Legacy of a Godly Father

TRANSCRIPT

Fatherhood isn't just about genetics, but it's about legacy and whether you're a dad, whether you are a granddad, whether you're a foster dad, whether you're an uncle, whether you're a spiritual father in this church, family that you matter. Your encouragement matters, guys, and I just wanna pause here because Anita also reiterated that also there are some stellar women that are solo parenting and they're filling that dad role and it is a tough gig, but they're doing it amazingly.

So ladies, when I, if that is you this morning, when I predominantly address the men, please know that you, us. Seen and you are in that category. Is that okay? All right, here we go. So your encouragement matters, guys. Your love matters. Even your dad jokes that we've heard this morning, even the bad ones, they matter.

Why? Because God didn't accidentally just give you the family that you have. He chose you to be the perfect dad for your children, not somebody else. Not some flaw, flawless superhero version of you, but just you dad showing up. Loving them, leading them the best that you can. Every moment that you choose to lean in, every moment you choose to do that, guys, you're shaping them and you're shaping their lives for the kingdom.

And some great news about this, because it can feel very overwhelming, is that you don't have to be perfect, but like what's already been said this morning, you just have to be present. And I just wanna reiterate that, I want that to just sink in. You don't have to be perfect, but what you are required to do to the best of your ability is to be present.

Maggie Dent is a, um. Person that speaks a lot into this parenting space. She's 70 years old now and she's had so much to contribute to this space and she calls it being a good enough dad. And as Aussies good enough can have like a negative connotation to it, can't it? Oh, that's good enough. But that's not what she means.

What she means is. You are a good enough dad and for Christ followers here this morning. That is just that you don't need to be flawless, but you just need to be faithful. You don't need to be polished. You need to be present. You need to have a lot of energy too, to chase them around. You need all those things just to be an awesome dad and an awesome mom.

But let's be real. Parenting is exhausting. Fatherhood is exhausting, but presence well, that's where the miracles actually happen, because when you show up, when you choose to show up each and every day, what happens is that God breathes on your ordinary. He actually makes it extraordinary, and I just want that to sink in at such a simple little statement.

But God breathes on your ordinary and he actually turns it into his extraordinary. See, man, you just don't turn up each and every day and clock in as dad and just exist. But you bring life, you bring energy, and you bring encouragement. You add flavor, and just like the gift that you're gonna get on the way out this morning, it's full of flavor and all sorts of goodies in it.

But that's what you bring to your family. That's what you bring to your children, the way that you speak, hope into your kids. The way that you even come alongside and encourage a mate the way you serve your family. Those are the spices of life, if you will, that just make things better. See, good enough, dads don't just show up quietly.

They show up in a way that leaves every life that much richer, that much stronger, and that much more seasoned in the goodness of God. And right here in our church family, we have some epic values that Anita alluded to earlier. Like love and generosity, fun and wow spirit, me spirit led. And when men live out these values each and every day, they're not just doing dad stuff, but they're living to be the chosen men that God has appointed them to be.

They're living as the chosen men to father. To mentor and to guide in the spaces that they find themselves in each and every day, and they need you. And men, I want you to hear a fresh this morning. You are enough because he shows you. And the ultimate encouragement as Christ followers is that we are not doing this alone.

Scripture reminds us that, um, it says, see what great love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that's from the words of one John. See, for some of us, the word father is a really beautiful word. It's full of memories of encouragement. Memories of protection, memories of love, but for others, and I stumbled upon what was a word to say next, but for others it can feel complicated.

Complicated for so many reasons. Maybe your dad wasn't around. Maybe he was absent for whatever reason. Maybe he was harsh, maybe he was, and you can fill in that blank. Maybe you never heard words like, I'm proud of you. Maybe you never heard the words. I love you. Maybe you never heard the words. You're doing great.

