If you come up here, please. If you could stand, please, for the reading of God's word. First Samuel, chapter two, verse 22. First Samuel, chapter two, verse 22. In First Samuel 2, 22, it says, Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, why do you such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to drink scress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sinned against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. The word this morning and the responsibility of fatherhood. Lord, may we, as individual people, those of us who are fathers, to take our jobs seriously, Lord. There are people who are watching us, who are looking up to us as they pattern their lives, as they walk in this walk of life. May we be a good example to them, a godly example to our children. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. You may be seated. Well, folks, fatherhood is no joke. My dad used to say, you will see when you get to my age. And I was young and foolish. I did not understand. At the time, I did not understand what my dad used to say. But as I got older, sometimes people say, oh, I'm thinking like my mother, or I'm speaking like my mother. I think I'm just speaking like my dad. Well, in some ways, it's good. In some ways, it's not good. Especially if it's a good way, we say, oh, my dad used to say this, used to say that. Or my mom used to say this, used to say that. But let me tell you, fatherhood. It's not an easy task, especially if we try to be godly fathers to our children Because let me put it this way Once a father always a father Okay, it don't matter. How old is your children? They're always going to be your children in your eyes You know my children. I have some of them are married have kids in their own But when I look at them, they're still my children It's a funny thing to see. I never thought of this until I became a father myself and come to this age on which I have grandchildren. But still, they're still my children. It's amazing how God looks at us as his children. Like we never graduated, always the same thing with us. You know, I just say to my mom a lot of times, mom, because my mom was very obvious, says, mom, listen, we are grown up, we have our own families, you know, just treat us like adults. And she looked at us, we're not going to change. She looked at us as her children. Same thing with us. But I tell you what, fatherhood or motherhood comes with a tremendous responsibility. Because here's what we're doing. We're shaping the lives of people who are the future of tomorrow. You're here for a season. After you're done, you leave a legacy, either a good or a bad legacy. Either way, we're going to leave, each one of us are leaving a legacy, especially to our own children. And our children, as we like it or not, are looking up to us. I look up to my dad. I believe you look up to your dad as well. So I remember many years ago when my wife informed me that we were expecting our first child. That news sobered me up. For the first time in my life, I understood that life was not about me anymore. I had a kid, someone I needed to take care of. And I remember when we came from the hospital, and he had to stay in the hospital because there was some infection going on, and the doctors were afraid that he contained the infection, we came home empty-handed. Oh, what an empty day that was. We couldn't wait. We didn't sleep all night. Couldn't wait to get the next day to go to the hospital. And walk there again. We see that little child in there. And then we would come home that, oh, and the whole life changes because now you have to take care of someone that cannot take care of himself. Then you see them grow up step by step. You know, parents have a tendency. My kids never grow up. They're always small. Day after day. But they do grow up, right? And before you know, they're already married and gone, have children on their own and all that, whatever they do. But the thing is, you know, the life, you know, listen, the time that we give, that we spend with our children is a time on which shape their lives. Because when they go live their own lives, they will reflect you, they will represent you either good or bad. Okay, so now this morning we're celebrating fatherhood. Unfortunately, there are many men who don't deserve to be called fathers, but it's not our lesson this morning. Yes, it is true that they have become fathers at one time, but they're not around their children to take care of them. I know that happens because of different circumstances. Some fathers do leave the responsibility of fatherhood and left the responsibility to the mother who becomes a father and mother at the same time. On the other hand, there are some fathers who would love to spend time with their children, but because of circumstances, they cannot be there. It's all kinds of circumstances. We cannot dwell on that. Our lesson is totally different. Some because they're not allowed to do so. But now, I think that is a wonderful privilege, to be honest with you, to be called a father. If you're not a father, well, maybe you will be someday, and you say, I don't plan to be a father. Well, OK, I at least learned, OK? So now, dads, I will be speaking primarily to you this morning, OK? But there's a principle for all of us to apply here as we go through this journey of life. Maybe you will be a parent someday, those of you who are not parents. Or maybe you are a grandparent here. Or maybe God will give you the opportunity to have a godly influence in people's young life. Whatever it is, I think it's something for all of us to learn this morning. Listen, please. If Eli would come back today to talk about parenting, I would say that Eli would give us a good way or good counseling. For an example, I believe that we start teaching our children when they're young. My grandfather used to say, I know there's not going, people don't believe in them. My grandfather, was it just an expression? He used