What “Family” Means to God
816
God had a specific idea regarding "Family" … from the very beginning.
Gen. 2:18-25
God designed a place … where basic human needs are met
where sexual familiarity is not shameful
18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." 19 Out of
the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see
what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to
all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper
suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs
and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the
man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man 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 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one
flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Deut 6:4-9
Family is a place: where children learn about God
children are to learn about MUCH MORE in the family setting
Proverbs 22:6 … they learn about other things, too
where parents "model" their faith
where evidence of God is seen all the time
4 " Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your might. 6 " These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 " You
shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the
way and 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
frontals on your forehead. 9 " You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Josh 24:14-15
Family is a place: where spiritual choices are made
where God is either "Lord" or not
14 "Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served
beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for
yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the
gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Ps 127:1
Family is a place: where the presence of the Lord is paramount
where the line is thin between success and failure
127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
Heb 13:4
"Family" … is an honorable arrangement
is civilized, organized and recognized by all
I Cor 14:33 God is not a God of confusion, but of peace
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled;
for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Why would Satan want … THIS design for "Family" … to be RUINED?
It provides a "Mighty" … "Godly" … fortress against Satan and his evil snares.
It provides for the "Most Basic" of human needs ... physical and spiritual … psychological and emotional.
It provides a place for "Children" to be taught the most important lessons of life.
Here's what you find in a Biblical family:
Honor
Unconditional love
Support
Help
Companionship
Security
Protection
Role models
Financial assistance
Intimacy
Loyalty
I've talked to countless women who wish their man would honor them
"Family" works … when people "Out-Love" selfishness … I Cor 13:4-8
I can't count the times "My Wife" has talked me through Fear and Doubt
In a Family … "Assistance" is only "A Request Away"
"Loneliness" is a brutal adversary … "Family" is a welcomed solution
A "Team" finds "Refuge" in "The Huddle" … I'm not alone … We have a plan
"Life" is a scary thing … thank goodness for someone to "Cover Your Back"
There's "No More Powerful" … Mentoring Environment … than in the Family
TOGETHER … we work a plan … TOGETHER … and the needs get met
There is … understanding, familiarity, caring, and affection … like nowhere else
We stand up for each other … no one weakens the bond between us
This is the "Nature" of a "Biblical Family" … not every family conforms in every way to these qualities.
But … these are the "Characteristics" we think of when we dream of the family we'd Love to be a part of.
And … it's NOT these ideals of "Family" that is under attack today …
"Family" … by generic definition … is still highly lauded and approved (workmates – club members – "My Fam")
It's the definition of marriage which has been altered.
It's the "Biblical" definition of family which has been changed.
It's the "Traditional" model of family which is hated and abhorred.
Next week … we'll begin to examine what the world is doing to the Biblical model for:
Women
Men
Children
Parents