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.
3. Now, let me declare that we who are the heads and leaders of our families have the
responsibility to teach, bless, and warn, so those after us can enjoy the benefits of the
Lord’s blessings.
I. It is God’s desire that His people be a kingdom of priests
A. Let us notice what a priest does
1. A priest is a person who performs some function in behalf of someone else
toward God which would not be equally acceptable by God if performed by
themselves.
2. A priest is a person that when certain duties have been performed, Grace is
bestowed by God.
Note: We as the church are still doing priestly functions as outlined in
i. Matthew 16:18-19 (Amplified)
18) And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. 19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.
ii. Matthew 18:18-20 (Amplified)
18) Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. 19) Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20) For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.
Note: Husband and wife joining together blessing and prophesying over their household
will find that God is in their midst.
iii. John 20:22-23 (Amplified)
22) And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! 23) [Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.
3. Let me declare some priestly functions
a. A person who acts in behalf of others toward God,
1. By making known their wants is thereby acting as a Priest.
2. By interceding for them is thereby acting as a Priest.
b. A person who acts in behalf of God towards man,
1. By declaring to them His will is thereby acting as a Priest.
2. By conveying to them His blessing is thereby acting as a priest.
c. A priest performs sacrifices as one of the means
1. Of calling upon God
2. Of approaching God
3. Of receiving grace at the hand of God
Note: For those in the Old Testament, it was offering physical sacrifices on altars which
was fulfilled through Christ, but for us today, our sacrifices becomes times of
fasting and prayer where we call upon God, approach God, and receive Grace at
the hand of God.
d. A person through whose action
1. Results in God’s grace being extended to man
2. Man’s needs are presented to God
B. Before the law was given at Sinai, each head of house ministered as a priest to his
people
1. Noah
a. In Genesis 8, built an altar to the Lord and led his family in worship
b. In Genesis 9, he blessed his children and spoke prophecy over them
2. Abraham
a. Led his family in worship to God through sacrifices, and he acted as priest
for his family
b. Taught Isaac and his household, for we get an insight into Abraham’s love
for God and his character through God’s word concerning him in Genesis
18:17-19
17) And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
3. We find Isaac offering sacrifices to God
4. Jacob offered sacrifices to God, and
a. In Genesis 48, he spoke blessing and prophecy upon two of his grandchildren
b. In Genesis 49, he blessed and spoke prophecy into His children.
C. Under the Mosaic Law, which was given at Mt Sinai, Aaron and his desendants
were selected to act as Priests for Israel
1. Their actions portrayed the Priestly action of Christ who would come to fulfill
the law.
2. Christ became our High Priest who represented all of mankind, and each of us
as individuals to God the Father, so His Grace would be bestowed upon us,
which is why Paul wrote in
3. Now, let me remind you that Jesus fulfilled all of the above, which is why Paul
wrote in Hebrews
a. 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
b. 4:14-15
14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
c. 5:1, 5, 10
1) For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:…5) So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee…10) Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
d. 10:21-22
21) And having an high priest over the house of God; 22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water
k. 13:11-12
11) For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12) Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
m. Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus, our High priest sits at the right hand of
God making intercession for us.
n. 1 John 1:21 tells us that
…we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Note: Jesus is our High Priest
i. Making known our wants to God
ii. Interceding for us
iii. Acting in the behalf of God toward us
iv. Declaring to us God’s will
v. Conveying to us God’s blessings
vi. Taking us to God, and receiving grace at the hand of God for us
vii. Presenting our needs to God, and bring His Grace to us
D. Let me tie this together with a couple of Scriptures
1. Old testament concerning Israel being a nation of priests in Exodus 19:5-6
5) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Note: It was God’s will that the whole nation of Israel represent God to the world, and
represent the needs of the world to God
2. Peter refers to this when he declares to the church in 1 Peter 2:9-10
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.
Note: Therefore I declare
i. Gentlemen, you are by the rights and responsibilities the priest of your family,
and you should do all of the above under your Priest and King, Christ Jesus
ii. Ladies, if your husband does not do the above as the Hereditary priest of the
family, then you take the responsibility as the Priestess and bless your family
presenting them and their needs to God.
iii. Ministers, teachers, leaders, we are priests acting under our High Priest,
Christ Jesus to present to God needs of people, and to present to people the
blessings and directions of God.
