A house or a home. Matt. 7:24-27, Judg.6:11, 14
In case you haven’t noticed, lately, Satan has launched an all-out offensive attack against families - against the traditional home! It doesn’t take a "rocket scientist" nor does it take a degree in Sociology to recognize that the American family and home is in serious trouble! This great nation of ours - once upon a time "Under God" - is no longer a "Leave It To Beaver" society! In the past forty-eight (48) years, the American family has taken some pretty hard hits - it has fallen upon some hard times - it has sustained some pretty hard knocks!
Let’s examine, for just a few moments, some of the changes that have been wrought in the traditional American family and home, shall we? Since 1960, there has been a 400% increase in the divorce rate - with many of those divorces taking place within the Christian community - something that was unheard of in the past! There has been a 200% increase in the number of children being raised in "single-parent" homes! Today, my brothers and sisters, 70% of all preschool-aged children have mothers who work outside of the home; and, 80% of school-aged children - "latch-key children" - come home each day, after school, to an empty house. The traditional American family no longer exists! Instead, my brothers and sisters, the traditional American family has been replaced by a number of "new models" - American families and homes of diverse styles and shapes!
Sixty (60) years ago, some high school teachers were polled to find out what the top offenses were that their students had committed - they listed these things: "talking, chewing gum, making noises, running in the hallways, getting out of turn in line, wearing improper clothing; and, notputting paper in the waste basket." Do you know what was listed in this year’s poll? "Rape, robbery, assault, burglary, arson, muder; and, suicide" - in that order! Tell me, my brothers and sisters, that we do not have our work cut out for us! The question becomes, "How can we have a happy, ’Biblically-functioning home’ in a world such as ours?"
A home is not a house. It is those who live within the house. Those who spend their lives, or a part of their lives living and learning just what life is all about. So let us this morning, go to God’s word to see just what is meant by the word, HOME
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal they crawled into their tent and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, Holmes awoke and nudged his friend. “Watson, look up and tell me what you see.? Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.? “What does that tell you, Watson?? Asked Holmes. Watson pondered a moment and then replied, “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is within the Leo constellation. Chronologically I observe it’s nighttime 3 a.m. on June 14th. Meteorologically, the air appears dry, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day. Why did you ask? What does it tell you?? Holmes says, “Watson, you idiot! Someone has stolen our tent!
1. You need to be a warrior
A. Received the command from the Lord- Save Israel (save your home)
Build the home on the Rock.
Gideon is asking – where is the God of the past?
Jeremiah 6:16
16 Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it!
There are thing we can learn from the past, past leaders, past generation, parents,
Grandparents. The society does not want us to do that.
Gideon only knows to press the wheat at winepress.
There are greater things you can do with your life.
There are unlimited potential hidden in you.
There are doctors, scientists, genius leaders executives living in your house,
but you are looking to press the whet in the wines press.
God placed us with a great hope, great purpose,
Build the home on the Rock – Jesus.
Build by faith –
Build with tears
Build with prayer
Build it on your heritage – (bible)
A. Prepared the offering
B. Placed on the Rock
C. Pour out the broth
D. Lord touched the sacrifice.
E. Fire came from the rock.
F. Saw the Lord (revelation of the Lord)
G. He had a revelation that our Lord is Jehovah Shalom ( Lord is our peace)
(If you need that peace in our family life today – you can have it by having a revelation of Him into your life)
2. Enemies who are fighting against the families of Israel.
A. They live in the land of Amorites ( judg.6:10)
Embracing “all Gilead and all Bashan” (Deut. 3:10),
The Amorites were warlike mountaineers
B. Midianites – Joining Moab in cursing
Vigorous, Bitter, Conflict, Armed Strike, Quarrel, Competition, Diagreement.
They involved some of the Israelites in this idolatry
Midianite warriors invaded Palestine
C. Amalekites- flesh, attack from back, attack when you are tired – life long battle.
D. Nameless eastern people-All the other cultures of the world that take our
generation away from the true and living God.
3. Gideon builds an altar. Jud.6:26
Proper kind of altar. – Not just an altar, a proper kind of altar.
4. Tear down the altars of Baal.
He use the help of the others, other people who has the same anointing,
First thing they ask you to do when you go to the doctor is to fill out your family medical history
-You are predisposed to the same medical problems as your family
Heart disease
Diabetes
-It is no different when it comes to sin
Counseling Teens
-You are a product of your environment
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
What is it that is a IDOL to your family
-Gideon had to destroy his father’s idol to Baal
-It was a stronghold to his family
Just like Gideon’s father had an idol, some of your families have idols
SHOE BOXES
-pornography,-drug abuse,-alcoholism,-hardness toward God
-Bitterness,-Racism,-hatred,-laziness,-complacency,-dishonesty
-Legalism,-Witchcraft,-Sexual abuse
These are all generational strongholds that may exist in your family
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THAT IDOL DOWN
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF YOUR FAMILY
5. Cut down the Asherah pole.
A Canaanite mother-goddess
6. Depend on the anointing of God to blow the trumpet.
Depend on the anointing of the lord to overcome –bitterness, anger, jealousy, competition
7. God gave him a revelation- to overcome the fear
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8. He obeyed the Lord.
Simple life, humility, ask forgives if needed, bless them not curse.
9. He destroyed the enemy –By the Rock.(Judg.6:25)
Also By the winepress.
Judges 7:25 25 And [the men of Ephraim] took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they slew Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian; and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.
Same place you brought the sacrifices and same place you received the revelation of God. – Very same place the presence of God reveal to you.
We are in the process of building home for the Kingdom of God and the Lord is coming after He prepared the home for us in heaven.
10.Wise man Vs Foolish man Matt. 7:14
Max Jukes lived in New York in the early 1700’s. He did not believe in Christ or in Christian training. He refused to take his children to church, even when they asked to go.
He has had 1,026 descendants--300 were sent to prison for an average term of 13 years each; 190 were public prostitutes; 680 were admitted alcoholics. His family thus far, has cost the state in excess of $420,000. They have made no contribution to society that is of any benefit.
Jonathan Edwards lived in the same state, at the same time as Jukes. He loved the Lord and saw that his children were in church every Sunday, as he served the Lord to the best of his ability.
He has had 929 descendants--of these, 430 were ministers; 86 became university presidents; 75 authored good books; five were elected to the United States Congress and two to the Senate.
One was Vice-President of this nation. His family never cost the state one cent but has contributed immeasurably to the life of this country
And the rain descended—from above.
and the floods came—from below.
and the winds blew—sweeping across.
and beat upon that house—thus from every direction.
and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock—1Jn 2:17.