to say this way, we twist the children's ears when they're tender and young, not when they're old, because their ears get too hard. I'm not saying literally that's what you have to do, okay? You follow what I'm saying here. children are tender and they learn more when they're young than when they're old because when they be 19, 20, guess what? They're toe-to-toe with you, talking and talk back to you and they choose to listen to you and not listen to you. But we have a time on which from childhood, from infant all the way until at least 11, 12 on which we can teach them. Okay, so When it comes to fatherhood, Eli made a big mistake in his own parenting of his own sons. And those mistakes result in some terrible consequences for Eli and his family. I believe Eli would have a lot to say to us fathers today. It don't matter what age your children may be, folks. Actually, God tells Eli how displeased he was with his fatherhood and with his sons Uh, uh to samuel, but keep in mind that his sons were adults here already So there is a responsibility for a father towards his children in every age Was he responsible for his kids actions? No But he did something he consent what was going on in their lives Listen as a father as a godly father if your kids doing something wrong Tell them that they're wrong But you don't understand. No, I don't they need to know that where you stand as a parent and say it is wrong Don't be a judge over them. That's not what I'm saying But they need to know that where you stand you stand in the grounds on what you say. All right I cannot do anything about what you're doing because you live in your own life But this is where I stand what you're doing is wrong and God says is wrong. I I understand some parents are afraid to break their relationships with their kids. I understand that. I had a situation. One of my kids, I'm not going to say which one, hang up the phone on me. That's it. Mad at me, as they can be. Because I said, I don't agree with you. You're wrong. Well, that took two days without another phone call. Then I got a phone call back. I'm sorry, Daddy. I was rude. Thank you. The kid didn't say, I agree with you, Dad. I want to do what you said, Dad. But you follow what I'm saying? But at least one of my kids know that where I stand. Because when they get married and get their own, and they become adults, there's nothing you and I can do. You no longer have that power to say, that's what you're going to do, or else. It's gone. We can say, this is what I believe, this is where I stand, and I don't agree with you. Don't we say this to each other as adults? Say, well, all right, you're doing this, but I don't agree with you. Okay. So now if Eli would have the opportunity to give us fathers a lesson of fatherhood today, he probably will give us a totally lesson of how he raised his own children. He would be speaking from a personal experience and would probably speak with a lot of passion and regret for the mistake that we make as that he made as a dad. So let's imagine Eli was back with us this morning. Uh, this morning, this, this father fathers this morning, and let's say that he was going to speak to us what father's advice would he have for us today i believe he would share the following four thoughts and i'm going to share with you those four thoughts number one as a father what should we do make god our first priority Look what it says in verse 27. And they came unto a man of God unto Eli and said unto him, Thou saith the Lord, did I plainly appear into the house of thy father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer up my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father an offering made by fire of the children of Israel? Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering which I have commanded in my habitation and honors Thy sons above me. That's a mistake that he made To make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people You see what God says right here God says to him right here you honor your kids more than you honor me and Wow, that goes to today's society. A lot of parents are worshiping their kids today That's what they're doing God is insignificant to them because their kids are more significant listen priorities priorities Priorities that's important. All right everything in his right place God first God first then we have a Secondary and third and fourth things that we do but we gotta have our priorities. Listen our kids listen If you want your kid to follow God listen be that example Make make them see now, you know not force them that God is important to you that he loved God above everything else and Because our kids know if we are fake. They know. Making God our first priority. All comes down to priorities. I'm preaching to you this morning, but I am a father as well. And I must include myself in all this. Fathers, what is your first priority in life? What are you trying to teach your kids or any age with the life that you live in yourself at the moment? You may not believe this, but they are looking up to you. Every kid needs a father figure and we have the responsibility as fathers to be a good father figure to our kids. An example of responsibility, honesty, punctuality, hard working and love for God. We need to do those things because they're watching us. They're looking at us. Even if they are already married, they're still looking up to you. So what is your first priority as a father? What is your first thing you do as a father? What is the number one more important thing in your life? Some people say my kids. That shouldn't be. But nobody love my kids and then me, God first. God is our first priority. And I tell you why, you will have time to love your kids. That the first thing Eli would tell you this morning is to love God with all your heart, mind and soul. This was Eli's greatest mistakes. He honored his kids more than he honored God. And his kids did what they wanted to do. And it came to a point they