Will You Carry Your Family?

Will You Carry Your Family?

Text: Deut. 1:29-33

Introduction

We live in a world today that has persuaded fathers (parents, people in general) that it is a normal and acceptable response to walk away from something when it seems to get too difficult and stressful. This has damaged man’s perspective of the commitment to their role as husbands and fathers.

On man’s worst day, what do we find God doing? Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”

1) God Carries His Children

The Israelites faced many trials, challenges, moments of sin, rebellion, fear, doubt, etc.

They were in need of someone who remained committed to “carrying” them.

God chose to be that committed person. He was the only one with the ability to “carry” such a people.

Isaiah 46:3-4 “Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Which are borne by me from the belly, Which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; And even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

God “carries” them through a representative; Moses.

There were multiple moments when God’s provision would be channeled through Moses (even Aaron & Joshua)

His representative must take on the same level of love and desire for the people as He did.

Moses and others served as a window for the people to view God’s person (His grace, mercy and great love).

God’s “carrying” of His people took many forms, but all served to bring them to His ultimate goal; to receive the Promised Land and untimately be the people to bring Christ into the world.

Carry = To provide; supply

Forms — clothing, health, protection, discipline, love, mercy, grace…

God had an end goal in mind — Promised Land and ultimately Jesus!

This journey was more than a Promised Land experience.

What you notice is that God NEVER WALKED AWAY (Eden)

2) Will You “Carry” Your Family?

Nothing on earth is as it should be.

Spouses abuse and divorce each other (they walk away).

Parents don’t consider the food and clothing their kids need.

Children are used and abused.

Kids are just surrendered over to objects of entertainment.

They are brought or dropped off at church to get a little bit of Jesus.

More about sports than personal holiness.

God needs a representative and leader to guide the family back to Him.

Dad…you’re His Moses and Joshua.

Your are the GUIDE not the hero. You are the window for them to see the HERO they need; Jesus.

Listen dad — God loves your family more than you do.

Define a father‘s role as the guide:

CARRYING your family is MORE than the sum of things you do for them. It has more to do with who you are BECOMING for them.

Before you can BE, you must BECOME (never stops).

It is more than you taking them to church. It is about them seeing you live for holiness.

It is more than giving them a Bible, it is them seeing you reading and living it.

Here is what scares me: my kids will desire to MODEL ME.

It’s about pursuing your wife with love, forgiveness, conversation, encouragement, assurance…

What about MISTAKES??? = They become opportunities to reflect the Gospel.

A father’s life mission = Being a huge part of brining God’s kingdom DOWN!!!

Think about what God’s mission was to the Israelites.

Giving Himself to His people.

The Promised Land (v31)

Ultimately JESUS.

Question: What goal(s) do you have that motivate you to be the father you are today, tomorrow and the days to come?

Raising good moral kids is not enough!

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (discipline) and admonition (instruction) of the Lord.”

I’ve heard parents say, “I love my kids so much I would die for them.”

They would reap a greater benefit by you choosing to LIVE FOR THEM!

Don’t ever get TIRED OF THEM but rather get TIRED FOR THEM

I’m talking about the tiredness that comes after a day of fighting Satan, your lusts and the world so they might see Jesus and His gospel CLEARLY.

Don’t be BUSY, be INTENTIONAL.

Busy can mean that you fill your life (equal to filling theirs) with good things.

Being intentional is centering your life on the BEST THINGS! (Keep Jesus in mind).

Don’t worry…Grace has set you free and empowered you to CARRY your family in the present world!!!

You have enemies on this path.

Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

Jesus has prepared a table for every father to come to!!!