THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR
TODAY’S PROGRAM. KNOWN FOR HIS UNIQUE ABILITY TO SIMPLIFY
PROFOUND TRUTH SO THAT IT CAN BE APPLIED TO EVERYDAY LIFE,
ADRIAN ROGERS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PREACHERS,
RESPECTED BIBLE TEACHERS, AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF OUR TIME.
HE WAS ALSO A DEVOTED FAMILY MAN, A FATHER TO FOUR, A
GRANDFATHER TO NINE, A GREAT-GRANDFATHER TO SIX, HE
CONSIDERED THAT TO BE ONE OF HIS GREATEST CALLINGS. AND
TODAY, HE’LL BE BRINGING US A MESSAGE GEARED ESPECIALLY TO
THE DADS. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS A FATHER? WHAT IS YOUR
MARK? HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU HIT IT? IN TODAY’S MESSAGE,
ADRIAN ROGERS HELPS YOU SHARPEN YOUR FOCUS AND
STRENGTHEN YOUR HAND. CHILDREN ARE LIKE ARROWS, AND DADS ARE
LIKE ARCHERS. DADS ARE TO BE MIGHTY WARRIORS AND CHILDREN
ARE TO BE ARROWS IN THE HAND OF THE FATHER. AND THE
IMPLICATION OF THIS PSALM IS THAT WHEN DADS LEARN TO SHOOT
STRAIGHT, THE KIDS ARE GOING TO HIT THE MARK. WHEN DADS
LEARN TO SHOOT STRAIGHT, THE KIDS ARE GOING TO HIT THE
MARK. YOU SEE, AN ARROW IS NO MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE
WARRIOR WHO SHOOTS IT. AND THE BOW IS NOT MUCH BETTER THAN
THE MAN THAT HOLDS THAT BOW IN HIS HAND. NOW, WITH THAT AS
A BACKGROUND, WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, UH, DADS WHO SHOOT
STRAIGHT AND KIDS WHO HIT THE MARK. HAVE YOUR BIBLES OPEN TO
THE BOOK OF PSALMS AND JOIN US FOR THIS SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY
MESSAGE. AND, AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE
AGAIN, AND CHECK OUT PASTOR ROGERS’ OUTLINE, NOTES, AND
OTHER RESOURCES ON TODAY’S MESSAGE, ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW,
LET’S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. BE FINDING THE BOOK OF PSALMS,
PLEASE, AND OPEN YOUR BIBLES, AH, TO PSALM 127. IF YOU DID
NOT BRING A BIBLE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, MOST LIKELY
THERE’S ONE IN THE PEW RACK THERE BEFORE YOU. AND FIND
PSALM 127. AND AS YOU’RE FINDING IT, MAY I TELL YOU
WHAT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW: THAT SATAN HAS UNLEASHED
AN ALL-OUT WAR ON THE FAMILY. WHEN I SAY THE FAMILY, I’M
TALKING ABOUT THE INSTITUTION OF FAMILIES, AND I’M
TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY. NOW, IF YOU
DON’T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A WAR ON THE FAMILY, I WANT
YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT GLORIA STEINEM HAS SAID. DO YOU
KNOW WHO GLORIA STEINEM IS? A FORMER PLAYBOY BUNNY, WHO IS
ONE OF THE CHIEF SPOKESPERSONS FOR THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT.
SHE IS RECOGNIZED BY, AH, FEMINISTS AS BEING A LEADER. I
WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT SHE SAID, AND I’M GOING TO
GIVE YOU A QUOTATION. QUOTE, “MARRIAGE HAS EXISTED FOR
THE BENEFIT OF MEN AND IS A LEGALIZED, SANCTIONED CONTROL
OF WOMEN. THE END OF THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE IS A
NECESSARY CONDITION FOR THE LIBERATION OF WOMEN.” SHE
SAID, “LET’S JUST DO AWAY WITH MARRIAGE.” AND THEN SHE GOES
ON TO SAY, “IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO
LEAVE THEIR HUSBANDS. WE MUST WORK TO DESTROY MARRIAGE.
THE NUCLEAR FAMILY MUST BE REPLACED WITH A NEW FORM OF
FAMILY WHERE INDIVIDUALS LIVE TOGETHER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
ALL PEOPLE. THERE MUST COME A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT
CHILDREN. CHILDREN MUST BE SEEN AS THE ENTIRE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ENTIRE SOCIETY, RATHER THAN THEIR
PARENTS.” JUST ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING, “IT TAKES A VILLAGE.”
JUST ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THAT, AH, “MARRIAGE, AS WE
KNOW IT, IS OBSOLETE.” NOW, THAT WOULD BE LAUGHABLE AND NO
ONE WOULD PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THAT, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THIS
PARTICULAR WOMAN HAS A LARGE FOLLOWING, AND THERE’RE
MANY WHO SEE HER AS THE PATRON SAINT OF A NEW MOVEMENT IN OUR
WORLD. NOW, OF COURSE, THAT’S A VERY FRONTAL ATTACK. MOST
OF THE ATTACK ON THE FAMILY IS MORE SUBTLE. FOR EXAMPLE, UH,
THE SITCOMS OF TODAY. WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY SATIRIZE OR
RIDICULE, AH, THE NUCLEAR FAMILY. UH, THEY MOCK
MARRIAGE, AND DEVOTED FATHERS AND MOTHERS ARE LOOKED UPON
SOMEHOW AS DINOSAURS, AND, AND THE FATHER IN THESE SITCOMS
IS A BUMBLING, FUMBLING, STUMBLING BUFFOON. AND, UH,
THAT, UH, DADS ARE MOCKED AND RIDICULED. OR, IF IT IS A
SERIOUS FILM, THE FATHER IS SEEN AS CRUEL, VINDICTIVE,
OVERBEARING, AND IF HE IS A RELIGIOUS MAN, LOOK OUT! HE IS
ONE WHO HAS, UM, TWISTED AND PERVERTED AND CRUEL WAYS.
AH, AND THEN, ON TOP OF THAT, THERE’RE MANY WHO WOULD NOT
FALL INTO EITHER OF THESE TWO CATEGORIES, BUT HAVE NEVER
FOUND, NEVER FOUND GOD’S PLAN. J. PAUL GETTY. IS THAT NAME
FAMILIAR TO YOU? J. PAUL GETTY WAS ONE, IN HIS DAY, ONE OF
THE RICHEST MEN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. AS A MATTER OF
FACT, WHEN A BILLION DOLLARS WAS WORTH MORE THAN A BILLION
DOLLARS IS TODAY, HE HAD A NET WORTH THAT EXCEEDED FOUR
BILLION DOLLARS. NOW, IF YOU HAVE A NET WORTH OF MORE THAN
FOUR BILLION DOLLARS, MOST OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD WOULD
SAY THAT YOU ARE A SUCCESS. AND YET, EH, HE WROTE HIS
AUTOBIOGRAPHY, AND, AH, IT WAS RECORDED IN THE LOS ANGELES
TIMES IN, UH, 1981. I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT THIS MAN SAID.
