I'm Watching You, Dad

Sunday, June 21st-Morning Service

Speaker: Clint Woolsey

"I’m Watching You Dad"

Proverbs 22:6 (New King James Version)

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,

      And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 23:26 (New King James Version)

26 My son, give me your heart,

      And let your eyes observe my ways.

A parent’s words mean little if their ways don’t back up what they say.

Not to sound too “old school” but it is true…

Actions speak louder than words!

Dads, can you confidently say to your children, “Observe my ways?”

Charles Spurgeon put it like this:

A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.

There are a number of things that a father can teach his children, without saying a word.

--Honesty before God and man or Integrity

2 Corinthians 8:21 (New King James Version)

21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Daniel was a good example of this.

We all know the story of Daniel and the lions den… 

Before Daniel got thrown into the den the other Governors became jealous of Daniel’s favor with the King they looked for a way to get him in trouble, but they could not find anything.

Daniel 6:4 (New King James Version)

4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.

--The virtues of hard work

2 Thessalonians 3:10 (New King James Version)

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

1 Timothy 5:8 (New King James Version)

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

--The importance of attendance in God’s house

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New King James Version)

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

--The importance of respect for authority

1 Peter 2:13-14 (New King James Version)

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

Mark 12:17 (New King James Version)

17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

--General respect for all people, especially the children’s mother

Romans 12:10 (New King James Version)

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Ephesians 5:25 (New King James Version)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

On Mother’s Day we spoke about the legacy that mothers leave behind.

I want to ask all of the Dads here the same question:

What legacy will you leave behind for your kids and grandkids?

A young man was to be sentenced to the penitentiary. The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his father—a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, “The Law of Trusts.” “Do you remember your father?” asked the magistrate.

“I remember him well, your honor,” came the reply.

Then trying to probe the offender’s conscience, the judge said, “As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?” There was a pause. Then the judge received an answer he had not expected.

“I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, ‘Run along, boy; I’m busy!’ When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying ‘Run along, son; this book must be finished!’ Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend.”

The magistrate muttered to himself, “Alas! Finished the book, but lost the boy!”

How will your kids remember you?

Will they be able to follow your example?

Would you want them to follow your example?

Is your life pointing them toward God?

When they look at your life do they see the reflection of God?

Ephesians 5:1-2 (New King James Version)

 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

No matter what their age; your kids are watching you.

They are seeing how you handle different situation and trials that come up in your life.

They are watching to see who or what you turn to for “strength” in your hour of need.

Joshua 24:15 (New King James Version)

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Dads, I want you to know this morning, whether you like it or not, YOUR KIDS ARE WATCHING YOU!

Do they see Christ in your life?

What is your legacy?

If you are not a Christian won’t you “choose you this day whom you will serve”?

Our Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son down to live in the flesh and to suffer a painful death on a cross so that you might be saved.

Won’t you make Christ your Savior today?

That is the greatest Father’s Day gift you could ever give your Heavenly Father…your decision to serve Him.