How To Bless Your Family

Grand parents…don’t you just love it when your grandchildor (grandchildren) do something really nice for you! Well a little grandmother was surprised by her 7 year old grandson one morning when he made her coffee. She was so pleased but she wound up drinking what was the worst cup of coffee in her life. But she drank it and tried to put a “happy face” on as she did. And then when she got to the bottom there were three little green army men in the cup. She said, "Honey, what are these army men doing in my coffee?" Her grandson said, "Grandma, it says on TV, ’The best part of waking up is soldiers in your cup!’"

Well we are thankful for our soldiers today – the men and women who serve to protect us and give our freedom. And we are thankful for our families. May God help us to have strong families and strong homes. We’re continuing in our family series I’ve titled Bringing Life to Your Family. Today we’re looking at How To Bless Your Family.

The passage I want to direct your attention to this morning is a passage that actually gives us a strong warning about the family about being careful that you don’t destroy your family but rather that you seek to bring blessing to your family…turn with me this morning to Joshua 7:1-13 …and we’re going to begin by looking at 7:1-13…

Joshua 7:1–13 NASB95

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! “O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? “For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?” So the Lord said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. “Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. “Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the Lord, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.”

Here in Joshua 7 as the story is developed, we see the destruction of a family. By verses 25-26 we see that this family was completely destroyed – and it was because of some horrible choices a dad by the name of Achan made. And there are 4 things I see from his story that you need to build into your life if you want to bless your home/family. 1st…

1. HAVE REGARD FOR THE WORD OF GOD.

- Achan didn’t; and it cost him and his family dearly!

- What happened was back at the battle of Jericho – as Israel entered the Promised Land to take possession, God put the plunder that would be taken in conquering the city under the ban – listen to what God had commanded the people in Joshua 6:17-19 …

Joshua 6:17–19 NASB95

“The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the Lord; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. “But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it. “But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”

- However, Achan had no regard for God’s Word and command = and he sinned against God and he coveted and he took plunder for himself! And watch this = the consequences of his sin fell upon not only himself…but all his family…and further it fell on the nation of Israel as well!

- Listen…when you have no regard for the Word of God…you’d better look out.

- Do you want to bless your family…want your family to be blessed? Then have a high regard for the Word of God…and then obey it – take it seriously!

TS – 2nd…

2. FULFILL YOUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

- Achan was supposed to be the head of his family – the head of his household!

- He was supposed to give the leadership to it – to them – and especially the spiritual leadership that his family needed from him!

- This is the great responsibility God has given to us men – us dads = to be the spiritual leaders of our homes – be the Godly leaders in our homes – This is what your children so desperately need! They need to see it modeled – see it lived!

- However, we learn here that Achan greatly neglected his spiritual responsibility!

- And his family paid dearly…and the nation paid dearly too!

- Dad…do you want to bless your family…want your family to be blessed? Fulfill your spiritual responsibilities!

TS – 3rd…

3. AVOID SECRET SINS IN YOUR LIFE AND HOME.

- We learn here that Achan took the things he’d coveted – the things he committed sin over- and hid them in his home (tent)!

- Did the rest of his family know about this? We’re not told that they did specifically…maybe they did…(you know many times it’s hard to conceal all your sins from your family = they see you at home, when your “hair is down” – many people fool a lot of people outside the home but it’s usually pretty hard to fool your family = they usually know the “real truth!”

- But there are times when even in the home a dad or mom have “secret sins” going on…pornography – which by the way is at a pandemic level among men today…and sadly even among many men in the church…an adulterous relationship…illegal financial dealings…

- But one thing is for sure…none of this escapes God’s attention – listen, you can’t fool God – hide things from God – see Adam/Eve, Garden of Eden!

- God knew what Achan had done! And in due time his sin was discovered! The truth is: eventually your sins will find you out – you may hide it (get away with it) for awhile – but there will be payday some day.

- Sadly the destruction to his family was done!

- How many homes (families) have suffered because of sin / sinful secrets?

- You want to bless your family? You want your family to be blessed? Avoid sin in your life – your heart/soul! And when you do blow it, deal with it!

TS – And finally if you want to bless your family…

4. GIVE GLORY TO GOD.

- In Joshua 7:19 Joshua said to Achan…

Joshua 7:19 NASB95

Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.”

- Clearly Achan had not given glory to God – but oh how he needed to!

- His life and actions sure hadn’t given glory to God!

- In fact, he shows he really didn’t have much regard for God!

- In fact, he shows he was only concerned about himself – and what brought pleasure to himself – what he could gain for himself!

- Some might try to argue that well he was just looking out for his family by taking the stuff.

- Oh really? Well I think we would all agree this morning that this is the wrong way to look out for your family! Neglecting God’s Word…neglecting your spiritual responsibility…having secret sins in your life...

- And look at where it got Achan…and where it got his family…Joshua 7:22-26 …

Joshua 7:22–26 NASB95

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was concealed in his tent with the silver underneath it. They took them from inside the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel, and they poured them out before the Lord. Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.

Conclusion

Dad…mom… I pray today that you see how to AVOID destroying your family…and that you see how to bless your family. You want to bless your family? Then…

1. HAVE A HIGH REGARD FOR THE WORD OF GOD!

2. FULFILL YOUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITIES!

3. HAVE NO SECRET SINS IN YOUR LIFE!

4. GIVE GLORY TO GOD EVERY DAY!

You’ll be blessed…your family will be blessed…and your home will be blessed!