Father's Day Sunday, June 15, 2008

Fathers play a little different role in the lives of their children than mothers do. Brother Branham tells us that a child clings to the mother from the moment it's received into this world, and a special bond forms that remains forever. Mother is the one who nurtures and cares for a child. Mother is the one that a child goes to when they’re hurt or needing comfort. But a father faithfully supplies the love, wisdom, and support needed for his family to survive in the world. Father is the one who provides a home to live in and food to eat. A father is the one who keeps things in order when Satan interferes.

As a child grows older, father’s faithful wisdom and companionship creates a lasting bond. Every little boy wants to be like daddy. If daddy’s a firefighter or a cowboy, then the little boy wants to put out fires and carry six shooters. If daddy’s a big buck hunter, then they're running around with a little bow-n-arrow and guns pretending to shoot big bucks.

Children, both young and older, watch every move there fathers make. He’s the standard. If dad’s going to church and talking to his kids about the Lord, then that’s the life his children will learn to know. If he’s always carrying on drinking and cursing, that’s probably how junior will turn out to be.

The wisdom and example of a godly father is imperative and priceless to his children, just as the wisdom and example of our Heavenly Father is to us. Years of gaining knowledge in life and growing in the Lord gives dad the wisdom necessary to be a spiritual leader to his wife and children, and those surrounding him. God put men in that position to fulfill that purpose.

This Father's Day, let's take some time to sit and visit with dad. Let’s listen to the years of wisdom he has, and get to know him a little better. Love him no matter the circumstances. Show him the respect and honor we’re commanded to give, but do it out of love. Maybe you can be a blessing to him as he’s strived to be one to you over the years. Just listening to him might be the thing that lets him know you still need him and love him.

A father’s loving hand, isn’t always soft and smooth It’s rough and firm around the edges, and sometimes through and through But the love and strength it carries, provides a home and food It supplies your earthly needs, and teaches the heavenly too If father isn’t quite the man, you think he aught to be You call him old and out of date, perhaps you might not see That father is the faithful one, who all your burdens bore He worked and prayed, day and night, and taught to you the Lord And not only this, does a father deserve, your respect and honor both He deserves your prayers, your love and kindness, in everything he hopes No matter his deeds or human faults, by him you should stand A father here, we haven’t forever, so love him while you can Our prophet said about his father, “I don’t care what he done.” “He’s my daddy. I love my daddy." And that’s the love that won, His life was saved, before his death, a burden was lifted a ton The life of a sinner, put into God’s hand, through the love of his prophet son So take this story as a lesson, from someone who certainly knows Don’t be ashamed of your father; don’t wait to give him a rose This lesson applies to our Heavenly Father, by whom we all do live He’s the Master of life, the strength of all men, the Father who ceaselessly gives

We were very, very poor. Daddy had a hard time. He was a--a very poor man. He worked for seventy-five cents a day in--in log wood. My father had a bad habit, drinking. I'm sorry to have to say that, but that's true. And he--he... My father died in my arms. I seen my daddy work so hard, till when he would come in, his--his back would be sun burned until his shirt would be sticking to his back, and mother would have to take and clip the shirt loose from his back. I don't care what he done. He's my daddy. I'm not ashamed of my father. I love my daddy. He's gone on today, but he's still daddy.

And young people, remember. If you're fortunate enough today to have a daddy and a mother living, love them, honor them. The hour will come when you'll think they're the greatest people in the world, if you don't now. And don't never, little fellows, don't never give this slandering word, "old man," and "old woman." That's not the old man and old woman. That's daddy and mother. And some of these days when they go out of the room, in the casket, of flowers, you hear them lowered down in the ground, the pastor say, "Ashes to ashes and dust..." It won't be the "old man" then. There won't be the "old woman," it'll be, "Mother." You'll be wringing your hands and crying. That's right. Now, while she's a living, give her her flowers now, and give dad his flowers. That's right. Now, and the best flower you could give them, is obey them. And that's the first promise in the Bible, the first commandment with promise, "Honor thy father and mother: which may lengthen the days upon the earth that the LORD giveth thee.

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