Becoming a Godly Father
1st Thessalonians 2:9-12 Victory Fellowship
June 16, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
Abba Sunday
I. Introduction: (the way dad showed love)
a. Worked hard night and day to earn a living
b. Devout, honest
c. Plead, encourage, urge to live proper lives
II. Things to OMIT in The Way of a Godly Father:
a. Deception – be without hidden agenda or false motive
b. People-pleasing (v.4) – Be a God-pleaser; keep God’s principals; His goals and guidance
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
c. Greed (vv. 5-6) – Takes our focus off God; can become unhealthy competition for our attention
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness--6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
III. What do we RESOLVE in The Way of a Godly Father:
a. Boldness (v 2) – lack of fear; full confidence in faith
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
b. Sensitivity to Needs (v 7)
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
c. Deep Love for the Family (v 8)
8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
d. Transparency of Life – Spiritual Authenticity (vv 9-10)
9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
e. Enthusiastic Affirmation (vv 11-12)
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
IV. Essential Qualities taught by a Godly Father:
a. We must develop a deep, abiding inner security.
i. God pleasing / Transparent / Authentic
b. We must make a commitment to pursue excellence.
i. Committed to Truth / Affirming / Meet Needs
c. We must make a deliberate step of faith in God.
i. Bold, confident faith in our Savior
PRAYER
SONG: Land of My Father
1st Thessalonians 2:9-12 NLT
9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. 11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.