Generational Blessings
May 10, 2009 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
A Jonathan Edwards was married to Sara in 1727, one of the colonies’ most respected/ noted preachers (First Great Awakening).
1 The Edwards were blessed with 11 kids, & every night Mr. Edwards was home, he would sit in his chair for one hour with his kids.
a Small talk, conversation, & he prayed blessing over his children every night.
b In 1900, A.E. Winsup tracked down 400 descendants of Mr. & Mrs. Edwards.
aa 285 college grads
bb 300 preachers, 13 noted authors, 13 college presidents
cc 65 professors, 100 lawyers, 1 dean of a law school, 30 judges
dd 56 doctors, 1 dean of a medical school, 80 holders of office
ee 3 U.S. Senators, 1 Vice-President of the U.S., 1 Comptroller for the U.S. Treasury
c The spiritual seeds Jon & Sara planted into their kids blossomed into a family tree, producing numerous generations of spiritual fruit.
2 I believe it’s possible for today’s family to begin planting a family tree that will produce & become a legacy of righteousness because blessings are generational.
B Four generations of Hebrew fathers prove the existence of generational blessing.
1 Abraham planted the seed of our spiritual family tree.
a He began chasing God’s vision for him with nothing but a promise and a person-in the seed son, Isaac.
b Spiritual trailblazer (new lands, new wells, building herds, gold, etc.)
c Sent his servant Eleazer to get a wife for Isaac. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich ; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. Gen 24:35 (NASB)
d Every family/generation needs someone to get the ball rolling...trailblazers!
2 Isaac watered the tree of our spiritual family tree.
a When Abraham died, he not only received Daddy’s physical inheritance, but also the spiritual blessing of God’s covenant with his daddy.
b I believe Isaac got a second measure of blessing. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. Gen 24:35 (KJV)
And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great...Gen 26:13 (KJV)
aa Abraham was great, but Isaac was VERY GREAT!
bb Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him...Gen 26:12 (NASB)
c I want my boys to take water from my spiritual wells.
3 Jacob grew the spiritual family tree (branched out).
a When Isaac was dying, he started thinking of Esau & Jacob, & he blessed Jacob in Gen. 27:28-29: Now may God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine;29 May peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you; be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you." Gen 27:28-29 (NASB)
b Jacob (one of my favorite characters in the Old Testament) increased in wealth, got a word, worked hard, stayed loyal even though mistreated, focused on what he wanted, & under a special generational covenant blessing through Isaac. So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said,"See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed...Gen 27:27 (NASB)
aa Jacob had 12 sons between Rachel & Leah.
bb Abraham: 1 son, Isaac: 2 sons, Jacob:12 sons-increase of blessings!
4 The next generation would protect our spiritual family tree.
a Famine fell in the land, & Jacob had to move to Egypt to protect the family tree (time to stay, time to move).
b By the time Jacob’s family left Egypt, they were 1.5 million, & carried the Egyptians’ gold & silver out with them. Then He brought them out with silver and gold, and among His tribes there was not one who stumbled. Psalms 105:37 (NASB)
c Fourth generations are unique: they tell if the legacy continues or dies.
aa Moses, Joshua, elders...All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 (NASB)
bb Our family tree has a history of generational blessing!
d Christian, their tree is ours! ...do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. Romans 11:18 (NASB)
aa Israel is the natural seed of Abraham & the Christians/church are a spiritual seed. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants , heirs according to promise. Gal 3:29 (NASB)
bb We are somehow in this with them...I want to know how to pass it in to my boys, grandkids, great-grandkids, etc.
C When God makes a covenant with a person or nation, He’s a long-range/long-term planner/thinker.
1 Covenants carry a generational promise. Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you. Gen 9:9 (NASB) 1st & 2nd generations
a Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! Psalms 128:6 (NASB) Extends to the childrens’ kids (3rd generation)
b "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:39 (NASB) Continual blessing
c David got it! He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant...Psalms 105:8-10 (KJV)
2 David knew how much favor was in the covenant blessing.
a David, although a man after God’s own heart, was a flawed guy.
aa Affair with a married woman
bb Dysfunctional family: Adonijah/family feud; Amnon raped half-sister; Absolom started a rebellion to take his throne.
b He also knew God keeps promises. My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. Psalms 89:34 (NASB)
He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Psalm 105:8 (KJV)
aa 86 years after David died, one of his descendants (Abijam) became king. He walked in all the sins of his father which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, like the heart of his father David.4 But for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem...1 Kings 15:3-4 (NASB)
bb 156 years after David died, the story repeated with Jehoram. He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab became his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kings 8:18 (NASB)
cc 300 years later, Hezekiah! "Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ’Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.6 "I will add fifteen years to your life , and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake."" 2 Kings 20:5-6 (NASB)
c God can’t stop talking about David (friend Abraham/servant Moses), not because he was always good, right-but because when God speaks covenant, it’s everlasting!
3 God will bless your children, through the new covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ! Everlasting
II Imparting before departing
A The ability to impart in another is as old as Jacob blessing his sons.
1 When Abraham was dying, he began thinking of Isaac, Isaac, his sons, Jacob & his sons, Moses, Joshua.
a Elijah into Elisha, Paul & Timothy
b Christ spoke to His disciples, raising his hands to bless them before ascending into heaven.
2 Some failed
a Joshua never named a successor before he died...2 generations later in apostasy.
b Elisha & the power went with him to his grave.
3 The reason for raising your children & grandchildren in truth & righteousness is so you can leave a heritage, spiritual legacy that can be passed on.
B There are 7 ways I can give you this morning:
1 Teach your children. Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6 (NASB)
a Not just where NOT to go, but also where to go.
b Visual, repetitive, song
2 Teach your children how to pray
a It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." Luke 11:1 (NASB) The disciples knew Jesus could pray.
b Bedtime, meals, school
3 Involve your children in church
a Sunday School, youth group, choir, ministry, Kingdom Kids, A-Team
4 Speak blessing over your children
a Death and life are in the power of the tongue, ad those who love it will eat its fruit. Prov 18:21 (NASB)
b Your child should never hear, “You’re dumb...stupid...loser”
c A time to rebuke/discipline, also a time to say, “Good job!”
5 Pray for their spiritual growth & protection
a There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t!
b Don’t assume just because a promise is in Scripture it operates automatically without any effort on your part.
aa Salvation was there, but I had to claim mine with my mouth!
bb I believe we must claim God’s promises for ourselves, our family (read, believe them, verbally speak them to activate them!)
6 Lay hands upon them & bless them.
a And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.16 But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:15-16 (NASB)
b Every Friday, the father in a Jewish home blesses his children (Ephraim/ Manessah, Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, & Leah)
c Bless your kids every Friday or Sunday
7 Have men & women of God bless your children
a When you are in the presence of God’s servant, whose presence to God is on them/walking on a different level.
b There is a heavenly reaction through prayer, & spiritual authority is released through the power of blessing.
Conclusion
A (IL)
B Baby dedication-parents & babies come up.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
