Part 1 - Christ The Foundation Series

The House of Faith Series

Part 1 – Introduction

† SCRIPTURE READING

I Samuel 2:35

“I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always.”

† PRAYER

The Prophet Samuel, which means ‘heard by God’, was not just a Prophet of God, but a Priest and Judge over Israel. He anointed both Saul and David as Israel’s 1st and 2nd kings.

This scripture was given to Saul who had departed from God’s will in his life. God had placed him as the King of His people, and if Saul would not live within God’s will, then God could not operate in the peoples lives that Saul lead. (Saul’s house – or kingdom in this case.)

So when God removed Saul from power, He had told Saul what he was going to do.

He was going to raise up a FAITHFUL priest who would DO what is in God’s heart and mind. Or, what we would call God’s will. And God would firmly establish his house.

So God places someone as the head of a house that HE builds. And when the one He places at the head of that house is faithful in following God’s will, then God is enabled to build a firmly established house.

This is the House of Faith. This represents a person, family or church.

When we live outside of God’s will, we tie His hands and prevent Him from working in our lives.

So many people will live willingly and knowingly outside of God’s will, yet continue to pray for God to work in their lives. Then wonder why God doesn’t seem to be helping them in their situation.

The oldest institution known to man is the home, or family.

We see this in Genesis Chapters 1 & 2.

God is the Author of the home.

And God tells us how the home is to be.

And through His word He regulates, mold and forms the home until it is an ideal place for the legitimate fulfillment of the physical, social and emotional needs of the men, women and children in that home.

We see that God understood that we as humans have needs. After all He created us. And God supplied these needs, including Eve for Adam in Genesis 2:18.

God laid out some of His intentions for the home in Ephesians 5:22 – 6:9

Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives (3 verses) Instruction

“22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

Ephesians 5:25-33 Husbands (9 verses) Instruction

“25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[2] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[3] 32This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children (4 verses) Instruction

“1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."[1] 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:5-9 Slaves & Masters (5 verses)

But we see so many problems in the families of today. Why?

God gives us the outline for a household, instructions for our family, so what’s the problem?

The problem is selfishness. Everyone wants the other to do what they are supposed to, but don’t do it themselves.

I counseled a couple about 3 years ago who were married at the time. He wouldn’t listen.

How can a wife submit to her husband if he doesn’t love her the way Christ loves the church? But that’s what men are instructed to do!