Father's Joy

We begin, and I'll be reading from Exodus 20. I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or in the waters below.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord, your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord, your God.

On it you shall not do any work, neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.

Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God has given you.

You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Well, in that excellent summary of God's moral law, we have these words to honor your father.

And it's because of those words that it is right for us today to be considering this duty of honoring our fathers. Now, there's an important principle concerning your relationship to your fathers that is stated in the Proverbs and illustrated all throughout the Bible.

And the principle stated is this. Children possess the ability to bring their fathers great joy or great grief.

Children, I want you to hear that clearly. Sons and daughters, you have the capacity to make your dad glad or sad.

And what you do with that ability is of no small concern to God. He wants you to bring your father joy and not grief all the days of his life.

Now, just how important this is to God is seen in at least two ways. His priority placement, its priority placement in the Proverbs and its frequent repetition.

So we'll look at those two ways. It's its priority placement in the book of Proverbs. Would you turn to Proverbs chapter 10 with me? The duty of bringing our father's joy is given a priority in the Proverbs.

It's interesting that when we open the book of Proverbs and we read what this book is for, it's not until chapter 10 that we actually have any of the Proverbs themselves.

So the whole first nine chapters are like one long extended introduction. And then we come to chapter 10. And here we see finally those those pithy Proverbs of Solomon.

Those short, weighty sentences that pack a punch. They start in chapter 10. And notice the very first one.

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. Now, we see that this principle then of bringing joy or grief applies both to mothers and fathers.

But since it's Father's Day, I'm going to be pressing it home about fathers. A wise son brings joy or grief or joy to his father, but a foolish son grief.

Children, here's a good reason. Right up front, you're given a motivation, an incentive for why you should choose wisdom. The first nine chapters of Proverbs have been setting before you wisdom and folly.

Both are calling for you. Both are saying, come and eat of us. Come and follow us. And then when the Proverbs begin, the very first one is giving you a strong reason why you should choose wisdom and forsake folly.

Why? Because wisdom makes your dad glad and folly makes your dad sad. Here's an incentive for embracing wisdom.

So that's one thing that shows us the importance of this whole matter to God. It's given this priority placement at the very front of the Proverbs.

But secondly, we see its frequent repetition. Though this proverb meets us right up front, it's not by far the last time we'll find this proverb. We rather find it frequently repeated again and again and again and again.

Spoken in various ways, but the same statement being made. I want to begin then by this principle stated, just following it through the Proverbs.

We see that here in chapter 10, verse 1, turn to chapter 15 and verse 20. Again, we read. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

A foolish person will treat mother or father with contempt as being unworthy of of being rewarded with this joy that God calls upon him to give to his parents.

A wise son brings grief.

A fool brings grief. There is no joy for the father of a fool. And we see this is no small grief that fools bring to their fathers.

In fact, it can be so great that this father struggles to find any joy at all in life. All his other reasons for joy, and there are plenty in Christ, they all ring hollow to him because of this bitterness of heart that spoils it all.

He's got a fool for a son. And so there's no joy for him. This is a father to be pitied. Solomon is speaking to us as a father who knew this by experience.

He knew this grief. I would suggest that children, you probably won't realize that grief until you become a parent yourself. I little realized the grief I gave my parents until I started having children.

And then I realized, what must my poor parents have endured? Solomon is speaking of one who knew what it was to feel this grief.

And he by no means is all alone. Verse 25 of chapter 17. He says, a foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.

The grief proves double, you see, because it not only brings the father grief, but it brings his helpmate in life. Grief. The one that's supposed to be at his side cheering him.

Not only is he grieved, she herself, his helper, is weighed down with heaviness because of the foolish son.

Chapter 19 and verse 13. A foolish son is his father's ruin. His calamity, his trouble.

Chapter 23 and verse 15. 15 and 16. My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad.

My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. I want you to notice here the connection between the hearts of the father and the heart of his son.

There's a connection. What goes on in your heart affects my heart. Did you see that? The father says to his son. If your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad.

There's a connection. There's also a connection between the son's lips and the father's inmost being. Again, his heart. When your lips speak what is right rather than what is a lie or falsehood.

When your lips speak what is right. My inmost being will rejoice. Truthful lips bring a father delight. Lying lips bring him grief. Look at verses 24 and 25 of the same chapter.

