THE HOME: WHAT HAVE THEY SEEN IN THY HOUSE?
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
In 2 Kings 18:1, a man by the name of Hezekiah became the 13th king of Judah.
In 2 Kings 18:1, a man by the name of Hezekiah became the 13th king of Judah.
Of his reign we are told ...
3 And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done.
Hezekiah was a great king, but he displayed weakness of character when the king of Babylon sent messengers to him.
These messengers came to congratulate Hezekiah upon his recovery from a very serious illness.
Hezekiah seems to have the idea that he must convince the king of Babylon, through his messengers, that he was indeed a mighty king.
Therefore...
13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.
The Lord was carefully observing all that transpired and sends Isaiah to ask Hezekiah a few questions...
3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.
God through the prophet Isaiah asked Hezekiah, "What have they seen in thy house?"
God through the prophet Isaiah asked Hezekiah, "What have they seen in thy house?"
This is the question that I want to ask you today
"What have they seen thy house?"
DISCUSSION
WHAT HAS GOD SEEN IN THY HOUSE?
WHAT HAS GOD SEEN IN THY HOUSE?
God knows our thoughts
God knows our thoughts
20 and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.
It takes time for a man's life to reveal how he thinks
But God already knows
Wicked thoughts destroyed the world in Noah's day
5 And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Sin can be committed in the mind
28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
... adultery in the heart
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
... hating a brother
It is a very sobering thought to know that
11 Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.
The Lord knows what we think of Him
5 All the day long they wrest my words: All their thoughts are against me for evil.
The Lord knows what we think of others
1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing; 3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool; 4 do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
The Lord knows when we think too highly of ourselves
3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
The Lord knows what we think of our families - whether we have a Christian attitude toward our wives, husbands, children, parents
Is this not a scary thought?
God is perfectly aware of our words
God is perfectly aware of our words
36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
13 This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
How do you speak to your spouse?
How do you speak to your children?
How do you speak to your parents?
God knows, sees, and will judge our actions
God knows, sees, and will judge our actions
To go to heaven we must DO for the Lord
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
What has God seen us do in regard to our family's spiritual welfare?
Are we all mouth and no action?
Are we working, endeavoring, striving to DO for the Lord???
What has God seen in thy house?
What has God seen in thy house?
WHAT HAVE THY CHILDREN SEEN IN THY HOUSE?
WHAT HAVE THY CHILDREN SEEN IN THY HOUSE?
Children are quick to pickup hypocrisy!
Children are quick to pickup hypocrisy!
We may say that the church is the most important institution to us in the world
Yet, when we miss worship regularly - attend Bible Study seldom - come late to worship services - fail to study our Bibles - What are we saying?
What have they children seen in thy house?
Children at a very early life learn what our priorities are
We MUST put God first; in fact, with God its first place or no place!
The home is the BEST place for priorities to be branded in the minds of our children
For this to occur, parents MUST listen to Jesus
37 And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Our children must see us put God FIRST!
What do our children see in our house when:
They are not permitted to miss school, but are permitted to miss Bible Study and worship?
We make them do their homework, but never see to it that they have time for Bible Study
They fail to ever or hardly ever see us study our Bibles.
So many parents have waisted their years - they have not taken time enough for God, the Bible, the church, their children, their spouse, nor the Christian life.
So many parents have waisted their years - they have not taken time enough for God, the Bible, the church, their children, their spouse, nor the Christian life.
We can't put off until tomorrow being a good Christian parent or a faithful Christian.
POEM: As The Twig Is Bent
A little girl with shining eyes-
Her little face aglow
Said: "Daddy, it is almost time
For Bible class, let's go.
They teach us there of Jesus' love,
Of how he died for all
Upon the cruel cross to save
Those who on Him will call."
"Oh, no," said Daddy, "Not today.
I've worked hard all this week
And I must have one day of rest
I'm going to the creek
For there I can relax and rest
And fishing's fine they say.
So run along; don't bother me.
We'll go to church some day."
Months and years have passed away,
But Daddy hears that plea no more;
"Let's go to Bible class."
Those childhood days are o'er.
And now that Daddy's growing old,
When life is almost through,
He finds the time to go to church,
But what does daughter do?
She says, "Oh Daddy, not today -
I stayed up most all night,
And I've just got to have some sleep.
Besides, I look a fright."
Then Daddy lifts a trembling hand
To brush away his tears
As again he hears the pleading voice
Distinctly through the years.
He sees a small girl's shining face
Upturned, with eyes aglow
As she says, "It's time for Bible class
Please, Daddy, won't you go?"
It is important to ask the question, "What do our children see in our house?"
It is important to ask the question, "What do our children see in our house?"
WHAT HAVE OTHERS SEEN IN THY HOUSE?
WHAT HAVE OTHERS SEEN IN THY HOUSE?
What do your friends and neighbors see in your house?
What do your friends and neighbors see in your house?
Is there any difference between our's and their's.
Sadly, in too many cases, there seems to be little difference between many Christian homes and homes of the world
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, 18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Different from worldly parents
Different from spouses of the world
2 Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;
Our lives are an open book - we are an "epistle"
We should think of our lives in this fashion:
The seconds of our lives are as words
The minutes of our lives are as lines
The hours of our lives are as paragraphs
The days of our lives are as pages
The weeks of our lives are as chapters
The months of our lives are as sections
The years of our lives are as volumes
Our life is an open book!
What has the world seen in thy house?
What has the world seen in thy house?
WHAT SHOULD BE SEEN IN OUR HOUSE?
WHAT SHOULD BE SEEN IN OUR HOUSE?
A husband who is the head of the wife…
A husband who is the head of the wife…
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.
Husbands who love their wives…
Husbands who love their wives…
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Wives who are submissive to their husbands
Wives who are submissive to their husbands
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Wives who respect and love their husbands
Wives who respect and love their husbands
33 Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
Children who are trained in the Scriptures
Children who are trained in the Scriptures
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Parents who discipline their children
Parents who discipline their children
18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
13 Withhold not correction from the child; For if thou beat him with the rod, he will not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Children who obey their parents
Children who obey their parents
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Children who see their parents praying, studying and being faithful to the word of God.
Children who see their parents praying, studying and being faithful to the word of God.
CONCLUSION
What have they seen in thy house?
What have they seen in thy house?
What has God seen?
What have you children seen?
What have you neighbors seen?
But most importantly, after this time of study, "WHAT WILL THEY SEE IN THY HOUSE?"
But most importantly, after this time of study, "WHAT WILL THEY SEE IN THY HOUSE?"
