Sunday June 9, 2013 Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail:
Message Father’s Day Text: Psalm 78:1-11
Fathers: Building a Godly Heritage for Your Children
As we approach “Father’s Day,” I want to address the men of our church. Honestly, we are in a crisis in this country due to a lack of proper male leadership in the home, in the church, and in the nation. Understanding and responding to the following statements will greatly benefit our children and all those in the future.
FIRST: Fathers influence the future of their children not by the way they live before them, but by the way they live before God.
SECOND: Fathers who disregard the Will of God, will hinder and diminish the spiritual direction and the spiritual progress of their children and future generations.
THIRD: Fathers who consider the Will of God and who consistently apply the Word of God to their lives, will invoke the Blessings of God upon their children and future generations.
FOURTH: The success of fathers will be measured, not so much in their children's lives as much as in their children's, children's lives.
Now please turn with me and follow as I read Psalm 78:1-11.
“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. (2) I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: (3) Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. (4) We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. (5) For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: (6) That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: (7) That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: (8) And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. (9) The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. (10) They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; (11) And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.”
Notice the purpose of passing down the testimony from one generation to the next in verse 7, “That they might set their hope in God, and not FORGET the works of God, but KEEP His commandments.”
Many assume that a godly beginning or a great spiritual heritage ensures continual blessing. They seem to be saying, "Since things are going well, everything must be okay, so we don’t have to worry or do anything special." In reality, this mentality is threatening our fundamental churches, Christian schools and Christian families. In Psalm 78:9 notice, "The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle." The Ephraimites appeared to be prepared, but failed to act. They turned from faithful commitment to God's cause to weak conviction. Why?
To understand WHY, it will be helpful to know WHO the Ephraimites are in Psalm 78. That requires going back to the closing chapters of Genesis. There we have the story of Joseph, who endured through great difficulty. Joseph withstood the harsh experience of being sold into slavery by his brothers, and then being imprisoned for no wrong on his part. But he did not turn against God. In the process God gave Joseph two sons:
The first child was named Manasseh, which means "forgetting."
The second child was named Ephraim, meaning "fruitful."
In time, these sons became heads of two of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Now while Joseph had been chosen of God to endure hardships and to go before his family to preserve them there in Egypt, Ephraim was apparently protected from adversity.
While Joseph, as a father and leader, kept his eyes firmly fixed upon God and was totally dependent upon God, it appears that Ephraim grew up in a background of ease.
Now as you search the Old Testament concerning Ephraim, you will discover at least FOUR things that characterized this Tribe of Israel.
Number 1: The Ephraimites were characterized by a COMFORT MENTALITY.
Don't ever resent having difficulties in your background.
Don't ever resent having had to work for what you have, because hardship can produce in you a deep sense of appreciation for God's provision and strength in your walk of faith.
If you have had difficulty and adversity, thank God for the privilege of having that type of character-training in your background.
We are in a very, very, real spiritual battle with the enemy of our soul, the devil himself. In essence, we endanger our heritage by having comfort without cost, and convenience without conflict.
Perhaps our present generation, like the Ephraimites, have been given too many toys and not enough physical and spiritual sweat.
Number 2: The Ephraimites became powerless through COMPROMISE. In Joshua 16:10 we read, ''And they drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute." The Ephraimites tolerated what God had expressly commanded them to put out of their lives. As a result, they became more tolerant of the ungodly.
That can easily happen in modern families. In fact, we may know exactly what is in our lives that God wants out, but we tolerate it because it pleases us. In our homes, we often tolerate those things that are not best for us, because they serve to keep us satisfied and up-to-date with our American dream. Without even realizing it, in all these matters we succeeded in our efforts. However, we failed in our love for the Lord, thereby compromising ourselves and becoming powerless for the cause of Christ.
Number 3: The Ephraimites became COWARDS. In Judges 12:1-2 we read,
“And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. (2) And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.”
The Ephraimites refused to enter the battle at the time of greatest need. Sometimes, you know, I really wonder how many of God's people understand that we are in a serious battle? How many realize that we are in combat with our soul’s enemy? Let me ask you:
"As a Christian family, are your children strong enough to withstand the powerful influences of worldly peer pressure?
"As a Christian family, are your children strong enough to withstand the powerful religious influences that are departing from the faith?
