Be A Peacemaker

Rev Gideon Lee

This morning, God laid this on my heart. To be a peacemaker. What does that mean? Does it mean that as a peacemaker you try to smooth things and not look at what's right? As Christians we are called to be a peacemaker. I want this morning to look at the scripture to see what it means to be a peacemaker.

The outline of my message is:

1. Do not let rage drive you.
2. To seek to be a peacemaker.
3. To speak to build others up.

One day there was a minister preaching in a church. He made a joke as an icebreaker. He said, I've been living with a woman for 17 years who's not my wife. It caught everyone by surprise.

Then he said, that woman is my mother. And he went on to preach a sermon on Mother's Day.

A preacher in the congregation heard his statement and he tried to say the same thing in his church on Sunday. He said I've a confession to make. I've been living with a woman for 17 years who's not my wife. But he missed the punchline. He stood there for 5 minutes and forgot what to say. So to remedy the situation, he said I've been living with a woman for 17 years and I've forgotten who she is.

1 Samuel 25:1-13

David, Nabal and Abigail

1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.

2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.

4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!

7 “‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.’”

9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.

10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

12 David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

David was driven by anger. Most of the time when we are angry we don't response. We react. I find that people in times like these tend to react in anger. He lost his cool and got angry. It could happen to anyone including me.

A study showed that most anger happens at home. The average man loses his temper 6 times a week while a woman only 3 times. Men gets angry at things while women gets angry with people. Men are more likely to react physically when angry. Like you see men hit the wall with their hand when angry. Don't know why they do that. Just hurting themselves. Most anger happens at home because that's where you are who you are. And usually it's towards those we love than to strangers.

Proverbs 16:32

Better a patient person than a warrior,

one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Anger is a normal human reaction. Even Jesus got angry. Anger is repeated more 300 times in the OT. But the Bible says do not sin in your anger.

Here Samuel the prophet just died and Saul did not like David. This rivalry between Saul and David was bad that David wanted to kill Saul. David was moving from hideout to hideout. David was in the wilderness. It was a dangerous place. There were robbers there. David chanced upon a man man called Nabal. He was not easy to deal with. Just not a nice person. David wanted to help Nabal. He gave protection to all the shepherds that Nabal had. There were no raiders because of this. But it was time for shearing and it was a custom back then for those that help, the owner will give a portion of the profit to these people.

David asked his people to tell Nabal what he can provide for them. But we all know when David's men went to ask, he said David was a nobody so why should I give him anything. He knows that he benefitted From David's protection. He was like an extortionist, collecting protection money.

1. Do not let rage drive you.

It leads us to do foolish thing. David decided to get his men to kill Nabal out of his anger. Sometimes we get into that situation. David got into the situation. He sent His 400 to kill Nabal. Our anger sometimes blind us.

Romans 12:17-19

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

We are to do what is right and that includes revenge. In your anger do not sin. Being a peacemaker do not let your rage drive you. It is not just justice but to show love and kindness. To seek unity and peace. Anger sometimes overtake us but as a peacemaker it is to extend mercy and grace.

2. To seek to be a peacemaker.

1 Samuel 25:14-19

14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”

18 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

The moment Abigail heard what happened, she had more discernment than the husband. She had to make things right. He said David and his men had been good to us. That's why the Bible says he who finds a good wife finds a good thing.

She sent gifts ahead to David. She was preparing an atoning sacrifice to atone for the sin of her husband. Jesus became our atoning sacrifice.

1 John 2:2

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

For Abigail, she was to make peace and not justice. We let anger drive us and we don't try to make peace. She could have just let the husband do what he does and face the consequences but she didn't.

1 Samuel 25:20-30

20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!”

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. 26 And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.

28 “Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel,

Abigail respected David, and told him don't let this small thing destroy his more important calling. Not to be like the foolish Nabal. Her words and actions disarmed David. And the last thing was that he reminded David that one day he will be king and not to taint it with murder. So David listened.

Proverbs 25:21-22

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

When I first read this scripture, what came to my mind is that it was some form of punishment. Actually what it means is that God is asking you to do a good thing. Coal is needed to cook food so in ancient custom, even when your enemy ask for coal, you need to give them because it's needed to build fire for cooking. It is to show that even with enemies, we are to extend grace and mercy. To put aside the offences and help your enemy. It tells.me not to be driven by your anger and seek to be a peacemaker.

