The Dying Family Altar

Its consequences are upon us butis it too late?

The Family Altar - speaks to the

culture and practice of the Family intentionally honouring God in worship, reflection, reading of the Bible and prayer together. Does your family do this?

In Gen. 18:19 God makes this statement about Abraham, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” - NASB.

God chose Abraham:

• The reason that God chose him was so that he would instruct his descendants and his household (including his servants) to keep the way of the Lord.

• His instructions to them would not only be words but they would also see his lifestyle – “…by doing righteousness and justice…”

• God had made promises to Abraham concerning the destiny and effect of his descendants. Those promises would only be realized if Abraham’s descendants kept the way of the Lord.

One of the promises that God made to Abraham was that, “…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Gen. 12:3. Another promise that God made to him was, “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gen. 22:18 - NASB).

We know that these promises are being fulfilled and we also know that Abraham instructed His household in the ways of the Lord.

Consider these examples:

• Building altars to the Lord – Abraham had the practice of building altars and calling on the Name of the Lord.

One of his sons (Isaac) and one his grandsons (Jacob) continued the same practice. • Tithing – Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20), his grandson (Jacob) made a promise to

God that if He brought him back home then he would give tithes to

God also.

• Hearing from God – Abraham knew how to recognize God’s voice accurately, his son Isaac and his grandson (Jacob) also knew how to accurately recognize God’s voice.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, was a priest of God and advised Moses in the wisdom of God. Jethro was a descendant of Abraham through a son born to Keturah.

• Circumcision – God instructed

Abraham to circumcise all the males in his house. This was a practice for his descendants; to this day.

We see from these examples that Abraham instructed his descendants which resulted in God fulfilling His promise to them. This issue of parents instilling in their children a passionate relationship with the Lord is also seen in Timothy’s life. Paul’s comments to Timothy are very instructive, in 2 Tim. 1:5 (NIV) it tells us, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” Timothy’s mother and grandmother had impacted his life in such a meaningful way that he became an outstanding minister of the gospel.

In the scriptures we read of promises God has made concerning our families being saved.

Let us look at two of them:

• Prov. 11:21 (NASB) says, “…the descendants of the righteous will be rescued.” • Acts 16:31 (NLT) also says, “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.’”

• Deut. 11:18 – 21 outlines an activity we need to practice if we want our children to also serve the Lord as we do. It emphasizes that we should deliberately spend time teaching our children the scriptures; we should do it in all our interactions with them.

Verse 19 (NKJV) reads, “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

What if, as a believer, you have messed up your life terribly, can God still redeem your loved ones?

King David and Bathsheba messed up terribly: they were guilty of adultery and the murder of Bathsheba’s first husband. David was confronted about his actions by Nathan the prophet and repented. There were consequences for his gruesome deeds yet God still caused most of the kings of Judah (his son, grandson, great grandson, etc.) to be righteous kings. A major point of interest is David and Bathsheba are the great grandparents of both Mary and Joseph; the earthly parents of Jesus.

If you have messed up as a believer and as a parent, do not allow satan, the traducer, the accuser to disqualify you from seeing your children serve the Lord. Repent of your misdeeds and begin to spend time teaching your children the ways of the Lord; by your words and deeds. Society

may set an age restriction concerning our responsibility for our children,

God does not.

by Pastor David Ferguson Bible teacher, Pastor of Restoration Family Church Int.