Building Life on the Right Foundation Part 3
Building Family on the Right Foundation
Sunday, April 23, 2023
I.Natural Life vs. Spiritual Life Vol. 2
A. Building Life on the Right Foundation
1. Building life on the right foundation.
a. (Luke 6:43-49) the foundation you build your life on determines the fruit that your life produces.
b. (ref. Ps. 11:3) “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
~Society at large has been in a rapid decline because the foundations of marriage and family have been destroyed.
B. Building marriage/family on the right foundation: Covenant
1. (ref. Mal. 2) “…The Lord’s holy institution…Yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”
a. Whenever God wants to establish something official with His people, He makes a covenant (ie. Noahic, Abrahamic, Davidic, the New Covenant)
b. A Covenant is a divinely created relational bond. Covenants are kingdom administrative mechanisms by which God operates in history.
~Biblical covenants provide divine covering and empowerment because Biblical covenants have warranty.
~The warranties are promises honored or can be voided if the product is abused or misused outside of its created purpose. (The new covenant comes with warranty.)
~(ref. 1 Sam. 17:26, 36) David and Goliath “uncircumcised Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:45-47)
2. 5 Characteristics of all Biblical Covenants
#1 Transcendent – means it comes from one realm to another realm. God authored and God ordained for man’s benefit. (ref. Matt. 19; Heb. 13:4)
a. (Gen. 1:26-28) God wanted reflection, ruler-ship, and replication of Himself in the earth by creating mankind. Satan hates this!
b. (Eph. 5:30-32) marriage reflects Christ and the church
#2 Hierarchical – means arranged in rank or chain of command which brings order. Satan hates this!
a. (1 Cor. 11:3 AMP) this hierarchy is not related to equality of being, but distinction of function. The Man is accountable to God for the condition of the marriage.
~The Holy Spirit always glories Jesus, and Jesus always glorifies the Father.
b. (ref. Gen. 2:7, 15-25) creation of man and woman and marriage ceremony.
c. Satan attacked the hierarchy of the covenant.
~Gen. 1 – God (Elohim) vs. Gen. 2 – LORD God (Yawah Elohim)
~Satan goes to Eve not Adam in Gen. 3
#3 Rules – governing guidelines by which the covenant parties operate. Satan hates this!
a. (Eph. 5:33) husbands love your wives; wives respect your husband.
b. Biblical love is the decision to righteously, compassionately and sacrificially see the well-being of another.
~Women need to feel loved. (heart)
c. Respect is to hold in high esteem and honor.
~Men need to feel respected. (head)
~(ref. 1 Pet. 3:6; Gen. 18:12) Sarah calls Abraham lord and gets the miracle son.
#4 Sanctions – are the blessings that come with keeping or the curses that come with violating the covenant. (Deut. 29:9)
#5 Continuity or Inheritance – covenants have generational benefits. The marriage covenant is about more than you. It has generational consequences.
[Pastor Lee Stokes]