God has always intended the home to be
God has always intended the home to be the channel through which His blessings are imparted to future generations
Homes The home is meant to be a safe, healthy & nurturing place but unfortunately, throughout history we find it to be the source of so much hurt and brokenness
Causes of brokenness in homes • Conflict/strife between parents • Domestic violence, abuse, addictions • Negative words/threats • Broken promises, infidelity • Parental neglect & rejection • Favouritism • Unreasonable expectations, etc
Consequences of bad homes • Insecurity & rejection • Personality & mental disorders • Fear, nervousness, timidity • Depression, suicidal • Rebellion • Resentment, bitterness, anger • Poor self esteem, anti-social, etc
How can we reverse this trend and create healthy homes?
Nature Vs. Nurture
God Of Generations God wants to show the generations His goodness, to make known His covenant throughout the earth. Exodus 3: 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. ’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
Generational Curses And Blessings Deuteronomy 5: 9 -10 9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Blessing of Abraham Through Christ Galatians 3: 13 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Generational Blessings Gen 12: 2 -3 2 I will make you (Abraham) a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ”
God desires a godly line In Genesis 15, God made a covenant with Abraham, promising that anyone who came from his lineage would be blessed as well. God blesses a godly lineage Joshua 24: 15
What is a blessing? A blessing is a declaration which imparts spiritual power, opening the way for us in life, giving us approval and confidence, and power for us to succeed; it is grace to enable us to become what we are meant to become, and to achieve what we are meant to achieve.
The power to bless We have the authority to impart, empower and help people, especially our children, to achieve and overcome in life. Created in the image of God, we have the power to both bless and curse. Jesus said that we were to bless, not curse, even our enemies.
Blessings Come Through Healthy Relationship Malachi 4: 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. ”
We are not individuals born from outer space
Everything In The Universe Has A Context • Everything exists in relation to other things • Our heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, etc. , all cannot exist for itself – the body needs it and it needs the body
Keys to generational blessings Eph 6: 1 -5 (NIV) Children… 2 “Honor your father and mother” -which is the first commandment with a promise -3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. ” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate (provoke) your children; instead, bring them up in the training (nurture) and instruction of the Lord.
No Roots, No Fruit Generational blessings come from the family (father – e. g. , Isaac & Jacob). Esau despised his birthright and therefore forfeited his blessings. Many believers today despise the source of their blessing from the place they are supposed to get it – their natural and spiritual family (roots)
Story of Jabez 1 Chronicles 4: 9 -10 9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain. ” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
A bad start for Jabez In ancient Jewish customs, the name of a person somehow foretells his future. By naming her son Jabez, the mother is declaring vision that her son would have a bleak future, with a life full of pain and sorrows. Jabez (Heb: ya'betz]), means “He makes sorrowful"
Jabez defied all odds, including his supposed destiny, and became a man of fervent prayer and honour. His faith and relationship with God enabled him to reverse the curse of his painful beginning
Become a generational blessing It is through our physical and spiritual connections (ancestry) that we discover who we are in Christ and be able to deal with our bad roots, and like Jabez, reverse the curses and become a blessings to others
Discover where our God-given home is (source of blessings) and be a blessing
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