MAKING YOUR HOME OPERATE SMOOTHER!
SERMON #4 DATE 9-25-04
PREPARING YOUR FAMILY FOR THE STORMS OF LIFE!
Genesis 2:20-25
Ge 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: No one knows what tomorrow holds for any of us. All we can know is who holds tomorrow and, for the Christian, that is enough. God in His grace and mercy has withheld knowing tomorrow from us. If we knew what was coming in the future we would not be able to cope with today knowing what was coming tomorrow.
All of us know that there will be storms come to each of us. Some will undergo greater storms than others. That doesn’t mean that God shows favoritism to some more than others. It only means that God is just in all his thinking and actions.
The average home in America is very weak today. Everything has bombarded the home. The home is in competition with everything else. The home for the most part is no longer a place to raise a family and train a child in the way that he should go. In many instances the home is the place of moral and mental destruction.
I want you to consider six basic necessities that every home must have to bear the storms of life.
I. FAITH IN THE OLD BOOK.
A. We Must Always Remember That God Is In Control Of Our Family.
There is never a time when God is not in control. He has everything in control.
We may not be able to see beyond the storm clouds today, but He is in the midst of the storm and has in under control. Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV)
The Bible is our guide Book.
1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is God breathed. God spoke through the hands of man the words He wanted recorded.
2. The Bible should be the instructions for every home.
3. The Bible tells how to keep the family together. Eph. 5:21-28.
a. The Bible also tells us to “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
b. The Bible tells us how to bring a spouse to salvation. 1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (KJV)
4. Allow the Bible to tell you how to live and what to do with your life.
a. It will guide you into all truth.
b. It will settle you through all fears.
B. We Must Remember That God Is Always Right.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. (KJV) We can’t see the end God has planned for us, but we must have faith that He is right in His plans.
C. We Must Remember That God Permits Storms To Come Our Way.
1. To Teach Us God’s Power And Mercy.
2. To Teach Those Observing Us That God Is In Control.
3. To Strengthen Us.
Job saw the mighty power of God through his storm.
D. We Must Remember That God Has A Purpose For Everything That Happens To Us.
Nothing takes God by surprise. Nothing over powers God. God never makes a mistake. Everything that comes to us must first go through God. He approves all that takes place in our lives.
Have Faith In The Bible.
II. EXPERIENCE THE NEW BIRTH. John 3:3.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (KJV)
If every family member has experienced the New Birth then the severity of storms will be lightened. I didn’t say the storms would be removed. Remember that bad things happen to the saved as it does to the unsaved. Knowing Christ as Savior will always help anyone get through the storm easier, because we know that He will be with us in everything.
A. One Storm That Comes To Some Homes Is Divorce.
The home that survives divorce is in the minority. There is a 60% divorce rate across America. 70% of the children in America are being reared in a single parent home. That would mean that there are great storms in the homes of the American families.
1. If every family member is born again the divorce rate will be decreased.
2. The new birth in every family member will cause the home to be a little heaven on earth.
I’m talking about good homes. The kind of home that you would think of displayed by The Good Housekeeping Magazine.
About 90% of the evening news broadcast is a result of failure in the home. The new birth would correct most of this. The news media would have to find something else to report. I don’t mean just turning over a new leaf. That won’t help anyone or solve anything. I am talking about a heavenly change taking place in your life.
B. Another Storm That Comes Is Death.
Several of our homes in this church has experienced the death of a family member.
It is hard to reconcile the place that death has in a home. If it wasn’t for the new birth and the promise of spending eternity with those family members, we could not survive the experience of death of a loved one.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (This is talking about those of our church family who have passed in death.)
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (KJV)
C. Another Storm Is That Of Disease.
I am thinking of Doris and Bob Denk. A few months ago Doris was diagnosed with cancer. What a storm that was for her family. Yet they have learned that God is with them and He is directing their lives through this great storm.
I am also thinking of Grover Kilmer. He also has cancer, and unless God does something soon in his life Grover will be going to heaven.
