The Passing On Of A Legacy
I Kings 2:1-12 KJV
(Thanks to my dear friend, Missionary Billy Sampson (GPA) for this thought)
Introduction:
The word ‘legacy’ in the Webster’s Dictionary means something inherited.
Today we are going to look at a few points in the bible related to that definition found in I Kings 2.
>>What Legacy are we leaving behind? What Kind of Example will our friends, family, and children have when we are gone from this ole world? What will they have to look back on in their lives and say, “that was something that I inherited from my dad” What will they remember about me is the big question/
>>One man said this about his granddaughter , “our granddaughter’s 2nd grade class was asked to write about their personal heroes. Her father was excited to find out that she had chosen him”. Grandpa asked her “why didn’t you pick me”? She said because I couldn’t spell Arnold Schwarzenegger”. What kind of stories could she have told of her grandpa, if she could only have spelled.
>Did you know that the rate of father’s failing today is greater than any other occupation.
>Father’s are a colossal full-time job that most underestimate, it is not easy.
>there was a survey done that was told to me by one of my preacher buddies as follows… in one day a dad spends all of 12 minutes with their kids between the ages of 2-12. He stated that those 12 minutes sometime contribute to 12 year old delinquents.
**Today I want to UP-LIFT dads. It seems when Mother’s Day comes around we sing praises to them and Father’s Day we kick dad in the face.
**Today we are gathered together to ENCOURAGE them to keep on keeping on, keep on fighting for the family and the Truths of God and His Word.
**Continue to be men of Integrity, the man of Valor, the Garbage man, the Spider killer, the Mechanic, the Painter, the Supplier, The Spiritual Leader of the home, the Source of Comfort to those who are hurting, the Man of God your Spouse needs. To stand and be accounted for in this time and day in which we live.
Let’s look in the text and see if we can find this man so deeply needed today.
1. A LEGACY OF HOMAGE (respect or reverence) VS.1-4
>Live life Respectfully…VS2
>Love the Lord Reverently…VS.3 HOW?
A. Maintain Good Ways…VS.3a “walk in His ways”
B. Meditate on God’s Word…VS.3b “keep His statutes”
C. Multiply God’s Will…VS.3c “that though mayProsper”
>>Did you know that according to U.S. News and World Report 2/27/95.…
That nearly 2 out of 5 children in America do not live with their Fathers. (Staggering)
The word “Homage” in this point means ‘’a public avowal of allegiance or anything given or done to show reverence, honor, or respect”.
….We need men in these troubling times to do just that to the family, and unto the Lord by marinating our homes in the sight if God.
2. A LEAGCY OF HONOR
Honor means; high public esteem or honesty, integrity in ones behalf.
Honor is a gift to others. It is not Purchased by others’ actions or on our emotions. We give others distinction weather or not they like it, want it, or deserve it.
I Peter 2:17says…
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Charles Spurgeon said the following on Honor….
This is quite as much our duty as to honor the king. Manhood deserves honor, --not wealth, dress, rank, and so on. Honor belongs to God.
When Christ came, many people traveled a great distance to Honor God in the flesh. Angles flew don from Heaven, Sheppard’s came from the Hills, and several Wise Men journeyed in from the East to see this King of Kings.
Matthew tells the story, and he opens with a group of Eastern Gentiles. They came from the East to Honor the Child that was born “King of the Jews”. The Wise men had the right kind of Faith…..
Hebrews 11:6 says…
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God met these men at the point of honor
3. A LEGACY OF HOSPITALITY VS.7
>Can anyone remember a time when you regretted saying a kind word?
>I ask you today, what are we really modeling to this generation?
…is it Hostility or Hospitality?
>Look at the story of Hospitality shown to us in II Samuel 9
Jonathan, Saul’s son had become lame of his feet at the age of 5
Ziba was the last known servant of Saul
David asked in Vs.1...is there any left of the house of Saul?
David stated in Vs.3...that I may show the kindness of God unto him?
Even though Saul was the father of David’s dearest friend Jonathan, and Saul wanted to and tried to kill David, he still shown Hospitality unto the king and his friend Jonathan.
>>Hospitality that has gone out the window, kindness follows close behind. Leadership that comes from the Father is lost and forgotten.
>>Look at how Klan babies are raised. Raised to have hate in their hearts for a man that has a different skin color then they. How pathetic!
David in this story, was showing the Love of God that was shed abroad in his heart to a family membeer that was trying to kill him.
>>That is what the Lord is looking for In a man of God.
>>Our kids learn these things from us as parents.
A. LOVE AT HOME
Ephesians 5:25 says…
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
B. LABOR AT HOME
I Timothy 5:8 says…
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
C. LEADERSHIP AT HOME
Ephesians 5:23-24 says…
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
According to the Center of Disease Control:
85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. Yes, I said 85%.
CLOSING:
Look with me in Psalm 128:1-6
We can see what happens not only to the present family but for generations to come (vs.6)
U.S. Bureau of the Census says…
63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.
According to the National Principal Association:
71% of High School drop outs come from fatherless homes.
According to Fulton County Jail Population and the Texas Dept. of Corrections:
85% of all youths sitting in prisons, grew up in fatherless homes.
What does this mean for the men hear today and passing on a Legacy?
Children are…
4.6 times more likely to commit suicide without a father
6.6 times more to become teenage mothers and fathers
24.3 times more likely to run away from home.
15.3 times more likely to have behavioral problems/disorders.
6.3 times more likely to be in a state prison/institution .
10.8 times more likely to commit rape.
6.6 times more likely to drop out of school.
15.3 times more likely to end up in prison as a teenager.
Let us step up from today forward and be men of Integrity and leave a Legacy greater than was left for us.
…have all the father’s gather to pray, and all others to gather in behind them to pray for them.
For the Cause
Rev. Jerry Stepp
6/17/07
