Looking To God For Your Family
Psalms 37:3-5-{3} Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. {4} Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. {5} Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.
What should you do to realize God's blessings in your life and the life of your family.
The text gives three actions that you should take.
I. (vs.3) TRUST IN GOD: When you trust in God, he will supply your needs.
A. Explanation:
1- to put confidence in, to be secure, to rely, believe
2- David writes from the vantage point of his long years of experience with God
a) as a father he had many problems with his family, e.g., death of his first son by Bath-sheba; daughter raped by her half brother and is killed by David's eldest son, eldest son attempts a coup.
3- What problems are you facing in your family?
a) financial hardships;
b) influences of the world on your children thru television, movies, peers groups, school curriculum, pregnancies, substance abuse, other religious doctrines.
B. Illustration: birds & animals trust God for their needs
C. Argumentation: Who is more able to help you in your time of need, but God?
1- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory;
2- God is omnipotent;
3- God knows what you need before you ask; God knows that we have need of these things; take no thought for tomorrow;
D. Application: trusting God requires your total surrender to Him; trust God to give you wisdom to be what your family needs of you.
II. (vs.4) DELIGHT IN THE LORD: When you delight in God, he will satisfy your desires.
A. Explanation:
1- to take pleasure in the Lord: his word (meditating day & night), his ways (holiness), his salvation (Christ)
2- when you take pleasure in God, it motivates him to act on your behalf to prosper your way: De.29:9; Ps.1:3; Pr.16:7
3- What are the desires of your heart for your family?
a) good education for your children; a more loving relationship with your children, salvation for your unsaved love ones
B. Illustration: as a father you are more willing to give to your children when they love you just for being their dad.
C. Argumentation: Isn't delighting in God worth having the desires and expectations for your family realized?
1- the father should be the leader in the home and the example of one that loves God and delights in living his life God's way.
D. Application: Learn what delights God and do those things consistently: Jer.9:23,24.
III. (vs.5) COMMIT TO GOD: When you commit to God, he will surpass your
expectations.
A. Explanation:
1- to hand over for safekeeping; the Hebrew word means to roll
2- when you are committed to God, you will be diligent in your duties as a godly father:
B. Argumentation: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Pr.3:5,6).
C. Application:
1) to teach the children and his house about God and His ways: De.6:7- And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
2) to train your children in the way: Pr.22:6- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
3) to correct your children: Pr.22:15- Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
4) to provide for your children: 2 Cor.12:14- …for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
5) to nurture your children: Ep.6:4- And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
6) to control your children: 1 Ti.3:4- One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Father's who trusted Christ for their family
1- Jarius’ Daughter- Mk.5:22-24; 35-43 [sought, asked, believed, received]
2- Demonic Son Healed- Mk.9:14-27 [sought, asked, believed, received]
3-The nobleman's son healed- John 4:46-53