Fatherhood

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Job 1:1,2,4,5

Students of the bible readily identify Job with patience and suffering. There was more to Job’s life than that. Chapters 1 and 29 of the book of Job remind us that Job had a life before tragedy struck. Although much of the book of Job is dedicated to dialog in Heaven concerning Job’s spirituality or dialog in Job’s presence between his friends or between Job and his friends concerning Job’s spiritual purity, we do have this additional information in these two chapters that allow us to see the life of Job before his calamities. Job was a spiritual man who had moral integrity. Others knew about this based on their reported actions when Job came into their presence. It is noteworthy that Job was the richest man in the East yet he took on the role of defender for the fatherless and poor. Job was also a family man who had seven adult sons and three daughters. We state that the sons were all adults because it is written that each one of them lived in his own house and at the appointed, or agreed upon time, each son hosted a party for the rest of them and their sisters. There is no indication given that either Job or his wife was invited to these house parties. But when the partying was over, Job sent for them that he might present them to God for sanctification after Job offered burnt offerings for each one of them. Job expressed concern that his sons might have sinned against God in their heart in the midst of the partying and drinking. Even though they might have been on their best behavior, Job understood that sin is a heart problem before it ever becomes an action. The bible says that Job would get up early in the morning and offer sacrifices for each of his sons continuously. Job took on the role of priest for his family and stood in the gap between them and God. Although his sons were adults and on their own, Job saw a continuous need to pray for them that God might sanctify them.

I. Job had a Life before Tragedy Struck
A. His Family
B. His Wealth
C. His Spirituality

II. Job’s Example as a Father, Priest
A. Job Prayed for Each of Them, Continuously
B. His Sons were all Grown and Independent

III. Other Fatherly Examples in the Bible
A. Abraham, Protector of Lot
B. David, Provider for Solomon


God declares that he will be a father for the fatherless. In those declarations, God establishes that fatherhood involves protection and provision. God protects those that are defenseless in society and cannot fend for themselves. He provides for those that are in need and without means. He instructed Israel to always leave some grain in the fields for the gleaners (fatherless and widows) that they might be able to have supply with a sense of dignity. Jesus taught us the supreme example of fatherhood. Jesus taught that when we become part of God’s family we should address him as our Father. As our father, God protects us and he provides for us. The greatest provision God gives us is the opportunity to live with him throughout eternity. This life is only provided through his son Jesus.


Robert C. Hudson
June 21, 2009

The Power of Love

Love never fails; 1 Corinthians 13:8a

We have been looking at powers that God has endowed mankind with above other creatures. Mankind has the power or ability to alter future outcomes by using his power to make a choice that introduces a specific set of consequences. Likewise, mankind can disrupt the physical laws of nature and indeed the universe by exercising the power of prayer. But the power of love is on a very different level than even those. Love is declared here in scripture to have an eternal quality about it. Yet, mankind has been given the privilege of experiencing and displaying this same love. The very thought of this should bring to mind an array of questions. How can a mortal be given a power that is immortal? How can that which is finite experience and exercise a power that is infinite? We are not born with the power of love in us but we can experience it.

The bible does not define love but it describes love as a selfless and unconditional attitude of grace. It is selfless in that it finds motivation in the needs of others. It is unconditional in that it does not depend on others or expect anything in return from others. This type of love is sometimes referred to as one of the abiding virtues of Christianity. Our text is a simple Greek phrase consisting of three words that make a statement whose scope is challenging in any language to comprehend. “Love never fails;” These three Greek words literally mean “Love can not even at any time become of no effect;”. This statement clearly ascribes to the virtue known as love the attributes of God. When John declares that God is love it is in agreement with this statement. Note that John does not say that love is God. Love is of God. When the word “never” is used in its absolute sense, it can only be applied to that which is of God. When God commanded the light to separate from darkness it set in motion a never ending physical phenomenon that has been observed since time began. To this day there is no communion between light and darkness. What God does can not, even at any time, become of no effect. God’s power will always continue to work. To better grasp the biblical concept of love, we should take a look at both its source and its characteristics.


I. What is the Source of This Power?
A. Love is of God (God is Love)
B. We can only Love after We experience God’s Love (We love because he first loved us.)

