Bless Your Family

Bless Your Family

1 Peter 2:9-10

KJV

9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Introduction

1. We have a responsibility to affirm and bless our families

a. The Heavenly Father affirmed and blessed His son when Jesus was baptized in

Matthew 3:16-17

16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

b. Again on the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father commended his Son in Matthew

17:5

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Note: If God will bless and affirm His Son, then we should bless and affirm our children.

2. Also, we are to teach and instruct our families

a. Let us look at Deuteronomy 6 at the instruction given to Israel concerning family

i. v1...You are to be taught the desires of God, so you can do them.

1) Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

ii. God teaches us His laws by his Spirit so

v2...We might fear (respect) the LORD thy God,

v2...We might…keep all his statutes and his commandments, which He has

commanded

v2...Our children and their children will keep His commandments all the days of

their lives

v2...You and your children, in doing what I desire may have you days

prolonged.

iii. God gives a challenge and a promise when He says in

1) The challenge is

v3...Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it;

2) The blessing are

v3...That it may be well with thee, and

v3...That you may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath

promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

iv. Then God declares who He is, and what we are to do

v4...Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

v5...Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy

soul, and with all thy might.

v6. These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

v7...Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and

v7...Thou…shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and

v7...Thou shalt talk of them…when thou walkest by the way, and

v7...Thou shalt talk of them…when thou liest down, and

v7...Thou shalt talk of them…when thou risest up.

v8...Thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and

v8...These words which I command thee…shall be as frontlets between thine

eyes.

v9...The words which I command thee…shalt be written upon the posts of thy

house, and on thy gates.

Note: Theses verses of command take us back to the blessing of verse 3. Do what God

says and verse 3 will be fulfilled in the lives of you and your families

v3...That it may be well with thee, and

v3...That you may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath

promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

Note: By the way, let us notice verses 10-12, where God cautions us to be careful that we

do not forget Him when we are blessed.

v10...You will be blessed with houses and land

…The LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

v11...You will be blessed with

…Houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

v12...Here is the warning

Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Note: It is easy to forget God when we are not under stress or strife

b. Now, let us notice the command from Solomon in Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.