Three Homes

Three Homes

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/3Homes.html

2 Corinthians 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Every person ought to have:

• A Heavenly Home

• A Christian Home

• A Church Home

The first has to do with your salvation, and eternal destiny. The second has to do with your home and family, and the last with the local body of Christ that you become a member of. And having the first home ought to lead you to making sure you have the last 2 homes.

And knowing your eternity is secure should affect your present, and the rest of your earthly existence. Do this: boil it all down and there’s really just…

3 things we should strive for:

I. A Happy Heart

The psalmist stated, "Happy is that people…whose God is the Lord" (Ps. 144:15). Real happiness, of course, is always conditional.

A. Salvation is imperative.

Men who are uncertain about eternity will not be able to relax. The

prospect of losing the soul is a nagging thought. The possibility of a lake of fire will drain the fun out of a thinking and reasonable mind. The presence of the Lord in our lives is necessary, too. The Holy Spirit comes into the body of the believer and dwells there.

B. Surrender is important.

A fierce battle is fought between the old nature and the new man. There can be no true happiness until the new man is in complete control. Paul spoke of this in Philippians: "…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (4:11). He explained in I Corinthians, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection" (9:27).

C. Sacrifice is integral.

It seems strange that words such as sacrifice, cost, price, demand, give, and go could lead to happiness. Jesus said that the way to live is to die; the way to have is to give, and the way to revival is travail.

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever

will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:25).

D. Separation should be included.

Happiness leans heavily on whom you run with and whom you associate with. Those who associate with evil will want evil. Those who hang around the world will be worldly. We must walk with God to be godly. Those who would be spiritual must be in regular contact and

fellowship with the Spirit. "Come out," "Be not conformed,"

"Love not the world," "Have no fellowship," are just a few

phrases we find in God’s Word that show us God’s desire for His

children.

To be happy, obey the Lord’s commands and desires. And strive to have a happy heart by making sure Jesus lives there, within your heart, and that you are a surrendered, living sacrifice, and separated from the world. It all leads to a happy heart!

II. A Harmonious Home

Everyone wants a happy home. Love and companionship in the family circle is worth far more than gold, silver or worldly fame. When it’s cold outside, the only place you want to be is home.

Ill.—when the kids were out of school for snow days this week, they looked out the window wanting to be out there, but after just a few minutes out there…they wanted to go into their home!

When you are tired, sick or discouraged, there is no place like home. It’s not the carpet, furniture or fancy brick, but the love that counts. What makes a G.I. in Iraq hunger to come home? Why do we always want to go back to Grandma’s house at Thanksgiving and Christmas? That’s home, and we are looking for happiness.

A. Found in family devotions.

When there is a daddy who will call the family together and read the Word of God, the home will be happy. There must be a mother who is not ashamed of the tear slipping down her face while she prays that

God will use her boy and protect her girl. There will be children who will honor Mother and Father because of God’s command that they should do so. This makes for a happy home.

B. Found in fatherly discipline.

A child in rebellion and delinquency will rip the happiness out of a home and replace it with tears and broken hearts. Nothing cuts a parent’s heart like a wayward child. Anyone can execute discipline in the home, but dad is God’s favorite for this job, when possible, and the one the Lord holds responsible ultimately for discipline in the home. Eve may have sinned first in the garden of Eden…but God came looking for Adam!

The wise writer of Proverbs gives advice to head this off: