Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [a]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.”
3 Things To Fatherhood
1. Hope
As men we want our children to grow up to be self reliant, tuff, kind, and a good worker. We have hope that they will grow up to be good adults.
A Father is someone who has hope to see their child be successful in life. To have a great career, a nice home, a nice vehicle, and have children of their own.
We should hope that they know God and that they fear Him and know who He is. We should want them to love Him and serve Him.
2. Teach
We need to teach our kids not only in the way of life, but also in the way of Jesus.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
As a child growing up in Christian home I was always taught about Jesus and how important church was. The way you raise your kids are the way they will more than likely turn out to be.
If you teach your child to curse then they will think that is normal when they get older. If you teach them that drinking is ok then they will more than likely drink when they get older.
If you are grouchy all the time then they will learn to be the same way as they get older.
Deuteronomy 4:9-10
9 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,
10 especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’
Your kids are always watching you. If you are always mean to people when they get your order wrong then your kids will do the same. If you are meant to your wife always yelling at her and hitting her then your child will probably do the same to his future wife or girlfriend. And if you are living with someone without marriage then your son or daughter will do the same.
Discipline your child and you will save him from eternity in Hell. An undisciplined child brings shame to his parents.
Why? Because they learned that from you, dad.
3. Pray
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
What is it about Dad's that do not feel they should get on their knees and pray for their children. Your prayer time is not different than that of the mother. You should pray for your kids.
It is estimated that 2,300 children are missing every day in the United States.
In 1999 there were estimated 203,900 victims of a family abduction and 78% of abductors were non-custodial parents.
Now there are some 840,000 children reported missing each year.
The list goes on and on. The point is if we don't start teaching our kids and praying for them more then there will only be more of these as they grow up.
Matthew 19:13-15
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.