Welcome, everyone, to Emerge International Church Online. We’re so glad you’re here with us today. You know what today is? Today is the day we honor our fathers. So we get to honor our Father God this morning. And we’re going to start off doing that by celebrating Him and worshiping Him today. Honor means regarding and paying due attention to someone. We do this through our words and our actions. Treating your father with respect in how you speak to them, about them, and what you do for them, honors them. Even when you disagree with them or as you grow older, honor brings blessing and benefits.
Here are a few key benefits from showing respect. Respect strengthens relationships. It reduces conflict and encourages cooperation. Respect fosters trust and mutual understanding, promoting active listening and thoughtful dialogue. It acknowledges the inherent worth of individuals and helps create connections. If you desire respect, then give respect. When you sow seeds of respect, it will come back to you. So let’s look at a couple of verses in Luke chapter 6. Luke 6, 31 in the Amplified Classic. And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them.
You probably knew I was going to quote that verse, didn’t you? But it’s true. What you desire from others, do to them. Do exactly so to them and it will come back to you. Then Luke goes on in Luke 6, 38, just a few verses later. Give and gifts will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will they pour into the pouch formed by the bosom of your robe and used as a bag. For with the measure you deal out, with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others, it will be measured back to you. Show respect and it will come back to you.
The second thing is obedience. Obedience is submitting to the direction and control of someone else. For children, honoring their father includes obeying them as long as what they ask doesn’t go against God’s commands. This is emphasized in passages like Ephesians 6, 1, children obey your parents and the Lord for this is right. And this is one of the things we have to learn to walk in. Even when we don’t want to, even when we disagree with our dad, it’s to still honor him by obeying. I remember growing up doing this, but I remember my son doing it a lot too.
He would ask me something and I’d say, no, we need to do this, this and that. But why? But why dad? And I would give him an answer. But why dad? And I’d give him another answer. But why dad? And I’d say, Patrick, because I know this is the best way, so we’re going to do it the best way. And he’d look at me and go, but why? Ever done that with God, your father God? I think we all have in some way or another. But it includes obeying. Obedience is a part of showing respect. The third thing we see here is being grateful, showing gratitude for our father. Recognize and appreciate the sacrifices, the guidance and the love your father has given and continues to give.
This can be shown in words, actions and attitudes. To this day, my brothers and I and the grandkids still honor my dad and give gratitude to him. His words are still having an impact in our life, still guiding us and directing us. Thank God for our father. But our Father God’s words are the same. He gave us his word because there are laws that work just like the law of gravity works. His laws work. His words work. They bring life and hope and strength. They encourage us. His word is life to us. So we honor him by showing gratitude to him and giving him thanks and praise every day.
The fourth way we can show respect is through care. As parents age, honoring them can mean supporting them emotionally, physically, and even financially if needed. 1 Timothy 5, 4 gives us some insights into this. Paul said here in 1 Timothy 5, 4, this is from the New King James Version. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents, for this is good and acceptable before God. Paul is mentioning widows in particular here, but it’s for parents in general, our fathers and our mothers.
We should care for them as they’ve cared for us. And the fifth thing we want to take notice of here is this is a lifelong principle. This command isn’t just for children. While the way we honor our fathers may change over time, the principle remains throughout life. Even though my father has transitioned to heaven, my brothers and I still find ways to continue to honor him before our children and our grandchildren. What we see here as we look into this is that fatherhood is a gift. The gift of fatherhood refers to the unique and sacred role that fathers are given, whether biologically, adoptively, spiritually.
Fathers are to lead, nurture, protect, and reflect God’s heart to their children and to the world. So, we see here there are four characteristics that we need to take note of as fathers. Fatherhood is a calling, not just a role. Fatherhood is more than just having children. It’s a divine calling to shape lives. It involves being present, intentional, and faithful, and guiding and loving those entrusted to you. Secondly, fatherhood is a reflection of God the Father. In scripture, God is often portrayed as a father. He is our heavenly father. Psalms 103, 13 in the NIV, as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
That word fear can be translated their respect. The Lord has compassion on those who respect him. Matthew 6, 9, New King James Version says, in this manner, therefore, pray, our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Earthly fathers are meant to reflect his character, his compassion, his discipline, his faithfulness, and love. The gift of fatherhood is an invitation to model God’s nature to your children. And guys, you may feel like, well, I haven’t been very good at that. It’s never too late to begin. It’s never too late to say, Father God, show me how to be a better father, how to love like I should love, how to reflect your life and love to my children in a way that honors you, Lord.
Proverbs 20, verse 7, this is in the Amplified Classic. The righteous man walks in his integrity. Blessed, happy, fortunate, enviable are his children after him. The third quality here is this, fatherhood is a responsibility to lead and serve. Biblical fatherhood involves servant leadership. It means leading a family in humility, teaching children God’s ways, and providing spiritual, emotional, and practical care for them. The writer of Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 6, 6 and 7, says this, and these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
So talking of the Lord and teaching and speaking of him and showing his way is just something that happens every day, all the time, dad. You can do it. The fourth quality here is fatherhood is a path of growth and grace, and this is so true. Fatherhood also transforms the father in us. It challenges selfishness, it builds patience, it draws a man closer to God as he leans on divine wisdom to raise his children. It’s a lifelong journey of learning and grace. Being a father is not just a family role, but a spiritual calling. A godly father teaches his children to know the Lord, not only by words, but by consistent example in how he prays, repents, forgives, works, and loves.