3. Speak to build each other up.

Nabal spoke to tear David down but Abigail spoke to build David up. She said God will protect and watch over you and bring his promises to pass. She said David will be king. May I encourage you to speak to build one another up.

That should be our goal to be a peacemaker. The tongue is a small part of our body but it can do good or evil.

So let's remember this.

1. Do not let rage drive you.
2. To seek to be a peacemaker.
3. To speak to build others up.

I pray that you'll choose to be like Abigail. Choose to be a peacemaker.

I stay in Setia which is a gated place. One day as I was coming home there was a car that was parked in the middle of the in entrance. Because he parked there all had to use the out entrance to go in and out. I was curious why this guy parked here. So I asked the guard. He said this guy was angry because he didn't have a sticker so was refused entry but he said he's a resident. So he got angry and parked his car at the entrance. The guard said he was doing his job and cannot let him enter because he had no sticker. The guard even tried to give him a sticker but he refused. The management even tried to talk to him but he refused. So the management called the police and the police issued a summon. He left the car there for a week. He refused and asked the management to pay the summon or he won't move his car.

The management tried to make peace but he would not accept any apology. Finally he moved his car and went to complain to MPPP. It inconvenienced the whole place because of his anger. Until today I know where he lives because of this. This morning are you holding on a situation so badly that it's not just affecting you but your  family? Let's be like Abigail. She's not just beautiful but also wise. Don't be like Nabal. Please be a peacemaker.

Let me read to you the rest of the passage.

1 Samuel 25:32-35

32 David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.”

35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.”

Let's learn to be like Abigail. 

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

A L.I.F.E.-Giving Dad

Sis Melinda Song

Traditional Jewish men at the beginning of the daily morning prayers recite: “Blessed are you, Lord, our God, ruler of the universe who has not created me a woman.” 

Being a woman, even in today’s progressive 21st century is difficult. Despite the many disadvantages to be a woman, I’m so glad that God has not created me a man.

We live in a day in which it is very difficult to be a good man.  It is even more difficult to be a good husband.  But it is most difficult to be a good dad.

There are so many demands on you men especially when you start a family.

ILLUSTRATION: Three fathers are sitting the hospital waiting room waiting on word about the birth of their children. A nurse comes out and says to the first father, “Sir, I am happy to tell you that your wife just gave birth to TWIN DAUGHTERS.”

The father replied, “Well isn't that something; I work for the DOUBLE COLA bottling company and now I have TWIN DAUGHTERS.

Pretty soon the nurse returns and says to the second father, “Sir, I am happy to tell you that your wife just gave birth to TRIPLETS. The father replied, “Well isn't that something! I work for the 3-M Corporation and I now have THREE CHILDREN all born on the same day.

As the nurse turns to go back to the delivery room she hears a loud thud. She turns and sees the third father sprawled out on the floor. She asks the other two fathers, “What's wrong with him?” One of the fathers said, “I don't know. He was telling us he works for SEVEN UP and the next thing we knew he was passed out on the floor.”

Definition of father

• A male person whose sperm unites with an egg, resulting in the conception of a child.
• A man who adopts a child.
• A man who raises a child.

Today is a day to celebrate and honour all fathers, adopted father, step-fathers, grandfathers, spiritual fathers. Fatherhood is the greatest delight but also the biggest challenge to a man.

The concept of fatherhood is very important in the Bible because God has a specific design for how the family is to operate, and at the center of it is the father. The world has discounted the importance of fathers, but the Bible defines family in the context of fatherhood.

In Ephesians 3:14-15, Paul wrote: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” The Greek word “family” is patria and it is derived from the root pater. In Greek or Latin, this word means “father.” The definition of a family in the biblical sense is to call it “fatherhood.” Without a father, there is no family. The proof of this is that the family gets their name from the father.

Single mothers, please do not get offended. We accept single mothers with children as families. This biblical definition of a family is to show the importance of fathers. Also, the biblical definition of an orphan is to be “fatherless.” It’s not to be without both parents, but to simply be without a father.

The father is the God-ordained leader in the family (Ephesians 5:23). In 1 Timothy 3:12 the qualification for a deacon is that he must manage his children and his household well. He manages well by leading well.

When fathers lead their families well they are LIFE-givers.

L - A Father’s LOVE

1. To love is to PROVIDE

Matthew 7:9-11, NIV

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

John 3:16, NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave…

1 Timothy 5:8, NIV

8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

A good father provides for his family. At the same time a good dad does not let his children treat him like an ATM machine and take what they have for granted. Children should have realistic expectations. They should not expect to be sent overseas just because everyone is sending their children overseas.

