Three Gifts of the Father

Malachi 4:5

"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."

The last words of the Old Testament are concerning the relationship of Fathers with their Children

They describe the ministry of Elijah.

This gives us some idea of the importance of a father in a child's life. The ministry of the second most important messenger sent from God is described as turning hearts of father's to their children. And turning the hearts of their children to them

Without this mutual turning of hearts the earth is cursed.

THE GIFTS OF A FATHER

PROVISION

PROTECTION

PRESENCE

I believe one of the greatest assaults on the world in these last days has been to remove from fathers their role in the family.

The resulting curse is evident

Not only in families

But in the society at large the legacy of has been to remove fathers from being the primary provider - To remove fathers from being the protector of the family unit - To remove fathers from being in the home at all.

The key to being a provider, protector and loving presence in our wife and children's lives is found in our relationship with God our provider, protector and the one who is always with us.

Today, Father's Day, I was meditating on the aspect of my role of provider, protector and one who is with those I love in relationship to God's provision for me. What a wonderful blessing he has given us. We as fathers simply pass along what has already been given us. Those of us who have never really known what a real father looks like can find everything we need to be fathers by letting Him father us.

PROVISION

Proverbs 19:14

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,

I Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Luke 12:31 "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! . . . .27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29 "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

PROTECTION

James 4:7 (KJS) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

PRESENCE

Hebrews 13:5

"I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"