became adults. They were out of control. There's nothing you could do. It started sometime before. Look. He had other priorities, that's Eli. He had other concerns. He had other goals. He had other visions. It amazes me how many fathers have no interest in teaching their kids the ways of God. It amazes me how many fathers do not walk with the Lord and don't care how their kids turn out to be. Listen, they are tomorrow's generation. We have the responsibility to leave the baton of faithfulness towards them. Leave the baton and say to our children, to our daughter, to our son and say, listen, I honor God to this day. Now it's your turn because I'm departing. You take it on me. It's your chance right now. They are tomorrow's generation. Now, when we look at kids, we're like, OK, listen, they are the presidents of tomorrow. They are the singers of tomorrow. They are the pastors and missionaries and Sunday school teachers and the teachers, the musicians of tomorrow. They are the ones who are going to love the Lord tomorrow. They need to know that mom and dad were faithful Christians. They love the Lord. But they say, Pastor, I've been doing all this and my kids don't even go to church. Keep doing what you're doing. Don't give up. They're going to make their own choices, but they know deep in their hearts something. My mom and dad love God. They cannot deny that. There might be like little pagans out there, atheists out there, whatever they want to do. But one thing we must show them is that I love them unconditionally and I love God supremely. and we keep doing this and when they think of you they know that you love them and they know that you love God that should be that way always letter a honor God above everything look what it says wherefore honors thy sons above me what a statement when God sent his prophets to rebuke Eli he asked him why do you honor your sons more than you honor me This is a great question for every father to answer. Eli had put his sons before God. Eli's sons were abusing the sacrifices in the temple, and Eli knew that they were doing that, but he didn't do anything about it. His sons were dishonoring God with their lives that they were living, and his father knew about it, and instead of removing them from their duties, he kept honoring them, and he closed his eyes to what God said. He knew they were doing wrong. Listen, we do more harm to our children when we do, we know they're doing wrong and we, we promote their wrong. Listen, don't go home and you're going to be a judge over your kids. Okay. Don't go on them. That's not right. Okay. But I'm saying right here, they need to know where we stand as parents. Because I mean, I want your mind to go when I get home. I'm gonna I'm gonna let her or him he's gonna hear it That's not what I'm saying here. Okay, don't misunderstand me. Okay, so honor God above everything Let them see let listen don't go home and put a show. Oh, they're gonna see on I love that's not how it is. It's a humble heart that loves God and loves them and it's a continual thing and Listen, I told my kids this. All right. You can walk in my house anytime you want. It's your house. Why I say that? Because I love them. You don't have to sleep on the streets. You can just come home. Why? Because I love them. Isn't that what God does to his children? God says, why are you sleeping on the street when I can take care of you? You see that? Listen. Some parents, I had what parents that I had to say something. I had to say something. Well, my kid's birthday, he turns 18 years old today. I already told him, birthday next week, get out of my house. I said, I look at him and he looks at me, he goes, don't you agree with me? I said, I'm sorry, I can't be here and agree with you. You raise a new kid, try to protect your kid for 18 years. And in two seconds, you throw your kid on the wolves. Give him to the wolves. I said, no, no, no, no. My door for my kids is always open because I love them unconditionally. Regardless of what they do regardless of what they do. I love them. What happened to the predicle son? The predicle son was eating with the pigs You know what that father did when he came home. What did he do? He embraced him love him kiss him to a big party because this kid was dead and now he's a light as kid regret What he did he came home regretful Folks let me tell you this we live in a very bad world and Wonderful world that God created, but it's tinted with sin. Satan is in this world. Let me tell you this. You think we, when we were young, faced all kinds of stuff. We did. Would we survive by the grace of God? But our kids are facing worse things than we do today. Believe me, they are. You know, they need your support and my support. They don't need us to say, get out of the way, you're doing so bad, I don't want to hear it. No, no, no. They need to know that we love them unconditionally regardless of what they're doing. They're our kids. If we don't love them, who's going to love them? You got what I'm saying? Okay. Honor God above everything. Honor God. Let it be. Deal with sin in your own life first. Look what it says. He listened, they were misusing what was coming to the temple. The things that was for God, they were misusing all that. So Eli not only let his sons continue in their sin, but he participated in their sin with them. The prophet made it clear that Eli was getting fed himself on the offerings of the people along with his sons. I'll tell you what, i get very scared for every dime that i spend in this church i do because i know it's the sacrificial giving of god's people and i don't want to misuse it i don't want god to say where did you do this with i don't want to do that I'm very theorist about how we spend this. You know, listen, it's a righteous fear. It's not like, you know, I'm afraid of doing. It's a righteous fear that goes in my heart because I don't want God to say like, Eli, what did you do with the gifts that came to the church? Well, why