II. What are some of the Characteristics of Love—Other than Eternal
A. Patience
B. Humility
C. Selfless
D. Difficult to Provoke
E. Rejoices in Truth
F. Quietly covers All Things

Love is so powerful that it can change the very hearts of people. Jesus used it to address the attitude of his disciples at a time when they were selfishly debating about who was going to be the greatest among them. Jesus took some water and a towel and washed their dirty feet. John said it was a demonstration of Jesus loving his disciples to the end. During the Civil Rights movement the rallying cry was that physical force would be met with spiritual force. Their spiritual force was shown through acts of love. Prayers were sent up for those that were abusive and vicious towards God-fearing people. Soft answers were given in return for rude and nasty questions. People suffered until their tormentors tired and refused to inflict any more abuse. People bowed down and prayed as they were being arrested for obeying the law of the land. People patiently suffered until laws were rewritten, historical errors were corrected, social injustices were outlawed and the hearts of evil people became tender and remorseful. Love pushed the social boundaries until a new society was born. New dimensions in social understanding came out of the movement. To this day we still don’t know the fullness of the dimensions of love. How far will love go or how long will love wait are just two of the many questions that probe in search of love’s dimensions. Mankind has been endowed with a powerful force that we don’t fully comprehend. Although we might not know the full dimensions of love, we do know its extreme limit in mankind’s experience. Again, Jesus defined it for us. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. This is the extreme limit to which mankind can exercise the power of love. God so loved the world that he would push himself to an extreme. While we were yet in our sins, Christ died for us.


Robert C. Hudson
June 7, 2009

The Power of Prayer

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matt 21:21-22 (KJV)

Our text today is Jesus’ response to the disciples’ amazement at a withered fig tree. According to the gospel of Mark, Jesus cursed the tree the day before because it had leaves but it contained no figs. Mark noted that at the time that Jesus cursed the tree, his disciples heard what he said to it. The next day as Jesus and his disciples passed by the tree, the disciples noted that the tree was dried up from the roots. His disciples marveled at how quickly the tree had withered and Peter pointed the withered tree out to Jesus. It was at Peter’s prompting that Jesus responded with the statement in the text. A lot can be said concerning having leaves and no fruit and the parallelism that is suggested by Jesus’ frequent encounters with the fruitless religious leaders. Furthermore, parallelisms can be drawn of today’s shallow Christians who look and sound the part but actions don’t reflect professions. But that is not the subject of the message today. Jesus’ response to his disciples is a statement that what was done was the direct result of prayer. This is not the first time his disciples have been told the importance of prayer in accomplishing the seemingly impossible. After Jesus descended from the mount where he was transfigured, he was confronted by a discouraged father who had brought his son to nine of Jesus’ disciples in the hope that they would be able to cast the demon out of him but they had failed. After Jesus had set the boy free, his disciples asked him why they could not cast that demon out of the boy. Jesus responded to them that the power to do that would only come through fasting and prayer. And now he tells his disciples that the fig tree had the very life sucked out of it as a result of a prayer of faith. Let’s look at Jesus’ response.


I. If You have Faith, and Doubt Not
A. Faith is Trust in God
B. Faith pleases God
C. The Impossible depends on a Faith that has no Room for Doubt

II. All Things you asked in the Prayer of Faith will be Given
A. Jesus’ Act was not unique to Him but possible even for His Followers
B. Mountains respond the same as Fig Trees


Jesus was often responding to two groups. He rebuked the religious leaders and instructed his followers concerning the same incidents and situations. He rebuked the leaders for putting on an exhibition or pretense of religion while at the same time being void or empty of spirituality. He was continuously pointing his followers to God and telling them the importance of learning to depend on him in all things. The lesson for them today is that there is power in prayer. Jesus could have simply reminded them that he is the son of God and this was just another demonstration of his power. Instead, he told them that what he had done, they could do as well. They were told that they had to depend on God (since that is what prayer is all about) and not doubt what they were asking for. I think if we all could grasp this the world just might be a more dangerous place. Could you imagine people all over the world commanding trees to die and mountains to be cast into the sea? This kind of power demands responsibility. We must own accountability for our fellow man and demonstrate it through the guidance of the Holy Ghost. The bible says that we don’t know what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit intercedes for us. When God gives us power, he also places the necessary restrictions there to keep us from bringing harm to ourselves or others. Nevertheless, prayer is still a powerful gift that God has given us. It is prayer that enables us to weather the storms of life like no other group. It is prayer that gives us strength when we are physically weakest. It is prayer that brings God to our rescue when it seems as though the whole world is against us. There is power in prayer. I know that Jesus would not have told his disciples that all things are possible through prayer if it were not true. I don’t know if I have had any fig tree situations but I have had many mountains in my way. Every now and then, when it seems as though I have run out of options and there is a mountain blocking my path, I go into my secret prayer closet and have a little talk with God. I have learned that God will move mountains when you pray. Prayer should not be seen as just a religious ritual. When you run out options, prayer will make the impossible possible. Jesus’ statement was given as a guarantee in that he said “verily” or “truly” I say unto you. And he said that if we ask anything in faith we will receive it. Anything covers a lot of ground but all of it is connected to Calvary.

Robert C. Hudson
May 31, 2009