As For Me and My House

The prophet tells Hezekiah: You’re about to die. Set your house in order.
Isaiah 38:1 …Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

Hezekiah turned to the Lord, and he prayed. God gave him 15 more years.
When we face the closing days of our lives… we want to make sure that things are right with our house.

Joshua urged the people …choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua was committed that his house would make a godly stand.

There is a lack of order in our world. The problem, the root of it, is that there’s a problem at the home.

The family is the basic building block of society. God’s plan is for a God fearing family. God gives us the blueprint – the Biblical ideal. A God-fearing Father, God-fearing Mother, and God-fearing children. That the home be a godly family unit.

As the Lord told Noah: "Come thou and all thy house into the ark" (Genesis 7:1).

God blesses the home where He is honoured - He blesses the habitation of the just (Proverbs 3:33).

What is God's order for the family...?
1. GOD-FEARING FATHERS - are called to lead.
As was said, of Abraham: Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment…

It was said of Eli, 1 Samuel 3:13 ... his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. We see the tragedy of godless, wayward children. God-fearing fathers are exhorted: Restrain them - from wicked books, wicked companions, wicked amusements.

Children need that sense of Authority - it brings order to our lives. Responsible leadership by the husband is God's plan and brings peace to the home. God has placed the husband as Head.

It is the husband's duty also to love and care for his wife. Ephesians 5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. Ephesians 5:29, For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth (promote health and strength) and cherisheth it (impart warmth/care for), even as the Lord the church.

God’s order also calls for:
2. GOD-FEARING MOTHERS

A wife, a mother is called to be a…
(1) HELPER
Good wives and good mothers are wonderful gifts from the Lord.
Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price is far above rubies.

(2) HOME-BUILDER
Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

God has designed the woman to take the role of the "keeper, or worker," at home. 1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women many, bear children, guide (manage) the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Titus 2:4-5 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home ("homeworkers; working at home; guardian of the home; caring for the house"), good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Ephesians 5:22, Wives, submit (present tense: continuous) yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 1 Peter 3:6 gives us the example of Sarah, Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord...

The woman is to adorn herself with good works - with a meek and quiet spirit, 1 Peter 3:4,5 and Modesty and sobriety, 1 Tim. 2:9.

Another aspect of this order is:
4. GOD-FEARING PARENTS
The Bible describes children as a Gift. Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward…

Parents are to love their children. Titus 2:4. Parents are to train and lovingly guide and discipline their children for the Lord. Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way that he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. We are to bring our children to hear God's Word.

Parents are responsible to teach their children the Bible at home. Teach them how to obey and live for God.

Parents, we should model the Christian life. Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Another aspect of God’s order – is…
5. GOD-FEARING CHILDREN
There are two commandments for children:
• Obey Parents
• Honour Parents

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother…

We Need the Lord's Help. Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it...

Be the example your family needs to see.