THIS IS J. PAUL GETTY. HE SAID, AND I QUOTE. NOW, HERE’S
A MAN, HERE’S A MAN WITH MORE THAN FOUR BILLION, FOUR
BILLION, NOT MILLION, BILLION, “B” AS IN “BABY,” FOUR BILLION
DOLLARS. HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, “I’VE NEVER BEEN GIVEN TO
ENVY, SAVE, OR EXCEPT FOR THE ENVY I FEEL TOWARD THOSE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK AND
ENDURE HAPPILY. IT’S AN ART I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO
MASTER. MY RECORD: FIVE MARRIAGES, FIVE DIVORCES. IN
SHORT; FIVE FAILURES.” AND THEN THE ARTICLE CONTINUES.
“HE TERMED THE MEMORIES OF HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIS FIVE
SONS AS ‘PAINFUL.’ MUCH OF THIS PAIN HAS BEEN PASSED
ON WITH HIS MONEY. HIS MOST TREASURED OFFSPRING, TIMOTHY,
A FRAIL CHILD, BORN WHEN GETTY WAS 53, DIED IN 1958 AT
THE AGE OF 12 OF SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS, AFTER A SICKLY
LIFE, SPENT MOSTLY SEPARATED FROM HIS FATHER, WHO WAS
FOREVER AWAY ON BUSINESS. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GETTY
FAMILY ALSO SUFFERED FROM TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES. A
GRANDSON, J. PAUL GETTY, III, WAS KIDNAPPED AND HELD FOR A
RANSOM OF 2.9 MILLION. WHEN GETTY REFUSED TO PAY, THEY
HELD THE BOY FOR FIVE MONTHS AND EVENTUALLY CUT OFF HIS
RIGHT EAR. GETTY’S OLDEST SON APPARENTLY COMMITTED SUICIDE
AMONG STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCES. ANOTHER SON, GORDON PAUL
GETTY, HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS LIVING A TORTURED
EXISTENCE. HE WAS RIDICULED IN CORRESPONDENCE BY HIS FATHER
AND WAS THE LEAST FAVORITE SON. SIMILAR SORROW HAS
FOLLOWED OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS UNFORTUNATE FAMILY.” HERE’S A
MAN THAT THE WORLD WOULD CALL A SUCCESS, AND YET HE,
HIMSELF, CONFESSED, “I HAVE BEEN AN ABJECT FAILURE IN THE
THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER.” I’VE JUST MENTIONED ALL THREE
OF THESE ILLUSTRATIONS TO SHOW YOU THAT, UH, THE DEVIL HAS
DONE A GOOD JOB ON FAMILIES. AND, AH, WHEN WE’RE TALKING
ABOUT FAMILIES TODAY, I CANNOT, I CANNOT OVERESTIMATE
THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS. I HEARD A SONG, BROTHER JIM. I
DON’T KNOW WHO WROTE THE SONG. I REALLY DON’T KNOW THE TITLE
OF THE SONG, AND I’M NOT SURE I HAVE THE PHRASE JUST RIGHT,
BUT HERE’S WHAT I REMEMBER IT. THE MAN IS SINGING TO GOD, AND
HERE’S WHAT HE’S SAYING. “GOD, I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU
BECAUSE HE,” TALKING ABOUT HIS SON, “WANTS TO BE JUST LIKE
ME.” ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT SONG? YEAH, YOU KNOW.
OKAY. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. JIM KNOWS EVERYTHING. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] “FATHER, I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU BECAUSE THAT
BOY WANTS TO BE JUST LIKE ME.” THERE’S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
TRUTH IN THAT. NOW, LET’S LOOK IN GOD’S WORD IN PSALM 127,
AND SEE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT ALL OF THIS. HE SAYS, “EXCEPT
THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT.”
DO YOU KNOW, JOE, AH, J. PAUL GETTY SAID, “I’VE NEVER BEEN
ABLE TO MASTER THAT ART.” OF COURSE NOT. HUH, HUH. NO
MATTER HOW MUCH HE TRIES, WITHOUT GOD, IT CANNOT BE
DONE. “EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN
THAT BUILD IT; EXCEPT THE LORD KEEP THE CITY, THE WATCHMAN
WAKETH BUT IN VAIN. IT IS VAIN FOR YOU TO RISE UP EARLY, TO
SIT UP LATE, TO EAT THE BREAD OF SORROWS.” FOUR BILLION
DOLLARS AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS? THE BREAD OF SORROW,
THE BREAD OF SORROW. “FOR HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP.”
AND THEN HE SAYS THIS, “LO, CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE OF
THE LORD, AND THE FRUIT OF THE WOMB IS HIS REWARD. AS ARROWS
ARE IN THE HAND OF A MIGHTY MAN, SO ARE CHILDREN OF THE
YOUTH. HAPPY IS THE MAN THAT HATH HIS QUIVER FULL OF THEM;
THEY SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED, BUT THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH THE
ENEMIES IN THE GATE.” NOW, WHAT HE IS SAYING IS THIS:
THAT CHILDREN ARE LIKE ARROWS, AND DADS ARE LIKE ARCHERS.
DADS ARE TO BE MIGHTY WARRIORS AND CHILDREN ARE TO BE ARROWS
IN THE HAND OF THE FATHER. AND THE IMPLICATION OF THIS PSALM
IS THAT WHEN DADS LEARN TO SHOOT STRAIGHT, THE KIDS ARE
GONNA TO HIT THE MARK. WHEN DADS LEARN TO SHOOT STRAIGHT,
THE KIDS ARE GOING TO HIT THE MARK. YOU SEE, AN ARROW IS
NO MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE WARRIOR WHO SHOOTS IT. AND THE
BOW IS NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THE MAN THAT HOLDS THAT BOW IN
HIS HAND. NOW, WITH THAT AS A BACKGROUND, WE’RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT, AH, DADS WHO SHOOT STRAIGHT AND KIDS WHO HIT THE
MARK THIS MORNING. NOW, THREE THINGS I WOULD HAVE YOU TO
LEARN TODAY AS WE LOOK INTO THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE.
NUMBER ONE: IF YOU WOULD TO HAVE SUCC, A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY
AND GOOD KIDS, THE ARCHER MUST BE STRONG, THE ARCHER MUST BE
STRONG. NOTICE WHAT IT SAYS, “AS ARROWS ARE IN THE HAND OF
A,” WHAT? “A MIGHTY MAN.” NOW, WHEN I WAS IN THE UNIVERSITY
I TOOK A COURSE IN TEACHING INDIVIDUAL SPORTS, AND I WAS,
I WAS, AH, UH, INITIATED TO THE SPORT OF ARCHERY. IT
WASN’T WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. HUH, HUH. THERE’S
MORE THAN CASUALLY PICKING UP A BOW AND AN ARROW. AH, I, I
LEARNED THAT NO MATTER HOW FINE THE ARROW, AND HOW
STRONG THE BOW, IT TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SKILL.
