The pastor noted that live is about relationships – with God and with family. There are life saving and changing truths in the word of God. God spoke the world (and man in His image) by the Word of His mouth. Words frame worlds. Agree with the Word by responding “Amen” or “so be it”.
2 Peter 2:5 – speaking of Noah as a “preacher of righteousness”. Joshua 24:15 “… chose you this day who you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
God’s heart is for the family. Noah made “an ark to save his family.” And Abraham and his descendants made their home in the promised land by faith. Hebrews 11:6-9.
The church has failed to rise to the level where it should be. The church should be influencing the world by sharing light and salt. And the church is made up of families. The enemy is attacking the family, which hurts the church and hurts our witness. The current state of society shows the attack on the family. We need a strong family foundation, a three strand cord: Jesus, husband and wife, and children.
Keep things in proper context because anything taken out of context is subject to being a “con”.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:22-27. [Emphasis added.]
We have to be careful not to allow any foothold (space or home) for the enemy. We can’t stay angry in our homes, and we have to go a step further. If we rebuke anger and other adversarial spirits, we have to fill that space with God’s spirit. Any space we do not occupy or fill with the Kingdom of God, we open to the adversary. Matthew 12:43-45. Where there is a void, the government, school, or medical authorities will, and have, stepped in!
Depression comes upon us this way. Also, sickness. We cannot say “oh, it’s flu season, so it is expected.” No! Do not confess or allow that. Say instead “I am God’s property and I rebuke illness.” It doesn’t mean we won’t get sick, but it is more of a resistance level. Do not be conformed to this world, be transformed.
The same promise given to Abraham was given to Issac and Jacob. Hebrews 11: 9. Faith is designed to be generationally passed down. (Amen.) Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Three generations. God is the God of Abraham, Issac. and Jacob.
The blessing is also passed down to Abraham and his seed. We have a covenantal right to the same blessing and promise! To all the families of the earth. (Spiritual Blessing, not material blessings.) We are already blessed when we are in Christ.
The purpose of God is designed to be generationally passed down. The destiny and purpose on our lives belongs to God, not to us. Romans 8:28. Look what the Lord has done – not what we have done.
Noah got his whole family on board the ark. If you are at least having influence on your family, you are within the purpose of God. Not that you are responsible for their mess ups (think of Adam and Eve). Ministry needs to be inside our homes. The order of the family is to have the man be the head of the household. Women have had to step up when men have failed to do so.
The Ark was made of three stories. First level is foundation – God the Father. Second level has the door – Jesus is the door. The third level has a window – representing the Holy Spirit. This represents the redemption of Jesus. They went through the flood but were saved. The redemptive purpose of God needs to be alive in our families.
This is an interesting song to go with today’s message: Family Tree
Verses for Today:Hebrews 11:6-9 NIV
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Lord, I pray that you help me to continue to pray over and influence my family- children, grandchildren, and siblings too.
