Summary
The sermon is about the importance of family and honoring God in our daily lives. The pastor discusses Psalm 128:1-6, which talks about the blessings of those who fear the Lord and walk in obedience to Him. The sermon emphasizes the importance of having a strong family unit, where each member fears and honors God, and how this can bring blessings and prosperity not only to the family but also to the nation. The main questions addressed in the sermon are: What does it mean to fear the Lord? How can we have a blessed family? What is the vision of a family that honors God? The pastor answers these questions by explaining that fearing the Lord means having a deep reverence and respect for God, and that this fear can bring happiness and prosperity to our lives. The sermon also highlights the importance of having a strong family unit, where each member supports and loves one another. The pastor encourages the congregation to envision a family that honors God, where each member is praying and worshiping together. The key take-aways from the sermon are: *
- Fearing the Lord is the source of happiness and blessing in our lives.
- Having a strong family unit that honors God can bring blessings and prosperity not only to the family but also to the nation.
- Each member of the family must make a personal decision to fear and honor God.
- Envisioning a family that honors God and praying for our loved ones to be saved is important.
- The vision of a family that honors God can bring intergenerational blessings.
The Sermon
Family Matters: The Blessing of a Family
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him. This is what Psalm 128:1-6 says. Today, we continue with our theme, "Family Matters," and we will discuss the importance of family and honoring God in our daily lives.
The passage we have in Psalm 128 is part of what is called the "Songs of Ascent." These songs were used by pilgrims when they went to Jerusalem for festivals. The focus of Psalm 128 is the blessing of those who follow God's way, for their families and for the nation.
There are two vivid images in this passage. The first image is of pilgrims walking towards the temple, singing and worshiping God together as families. The second image is of a family gathered in the dining table, praying and eating together.
In verses 1-2, it talks about the blessing of individuals who fear the Lord and obey Him. The word "bless" in Hebrew is "asher," which means happy. Happy are all who fear the Lord. Happiness and prosperity be yours.
For us Christians, what does it mean to fear the Lord and be happy? It means that we acknowledge the Lord in our lives, and our reverence for God is the source of our happiness and blessing.
When God came into our lives, and we received the gift of salvation by acknowledging Jesus as our Lord and Savior, it was a great and priceless blessing. We are freed from bondages that have controlled our lives for so long, and we are now freed to live a life that honors God.
In verses 3-4, it talks about the blessing of a family together. When we have the overflowing grace of God in our lives, and we are joined with our family members who are also overflowing in their lives, what would happen? The blessing of God not only for ourselves but for our family members as well.
The word "blessed" in verses 4 and 5 is the word "barak" in Hebrew, which means blessed of the Lord. We are blessed of the Lord. The first one is we are happy; we are joyful, and then we are blessed of the Lord.
In this vision of a family that honors God, each person must make a personal decision to fear and honor God. We desire and pray for our loved ones to be saved, and we trust the Lord that it will happen to them.
In verses 5-6, it talks about intergenerational blessings. The blessings of the grandparents to their children and to their children's children. It is not only for my generation alone; it is for the generations after me.
The vision of a nation is the vision of families of pilgrims walking on that road, ascending to that hill to the city of Jerusalem, into the temple of Jerusalem, an image of a strong nation.
God is calling us to celebrate the feast, to take back this heritage, to take back the celebration for our families, and to go to the streets, celebrate it, and tell people this is what the celebration means.
To Think About
- What does it mean to fear the Lord, and how can we apply this in our daily lives?
- How can we envision a family that honors God, and what steps can we take to make this a reality?
- What are some practical ways we can pray for our loved ones to be saved?
- How can we as a church community support families in their journey to honor God?
- What is the significance of intergenerational blessings, and how can we pray for the blessing of our families for generations to come?