Raising Godly Families:

In an Ungodly World

I.                   History of family unit (PEW Chart)

A.     Nuclear Family (Cosby Show)

According to Martin Schneider of Etymology Research, “In its most common usage, the term nuclear family or elementary family refers to a household consisting of a father, a mother, and their children all in one household. It comes from the Latin lux/nucleus = core, kernel to signify that all members are part of the same core.”

Our first known nuclear family was Adam and Eve (Gen 2:21-25).

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ²² And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²³ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man. ²⁴ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. ²⁵ And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

B. Blended Family (Brady Bunch)

1. Abraham (Genesis 21:1-21)

 NOTE: The wrong way to blend a family.

 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. ² For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. ³ And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. ⁴ And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. ⁵ And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him. ⁶ And Sarah said, God hath made me laugh so that all that hear will laugh with me. ⁷ And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. ⁸ And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. ⁹ And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. ¹⁰ Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. ¹¹ And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. ¹² And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. ¹³ And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. ¹⁴ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. ¹⁵ And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. ¹⁶ And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. ¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. ¹⁹ And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. ²⁰ And God was with the lad, and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. ²¹ And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

2. Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25)

NOTE: The right way to blend a family.

 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. ²⁰ But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. ²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. ²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, ²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. ²⁴ Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: ²⁵ And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

C. Single-Parent Family

1. Hagar (Genesis 21:15-21)

II. Commitment

A.    God-Marriage-Family (Threefold Cord) Triangle diagram

(Ecc 4:9-12) 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

III. Rules w/o Relationship = Rebellion (RRR)

A.    God shows us in his infinite wisdom how he cultivates a relationship with us.

Ø God loves us and has a plan for our lives. (John 3:16 & 10:10)

Ø Sin separates us from his love and plan for our lives. (Rom 3:23 & 6:23)

Ø Jesus Christ is God’s only provision. (Rom 5:8 & John 14:6)

Ø We must individually receive Jesus. No one else can do it for us. (John 1:12 & Eph 2:8)

So without God, you’re living in open rebellion. Therefore, you cannot experience God’s love or his plan.

Psalms 78:1-8

 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: ³ Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. ⁴ We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come to the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. ⁵ For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children ⁶ That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: ⁷ That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: ⁸ And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

I Corinthians 10:11

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world have come.

B. How do we establish this relationship with our families?

            1. Love our families ___Unconditionaly_______.

            Give _________yourself_________ to them.

            Get involved in their _____Lives___.

            Know your spouse and your children's’ ____Love Language__.

            Establish and cultivate open lines of ____Communication___________.

            ____pray____ with and for your family.

IV. Conflict Resolution

            A. My family is not the enemy!

                        1. Identify the root cause(s).

                        2. Recognize the enemy in the midst of any disagreement.

                        3. Confront the enemy.

                        4. Pray, believe, and conquer! (Daniel 2:17-19)

                        5. Seek godly counsel when needed. (Proverbs 11:14)

Answer Key: unconditionally, yourself, lives, love language, communication, pray

LOOK UP!

Future!

(Part4)

Psalm 121

¹I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? ²           My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Def. Perspective. - A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

Synonyms: outlook, view, viewpoint, standpoint, position, stand, stance, angle, slant, attitude, the frame of mind, frame of reference, approach, a way of looking, interpretation.

Perspective Changes Your Outlook.

Proverbs 23:7

⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

I.                   WHAT IS A VERTICAL PERSPECTIVE

When our attitude or point of view, the frame of mind or reference is derived from what is on God’s mind rather than what we see, thing, feel or wish.

Looking at your future through God’s eyes is the path to unbelievable peace and contentment

II.                FOCUS ON FACT HE HOLDS YOUR FUTURE

Psalm 31:14-15

¹⁴ But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” ¹⁵ My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. NLT

Jerimiah  29:11

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (expected end KJV)

Philippians 1:6

⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 19:20-21

²⁰ Get all the advice and instruction you can so you will be wise the rest of your life.  ²¹ You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

James 4:13-17

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Matthew 6:25-34

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

III.             FOCUS ON YOUR ACTUAL FUTURE

2 Corinthians 4:17-18   

¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things, which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things, which are, seen are temporary, but the things, which are not seen, are eternal.

