When Men of God Lead Their Homes
Psalms 78:1-8
A recent article in the “Think” magazine pointed out how important it is that Fathers take the lead in their homes. In an article entitled: Oversexualized, Under Led, David Shannon says that the problem with an immodest woman is the absence of a Godly man. The artical basically asks, "What if every Christian man lead his wife and daughters to dress and live modestly, and his sons to pursue purity of heart above sensual lust?" This problem is not a problem of stricter laws, or church dress codes, it is a problem of lack of godly leadership in men. Let me say this to all of my brothers who claim to follow Jesus Christ, we have a mission from God. Will we answer the call to be men of God who lead our homes in the will and way of Christ?
Today's lesson will look at ten simple but profound words of God on how to be men of God who lead their homes. Are you ready?
1.- LOVE GOD BY LOVING YOUR WIFE
Brothers, we will never be more Christlike than when we love our wives. I'm sure a few women would like to say "amen" about now. In the beginning God said, "It is not good for man to be alone, I will create a helper for him." God's word says that the woman was made for the man (1 Cor. 11:9). She is a gift of God. How you treat her demonstrates how you respect God and it affects your prayers.
Peter says in 1 Peter 3: 7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Ephesians 5:28 – “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;”
What do our children learn from us husbands and dads as they hear and see the way we treat our wives?
I have two daughters. I hope and pray that my daughters saw me being thoughtful and loving to Jenny as they grew up. My son needed to see in me a model for him on how to treat his wife. I thank God for the blessing of a godly father and mother who showed me how to be a husband and father in my home. I am and have been far from the perfect man of God that I should be, but by God's grace, I can stand here today and say that I want my son to love his wife the way I love Jenny. I want my daughters to be loved by their husbands the way I love Jenny. Only by the grace of God can I say those words to you today. There is nothing good in me that is in my flesh, but God's grace has given me the wonderful blessing of a faithful Christian wife and three faithful Christian children, and I am thankful that his mercy has allowed me to be faithful to God as a husband and father.
Here's the point brothers, especially those of you with children at home, and let me make this as plain as day: If God can do that in the likes of me, he can do it in you too.
Point one on how to be men of God who lead their homes: Love God by Loving your Wife. You will never be more like Jesus Christ than when you sacrificially love your wife as Christ loved the Church. It will honor God, it will bless you, your wife and it will also bless your children.
2. LOVE GOD BY SHARING HIS WORD WITH YOUR FAMILY
Deuteronomy 6: 1 “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, 2 so that you and your children and your grandchildren might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3 O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Ephesians 6: 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Now, most of us are busy people. Most of us have many responsibilities that crowd in and take over a lot of the time in our lives. When we come home tired and in need of relaxing what do we do? Where do we turn for rest? Jesus said, "Come to me and I will give you rest." Why is it so easy to turn on the TV or get on the internet or facebook or computer game or go workout at the gym, or focus on something, ANYTHING other than Jesus? Why is God's word not like food and drink to many of us? How many of us husbands and fathers here are fully satisfied with the way we share the Word of God with our wives and children?
Imagine this: imagine that picking up the Bible and sharing it with your wife and children as the most satisfying thing that you could do. Imagine that gathing your family around you and joining in prayer together for one another as a joy and pleasure that you look forward to, and you just can't wait for.
What would your family life be like if meditating on the word of God day and night were the delight of your heart and the joy of your mind and you actually were refreshed by getting away from the rat race of the world and just relaxing in the presence of God together as a family.
Is it possible that many Christian men are addicted to the world and it's lusts so that we only go to God and his word like we would going to a Doctor to get a shot or having to take foul tasting medicine. We know it's good for us, but we would rather not have to and can't wait to get it over with. How would you like to be free from the bondage of addiction to this world?
How would you like your children to be free from the addiction of the world? Speaking of addiction, listen to this article in The Week magazing, July 22, 2011. Health scare of the week: A plague of teenage addiction. The article says that 3 out of 4 American teens have tried using drugs and a full 20% who have sampled them 1.6 million teens qualify as addicts by clinical standards. New report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. It is the #1 public health problem and it is epidemic.
How shall the young secure their hearts and guard their lives from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts to keep the conscience clean! see - Psalms 119:9-10
Perhaps we need to fast and pray and beg God to set us free from the addiction to this world and its pleasures. Perhaps we need to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. Perhaps we need to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature. Perhaps we need to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. When we do this brothers, we can lead our families. We must.
Ask yourself this question: Where do I as a husband and father want my wife and children to spend eternity? Then ask yourself: How is my life and time spent with them impacting this?
God's says, "Love me, fear me, follow me and share me."
As men of God let's love God by sharing his word with our family.
