ETERNAL HERITAGE (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Investing to produce an eternal heritage
a) What are those things that produce eternal heritage?
@1. They are those things which will encourage our descendants:
i) To build strong marriages and families.
ii) To be fruitful and multiply (souls are eternal).
iii) To read, hear, meditate and obey God's word and principles (God's word is eternal).
iv) To build character quality of Christ.
v) To meet the needs of the poor and needy especially orphans and widows.
b) Finding of a godly spouse and the provision for a home
i) God outlines a key factor in the provision of godly spouse and a home in Proverbs 19:14.
@1. 14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. (Proverbs 19:14 NIV)
ii) In other words, the parents are to assist the children in the finding of God's choice for their life partner and the provision of a home. We need God to grant us wisdom in such a way that God will provide a home for our children without them having to go into debt. Though a prudent wife is from the Lord, the parent's involvement will help them discern rightly the Lord's gift.
c) Sponsoring of our children's first year of marriage
i) On the 1st year of marriage the husband needs to spend more time with his new wife to comfort and cheer her and establish a strong foundation for their home (Deuteronomy 24:5).
@1. 5 If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married. (Deuteronomy 24:5 NIV)
ii) He can work from home or around his home together with his wife without having to be overly burdened.
d) Encouraging our children to have the faith to "be fruitful and multiply"
i) Realizing that God has not changed his original command to mankind (Genesis 1:22; 8:17) and had further said that "3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him (Psalms 127:3)." Grandparents can help sponsor and finance these children as the need arises.
@1. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” (Genesis 1:22 NIV)
@2. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” (Genesis 8:17 NIV)
e) Investing in training and education of our children's children
i) God designed the family to assume the primary responsibilities for educating the children. The parents are to use the home as the basic classroom. What they are not able to teach at home is to be carefully delegated to qualified teachers.
@1. 1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. (Galatians 4:1-2 NIV)
@2. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:7-9 NIV)
ii) Grandparents are to serve as models, teachers, advisors, counselors, and encourager in all areas of the children's studies, such as faith and character development, music skills, other marketable skills, or business skills.
iii) Grandparents can encourage their grandchildren by rewarding them for memorizing scriptures, learning musical instruments and other skills which will promote their spiritual growth.
f) Passing on to our descendant meaningful spiritual celebrations
i) Regular religious festivals which will enhance and illustrate our deep Christian faith and its roots, such as Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacle, Weekly Sabbath, Holy Communion, Water Baptism etc. During these religious celebrations we can relate to our children the story and meaning behind it.
@1. 20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NIV)
ii) Psalms 119:111 NIV says, "111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart." Family gatherings during these special celebrations including birthdays and anniversaries could be well planned to make it memorable, fun, educational and which will also promote fellowship, love, unity and spiritual growth among our descendants. During these times, the gospel is preached and testimonies of God's goodness shared, therefore all the members of our family will hear and be convinced, converted and brought to maturity.
The End ...
1. Investing to produce an eternal heritagea) What are those things that produce eternal heritage?
@1. They are those things which will encourage our descendants:
i) To build strong marriages and families.
ii) To be fruitful and multiply (souls are eternal).
iii) To read, hear, meditate and obey God's word and principles (God's word is eternal).
iv) To build character quality of Christ.
v) To meet the needs of the poor and needy especially orphans and widows.
b) Finding of a godly spouse and the provision for a home
i) God outlines a key factor in the provision of godly spouse and a home in Proverbs 19:14.
@1. 14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. (Proverbs 19:14 NIV)
ii) In other words, the parents are to assist the children in the finding of God's choice for their life partner and the provision of a home. We need God to grant us wisdom in such a way that God will provide a home for our children without them having to go into debt. Though a prudent wife is from the Lord, the parent's involvement will help them discern rightly the Lord's gift.
c) Sponsoring of our children's first year of marriage
i) On the 1st year of marriage the husband needs to spend more time with his new wife to comfort and cheer her and establish a strong foundation for their home (Deuteronomy 24:5).
@1. 5 If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married. (Deuteronomy 24:5 NIV)
ii) He can work from home or around his home together with his wife without having to be overly burdened.
d) Encouraging our children to have the faith to "be fruitful and multiply"
i) Realizing that God has not changed his original command to mankind (Genesis 1:22; 8:17) and had further said that "3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him (Psalms 127:3)." Grandparents can help sponsor and finance these children as the need arises.
@1. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” (Genesis 1:22 NIV)
@2. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” (Genesis 8:17 NIV)
e) Investing in training and education of our children's children
i) God designed the family to assume the primary responsibilities for educating the children. The parents are to use the home as the basic classroom. What they are not able to teach at home is to be carefully delegated to qualified teachers.
@1. 1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. (Galatians 4:1-2 NIV)
@2. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:7-9 NIV)
ii) Grandparents are to serve as models, teachers, advisors, counselors, and encourager in all areas of the children's studies, such as faith and character development, music skills, other marketable skills, or business skills.
iii) Grandparents can encourage their grandchildren by rewarding them for memorizing scriptures, learning musical instruments and other skills which will promote their spiritual growth.
f) Passing on to our descendant meaningful spiritual celebrations
i) Regular religious festivals which will enhance and illustrate our deep Christian faith and its roots, such as Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacle, Weekly Sabbath, Holy Communion, Water Baptism etc. During these religious celebrations we can relate to our children the story and meaning behind it.
@1. 20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NIV)
ii) Psalms 119:111 NIV says, "111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart." Family gatherings during these special celebrations including birthdays and anniversaries could be well planned to make it memorable, fun, educational and which will also promote fellowship, love, unity and spiritual growth among our descendants. During these times, the gospel is preached and testimonies of God's goodness shared, therefore all the members of our family will hear and be convinced, converted and brought to maturity.
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