1.     An Eternal Perspective Produces Endurance

Hebrews 10:34-35

³⁴ For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

2.     Faithfulness unto Death

Revelations 2:10

¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things, which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

3.     Perspective on Current Problems

Romans 8:18

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us.

IV.             YOUR FUTURE

1.     You will serve God till you see His face

2.     Death

Hebrews 9:27

²⁷ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.

3.     Second Coming

Acts 1:10-11

¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

4.     Rapture

1 Corinthians 15:50-53

⁵⁰ Now, this I say, brethren, that flesh, and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

5.     Resurrected Bodies

Daniel 12:2-3

2Those who sleep in the dust [physical death] of the earth shall awake [resurrection]… 3Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament…like the stars forever and ever.

Matthew 13:43

43The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

6.     Battle of Armageddon

Joel 3:2

² I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.

Psalm 2:1-9

¹ Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ³ “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.” ⁴ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. ⁵    Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ⁶ “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” ⁷ “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to me, ‘you are My Son, Today I have begotten you. ⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for your possession. ⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

7.     Satan Bound 1000 years

Revelations 20:1-3

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.

8.     Millennial Reign of Jesus

Daniel 2:44

⁴⁴ And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

9.     Jesus taking over Government of the Earth

Jesus, as King of Kings, will personally govern a worldwide Kingdom from Jerusalem in partnership with resurrected saints, establishing a biblically based social order (Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5). The saints’ roles in the Millennium are as priests (intercessory worship) and kings (ruling). As kings, the saints will rule with a rod of iron and will conduct war tribunals, judge, and administrate punishments on sinners. The rod of severity against sin will be used by Jesus with His saints (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:4; 24:23, 32:1; Jer. 30:21; Ezek. 45:8-9; Mt. 19:28; Rev. 2:27; 19:15; 12:5).

10.                       Post Millennial Reign Testing

Revelations 20:7-9

⁷ Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11.                       New Heaven and New Earth 

1 Chr. 23:25; Ps. 37:29; 78:69; 104:5; 105:10-11; 125:1-2; 28:8; Isa. 60:21; Ezek. 37:25; Joel 3:20).

Revelations 21:1-4

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God, Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

POWER OF ONE -- PART 2

UNDERSTANDING TRUE UNITY

John 11:21-22

That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

I.                   REVIEW

1.       Jesus understood the Power of Unity

2.       He also understood that disunity is Satan’s most lethal weapon against the church

3.       Jesus Prayed for Unity

4.       Unity Evokes power

5.       We discussed the things that separate us,

6.      We discussed the Benefits of being united.

II.                UNITY IN GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

Philippians 2:1-4

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

1. Like Minded – There is Unity within the God-Head 

2. Having the Same Love -- as the father has for his Son

3. Being in One Accord --It is Love that binds us together in unity

III.             WHAT UNITY IS NOT

1.     It Is Not Sameness

Why would God demand that we speak the same thing, when he had divided up our languages?  I think you know the answer to that!!  You and I may speak the same intonation or dialect and still not be united.

2.     Unity is not conformity to others cultural beliefs

Acts 15:1

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

We must never seek to – Suppress In the name of Unity

                        2 Corinthians 3:17 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.

3.     Unity is not all Inclusive

We must never feel like unless we get buy in from all we are not in unity, and therefore cannot accomplish destiny!

Is better to get a buy in from all, but the word says if two shall agree concerning anything…Sometime it maybe just you and the Holy Ghost ….

IV.             HOW TO KEEP UNITY

1.     Do all things unto the Lord

Colossians 3:18-25

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality

2.     Let Stuff Go

Let Stuff Go

Romans 12:19

¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

3.     Remember you need Mercy Often

Lamentations 3:21-23

²¹ This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. ²² Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

4.     Realize Offense is Bait

Luke 17:1

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

skándalon; gen. skandálou, neut. noun. The trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed, and which, when touched by the animal, springs and causes it to close causing entrapment

5.     Obey the Word of God

Romans 12:18-21

¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore ^gif thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.