God created the family and provides direction for it through the Bible.

ORIGIN OF THE FAMILY

A. God’s Image In Man Completed

Genesis 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet (helper) for him.

2:19  And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

2:20  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

…….One thing we must understand as Christian parents and adults is that we have a God given authority. We are not equal with God but He has given us authority over animals and lands. It is up to us individually to be responsible in the things that He has provided. Question: what is the most important thing to you that God has given you authority over?

B. Male and Female; Husband and Wife

2:20  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

2:21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

……. The first marriage was made by God, establishing forever the divine pattern that marriage is a sacred covenant between God, and a man and a woman united as husband and wife. The fact that God brought Eve to Adam made this event meaningful. The Father of the bride gave her away and thus a precedent was established. The fact that God brought you to Adam reveals the value and worth of the woman in God’s eyes. Afterward, Adam offered his poetic vowels (vs 23-24), followed by the consummation of the marriage. Next only to their relationship with God, the relationship between husband and wife is to take precedence over all other relationships. “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder”-the words of Jesus (Mark 10:9).

RESPONSIBILITIES OF FAMILY

A. Household Christian Education

…….It is our absolute duty as parents and spouses to know and understand the Word of God! Our children are going to learn what we have learned as it is depicted in our daily living. If we abide by God’s laws and commands with no hesitation and with a pure heart, it is more like for our children to follow suit.

Deuteronomy 11:18  Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

…….It is one thing for a person to love and desire something, it is another to place it in areas as a reminder to complete. I can love God and His words, but if I don’t read it and meditate it, that love will slip and fade. We set reminders and take notes of the things that are most important to us. In the same manner we must remember to read read this Bible, pray and seek the Lord and invest in our relationship with Him.

11:19  And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

…….You don’t have to have a masters degree in anything to teach your children what you know. In this highly technological influenced generation, we adults who feel behind and blind to new culture can at times seem embarrassed to even try to teach our children. That’s the exact mindset the devil wants you to have. Do not be silent to your children about the Love of God that’s one your heart! When we love God, it’s impossible to keep it in!

11:20  And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

…….It has never been unpopular or out of style to paint and post scriptures in our homes. This was never just a tradition or style, but commands by the Lord. I can distinctly remember verses from my childhood simply because they were written where I could see them daily. It’s that important!

B. The Land and The Fathers

Deu 11:21  That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

…….I love this part, “your days may be multiplied”. When we truly stand for God, our heritage will live on for decades! Today we live in religious freedoms because men in previous generations fought to the death to keep these freedoms! There are statues and memorials all across this great nation that remind us today of the sacrifices it took to provide what is now evident!

Deu 11:22  For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

Deu 11:23  Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.

…….People, we have got to get back to what it means to take a stand for Christ! Though there is a generation so easily offended, it is up to us to stay strong and firm in our standard (banner, sign)!

DIRECTION FOR THE FAMILY

A. Submission and Love

Ephesians 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

5:22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

…….The Christian wife’s submission to her Christian husband is predicated on the fact that, “the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church;…… Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands”. The “head” is the one having God-given authority to lead. The assumption is that the Christian husband will be subject to Christ, and will not ask anything of his wife that would be displeasing to Christ. This is the only way the Christian wife’s submission to her husband can be “as unto the Lord”.

Men, it is our duty to lead our wife’s to God, and never away from Him in regret of the relationship He has placed together!

5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

…….Christ laid down His life for the church because He loved it! He portrayed the perfect example of what leadership and love should be and passed it on through His Spirit that gives us the power to achieve His purpose in it! It is one thing for your employer to order you to complete a task, it is another for him to provide the tools, knowledge and assistance in every single step! That what God has done for us!

5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

…….The only reason a man would provide for a woman any less than he would himself is simply the lack of love. The way we care for our wives is the exact example of how we love the Lord!

5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

…….Love is meant to be a great mystery and never totally understood. The unknown naturally has that affect on a person, and it keeps us desirous for more.

B. Obey and Honor Parents

Ephesians 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

6:2  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

6:3  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

…….These 3 scriptures are not just for children to read and learn, but for a reminder for parents of how our children are supposed to conduct themselves in relation to us.

6:4  And, ye fathers, provoke (stimulate, entice, influence) not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (education, training) and admonition (gentle or friendly reproof) of the Lord.

…….Though our anger in our children’s lack of obedience and understanding at times gets the best of us, we must approach it with love. Just as Christ forgives us and mercifully corrects us, we must lead and teach our family with this same overall love and guidance.