you misuse them? What? It's a great responsibility. See, Eli, his sons were doing that. He participating in. He did himself too. What about example of a father? So dads, if there's sin in your life that you are not bringing before the Lord and confessing, you are endangering your family well-being along with your own. You are called by God to be a spiritual leader of your family. And you are to walk, if you're a family of one or you're a family of yourself, whatever family you are, we need to be clear and have our path clear with the Lord. Don't pass your sin down the line to your kids. Deal with it now. Forsake it and put God as your first priority. Your children are living in a falling world and they need to see a godly example. Listen, there's a lot of bad examples in our world. Our kids are facing all kinds of badness. They go to work, it's there. They go to the grocery store, it's there. They go to the beach, it's there. They go to the park, it's there. They're all bad examples. They need to see a dad that stands for what is right. Let us see. Set the example for your children. It's hard to ask your children to follow Jesus if you're not doing it yourself. As a godly father, we need to be able to say to our children what Paul said to the people of the Church of Corinth. Be followers of me, even as I'm also a follower of Christ. Don't tell your kids to go to church if you don't go to church yourself. Don't tell your kids to read the Bible if you're not reading the Bible yourself. Don't tell your kids to pray if you're not praying yourself. You see, the example must... We lead by example. We lead by example. If we don't lead by example, we're doing wrong to our kids. They need to see the example coming from us. Because by doing that, when they grow up, believe me, when they grow up and they become your age and my age, they're going to do the same thing to their kids. And they're going to do the same path because they were going to remember mom or dad that used to love God and led by example. And there is he in their brain and they will do that to their own children. I have grandkids, I can say that. I see my kids taking the little guys to the house of God. Isn't that great? And I see, you know, they come with the little papers, they sing songs. They come to my house, they're singing the little Christian songs. It blesses your heart. You know what? Because my mom and dad are going to church. Where did they learn that from? From my mom and dad. You see, I believe those kids are going to grow up and they're going to do the same thing to their kids. Listen refuse to follow or get mauled by a society that says church is not important. God is not important. You are important God first God's house. Listen, Jesus said we have to assemble ourselves together I said, do not forsake it. The world says, I don't go there. Don't bother with it. I said, there's a bunch of hypocrites in the church. Folks, there's more hypocrites outside the church than in the church. Church is important. Church is a very important block in the life of people. We're here to hear the truth of God's word so we can live godly lives. Set an example for your children. Paul said it right, be followers of me even as I also am of Christ. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we do that? Fathers, your children need to see Jesus in you. Your children need you living for Christ. So number one, we see making God our first priority. Number two, that's what Eli was telling us, making the discipline first priority. We see this from verse 11 to verse 14. This was Eli's second big mistake. Not only did he fail to put God first in his life, but his sons were sinning against God and he failed to restrain them. That's one of your primary responsibilities as a parent is to discipline or train your children. Notice, let me tell you something. I'm not saying child abuse. I say discipline. Okay. I play organized sports. Don't you think my coach disciplined us? Don't talk to me that way. All right. Don't talk to me that way. Give me five. What is he doing? He's disciplining you because I'm the authority here. You continue to get up and go sit on the bench. But I'm a better player than him. Sit on the bench. You don't play for two games. What is he doing? He's teaching you to honor the leader. You see, we can't discipline at any age. People think when discipline is literally, they think it's a physical thing. You can't discipline your kids without being physical. There's many ways we can do. So Eli's big mistake is that because think about when we talk about taking here, I understand childhood when the infants and how we train our kids. We ought to train our kids the way they should go. The Bible doesn't say you have to discipline your kids the way they should go. The Bible says we have to train our kids the way they should go. When they get old, they will not depart from what? From your training. Read the verse and understand what the verse says. It says, train your kids the way they should go. And I'm paraphrasing the verse. When they get old, they will not depart from it. What is it? What you teach them. They all go back to what mom and dad taught them. They might rebel for a season, but it's in here. They know what mom and dad stands for. They know. You see, he failed that, but here we see adult kids working in the church or in the temple. Father knew they were doing wrong. What was his responsibility? You want me to tell you? Fire them. Look, you want to fire your own kids? Yes. If they're not doing right, you fire them. You know, you either do right or you out. Oh, that is drastic. Okay, who are you going to honor? If we're going to honor God, they're doing wrong, then we're going to tell them, you know, it's for everybody. You're not doing right, so you either change your ways. We give the opportunity, you change your ways or I'll fire you. Fire you, yes. it was not a king in the old testament we just started that fire as his own