Fathers work hard to provide for their family – food, clothing and shelter. We appreciate you.

2. To love is to PROTECT

God has given men greater physical strength than women and has also given men a need or desire to be protectors. Fathers, you are your child’s first super hero! They look to you to be their helper, defender.

Dads have to be vigilant, constantly aware, constantly on guard against danger their families may encounter. Nowadays they have to be proactive in ensuring that their children are using the internet wisely. There are predators like Richard Huckle online or offline. They have to make sure their children are not encountering things on television that their minds and hearts are not yet equipped to understand.

3. To love is to PRIORITISE

Men are prone to find their identity through work rather than family and so they tend to focus on things like work achievements, high salary, and job title. Love is more than provision for material things. Don’t miss your children’s childhood; there is no second chance at childhood.

Children interpret time spent with them as love. Forget “quality time” vs. “quantity time”. "Quality time" is a myth that the world made up to pacify their consciences, for spending too much time at work and not enough time with their families.

You cannot substitute 'presents' for 'presence’ when you are building a relationship.

ILLUSTRATION: Charles Francis Adams, a 19th century politician and diplomat, kept a daily diary. One day Adams wrote in his diary:.

“Went fishing with my son today–-a day wasted.”

His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence today. Ironically on that same day, Brook Adams wrote in his diary:

 “Went fishing with my dad today–the most wonderful day of my life.”

He never forgot that day. There were repeated references to that great experience over the next forty years in his journal. 

No matter what great things you do in life, if your children see you constantly giving your best to everyone but them, they will interpret that to mean that they are unimportant to you.

ILLUSTRATION: David Elkind, a psychologist, tells the story of visiting his middle son’s nursery school class, at the request of his teacher. She wanted him to observe a “problem child” in the class. 

While he was there, he caught a conversation between his son and some other boys. The conversation went like this.

Child A: “My daddy is a doctor and he makes lots of money and we have a swimming pool.” 

Child B: “My daddy is a lawyer and he flies to Washington and talks to the president.” 

Child C: “My daddy owns a company and we have our own airplane.” 

Then David Elkind’s boy said, “My daddy is here!” And he proudly looked in his father’s direction. (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, p.197)

It is important to love your children, but fathers should not forget that it is as vital, if not more so, for you to love the mother of your children. There are times when a child’s immediate needs might come first momentarily, but ultimately the marriage bond has to be paramount (Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:19).

A child's security is rooted in knowing that the love from which he came is still going strong. A child who knows that his mom and dad are keeping their marriage commitments to one another, who really love each other will be far more stable and have greater emotional health than one who is torn by an unstable family situation.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY: My daughter’s friends were troubled when their parents quarrel and fight. They felt insecure thinking that their parents were going to divorce.

L - A Father’s LOVE

I – A Father’s INSTRUCTION

God has placed that primary responsibility of teaching and training squarely upon the shoulders of fathers.

Ephesians 6:4, NIV

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Just before entering the Promised Land, Moses reminds the people of Israel: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, NKJV).

The word here for “teach” is not a passive impartation of knowledge. The root meaning of this word means “to sharpen.” The idea is an active piercing of your son’s heart and mind with these truths. You have to actively look for opportunities in which to teach both the information and stress the practical application of the lesson as well as the consequences of failing to apply the lesson.

Dads, take advantage of those “TEACHING MOMENTS” in in everyday situations. Teach them THINK, to rightly divide between right and wrong. Train them how to make wise choices, how to pray about tough decisions, how to treat others with dignity and respect and to be caring and compassionate toward those who are hurting or in need.  Train them to value spiritual things more than material things, to tell the truth and to be honest in business dealing

Pro. 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This does not mean that your children will be perfect if you take them to church and try to do right by them but it does mean that they will have a moral guide for their lives and actions. 

Blessed is the child who has a wise dad who is able to give good counsel and guidance in life.

ILLUSTRATION: I can always offer a shoulder to cry on but my daughter knows her Dad will always be the one to give her the best counsel.

Discipline is essential. Moses incorporates these words into his address. "Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you" (Deuteronomy 8:5, NIV).

A father knows that "folly is bound up in the heart of a child" (Prov. 22:15), so he rebukes, restrains, punishes, and chastens. He knows, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him" (Prov. 13:24). The Bible picture of a father is that of a man that, whatever the cost, is not going to let his children grow up without discipline and direction in their lives. He will not be the one responsible for their "destruction" (Prov. 19:18).

