Embracing Fatherhood: A Call to Action

Malachi says for behold the day is coming burning like an oven all the proud yes and all who do wickedly will be stubble and the day which is coming shall burn them up says the Lord of Hosts that will leave them neither root nor branch now this is a day that's coming on this world the scripture the totality of Scripture bears witness to this day that's coming to this world when the the rebellion that humankind has launched against the lordship of Jesus Christ wanted to be God in themselves. [00:02:25]

There will be no strength to stand in these last days, except for the righteous, except for those who know Christ as Lord and Savior, except for those who have yielded to God and are living according to the plans and the purposes of God. Now we see on the one hand this uprooting and this burning of everything that tries to exist, govern itself, guide itself, establish its own rules, ultimately back into the Garden of Eden trying to be God in itself. [00:04:24]

But to you who fear my name the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings and you shall go out and grow fat like Stoll fed calves. Now when the whole world is crumbling, the whole world is losing hard you will be growing in grace there will be a strength given to you which is not of any amount of human effort it comes from God and God alone hallelujah to the lamb of God he will arise and his life will be so evident in you. [00:06:03]

The church is not just a congregation but a family where men act as spiritual fathers to all children. This role is crucial in turning back the curse of lawlessness and violence, as the hearts of fathers turn to their children and vice versa. We have the power as the Church of Jesus Christ. Do you understand Malachi says it's the heart of the father's turning to the children and the children to their fathers that has the power to stop the advance of the last day curse in the world. [00:13:14]

You would be amazed what a word can do for a young person's life you'd be amazed what a word of encouragement or direction or caution whatever it is or just a hand on the shoulder you'd be amazed what that can do for a child has never had that never known that never understood what it means to be loved or guided by a father it can stop the curse. [00:14:49]

He now has a dozen young men that he is personally mentoring in his community and yes praise God and every Friday night he has a Bible study in the local community hall and there's up to a hundred young people now attending his Bible study. He has become the voice of the father that has been missing in his community and people who keep the statistics of the violence in this part of the city are telling Derek that crime in general, violent crime included, is down as much as forty to fifty percent since he started mentoring young men in his community. [00:15:52]

The power of a father's voice is highlighted through biblical examples, such as God's affirmation of Jesus at His baptism. This voice has the ability to validate, encourage, and empower the next generation. Men are urged to be present and vocal in the lives of young people, offering guidance and support. The story of Derrick Griffin, who mentors young men in a crime-ridden neighborhood, serves as a powerful example of how one person's efforts can significantly reduce violence and bring hope. [00:20:08]

You see the father has the power to validate the journey of the son or daughter there's something in the father's voice now Jesus had an earthly father an adopted earthly father his name was Joseph we know Joseph was there when he was twelve years old but somewhere between twelve and thirty he disappeared from the scene we most assumed he died we we don't know for sure but every most of study at some point Joseph died he's no longer there. [00:22:39]

Young man I say to you arise so he was dead set up and began to speak and he presented him to his mother then fear came upon all and they glorified God he spoke into a hopeless situation when life was gone when it seemed like there was no future he spoke into this situation and he said young man I say to you arise there is power in a father's voice do you understand there's power there's so many young people who feel that there's no future. [00:27:36]

God has ordained in the voice of the Father the power to tell them to get up and the scripture says when the young man got up he began to speak and in the original Greek what it really says is he began to speak the way the one who was speaking to him was speaking he began to speak the way God speaks he began to see a future his life was not going to be defined by death and hopelessness and being carried out and put away and buried. [00:28:39]

I believe the devil has done everything in his power to rob men in this generation of an understanding what their role is in the days not just now but in the days ahead but by God's grace we are going to reclaim that heritage and I'm believing with you here today that we are going to become that generation of fathers that have the power to turn back to our children and when we turn back when our hearts are not self focused when we have focused on others coming behind us their hearts will turn towards us. [00:29:25]

It's time for men to be men it's time for men to stand up it's time for men at the cost of whatever it costs to us we're simply can't be willing to give this generation over to darkness and live focused on ourselves what a paltry way to live when we have such a high calling by the grace of Almighty God by the grace that you might be discouraged you might be in debt you might be discontent me let's get together in the cave and let's start to pray. [00:30:57]