Sunday, October 2, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - SUNDAY MESSAGE

THE FATHERS!

How the Hero Fathers are our patterns!



The new movie COURAGEOUS has just been released by Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia and is showing in your local theater nationwide. Sherwood are the creators of the powerful FIREPROOF and FACING THE GIANTS movies. This new production revolves around four county deputies, who are also Fathers in different seasons and places with their children. It is such a powerful drama that it will take you on a roller-coaster of emotions - from laughter to tears - all in less than two hours!
However this is not a review of the movie.  What I wish to key in on is the INTANGIBLE which each of these Four Flawed Fathers filtered to their children. This intangible is their Faith.

The four law enforcement men in this movie have a lot in common with the heroes of Hebrews 11. These men of verses 20-22 are called the Patriarchs - or fathers of an entire people. It is written: 
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones
.



Fathers today seem to be under a lot more stress and duress and what a mess we have as the society demands things from men, which God never intended. BUT, God has a standard which very few in Bible times exhibited to such a degree that the Lord had them included in Scripture. However, what He did for us, is to give us these examples to follow as men like us, who long to be the best fathers we can be!

So, just briefly, let's look at the Treasures here to fire us up for the week ahead!

VERSE: (2O) 
BY FAITH ISAAC BLESSED JACOB AND ESAU CONCERNING THE THINGS TO COME: 
Here, Abraham's son passed on to all his twins (Jacob and Esau) the foundation of a new Nation and People - the Hebrews. How can you or I use this, no matter how weak our walk was, to bless the future of our kids? We do that by blessing them now and praying for them and THEIR children, starting tonight!


VERSE 21
BY FAITH, JACOB WHEN HE WAS DYING,HE BLESSED EACH OF THE SONS...
For us, I wish to point out a couple or three things we SHOULD NOT DO!! Let us resolve not to wait until we are dying to bless our children. Let us actively teach them Worship, Prayer, Bible reading and the basics of living the Life for God. Jacob was not the best father in the world. He played favorites etc...Let us - you and I - focus on our responsibility as parents and then administer love and blessings equally, yet liberally, to those whom we love.


Verse 22 is about Joseph and looks back on how the Prophetic Escape from Egypt, the Exodus -was handled because his bones had to returned to the Promised Land. 


These golden nuggets and more, can be found, accessed and downloaded into your heart by the makers of Courageous the Movie. If you get a chance, go see this movie. The writer of Hebrews used some of the choicest words; references and Scripture to illustrate what God meant to say. 


These heroes of the faith made a resolution by Faith to the Future of their children. WE should NO less and even double up on our efforts to serve God without that! 
WE SHOULD RESOLVE TO HAVE THE FAITH OF THE FATHERS, AS LISTED IN OUR PASSAGE TODAY! 


May God continue to richly bless you and yours as you continue to obey and serve Him, in Jesus' Name, amen!









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