mother from being a queen because she was not doing right she stepped down from being a queen or took some guts okay so train to be trained them to be respectable people, to respect other human beings, to show dignity and respect for others, to be people of integrity and character. You as a father, or even me, is called to teach and train your kids to be all that, to be people, to be productive citizens, to be good people, to be loving people, to be honest people, to be truthful people. That's our job. So while you train your kids, letter A, teach them God's word. God's ways Look what says in Psalm 119 verse 9 with all shall a young man cleanses ways by taking heed there into according to thy Word one of the most important things you can do for your children is to make sure that they learn how God's Word is and to love God you can do this through Bible reading at home you can make sure that you all attend church weekly as a family and You can get involved on Sunday school or other ministries in church. You can get them a good Christian book to learn more about God. You can get them a good Bible for them to read on their own. You can be resourceful and do all kinds of things to make sure that your kids are being trained right. Fathers, are you reading your Bible? Are you a student of the Bible? Do the kids know exactly where dad sits as he takes time with God or a place where dad prays? If I ask you kids, do you know where your dad reads the Bible? Do you think they're going to give me a good answer and say, that's that chair right there in that room or outside? As fathers, we need to make Bible reading an important part of our regular thing you say pastor what about my kids that live with me great question I'm glad you asked what about my kids that live with me how they gonna know I read my Bible you know what you can fill your mind with God's Word and when your kid is with you Bible comes out the Lord says this and the Lord says that you know what happened you memorize it and they listen to that they're gonna get it You know, my grandfather used to tell me Bible stories when I used to work in a farm with him. I didn't know it was Bible stories. You know what I learned after he departed to heaven? That his mother had seven kids and they did Bible study at home with mom every day. I didn't know. In my own mind, growing up, I never heard of that. My mom told me that. I said, Mom, how could you never said that to me? Oh, yeah. That's why I know all these stories from the Old Testament from my grandpa, which I never heard. I didn't even know there were Bible stories. When he would give me all these, he would make like a big thing. He was enthusiastic, tell me these stories about the Bible. And I didn't know it was Bible stories. As a kid, I heard all those things. But isn't that a blessing? He's a wonderful blood. He didn't open the Bible to me. He verbally told me. Fathers, if your child don't live with you, an opportunity when you with your child to tell Bible stories to your children. Tell them about the stories of Jesus. He walked on water. Oh, He rose the dead. Isn't that great? Hey, let me tell you of a man named jesus. Look what he did to people this little girl, you know, she died and he went there and people make mockery of jesus and and he went there and it says arise and she Came out of the dead, you know, you tell this you tell them enthusiastically Oh god, let me tell their eyes are gonna be focused right on you Because that's what kids do when you tell them stories. I go I remember when I was in school I was a first, second grade, there was a lady, and we were boys, we were very re-embunctious, and all kinds of things. But we never stayed still. Me, I'm very energetic, I was jumping all over the place. So with this lady, she was one of the janitors, and we were in recess outside, she would call the kids, the boys, oh boy, he's coming over here. And she was like, let me tell you a story. In the beginning, it was boring as can be, but she was very persistent. And when it came to recess time, guess where we went? We sat down and listened to her tell the stories. She was a storytime lady. She would all go over there. And she got very popular, by the way. Well, she contained all the boys, especially people like me, because I was very rambunctious. But you know what? My grandfather did that to me. I got his attention. You was telling me, listen, you say, oh, my kid doesn't live with me. How in the world I'm going to tell my kid about Jesus? Tell him the stories. They're going to get your eyes right on you, right on you. If you love your kids, believe me, you're going to take this to heart. Encourage them, let it be, to do right. It's part of a dad's job to encourage their children to do right. Don't encourage your children to do wrong. Don't encourage your children to be violent, to be unkind, to be mean, to be arrogant and prideful. Encourage them to do right. They need to hear from the lips of a father to do right. We live in a very discouraging world. May we as fathers have encouraging words towards our children. Hey, you know that Jesus loves you. Oh, that's not encouraging. Yes, it is. Very encouraging. Yes, it is. How many times you get up in the morning and go, oh, nobody loves me. Nobody cares about me. Somebody comes, hey, Jesus loves you. Don't tell me that's not encouraging. You see, be an encouragement to your children. Encourage them to do right. Listen, kid, you need to graduate from high school. Really? Yes. How many kids drop out of high school? Why they do that? Is mom and dad encouraging them to stay there, stay put? But it's so hard. I know it's hard. I feel for you, but you can do it. There goes the encouraging word right there. You can do it. I can't get out of bed to go to work. You can do it! You can do it! Go to work! My son said the other day, he cuts up, comes downstairs late at night, he works third shift, comes down the line. He goes, I said, what's the matter? Oh, I