But I wanna let you know that if you feel that this morning that you're not alone and you're not seen, because when you know Jesus, everything changes. You are not left out. You're so seen. Just as the scripture alluded to today, see what great love the father has lavished on us. Our Heavenly Father has lavished his love on each and every one of you.

He calls you his child. He doesn't just tolerate you. Don't we love that. But he actually delights in you guys. He lavish his love. He's not like, oh, here comes Kev again,

but he actually goes, here comes Kev again. This is gonna be awesome. And, um, I just think that that is, I just think it's so amazing that we have a heavenly dad that lavish his love on us. You may not have had the perfect earthly role model, and a lot of you here haven't. I know that for well. But you have a perfect heavenly role model who fills every gap and who heals every single wound, and some of you never had a dad to run to when life was hard.

But you know what scripture says that we have a heavenly Father that actually runs to us In the words of Second Corinthians verse one, verses three to four, it says, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort those in every trouble. You have a heavenly Father that reaches out and comes to you.

He actually runs to you. He steps into the mess with you. He steps into the pain with you. He steps into your pressure. He steps into your struggles. You might feel that you're unseen and this is a hard gig and you are really doing that toughen on your own, but there's a heavenly father that sees all. But guys, more importantly, he doesn't just see all he sees you.

He sees each and every one of you, and that is great news this morning. But here's the lift. When we get to Father, lead and love out of overflow, it's living out of the overflow that he brings. We don't give out of empty tanks. We have a choice to live out of his overflow. Our heavenly dad feels each and every one of you every day so that you in turn, can pour out.

He strengthens so that you can stand tall. He whispers identity into you and he loves over each and every one of you that you can speak and love and give identity and encouragement to not just your own children, but the people in your world, in your sphere of influence. So, man, I just pray this morning that you're encouraged.

You are not just good enough. You are good enough in the eyes of Jesus. And someone, or some people really need to hear that this morning mean you are good enough. That's worth celebrating, I think, in itself. So here's my final encouragement or challenge, if you will, for each and every one of you for this week, men just show up, show up in the spaces that you are.

Kick the footy around in the backyard. Make time and do it. Give that encouragement. Don't hold back. Just speak that encouragement out. Pray with your kids. Invite a mate for coffee or maybe a beer. Step out and do it. It's the small stuff, guys that speak loud volumes and make a big difference because remember, the ordinary presence that a dad carries with Jesus brings extraordinary power.

So let's take it a step further. Don't just show up, but show up in the way that adds flavor. And that's why we again, gave you that gift. I pray that when you look at that spice rub that you'll remember that you are to bring the flavor to your world. Anyone can be in a room and just be there, but real men season the room with hope, with strength, with laughter, and with love.

You bring out the best in people when you live with intention. Think of yourself as like a secret ingredient. Guys. He's placed something very unique in each and every one of you. Don't compare yourself to the person next door or the person down the road, or the person across the room. He's not interested in them.

He's interested in you. Your family needs you to step into your space and bring that flavor that only you can bring. He's chosen you to be the perfect dad. So go and be men of flavor, be men of light, and men of bold grace, spreading the aroma of Jesus wherever you go. And I just wondered if I could pray this morning for each and every man that is a father and a role model.

Is that okay? All right, and ladies, if you fit in into that category this morning as well, I want you to feel this prayer. I just wondered if you would just close your eyes with me and let's just pray over each and every person that fills that space. Father, I thank you for each and every man here that fills that fathering role.

Father, I thank you that you chose them. You chose them uniquely, intentionally, and perfectly for the family that they lead, the children, that they father, and the people that they influence. Father, I pray that you would bless them afresh this morning. Father, I pray that you would just encourage them afresh this morning.

Strengthen them, the Lord God. Fill them with courage. Fill them with love. Fill them with joy. Father, may they season their families, season their friendships, season their communities with the goodness of Jesus. And Father, I pray that they would shine their light for you in a new and fresh way, and I thank you for that in Jesus amazing name.

Amen. Amen.