God Loves Families

October 6, 2007

Introduction

When we were at Harding, we attended a series of classes by Dr. Joe Brumfield, entitled, “Improving Your Marriage and Family.” The series of three classes were very interesting with notes and handouts that he did not even have time to cover during the time we were in class.

Wednesday, we had lunch with Randy and Dinah Norman who were members here before moving to the Searcy area to be near their children. We then found out that Brother Joe is their preacher.

We purchased the CD’s of his presentation, but they were sold out, and will be sent to us later. My thoughts today are not my summary of his thoughts, but I was inspired to present these thoughts because of his lessons.

God loves the family. God places high priority on relationships. It is the devil who seeks to destroy relationships. He does this in many ways. The home, or the family was God’s first institution. God began the family because, “God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’" (Gen 2:18 NKJV)

Body

I. God saw the need for the home.

(Gen 2:18 NKJV) And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him"

A. ‘It is not good that man should be alone”

1. Solomon spoke of two being better than one.

(Eccl 4:9-12 NKJV) Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. {10} For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. {11} Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? {12} Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

2. Sometimes we are alone because of our actions

a. Over involvement in our work.

b. Being busy at our computers for whatever reason.

c. Being overly involved in television shows or games.

d. Spending a great deal of time on the phone, and ignoring others.

e. There are many ways in which we can be alone, even though we are married.

f. Paul warns against denying companionship and love to our spouse.

(1 Cor 7:2-5 NKJV) Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. {3} Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. {4} The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. {5} Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

3. Sometimes we are alone through no fault of our own.

a. Some are alone because their spouse has died.

b. Some are alone because of divorce.

c. Some may be alone because of health problems.

d. Some are separated because of military commitments or other business commitments.

e. Our heart goes out to those who are alone through no fault of their own.

B. I will make him a helper comparable to him"

1. Clearly, she is to be the helper, the supporter and companion.

a. She is to be in subjection to him.

(Eph 5:22-24 NKJV) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. {23} For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. {24} Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

b. She is to love him and her children.

(Titus 2:3-5 NKJV) the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; {4} that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, {5} to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

2. Clearly, husbands are to love their wives.

(Eph 5:25 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

a. They are not to be bitter toward their wives

(Col 3:19 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

b. They are not to treat them as being inferior since they are to be in subjection to them.

II. God intended for the home to have children.

(Gen 1:28 NKJV) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

A. “And multiply;”

1. The population of the earth was two.

2. This verse does not justify teaching against birth control. The thought is repeated later.

(Gen 9:1 NKJV) So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

3. The population of the earth was eight, and Noah and his wife were past the age of bearing children.

B. They were to train their children.

(Eph 6:4 NKJV) And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

1. We are to teach by what we say.

(Deu 6:4-7 NKJV) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! {5} "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. {6} "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. {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.

2. We also teach by the example that we set.

(1 Tim 4:12NKJV) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

a. These were words to a preacher, but they apply to parents as well.

b. These are words that should apply to all of us in our daily life.

III. Christian homes are so important.

A. They build great nations.

B. They build great churches.

C. They prepare children for eternal life with God.

D. They bring great happiness to the members of the family as they love and support one another.

Conclusion

I. Is your home a Christian home?

Is it a home where the father and mother love each other, and their children know that?
Is it a home where God is loved and put first, and everyone knows that – Is your home a glory to God?
Do you look forward to getting home because it is a place of love, joy, and faith?

II. Are you a Christian?

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