ILLUSTRATION: On 2 June 2016, former Stanford student Brock Turner was sentenced to six months in prison for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on campus. The light sentence raised a public outcry. His dad received the most attention, claiming that his son should not go to prison for “twenty minutes of action.”

Do not be afraid to discipline. Fathers play an important role in teaching their children proper behaviour by setting and enforcing healthy limits. Very often one word from the father works faster than a thousand from the mother.

Ephesians 6:4, NIV

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children

On the negative side, fathers are not to exasperate our children – driving them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favouritism or indifference to any of them. In other words, our discipline cannot crush their spirit or demean them.

Colossians 3:21, NIV

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Father, you are to build up and not tear down.

L - A Father’s LOVE

I –A Father’s INSTRUCTION

F –A Father’s FAITH

1. A father’s faith in GOD

1 Thessalonians 2:11, NIV

 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

There is a tendency to pass the responsibility of spiritual training off on the Christian mothers, or a youth minister, or our children’s Sunday School teachers. But spiritual guidance cannot be delegated to others. Godly fathers are men of faith who desire to raise their children in the fear of the Lord. They pray and teach their kids to pray, and not leave it up to the church to do it. They pray for their children’s salvation.

Every husband and father is called to be the priest of his home. Great is the joy of a father like Joshua who can say:

Joshua 24:15, NIV

15 …choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

God is looking for men in the home who will bless their children.

ILLUSTRATION: One report in Florida showed that while there is a high population of Jewish people in the state, the population of Jewish men in prison is very low.

Sociologists began to study this phenomenon and came to the conclusion that the reason was that Jewish fathers are more likely than other fathers to remain married to the mother of their children, and Jewish fathers traditionally bless their children.

A Jewish blessing is when the father lays his hand on the head of his child and tells that child how good he or she is and how good that child is going to do in life. They say things like, “God has given me a wonderful son. You are a blessing to me, and you will be a great man of God someday. You will be a great student, a great provider for your family, and you will be a great father to your children.” And that paternal presence and blessing is the difference between a 5 percent prison population of Jewish men and a 95 percent prison population of non-Jewish men.

Fathers, be a man of God in your home. Be a husband who is a blessing to his wife, be a father who gives a blessing to his children, and be a man of God who knows how to bless the Lord with all your soul.

2. A father’s faith in HIS CHILD

Acceptance and approval of a father through words and actions are important. A Dad builds up his children, develops their gifts and abilities, and encourages them to excel.

Commendation enriches a child’s character. A father who looks for opportunities to give commendation will help to build confidence in his children and motivate them not to give up trying to do what is right.

Dads are also called to faithfulness, the same faithfulness that is modelled by the father in the story of the prodigal son. Just imagine how the story would have ended if the father took the attitude of washing his hands off his unfilial son.

"But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). The father, as he worked his field, was constantly scanning the horizon. His was a love that refused to give up.

Sometimes fathers may have caused some of the rebellion. If so, we need to make our overtures. Perhaps a phone call or a letter that says, "I'm sorry. Forgive me for what I said. I love you. I want a restored relationship with you."

ILLUSTRATION: In “The Water Diviner”, father and water diviner Joshua Connor (Russell Crowe) spends his days locating water and digging wells in Australia near the end of World War I. His three sons who have gone off to fight in the war are presumed dead. This is too much for his wife, Eliza, to handle and she takes her own life. To help heal his wounds, Joshua sets off for Gallipoli to find his sons bodies and return them home to bury alongside his wife.

When Joshua arrives in Turkey, he works with the local ANZACs, including Major Hasan  and Lt-Col Cyril Hughes to attempt to find his sons. He was not allowed to enter the former battle-field but he managed to get in.

Major Hasan: What are you doing with your farmer?

Lt-Col Cyril Hughes: There's a supply ship back to Constantinople in two days. 

Major Hasan: Maybe we can help him until then.

Lt-Col Cyril Hughes: You know what the chances of finding his boys are.

Major Hasan: We have the day they were killed. I know the area. 

Lt-Col Cyril Hughes: We both know it but why change everything for one father who can't stay put? 

Major Hasan: Because he is the only father who came looking.