got to go to work. I said, yes, you got all your life to do it. Go for it. And he looks at me like, yeah, thank you, dad. That is the truth, isn't it? Well, you know, when we're kids, they want to be adults. When they get to be adults, they want to be kids again. Oh, it's too late. March on. Go at it. Oh, goodness. So, encourage them to do right and correct them when they do wrong. Look, where it says in Proverbs 19, 18, Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spear from his crying. If you say or do nothing when your children do wrong, you are only encouraging them in their sin. Don't be a willing party in their sin. Correct them. Tell them they're doing wrong so that you discipline your children even with your words. Teach them, encourage them, coach them, instruct them, guide them and correct them when they need it. Remember Eli's mistake was that his sons were sinning against God and he failed to restrain them. Be sure to discipline your children. Okay, number one make God your first priority fathers number two making discipline your first priority number three making Teaching your first priority Eli would tell you teach your children about Jesus They lie, of course didn't know about Jesus back then Eli live a thousands of years before Jesus was ever born but Eli knew about God and So look what Eli said to his sons in 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 22. Why do ye such things? For I hear of you evil dealings with all these people. Nay, my sons, for it is not good report that I hear. He make the Lord's house to transgress. If none, I'm sorry, in verse 25 says, if none man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat For him no one stand that they hearken not into the voice of their father because the lord would slay them Okay, okay. It came to a point. He he allowed he consented He knew what's going on to a point that he would not listen to him fathers. Let me tell you this if you Don't restrain your kids. If you don't tell your kid who is right and wrong. It's gonna come a point in their lives They will not listen to you, especially when you don't reflect what you're trying to teach them You follow what I'm saying? If we live a life of sin ourselves, and we try our kids to do right, they're not going to listen to us. They're not going to look at you. Some of them are going to say, you trying to tell me to live right when you're not doing right? I'm not saying every kid's going to say that, but some will. Some will. I'll give you an example. Years ago, I was not even a Christian, but I still remember that. I was sitting. It was a walkway in my job going outside. It was coffee time. It was one of those catering trucks outside. I was sitting with my supervisor. I was sitting down. And the owner's brother walked out. And he came to my supervisor, began to tell the story of his son, how he got to an accident with his car. And he said, when I took to my son, and he began to spill all these names that he called his son. You know, all these wicked words that he called his son because his son got into an accident with his car. First mistake he did. Kid, are you all right? As you got hurt, cars are replaceable. People are not. You know what his son turned around to say? He began to call his father the same names he was calling his son. And he looked at my boss. I was not a part of the conversation, but he looked at my boss, my supervisor, and said, see what day and age we live in? Kids have no respect for their parents. This guy had some guts. He said to him, he said, listen, you shouldn't talk to your son that way either. Ooh, that was right to the, he walked away. Well, it's true. Listen, if we don't reflect godliness, if we don't talk to the Lord, if we don't live for the Lord, don't expect them to do the same thing too. Okay. Making teaching first priority. Number one, teach them about Jesus' death and resurrection. Teach them about Jesus' death and resurrection. When we live in a world that we deny the very deity of Christ, you kids need to know that Jesus rose from the dead. Teach them that they need a Savior. Teach them that He rose from the dead. Teach them that He is God Almighty. Teach them. Number two, letter B, teach them about repentance and faith. God says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Teach them. Sometimes we think, Father, we think our kids don't listen. They listen. They listen. It goes like this. This is my own childhood. I live with my dad. I play around with my mom. I play around with my mom, you know. My mom, goodness, I thought she was going to a mental institution with me. I was a smart, smart one. But everything stopped with mom and dad. When daddy gets home, I thought it was the end of the day. I became the holiest saint you can ever imagine when she said, she used those words, when your dad gets home. And when dad was home, she was like this. She'd look at us going. Get those eyes and go, oh, I'm going to die. You know why? Because I listened to dad. I listen to that. Something about fathers. But fathers, let me tell you this. If our kids listen to dad, can you imagine our responsibility? If our kids really listen to us as fathers, can you imagine the responsibility that we have towards them? It's a God-given responsibility. It should be an honor to teach them about I was going to put my point about repentance and faith. Faith in God. Repentance. Let us teach them about forgiveness. Listen, one kid, listen. Do you agree with me? We live in a very unforgiving world. We do, don't we? We do have a very unforgiving world. But you know what? We have a very great forgiving God. God is a forgiving God, a forgiving Father. What a great Father. Teach your kids. to be willing to forgive others. People are going to hurt you left and right. I mean I can make novels or books about people who have hurt my feelings. You so too. We live in a very unforgiving world but teach them to be able to forgive others. Not to be resentful. Not