Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, June 17, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE FATHER WHOM WE SHOULD NOT HONOR

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: John 8:37-44

Text: John 8:44

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Introduction: The Bible tells us:

Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

One of the people due honor is our father:

Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise)

Today is Father’s Day and our custom in America of honoring fathers is a scriptural one. I thank the Lord for every man present today in this service, who is striving to be the right kind of father.

Additionally, God is our Father. In the spiritual sense, we are commanded to only call one Person Father, and that is Him.

Matthew 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

I never let a Father’s Day go by without thinking of the fact that in addition to honoring my physical father, we should honor the Lord first and foremost.

However, there is more than one spiritual father. Not everyone has God for his father. There are actually two spiritual families in this world. Only those who have been saved by God’s grace, through faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ and His gospel, are in the family of God. Only saved people have God for their father. Of unsaved people, Jesus said:

The DEVIL is a father, too! And although I am willing to bestow honor upon other fathers in this world, we should NOT give any honor to SATAN. If you are not saved, he is NOT your FATHER. Do not honor him! I am afraid that some children of God give the devil honor not due him.

IF WE DON’T WANT TO HONOR THE DEVIL,

I. LET’S NOT SPEND TIME WITH HIM

That is what fellowship is all about … spending time with the person. If you want to show honor to your physical father, spend some time with him.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We should fellowship with GOD, not SATAN. However, the devil is very subtle … very sneaky … He is a great deceiver and the master counterfeiter. However, we can recognize him:

A. Recognize him by his speech

Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
It is crafty and clever
It is complimentary
- Of YOU
It is critical
- Of God’s word – Gen. 3:1
- Of God’s way
- Of God’s work – the church
- Of God’s man – the preacher
- Of God’s people

B. Recognize him by his strategy

2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Doubt
Discord
Discontentment
Deceit

Once you have RECOGNIZED Satan, RESIST him; don’t FELLOWSHIP with him!

IF WE DON’T WANT TO HONOR THE DEVIL,

II. LET’S NOT SUPPORT HIM

Matthew 15:4-6 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Some ways that we honor our fathers can give us suggestions on how NOT to honor the devil. For instance, three things that you can give your own father to show your support should NOT be given to the devil: approval, apparel, and alignment.

A. Don’t give him approval

Men want to be approved.
They seek approval.
The devil seeks approval, as well.
Don’t give Satan credit! Don’t brag on his institutions, his people, his power, or his intellect.

B. Don’t give him apparel

Don’t cover Satan up by overlooking him and his work.
Preachers need to get back to exposing sin, Satan, and false doctrine!
The devil is a great deceiver

C. Don’t give him alignment

When the devil stirs up a controversy, don’t take sides with him!
I marvel at Christians, in disputes over doctrine, who always want to take the UNBELIEVING viewpoint and side.
I marvel at Christians, in disputes over holiness and standards, who always want to lean toward WORLDLINESS.
I marvel at church members, in disputes over authority in a local church, who always want to REBEL against the pastor.

IF WE DON’T WANT TO HONOR THE DEVIL,

III. LET’S NOT SIT UNDER HIS COUNSEL

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

One way you can honor your father is by listening to his instructions.

Don’t listen to the DEVIL! That is what got Eve in trouble in the garden!

A. Don’t listen to Satan’s ministers

B. Don’t listen to Satan’s message

C. Don’t listen to Satan’s message

D. Don’t listen to Satan’s mentality

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

E. Don’t listen to Satan’s members

IF WE DON’T WANT TO HONOR THE DEVIL,

IV. LET’S NOT SUBMIT TO HIM

Genesis 18:19 For I know 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.

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Obey YOUR father, according to the flesh! Obey YOUR Father, according to the Spirit, God Almighty! But DON’T obey the DEVIL!

Satan will tell you to

A. Deceive others

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Answer: Ananias LET him!

B. Divide the things of God

The home
The church
Fellowship with God
Fellowship with your brother in Christ

C. Delay obeying the Lord

TODAY is the day of salvation.
Consecrate your service THIS day unto the Lord.
Pick up your cross today!
While the Holy Ghost is speaking TODAY, don’t harden your heart!

HONOR THE LORD, NOT THE DEVIL TODAY!