Familish - Covenant Family!

Family-ish Pt 6 – Covenant Family

God is a God of covenant.  He establishes them and then operates through them.  The first covenant he established was the family – Adam & Eve. Then God established his commitment to carry out his covenant in the earth through a series of families.  God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Ex. 3: 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

Then 12 tribes, clans and family units (complex system of family ties) Gen. 49: 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

Nothing can happen in the earth without family connection ties and covenant.  God even provided salvation to mankind by placing his son in the hands of a family to nurture and raise.  (Jesus, Mary and Joseph and his brothers and sisters) Matthew 12:46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.

        In order for the family walk in their covenant and receive their covenant blessings, they must carry out the covenant.  How?  Five ways to activate the covenant family. 

1.  Give Grace – Col 3:12-14 - 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

a)  Perfect love casts out all fear

b)  While we were sinners Christ died for us – Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

c)  There are consequences to unconditional love.

d)  What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace increases?

2.  Be Intentional – Isaiah 46:10 - I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'

a)  You are my chosen people

b)  Jesus said this day you will be with me in paradise.

c)  Make family goals and stick to them.

3.  Become Intimate – Eph. 4:29-32 - 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

a)  Turn up the trust.

b)  Turn to one another.

c)  Turn off the TV and devices.

d)  Turn up the conversations.

4.  Empower one another – Colossians 4:18-21 18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

a)  Learn one another roles and respect them.

b)  God has empowered every family member to live to their fullest potential. 

c)  Know the family business and carry it out.  Luke 2:49 - 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

5.  Learn from life lessons – Romans 8:28 - 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

a)  Bad things happen to good families

b)  Count it all joy – James 1:2-3 - 2 Consider [count] it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

c)  God is for our family – no one can defeat our family.  Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Family Prayer

Dear Lord make my house your house. You are welcome here! We need you to abide with us, protect us, prosper us and bring peace to our home. You are our first priority! We worship you in spirit and in truth. Help us to obey your word and know your will. Help us to speak well of you and spread your gospel as living epistles in the earth. Enable us to support and serve our church with our time, talent, and tithes. Help us to be a family that walks by faith and not by sight nor in our feelings. Help us to be a covenant family; to give grace to one another, be intentional, become closer, empower each other and learn from our mistakes. We pray in Jesus name Amen!

FamilyIsh - House Blessing

Sermon Text: 2 Sam 6:10-12 - So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 12 And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing.

Sermon Title:  Family-ish Pt 5 – House Blessing

Review:  The spot, your location, place wherever – you are in is the Place of Victory. Confess now – My house is a place of prosperity.  My house is a place of peace.  My house is a place of God’s presence. 

1.  The presence of God in your house is obedience to God’s word – vs. 1 0 So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

2.  The presence of God in your home means God is priority.  Matt 6: 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

3.  The presence of God in your home means God is worshipped.  Vs. 11a - 11 And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months,

4.  The presence of God in your home means God popular in your house.  2 Chronicles 18: 14 When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I not?” “Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for they will be given into your hand.”

5.  The presence of God in your home will bring blessing.  Vs. 11 -12a - 11 And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 12 And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him

FamilyIsh - Part 4 - The Place of Victory

Pericope: Numbers 22: 1-4

Sermon Text: Numbers 22:2 2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,

Sermon Title: “Family-ish” Part 4 The Place of Victory

Point 1:  Incites Excites and Invokes Enemy

Numbers 22:3 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

Point 2:  God is involved in your place Numbers 22:28-31 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” 29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said.

31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

Point 3: The place you are in has an irrevocable victory attached to it. Numbers 23:19-20 19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? 20 I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

Don’t Move Just declare over your house:

-      My house is a place of prosperity

-      My house is a place of peace

-      My house is a place of God’s presence

Familyish Part 3 Better Family Life - Irrevocable Blessing

Pericope: Genesis 27: 30-39

Sermon Text: Genesis 27:33 33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!”

Sermon Title: “Familyish” Part 3 Better Family Life Irrevocable Blessing!

Point 1: Blessings are permanently put in place. Gen 25: 23 23 The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

        

  Character, Coercion, nor Conduct can ease the permanent ink of God’s blessings.

-       Character

-       Coercion

-       Conduct

Point 2: Blessings are Gods perogative. Gen 27:27(a) 27 So he went to him and kissed him… he blessed him and said…

We have no input to Gods decision.

-       Stop looking at others blessings

-       Start looking at your blessings

Point 3: Blessings are personally assigned. Gen 49: 28 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

No one can fit it and no one can take it.

-       Definition for appropriate

-       Is suitable…Tailor made…

Point 4: Blessings are activated by you.  Matt 25: 24-29 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

Now walk in them.

-       Believe in your blessings

-       Receive your blessings

Life Application

1. Discover your family and individual blessing.

2. Develop your family and individual blessing.

3. Deploy your family and individual blessing for me.

FamilyIsh - Family Appetite

Pericope: Gen 27:1-10

Sermon Text: Gen. 27:10 - And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”

Sermon title Family-ish – Pt 2 Family Appetite

Introduction:  In our text we see how the appetites of a family can drive the success or failure of a family.  The biblical writer wants us to know the central theme of the text is food and appetite.  That’s why it is mentioned so often.  The whole event in the text is centered around food and appetite. It opens up with the father being hungry and wanting something to eat.  Now it’s all about satisfying his hunger.  The context of his hunger is he is in his old age.  He tells his son what he wants to eat and his wife overhears the conversation. Actually she is eavesdropping on their conversation.  Now she wants to feed him something he doesn't want. I know you are focused in on the fact that Isaac is about to bless Esau the eldest son, but this isn't just about food and blessings but appetites. Let me explain. There are four appetites in this family. 

Point 1: Isaac’s Appetite – Physical appetite – not future oriented appetite.  vs. 3-4 - Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Point 2: Rebekah’s appetite – Rebekah has a controlling appetite - vs. 5, 8-10 - 5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau…8 Now therefore, my [Jacob] son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”

Point 3: Jacob’s appetite – Jacob’s appetite is getting thing the easy way - vs. 16, 21-25 - 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” 22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.

“I am,” he replied.

25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”

Point 4: Esau’s appetite – Esau’s appetite is carefree – happy go lucky - vs. 36, 41 - 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Conclusion:  Here’s the point of this sermon. What appetites are you nurturing in yourself and your children? Rebecca wanted fame and success for Jacob at the expense of his brother. Are you nurturing fame and success or soul saving and God serving within your children? If you feed them every activity under the sun other than giving their life to Christ and godly activities, then you are not putting them on a course of success. They need Jesus more now than ever. What good is fame without a foundation in Jesus? If you do not nurture a spiritual appetite don't be surprised when they have no compass when they leave your house. Church attendance and youth groups should never be an option.