Verse 24 of chapter 23. The father of a righteous man has great joy. He who has a wise son delights in him. May your father and mother be glad.

May she who gave you birth rejoice. Now, so far, someone might think, well, the proverb is just defining what happens.

There's no duty here. This is just an expression of what happens. Where you have a wise son, you've got a happy father. And where you have a foolish son, you have a father who's grieving. But there's no duty, they would say stated here.

But notice how this passage argues with us. The force of the argument is that if you have the ability to make your dad glad, then you ought to make him glad.

Indeed, James says anyone who knows the good that he ought to do but doesn't do it to him, it is sin. And so, the father, he who has a wise son delights in him.

So may your father and your mother be glad. Do you see? There's the duty laid upon you. A wise son makes his dad glad. So, may your dad be glad.

What does that mean? That means you make him glad, then, by your wisdom, your wise living, your righteous living. Matthew Henry says it's the duty of children to study how they may glad in the hearts of their good parents.

And to do it yet more and more so that they may greatly rejoice in them. You see that. The father of a righteous man has great joy. Chapter 27 and verse 11.

Be wise, my son. There's your duty. Be wise, my son. And bring joy to my heart. Then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

The joy you bring to my heart arms me, he's saying. It arms me with strength and enables me to face the scorn that I get from the world. The dad's heart is made glad by a wise son.

He can face a lot in the world in the way of scorn and contempt. Then chapter 28 and verse 7.

He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. That law of God that we recited together.

He who keeps that law is a discerning son who brings joy to his father. And that law will keep you from godless companions.

Because godless companions not only disgrace you, they disgrace your father. Do you see that? Companions of a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

Some care more about pleasing their bad companions than pleasing their godly fathers by wise living.

Chapter 29 and verse 3. The last. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father. But a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. Again, the kind of companions you choose bears upon the emotional state of your father.

You can't escape it. So do you see the repetition of this principle as it's stated in Proverbs? It's not given once. It's salted throughout these Proverbs.

And this repetition is not vain repetition. It's not empty, worthless. It's making a point. It's saying, do you see the importance of this principle? And perhaps it's also pointing out something of its neglect.

When God repeats himself so often, it's usually because someone's not listening and obeying. Isn't that the way it is at your home? That when mom or dad have to repeat themselves over and over, it's because someone's not listening.

It could be that that's the reason this is repeated so often. That God is putting his finger upon a great neglect of youth. That there is a common proneness in youth to neglect to think of their duty to bring joy to their father and their mother.

And so God is reminding you young people often about this duty. To bring joy, not grief to your parents. So that's the principle stated.

Now let's think of the principle illustrated. There are many historical examples of this principle in action. And they too are littered all over the pages of our Bible. We can hardly even imagine the grief of Adam and Eve when their firstborn son, Cain, murdered his brother, Abel.

Their first son. To be born. Would have carried the great hope and the potential of great joy in their hearts.

But that son is the very one who stabbed their hearts with grief. He wasn't wise, was he? God had come and warned him. Be careful. I see your your jealous anger.

You better lay hold of that. You better control it or it seeks to devour you. And he wasn't wise. And his jealous anger controlled him. And he went out and he killed his brother.

He was a fool. He trampled on the law of God that says you shall not murder. He broke God's law and he broke his father's heart. You can be sure of it. And we're only four chapters into the Bible.

And we see already that a foolish son brings grief to his father. Remember Isaac and Rebecca had twin sons. Jacob and Esau.

And when Esau was 40 years old, the Bible says in Genesis 26, he married two Hittite women. And the commentary of Scripture at this point is telling.

It simply says they were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebecca. Their sons' wives were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebecca.

Esau was not wise. We see that when he sells the birthright. It's for a pot of stew. But he's also not wise in a selection of his his wife.

First of all, because he selects two instead of one. And marriage is for one man and one woman. But secondly, because he chose Hittite women rather than believing women.

He was choosing women who did not fear God or walk in his ways. And in his choice of wives, he cared nothing for God's mind in the matter or for his father and mother's mind in the matter.

And so he brought them grief. Grief, the Bible says, instead of joy. Young people, are you committed to gaining the approval of your father and mother in the spouses that you choose for life?

It has everything to do with this duty of bringing your father and mother joy and not grief. It was the same. You remember in Samson who chose a Philistine woman rather than one of the believing women of Israel.

And he brought such grief to his parents. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings him grief. There was Eli, the priest, who had two sons that helped minister in the priesthood.

But they were wicked men, the Bible says, with no regard for the Lord, sleeping with the women who served at the tent of meeting. And their reputation was known far and wide. And these people would come to Eli and complain to Eli about his sons.

And so he said to his sons one day, why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons, it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord's people.

These two boys were not wise. So they brought their father great grief as people would come to him and complain about the wickedness of his sons.

You see, this proverb illustrated for us. Your reputation reflects upon your father's good name. And then I think of that sad illustration of this principle in Absalom, David's son.

The name Absalom was given to him when he was born. It means his father's peace. His father's peace. His father's shalom.

Absalom. But he turned out to be one of his father's greatest griefs. Not his father's peace. He wasn't wise. He murdered his brother Amnon.

And he brought David to mourn every day for many days. Later he rebelled and drove his own father off the throne. He was killed in that civil war against his own father.

And his death wrenched that horrible cry from David's heart. Oh, my son, Absalom. My son, my son, Absalom.

If only I had died instead of you. Oh, Absalom, my son. My son. To see a son cut down right in his sinful rebellion.

And hurried off to his eternal doom. This was the greatest grief of all. One commentator writes next to the experience of the wrath of God yourself.

There's no sore pain under heaven than when parents come to have such heart sorrow in their children as to doubt of their soul's salvation.

Absalom played the fool. Absalom played the fool and brought grief to his father. Notice in these illustrations and notice in our principle.

It's it's folly that brings grief. It's the foolish son who brings grief. Now, sometimes we use the word fool in a way that's not the same way that the Bible use it. The fool's problem is not an intellectual problem.

It's a spiritual heart problem. It's not that he's an idiot or an imbecile. He's lacking the mental equipment, a low IQ.

It's not mental incompetence. It's rather that he's committed to folly. Here's God's wisdom. Here's God's way. And he's committed to his own way.

Which is folly. And that's what it is that brings grief to a father. So read through the Proverbs and notice all the ways that fools act in the book of Proverbs.

Those are the things that bring grief to your father. Fools don't control their mouths or their tempers or their appetites. Fools are proud, self-centered, justifying their sins rather than confessing and forsaking them.

Fools argue and quarrel. They're unreliable. They're lazy. They lie. They steal. They waste money. They hang out with bad companions. They're sexually immoral.

They despise discipline. They reject instruction. They're wise in their own eyes. They don't fear God. On and on. That's the fool. And the foolish son brings grief to his father.

Now, sadly, there are not. There are more accounts and illustrations in scriptures of father's grieving than there are of father's rejoicing. I had a hard time.

All these came to mind and I went through the Bible. I thought, where can I think of a father rejoicing over his children's wise living? That itself, I think, shows the need for the repetition of this principle.

Somebody's not listening. Not very many are giving joy to their father by living in wisdom. Young people, listen up.

That's what it's saying. But there are a few positive illustrations of a father's joy in their children. I think of the Apostle John and third John verses three and four where he's writing to his good friend Gaius.

And he says, it gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell me about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk into the in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Now, you say, well, that's his spiritual children. Fair enough. This is John, an apostle, and he had spiritual children. It gave him great joy to see them walking in the truth, not just talking it, but walking it.

But if that's true of spiritual children, it's only more true of our physical children. We have great joy to see our children walking in the truth. That's an example, an illustration of this joy.

It's the joy of a minister in his people's godliness. That's likened to a father's joy in his godly children. So Paul has great joy in Timothy, his son in the faith.

And he can hardly you can hardly read Philippians two without seeing his great joy in his son when he talks about him and says, I have no one like him who who naturally cares for your interests.

We see his joy in his son. And what may be said of leaders in authority in Hebrews 13 could also be said of fathers in authority.

Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden. So these are illustrations to us. But I think that it goes without saying, does it not?

That a father's joy in his children is well attested to in everyday life. Don't you see it all around you? The joy of a father in his children. You see how a father's face lights up when his child speaks his first words or takes his first steps.

Their joy in the accomplishments of a child spills out of their life in so many different ways. You see that, don't you?

We had a winner in the state wrestling tournament in our school and on the evening news, I saw his big dad just weeping for joy on his son's accomplishment.

A great joy in his son. And Friday night we saw Nick Walenda cross the Niagara Falls on a two-inch wire.

And his dad was on hand. And it was interesting to listen to him as he spoke by way of phone to his son. And he said, son, I'm thrilled with you. I'm thrilled with you. Great joy in his accomplishment.

Some dads are so glad about their kids being on the honor roll that they put bumper stickers on their cars and drive all over town. I'm proud. I'm rejoicing in my son's accomplishment.

It's just on the face of society. We see this, don't we? But Proverbs is speaking about a joy that comes from seeing wisdom in their lives.

Not from walking across a wire necessarily or smashing a wrestling opponent or perhaps straight A's. But it may be for that as we'll come to it and see.

But more so it is wisdom. A wise son brings joy to his father. So again, we're seeing that wisdom doesn't have to do with a high IQ.

Wisdom isn't just intelligence. No, it's thinking and living God's way. And when a father sees his son or daughter thinking and living God's way. He rejoices.

So what is wise living? Read it in the Proverbs. See what the wise man does. The very foundation of wisdom is the fear of God. And when a father sees a son or a daughter fearing God.

God is the most important factor in their lives. His heart thrills with joy. Follow the Proverbs. See what fools, what wise people do.

They obey their parents. They embrace their spiritual instruction and discipline. They work hard in their chores and at their job. They wisely use time and money.

They embrace responsibility rather than running from it. They obey God's commands. They take a stand for truth and godly standards. Just as the bad report that came back to Eli brought him grief.

Parents, you know what it is when a good report comes back to you about something that your son did that was wise. Something your daughter did that was wise. Maybe helped someone else. Maybe served another.

And that word comes back and your heart thrills again. Seeing them persevere in the faith under trial. Seeing them choose wise and a spouse.

In a church. In a job. In so many ways a wise son brings joy to his father. It was a wise parent that said, you know, we desire many things for our children.

We desire to see them prosper. We want to see them healthy. We want to see them doing well in life. Happy. But much more than any of this, we want to see them walking.

Wise. Getting a heart of wisdom. And so it was a wise parent who said, I would rather have my house filled with my children's prayers than with gold.

That's what brings me joy. To see my children walking with God. Now, I finally came to this. That if we would see a wise son bringing joy to his father, we need to go to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ. Who the eternal God who became man. And as a man grew up as a young boy. In his stepfather's house.

Human father by adoption, Joseph. And what we see in the Lord Jesus is that he brought great joy to both his earthly father and his heavenly father. He's the great example of this.

This principle. At age 12, we read the summary of his life. They've been up to Jerusalem and now they're going back home. And the summary of the next years of his life.

At age 12. That's going right through his teen years. Here's the summary of the life of Jesus as a teenager. He went down to Nazareth and was obedient to his parents.

And he grew in wisdom. And stature. And in favor. With God. And with man. When you walk and grow in wisdom.

You grow in favor. And in the joy. Of God and man. And so that's. How. Jesus. Brought joy to his earthly father.

Every time Joseph called. Jesus answered. Every time. Joseph said. Come. Jesus went. There was. No disrespect.

There was no rebellion against his authority. There was no back talk. There were no lies. There was kindness towards his brothers and sisters. Totally unselfish.

A helper with a servant heart. Hard worker. In the workshop. Pleasant to be around. He was a wise son. Who brought great joy to his father.

Father. And it was the same with his heavenly father. Wasn't it? We hear the heavenly father. Weighing in on his son. Back in Isaiah 42. And verse one. Here is my servant.

Whom I uphold. My chosen one. In whom I delight. I delight in this one. The father says of him. And twice. The voice of heaven. Boomed.

While Jesus was on the earth. Declaring his pleasure. In his son. This is my beloved son. In whom. I am. Well pleased. Great rejoicing.

Of the father. In his son. Jesus is able to say. I always do what pleases him. I always do what brings father pleasure. Never did a father find such joy in a son.

Than God the father. In God the son. And never did a son find such joy. In bringing joy to his father. Than the Lord Jesus himself.

Here is our example. Children. Here is our example. Of what it means to bring joy. To your father. By walking.

Wisely. But. He is more than our example. He is our example. But he is more. He is our righteousness. Righteousness. It is the righteousness. It is the righteousness that we need.