THERE MUST BE A GOOD AIM. THERE MUST BE A FULL DRAW.
AND THERE’S GOT TO BE A SMOOTH RELEASE TO MAKE THAT ARROW GO
WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE. AH, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT TAKES
SKILL, IT TAKES PRACTICE, IT TAKES DETERMINATION. THE SAME
IS TRUE TO BE A GOOD DAD. AH, THE SAME IS TRUE OF
FATHERHOOD. NOW, NOW FOLKS, I WANT TO TELL YOU, TO BE A GOOD
MAN IS DIFFICULT; TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND IS MORE DIFFICULT;
BUT TO BE A GOOD FATHER IS THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL. DID YOU
KNOW THAT? IT REALLY IS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE. NOW, WHEN THE
ARROW MISSES ITS TARGET, THERE MAY BE MANY REASONS. INDEED,
THERE MAY BE SOME BAD ARROWS. INDEED, THERE MAY BE SOME
MOVING TARGETS. INDEED, THERE MAY BE SOME UNFORESEEN WIND
THAT BLOWS THE TA, THE ARROW AWAY FROM THE TARGET. NOW,
BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS DOES NOT DIMINISH THE WARRIOR’S
RESPONSIBILITY. IT REALLY ONLY INCREASES IT THAT WE MIGHT
WITH SHOOT WITH, WITH SKILL, AH, POINT THOSE ARROWS. GOD
HAS GIVEN US THESE CHILDREN LIKE ARROWS. WHAT IS MY
RESPONSIBILITY AS A DAD? MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO SHAPE,
TO SHARPEN, AND TO SHOOT THOSE ARROWS AT THE ENEMY. “AS
ARROWS ARE IN THE HAND OF A MIGHTY MAN, SO ARE THE
CHILDREN OF ONE’S YOUTH.” NOW, DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY GOAL IN
LIFE IS? YOU SAY, “TO BE A GOOD PASTOR.” WELL, I WANT
TO BE A GOOD PASTOR. “TO BE A GOOD PREACHER?” I HOPE I CAN
BE A GOOD PREACHER. BUT MY HIGHEST AMBITION; AND GOD
IS LISTENING, IS NOT TO BE PRIMARILY A GOOD PASTOR OR A
GOOD PREACHER; IT’S TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND AND A GOOD
FATHER. AND I, I DON’T MIND TELLING YOU, IF I HAD TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN YOU AND MY FAMILY, I’D CHOOSE MY FAMILY.
I WOULD. THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT I DON’T LOVE THE CHURCH.
YOU’LL HAVE A BETTER PASTOR IF I LOVE MY FAMILY AS I OUGHT
TO LOVE MY FAMILY. YOU CAN GET ANOTHER, YOU CAN GET ANOTHER
PASTOR. MY KIDS, THEY’VE GOT ONE DAD. I AM THEIR DADDY.
AND, THE MATTER OF FACT, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT A, IF A MAN
DOESN’T PRACTICE IT AT HOME, HE OUGHT NOT TO EXPORT IT.
HE, FIRST OF ALL, A, A PASTOR OUGHT TO BE ONE WHO HAS HIS
FAMILY, AH, UNDER, AH, THE TUTELAGE AND THE, THE
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP, AH, OF HIMSELF. SO, HERE’S THE
FIRST POINT. NOW LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY. THE, THE ARCHER
MUST BE STRONG. THE ARCHER MUST BE STRONG. “AS ARROWS ARE
IN THE HAND OF A MIGHTY MAN.” NOW, WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
PHYSICAL STRENGTH HERE, AH, BECAUSE SOME OF US COULD NOT
QUALIFY, BUT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, AND
ANY CAN QUALIFY BECAUSE HE’S TALKING NOW IN SPIRITUAL
TERMS. NOW, HERE’S THE SECOND THING. NOT ONLY MUST THE
ARCHER BE STRONG, THE ARROWS MUST BE STRAIGHT. THAT’S THE
SECOND POINT. THE ARROWS MUST BE STRAIGHT. NOW, CHILDREN,
LISTEN, CHILDREN ARE NOT BORN STRAIGHT ARROWS. STICKS ARE
NOT ARROWS. TWIGS ARE NOT ARROWS. CHILDREN ARE NOT, BY
NATURE, ARROWS; THEY HAVE TO BE MADE INTO ARROWS. AND YOU
CANNOT SHOOT STRAIGHT WITH CROOKED ARROWS. AND SO, WHAT
IS YOUR JOB AS A DAD? IT IS SHAPING, IT IS SHARPENING, AND
IT IS SHOOTING THE ARROWS THAT GOD HAS PUT IN YOUR HANDS.
AND THAT IS, I SUPPOSE, AMONG LIFE’S MOST DIFFICULT TASK.
