TITLE: GOD'S IDEAL DAD
       STATEMENT 1: TODAY we observe Father's
       Day. Everyone wants to be a good Father
       and Grandfather.
       A. Read what one Father said about
          dating
       B. We have to go to the Bible to know
          what Fathers and sons are to be like.
     Mark  14:36  And he said, Abba, Father,
      all things [are] possible unto thee; take
      away this cup from me: nevertheless not
      what I will, but what thou wilt.

    Romans 8:15  For ye have not received the
      spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
      have received the Spirit of adoption,
      whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

     Galatians 4:6  And because ye are sons,
      God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son
      into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
 A. Abba-Arabic word meaning Daddy.
 B. FATHERS SHOULD BE DAD'S
                    1. Any man can be a Father, but it
                       takes a special person to be called Dad.

                          WHAT MAKES A DAD?
                    God took the strength of a mountain,
                           The majesty of a tree,
                        The warmth of a summer sun,
                          The calm of a quiet sea,
                        The generous soul of nature,
                        The comforting arm of night,
                          The wisdom of the ages,
                      The power of the eagle's flight,
                      The joy of a morning in spring,
                        The faith of a mustard seed,
                         The patience of eternity,
                        The depth of a family need,
                     Then God combined these qualities,
                    When there was nothing more to add,
                   He knew His masterpiece was complete,
                        And so, He called it ... Dad

                            Author is unknown

THE MARINES SAY THAT THEY WANT A FEW GOOD MEN,
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THIS MORNING THAT GOD WANTS
MANY GOOD MEN.  GODLY FATHERS AND GODLY
GRANDFATHERS.
GODLY FATHERS ARE IN CRITICAL DEMAND TODAY.
STATEMENT 2: American needs a major
             spiritual awakening among its men.
1. HERE'S WHY:
   A. 50% Divorce rate
   B. Judeo-Christian ethics-just a memory
   D. Media, Entertainment industry, hostile to
      traditional family values.
   E. Aborting 1.5 MILLION babies annually
   G. Public education has become dangerous
   I. Godly male leadership in our homes is
      fast disappearing.
   J. We are the industrialized world's most
      violent society.
2. QUESTION:  Why is all of this happening?
   Why is the preciousness of family life as
   we know it disappearing. Why is it
   disengrating?  Who is to blame? Where does
   the responsibility lie?
   A. Gov't; schools; media; television violent
      nintendo games.
   B. Not altogether to blame,not responsible.
3. Father's, Grandfather's we are to blame?
   A. Because God the Father says so.
      1. TEXT: Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers,
         provoke not your children to wrath:
         but bring them up in the nurture and
         admonition of the Lord."

            TEXT: Psalm 1:1-6

INTRODUCTION: Here in these precious verses is
   a description of God's ideal man. God's man
   has to be an ideal Father or Grandfather.

A. Blessed this man/taken God for his portion.
   1. his character, influence, and  conduct.
B. Sermon/on Mount also describes ideal man.
   1. God's ideal man is likened to the wise
      man who built his house on the rock.
   2.  Foolish man built his house on the sand.

1. TWO WAYS OF MEN CONTRASTED HERE.
   A. One, the blessed man, guards his
      direction, his leisure, and his company.
   B. He loves the Word, and meditates on it
      day and night.
2. The ungodly, the sinners, and the scorners
   are just the opposite;
   A. Notice what ideal man is not.
      1. First the ungodly.
         a. This man does not have God in His
            life.
         b. He may be a good man. A community
            man. Good Husband
         c. His trouble, He listens to the
            counsel of the ungodly.
         d. His priorities are mixed up.
      2. Second: the sinner
         a. This man once was a good man, just
            did not have God in his life.  He
            began to listen to the counsel of
            the ungodly. He began to be
            partakers of sinful thing.
            1. He listens to their councel and
               goes out with the boys to party.
            2. Those things that are very wrong
               begin to look good to him.
            3. He drinks the cup of iniquity
            4. He stands with them in the way.
            5. In other words He does what they
               do.
      3. Third: the scorner
         a. This man was once the ungodly,
            who had progressed to sinner and
            now scorner.
         b. The scorner laughs, and mocks that
            everything that is Godly.
         c. Scorners mock and laugh at God/s
            word. Want nothing to do with it.
         d. They would completely destroy it if
            they could.
         e. They become cold and bitter toward
            everything Holy.
            1. God calls them fools.
         f. ILLUS: Voltaire-18th cntury atheist
   B.  Notice the progression of sin.
       1. From ungodly to sinning to scorner.
       2. From walking to standing to sitting.
       3. Pigpen. Filth-sin is filth to God

3. NOTICE WHAT GOD'S IDEAL MAN IS LIKE
   (A). HE HAD GREATEST DELIGHT IN KNOWING, AND
        DOING, THE WILL OF GOD.
        1. He Learned that God loves obedience
           more than He does sacrifice.
        2. Walked around the councel of the
           ungodly. Did not listen to it.
        3. Hated sin and impurites of life.
        4. Avoided the pigpen.
        5. Father's Grandfathers, is that your
           delight? Knowing and doing the will
           of God.
        6. Knowing that little precious eyes
           are upon you.
        7. They will grow up to be just like
           you and do what you do.
        8. Serving the Lord or sitting in a
           pigpen somewhere.
   (B). HE LOVED THE WORD, AND MEDITATED ON IT
        DAY AND NIGHT
        1. He was serious in his study of the
           Word.
        2. It saturated his being, filling his
           mind and soul.
   (C). ILLUS: Gipsy Smith, a great man of God
        from the past said, "What makes the
        difference is not how many times you
        have been through the Bible, but how
        many times and how thoroughly the Bible
        has been through you."
   (D). ILLUS: The importance of spending much
        time with something of great value and
        beauty is illustrated by a quote from
        the National Geographic magazine about
        Carl Sharsmith, an 81 year old guide in
        Yosemite National Park.
        (1). A lifetime is not enough TIME to
             appreciate fully the beauty and
             learning and value of the Bible.
             A. We must take time to study its
             truths and make them real in our
             lives.
             B. To be good Fathers and
                Grandfathers we must spend
                much time in the word.
(4). NOTICE: This man, planted by the waters
     will also produce much fruit for the
     kingdom.
     A. Fruitfulness is a necessary ingredient
     in the life of every Christian.
     B. Donald Grey Barnhouse cites an amazing
        example of lasting fruitfulness. In
        Hampton Court near London, there is a
        grapevine under glass; it is about
        1,000 years old and has but one root
        which is at least two feet thick. Some
        of the branches are 200 feet long.
        They prodluce fruit because they are
        joined to the vine and allow the life
        of the vine to flow through them. He is
        the vine, and we are the branches.
(5). NOTICE: He will have a life of permanence.
     The man who lives in such a relationship
     to God that He is filled with the Spirit
     of God, the water of life, will have an
     abundant, happy, content and peaceful life
     here, but he also has God's promise for an
     eternal life in heaven to come.