A Father Talks to His Son 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

INTRODUCTION:

1. One of the great needs of the world today is God-fearing fathers talking to or advising their sons.

2. One great cause of the “generation gap” – fathers are too busy to train their sons.

3. Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6-7; 32:45-46.

4. If fathers fulfilled their responsibility along this line, it would mean:

a. Far fewer rebellious children

b. Fewer crimes by young people

c. Save many young people from leaving the church.

5. David spoke to admonish his son, Solomon, many times.

6. Our lesson text is one such example.

7. If we are Christians, we are God’s children: Matt. 6:4-6, 9; 23:9; Rom. 8:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:17-18.

AS DAVID ADMONISHES SOLOMON, LET US THINK OF GOD ADMONISHING US:

1. One must know God (1 Chronicles 28:9-10).
   1. Vast differences in knowing God and knowing about God.
      1. Too many just know about God.
      2. One may know about G. Washington, A. Lincoln, Ronald Reagan without knowing any of them.
      3. Difference in knowing facts of the Bible, and knowing the God and the Lord it reveals.
      4. 2 Tim. 1:12; Phil. 3:10.
      5. Compare a child who knows only of his deceased father with one who knows a living father.
      6. Do you really know God?

1. Serve Him (God):

A. Many serve self: worldly pleasures, wealth, evil desires, etc. 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Luke 8:14; Gal. 5:19-21.

B. One must serve God: Matt. 4:10; John 12:26.

C. Explain what it means to serve God!

D. Can’t serve two masters: Matt. 6:24.

3. How shall I serve God?

A. A perfect heart:

1. Prov. 3:1; 4:23; Matt. 5:8; Psalms 24:3-4; James 4:8.

2. We sing a song, Is Thy Heart Right with God?

B. A willing mind:

1. If I love God I have a great desire to serve Him.

2. We are creatures of choice: Deut. 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 2 Cor. 9:7.

3. Even the four great Bible invitations point to choice: Isaiah 1:18; Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 3:20; 22:17.

4. One must seek God… Who will find Him (ver. 9):

A. Today we seek health, jobs, happiness, financial security, etc.

B. Man left God; God has never left man.

C. Not a game of hide ’n seek (God is not hiding from man).

D. James 4:8; Matt. 5:6; 6:33; 7:7; etc.

5. Forsake God … He will cast you off (ver. 9):

A. We read of children being abandoned, forsaken – our “blood boils.”

B. Sometimes husbands forsake their wives or wives their husbands.

C. Nothing can compare with God casting one off forever.

1. Again, He never forsakes us, but we forsake Him

Note: “If you forsake Him…” Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 37:13; 73:19

2. John 15:1-5 (fruitless branches); Matt. 25:26-30.

6. We, too, are to build a temple to glorify God (ver. 10):

A. The church – 1 Tim. 3:14-15.

B. Our bodies – 1  Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20

CONCLUSION: Be strong and do it (ver. 10).

A sermon preached by the late Wayne Holland at:

Bayou La Batre, AL (6/17/1979)

Hiawassee, GA (6/15/1986)

Roxboro, NC (6/18/1989)