As For Me And My House
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 04/19/2020
Foundations of My FaithApril - My Family
As For Me And My House
Foundation Scriptures: Joshua 24:1-28
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 AMPC
1. Supreme Authority.
a. The reason most people fail in life is because they do not understand authority.
b. They do not recognize legitimate authority and they do not make a proper response to authority.
c. God is Supreme authority—He created everything and is over everything—every created thing must bow to Him.
d. Philippians 2:10-11 KJV - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
e. You can freely choose to bow now, by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, or you will be made to bow later, whether you want to or not.
f. Even the devil and demons will have to bow!
2. Submit to God.
a. If you want to succeed in every area of your life, you must submit to legitimate authority.
b. By doing so, illegitimate authority can have no place in your life.
c. You must personally submit your life to the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
d. James 4:7 KJV - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
e. First: SUBMIT to God and His Word.
f. John 8:31-32 AMPC - So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
g. Second: RESIST the devil and his devices.
h. Do not give the devil any place in your life.
i. 1 John 3:10 ERV - So we can see who God's children are and who the devil's children are. These are the ones who are not God's children: those who don't do what is right and those who do not love their brothers and sisters in God's family.
j. Hate sin and love righteousness; and choose to walk in the love of God toward others.
k. That includes, and is especially applicable to, your own family.
3. Husbands and Fathers.
a. God has set you in place as the head of your home—not a dictator nor a doormat.
b. You not only have the authority, but you have an awesome responsibility.
c. For the sake of your family, you need to honor the Lord and make the decision that Joshua made: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
d. Set the example of a godly man, who honors the Lord and is submitted to Him in all things.
e. According to God’s plan, you should be the most unselfish person in your house—not the most selfish—as is often the case.
f. Love your wife with agape love, the God-kind of love.
g. Ephesians 5:23 & 25 KJV - For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body… 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.
h. Recognize that your wife is not as tough as you are and live considerately with her so your prayers will be answered.
i. 1 Peter 3:7 AMPC - In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God's unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.]
j. Teach your children—by example, instruction, and correction—to respect and obey God.
k. Ephesians 6:4 AMPC - Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.
l. Colossians 3:21 AMPC - Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]
m. It is your place to protect your wife and children from anything that could harm them physically, mentally, or spiritually, including any corrupting influences.
n. Remember, your children are watching you—when you are loving toward your wife, you are showing them how much God loves and cares for them.
4. Wives and Mothers.
a. God has given you your place, under the headship of your husband, to lead and manage your household.
b. In God’s order, you and your husband are (spiritually) equals, but (in practice) your husband can be considered the first among equals.
c. Submission requires respect—it does not make you a doormat, it makes you a team-player!
d. Wives—submit to (and show respect for) your OWN husband—in faith and out of reverential fear for God and His Word.
e. Ephesians 5:22 & 24 AMPC - Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord… 24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.
f. You are to be neither a bucking bronco nor a whipped puppy.
g. 1 Peter 3:1-6
h. “…married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them]…” (1 Peter 3:1 AMPC)
i. Choose to submit, by faith, without giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you (1 Peter 3:6).
j. God has given you a pattern in Proverbs 31:10-31.
k. Remember, your children are watching you—when you show respect to your husband you are teaching them to respect the Lord.
5. Children, Obey Your Parents, in the Lord.
a. Children (of all ages) respect the authority of the parents that God has placed in your life.
b. Ephesians 6:1-3 AMPC - Children obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right. 2 Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise--3 That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.
c. Colossians 3:20 AMPC - Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.