The Ten Commandemnts of Healthy Homes
Ten Commandments for Healthy Homes • Sermon • Submitted
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Ex. 20 gives us the 10 Commandments
1. No other god besides Me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lords day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not murder.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall no covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall no covet your neighbor's goods.
I believe that each of these are foundational stones for the family!
The World is currently in a conflict over “family values” that has escalated to an all-out cultural war.
There is a movement by governments, courts and special interest groups to systematically remove from law the spiritual principles that our founding fathers stood for, claiming that these principles reflect outdated traditions no longer relevant to public policy.
If we were indeed a better place as a result of these changes, we could openly cheer our leaders for being so insightful, wise and discerning to make choices that will secure our future.
The statistics draw a tragically different picture:
· The divorce rates at 45% in the US
· 19 million children living in single parent families
· Violent youth crime skyrocketing
· Child and teen suicide rate up 57%
· 3 1/2 - 4 million new child abuse cases year
· 40% of all babies in US are board to unwed mothers.
All a product of an effort to stop outdated principles!
The Bible warns us that turning from God’s absolute principles will result in destruction and the collapse of a nation.
The Fathers of the Constitution built a good foundation, but the “governing elite” are determined to disregard the faith of our country’s founders!
To those who would explain away The US’s Christian heritage on the back of “cultural progress,” saying that today we are a different society and must protect all viewpoints and rights, the words of G.K. Chesterton are a stinging rebuke:
“The danger when men stop believing in God is not that they will believe in nothing but that they will believe in anything.”
We are at a critical juncture in our history.
An astonishing 80% of North Americans feel that our countries are in moral crisis and want their politicians to address spiritual concerns.
Many are taking up the cry that we need to get back to “Family Values” but nobody is defining what they are.
William Bennett said, “It’s now politically correct to believe in family values, but it’s not politically correct to get specific about them.”
Newsweek ran a cover story a couple of years ago entitled “Whose Values?”
Whose family values are you going to follow?
Because there are a lot of different kinds of “families” in the US!
Thousands of years ago God gave Ten Values for family living, God’s “Big Ten.”
They’re called the Ten Commandments.
These are not fads or political buzzwords, they are values that are the bedrock of civilization, the foundation for our entire judicial system.
Virtually all belief systems consider the majority of the Ten Commandments as good for the human race.
Three religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims) agree that they are literally “words from God.”
Only one religion (the church of Satan) is on record as opposing them.
In the Hebrew language in which they were first delivered, the Ten Commandments are called “Aseret Dev’rote” or the “Ten Words.”
They are brief and clear directives from God.
They are not merely sayings, but are meant to translate into holy actions.
There is something about the Ten Commandments that holds each of us accountable.
How many of you live by the Ten Commandments?
What if I said “name them”?
Newsweek once reported that only 49% of Protestants and 44% of Catholics could name even four of them!
How can you live by them if you can’t name them?
WHY DID GOD GIVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?
Not to hurt us but to help us.
Not to restrict us but to release us.
Not to punish us but to protect us.
Every time God says “Don’t” it is for our benefit; we ignore His commands to our own hurt. (i.e. child touching hot stove)
These are not the Ten Suggestions; they’re not optional.
If you jump out a ten-story window, and ignore God’s law of gravity, you will end with your body broken on the pavement.
You don’t break God’s laws, they break you!
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
They are to be an integral part of our families.
If we obey them, our homes will be blessed.
So, for the next ten weeks, we will look at how these “Ten Comandments for Healthy Homes” can make a difference in our families.
Examine Your Priorities - No other god besides Me.
Avoid The Counterfeits - You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.
Take God Seriously - Remember to keep holy the Lords day.
Renew Your Relationships - Honor your father and mother.
Respect Your Heritage - Honor your father and mother.
Value The Individual - You shall not murder.
Protect Your Marriage - You shall not commit adultery.
Maintain Your Integrity - You shall not steal
Speak The Truth - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Discover Real Contentment - You shall no covet your neighbor's goods.
COMANDMENT/HABIT #1: EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES
Exodus 20:2–3 (KJV 1900)
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:2-3 (NLT) 2 I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. 3 Do not worship any other gods besides me.
The order of the Ten Commandments is not haphazard.
Habit #1 is the foundation for being a strong family, the very first command and most important command.
What’s the principle?
EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES.
Put God first! TRUST
God demands top priority in our lives, and He refuses to play second fiddle to anything.
He deserves to be #1 because He made you.
What does it mean to have “no other gods before Me”?
What is a god (small “g”)?
It is anything that dominates or controls your life.
Even good things that God has created for us to enjoy become gods when you give them first place in your life!
The last phrase of the first command is its most politically incorrect assertion: “Lo yeyeh le-ach elohim acherim al panai!” which is literally “No gods to be in my face!”
Those things we deem more important than God cut off our communication with him! (i.e. paper in front of face)
Every time God gives a PRINCIPLE, he also gives a PROMISE!
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:6 (LB) In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
Do you want to be successful?
EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES. Put God first!
WHATEVER YOU WANT GOD TO BLESS, PUT HIM FIRST IN THAT AREA.
The North American divorce rate is now 1 in 3 marriages.
But Harvard University did a study: In marriages where the wedding is in a church, the divorce rate is 1 in 50.
In marriages where they’re married in a Christian ceremony, go to church every week, read the Bible and pray together, the divorce rate is 1 in 1105.
Put God first!
HOW DO I PUT GOD FIRST?
Here are five ways ... F.I.R.S.T.
F – FINANCES
Honour the Lord with thy substance,
And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
And thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (CEV) Honor the Lord by giving him your money and the first part of all your crops. Then you will have more grain and grapes than you will ever need.