AND THAT’S THE REASON WE HAVE SO MANY DROPOUT DADS. AH,
THE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY IS NOT PRIMARILY JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
BUT IT IS, UH, THE DELINQUENCY OF DADS. DROPOUT DADS WHO FAIL
TO DO AND BE WHAT THEY OUGHT TO BE. PUT THESE VERSES
DOWN IN YOUR MARGIN. EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX AND VERSE FOUR,
“AND, YE FATHERS, PROVOKE NOT YOUR CHILDREN TO WRATH, BUT
BRING, SHO, BRING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND THE ADMONITION
OF THE LORD.” THE WORD NURTURE LITERALLY MEANS THE
DISCIPLINE, AND THE ADMONITION MEANS THE TEACHING OF THE
LORD. OR AGAIN, PUT THIS VERSE DOWN. COLOSSIANS CHAPTER
THREE AND VERSE 21, “FATHERS, PROVOKE NOT YOUR CHILDREN
TO ANGER, LEST THEY BE DISCOURAGED.” DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THE CHALLENGE OF ANY MAN IS, AND ONE OF THE PRIME MARKS
OF RES, OF, OF SUCCESS OF ANY MAN? IT’S NOT HOW MUCH MONEY
HE CAN ACCUMULATE, BUT WHETHER OR NOT HIS KIDS ARE
SPIRITUALLY SHARP AND EMOTIONALLY STRAIGHT. ARE HIS
KIDS SPIRITUALLY SHARP AND ARE THEY EMOTIONALLY STRAIGHT? AN
ARROW HAS TO BE STRAIGHT, AND IT HAS TO BE SHARP. NOW,
NOTICE WHAT IS SAYS, “AS ARROWS ARE IN THE HAND OF A
MIGHTY MAN.” THERE IS A TIME, DADS, WHEN THE ARROWS ARE IN
YOUR HAND, AND THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN THEY WILL BE OUT
OF YOUR HAND. NOW, WHEN THE ARROW IS IN YOUR HAND, YOU
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. SO MANY OF US WANT TO GIVE THAT
RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO PROFESSIONALS TODAY. AH,
SOMEBODY ELSE CAN HANDLE THE JOB FOR US, WE FEEL. SOMEONE
HAS WRITTEN THESE WORDS, AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO
THEM BECAUSE THEY’RE VERY PERTINENT. “NO LONGER DOES HE
NEED TO SIT IN YOUR BIG, EASY CHAIR AND LISTEN WHILE YOU
READ JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. NOW, THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL
STORYTELLER CALLED TELEVISION. IT DOESN’T DOZE OFF OR BECOME
IMPATIENT. YOU CAN WORK THOSE FEW EXTRA HOURS IN THE OFFICE,
EARNING A LITTLE MORE MONEY, SO YOUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE A
BIGGER TELEVISION. YOU CAN NOW PUT HIM IN THE HANDS OF A
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR WHO WILL HAVE HIM FROM 8:00 A.M. IN THE
MORNING UNTIL 3:00 P.M. FIVE DAYS A WEEK. HE CAN TELL HIM
ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE BEES. AND HE WILL GET HIS SEX
EDUCATION THERE. YOU WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO ACCUMULATE
THINGS. YOU CAN WORK A FEW MORE HOURS AND PAY A
PROFESSIONAL TO MOW THE LAWN AND TO WASH YOUR CAR. YOUR
CHILD WILL NOT HAVE TO LEARN DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
A PROFESSIONAL CAN TEACH HIM HOW TO PLAY BASEBALL, AND YOU
WON’T HAVE TO STAND WITH HIM IN THE DRIVEWAY AT DUSK AND
SHOW HIM HOW TO THROW A, HOW TO HOLD A BAT, OR TO THROW A
CURVE BALL. NO, IF YOU WORK A FEW EXTRA HOURS YOU CAN BUY
HIM A REAL, HARDWOOD BAT. A PROFESSIONAL CAN TEACH HIM HOW
TO SWIM SO YOU WON’T HAVE TO WASTE YOUR WEEKENDS AT THE
BEACH OR LAKE, AND WITH YOUR EXTRA MONEY YOU CAN BE ON
THE GOLF COURSE. YOU MAY EVEN PROVIDE HIM WITH A SWIMMING
POOL TO SWIM IN AT HOME OR AT THE CLUB. AND WHEN HE GETS
INTO HIGH SCHOOL, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD A PROFESSIONAL
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, WHO WILL GIVE HIM IDEAS ABOUT HIS
FUTURE. YOUR EXTRA MONEY WILL PAY FOR THAT. A PROFESSIONAL
CAN TEACH HIM HOW TO DRIVE, AND WITH YOUR EXTRA MONEY YOU
CAN BUY HIM A NEW CAR. NO NEED FOR YOU TO GET YOUR HANDS
GREASY, SIDE BY SIDE, IN THE GARAGE WHILE YOU TEACH HIM HOW
TO CLEAN THE PLUGS AND CHANGE THE OIL FILTER.” FRIEND,
EVERYTHING IN US TELLS US THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH
THAT, AMEN? [AUDIENCE: AMEN] KIDS NEED DADS, AND THERE’S NO
WAY THAT YOU CAN PAY SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU
TO DO. NOW, HOW DO YOU SHAPE AND SHARPEN ARROWS? GET OUT A
PENCIL AND A PIECE OF PAPER AND I WANT YOU TO WRITE SOME
THINGS DOWN. NUMBER ONE, BEGIN EARLY. YAT, NOW WHEN, UH, YOU,
WHEN YOU HAVE A TWIG THEN YOU CAN BEGIN TO SHAPE IT, EH,
WHEN IT, WHEN IT’S, WHEN IT’S SOFT AND PLIABLE. THAT’S
THE REASON THE BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS 22, AND VERSE
SIX, “TRAIN UP A,” A WHAT? “A CHILD.” “TRAIN UP A CHILD IN
THE WAY THAT HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE’S OLD HE WILL NOT
DEPART FROM IT.” LITTLE CHILDREN CAN BE SHAPED AND
MOLDED SO VERY EASILY. YOU WANT, WANT ME TO TELL YOU
WHY? NUMBER ONE: THE CURIOSITY FACTOR IS VERY, VERY HIGH.
“WHY, DADDY, WHY? WHY, DADDY, WHY?” FRIEND, THAT’S A
TEACHING MOMENT! DON’T SAY, “STOP ASKING WHY.” SAY, “KEEP
ASKING WHY,” AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, THE LITTLE ONES
AND THE BIG ONES. THE MEMORY FACTOR IS GREAT. DON’T TELL
ME THAT LITTLE CHILDREN CAN’T MEMORIZE. FRIEND, BY THE TIME
THEY’RE TWO, THEY’VE LEARNED A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. THINK ABOUT
IT. THE TRUST FACTOR IS AT THE HIGHEST POINT. LITTLE CHILDREN
TRUST. THAT’S THE REASON THE BIBLE SAYS THAT ADULTS HAVE TO
BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN. THE HUMILITY FACTOR IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. LITTLE
CHILDREN ARE NOT TOO PROUD TO LEARN THEY CAN TAKE ADVICE,
AND THEY HAVE AN INNATE ABILITY TO BELIEVE! THAT’S
THE REASON WHY YOU MUST START SOON! TOMORROW, THAT CHILD
WILL NOT BE ASKING WHY, AND THAT SCHOOLBOY WILL NOT NEED
HELP WITH HIS LESSONS. SO, NUMBER ONE, START EARLY.
NUMBER TWO, BE CREATIVE. I CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH. WHEN
GOD TOLD THE JEWS HOW TO TRAIN THEIR CHILDREN, AND, AND, BY
AND LARGE, THE JEWS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AT THIS. HE TOLD
THEM IN DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER SIX VERSES SIX AND SEVEN, “AND
THESE WORDS, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, SHALL BE IN
THINE HEART.” NOT JUST IN YOUR HEAD, BUT, “IN THINE HEART.
AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UNTO THY CHILDREN,
AND SHALL TALK OF THEM,” I LOVE THAT, JUST UNDERSCORE
THAT, “SHALL TALK OF THEM WHEN THOU SITTEST IN THINE HOUSE,
AND WHEN THOU WALKEST BY THE WAY, AND WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN,
AND WHEN THOU RISEST UP.” DO YOU SEE IT? IT’S IN YOUR HEART
AND IT’S JUST BUBBLING OUT, AND THERE’RE ALL KINDS OF WAYS
TO TEACH. DON’T RAM IT DOWN THEIR THROAT LIKE COD-LIVER
OIL. FAMILY WORSHIP DOESN’T HAVE TO BE AN ORDEAL. MOST OF
YOUR TEACHING IS NOT GONNA BE DONE IN FAMILY WORSHIP. IT’S
GONNA BE DONE WHEN YOU RISE UP, WHEN YOU LIE DOWN, WHEN
YOU GO OUT, WHEN YOU COME IN, AS YOU WALK, AS YOU TALK
YOU’RE GOING TO BE SHARING THE LORD. NUMBER THREE, WORK TO
BUILD CHARACTER, WORK TO BUILD CHARACTER. DO YOU KNOW WHAT
MOST DADS ARE WORKING ON? SPORTS, GRADES, HEALTH,
POPULARITY, MANAGEMENT, BUT NOT CHARACTER, NOT CHARACTER.
