Introduction

We live in a culture where fathers are no longer looked up to. They are often portrayed in commercials and sitcoms as lazy, clueless, incompetent couch potatoes and to be laughed at. What a great distraction from God's established Truth! The Holy Scriptures provide many Biblical principles about fathers, which God wants us to know the Truth from His Word, the Bible.  

Father's Day is designated as a time to celebrate fathers. So, today is the day that we honor fathers. We are to honor our fathers, not because it's a holiday, not because it's a tradition, not because there are sales going on all over the country, but because God said so.

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Notice that it does not say, honor only good moms and dads. It does not say, honor them if you like them. It does not say, honor only the right ones. It says, "honor your father and mother." And so, today, we ought to honor all fathers.

We love our men in this church and try to show it on a holiday such as this more than ever, but if we truly love the men of our church, we must bring this challenge today. Many times, fathers gets discourage and depressed on Father's Day because they think of their past mistakes and sins. But understand that this is not about the past, so do not let Satan discourage you. This is about future prevention and present progress!

I will be speaking directly and specifically to the fathers this morning, and if you are not a father, please don't check out, because we all need to hear this. You see, we are involved in a war today, and the battleground is not in Iraq or Afghanistan. The battleground is in our homes. And what is at stake is not our land, our property, our freedoms. It is more important than that. What is at stake are our children. We need fathers today who will fight for their children. We are losing children left and right. We are losing them to the world and sin. And we need fathers, not just fathers, but godly fathers. 

The Psalm we read this morning is a family hymn, a song for a marriage, or a birth, or for any day in which a happy household has met to praise the Lord. 

Here in Psalm 128, God tells earthly fathers that He wants to bless their families and make them strong. He wants to make their homes to be safe and happy places. And He is telling fathers that there are some things they can do to ensure that result.

I - The Characteristics of a Godly Father

So what can fathers do to obtain God's blessing? What should characterize a father to ensure blessing upon his life and his family?

1. The Fear God

What the world needs today is not more Marvel Heroes or Superheroes. What the world needs today is more godly men, more godly husbands, and more godly fathers and godly fathers fear God!

Twice in this Psalm where it says that those who fear the Lord are blessed. 

Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

Psalm 128:4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 

Fear and blessedness seems to be incompatible. Fear and blessedness sounds rather contrary to each other. But the Bible ties fear and blessedness together.

Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 

Psalm 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 12: The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 13: He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. 14: The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 15: Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

So you see in the Bible there is a clear and direct connection between fear and blessedness. The LORD blesses those who fear Him. 

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

Psalm 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Psalm 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

Psalm 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

But, what does it mean to "fear" the LORD? To fear God is basically, to fear His disapproval more than anyone else's. It is honor and respect toward God. You honor and respect Him enough that you fear of dishonoring Him or displeasing Him.

"The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else." - Oswald Chambers

"If you please God, it does not matter whom you displease. And if you displease Him, it does not matter whom you please." - Steven Lawson

The fear of God is the corner stone of all blessedness. We must reverence the ever blessed God before we can be blessed ourselves. 

2. Walk with God

Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 

Not only is there connection between fear and blessedness, there is also connection between fear and obedience. Those who fear the LORD walk in His ways. Those who fear the LORD obey the LORD. There is a wrong fear and it never leads to genuine obedience, 

But the fear of reverence and filial love will surely turn the feet to God's ways. Right fear leads to obedience that is rendered willingly and cheerfully.

Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 

Obedience is not just doing God's will. Just because I am in motion of doing something does not mean I am obedient. I am not truly obedient until I delight in it. It is delighting in doing God's will. 

A child asked to take out the trash but reluctantly and grudgingly obeyed is not obedience. A godly father not only obeys the Lord, he delights in obeying the Lord. It is not just doing it, it is delighting that God allowed you and me to father a child. I must perform my fathering work not just because it is my responsibility. I must think beyond - it is my duty. I must go beyond - it is my responsibility. I must delight in it. It is a privilege. Something that God has given me.

If we are going to be obedient in marriage, husbands and wives, we must delight in it, not just be married. If we are going to be obedient in parenting, fathers and mothers, we must delight in it, not just be parents.

Dr. Dobson survey among parents years ago about parenting - 70% of parents said they wish they never had children. That does not sound any delight in it. Can you imagine if parents feel that way how badly those children must feel thinking their parents felt that way?

It changes everything about the way we live and conduct our lives as a family when we are delighting in the obedience as required of us.

Men, you cannot be a husband and hate it. You cannot be a father and hate it. You cannot be a father and talk about how terrible our children are or how terrible your wife is. Fathers who want God's blessings in their homes have to decide that they are going to do the will of God and delight in doing it.

Psalm 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

A godly father who wants God's blessings makes walking with God a priority, and he models that priority for his family to copy. This also includes having personal Bible study; spending time alone in prayer; actively participating and engaging in the life of the church not just attend church; and fellowshipping with other Christians whenever he can.

II - The Blessings of a Godly Father

He is blessed ...

1. In himself

Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 

Psalm 128:4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 

2. In his business

Psalm 128:2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 

The ungodly shall labor in vain and shall be fruitless.

Haggai 1:3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4: Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5: Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6: Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

Micah 6:14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. 15: Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine. 16: For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

But the godly will blessed in his labor. They shall enjoy the fruit of their labor.

Isaiah 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22: They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23: They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

Leviticus 26:14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 15: And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 16: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17: And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

3. In his family

Psalm 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 

A. His wife

Psalm 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 

Here are two features of a Christian wife: what she is — "a fruitful vine"; and where she is — "by the side of her house." As the fruitful vine afforded shade as well as grapes, the figure imports comfort as well as a family.

B. His children

Psalm 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 

What is it to be like "olive-plants"? The olive-branch in Scripture is the emblem of peace, and the olive oil is the emblem of grace. Peace and grace are lovely features in a child, and when peace and grace take possession of the heart of a whole family, Christian people love to visit their dwelling.

4. In his Church

Psalm 128:4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5: The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6: Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

The house of God shall be a blessing to the house of a godly father. It is connected with our own salvation, edification, consolation, etc. It is our hope for the conversion of our children. It is the place where their spiritual education is reinforced.

Our house a blessing to God's house. What a blessing to see the whole family led by a godly father serve the LORD in the church of God. The husband leading the way, the wife supporting the husband, the children following what the father and mother is modeling before them - this is true blessedness.

Closing

If I want to be a godly father, and receive all the blessings He wants to give my family, I need first of all to make sure I have the proper fear of God. The fear of reverence not just the fear of dread. To fear Him more than anything else in this life. This fear starts by repenting and believing the gospel.

Secondly, I need to determine to walk with God — to be with Him whenever possible and to be obedient  and delight in it.

Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 

Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 

AMEN!