to be unforgiving. Not to be unkind to people who hurt them. You know the Bible says to an evil wit, good. They need to know that. Teach them about forgiveness. Teach them about the forgiveness of our gods. Our God is a very forgiving God. Teach them about that. 1 John 1 verse 9. What a great verse about forgiveness. Living in a very unforgiving world but full of unforgiving people. Teach your children to have a forgiving heart. Teach your children that people do make mistakes even though they hurt us deeply many times. Forgiveness is and it must be order of our lives. We must be willing to forgive others but must start with us. Fathers, Listen to your kids. Your kids have needs. I don't know your kids, but you know kids more than I do. I know my kids. I know my kids are in need. I know because they're my kids. I believe you know your kids, too. My kids come in directly. I don't want to know my kids ever went like this. That's when he had a need. Those of them like this, dad, Yeah. And he would go look for a good five minutes like that. I said, okay, it's okay. Sit down, put your hands down. And he was nervous. He was full of anxiety. The other one I have is like, he never calls you unless he has a need. He has a need, boom, phone rings immediately. And I know he has a need right there. I know my kids. See, teach them about forgiveness. Listen, teach them that you are a forgiving father. that they have a Heavenly Father very forgiving to. Don't teach them that you are a judge and when they come to you, you got a hammer and go boom. That's not the way it should be. We need to be forgiving towards our children. Listen, there are times they're going to disappoint you. There are times they're going to do things you don't agree with. Be solid. Don't move. Don't give up. Don't give in. Don't give up on God. Be strong for your kids. They need to see you as a strong tower for them. Be there. That's what I put number four, making godly living a priority. I believe Eli would have more peace, more peace of Father's Day advice for us today. And this is one right here. Look what it says in verse 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against God, you shall entreat for him. Eli finally rebuked his sons for their sin, but it was too late, a little too late. He should have started much earlier. My grandfather used to say, like I said in the beginning, we twist the kids' ears when they're nice and tender and young. We begin to teach our kids when they're young. And after that, after years go by, we should be consistent teaching our kids. They need guidance. Listen, I don't care how old is your kids. I have a 30-something-year-old kid, and he still needs guidance. He calls me and asks, Dad, what should I do? Wasn't that wrong for me to say, you're married, have your own kids, make your own decisions? That would be wrong, absolutely wrong. What do you do as a father? You give them good counsel. They need guidance. They need self-control. They need to learn how to respect other people. They need to learn to honor God. They need to learn to respect people. They need to learn the sense of right and wrong. They need to learn integrity and character. Father, all this is on your shoulders. All this. Fathers, keep in mind that I am a father too here, but keep in mind this lies on your shoulders to be an example. to your children. If you don't teach your children, don't complain of the way they turn out to be. Another thing is, if you don't teach your children, let me tell you, somebody else will teach your children. Somebody else will. Letter A, their hearts are more open when they are young. When they are young. Let me put it this way. Why? Let me give you a little, I don't know if you want to write this down. Look at the stage of our children. From zero to 12, We are caregivers, okay? They need you. From zero to 12, I'm sorry, from zero to 12, they are caregivers. We are caregivers. From 13 to 18, you are a coach. From 19 to the rest of your life, you are a counselor. Let me repeat that. From zero to 12, you are a caregiver. They need you. From 13 to 18, you are their coach. Coach tell their students what to do. From 19 to the rest of their lives, you're a counselor. Be there for them when they need some counseling, you are there. Be there for them, okay? Let it be. You will save them a lot of trouble along the way. I'll tell you what, by telling people to do right, you save them a lot of trouble. You do, especially our children. Because even when you're not there, it rings in their ears. The voice of your mother, don't do that. Don't go there. Ever happened to you? My mother used to say, even if I dream you'll be there, you're going to be in serious trouble. And let me tell you, even as an adult, sometimes I'm like, I kind of smile at it. But you're like, here's my money. You don't know if I dream of that. Right in your brain. Is that good? Go like this. Yes, it is. Many times. Many times it is very good. Because we need to teach our children, Dad, that save them a lot of trouble. My dad used to say to me this way. That's what he said to me one day. I'll never forget it. He said, son, I said this to you before. He said, son, I'm not a man of much words. My dad was quiet. He was a quiet guy. You can say, some people say, those quiet people are boring people. No, my dad was good. I love my dad. But he was quiet. But he said one time to me, listen, you go in and out of the house as you get older. I don't know where you go. I don't know what you do. And let me ask you this. Could you please respect my name where you go? You know, I know I'm your dad. You know, I say, he says, you know, I'm your dad. Respect my name. Don't put my name to shame. Don't don't have all these bad things. Then it comes to my ears. Don't please don't do that to me. You know why? Even today, my dad is in heaven with the Lord. I still remember those words. It's true. I could do all kinds of stuff, but my dad really asked me that. And I