WHAT IS CHARACTER? AH, CHARACTER IS INTEGRITY. LET ME
GIVE, I, I WANT TO JUST, I’M JUST GONNA RATTLE OFF SOME
WORDS. AND I, AND DON’T TRY TO WRITE THEM ALL DOWN BECAUSE
I’M GONNA GIVE THEM TOO FAST. BUT I WANT YOU TO BE ASKING
YOURSELF THIS QUESTION AS I RATTLE OFF THESE WORDS: WHO
IS TEACHING THESE THINGS TO MY SON, TO MY DAUGHTER? ARE YOU
READY? CONTENTMENT, COURAGE, COURTESY, DISCERNMENT,
FAIRNESS, FRIENDLINESS, GENEROSITY, GENTLENESS,
HELPFULNESS, HONESTY, HUMILITY, KINDNESS, OBEDIENCE,
ORDERLINESS, PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, SELF-CONTROL,
TACTFULNESS, THANKFULNESS, THRIFTINESS, WISDOM, ZEAL.
WHERE’RE THEY GONNA GET THAT? YOU THINK THEY’RE GONNA GET IT
AT SCHOOL? NO! DAD! YOU GOT TO BUILD CHARACTER. WHEN
YOU COMPLIMENT YOUR KIDS, COMPLIMENT THEM FOR CHARACTER
QUALITIES, NOT JUST FOR THE HOME RUN, NOT JUST FOR THE
GOOD GRADES, NOT JUST FOR HOW MANY, AH, POUNDS THEY CAN CURL
WHEN THEY’RE IN THE, IN THE GYMNASIUM. BUT COMPLIMENT THEM
FOR THESE CHARACTER QUALITIES. NUMBER FOUR; LEARN TO SET SOME
LIMITS ON YOUR CHILD. SET SOME LIMITS. LET ME GIVE YOU A
VERSE HERE. “FOR I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT I WILL JUDGE HIS
HOUSE FOREVER FOR THE INIQUITY WHICH HE KNOWETH, BECAUSE HIS
SONS MADE THEMSELVES VILE AND HE RESTRAINED THEM NOT.” HE
RESTRAINED THEM NOT. THAT IS, HE DID NOT SET SOME LIMITS.
YOU SAY, “WELL, I DON’T WANT TO SET LIMITS ON MY CHILD.”
GOD PUT, HAD TWO CHILDREN, PUT THEM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN,
AND GOD SET SOME LIMITS UPON THEM. DO YOU KNOW THAT IF
YOU DON’T SET LIMITS ON YOUR CHILDREN, IT’S A SIGN THAT YOU
HAVE REJECTED THEM? AH, THEY, THEY, IT, IT, NO LIMITATION
IMPLIES TO A CHILD REJECTION, AND IF YOU DON’T CONQUER THEM,
THEY WILL ALLOW SOMEBODY ELSE TO CONQUER THEM. WHEN YOU SET
LIMITS, AND DON’T JUST HAVE A LOT OF LITTLE SMALL RULES, BUT
HAVE SOME GREAT PRINCIPLES, AND ADHERE TO THEM, BECAUSE
THAT CHILD WILL PUSH AGAINST THOSE. HE’LL PUSH AND HE’LL
PUSH. THAT’S IN A CHILD’S NATURE. AND IF, WHEN HE
PUSHES, IT GIVES; HE WILL HAVE NO CONFIDENCE, HE’LL HAVE NO
SECURITY, NONE WHATSOEVER. EVERY CHILD NEEDS SOME LIMITS.
NEXT, ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIES. TEACH YOUR CHILD THAT ONE
OF THE GREATEST ABILITY IS RESPONSIBILITY. GIVE HIM
REGULAR WORK ASSIGNMENTS. HE DOESN’T NEED SO MANY FREEBIES.
MOST OF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR CHILD CAN DO BECAUSE HE’S
NEVER BEEN CHALLENGED TO DO IT! TEACH HIM THAT THERE’S A
LINK BETWEEN SUCCESS AND WORK! AND MAKE HIM COMPLETE THE JOB,
AND DON’T FIX IT FOR HIM! GIVE HIM SOME MONEY, GIVE HIM AN
ALLOWANCE, AND THEN LET HIM EARN SOME. AND TEACH HIM MONEY
MANAGEMENT. TEACH HIM HOW TO SAVE AND TO GIVE, AND HOW TO
SPEND. TEACH RESPONSIBILITY. NEXT; WE’RE JUST TALKING
ABOUT MAKE ARROWS STRAIGHT AND SHARP, LET YOUR HOME BE FILLED
WITH LAUGHTER. YOUR HOME OUGHT TO BE THE HAPPIEST PLACE IN
THE TOWN. IT OUGHT TO BE THE PLACE WHERE HE WANTS TO BRING
HIS FRIENDS THERE. PROVERBS CHAPTER 15 VERSE 13, “A
MERRY HEART MAKETH A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE, BUT BY SORROW
OF THE HEART THE SPIRIT IS BROKEN.” HAVE YOU EVER SEEN
KIDS WITH A BROKEN SPIRIT? THEY HAVEN’T BEEN RAISED IN A
HAPPY HOME. “THE HEART OF HIM THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING
SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE, BUT THE MOUTH OF FOOLS FEEDETH ON
FOOLISHNESS. ALL THE DAYS OF THE AFFLICTED ARE EVIL, BUT HE
THAT IS OF A MERRY HEART HATH A CONTINUAL FEAST.” I DON’T
CARE HOW MUCH WEALTH YOU HAVE, HOW FINE YOUR HOME IS, IF
THERE’S NOT LAUGHTER IN THAT HOME, YOUR HOME IS TRAGIC.
THACKERAYSAID, “LAUGHTER IS LIKE SUNSHINE IN THE HOME.”
