Pastor Wayne Cordeiro & Pastor John Tilton
June 21, 2020 - W2025

A Father's Heart

Life Lessons from the Father

Executive Pastor John Tilton, Pastor Justin Smith, Pastor Richard Waialeale, Multimedia Director Tim Savage, Pastor Gavin Tsuda, and Extension & Musical Director Fred Alcain

June 20 & 21, 2020

[Video - Pastors Wayne & Aaron Cordeiro from Pastor Wayne's Barn in Oregon]

PASTOR AARON: Hey, Dad! I'd love to ask some Dad tips from you, if that's okay. What would you say are some daily practices that I, or dads in the world, could do that if we do them, that we would stand before God one day and hear Him say, "Well done!"

PASTOR WAYNE: One of the things I think that will help you that has helped me is to always first of all give thanks. I have a practice when I get up in the morning to get on my knees and start thanking God for everything that I want to have around for the next 10 years: my wife, my kids, the grandkids, the farm, and the church. I just start thanking God first thing!  

You must fight for your family--every dad has to. I realize that the best way to win the war of fighting for my family, harmony, and relationship is to give margin.  Friendships are built into margins; they're not built into the activities--it's built in the margin.  If you have no margin left, how will you build friendship with your wife?  

A lot of times husbands and wives don't fall out of love--they fall out of friendship!  So keep your friendship with your wife and make margins for that.  When there's space for it, you'll stay good friends. 

PASTOR AARON:  That's good.  Well, is there anything else that you might speak into my life or the guys in the world? 

PASTOR WAYNE:  You know, the smallest church in the world is your family, and you're the pastor!  Every dad is the pastor of his own church, and if you're not doing good there, then who cares?  So, one of your most important litmus tests that God will look at is how you're doing in your family--not how you're doing in your job.  

As a pastor, I have noticed that at the end of one's life, no one has ever regretted not making more money, cutting another deal, or not having a bigger bankroll; but everyone that has a regret said, "I wish I would have had a better relationship with my family, my wife, and with the Lord."  So, if you keep God, spouse, and family as priorities, you won't have a regret when God calls you home. Today, we honor not only our Heavenly Father but all fathers. Have a Happy Father's Day!

[End Video]

PASTOR JOHN TILTON:  We have a treat for you today.  We may look like we’re at the ESPN Sports Center, but our version is WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) Dad Center.  We have five amazing analysts that you will hear from today. Their accolades and spiritual attributes set them apart: (1) They love God the Father, (2) they are devoted fathers, and (3) they are your leaders at New Hope Oahu (Sand Island). They will love and shepherd you. 

Each pastor will give a teaching point based on their relationships with their earthly fathers that is applied to a scripture that applies to our Heavenly Father. But, first, let me share a scripture from 2 Samuel where God the Father is speaking to David and correcting and coaching him. He loves David, "a man after God's own heart." And there will be times when we, too, will be coached and corrected by our Heavenly Father.  

2 Samuel 7:14-15 NIV says: "¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. ¹⁵ But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul..." 

PASTOR JUSTIN SMITH, Evangelism Pastor. (Justin always has a groove and plays bass guitar and leads the Frontlines Ministry.)

Every athlete's dream is to win the championship trophy, whether the O'Brien trophy, the Stanley Cup, or the Lombardi trophy, the trophy is the ultimate goal.  Today, we will discuss one of the coveted trophies, The World's Greatest Dad trophy!  

My dad is Jonathan Smith.  When I was growing up, he was at my bedside every night and prayed for me and my future.  He was at every baseball game cheering me on.  If I needed help, he was right there with me.  He taught me about life, sports, music, and values.  But most importantly, he taught me about Jesus.  My dad wasn't perfect, but he always had the perfect words, the perfect timing, and the perfect patience to see us through every circumstance. Somehow, he was perfectly equipped to meet every one of our needs!

When I was a brand?new dad, I was struggling--everything I tried seemed to fail!  I thought if I ask dad, maybe he could give me a perfect formula: A step?by?step process that I could follow.  But his answer was far different than I had expected: "Justin, it wasn't until I understood that to be a good father, I first had to be a good son. And it wasn't until I had fully committed my relationship to my Heavenly Father to be a son to Father God that I was able to be a better father to you."  My dad didn't have the understanding, strength, or the love, but God did!  It all started when dad sought Him first.  

Matthew 6:33 NKJV says: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Jesus is talking specifically about earthly worries--food, water, and clothes.) The verse before, 6:32, says: "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

People who don't believe in God constantly worry about their provisions; but, in essence, God is able to meet every one of them if you seek Him first--even your parenting concerns! If there are dads that may be a little discouraged because you see your flaws and concerns and feel that you can't do this anymore!  Here's some good news!  You were never meant to do it alone! God is here and ready to equip you and meet all of your needs.  Jonathan Smith figured that out!   

PASTOR RICHARD WAIALEALE, Edification Pastor. (Richard is the workhorse of the team and has been at New Hope the longest.) 

Two things that impacted me about my dad growing up:  He always fed me and nurtured me.  Besides putting food on the table, whenever he came home from work, he always made time for me. One of my favorite games was baseball and, if there was still daylight left, he would play catch with me or teach me to bat and coach me--we played until the sun went down!  

When I got married and had kids and they left home, my dad continued to feed and nourish me.  Whenever I would stop over, he would say, "Boy, get something to eat.  I made this or that." When my kids grew up, he would always feed and nurture them, too.  To carry on that simple tradition of what my Dad taught me, I would ask my wife to always have something for our kids and grandkids whenever they come over.