iv. That we are to do as Jesus, being filled with the Spirit
a. Making known the wants of our family to God
b. Interceding for our family
c. Declaring to our family God’s will
d. Conveying to our family God’s blessings
e. Take our family to God, and receiving grace at the hand of God for them
f. Present the needs of our family to God, and bring His Grace upon them
II. Therefore, in our place as leader, we are to present to our family the Word of God
A. To remind our family that God is holy, and we are to be holy
1. We are to Honor God and not be careless in our approach to Him
2. We are to worship God through clean lives and holy living for we are the
temple of the Holy Ghost
3. There are special occasions when it is important that we honor God, such as
the day of worship
4. Certain things belong to God, such as tithes.
5. We are to be reminded, and we are to remind our family that it is necessary to
honor God, love Him, and worship Him if we desire to live continually in His
B. We have a covenant responsibility to be a Royal Priesthood and a Holy People
1. Let us look at Leviticus 26, where we can see the covenant relationship
between God and man
Note: Galatians 3 tells us that through faith, we are the descendants of Abraham,
therefore the blessings of Abraham come upon us
a. v1-v2 sets the conditions of the covenant
a) v1...Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image…
for I am the LORD your God.
b) v1...Ye shall not…rear up a standing image…
for I am the LORD your God.
c) v1...Ye shall not…set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down
unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
d) v2...Ye shall keep my Sabbaths…I am the LORD.
e) v2...Ye shall reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
b. v3-v13 pronounces the following blessings if they do verses 1-2
3) If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 4) Then
a) v4...I will give you rain in due season, and
b) v4...The land shall yield her increase, and
c) v4...the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
d) v5...Your threshing shall reach (continue) unto (til) the vintage, and
e) v5...The vintage shall reach (continue) unto the sowing time: and
f) v5...Ye shall eat your bread to the full, and
g) v5...Ye shall…dwell in your land safely.
Note v5 in the NLT
Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land
h) v6...I will give peace in the land, and
i) v6...Ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and
j) v6...I will rid evil beasts out of the land,
k) v6...The sword shall not go through your land.
l) v7...Ye shall chase your enemies, and
m) v7...Your enemy…shall fall before you by the sword.
n) v8...Five of you shall chase an hundred, and
o) v8...An hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and
p) v8...Your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
q) v9...I will have respect unto you, and
r) v9...I will…make you fruitful, and
s) v9...I will…multiply you, and
t) v9...I will…establish my covenant with you.
u) v10...Ye shall eat old store, and
v) v10...Ye shall…bring forth the old because of the new.
Note v10 in the NLT
You will have such a surplus of crops that you will need to clear out the old grain to make room for the new harvest!
w) v11...I set my tabernacle among you: and
x) v11...My soul shall not abhor you.
y) v12...I will walk among you, and
z) v12...I will be your God, and
a) v12...Ye shall be my people.
c. Verse 13 is God’s declaration of who He is, and of His desire for His
people.
a) I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of
Egypt…Saved you from your sins
b) I brought forth…that ye should not be their bondmen; and
c) I have broken the bands of your yoke, and
d) I have…made you go upright.
2. Deuteronomy 28 adds and expands on these blessings
v1) the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.
v3) You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
v4) The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and
v4) the crops of your land and
v4) the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of
your flocks.
(store in kjv)
v5) Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
v6) You will be blessed when you come in and
v6) blessed when you go out.
v7) The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be
defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee
from you in seven.
v8) The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put
your hand to.
v8) The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
v9) The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on
oath
v10) Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of
the LORD, and they will fear you.
v11) The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity--
v11) in the fruit of your womb,
v11) the young of your livestock and
v11) the crops of your ground--
v11) in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.
v12) The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty,
v12) to send rain on your land in season and
v12) to bless all the work of your hands.
v12) You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
v13) The LORD will make you the head, not the tail.
III. It is necessary though, for us to keep our part of the covenant
A. The requirements
1. Deuteronomy 28 1-2
1) And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2) And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
2. Deuteronomy 28:13-14
13) And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 14) And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
3. Leviticus 26:1-3
1) Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. 2) Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. 3) If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4. Isaiah 44 from the CE
1) People of Israel, I have chosen you as my servant. 2) I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Israel, don't be terrified! You are my chosen servant,
my very favorite. 3) I will bless the thirsty land by sending streams of water; I will bless your descendants by giving them my Spirit. 4) They will spring up like grass or like willow trees near flowing streams. 5) They will worship me and become my people.
They will write my name on the back of their hands. 6) I am the LORD All-Powerful,
the first and the last, the one and only God. Israel, I have rescued you! I am your King.
B. When we disobey God, the God withdraws his blessing from us
1. Deuteronomy 28:14-..tells of the curses that come upon those who turn away
from God
2. Leviticus 26: 14-…tells of the curses that come upon those who turn away
from God
3. Refer to Ezekiel 18.
a. God will forget the past of those who turn from sin
b. God will forget the good past of those who turn from Him to do wrong.
Conclude