God says, “Give me the first part back and I’ll bless all the rest!”
The Bible teaches that money is the number one test of our priorities.
Your chequebook reveals what’s really important to you; not what you say, but how you spend your money.
God’s Word talks more about giving than either Heaven or Hell
Over half of Jesus’ parables deal with the subject of money
There are more promises in the Bible about giving than any other subject.
Compare Bible words: believe (272 X), pray (371 X), love (714 X), give (2162 X).
And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.
Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB) The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.
What’s tithing?
The first 10% of all I make goes back to God.
Why is that important?
God says if I’m not tithing, He’s not really first in my life.
If you’re in a financial mess right now, the first step is to put God first in your finances.
WHATEVER YOU WANT GOD TO BLESS, PUT HIM FIRST IN THAT AREA!
When should I tithe?
On the first day of every week – the day you go to worship, because tithing is an act of worship!
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (LB) On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering.
The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.
Where should I tithe?
Where I get fed spiritually – God’s storehouse.
The matter of TITHING is the only instance where God says, “Test Me! See if I exist! Let Me bless you and prove Myself to you!”
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be meat in mine house,
And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts,
If I will not open you the windows of heaven,
And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Malachi 3:10 (CEV) I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.
I – INTERESTS
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.
If God’s really going to be number one, you must put Him first in your interests – amusements, recreation, hobbies, etc.
How do you do that?
Everything you do with an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE puts God first in that area.
Enjoy the things He’s given to you!
You can tell what a person’s priorities are by seeing what they get excited about.
That’s what is important to you.
A good test is what you talk about the most – if the Lord is first in your life, He’s going to be part of your conversation.
You won’t be ashamed to talk about Him because He comes first!
EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES.
Ephesians 5:19 (LB) Talk with each other much about the Lord.
R – RELATIONSHIPS
As in water face answereth to face,
So the heart of man to man.
Proverbs 27:19 (LB) A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.
If you want God first in your life, you’re going to have to choose your friends carefully.
Why?
Because you become like the people you spend the most time with!
If you spend time with people who take God lightly, you will tend to become a casual believer.
But if you spend time with people who are committed and take God and His Word seriously, you will become a stronger, committed Christian.
Parents, what type of people are you exposing your children to?
Who do you spend time with and invite into your home?
Make sure they model the kind of behavior you want your kids to have.
(Don’t forget that kids model themselves after what they see on TV, too!)
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:
But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Proverbs 13:20 (CEV) Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.
If you really want God first, then some relationships are wrong for you!
It’s always easier to pull someone down than to pull someone up!
S – SCHEDULE
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:16-17 (PH) Make the best use of your time, despite all the evils of these days. Don’t be vague but grasp firmly what you know to be the will of the Lord.
How do I put God first in my schedule?
I ask Him to help me use my time wisely!
I make a TO DO list of things I have to do and say, “God, which of these things do You want me to do?”
You do not have time to do everything – selection is the name of the game.
God has a plan for your life, so if you find yourself having more things to do than you have time to do, it means you’re doing some things that aren’t God’s will!
They may be good things, but God never puts more on you than He puts in you!
If you really want God to be first in your life, then you need to make a daily appointment with Him to read your Bible and pray, and REVIEW YOUR SCHEDULE AND PRIORITIES with Him!
Even Jesus felt the need for daily prayer!
Mark 1:35 (CEV) Very early the next morning, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.
In Stephen Covey’s bestseller, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, habit #3 is very similar to the thought of the first commandment: PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST.
In that chapter, Covey introduces the “Four Quadrants of Time Management” ...
QUADRANT ONE – URGENT AND IMPORTANT (Crises, pressing problems, deadlines)
QUADRANT TWO – NOT URGENT AND IMPORTANT (Planning, relationship building, preparation)
QUADRANT THREE – URGENT AND NOT IMPORTANT (Interruptions, popular activities, telephone)
QUADRANT FOUR – NOT URGENT AND NOT IMPORTANT (Trivia & busy work, time wasters, pleasant activities)
Quadrant Two contains all the things we know we need to do, but somehow seldom get around to doing because they aren’t urgent!
Quadrant 1 – Problems
Quadrant 2 – Preparation
Quadrant 3 – Popular
Quadrant 4 - Pleasant
Stephen Covey: Highly Effective People spend as much time as possible in Quadrant Two! (80/20 Pareto Principle)
OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE GROWS OUT OF QUADRANT TWO – IT IS IMPORTANT, BUT NOT URGENT.
We have to take the initiative!
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
Jeremiah 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
T – TROUBLES
Psalm 50:15 (CEV) Pray to me in time of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.
God says, “Turn to Me FIRST when you’ve got a problem!”
Prayer should be the first option, not the last resort!
God is waiting to hear from you! “Put Me first, even in the tough times!”
Some people think, I don’t talk to God much when times are good and I don’t feel like I can bother Him with my problems.
God says, “Bother Me! Don’t carry it all yourself!”
How do you know when God is really first in your life?
YOU STOP WORRYING!
Worry is the warning light that God is not first in my life at this particular moment.
When I start worrying, I’m playing God!
When God is not first in my Finances, Interests, Relationships, Schedule and Troubles – I worry about them! EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES!
Matthew 6:33 (CEV) But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Did you ever notice that Jesus said that right in the middle of a sermon on worry? Putting God first is the antidote to worry!
Matthew 6:32-34 (CEV) Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Joshua’s commitment: “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15, LB)
If I want to build a successful life and a strong family, I’ve got to have the right foundation. The first commandment tells me I must put God first. EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES!