FATHERHOOD: THE HERITAGE OF THE BLESSING

(Gen 18:17-19). And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know (Chosen) him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. You are born a male but you attain manhood (fatherhood). Attaining Manhood is not proven by your ability to impregnate. That you can impregnate a woman means you have attained puberty, you do not need much intelligence to impregnate a woman. Shirts dont make a man also. It is your manhood that makes the shirt. You are not a man because you are always wearing mature attire, neither is wearing Jeans and T-shirt makes you a young boy. So manhood is not defined by how finely dressed you are. Manhood is not determined by your car neither is it determined by your salary. The problem of lack of fathers among the black Americans can be traced to slavery, yet it does not exonerate them from responsibility. So the mistakes of our fathers; the mistakes of the past does not exonerate you also; there is room for change. A man is not an animal, so he is not expected to act like one. In the animal kingdom, the male is only a progenitor. Their job mainly is to serve the female. The strong among them makes sure that he serves as many females as possible so as to keep the generation of the strong genes alive while the weaker generations dies off. Afterwards, the male does not provide for his kits and kin, it does not protect the children but only its harem but for a man, more is required of him. Adam equated himself to animals, he did not protect his home front from external influences, and the devil crept into the home and tempted the woman.

Gods heartbeat is the heritage the passing down of the ways of God to the next generation through the man. A father therefore is: 1. Responsible: He is in charge, he is the decision maker, and he should be trusted with right judgement. He takes the responsibility for every actions and inaction in the home. He provides and protects, spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially. 2.

He Nurtures: he feeds and takes care of his family. He attends to his

family, he educates (formally, informally and non- formal) he does all that in other that it affects later development and attitude of his children

3.

Gives identity: that is why fathers are asked to name their children,
they actually are prophesying into their future. He makes his family, wife and children to see themselves as God sees them. He sets them free from the lies of the devil; he let them know what Gods mind towards them is.

4.

He stabilizes:

he is either a thermostat or a thermometer in the home, if theres instability, then he is a thermometer, if a thermostat, then he stabilizes.

5.

The intercessor:

In fatherhood, the bulk does not stop totally at your table. Since God gave you the duty, you still have God to take the matter of your family to. You are the link between God and your household. God can still give you wisdom and instruction. A man must know therefore that even though the situation is out of his hands it is not out of Gods hand, therefore he still has God to direct the affairs of his and his family life.

6.

The compass: He provides direction. He does not allow his family to

be led astray, he guides. Because he knows the mind of God, he is able to know what next Gods mind is.