YOUR HOME OUGHT TO RING WITH LAUGHTER. IF YOUR, IF, IF, IF
YOUR HOME IS A HAPPY HOME, I CAN TELL YOU, IT HAS A, A MUCH
GREATER CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. NEXT, LET YOUR KIDS SEE GOD AT
WORK IN YOUR FAMILY. LET THEM SEE GOD AT WORK. NOW, THEY
HEAR PASTOR ROGERS PREACH ABOUT GOD, BUT WHAT, THE
HOME, THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE CLASSROOM. THE HOME IS THE
LABORATORY. LET THEM SEE GOD AT WORK. AND DO YOU KNOW HOW
THEY’RE GOING TO SEE GOD AT WORK IN YOUR HOUSE? NUMBER
ONE, THEY’RE GOING TO SEE GOD IN YOUR WORSHIP. THEY’RE GOING
TO WATCH YOU WHEN COMPANY COMES, WHETHER YOU STAYED FROM
CHURCH, MISS CHURCH. YOU SAY, “WELL, HA, HA, UH, PASTOR, WE
WEREN’T THERE SUNDAY. WE HAD COMPANY TO DROP IN.” TELL
YOUR BOSS TOMORROW MORNING, “I DIDN’T COME TO WORK. I HAD
COMPANY TO DROP IN.” SEE HOW THAT GOES. THEY’RE GOING TO BE
WATCHING. THEY’RE GOING TO BE WATCHING YOUR PRIORITIES IN
YOUR WORSHIP. THE WAY YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY. UH, THEY’RE
GOING TO BE WATCHING HOW YOU USE YOUR TIME. LET THEM SEE
GOD AS A, A, AS A VIBRANT REALITY IN YOUR LIFE. OUR KIDS
KNOW THAT WE’RE NOT PERFECT, BUT OUR KIDS KNOW THAT GOD IS
NUMBER ONE. AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO YOU TO ASK ANY OF THE FOUR.
THEY’LL TELL YOU. THEY KNOW. NOW IT, WHAT, IF SOMEBODY WERE
TO ASK YOU. IF I WERE TO BRING ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN UP HERE
AND ASK THEM, “WHAT IS THE PRIORITY OF YOUR DAD?” WHAT
WOULD THEY SAY? LET THEM SEE GOD AT WORK IN YOUR HOME. AND
THEN, COVER THEM CONSTANTLY WITH PRAYER. HERE’S,
THAT’S THE LAST ONE I WANT TO MENTION. JUST COVER THEM WITH
PRAYER. NOW, IF, IF, IF YOU ARE THE ARCHER, AND THE
CHILDREN ARE THE ARROWS, THE BOW IS PRAYER. THAT’S WHAT
SENDS THEM FORTH. AND A FATHER WITHOUT PRAYER IS LIKE AN
ARCHER WITH AN UNSTRUNG BOW. YOU NEED TO PRAY FOR THEM.
PRAY FOR THEM REGULARLY. AND NO MATTER HOW DARK IT GETS,
AND HOW DISCOURAGING IT MAY BE, AND HOW DIFFICULT IT MAY
SEEM, JUST KEEP ON PRAYING. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER STOP
PRAYING. I’VE SEEN MY DARLING WIFE PRAY OUR CHILDREN THROUGH
ONE CIRCUMSTANCE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.
WHAT ARE WE SAYING? I’M SAYING, FRIEND, THAT THE
ARCHER MUST BE STRONG, AND THE ARROWS MUST BE STRAIGHT. NOW,
HERE’S THE THIRD THING I WANT TO SAY TODAY; THE AIM MUST BE
SURE. NOW IF YOU’VE GOT A GOOD ARCHER, AND YOU’VE GOT A GOOD
ARROW, YOU STILL NEED A GOOD AIM. YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A
GOAL. “AS ARROWS ARE IN THE HAND OF A MIGHTY MAN, SO ARE
THE CHILDREN OF ONE’S YOUTH.” VERSE FIVE SAYS, “THEY SHALL
SPEAK WITH THE ENEMIES IN THE GATE.” THAT IS, AH, THERE
ARE ENEMIES. I TOLD YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MESSAGE THAT
THERE’RE ENEMIES AGAINST THE HOME. HOW ARE WE GOING TO TAKE
THE INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY BACK? BY OUR KIDS. A GODLY
SEED. HOW ARE WE GOING TO SHOOT DOWN THE IDEAS OF A
GLORIA STEINEM? WITH OUR ARROWS. WELL, WE, THEY’RE
GOING TO SPEAK WITH ENEMIES. THEY’RE GOING TO SAY, “THAT’S
A LIE. THAT’S NOT RIGHT. HERE’S THE TRUTH. MY FATHER
TAUGHT ME THE TRUTH. MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME THE TRUTH. THEY GOT
IT FROM THE WORD OF GOD.” NOW, MANY TIMES WE’RE TRYING TO
KEEP OUR CHILDREN FROM THE ENEMY. FRIEND, WE OUGHT TO
AIM OUR CHILDREN AT THE ENEMY. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] WE OUGHT TO
AIM THEM AT THE ENEMY. THEY ARE OUR ARSENAL. “THEY SHALL
SPEAK WITH THE ENEMY IN THE GATE.” WE DIDN’T JUST RAISE
FOUR CHILDREN JUST TO, SO THEY CAN LIVE IN SAFETY AND
HARMONY. WE RAISED THEM THEMSELVES TO BE ARROWS TO GO
OUT, UH, AGAINST THE ENEMY. NOW, CHILDREN, PARENTS, MORE
THAN ANYBODY ELSE, DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF THE ARROW.
THE AIM MUST BE SURE. THE APOSTLE JOHN SAID IN THIRD
JOHN, VERSE FOUR, “I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN TO HEAR
THAT MY CHILDREN WALK IN THE TRUTH.” NOW, I HAVE GOALS FOR
MYSELF; I HAVE DESIRES FOR MY CHILDREN. I CAN’T MAKE A GOAL
FOR ANY OTHER PERSON EXCEPT FOR MYSELF. I DESIRE GODLY
CHILDREN; I WILL BE A GODLY DAD. I WILL BE A GODLY DAD. I
DESIRE GODLY CHILDREN. BUT LET ME GIVE YOU SOME DESIRES
THAT JOYCE AND I HAVE FOR OUR CHILDREN. MY WIFE HAS WRITTEN
A BOOK. THE TITLE OF THE BOOK IS “THE WISE WOMAN.” AND IN
THAT BOOK JOYCE WROTE SOME THINGS THAT SHE DESIRES FOR
OUR CHILDREN. AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THEM BECAUSE THEY
MAY BE THE KIND OF DESIRES THAT YOU WOULD WISH FOR YOUR
CHILDREN. I’M GOING TO READ THEM AS SHE WROTE THEM. “I
WANT MY CHILDREN TO REALLY LIKE ONE ANOTHER. I DON’T WANT
THIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP TO END. I WANT THE MEMORIES
OF CHILDHOOD, LAUGHTER, AND ADVENTURE TO ADD SPICE TO OUR
FAMILY GATHERINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I DESIRE FOR THE
BOND OF CHRISTIAN LOVE TO TIE US ALL TOGETHER. I WANT EACH
OF THEM TO BE DEVOTED TO THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND
TO BE FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT. THEY DON’T HAVE TO GROW UP
TO BE IN MY DED, PARTICULAR DENOMINATION, BUT I DESIRE
THAT WE MIGHT NOT EXPERIENCE DIFFERENCES IN DOCTRINES THAT
WILL DIVIDE OUR FELLOWSHIP. I DESIRE THAT EACH OF OUR
CHILDREN DISCOVER GOD’S PARTICULAR TALENTS AND
SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR THEM, AND THAT THEY MIGHT BE LIKE
GARMENTS THAT OUR LORD MAY READILY PUT ON TO EXPRESS
HIMSELF. MAY THESE TALENTS NEVER BE CHANNELED TO THE
DEVIL’S USE OR FOR SELF-GLORY. MAY EACH ONE FIRST SACRIFICE
THE RIGHT TO HIMSELF TO JESUS CHRIST. THEN THESE GIFTS AND
TALENTS WILL BE THEIRS AND HIS FOREVER. I WANT MY CHILDREN TO
LEARN TO PRAY, WIN SOULS, AND MINISTER TO THE NEEDS OF
OTHERS, AND TO SEE JESUS CHRIST ON EACH PAGE OF THE
BIBLE. I CLAIM FOR EACH OF THEM A CHRISTIAN HUSBAND OR
WIFE FILLED WITH YOUR SPIRIT. FOR WITHOUT YOU THERE CAN BE
NO REAL UNITY.” AND I, I JUST WANT TO SAY, “AMEN, JOYCE.”
