FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY

Psalm 127:1-5 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Consider our text ➲ Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (verse 1) ➲ Who is building your house? ➲ Are you laboring in vain to build something that won't stand up in time of storm?

Consider our text ➲ Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; (verse3-5a) ➲ My uncle Gordon French – 13 children ➲ He had a quiver full

FOUNDATION IS GOD ➲ Jesus talked about building on sand or rock foundation. Matthew 7:24-27 ➲ Two factors to understand today: The divorce rate is declining There are as many couples living together without marriage as married ➲ When there is a high divorce rate – (or rejection of marriage) there is a reason

FOUNDATION IS GOD ➲ When there is a high divorce rate – there is a reason ➲ THEY LEAVE GOD OUT! ➲ So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." ➲ Matthew 19:6

FOUNDATION IS GOD ➲ Marriage involves three (3) persons A man A woman God ➲ Marriage is a tri-lateral agreement ➲ Leave God out and the marriage and home will fall apart

FOUNDATION IS GOD ➲ Some marriages are a FAILURE even if they stay together ➲ Think about Ahab and Jezebel ➲ 1 Kings 16: And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

FOUNDATION IS GOD ➲ Think about Ahab and Jezebel ➲ Learn some lessons from Ahab Ahab walked in the sins of Jereboam He married Jezebel Built a altar to Baal Ahab's father-in-law was Ethbaal

FAITH IN THE BIBLE ➲ There must be something to believe in, hope for, plan, dream, anticipate ➲ The Bible is the guidebook ➲ Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. ➲ Psalms 119:105

FAITH IN THE BIBLE ➲ There are many books for “dummies” ➲ The Bible was written by God so we (dummies like me) could know His will ➲ Josiah had the book of God read – to all the family ➲ 2 Kings 23:2 The king went up to the house of the Lord with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem--the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord.

FAITH IN THE BIBLE ➲ Deuteronomy 6:7-9 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, 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 frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

FOCUS ON HEAVEN ➲ In our world - With all the temptations around up With all its distractions With all the directions we are pulled With all the opportunities that are available ➲ WE MUST KEEP OUR FOCUS ON HEAVEN

FOCUS ON HEAVEN ➲ Matthew 6: For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ➲ We are NOT like the rest of the world ➲ We seek God FIRST ➲ ABOVE all other things

FOCUS ON HEAVEN ➲ Personal life – work, social, recreation ➲ Marriage – spouse, family ➲ Children – education, sports, recreation, entertainment, music ➲ Spiritual life – Will I attend worship today? What would keep me from the assembly of God's people? ➲ Every decision, every choice, for self or family – must be – WILL THIS GET ME TO HEAVEN?

FOCUS ON HEAVEN ➲ Joseph kept his focus straight ➲ Genesis 39:9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

FOCUS ON HEAVEN ➲ 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ➲ 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY ➲ Everything we do must be based upon the question – ➲ Will this get me closer to Jesus, God and heaven? ➲ Or will I be farther away?