It is because Jesus. As a son. Perfectly. Obeyed his father. That he has a righteousness. To give to every. Repenting. And believing sinner.

Who doesn't have a clear record. In this. Or any other. Duty. That is given by God. God. And so we trust in the saviors.

Obedience. And respect. For his heavenly father. To be the righteousness. That will fit us. For the day of judgment. So we have seen the principle stated.

We have seen it illustrated. And we have. Yet to apply it. So sons and daughters. There you. You see. You have this great potential. To make your dad.

Glad. Or sad. Now. What are you doing with it? What kind of harvest. Is dad reaping. From you. You know.

There is a natural desire. As we first come into this world. And it is. It is very strong. A natural desire. Early on. To want to please your father. And your mother. Isn't there? It is a blessing.

It is a blessing. To you young parents. To know that. That little one. Will want to please you. When a person is converted. And receives a new heart.

From the Lord Jesus. That desire is increased. Not diminished. We want to please. We want to honor them. And I would simply ask you children.

Is it not a joy. To you. To bring. Your father. Joy. Is this not good news for you.

As you've come to this first. Proverb. To know that. You know. Being wise is hard. In a foolish world. But.

Here's one of its rewards. It will make my father. Rejoice. To know that you are an instrument in the Lord.

In doing your father good. Making him glad. This is one of the joys of the Christian life. To spread abroad. The joy. Of the Lord. Fulfilling your calling as a son or daughter.

To bring joy. To your father. Your mother. Well. Maybe you've not cared. Whether or not you make your dad glad or sad. Maybe you just. Haven't even considered that.

Well. Can you see why God is saying this. Over and over to us. Perhaps today you see that. You've been foolish. And you've been bringing your father grief. And.

A heaviness to his heart. And looking into the mirror of God's word. You see that you're. You're one that the Bible calls a fool. The way you're living. Is not with God at the center.

But you're walking with yourself at the center. That's folly. Well. If that's what you've seen today. Don't deny the truth. Don't suppress it. Don't push it away.

Let God show you what you are. And then. Seek the Lord Jesus to make you wise. He offers to make you wise.

He offers to make you wise. Wise for salvation. Through faith in Jesus Christ. So give yourself to the Lord Jesus. And be made truly wise. He'll teach you true wisdom.

He'll teach you right living. According to his truth and ways. He will empower you to live such wise lives. And your Christian parents will find great joy. In you. Even as God wants them to.

You know. One of the sad things that we find. Is that some children. Who are not walking in wisdom's ways. Still want their parents. To find great joy in them.

They ask for the impossible. They ask for what is contrary to God's word. Godly fathers. Rejoice in wise sons. They grieve.

Over foolish ones. You see children. You don't live to yourself. You can't say. Well what I do. Doesn't affect mom and dad. That's impossible. They carry you in their hearts.

Remember what we saw. What happens in your heart. Affects what's in your father's heart. If your heart is wise. His heart. Will be glad. You can't. You cannot not affect.

Your father's. Joy or grief. Because he carries you in. His inmost being. So there's the challenge. For you young people. To make your dads glad.

By walking. Wisely. In the fear of the Lord. And there's a word here. For fathers. These. These verses have application. To you as well. Especially young fathers. They're here to urge you.

To do all you can. To teach wisdom. To your children. God has put into your hand. A book. And a rod. And he says. Use both of them. For the good of your children.

Fatherly instruction. And discipline. Bring them up. In the discipline. And the instruction. Of the Lord. Oh. But it grieves you. To have to discipline them. Doesn't it? That's hard work.

And it grieves your heart. To have to discipline your children. Oh. But it will grieve you more. If you don't. That's what it's saying to you. Let a child. To itself. And oh.

They'll bring you disgrace. Whereas the rod. Of correction. Imparts wisdom. And wisdom. Brings joy. To a father's heart. Folly is bound up. In the heart of a child.

But the rod. Of reproof. Drives it far from him. So you're encouraged. To make good use. Of both the rod. And the book. Of the Bible. Remembering the consequences.

Of a wise and a foolish son. The harvest. Of joy. Or grief. That is yet to come. So. So well. In their lives. Labor.

To make your children wise. Pray. For God. To make them wise. Plead. With your sons and daughters. To become wise. And show them in your own lives. The benefits.

Of wisdom's ways. And if. After all of that. Your son. Or daughter. Still rejects wisdom. And wisdom's call. You will have.

