Heart of the Father’s June 16, 2024
Luke 1:11-17
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
❓If you were to die today, what would your family say about your spiritual life? What Godly example will your children remember about you❓
We see by these verses that one of the greatest achievements of John the Baptist’s work on earth was to, “Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children”.
⭐ A father’s heart. According to these verses:
- Want to be a father! v13) Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
- Happy to be a father! V14) 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
- Set the example of moral, clean and upright living. v15) 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,
- Teach his children the dangers of immoral, corrupt, and worldly living. (to stay away from the
things that can lead you astray from God). v15) and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink;
- Raise his children to have a love relationship with God and obey God. ( not just teaching rules) v15) and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
- To seek God’s will for their life and not just what the parents want.v17) 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias,
⭐ We need to understand that, according to these verses, this was a VITAL part of GOD’S PLAN for Israel in order for them to be prepared and ready to receive what great things God was about to bring upon the earth. It was to prepare them for the coming of Jesus!
- 2 Chronicles 7:14: It’s what we do to prepare our hearts that makes a huge difference in how God affects our lives when He comes to do His work.
- Malachi 4:6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
💥 The coming of Christ from the beginning was a movement that was to start in the home, with the family, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FATHERS.👉 ****) “Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man.” (*****👈👉 ****) “A good father will leave his imprint on his sons and daughters for the rest of their life.”
💥 In other words:This was a vital step for the people of Israel in order for them to be prepared and able to receive the SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, REVIVAL AND NEW LIFE OF FREEDOM that God was bringing to His people.
⭐ Revival was to start in the HOME (With the parents!) ESPECIALLY DAD.⭐ Therefore, how we live and conduct ourselves as, “Fathers” (dads) does have a major effect on how:
➢ 1. Children will be admired by other families. ( Not for envy or ego--- Not a shame)➢ 2. Children will behave better than adults. Today more adults act like children. ( Go to little league) games) Sports events. Children can have a huge effect on adults. When they act smarter.Result:A. (v 17) Our children live out their lives here today (disobedient to the wisdom of just)B. (v17) The relationship our children have with God (many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God)C. (v16) How our children affect society as a whole. (a people prepared for the Lord- a Godly society) v16) 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. What does this teach the dads? What do these verses say between the lines?
I. FATHERS ARE TO BE LEADERS OF THEIR HOMES! (v 15) 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, Spiritual – Moral – INVOLVED -- Teach--- Train Give your children your heart. Give your children your time.👉 ****) Dad’s carry pictures where most carry their money.👉 ****) Dad is the son’s first hero and the daughter’s first love!
⇨ To be a godly dad there is one absolute rule: when you have a kid, don’t just look at it for the first two years! II. FATHERS ARE TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF CHRIST! v15) and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; Be an example of Christ in your home! As Christ would have done it.As examples: You can’t be an example of what you are not committed to yourself. YOU ARE THE ONLY JESUS THAT YOUR CHILDREN SEE! Examples of: ➢ How Christ loved ➢ How Christ treated people➢ How Christ gave grace ➢ How Christ was patience ➢ How Christ trained ➢ You mirror God to them. ➢ You help them form what they believe about God and the world around them. III. TO KNOW CHRIST HIMSELF AND TEACH IT TO HIS FAMILY v15) and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Early Church: I Corinthians 14: 34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. The early church did not want to step on the families part of the Christian Growth process.
⭐ Key: Learn at home by asking there. Who? The Husband and DAD. ➢ The crown of his life was his wife and children and how he raised those in his house as the leader.➢ Father’s were to be involved in the talking, debating and learning of the early church. The men did this and then took it home to be the leader.
