PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY Part One

 PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY Part One

 

The past several months have presented some opportunities that families have desired for some time. Parents wanted more time with their kids, so they have gotten to see them 24/7! Kids wanted more time out of school, so they have been out of school and at home now for several months! Grandparents wanted to see their families more, but often didn’t get to see them at all! Jeremiah has given us some very practical advice for us in these situations. 

 

Jeremiah 29:5–7 (NKJV) Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

 

We have used this passage in 2021 to guide us in three areas of concentration: providing for ourselves, providing for our family, providing for our city. We have talked about taking care of ourselves, seeking the peace of our city, and  praying for our city. Today, we start talking about providing for our family in 2021. We will team teach for the next several weeks and you will have the opportunity to hear from our entire staff and some guests along the way. We also have our XO Marriage Conference coming on February 12-13. 

 

The Bible teaches us that God ordained three overarching institutions: the family, human government, and the church. Some would say that Israel is another one, but I use the term “church” to include God’s people from every generation. As John stated in the book of Revelations:

 

Revelation 7:9–10 (NKJV) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

 

What institution was established first? The family! God made Adam, but knew man by himself is not enough!

 

Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

 

God made Eve for Adam. He gave Adam to Eve. They were the first generation. Children came as a result of their love and grandchildren would follow. 

 

God is often identified as the God of multiple generations. 

 

Exodus 6:2–3 (NKJV) And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord, I was not known to them.

 

Hebrews 11:9 (NKJV) By faith he (Abraham) dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

 

When God looks at a family, He sees three generations.

 

Psalms 128:6a (NKJV) Yes, may you see your children’s children…

 

Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV) Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father.

 

Willie George, founder of Church on the Move in Tulsa, recently turned the church over to his son, Whitney. He said that God showed him a vision of a three generation church: parents, children, grandchildren. Each generation begins a new cycle. 

 

Before we go on, let me deal with some questions and exceptions. I want this to be an encouraging word, not a word causing pain or fear. If you do not have children or are not married, God has a special plan for you. I will address this at the end of the message. 

 

Jeremiah talks about three generations: husbands and wives, children and their spouses, and grandchildren. This three generation formula is a pattern repeated throughout Scripture.

 

2 Timothy 1:3-5 (NKJV) I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

 

 What is the responsibility of each generation? Now look again at verses 5 and 6…

 

Jeremiah 29:5–6 (NKJV) Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

 

1.    First generation: Build the house. 

 

a.    Build the house literally.

 

                                              i.     Provide physically.

 

1.    It doesn’t have to be fancy. 

 

Proverbs 15:16 (NKJV) Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.

 

                                            ii.     Provide financially.

 

Proverbs 13:22a (NKJV) A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…

 

                                          iii.     Provide emotionally. 

 

Proverbs 15:17 (NKJV) Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.

 

b.    Build the house generationally.

 

                                              i.     Get married.

                                            ii.     Have children. 

1.    Marry your kids off. 

2.    Encourage them to have kids 

a.    Marry them off. 

b.    Increase the herd!

 

c.    Build the house spiritually.

 

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NKJV) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

 

                                              i.     Make Jesus the foundation.

1.    Get saved. 

2.    Live it out. 

                                            ii.     Build on it 

1.    Lead your kids to Jesus.

a.    Make it natural. 

b.    Make it consistent.

                                                                                                    i.     Not perfection

2.    Lead your grandkids to Jesus. 

 

2.    Second generation: Repeat

 

Joel 1:3 (NKJV) Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation.

 

a.    They become the first generation of a new house.

b.    They build on your legacy. 

 

3.    Third generation: Repeat

 

a.    They are the second generation of their parents.

                                              i.     They build on the grandparent’s house and their parent’s house. 

 

b.    They become the first generation of a new house.

 

And the legacy goes on and on! This story from Dr. Larry Peyton illustrates the power of this truth. 

Jonathan Edwards, was a Puritan Preacher in the 1700s. He was one of the most respected preachers in his day. He attended Yale at the age of thirteen and later went on to become the president of Princeton. He married his wife Sara in 1727 and they were blessed with eleven children. Every night when Mr. Edwards was home, he would spend an hour conversing with his family and then praying a blessing over each child. Jonathan and his wife Sarah passed on a great, godly legacy to their eleven children.

An American educator, A.E. Winship, decided to trace the descendants of Jonathan Edwards almost 150 years after his death. His findings are remarkable, especially when compared to another man from the same time period known as Max Jukes.

Jonathan Edwards’ legacy includes: 1 U.S. Vice-President, 1 Dean of a law school, 1 dean of a medical school, 3 U.S. Senators, 3 governors, 3 mayors, 13 college presidents, 30 judges, 60 doctors, 65 professors, 75 Military officers, 80 public office holders, 100 lawyers, 100 clergymen, and 285 college graduates.

How may this be explained? Edwards was a godly man, but he was also hard working, intelligent and moral. Furthermore, Winship states, “Much of the capacity and talent, intensity and character of the more than 1,400 of Edwards’ family is due to Mrs. Edwards.”

Max Jukes’ legacy came to people’s attention when the family trees of 42 different men in the New York prison system were traced back to him. He lived in New York at about the same period as Edwards. The Jukes family originally was studied by sociologist Richard L. Dugdale in 1877.

Jukes’ descendants included: 7 murderers, 60 thieves, 190 prostitutes, 150 other convicts, 310 paupers, and 440 who were physically wrecked by addiction to alcohol. Of the 1,200 descendants that were studied, 300 died prematurely.

Dr. Peyton goes on: Surely "goodness and mercy" shall follow those who follow the Lord. Which will you leave behind to your family and friends - Blessings or Curses? Leave more than money behind when you leave this planet. Leave a legacy of blessings more valuable than gold such as unconditional love, faith in God and His Word, forgiveness, commitment, honesty, moral excellence, the value of hard work, love for family, church and country and the practice of daily prayer. Your best sermons will be preached when you are gone.

Now, let me deal with those special situations I mentioned at the beginning. 

 

You may not have children, or cannot have children. You are not left out. God will use you to touch a multitude of children and grandchildren through other ways. A few years ago, our football coach had no children at the time. God spoke to him and told him to look at his team. The majority of the young men did not have a father in the home. God gave him a new calling: Father these boys!

 

You may be unmarried or widowed. Listen to Paul’s instructions…

 

1Timothy 5:14 (NKJV) Therefore I desire that the younger widows (those under sixty) marry, bear children, manage the house…

 

I know many of you are laughing! But this shows God’s heart for the family.

 

Some are estranged from the children and grandchildren. What can you do? Pray. Pray for them. Pray for a reconciliation. Pray for their salvation, God’s fullness and power to touch them. 

 

James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

MINISTRY TIME

 

Illustration: Funeral at Ft. Hancock yesterday…