We are celebrating Father’s Day. Today we give honor to God who is our Heavenly Father, and honor to our natural and spiritual fathers. Someone might ask the question, “What is a father?” A father is a male parent or a man in relationship to a child born by or through his seed. A father is a man who has given continuous care to a child especially by foster care or adoption. A father is an originator, the one who causes our beginning. A father is a provider and caregiver for his children. (I Timothy 5:8) says = But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. The word, infidel, means = One who does not believe in a particular religion. We want to commend all of our fathers today who have lived up to their responsibility of fatherhood. Thanks for giving your children a home to live in and thanks for giving them food to eat and thanks for giving them money for their education, et cetera. May the Lord bless all of our natural and spiritual fathers who are here in Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church today, and all of the fathers who read this article. To you we say, Happy Father’s Day!
I have written this week with the Lord’s help about A Father’s Greatest Joy. The scripture text for this article comes from the book of III John 1:1-4) which says = The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. The author of (III John) is John, the beloved disciple, and apostle of Jesus Christ. He wrote this book to wellbeloved Gaius. He wanted to encourage and strengthen him. Gaius had apparently been excommunicated or disfellowshipped from the church. The charge against him was that he was disobedient to the pastor of the church whose name was Diotrephes. The apostle John had sent out Christian missionaries to help strengthen the churches. Diotrephes, the pastor of the church would not help them or provide any assistance to these travelling missionaries. He was not right, he was ambitious, and bigoted, and loved having pre-eminence over others. The Apostle John wrote to Diotrephes who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, and receiveth us not, and rebuked him for his behavior. Read (III John 1:9-11). He put Gaius out of the church because he received these travelling missionaries sent from Apostle John. He helped them, and showed them hospitality, and provided for all their needs. Gaius stood upon the truth of God’s word and walked in it. Read: (III John 1:5-8). Notice especially (III John 1:8) which says = We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. John said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (III John 1:3, 4). Here he is expressing a spiritual father’s greatest joy and what brings this great joy to a spiritual father. When he sees or hears about his spiritual children’s obedience to the Bible it brings him great happiness. When he sees them walking in a lifestyle which honors God, it brings great joy and happiness to his soul. There is no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Finally, let us look now at the things that give a true father great joy. We believe that when our children, both natural and spiritual, do well and makes good choices in their lives, that it will bring a special happiness to their fathers and their mothers. We experienced great joy when our children were born. When they graduated from high school, we felt great joy and happiness. Then when they graduated from college and received their diplomas and degrees, we had great joy, made noise and celebrated. We received great joy when they were able to get good jobs, leave the house, and start a life of their own. We received great joy when they were able to get married, and have a family. Words cannot describe the great joy we received when were able to see and hold our grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for the first time. But the greatest joy that a natural father and mother can have is to see their children decide to follow Jesus, and to walk in their life according to the truth in God’s holy word. We make God (our Heavenly Father) happy too, when we obey his word, and love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. There is No Greater Joy!
Reprint (2019)
Suffragan Bishop Charles L. Smith, D.D., Emeritus
