Father’s Day is a time to show appreciation for our fathers! It is also a great reminder for fathers to examine themselves to see how they can be better husbands and fathers to their families. Most people with family problems attribute them to having been raised in a dysfunctional family. Because “all” people have sinned (Rom. 3:23) - all families are dysfunctional. The only way for a family to stop being dysfunctional is for every member to become “born again” (Jn. 3:3, 5, 7) and Baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 37-39) with every member characterizing the “normal Christian life” with “signs following” (Mk. 16:17-18).  

The “gift of speaking in tongues” (Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:10) or the “gift of other national languages” is one of the 15 gifts of the Holy Spirit that is given to every person who receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This helps us with “mouth control”, and the Holy Spirit can influence everything that we say so that “blessings and curses” will not come out of the same mouth… only blessings (Jas.3:10). Tongues opens up communications directly from Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:13-15; 1 Cor. 14: 2, 4, 5, 15) so we can be guided personally every day in our families and our fellowships.

Paul encourages and commands husbands “to love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). This means to be willing to die for her.  Paul uses “agape” for this type of love which is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). After Paul met Jesus and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-19), he had to return home to his wife and family and explain to them what had happened to him. Before that, he was a typical Jewish man who was the head of his family in the “wrong way”. He was a person who was the boss and who had the last word on every decision. 

After becoming a Spirit-filled Christian, Paul became the head of his family in “Jesus’ way”. He learned what we all need to learn - that “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 23:11). He learned that Jesus is the head over the husband, wife and children; and He learned that a husband and wife had to consult Jesus about every decision and not make decisions until they heard from the Holy Spirit. As head of his family, he was to be responsible to share the Gospel with his wife and children and to teach them to pray about everything (1 Cor. 14:15). It’s the work of the Holy Spirit to develop the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5: 22-23) in us so that we can be “Christian men” who are “infatuated always with her love” (Prov. 5:19).

The greatest gift that we can give to our families is to become a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) who loves his wife as Christ loved the church, and who will “not provoke (their) children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). To have a family that is no longer dysfunctional, everyone must receive Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then our families become mini churches (Eph. 5:32). To all the fathers, “Happy Father’s Day”!

---

If you, and/or a family member, friend, co-worker, acquaintance, etc. want to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I invite you to come to one of our weekly "Holy Spirit" Zoom Meetings or contact me. With the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can be successful and succeed in doing everything that Jesus has planned for us. Happy Father's Day!

 

Copyright © 2022. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved.