A Faith Worth Passing

Introduction

Today is Grandparents Day and I am very excited to share a message with you that has been on my heart this week. Join me please in Psalm 78. This passage, especially verses 1-8 is a vital reminder to ALL of us about the importance of passing our faith on to the next generation.

We need to make sure the TRUTH of God’s Word, and the experiences we have had with God and His goodness get PASSED on to our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and anyone else in the younger generation that God puts in our path.

They will shape the future, BUT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR FUTURE!

Psalm 78 was written thousands of years ago. Psalm 78 is attributed to Asaph. It is said that Asaph was a gifted teacher, and it is clear from this passage that he understood the importance of taking what his forefathers had given him and passing it on to those who were coming behind him.

Asaph understood that there is a “CHAIN” of spiritual transmission. Asaph understood the importance of ensuring that the “CHAIN” didn’t break.

Asaph’s contemplation serves as a powerful reminder to us, as INFLUENCERS, that we CANNOT BE NEUTRAL in this process. We must TEACH, TELL, WARN the next generation, not only to provide them vital information, but give the the TRUTH that can lead to GENERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION!

First, notice with me Psalm 78:1-3

Psalm 78:1–3 NKJV

Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.

A Faith Worth Receiving (vv. 1-3)

We cannot pass on something that we do not have ourselves. Asaph begins this Psalm by imploring his listeners to “Give ear.”

He is simply asking them to LISTEN...but understand LISTENING is different than HEARING. The phrase “give ear” carries with it the idea of “DEEP, ATTENTIVE LISTENING” or “EARNEST ATTENTION.”

What is it that he wants them to pay such close attention to? He refers to it as “MY LAW,” “THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH,” and “a PARABLE, and “DARK SAYINGS OF OLD.”

My Law...The Words of My Mouth

When Asaph says “my law” he is not insinuating that it is his law as if it originated with him, but rather it is God’s Law that has been passed down to him. It is “HIS” in the sense that he has made it his own, not in the sense that he made it up.

Just like we say, “Jesus is mine” we do not mean that we created Him, but rather we have embraced Him as our own!

Parables

Asaph also mentions “parables” and “dark sayings.” These two words are similar but different. The Hebrew words uses for “parable” is often translated as “proverb.”

A “parable/proverb” in this sense refers to an AUTHORITATIVE or WEIGHTY speech. The parables that he has received and now wants to pass on to the next generation are AUTHORITATIVE because they have come from God, and weighty because they have theological significance.

Dark Sayings

The idea of dark sayings reference something similar to a “riddle.” In other words some of the things that Asaph will be passing down needs to be really contemplated and thought about sincerely and seriously.

This may be one of the reasons Asaph is encouraging his readers to GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION to the things he is going to say, because these truths will not be evident to a casual reader/listener.

Before we move on to verse 4 I want to give you the same challenge that Asaph gave to those who would read or hear this Psalm:

Listen “ON PURPOSE”

Come to God’s Word with an eagerness to learn and understand what God wants to say to you. Come to God’s Word with a desire to learn and understand.

Pray for Spiritual Discernment

Not everything in Scripture is going to be crystal clear, but do not give up. Ask questions of older, more mature believers. Ask for advice about good reading materials, study Bibles, and commentaries that will help you have a better understanding of God’s Word.

Remember, these truths have been PASSED on to you, they need to be PASSED on to others. But just like the runner in the relay race cannot pass along one baton to another without having a firm grip on the baton themselves, we cannot pass on God’s Word to the next generation if we don’t have a firm grip on His truth!

Now let’s turn our attention to Psalm 78:4

Psalm 78:4 NKJV

We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

A Faith Worth Revealing (v. 4a)

Asaph says emphatically, “WE WILL NOT HIDE them from their children.”

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE SILENT!

When we are silent, we are negligent. We MUST reveal the truth to future generations by not only the WORDS we speak, but also by the way we live.

Asaph said he wasn’t going to CONCEAL, but REVEAL!

Notice again verse 4, but this time we will read it with verses 5-6 also

Psalm 78:4–6 NKJV

We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children,

A Faith Worth Declaring (vv. 4b-6)

What is he going to reveal? What is he going to declare:

The Praises of the Lord (4b)

What are the “praises of the Lord.” This is a phrase that refers to “REASONS FOR PRASING HIM.”

Do you have any reasons to praise the Lord? Absolutely!

Does the younger generation that is around you EVER hear about these reasons, or do all they heart is complaining and griping?

We need to RECOUNT God’s faithfulness not only in our MINDS, but also in our words, songs, and actions!

The Lord’s Strength & Wonderful Works (v. 4b)

Has God shown His strength throughout history? Absolutely

Has God revealed His strength to you and in your life? If you’ve been watching you’d have to say a resounding YES!

How about His wonderful works? Hasn’t He done the AWE-INSPIRING things in your life that you know have been “GOD MOMENTS”

Hasn’t He also done those things throughout History! YES HE HAS. HISTORY is HIS-STORY!

Don’t you think the future generations need to HEAR and KNOW about His POWER! Absolutely!

God’s power was demonstrated when He delivered the Israelites from Egypt!

God’s power was demonstrated when He PROVIDED for them in the Wilderness!

He gave them WATER from the rocks and MANNA from Heaven.

And the list goes on...

The Lord’s Word: Law & Testimony

Why is it important to learn God’s Word?

This helps US and FUTURE GENERATIONS understand WHO God is, WHAT God has DONE, and WHAT God has SAID!

The responsibility to share this truth doesn’t just rest with the parents, but also teachers, grandparents, the church family...

WHY do we do this?

Look at verse 6 again

Psalm 78:5–6 CSB

He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children so that a future generation— children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children

So they will know and PASS IT ON TO THEIR CHILDREN!

PARENTS, YOU AREN’T RAISING CHILDREN. We’ve let the world, the flesh, and the devil convince us to be short-sighted in our child rearing. You’ve got to stop raising children and STARTING RAISING FUTURE, CHRIST-LOVING, CHRIST-HONORING, HARD WORKING, GOD-FEARING, UNSELFISH, RESPONSIBLE FUTURE ADULTS

YOU ARE RAISING FUTURE ADULTS!

YOU ARE RAISING THE PARENTS OF YOUR POTENTIAL GRANDCHILDREN. (YET TO BE BORN v. 6)

YOU ARE RAISING FUTURE HUSBANDS, FUTURE WIVES, FUTURE LEADERS OF MEADOWBROOK CHURCH!

My son or daughter-in-law has a shirt that says, “Raising tiny disciples.”

I saw another shirt the other day when I went out to eat that said: MOTHERHOOD IS KINGDOM WORK

As we conclude this morning notice Psalm 78:7-8

Psalm 78:7–8 NKJV

That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Here we see the purpose of if all...

A Faith Worth Embracing (vv. 7-8)

Why do we reveal and declare our faith to the next generation? We do it because we desire to see them SET THEIR HOPE IN GOD as well!

There is a lot we can do for the next generation, but there is one thing we cannot do for them.

WE CANNOT SET THEIR HOPE IN GOD, WE CAN ONLY SET OUR HOPE IN GOD AND POINT THE WAY!

They have to make their own PERSONAL DECISION to EMBRACE faith in Christ for themselves.

We aren’t just teaching them “facts” or “Bible trivia” but we are pointing them to a RELATIONSHIP with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot experience God’s grace FOR them, but we can TELL them about the grace we have experienced and encourage them to

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

As they set their hope in God, we can teach and encourage them not to forget God’s works, and not to forget His commands.

The truth is WE AREN’T the only ones that are having an influence on the next generation. Asaph understood that and we better understand it as well:

Psalm 78:8 NKJV

And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Conclusion

From 2011 to 2021 there was a 12% decrease, according to Pew Research in the people in our nation that identified themselves as “Christian.” A 12% DECREASE!

Research also shows that when young adults enter college, they often DISENGAGE with the church. When asked why here’s some of the most popular responses that are given:

A lack of AUTHENTIC connection

Feeling like the faith they were taught was not relevant with the “real-world”

A perception that the church was more focused on RULES than a real RELATIONSHIP with God

WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY.

If you have a firm grip on the baton today, regardless of whether or not you are a parent or a grandparent I want to ask you a thought-provoking question:

ARE YOU ACTIVELY TRAINING THE NEXT RUNNER?

WHO are you investing your life in? Who are you preparing to take your place when you are off the scene?

Secondly, I want to speak to the middle-age and young adults...HAVE YOU INTENTIONALLY SOUGHT OUT A MENTOR AT THIS CHURCH and asked them to help you in your faith. Don’t wait for them to come to you. Seek them out and pursue godly influencers to help you in your Christian walk!

INVITATION

Before we dismiss today I want to share with you some AMAZING RESOURCES that have demonstrated over time to INCREASE THE CHANCE that our young people will not only embrace faith for themselves but continue to live out that faith as they grow older.

There are THREE things I want to encourage you to get your kids involved in, along with the important things you are already doing:

VERTICAL THREE CONFERENCE AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL

In the near future we are going to start offering options for children, K5-High School to participate in the VERTTICAL THREE CONFERENCE and in the SPRING participate in the State Conference and potentially the NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

TRUTH AND PEACE

Truth and Peace exists to teach and train students to learn with humility, serve joyfully, lead with grace, and love selflessly in their churches, youth groups, homes, and schools.

E-TEAM

ETEAM is a life-changing, short-term summer missions experience for students. These opportunities open students’ eyes to cross-cultural ministry and give them a heart for reaching the nations with the gospel. Students will experience the life of an IM missionary and what it’s like to serve internationally.

A survey was recently done among young adults and adults that participated in these opportunities as youth and found that 95% of them are STILL SERVING JESUS and ACTIVE in their local church as adults.

This is the direction I feel as if we need to start prodding our young people toward. This is the direction I feel we need to start investing in. This is the direction I feel as if we need to start promoting!