Series Seven: Shepherding Families

Satan and the culture want to destroy the family with a consuming self-absorption. You’ll probably get very little help from evangelicalism. As we’ve seen, it doesn’t seem to matter what the issue is in the life of the believer and the Word of God, evangelicalism seems bent on dumbing it down, making it shallow, eliminating any requirement or any demand altogether. The standard in evangelicalism for what it means to lead a family is grossly lacking in biblical clarity, depth, and power.

When we talk about leadership in the family, we have to get more fundamental than being a blessing to your wife; we have to talk about whether our life is blessed by God or not. Psalm 128 indicates that there is fulfillment, satisfaction, and blessedness that come when certain conditions are met.

There are two prerequisites for enjoying God’s blessing on your family.

1. Fear the Lord (Ps 128:1a).
   1. Reasons
      1. Because God created the family
         1. You must realize that the family is not a human institution, but something designed and created by God.
         2. The only hope you have in this culture to stay the course is to hold God’s perspective on the family.
      2. Because God gives family (Ps 127:3)
         1. Family is a gift from God.
         2. Family is not a right.
         3. Family in our culture is treated like a burden, but we must realize that it is gift from God.
      3. Because God builds the family (Ps 127:1)
         • You can read all the books on family you like, but if you build without God’s material, or if God does not bless your family, it will not truly be “built” (i.e., have blessing and strength that only God can give).
   2. Description
      1. Be careful not to offend Him.
         1. You must know what offends him (1 Pet 5:5).
         2. You must know what it means to dishonor Him.
      2. Be eager to please and esteem Him.
         1. You must know what pleases Him.
         2. You must know what honors Him
         3. You must know what brings His gaze (Isa 66:2).
2. Walk in His ways (Ps 128:1b).
   1. Description
      1. Teach your family the truth with the purpose of obeying it.
      2. Answer all questions with truth.
   2. Result
      1. A spiritually blessed husband (128:2, 4)
      2. A spiritually fruitful wife (128:3a)
      3. Spiritually beneficial children (128:3b)

Questions Every Father and Husband Should Ask

1. Am I pursuing the blessedness that comes from the hand of God alone?
2. What are the prerequisites for blessedness on my leadership?
3. Do I trust in the security and provision of Almighty God for what I am about to do today?
4. Am I laying it before Him as the only One who can build and guard my home?