A Family Lesson

As an engineer or an architect has blue prints to follow when building so must a family have a blueprint, God’s blue print, in order to have a properly functioning family.
This Psalm has been called a family psalm by Matthew Henry, a commentator of the Bible, maybe because of the references to the family; Except the LORD build the “house” vs. 1; “Lo children are an heritage.” vs. 3; The fruit of the womb” vs. 3; Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of “them” - them is in reference to children vs. 5.

I. Building by God’s blue print.

A. A house built by man’s intellect is done in vain.
     Ps. 127:1; 33:16-18; Pro. 16:9; 21:30,31

B. Each member is included in the blue print

1. God - Christ - Man - Woman I Cor. 11:3

2. Man as the husband - Eph. 5:25-33; Col 3:19; I Peter 3:7

3. Man as the father - Eph 6:4; Col. 3:21

4. The woman as the wife - Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; Titus 2:4,5

5. The woman as the mother - Titus 2:4,5

6. The children - Eph. 6:1; Pro. 1:8-10; 2:1-5

C. Marriage defined

1. Gen. 1:28; 2:24 - Marriage is to be between one man and one woman for one life.

2. Marriage was designed for reproduction, Gen. 1:28, 9:1 - Noah was given the same commandment as Adam and Eve and He has not deviated from His blue print.

3. Marriage was designed to protect against Moral Failure in intamacy between the husband and the wife.
    I Cor. 7:1-5

II. There is a Time to work and a time to rest

A. Without the LORD all our work is vain.
     Our families would be for naught without God, as well as our          children’s lives without Him.
     Ps 39:5,6; Ecc. 1:14

B. God gives rest to His beloved.

1. “Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.”
     - Benjamin Franklin

2. Ps. 3:5; 4:8

C. God designed the work week.

1. 1:1-2:3

2. Ex. 20:9-11
    Illustration: The Song Work for the Night is Coming” illustrates work while it is time to work  during the day light hours for rest will come sure and soon.

Note: Rest for one day out of the week is physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.

III. A purpose described for the family

A. A personal directon

1. Phil. 3:14

2. Eph. 2:10

3. Ro. 8:29

B. A corporate direction (Ecc. 4:9-12)

1. A family that prays together, stays together

2. I Peter 3:7b “giving honor unto the wife as the weaker [delicate, prized] vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

IV. A Happy family and equipped

A. Children are a blessing, a miracle, given by God.
     Ja. 1:17

B. Parents are responsible to dedicate their children to the LORD.
     I Sam. 1:27, 28
     - Colleen and I have made it priority to have each one of our children dedicated to the LORD. A baby dedication is really a parent dedication.

I had the awesome opportunity to see each one of our precious children come into the world. I remember after each one was born and hearing their first helpless defendant cry for mommy, that tears would come to my eyes because of this new life and miracle the God saw fit to bless my wife and I with. It is not the parents will that brings children into the world…it is God and God alone.

C. Children are to equipped for service

1. Education - Home School, Christian School, Public School (the first is our personal preference, the second is acceptable; however the third option is not an option for us.)

2. Socially - birthday parties, family reunions, school, church, fairs, clubs, community helping, work etc.
    Note: All Spiritual, Social, Physical growth should be monitored by the parents.

3. Spiritually - Deut. 6:7-9; Pro. 22:6
    Judges 2:10 illustrates what happened to Israel when they did not heed to God’s command of teaching their children about their history. What will happen if we do not teach our children about  history as it was not as the text books say.

Conclusion: As there are blue prints for the engineer and the blue print for the architect so we must follow the blue print of God for the family…for our spouse…for our children…for all our lives.

There is Power in the Blood of the Cross

The powerful message of the Cross.
Christ was the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins because He had not known sin; this would be impossible for an infinite all knowing, All powerful, Holy, and Righteous God. Man is in a terrible state of hopelessness without any way of redemption: a redemption that had to satisfiy a Holy, Just, Righteous, and totally perfect God, our Creator. The plan for man's redemption did not take God a long time to "figure out" what needed to be done; He knew from eternity past what needed done for man to rise up on of a fallen hell-borne state. The answer was so clear to the Son that He willing came; no He was not proded or insisted or even the chose out of a crown for there was no other worthy to be a perfect sacrifice for man kind. It was such a great event that even the angels sang when He came to be born. And such a manner of birth too...a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, GOD WITH US. II Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Christ, who had been at the Father's righthand for eternity past saw the perfect time to fulfill the Father's plan for man and stood up and came to earth to live like a man, be treated as a man, to be ridiculed by the men He came for, to be accepted by the men who had their eyes opened to the truth. He felt all the emotions, and pain that can and would be felt in His journey to fulfill the Father's will. He gave Himself willingly to be the sacrifice for man. He came as our vicarious substitute, and as Isaac willingly allowed Himself to be put on the altar to be sacrificed; so Christ willingly allowed Himself to be put on the cross to suffer for us so that we might be redeemed. When Christ died on the cross the victory was won... It is finished...the victory cry was given and death and hell and Satan were defeated. The enemy was defeated and the spoils of war were gathered and given unto men. The vitory was so great that we ought to be more bold to brag about what our Savior did for us and the whole world; if they would but accept this gift of Salvation we all would fall in worship of the Only Wise and Benevolent God. When Christ died for us He suffered the full penalty for us and His sacrifice was accepted of God the Father; and because it was accepted so we are accepted of God through Christ Jesus. Be sure to give this message to a friend in need today and let them know that Jesus gives the victory because He was victorious over Satan and over the eternal punishment that all men deserve. May God Bless my dear friends...

Having the patience of Job in a fast pace world!

In our fast pace world today where we can get all kinds of information at our fingertips literally via the internet. Though it is nice to have "things" so quickly, from food to delivery from information to help across the world we live in a world that is loosing the art of good old patience.
If Christians were to have everything we wanted we wouldn't be alive right now, we would be in Heaven enjoying the rest God promised for His children. Unfortunately that part of our lives are limited as to what we want in this life. I would like to have a high paying job right now so there wouldn't be any financial rollercoasters, but that is not up to me...it is in the Lord's care, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:7. I would like to have a million dollars..."They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." Ps. 49:6-7. The fact of the matter is, I would like to have a lot but it is not for me to make that ultimate decision. I am to work hard and it is rewarded "For even when we were with you,[Paul said] this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." II Thes. 3:10. When it comes to waiting it is not just sitting around waiting for something to happen, for that is what the sluggard does while making excuses for his decission for not finding work. The patience of Job however was in referrence to his endurence and waiting to be answered as to why these acts were commited unto him. He had not brought these things on himself as his friends had supposed. He was being tested as to how much He would bless God in his personal private life. All have limits but to have his family taken from him as well as all his material possessions, not to mention his relationship with his wife as she responds to his faithfulness to God. We have to admit we probably wouldn't have as good in Job's situation if we were to go through what he did. We often bring our own troubles on us. We are to wait through them as in the case of punishment: "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." I Peter 2:20 No matter your needs God is still there to help you through whatever you are going through, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19
When One tells you to wait think of Job and then think about How God said He cares for you and that He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." May God bless and keep you. Please pray for us as we will be praying for you our friends and family.