Father's Day Message
Sunday, June 20, 1999   

1. Wisdom and folly
2. Pride and humility
3. Justice and vengeance
4. Laziness and work
5. Poverty and wealth
6. Friends and neighbors
7. Love and lust
8. Anger and strife
9. Life and death

The Proverbs are not theoretical but practical. The truths found in the Proverbs touch every facet of human relationships. Reading a Proverb takes only a few seconds; applying a Proverb can take a lifetime.

I. BELIEVE THE BIBLE AND LIVE BY IT

     A. Proverbs 28:7, a wise son keeps the law; he lives by the Word of God.

          1. The Bible is the inspired, preserved Word of God Psalms 12:5-7).

           2. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God....."

           3. Dad, you need to be settled on this believe the Bible.

           4. Know the way of salvation and share it.

     B. To be able to stand for right you must hold firm to the Word of God.

           1. Proverbs 28:4 keep the law and be able to contend with the wicked. When you leave the Word, you go liberal.

          2. Proverbs 28:7, a wise son keeps the law at all costs.

          3. Proverbs 28:9, God turns His ear away from those that turn their ear from the Word.

          4. Proverbs 31:5, drunkenness causes folks to forget the law of God.

II. BEWARE OF EVIL COMPANIONS

     A. Proverbs 1:10, the wise father teaches the son right from wrong.

          1. Sinners will entice you!

          2. Be like Joseph who resisted temptation (Genesis 39:7-9) note verse 23.

          3. If you fall to temptation, do not blame God nor the Devil. The Devil can only tempt; he cannot force us to sin.

     B. Proverbs 28:7b, wrong companions cause shame (ILL: Peter the parakeet).

     C. Proverbs 19:27, Learn who not to listen to.

III. BIBLICAL CREATION IS TO BE TAUGHT

     A. Proverbs 3:19-22, much of the low self esteem of our day can be traced to a society that uses tax dollars to teach that man came from monkeys, and that the universe was not created by god.

     B. "In the beginning, God created...." (Genesis 1:1).

IV. END AN EAR TO WHAT DAD IS SAYING

     A. Many verses in Proverbs point out the importance of listening to and obeying parents.

          1. Proverbs 1:8; 4:20; 5:1; 6:20; 7:1; 13:1.

          2. To be able to give instruction, you must be around did listen to these statistics.

     B. You can either be a wise son or a foolish son. Which will it be?

          1. Proverbs 10:1; 15:20, 21, 25; 19:13, 26; 28:24; 30:11, 17.

          2. A plea for a wise son (Proverbs 27:11).

V. BASIC TRAINING BEGINS AT HOME

     A. The Lord corrects those that He loves and so do fathers who love their children (Proverbs 3:12).

          1. Proverbs 13:24.

          2. Discipline and love go together.

     B. Don't wait too late to start basic training.

          1. Proverbs 19:18 while there is hope. One day there will be no hope.

          2. Proverbs 13:24 "Betimes" early.

VI. BUCKLING DOWN

     A. Proverbs 10:5 teaches us that a wise son works. He makes hay while the sun shines.

     B. The characteristics of a lazy, slothful person are spelled out in Proverbs.

          1. Proverbs 26:14 - stays in bed.

          2. Proverbs 20:4 - will not plow.

          3. Proverbs 24:30-31- let's property run down.

CONCLUSION: Let the instruction found in the book of Proverbs be a guide to your life. Whether you are a dad, mom, or child, the Proverbs will help you.