Why Is a Stepfather Called a Stepfather?: A Tribute to Good Stepfathers

By J. F. McCormick III

A few decades ago, stepparent homes were few and in between, but today they have become almost as common as non-stepparent homes. In Why Is A Stepfather Called A Stepfather? J. F. McCormick, III., focuses on the stepfather because it seems as though the majority of stepparent homes are headed by stepfathers. He then differentiates between the bad stepfather and the good stepfather. The latter being the one who deserves a lot of praise but rarely receives it because society lumps the good in with the bad and looks down on both. The good stepfather deserves much praise because he is constantly exposed to problems with the children and many times with his wife that the biological father dont have to face. Problems like being told: Youre not my father! You cant tell me what to do! Problems like being told: Youre not their father! You cant spank them! Gods special love for stepfathers comes to view as He arranged for Moses and Jesus to be raised by stepfathers!

Many mothers and stepchildren will be challenged to value good stepfathers the way that God values them as they strive to make a difficult family situation more livable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 15, 2005
• ISBN: 9781420828740

J. F. McCormick III

It becomes obvious to almost everyone who hears J. F. McCormick, III., ministering that he has a unique anointing. In fact, when he gave his life to Christ twenty one years ago, the call on his life to preach was so strong and unique that seven days later he was licensed as he preached his first sermon at a Youth Day service. He began pastoring six years later at Friendship Full Gospel Church in Lakeland, Fl. whereas the Lord has used him to minister many dynamic messages with dynamic titles and many times with life changing dynamic props and illustrations. His desire is to see the family setup and prospering in the way that God has ordained that it should.

Book preview

Contents

Step ‘1’: If I Perish, I Perish

Step ‘2’: Mordecai, A Good Stepfather!

Step ‘3’: Mordecai Stepped In

Step ‘4’: It’s Natural To Love Our Own

Step ‘5’: Lions Refuse To Be Stepfathers

Step ‘6’: How Appreciated Is The Good Stepfather?

Step ‘7’: Extraordinary Pressure On An Ordinary Man

Step ‘8’: The Good Stepfather As The Enemy

Step ‘9’: Not Good Enough To Be Their Father

Step ‘10’: He’s Good, But Not Good Enough

Step ‘11’: Examining The Heart Of God R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Step ‘12’: Give Stepfathers Their Props

About The Author

Step ‘1’: If I Perish, I Perish

All of us are probably somewhat familiar with the story in the book of Esther that so beautifully illustrates God’s providence for believers as He works behind the scenes unbeknownst to us, in order to bring about the deliverance of His people. A people I might add, who were facing sure extermination at the hand of the their captors, the Babylonians.

If you’re in a place where it seems like every weapon of Satan’s arsenal is loaded, locked, and ready to fire upon you, and all that you can think of is Woe Is Me, please take time to read the book of Esther.

If you want drama, it’s there. If you want mystery, it’s there. If you want suspense, it’s there. If you want the unexpected, expect it in the Book of Esther.

What can be more dramatic than a woman who is a slave ending up as the Queen of Babylon? What can be more mysterious and suspenseful than her king not knowing that she is a Jew as he orders all the Jews to be put to death? What can be more unexpected than a man being hang on the very gallows that he built to hang his Jewish archenemy on?

One of the greatest blessings that I received from the story of Esther is the fact that God is forever (like 24 & 7 forever) interceding on behalf of His people. And guess what? This divine intercession on our behalf usually takes place behind the scenes, which means, at any given moment when we think that He is unaware or even unconcerned, He is aware and He is concerned! So regardless of what things look like, taste like, smell like, feel like, or sound like, God promises to never leave nor forsake us if we don’t leave nor forsake Him. This sounds like a great deal to me!

I believe that your faith will increase in leaps and bounds as you see God working in every way conceivable in order to deliver the nation of Israel from the hand of the enemy. The main character who played a great part in this deliverance of a nation was Esther.

The highpoint of this story came when Esther said, …so will I go in unto the King which is not according unto the law: and if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:16). Esther spoke these words as she prepared to go before the king in an attempt to bring about the deliverance of her people. So why was her life at stake? Why? Her life was at stake because no one was allowed to go before the king unless he sent forth a personal invitation requesting their presence.

Now even though Esther was his queen, this rule applied to her as well as to everyone else. Nevertheless, Esther went before the king without being summoned and God gave her favor as the king allowed her to approach him, and the rest is history! Justice was done! Israel was saved! God was glorified!

Step ‘2’: Mordecai, A Good Stepfather!

A few years ago as Father’s Day approached, I fasted and prayed asking the Lord to give me something different to minister that would bless fathers. Over the years, I ministered several Father’s Day messages like Fathers! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and Fathers, Husbands, and Men. The latter message stressed the importance of developing relationships according to God’s order of things. Fathers, husbands, and men is the way that many men enter into relationships today. They father a baby first, then may become a husband to their baby’s mother, and many very seldom become the men that God created them to be! God’s order of things goes like this: Be a man first by keeping yourself sexually pure until you become a husband. Then, be fruitful and multiply by becoming a father. So there you have it, men, husbands, and fathers! That’s God’s order of things. I had these messages and many more, but I felt the need for a fresh and different message.

I recall asking the Lord to give me something straight from His heart. A short time afterwards, I felt led to minister on the subject of good stepfathers. Needless to say, when the thought of ministering to stepfathers on Father’s Day came to my mind, I had no precedence as far as putting the message together. In other words, as far as I could remember, I couldn’t recall hearing a message aimed at revealing the utmost importance of good stepfathers. That’s why I thank God for the Holy Spirit. Why? I thank Him because He led me to the Book of Esther, chapter 2:

Est 2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

Est