honored that. I honored that, not because I have to, because I want to. I love my dad. The same thing with God. Do you love your God with heart, mind, and soul? Do we want to honor His name? You know what we do? We respect what He says. And wherever we go, we listen to his voice and say, okay, Lord, I won't do this. Lord, I won't do that because I wanna honor your name. You see what I'm saying here? Listen, folks, listen to this. We can't change the past, but we can change the present, which will impact the future. Let me repeat myself. We can't change the past. Can't go there. But we can change the present, which will impact the future. Why I say this? I say, Pastor, I honestly, I'm not a good father. I have so much skeletons in my closet. I did so much bad. OK. You can't change what's already been done. It's been done. You can look back and feel sorry for yourself. It's not going to change a thing. But you can change the present. You can change today, which will impact tomorrow. You don't have to be the same old saying, oh, I can't help myself. Yes, you can. The past is done, but you can change the present, which will impact tomorrow. And you can say to your kids, honestly, listen, son, listen, daughter, I've made mistakes, but by the grace of God, I've changed because I want to be a godly example to you. In the most crucial time in my life, my dad became an alcoholic. The most crucial, my teenage years. My dad, when I grew up, my dad went to see every soccer game I played. My dad was always there. Every important thing that I did, my dad was always there. My eyes would look for him. I was playing a soccer game, and I looked through the midst of all that people, I could see my dad. He was always there. And that motivated me to no end, because I knew he was there. Every game that I played was there. When I became a teenager, Something happened. Alcohol got in the middle of us. When I needed my dad the most, he was not there. But you know what? He got extremely sick. The Lord changed his heart. He quit that. I led him to the Lord. He got saved. I tell you what. What I had in my childhood and I lost in my youth years, it came back in my adult years. And I never stopped loving my dad. But I tell you what, he said to me, I'm sorry for letting you down. because he realized that he made mistakes, but he changed it. When he realized, you know what? I cannot change the past, but let me tell you, I can change today, which he did, and he impacted me for tomorrow. He's still impacting me today as his child. You follow what I'm saying here? We have a tremendous responsibility as fathers. Listen, you can say, I'll conclude with this, and I'll close down. You can say, Pastor, oh, goodness. I haven't been a good father. All right, OK. That was yesterday. God's blessings are new, what? Every morning. Start today so you can impact tomorrow. It can't be about myself. We can all see this. Lord, I did wrong back then. But I'm going to change today so I can impact tomorrow. And people will follow me. People would look at me. because I'm going to change today. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for the gospel, for your word. And Lord, even Eli, Lord, that he even from his bad example of a father, we can take so many principles out of this. Help us, Lord, not to rely on yesterday and the mistakes of yesterday, but on today so we can impact tomorrow. Help us as fathers to be the godly fathers that you want us to be for our children. Lord, because ultimately if we love our children, we want to give them godly examples. What a wonderful thing is by leading by example. Help us, Lord, to do that. We live in a very tempting world. But Lord, it's not impossible to lead by example. Paul did that, and many others in the Bible who have done the same thing, who led by example. help us to do the same towards our children in Jesus name I pray amen alright folks if you could stand please have a song of invitation same from yesterday from last week but I think it fits right with the message have thy own way Lord page 485 have thy own way Thou art a potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will. I tell you what folks, it's an honor to be a father. It's a great honor to be a father, but it's a great responsibility to be a father. Even greater is to be a godly father. Even greater is to lead by example. Our kids need a godly example in our lives. Because let me tell you, if we don't teach them a godly example, somebody else would teach them something different. We even learn in the world that we try to suppress them with many voices. May we be solid. May we be the men of God that God wants us to be. Be a godly example to our children. Say pastor but they don't listen to me. I didn't tell you they would listen to you. I say I was telling you to be a godly example to your children. Pattern yourself after God and let God have the results. They're gonna make their choices, but when they look at that they say my dad loves the Lord. My dad is faithful. My dad, listen to this, loves me unconditionally. Verse number two. Have thy own way, Lord. Have thy own way. Search me and try. Master today. Wider than snow, Lord, wash me just now, as in Thy presence humbly I bow. Have thy own way Wounded and weary Help me, I pray Power, oh power Surely is thine Touch me and heal me Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for this special day. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of fatherhood. And I pray for every father here that you bless them and create a desire in their hearts to be godly men of God who love you unconditionally and love their children. And Father, I do pray, Lord, that you bless each one in a very special way, every person here. And if there's someone here that never received Jesus as Savior, may they call upon you for salvation today. Lord, go with us. Help us to enjoy our day and to give thanks and honor and glory to your name. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.