Diane Bloomquist had cancer surgery this week.
We have other members who have experienced the storm of disease. How does one survive these storms? Through the New Birth and the promises given to the saved.
D. Another Storm Is That Of Disaster.
Losing your job.
Losing your home in a tornado.
Wrecking your car and then learning that there was not enough insurance.
There are others.
III. CLAIMING THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
A. The Blood Of Christ Can Mend Any Problem In Any Home.
Every Christian must plead the blood of Christ over our home every day. It is the blood that provides deliverance. It is the blood of Christ that causes fear and defeat to the devil. He is not affected by our intellect. He is not defeated by our personal ability.
B. No Sin Is Too Big But What The Blood Can Wash It Away And Allow The Participants To Begin Anew.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood, of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
There is a fountain filled with blood;
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunge beneath that flood
Loose all their guilty stain.
C. Won’t You Come And Partake Of That Fount Today?
IV. SEEKING THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Eph. 5:18.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (KJV)
A. The Baptists Have Left The Doctrine Of The Holy Spirit To The Charismatics.
B. Some Baptist Churches Would Choke On The Words “Holy Spirit”. If the pastor of some churches would get up and preach on the Holy Spirit someone would scream out “He used the “H” word.
C. The Need For The Fullness Of The Holy Spirit Is Not Optional In Your Home.
If you omit the leadership and the fullness of the Spirit of God your home will suffer greatly, and will fail in some manner or another.
D. The Failure Of Many Homes Is Because We Have Ignored The Role Of The Holy Spirit In The Home.
1. The Holy Spirit has a vital place in every home.
2. He will guide you in all things.
3. He will teach you in all things.
V. DEVELOPING LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.
A. Most Families Are Kinder To The Neighbors Than They Are The Family Members.
The neighbor can come over and borrow tools and we say. “Sure go ahead, take what you need.” But if the child looses a screw driver or something we scream out. “You will pay for that out of your allowance”.
B. We Need To Exhibit More Hugging And Kissing In The Home.
I mean just plain mushy.
There was a popular secular song years ago called, “You Always Hurt The One You Love.” We Baptists seem to try to prove its truth. Why not make it a point to make love be the prominent emotion in your home, rather than fear, or hatred.
VI. LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE.
A. We Seem To Have Forgotten That Jesus Is Coming Again.
Teach and look for the coming of the Lord in your home.
B. We Seem To Have Forgotten That All We Have Here Is Vanity.
C. The Bridegroom Cometh.
Lu 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (KJV)
D. John 14:2&3, “1 Will Come Again.”
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (KJV)
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (KJV)
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (KJV)
This one teaching and expectation will go a long ways in making your home safe and secure when the storms come. When the members of a home actively looking for the coming of the Lord they will be living closer to Him and therefore the home will be operating much smoother. If we are living close to the Lord no storm can be severe enough to destroy our home.
When I was in the military service I looked forward with great anticipation to being discharged so I could go home and marry the one that was waiting for me. The days grew longer and longer it seemed. Finally, the day arrived and I was discharged. I left Washington D.C. via a Greyhound Bus. It took almost 3 days to get to Muskogee, Oklahoma. As I traveled those hundreds of miles I grew more and more anxious. When I got home and saw my bride to be, all the waiting and all the lonesome hours and days were now over. We were married a few weeks later.
Soon our Lord will descend from heaven with a shout and the voice of the arch angel and we will ascend up to meet Him in the air. When this happens all will have been worth the wait. Our homes will be made complete then. Our petty differences will all be behind us and we can love everyone divinely.
What does your home need?
Is something lacking? Do you have a weak home? Is Satan bombarding your family?
If so, come today and let God take care of your troubles. Make your home a place where God can act and perform.
Make sure your home is anchored in the foundation of God, and the storms of life will be easier.
INVITATION.
BETH HAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH
PO BOX 891523
OKC OK 73189-1523
405-691-8701
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