Building Strong Families in A Broken World (Series)

Set the Example (Name of Sermon)

Judges 2:6-10 The Death of Joshua

⁶ When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. ⁷ And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. ⁸ And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. ⁹ And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. ¹⁰ And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

¹¹ And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. ¹² And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. 

Judges 2:10-19 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Also, all [the people of] that generation were gathered to their fathers [in death]; and another generation arose after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the LORD, nor even the work which He had done for Israel.

Each new generation takes about 20-25 years to become the 2nd generation. Then, as they raise their own family, they gradually become the 3rd generation. Often even the 4th generation (60-75) and fifth generation (80-100) are still contributing and influencing. Thus, there are generally five generations on earth.  (40-60) (20-40) (20 and under) (Example on Chairs)

The upbringing of their children was far different than their own. 

While these “elders” were children, they had lived as slaves in Egypt,

-saw the ten plagues,

-walked through the Red Sea,

-and witnessed the events at Mount Sinai.

These early experiences helped mold them. Their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren had a vastly different experience. They had lived to experience the great wealth from the conquests, and the reality of prosperity, ease, and security in the Promised Land. The influence of the worldly nations around them began to exert its power along with the idolatry they had witnessed during their forty years of wandering. (Josh. 24:15; Amos 5:25-26). The freedom they gained in their new homes, away from the restraint of Joshua’s leadership also contributed.

Much of this was summed up in the warning Moses had given them: “when the Lord your God brings you into the land to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,” “houses full of all good things, which you did not fill,” “hewn-out wells which you did not dig,” “vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant,” ... “then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (Deut. 6:10-15).

They did not “beware” and they did “forget.”

We are witnessing something very similar today, not just in America, but throughout all of Western Civilization. During the days of the “greatest” (1901-1924), and the “silent” (1925-45) generations two world wars with the great depression between molded and formed their character. Through great deprivations, incredible sacrifices and terrible losses, they learned to lean on God to help them through it all. The majority of these people accepted God’s existence and reverenced the Bible as the Word as truth. But today, as in the days of Joshua, “another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord.”
  
This is a challenging time for sincere servants of Jesus Christ. 

This is a challenging time for marriages.

This is a challenging time for families.

But all of these things start with us!

I might not be able to change my marriage…

I may not be able to change my family…

But I can set an example…

As the generation “of those who served the Lord” leaves the earth, they are being replaced by those who “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Rom. 1:21).

As generations come and go, cultural norms will change.

This has led to the world we once knew becoming unrecognizable.

Yet Jesus and His Scriptures are absolute and have not, nor ever will change. If it is our turn to be persecuted for taking such a stand, let us welcome it as our spiritual fathers did before us. Even the apostles of Jesus were “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”  (Acts 5:41-42). Never forget: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” (2Tim. 2:19).

So, we must set the example.

Not only be Joshua, but show them that they can be Joshua too!!

I may not be the best mother, wife, sister, pastor, but one thing I do, I will follow Christ in such a way that there will be no excuse for my children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren. 

I want a Godly legacy.

I am speaking into those who are coming behind me, my family, my ministry…

I am leading from a place that like Paul who says…

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

If you want a Godly legacy, be an example. 

If you want a Godly family, be an example. 

If you want a Godly marriage, be an example. 

If you want to build strong families in a broken world, be an example.

My Pastor at Living Word would always say in his sermons and it stuck…

What we do in moderation, our kids will do in excess. (ex. My Maw Maw with Smoking)           

But I also think this works in reverse for the good as well.  If You follow casually…

What we do casually, our kids will find unnecessary. (ex. Casually giving, going, being)

Example of my Family