Bible Study Notes on Being a Father Part 5

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

-What does not exasperating (infuriate, madden, frustrate, annoy, irritate, incense, enrage, rile) our children look like as Fathers under the authority that God has given us as men, head, savior, and disciplers of the household? Do we see many exasperated children who have lost heart in our society these days? What can we do to reverse this trend as followers of Christ Jesus?

Bible Study Notes on Being a Father Part 4

Psalms 127:3-5  Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. 5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

 

-Notice here in this passage that children are God’s gift to us. When was the last time you considered your children a blessed gift and reward from God? We do understand this when we are reflective and truly consider how much He has blessed us and rewarded us with them, but unfortunately, during the course of life we often get so busy and frustrated that we forget what a blessing and gift our children truly are. Meditate on the gifts you have in your care as parents today for a while. Thank God for His amazing gift or gifts in our children.

-Consider the illustration in this passage of the arrows that are likened to our children. Children are like arrows in that we are raising them up and making them as aerodynamic and straight as we can so that we can one day propel them out into this world with straight aim and purpose under the guidance of the Lord God Almighty. This has the connotation that one day we will shoot them out, or let them go, with destiny and calling that they receive from God under our guidance. Sharpen your little quiver of arrows every day by example and Godly instruction knowing that you are building a hope and future through the next generation. This is our legacy as a father.

Bible Study Notes on Being a Father Part 3

Job 1:1-5 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

Job 3:25-26  "For what I fear comes upon me, And what I dread befalls me. 26 "I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, And I am not at rest, but turmoil comes."

 

-It is not a stretch in the context of this Scriptural passage to see that Job had continual fear for his children as a blameless, upright, God-fearing father who turned away from evil. Instead of being afraid for children, a better approach would have been to realize the power of God in their lives through his heritage and devotion to the LORD. Who knows, some of the dread that fell upon him may have been averted.

-How do we sometimes live in fear and worry rather than power and victory in this generation as we raise our family? Resolve to trust the LORD with our children as we prepare them to face this world in which we live (2 Timothy 1:7).

Bible Study Notes on Being a Father Part 2

As we continue our topical study on the family and fatherhood in particular, let's look at and meditate on the premier grace shown in the story of the prodigal son:

 

Luke 15:11-24  And He said, "A man had two sons. 12 "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. 13 "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."' 20 "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

 

-Notice the Father’s seeking and looking for his son, patiently waiting and desiring to shed his grace and compassion on him upon the humble and broken return home. We see forgiveness at its best here in this parable. Restoration (repair, renewal, reestablishment, and reinstatement) and reconciliation (reunion) are the focus, not retribution (vengeance, revenge, payback, and reckoning). His heart condition was right toward his son to receive him back, and he actually gave him the choicest of everything (best robe of clothing, the ring of authority, shoes of protection, provision of the finest calf to eat, music and dancing of celebration) to show his love for this repentant-much wiser son who was dead and came back to life again.

Bible Study Notes on Being a Father Part 1

Malachi 4:5-6 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. ⁶ "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."

 

Luke 1:13-17 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. 16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

 

-What we see here in these important prophetic verses is that when the Spirit of God is upon the hearts of fathers they will turn back to their children in love and devotion to teach them the things of God in righteousness. In other words, they will lead their entire family on the right path to restoration. Leadership here simply means oversight and influence. It is done in such a way that inspires the next generation to continue in the right path for Godly living and blessing. This is why Malachi says what he says about not having to come and smite the land with a curse. So there is a turning back (repentance- changing of the mind and direction) and restoration (healing unity) as the fathers turn to their God and their family. To turn the heart back to the children means that the dad is making his children a priority in his life once again. This best way this is shown is in devoted TIME. The father will make the necessary time and adjustments to turn his heart towards his family in love.