Matthew 25:35 NLT says: "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home."

Our Heavenly Father always provides for our needs and nurtures us through His word; and is there to coach us through the Holy Spirit.  Three characteristics of my dad that exemplifies God:  

1)    He embraced everybody and anybody.  God will always embrace you.  

2)    No matter how things change in my life: marital status, jobs, kids, the stupid things I’ve done, my dad's love for me never changes.  God's love for you will never change.   

3)    My dad always left the lights on for me to come back home.  God will always leave the light on for you to come back home. 

PASTOR GAVIN TSUDA, Pastor of Volunteer & Ministry Relations. (In a time like COVID-19, we need a great coordinator who can go on the offense, a lieutenant colonel who leads a detachment, and is a recent transfer from the U.S. Army.)

I'm going to tell a story about my dad: His name is Wayne, my father?in?law's name is Wayne, and my boss's name is Wayne.  So, I can't get away from it! 

When I was growing up, my dad always opened our home to dozens of people:  Some were recovering from an illness; some were homeless, runaways, or just was kicked out of their homes, but my dad always kept an open door and my mom fed them all!  We had six in the family, so we had a big dining room table where we all sat down to eat, but always had room for one or two extra chairs for someone not part of our family to have a meal with us. We accepted anyone just as they are, so they'll know that they're in a company of "a sinner who was saved by grace"!  I challenge you to become a vessel of mercy and pour into others as gratitude for the grace given to you!  

Matthew 25:35-40 NIV says: "³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

I was in my 40s before I fully understood the impact that my parents had on me, and I always want to keep an empty chair at my table for someone else. 

TIM SAVAGE, Multimedia Communications Director. (Tim is responsible for our broadcasts and recordings and always knows how and when to take the best shots--close-up, wide, face shots, or whatever is going on!) 

When I was really young, my dad was an officer in the Marine Corps.  When he got out, he went to seminary to study to become a Southern Baptist pastor, so I'm a pastor's kid (PK), which explains a lot about me.  If you ask my family, they'll tell you that nobody prays better than my dad. When it's time for a meal, you just know that everything will be covered and properly blessed.  It's really important that you choose when Granddad is to pray and when he's not to because if you're really hungry, your food might be cold before he’s done!

Proverbs 22:6 NIV says: "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV says: "⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." 

Here are two quick points that I want to share:

(1) I Have Responsibility as A Parent.  God is clear about the responsibility He has put in the hands of parents to teach our children what matters to God; and to provide an example of real faith in our homes of what it means to love God and others.  If kids don't learn this from us in the home, they will learn it somewhere else. I guarantee it won't be what you want them to learn!  

(2) I Have Influence as A Parent.  Kids are like sponges; they will learn from us--good or bad! If we're imitating God and they learn that, they’ll know what it’s like to grow up following Christ. If we want our kids to have a relationship with us, then develop a relationship with Christ so they'll learn to navigate life with Christ as their Savior!  

FRED ALCAIN, Musical & Extension Director. (Fred has great rhythm and is behind all the great music from New Hope.)

When Jana and I found out she was pregnant, we were overcome with joy and overwhelmed by God's miraculous touch on our lives to give us a child! Along with that excitement, fear started to develop. I never knew my father and growing up it wasn't a big deal to me, but now I had a big challenge--how am I supposed to be a father when I never really had one?  I started reading books about parenting and talking to veterans in the league and fathers I looked up to.   

1 John 3:1 NIV says: "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

John 15:13 NASB says: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

Sacrifice is not a new word when it comes to fatherhood:  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac in obedience to God; and Joseph was willing to sacrifice his humility in order to raise the Son of God.  The ultimate sacrifice was given by God the Father and His Son when Jesus died on the cross for all humanity.  All I needed to do was to look back at my childhood for an example of sacrifice from the man who raised me:  Trinny, my grandfather.  He sacrificed everything in order for me not to feel abandoned, unwanted, or unloved! 

He was a great musician and would sit with me for hours to make sure that every note was perfect, and every rhythm was in sync with the metronome.  He made sure everything I put my hands to was done to the very best of my abilities.  At a time when he and my grandmother should be enjoying life in their golden years, he sacrificed and laid down his life for my life to be golden.  He sacrificed his comfort, gave up his retirement and freedom so that my needs and wants would be taken care of. He worked all day and came home to a child on the porch waiting to go to the park to shoot hoops, and never once was I disappointed!  He sacrificed his time and taught me everything I know and gave me everything I have. I'm the man I am today because of him!  And I honor the sacrificial love and grace, of my grandfather and my Heavenly Father. It is my commitment to sacrifice anything to ensure that my children know their Father's heart.   

PASTOR JOHN:   These are your leaders who will love, shepherd, and always be available for you.  We wanted to reaffirm them to you.  

Fathers, will you continue to point your children to the Lord?  It's never too late.  Will you always have a light on saying come home? Is God asking you to reach out and lend a helping hand to someone? Maybe, your father is not in your life or you lost your father and God is saying, "I will be your father." 

STUDY QUESTIONS

1.   What is a lesson you can use toward knowing the Father to be a good son/daughter.
2.   Who is someone who will always “leave a light on” for you?
3.   When have you been “welcomed at a table” when you needed help?
4.   When has someone made a sacrificial commitment to ensure that you have a better life?