Ephesians 6, 4 in the New King James Version says, and you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. That’s something we need to be aware of and focused on each and every day, bringing up our children in the training and admonition of the Lord. On this Father’s Day, we don’t just honor fathers for what they do, but for who they are in the lives of their families. The true legacy of a father is not measured by possessions, status, or achievements, but by the lives he shapes, the values he instills, and the love he gives.
It’s a legacy written not just in what he leaves behind, but in who he raises up. A godly father blesses not just his children, but the generations after him. So, we see that creating a legacy for a father first starts with faith passed down. A father’s greatest legacy is often the spiritual faith he imparts to his children and grandchildren. You want to show your children what it means to trust God, follow Christ, and live with integrity. In Proverbs 20, verse 7, the righteous man walks in his integrity and his children are blessed after him. The second thing we see here is character and values.
A father’s life teaches far more than his words. Honesty, humility, perseverance, kindness, courage, these are the moral fingerprints he leaves on his children’s hearts. The third quality we see here of a father’s legacy is love that grounds and grows those around him. Unconditional love gives children security and identity. When a father listens, encourages, disciplines fairly, and shows affection, he plants seeds of confidence and self-worth that shape a child’s view of themselves and of God. The fourth thing we see here is a father’s legacy is built on presence over provision.
While providing materially is important, a father’s consistent presence, his time, his attention, his affection, and emotional availability is more lasting than wealth. Children remember the memories made, not just the financial provision. And number five, generational impact. A father’s influence doesn’t stop with his children. It ripples through grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and through communities. Teaching forgiveness, integrity, and faith creates a legacy that outlives him. Like Abraham, who was called to instruct his children in God’s ways, a father’s faith can echo for generations to come.
Genesis 18, 18, and 19, this is from the Amplified Classic version. Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through him, and shall bless themselves by him. For I’ve known, chosen, acknowledged him as my own, so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord, and to do what is just and righteous, so that the Lord may bring Abraham what he has promised him. Proverbs 23, 24, New King James Version. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
Here’s something we know. Love fuels legacy. This is the one final point I want to focus on today. When it’s all said and done, everything good a father does is an expression of love. His love fuels his legacy. As scripture tells us, our Father God is love. The heart of a father flows from love. We see this in John 3, 16, where it says, for God so loved the world that he gave. God so loved the world that he gave in every way, fathers love by giving of themselves every day. I want to share a story with you that happened back when I was in my early 30s. I was 31 when this happened.
A family member very close to me had passed. I had prayed and believed God. The enemy just kept getting in there and getting me distracted, distraught about this or that. I remember the night he passed. He looked at me and said, I want to go home. I said, you are home. We’re right here in the house. He said, no, I want to go home. And I knew exactly what he meant. I said, okay. Weeks after that, we’d gone out to eat. And thank God I wasn’t driving when this happened. But we’d gone out to eat and we were coming back home. And all of a sudden, I felt the presence of the Father God fill the car.
And I knew it was my Father God. It wasn’t just the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t Jesus. It was my Father God. And his presence filled the car. And I felt this, guys. He picked me up, sat me in his lap and wrapped his arms around me. And he said, David, it’s going to be okay. He’s living his greatest life now. He loves you. But know this, son, I love you. It’s okay. And he just held me there. As you can imagine, I was uncontrollably sobbing. And I walked away from that knowing that a father’s love brings peace and joy in the midst of turmoil. Things that can’t be explained.
And not long after that, God gave me a song that we’ve recorded a couple of times. I don’t know if you’re like me right now. Every time I think about that moment, I can get very emotional. But also I’m filled with joy. Overwhelming joy. Because I know how much my Father loves me. And he just keeps showing me each and every day. God loves you. Your Father God loves you. And he’s here for you today. Open your heart to him right now. Bow your heads with me. Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of fathers. We are grateful for those who have modeled your love, your strength, and compassion to us throughout our lives.
We pray that you bless every father today with wisdom, patience, and joy. Strengthen them to lead with humility and grace. For those who are missing their fathers or who carry wounds, may you bring comfort and healing to them. Lord, help all of us, whether fathers or children, to look to you, our perfect Father, as the ultimate source of love, guidance, and hope. Father God, we surrender ourselves to you today. In Jesus’ name, amen. Happy Father’s Day. Have a great day and be blessed in all you do, knowing that your Father God loves you. So often people think of God as being so big and so far away that they can’t do anything for God.
What could I possibly do for God? But there’s a lie in that, because you can do great things for God just by acknowledging Him and being grateful. Coming into His presence is the greatest gift that you can give Him, and you can actually bring God joy. You have that power. So go bring God some joy today. Father, we thank you. We thank you that all we have to do is come into your presence and we can bring you joy. Thank you, Lord, for loving us. Thank you for putting your arms around us. Thank you, Father, for making it all okay. We love you, Lord. We praise you and we thank you.
In Jesus’ name, amen. Y’all have a great week.
