THE POWER OF A FATHER’S VOICE
by Eddie Lawrence

INTRO: All the way home in the back seat of the car the boy was quiet. His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally, the boy replied, "The preacher said he wanted us all brought up in a Christian home, but I wanted to stay with you guys."

TRANSITION: I imagine most of us as parents have felt we have missed the mark at times but that should not discourage us from aiming at the bullseye in the way we live before our children. When Jesus was about to begin his public ministry, His Father released a powerful declaration over his life. He gave Jesus what he needed to battle the enemies he would face. From the Devil in the wilderness to the mockers at the cross, he was tempted to doubt who His Father said he was. Father! Your voice is powerful.

TEXT: Matthew 3:16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Here we see God the Father impacting the life of His son. What Father’s speak into the lives of their children matters significantly. Let me encourage every Father here today to evaluate how you influencing your child(ren).

A Good Father’s Voice will:

1. DIRECTS YOU

John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

The Father gave direction to Jesus as to the right way to live his life.

STORY – Billy Graham once told about the time in a small town when he asked a boy how to get to the post office. After getting directions, Mr. Graham invited him to come to his Crusade that evening.

“You can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven,” he told the boy.

The boy’s response? “I don’t think I’ll be there. You don’t even know your way to the post office.”

—The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham by Harold Myra

APPLICATION: Have you ever been lost on a road trip? It means you are on a journey but don’t know the direction to go to get there. Men are notorious for not asking for directions. To pull over and have to ask a stranger where you are and how to get where you are going deals a death blow to a man’s pride. It’s great when someone gives you simple easy to understand directions on how to get where you are going. This is a role of a Father in a child’s life. We are not to export the responsibility to someone else to teach our children how to live a righteous life in the right direction.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE YOUR VOICE TO GIVE GOOD DIRECTION IN YOUR CHILD’S LIFE. --- NEXT A FATHER’S VOICE …..

 

2. RESPECTS YOU

2 Peter 1:17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

ILLUS- My boss was complaining in a staff meeting the other day that he wasn't getting any respect.

Later that morning he went out and got a small sign that read, "I'm the Boss".

He then taped it to his office door.

Later that day when he returned from lunch, he found that someone had taped a note to the sign that said.

"Your wife called, she wants her sign back!"

APPLICATION: To respect your child is to communicate worth and value to them. Every child should know they are treasured by their Father. The child who is not sure they are respected and valued by their father will struggle with insecurity that can manifest in many troubling ways. But the child who knows they are treasured and valued by Dad will have a foundation of confidence and reassurance in their life.

If you did not have this, forgive your father and receive the security from your Heavenly Father that comes when you know He values and treasures you. Don’t live bitter. Live free in the love of Father God for you.

ALSO – TEACH YOUR CHILD TO RESPECT OTHERS  - They need to know there are some things that can hurt people. You don’t want them to be like little Bobby…….

HUMOR- ILLUS-  Finding one of her students making faces at others on the playground, Ms. Smith stopped to gently reprove the child. Smiling sweetly, the Sunday School teacher said, "Bobby, when I was a child, I was told that if I made ugly faces, it would freeze and I would stay like that."

Bobby looked up and replied, "Well, Ms. Smith, you can't say you weren't warned."

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE YOUR VOICE TO DEMONSTRATE RESPECT FOR YOUR CHILD’S LIFE. --- NEXT A FATHER’S VOICE …..

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