1 Resembling your father Father’s Day 2011 Matthew 5:43-48 Bill Parker (703)

2 Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48)

3 Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48) Does Jesus command us to do the impossible?

4 Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48) Jesus taught things that could not possibly be done in the flesh Try this in the flesh and you’ll give up Try this in the flesh and you’ll try to explain it away Try this in the flesh and you will be looking for a way out He taught things that reveal our need for Him This Father’s Day, this passage reveals our need for Him as we raise our children

5 Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48) Ready to give up on your own efforts and throw in the towel? 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1Pet.1:14-15) Perfect!

6 Fathers, Jesus Came for You! 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 Jn.1:8-2:1)

7 Fathers, Jesus Came for You! 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb.10:18-22) 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 Jn.1:8) 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn.1:9) 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1) Honesty Confession Faith Purity

8 Pure Fatherhood Fathers, Jesus Came for You! Honesty Confession Faith Purity Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:48) “I Need Thee Every Hour” Humble Fatherhood

9 Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… and “love your enemies??!!” That’s too far! 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48)

10 Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… and “love your enemies??!!” That’s too far! 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48) Let’s get practical and start with just loving anyone Love your wife Love your kids We must resemble our Father in this matter of love What does our Father’s love look like?

11 We Must Resemble Our Father in this Matter of Love Don’t blow past God’s command to love as He loves Not loving like this is sin Being honest about this sin will make you a humble, pure (and loving!) father 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7) Honesty Confession Faith Purity “I Need Thee Every Hour” Humble Fatherhood

12 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48) Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… and “love your enemies??!!”

13 Bob Ryan Doesn’t Send the Rain… God Sends Rain on Righteous and Unrighteous to Show His Love Who do you share your Father’s weather with around here? God loves those as much as He loves you and yours This takes you beyond your family It takes you beyond those that will accept you and yours

14 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt.5:43-48) This is radical! Loving enemies proves that we are sons of the only One who could do the impossible in a life Fathers, Resemble Your Heavenly Father… and “love your enemies??!!” But this is impossible!

15 The Father’s Grace and Mercy Yield Impossible Results for Fathers Do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (v39) If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. (v40) Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. (v42) Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. (v41) Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (v44) Honesty??

16 The Father’s Grace and Mercy Yield Impossible Results for Fathers Do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (v39) If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. (v40) Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. (v42) Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. (v41) Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (v44) Honesty Confession Faith Purity “I Need Thee Every Hour” Humble Fatherhood Honesty??

17 Revival Begins with Fathers… Imitating Their Father Honesty Confession Faith Purity “I Need Thee Every Hour” Humble Fatherhood God’s grace and mercy in complete forgiveness and purity is here for us Confess our sin of failing to love the “unrighteous” like our Father does He cleanses and revives Real motivation to reach the lost proceeds from a pure heart We are genuinely humble We can really identify with the lost We are not self-righteous hypocrites This is the example our family needs

18 Having the Heart of the Heavenly Father for the Lost Will Impact Your Heritage Resemble our Father by sending our sons and daughters As the Father sent His Son Consider a higher purpose for your heritage Encourage them way beyond family Exhort them to God’s heart in reaching this area and the world For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (Jn.3:16-17) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. (Mt.5:43-45a) You Are Sent as a Son by Your Father

19 The Father’s Grace and Mercy Yield Impossible Results for Fathers Fathers, let’s model our Father’s heart for the lost Lead our families to a lifestyle of love for the lost Pray that our children resemble us as we resemble our Heavenly Father in this God’s grace and mercy is there for us Let’s be honest about where we are Get the blood of Christ applied By God’s grace we can reach this area and the world for Christ

20 Happy father’s day!