With your grief. At least. The. Good conscience. That you did not. Abandon your duty. Whereas a condemning. Conscience. Would only add.

To your grief. To realize. That you contributed. Greatly. To the folly. Of your children. By ignoring your duty. Altogether. David's last days.

Were filled with grief. Because of a son. Adonijah. Who made himself. King. Instead of David. And the Holy Spirit. Records this. Concerning him. His father. Had never.

Interfered with him. By asking. Why do you. Behave. As you do. You see. What he's saying. That leads. To grief.

Because that's how. Folly. Remains. So. So here we have this. Word. To urge. Parents on. And fathers on. To bring up your children. And the discipline.

And the. Instruction. Of the Lord. That you might. See a son. And a daughter. Who will bring you. The harvest of joy. And not. Of grief. And if it should be grief.

There's a throne. Of grace. And a savior. A sympathizing. Jesus. To pour out. Your griefs to. You know. This message.

Also applies. To all of us. Who are children. Of our heavenly father. What kind of a child. Are you. To your heavenly father. Are you one. Who brings joy. Or grief. To your heavenly father.

You know. We can do both. To him as well. He rejoices. Over us. With singing. He sees us. And rejoices. Over us. With singing. But he also knows. What it is. To be grieved.

Grieved. And have a fatherly. Displeasure. Because of. Folly. So. What kind of son are you. To the heavenly father. Are you.

Pursuing the things. That bring delight. To his heart. Are you. Finding out. What pleases the Lord. As Paul says. In Ephesians 5. 10. Are you making it. Your goal. To please him.

No matter. What your activity. I want to bring. Pleasure. I want to bring. Joy. To my heavenly father. Are you running. From the things.

That bring him grief. Are you chasing. After the things. That bring. Him joy. Are you praying. That you might. Bring pleasure. To him. Paul says.

When praying. For those in Colossae. We pray this. So that you may live. A life worthy. Of the Lord. And may. Please him. In every way. That you might. Bring him. Pleasure. In the way. That you live.

For we've all. Had human fathers. Who disciplined us. And we respected. Them for it. Hebrews 12. Says. How much more. Should we submit. To the father. Of our spirits. And live. The more.

A father. Does for our joy. The more. That we ought. To want. To bring him. Joy. What's. Your heavenly father. Done for you. And for your. Everlasting. Joy. Oh. Then let every.

Breath you take. Be taken. To bring. Joy. To his heart. As he has. Laid himself. Out. In the sacrifice. Of his own son.

To make you. Glad. Forever. If you've been. Straying. From your heavenly father. Return to him. Today. You know. Something in your life. That's displeasing.

To him. Get rid of it. Right now. Where you're sitting. Confess it to him. Renounce it. Forsake it. Trust in the Lord Jesus. To wash it. And cleanse you.

From that sin. He's got great. Joy. And one sinner. That repents. Oh. May the father. In heaven. Have great joy.

Today. As we offer ourselves. Afresh. To him. A wise son. Brings joy. Not grief. To his father. Father. So we bring all of our failures.

As sons and daughters. As fathers. Mothers. We bring them. To God. And we. Confess them to him. And we trust in Christ. Who gives us acceptance.

With God. Not based on. What kind of a son. Or daughter. Or father. We've been. But on what kind of a son. He's been. Perfectly obedient. Winning for us. A perfect.

Standing in heaven. Let's cast our faith. Upon him. Let's pray together. And then we'll sing. We thank you. Our father. For the proverbs.

We thank you. For speaking. To us. As a God. Who knows us. Who knows. What we need. To be motivated by. How to. Stir us up. To seek wisdom.

We thank you. For these. Words. This principle. About. The way. Children. Can bring their father. Gladness. Or sadness.

And we pray. That you would work. In every. Every child. And that they would have a heart. To learn wisdom's ways. And. We bring great joy. To their parents. Who spent themselves.

For them. We pray as well. That they would have a desire. To bring you. Praise. And joy. As a. As our heavenly father. Make those of us.

Who are fathers here. To express. To our children. The joys. That we have in them. Make us to be faithful. And. Instructing.

And disciplining. And make us. To be looking. To the Lord Jesus. Casting. Our griefs. Upon him. Casting. Our needs. Upon him.

We ask. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen.