down and when you rise up what's it saying listen dad the best way to teach your 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:38.680 children is to be living it so that as life plays out 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:47.660 you take opportunity to help them understand what life with god looks like 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:56.740 so how do you work to nurture and admonish 00:31:56.740 --> 00:32:03.960 well one you make certain that you are living the truth and that you're teaching it in the flow of life 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:09.600 second you take advantage of teachable moments turn over in your bible if you would exodus chapter 12 00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:17.079 verse 26 you're in deuteronomy it's just a short jump but back in deuteronomy chapter 12 verse 26 00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:27.140 after the uh the passover had been implemented god gives some instruction to fathers here's what it says 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:34.140 verse 25 and when you come to the land that the lord will give you as he has promised you shall keep this service 00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:42.460 in other words when you're where you're going and i get you there and you're having the passover 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:47.960 verse 26 and when your children shall say to you what do you mean by this service you shall say 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:50.860 it is the sacrifice of the lord's passover 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:56.679 do you understand that that teachable moments are going to happen in your home 00:32:56.679 --> 00:32:59.839 that's the way life is 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:05.859 there are there you can sometimes lecture to your blue in the face and it doesn't make a whole lot of a sense 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:09.219 but then something happens that kind of opens the window of opportunity 00:33:09.219 --> 00:33:12.379 and you have an opportunity to step in and say 00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:13.139 hey 00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:15.099 you know what 00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:17.199 here's how this connects and 00:33:17.199 --> 00:33:18.099 man 00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:19.379 this is 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.159 this is important 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:24.019 teachable moments take advantage of them 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:25.140 third 00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:32.140 and i'm going to give you a broad survey of the book of proverbs can i tell you that i think proverbs is a very very very 00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:34.820 one more very good book for parenting 00:33:34.820 --> 00:33:36.480 by the way 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:38.480 teach about people 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:41.820 teach about relationships and teach about sex 00:33:41.820 --> 00:33:45.840 can i say that again slowly so you know i said it 00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:46.900 teach about 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.820 people 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:50.579 teach about relationships 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:53.299 and teach about sex 00:33:53.299 --> 00:34:03.960 song of solomon and proverbs have a great deal to say about sexuality about purity about relationships about marriage 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:11.599 god has all kinds of information there in the bible for you as a parent to rely upon and by the way listen to me 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:23.019 if you decide that the appropriate time to teach your children about sex is when they're 16 and you give them the keys to the car and you say don't have a mess 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:26.019 you're way too late 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:33.059 you're way too late because the world has already filled their mind with all kinds of wickedness that has nothing to do with god's purpose 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:35.000 you know who invented sex by the way 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:38.440 everybody smile at me so you know i'm talking to you 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:41.200 god planned it 00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:45.900 and he meant it for a wonderful wonderful thing 00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:51.820 and so it's not something that you as a father ought to say to your son the night before his wedding 00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:52.380 now son 00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:55.400 you know i've been holding off to talk to you about this 00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:57.260 but now here's something you need to know 00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:59.160 that's not it 00:34:59.160 --> 00:35:03.559 daddy 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:08.700 you should be the one who talks in particular to your son about how god made you 00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:13.939 and he should have a clear understanding of the blessing of sexuality 00:35:13.939 --> 00:35:16.539 long before can i say this slow 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:20.980 long before he begins to pay attention to little girls 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:25.419 now do all boys pay attention to little girls at the same pace 00:35:25.419 --> 00:35:27.980 no 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:33.159 so if you're kind of one of those absentee daddies or you're one of those absent daddies 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:35.699 that every now and then just has these little solar flares 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:39.179 you're missing the boat you need to pay attention to how god made your son 00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:42.119 and you need to be talking to him about relationships 00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:46.099 you need to be talking to him about people 00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:49.539 you need to be talking to him about sex that's your job 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:56.059 it's not your place to be negligent on that area and let the enemy fill your boy 00:35:56.059 --> 00:36:01.919 or your girl with all kinds of ideas about what sex is that are not from scripture 00:36:01.919 --> 00:36:03.219 and not from god 00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:09.339 finally you look at the passage in ephesians chapter 6 4 it says this 00:36:09.339 --> 00:36:11.119 of the lord 00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:12.559 what's that saying 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:19.699 a christian father's ministry is under the headship of the lord 00:36:19.699 --> 00:36:22.279 where does it come from 00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:23.659 of the lord 00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:26.299 where did i get that idea 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:32.820 that you as a parent should be the one teaching your children about sexuality 00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:34.720 where did i come up with that 00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:38.680 by the way it's not in the public school curriculum 00:36:38.680 --> 00:36:40.300 that says by the way 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:43.300 we're going to leave the matter of human sexuality 00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:46.120 to godly parents to take care of instructing their children 00:36:46.120 --> 00:36:49.140 how many of you found anything like that in common core of the test going out 00:36:49.139 --> 00:36:50.379 no no no no no no 00:36:50.379 --> 00:36:52.359 they're not going to teach that 00:36:52.359 --> 00:36:54.759 they're going to teach we'll do that job for you 00:36:54.759 --> 00:36:58.099 god says 00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:58.639 hey 00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:00.460 dad 00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:03.739 it's the nurture and admonition of the lord 00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:06.199 i'm the one who's over all of this 00:37:06.199 --> 00:37:10.559 and you are there as my divinely appointed 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:11.940 assistant 00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:13.819 that's your job 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:17.420 so let me circle back 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:20.980 preaching 00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:24.280 aims to make god's word clear 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:27.300 and bring god's people 00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:29.519 to say yes or no 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.300 to god 00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:33.960 so dad 00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:36.260 if you're a believer this morning 00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:39.059 whether or not 00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:40.920 i did it 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:42.539 right or wrong 00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:43.559 in terms of 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:44.599 the clarity 00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:45.880 let me make this point 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:47.980 he expects you to obey him 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:49.980 fathers 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:51.259 do not 00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:52.099 provoke 00:37:52.099 --> 00:37:54.539 bring them up 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.860 in the nurture 00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:57.039 and admonition 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.900 of the lord 00:37:57.900 --> 00:38:00.279 and so you're a believer 00:38:00.279 --> 00:38:01.340 if you're here this morning 00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:02.019 and you're a believer 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:02.960 and the spirit of god 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.059 is taking the word of god 00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:05.460 and he is driving it 00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:06.500 firmly home 00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:07.139 you 00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:08.259 in righteousness 00:38:08.259 --> 00:38:08.860 would say 00:38:08.860 --> 00:38:09.239 lord 00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:09.920 listen 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:11.159 i need your help 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:12.799 and i'm going to go on notice 00:38:12.799 --> 00:38:14.579 when i'm driving home with my wife 00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.139 i'm going to say 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:15.440 listen 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:16.480 from here on in 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.819 i'm going to work at this 00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:18.679 i need help 00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:19.699 i need prayer 00:38:19.699 --> 00:38:21.579 and i am going to improve 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:23.259 in bringing my children up 00:38:23.259 --> 00:38:24.239 in the nurture and admonition 00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:24.679 of the lord 00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:26.699 i am not going to be an angry person 00:38:26.699 --> 00:38:27.539 now by the way 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.279 wife 00:38:28.279 --> 00:38:30.179 if he loses it 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:31.279 don't have a meltdown 00:38:31.279 --> 00:38:32.460 in front of your kids 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:36.239 that's where you blow in his ear 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:37.919 and kiss him on the lips 00:38:37.919 --> 00:38:38.359 and say 00:38:38.359 --> 00:38:38.679 honey 00:38:38.679 --> 00:38:40.559 you get another chance 00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:43.459 but dad 00:38:43.459 --> 00:38:45.659 you need to be humble enough 00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:46.000 to say 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:46.979 i need god's help 00:38:46.979 --> 00:38:48.079 and i'm going to do it right 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:50.379 and if you're sitting here 00:38:50.379 --> 00:38:50.879 this morning 00:38:50.879 --> 00:38:51.639 in this business 00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:52.859 of being a godly father 00:38:52.859 --> 00:38:54.279 there's just a disconnect 00:38:54.279 --> 00:38:56.539 it may be 00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:57.459 that the real disconnect 00:38:57.459 --> 00:38:58.319 is between you 00:38:58.319 --> 00:38:59.500 and the lord jesus christ 00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:01.919 the truth of the matter is 00:39:01.919 --> 00:39:02.979 is that he came into the world 00:39:02.979 --> 00:39:03.699 to save sinners 00:39:03.699 --> 00:39:04.579 and if you're sitting here 00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:06.119 and you do not know christ 00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:06.819 as your savior 00:39:06.819 --> 00:39:08.299 this business of relying 00:39:08.299 --> 00:39:09.359 upon the spirit of god 00:39:09.359 --> 00:39:10.259 to help you grow 00:39:10.259 --> 00:39:10.899 and change 00:39:10.899 --> 00:39:12.419 it's not going to happen 00:39:12.419 --> 00:39:14.500 it's not going to happen 00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:16.799 until you come 00:39:16.799 --> 00:39:17.699 with a broken heart 00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:18.119 and say 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:19.359 i am a sinner 00:39:19.359 --> 00:39:20.859 who stands justly condemned 00:39:20.859 --> 00:39:22.000 before a holy god 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:24.739 i am convicted 00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:26.939 of the blackness 00:39:26.939 --> 00:39:27.659 and the darkness 00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:28.699 of my own heart 00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:31.059 and i desperately need 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:32.000 christ jesus 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:33.000 to save me 00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:34.619 and i know 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.659 that he 00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:37.119 hears the cry 00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:37.920 of a broken 00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:39.019 and contrite heart 00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:40.300 and i come to him 00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:41.500 and ask him for salvation 00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:43.440 let's close our 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.940 eyes and bow our heads 00:39:44.940 --> 00:39:45.639 as we close 00:39:45.639 --> 00:39:49.219 our father god 00:39:49.219 --> 00:39:49.780 this morning 00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:51.159 as we take the word of god 00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:51.900 and we hear it 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:52.679 speak to us 00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:53.260 explicitly 00:39:53.260 --> 00:39:54.219 and clearly 00:39:54.219 --> 00:39:56.900 we pray that we would be 00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:57.340 a people 00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:57.800 that say 00:39:57.800 --> 00:39:58.699 thank you god 00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.500 for loving us 00:39:59.500 --> 00:40:00.820 and making your word clear 00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:03.100 that fathers here 00:40:03.100 --> 00:40:03.940 would be convicted 00:40:03.940 --> 00:40:05.640 and with humility 00:40:05.640 --> 00:40:06.539 would cry out 00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:06.900 and say 00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:07.980 spirit of god 00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.620 work in me 00:40:08.620 --> 00:40:09.180 and help me 00:40:09.180 --> 00:40:10.140 to be the father 00:40:10.140 --> 00:40:11.360 that i need to be 00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:14.920 that those who are here 00:40:14.920 --> 00:40:16.019 that do not know christ 00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:17.080 would be drawn to the cross 00:40:17.080 --> 00:40:17.880 that today would be 00:40:17.880 --> 00:40:19.000 the day of conviction 00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:20.600 and repentance 00:40:20.600 --> 00:40:22.660 to the glory of christ 00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:24.679 we ask this in your 00:40:24.679 --> 00:40:25.519 precious name 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.299 amen 00:40:26.299 --> 00:40:27.480 you 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.480