THAT’S, THAT’S WHAT WE DO WANT. YOU SEE THE, YOU HAVE TO
HAVE A GOAL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN AIM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
DESIRE BEFORE YOU RELEASE THE ARROWS. ARROWS ARE NOT TO
BE COLLECTED; THEY’RE TO BE PROJECTED. I THINK IT WAS
ANNA MOW, N-O, M-O-W, WHO SAID THAT, “OUR JOB, AS PARENTS,
IS TO WORK OURSELVES OUT OF A JOB.” YOU SEE, WHEN YOU’RE AN
ARCHER AND YOU PULL THAT, AH, THING BACK, THAT ARROW’S THERE
AND YOU HAVE THE AIM. THEN THERE’S COMES A TIME, WHAT?
WHEN YOU LET GO. ARROWS ARE TO BE STRAIGHTENED, THEY’RE TO BE
SHARPENED, AND THEN THEY’RE TO BE SHOT! THEY’RE TO BE SENT!
THEY’RE TO BE RELEASED! THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THE, THEY
ARE IN YOUR HAND, AND THEN THERE’S A TIME WHEN THEY’RE
OUT OF YOUR HAND. YOU, YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THEM INTO
ADULTHOOD, AH, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE THEM OUT.
WUH, AH, OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO PRODUCE KIDS WHO CAN
EMOTIONALLY LEAVE HOME, KIDS WHO CAN COME TO LOVE SOMEBODY
ELSE MORE THAN THEY LOVE THEIR OWN PARENTS. BOY, THAT’S
HARD, ISN’T IT? TO GIVE YOUR DAUGHTER TO BE MARRIED IS LIKE
GIVING A STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN TO A GORILLA. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] BUT YOU HAVE TO LET GO! YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY,
“THERE THEY GO!” BUT YOU JUST KEEP ON PRAYING! AND THE WINDS
OF GRACE THEN WILL SEND THOSE ARROWS. THANK GOD THAT WE HAVE
ARROWS TO AIM AT THE ENEMY. NOW, WHAT ARE WE SAYING? LOOK.
THE ARCHER MUST BE STRONG, THE ARROW MUST BE STRAIGHT, AND
THE AIM MUST BE SURE. “AS ARROWS ARE IN THE HAND OF
A MIGHTY MAN, SO ARE THE CHILDREN ON ONE’S YOUTH.” NOW
IN CONCLUSION, LET ME JUST SAY SEVERAL THINGS, DADS, I WANT
YOU TO DO. LET’S JUST SUM IT UP. NUMBER ONE, WOULD YOU ASK
GOD TO MAKE YOU A MIGHTY MAN! J. PAUL GETTY SAID, “I WAS A
FAILURE.” ASK GOD TO MAKE YOU A MIGHTY MAN. “AS ARROWS ARE
IN THE HAND OF A MIGHTY MAN.” IT’S GOD WHO GIVES YOU THAT
STRENGTH. NUMBER TWO, WOULD YOU GET TO WORK SHAPING,
SHARPENING, AND SEASONINGS YOUR ARROWS! NUMBER THREE,
WOULD YOU WORK ON YOUR SKILLS AT BEING AN ARCHER! NUMBER
FOUR, WOULD YOU RETHINK WHAT YOUR GOALS AND DESIRES ARE FOR
YOUR FAMILY! WHAT IS YOUR AIM FOR YOUR CHILD? WHAT KIND OF
SUCCESS DO YOU WANT? DO YOU WANT HIM TO BE A SUCCESSFUL
FAILURE? OR DO YOU WANT TO RAISE A MAN FOR GOD, A GIRL
FOR GOD? YOU SAY, “PASTOR ROGERS, IT’S TOO LATE FOR ME.
THE ARROW’S GONE, AND HE WENT IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.” NO,
IT’S NOT TOO LATE. YOU CAN RECOVER LOST ARROWS, BRING
THEM BACK. PRAY AGAIN. ASK GOD IN MERCY TO GIVE YOU A NEW
CHANCE, AND PRAY, AND PRAY, AND PRAY MUCH, FOR THIS
SCRIPTURE SAYS, “EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY
LABOR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT; EXCEPT THE LORD KEEP THE CITY,
THE WATCHMAN WAKES BUT IN VAIN.” IF WE ONLY KNEW HOW
DEPENDENT WE ARE UPON ALMIGHTY GOD. NOW IN JUST A MOMENT
WE’RE GONNA HAVE A GOSPEL INVITATION. IN JUST A MOMENT
I’M GOING TO INVITE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING, AND PEOPLE
WHO MAY BE WATCHING THROUGH TELEVISION, TO GIVE THEIR
HEARTS TO JESUS CHRIST. YOU WILL NEVER BE A MIGHTY WOMAN,
A MIGHTY MAN WITHOUT HIM. THIS IS FATHER’S DAY. I THANK GOD
FOR THE MEMORY OF MY DAD, WHO DIED NOT VERY LONG AGO, A
GODLY MAN, LIFETIME DEACON. I THANK GOD FOR HIM. BUT SOME
OF YOU SAY, “PASTOR ROGERS, YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT A
ROMANTICIZED IDEA THAT I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. MY DAD
WAS A FAILURE.” OR, “MY DAD DESERTED MY MOTHER.” OR, “MY
MOTHER DESERTED MY DAD. OUR HOME WAS BROKEN.” OR, “MY DAD
DIED WHEN I WAS LITTLE.” OR, “MY DAD WAS CRUEL AND
VINDICTIVE. IT’S VERY HARD FOR ME TODAY TO IDEALIZE WHAT
YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.” THAT MAY BE TRUE. UNFORTUNATELY,
IT’S MORE AND MORE TRUE TODAY, ISN’T IT? BUT I WANT TO TELL
YOU SOMETHING. THERE’S ANOTHER FATHER IN THE GLORY. THERE IS
A FATHER IN HEAVEN. AND JESUS TAUGHT US TO PRAY, “OUR
FATHER, WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.” AND DO
YOU KNOW THAT THE BIBLE SAYS, “WHEN MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER
CASTE ME OFF, THEN WILL THE LORD TAKE ME UP.” THERE IS A
GOD AND FATHER, AND HE WANTS TO BE YOUR FATHER. AND THE
ONLY WAY HE CAN BE YOUR FATHER IS FOR YOU TO BECOME HIS
CHILD. AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BECOME HIS CHILD IS TO
BE BORN INTO HIS FAMILY. THE BIBLE CALLS THAT BEING BORN
AGAIN. AND HOW ARE YOU BORN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD? BY
FAITH. LISTEN. THE BIBLE SAYS, “BELIEVE ON THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST, AND YOU WILL BE SAVED.” TO BE SAVED MEANS THAT
EVERY SIN IS FORGIVEN. TO BE SAVED MEANS THAT JESUS CHRIST
NOW LIVES IN YOUR HEART TO GIVE YOU PEACE AND POWER
AND STRENGTH. AND TO BE SAVED MEANS THAT ONE DAY, WHEN YOU
DIE, HE’LL TAKE YOU HOME TO HEAVEN. AND I PROMISE YOU,
ON THE AUTHORITY OF THIS BOOK THAT I PREACH FROM, IF YOU
WILL PRAY AND SAY IT AND MEAN IT, “LORD JESUS, COME INTO MY
HEART. FORGIVE MY SIN AND SAVE ME,” HE WILL SAVE YOU
INSTANTANEOUSLY, [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND HE WILL KEEP YOU
SAVED ETERNALLY IF YOU’LL TRUST HIM. NOW, IF I COULD
DO IT FOR YOU I WOULD, BUT I PREACHED AS BEST I KNOW HOW,
AND NOW I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PRAY AND ASK JESUS CHRIST
TO COME INTO YOUR HEART. WOULD YOU BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER?
HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED. IF YOU’RE ALREADY
SAVED, WOULD YOU BEGIN TO PRAY FOR THOSE ROUND ABOUT YOU WHO
MAY NOT KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? AND IF YOU’RE NOT
CERTAIN THAT YOU’RE SAVED, OR CERTAIN THAT YOU’RE NOT
SAVED, AND YOU WANT TO GET IT SETTLED, WOULD YOU PRAY THIS
WAY. FORGET ANYONE ELSE IS HERE AND JUST PRAY FROM YOUR
HEART. JUST PRAY THIS, “DEAR GOD.” PRAY IT. “DEAR GOD, I
KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ME.” AND, FRIEND, OH, HE DOES LOVE YOU.
“I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ME. I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO SAVE ME.
JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME, AND YOU PROMISED TO SAVE ME IF
I WOULD TRUST YOU. I DO TRUST YOU JESUS.” WOULD YOU TELL HIM
THAT? “I DO TRUST YOU RIGHT NOW. COME INTO MY HEART.
FORGIVE MY SIN. CLEANSE ME. SAVE ME JESUS.” PRAY THAT.
“SAVE ME, JESUS.” DID YOU ASK HIM? WERE YOU SINCERE? THEN,
THANK HIM. JUST BY FAITH PRAY THIS WAY. “THANK YOU FOR DOING
IT. I RECEIVE IT BY FAITH, AND THAT SETTLES IT. YOU’RE NOW MY
LORD, MY MASTER, MY SAVIOR, MY GOD, AND MY FATHER. THANK YOU
FOR DOING IT. AND, LORD JESUS, BECAUSE YOU DIED FOR ME, I
WILL LIVE FOR YOU. I WILL NOT BE ASHAMED OF YOU, AND I WILL
MAKE IT PUBLIC TODAY. I WILL MAKE IT PUBLIC. I WILL NOT BE
ASHAMED OF YOU. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” WELL GOD HAS MOVED MIGHTILY
IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE AND THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF MANY HAVE
BEEN TOUCHED AND LIVES ARE BEING CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED
FOR ETERNITY. NOW LET ME SPEAK A WORD TO THOSE OF YOU WHO’RE
WATCHING THROUGH TELEVISION. THE SAME GOD THAT’S BEEN WITH
US HERE IN THIS WORSHIP CENTER IS THERE WITH YOU; FOR HE IS
EVERYWHERE AND HE’S KNOCKING AT YOUR HEARTS DOOR. AND
IF YOU WANT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOU MUST JUST OPEN THE
DOOR. OPEN THE DOOR BY FAITH AND SAY, “LORD JESUS, I NEED
YOU, I WANT YOU, I RECEIVE YOU NOW INTO MY LIFE AS MY LORD
AND SAVIOR AND MASTER.” NOW FRIEND, THIS IS SERIOUS!
MEAN BUSINESS! IT’S NOT JUST MUTTERING WORDS; BUT YOU GIVE
YOUR HEART TO JESUS CHRIST , SINCERELY, AND HE WILL FORGIVE
YOUR SIN, HE WILL CLEANSE YOU, HE WILL COME INTO YOUR HEART
TO GIVE YOU PEACE AND POWER. AND WHEN YOU DIE, OR WHEN
JESUS COMES AGAIN, HE’LL TAKE YOU HOME TO HEAVEN. PRAY,
“LORD JESUS, COME INTO MY HEART, TODAY.” AND IF YOU
PRAYED THAT PRAYER, WOULD YOU WRITE TO US AND LET US KNOW?
AND WE WILL REJOICE AND SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE,
ABSOLUTELY FREE, TO HELP YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN
LIFE. [MUSIC] DADS, WE HOPE THAT TODAY’S MESSAGE HAS
MOTIVATED YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE
AGAIN, OR SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH SOMEONE ELSE, YOU CAN
FIND IT AT LWF.ORG, WHERE YOU CAN ALSO ORDER A COPY OF
TODAY’S MESSAGE ON CD OR DVD, OR DOWNLOAD PASTOR
ROGERS’ OUTLINE, NOTES, OR A TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY’S MESSAGE.
AT LWF.ORG, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE A DEVOTION
FROM ADRIAN ROGERS, DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR COMPUTER OR
MOBILE DEVICE EACH DAY. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU ONLINE AT LWF.ORG. THANKS
FOR JOINING US FOR TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT
TIME. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] FORGIVE MY SIN, CLEANSE ME, SAVE ME.
AS LOVE WORTH FINDING ENTERS OUR FISCAL YEAR END WE WANT TO
THANK OUR MONTHLY PARTNERS FOR YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT.
YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT IS ESSENTIAL AS WE STRIVE TO
SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE AND ON
THIS STATION. IF YOU’VE NEVER FINANCIALLY GIVEN TO THE
MINISTRY WOULD YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDERING DOING SO RIGHT
NOW? VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN PARTNER WITH
US AS WE TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE LOVE OF JESUS.