Number 4: The Ephraimites’ continual, spiritual erosion was evidenced by their CARNALITY. Several references in the book of Hosea reflect this:
Hosea 4:17, "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone."
Hosea 7:8, "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned (literally half-baked).”
Hosea 7:11, "Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart..."
Hosea 7:16, "They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow."
Ephraim was like a deceitful bow, a bow that was not ready for battle. Ephraimites were half-baked, creating an image of mass carnality. The picture of the Tribe of Ephraim is a picture of America today. Someone said, “The biggest problem facing America is not the economy, terrorism, illegal immigration, etc. It is first and foremost Biblical illiteracy, and second it is Biblical disobedience.”
Now returning to Psalms 78, let us look at what caused the Ephraimites to turn away in the time of battle.
First: They had a WEAK HEART. In verse 8, "The Ephraimites were a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright." Here we discover the Ephraimites had a weak heart. In Proverbs 4:23 we read, "Keep thy HEART with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." When our heart turns from God, every part of our life is harmed.
Neglecting the Word of God is the first step to becoming spiritually weak, because we cannot maintain strength for warfare without study and application of God’s word.
Neglecting the Place of Prayer is another step to becoming spiritually weak, because we cannot maintain contact with our Heavenly Father unless we “pray without ceasing”. No daily prayer, family prayer time, or gathering in the house of God for communal prayer makes one spiritually weak.
Neglecting the “House of God” is still another step to becoming spiritually weak. Please follow this progression that I have observed over and over again in my 46 years of ministry.
The first generation of FATHERS are faithful to the local church They are present every time the church doors open. Nothing keeps them away from the “House of God.”
The second generation of FATHERS doesn’t think it’s important to go to church all the time. They think that they do God a favor when they show up once a week. This generation believes in being in the house of God except:
when they have company from out of town,
when they can get some overtime at work, and
when they find other activities more appealing.
This generation believes that they ought to be in church, but they are inconsistent in their attendance.
The third generation of FATHERS does not bother to go to church, except once in a great while. They don't think that they need church, and even Sunday School is not on their list to attend.
Second: They had a WEAK SPIRIT. Notice again in Psalm 78, verse 8 their "spirit was not steadfast with God." I have to admit that when my spirit is weak, I have no desire to march onward for the faith. But when my heart is strong, no matter what circumstances I face, my spirit can remain strong. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:58, "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
Third: They had a WEAK WILL. In verse 10 we read that the Ephraimites ''kept not the covenant of God." It's easy to make a commitment to God while sitting under the preaching of God's Word and during an invitation. But how long will you keep that commitment to God? Listen, my friends, believe it or not:
When we choose to neglect the Word of God,
When we choose to surrender to the human flesh, and as a result have weak wills, and
When we choose to neglect the teaching of the Word in our homes as well as neglecting the application of the Word behind the four walls of our homes,
We are contributing to the spiritual delinquency and destruction of the next generation.
Fourth: They had WEAK FEET: Again in verse 10 we read, "the Ephraimites…refused to walk in his God's law." Week feet are the logical result of a weak heart, weak spirit and weak will. In Psalm 119:105 we read, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." By choosing disobedience and the easy way, the Ephraimites ended up refusing to walk in God's way. Again in Psalm 37:23 we read, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way."
Fifth: They had a WEAK MIND. In verse 11 the Ephraimites "forgot His (God's) works." When we forget the works of God, God's Word becomes academic and no longer changes our lives. The second generation syndrome reminds us why the Ephraimites drifted from God. They forgot His works.
By observing the Ephraimites, we learn that a "GOOD HERITAGE DOES NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE A GOOD LEGACY.
The Ephraimites turned from God in WAR,
The Ephraimites turned from God in their WALK, and
The Ephraimites turned from God in their WORSHIP.
Let me once again underscore the words we read from Psalm 112:1-10:
“Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. (2) His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. (3) Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. (4) Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. (5) A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. (6) Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. (7) He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. (8) His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. (9) He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. (10) The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.”
Let me now point out from this passage that that in order to secure a spiritual future for your children, you must be a man of CONVICTION. Please notice:
Verse 6 "He shall not be moved."
Verse 7 "His heart is fixed."
Verse 8 "His heart is established."
Every belief you have, your way of life, and your faith is either a preference or a conviction.
A PREFERENCE is a choice or belief held on to very, very strongly. It is a belief that could be changed, but it is just preferred.