Turkish officer Major Hasan is clearly moved by Joshua arriving looking for his sons, so much so that he instructs Hughes to help him in this mission. Hasan has never seen a parent come looking for a child lost in war and wants to give Joshua all the help he can.

Fathers, don’t give up on their children. Continue to pray for them.

L - A Father’s LOVE

I – A Father’s INSTRUCTION

F –A Father’s FAITH

E - A Father’s EXAMPLE

We have a saying - "Like father, like son." In some significant way, your children will probably turn out just like you. You are the leader model for character, integrity, values. To “train” in Ephesians 6:4 means to “teach by example.” The most important training we will ever give our children and our grandchildren is to “MODEL” for them what it means to live for JESUS CHRIST.

Our families would rather "see" a sermon than "hear" one. Your children will copy what they see. Children are the greatest video recorders ever invented. What they see and hear, they will play back perfectly. At the same time, children can't copy what they can't see. So don't expect them to love the Lord if they can't see you loving Him.

If you teach them one mode of conduct and live under a different mode yourself, they will see the hypocrisy of it all. Integrity should permeate every area of our lives. In the workplace, in church and at home

Great parenting isn't always about having a great education, great wealth to give your children, great power. It is about consistency of character. Great men and women have been raised by uneducated people, by poor people, by commoners. It is our character that counts more than our cash!

One of the most important role of a Dad is to promote a healthy gender identity in your child. Until children reach the age of from seven to ten years, they are usually more under the influence of the mother; but after that the boy needs a male model in order to develop a healthy sense of what it means to be male. Much is gained if his father commands his respect.

Research shows that dads being involved can help teenage boys stay out of trouble. Children, especially boys, learn a lot from their dads about being in relationships that will influence how they act in relationships later in their lives.

Do not underestimate the importance of fathers in their daughters’ lives. The dad is really the daughter’s first love. He is the most important man in her life. Particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 17 have a strong need for male attention, affirmation, affection and touch. If dad backs out, she’ll get what she needs from male friendships or from romantic sexual relationships. The No. 1 influence on a girl's self-esteem is affection from her dad. His interactions with her set her up for how she’s going to relate to all other men and to God.

Fathers, you are very important. You are life-givers.

Blessed is the child who has experienced…

L - A Father’s LOVE

I – A Father’s INSTRUCTION

F –A Father’s FAITH

E - A Father’s EXAMPLE

Fatherhood remains one of the highest ideals among men because it is a creation and reflection of God. Fathers are to be commended and honoured for this and for the pressures they face, whether it is the pressures of past failures, providing for families, or being a positive influence. 

Malachi 4:5-6, NIV

5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." 

In the New Testament, Jesus revealed the most important title that God enjoys is “Father”.  Jesus called God Father more than any other title. In fact, He almost exclusively used the name Father in reference to God.

Since Father is the greatest title we can ascribe to God, then it stands to reason that every man should be proud to be called father. Even a single man is called to be a father to the fatherless. Fatherhood should be exalted as the greatest job for man.

Godly fathers not only makes all the difference in the family but also in the world and, most important of all, in eternity too!

Today on Father’s Day would be a good moment all men to re-commit to being a hero for their daughters and role models for their sons but not just to them, but where they can, to invest in other young lives too.

Faith of a Mustard Seed

Rev Gideon Lee

This is what the Lord wants to remind us this morning about faith. Whenever we talk about mountains in our life it seems insurmountable but with God all things are possible. And God can take us on a mountain top experience and your problems feels so small and far away.

Mark 11:22-24

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 17:20

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Some months ago a man was staying in a chalet on the Swiss alps. He heard what sounded like an earthquake so he asked the man at the lodge if there was something wrong. It sounded like the mountains was crashing down. The guy said "We are on the West side of the mountain so when the sun warms the snow on the East side, it sounded like a crash. And the man said even though it sounded like the end of the world it is actually just the beginning of our day".

We often see the magnitude of our problems like that mountain. But what we don't know is that our mountains can actually be an opportunity for God to do a miracle in our life. And it can be a new day for us.

Here is the outline of my sermon.

1. What kind of faith does it take to move mountains.
2. Where do we get this kind of faith?
3. How do we activate this kind of faith.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

As you do not know the path of the wind,

or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

the Maker of all things.

Often we do not know how God will move our mountains but God is still in the business of moving mountains. God will work according to his time, not ours. And we need to have faith in that God will do what he will do. Sometimes he may not move the mountain for us but he gives us the ability to surmount and overcome our mountains.

After Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he was hungry. And it was fig tree season and Jesus expected it to bear fruit but when he found no fruit, Jesus cursed it. Peter saw that same fig tree and remembered what Jesus said. And he asked Jesus if it was the same fig tree. And Jesus said yes, and told him to have faith in God.

What kind of faith does it take to move mountains?

If you have the faith of a mustard seed. We may think it takes a giant faith to move mountains but Jesus said all it takes is a small seed. It's just a little bit of faith. A mustard seed is very small, like a speck.

You know those small flies? They are very small but a nuisance.

Small faith is effective and potent when we place it in God's hand. That faith becomes mountain moving faith. Remember how Jesus fed the 5000? The boy said this is all I have. 5 loaves and 2 fishes but for Jesus it was more than enough. To activate this faith is through obedience. Our faith must be activated through obedience.

Jesus is still in the business of multiplying. When they finished they collected 12 baskets of left overs. More than enough.

We just need a mustard seed of faith but we need to put it into God's hands and trust him. If we cannot trust everything he said why would we trust him for anything else?

There was once a very rich man. He has a habit where every time he sees a coin he will stop and pick it up. His friend saw his habit and asked why he picked coins when he is so rich. He said I do it not because I need it but because imprinted on the coin is that word "In God we trust" and so every time I pick it up it reminds me of what God can do.

 All we need is a mustard sized seed and put it in God's hand.

How do we get this kind of faith?

The Bible gives us a hint.

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

It means all of us here have a measure of faith. All of us minimally have faith of a mustard seed. It has been given to every child of God. A measure of faith has been placed in you.

Once something has been brought to our attention and we are prepared to see it, we will see it every where we go.

Like how some people see money everywhere they go. Like for me, when I went to the recce to make decisions for the family day, Bro Rodney was telling me that there was this shop that sold kolo mee in a packet. He said he bought it back and it tasted so nice. He kept talking about that kolo mee, it got imprinted in my mind. So the whole trip I was thinking about this kolo mee. Finally when we got there he showed me the kolo mee, he said there's also this sambal ikan masin that is nice with the kolo mee.

So guess what happened when we got there? Kolo mee. Bro Rodney is the best salesman. He bought the packet for me and ask me to try. First thing I did when I got home was kolo mee. So the next time you guys go on that trip, it'll be kolo mee.

When we see God's goodness, we won't see the mountains but God's goodness. We will see the hands of God. We learn how to programme ourselves so to speak in the goodness of God, it will not be difficult. Our problem is that we tend to be negative. We programme ourselves through prayer. Then we know God is near us and with us. We already have a measure of faith.

How do we activate this kind of faith?

Jesus said when you pray and not doubt. Sometimes it feels impossible because we see our situation and we are overwhelmed.

Here's how we do it.

Mark 7:27-30

27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

You will notice that this woman is not a Jew. It was not that Jesus did not want to help her but that Jesus' ministry was first to the Jews. But this woman in her faith said even dogs gets the crumbs from the children's table. Her faith was enough and Jesus said her daughter was healed. The Bible did not name this woman.

Matthew 8:1-3

8:2-4pp — Mk 1:40-44; Lk 5:12-14

1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Leprosy was considered a curse from God and is unclean so you cannot join any function in public. The Leprosy left the man and he was healed. The Bible did not name this man.

Mark 2:1-5

2:3-12pp — Mt 9:2-8; Lk 5:18-26

1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Also this man was not named. God is not a respecter of persons. All the three men faced mountains they could not possibly overcome but what made the impossible possible was that they put their faith into action.

How many of us would push through and get to Jesus? Like these people.

This morning, no big secret. How do you receive? Just do it! Nike copied from the Bible. Put our faith into action.

I close with this story.

One day there was a wise old man living in a cave.

There was three boys who wanted to trick this wise man. The first boy hid a stone in his hand and he went up and asked this man what's in my hand? The wise man said a stone and he was surprised how he knew. And the wise man just said I know. All three tried and each time the wise man was correct. So for last try, the boy put a bird in his hand and ask the wise man what's in my hand? The wise man said it's a baby bird. And the boy asked if the bird was alive or dead? And the wise man said if I said it's alive you would crush it and if I said it's dead you'll show me it's alive. The wise man answered, the fate of this bird is in your hands.

What we do with our faith is in our hands. God has given each one of us a measure of faith. We have to put our trust in him and put our faith into action. God is still the God of the impossible. Let's just do it. Amen?