WAYne - Almighty Father YHWH, we come before in prayer Through Your Son, our HighPriest and Mediator Yahushua The Messaih
WAYne - Father Thank You for this day of rest and allowing us the pleasure of being in the company of each other this day You have set-apart
WAYne - Father thank You for the blessings You have bestowed upon us, Thank you for answering our prayers
WAYne - Thank You for the daily food that nurishes us , both the physicle and the Spiritual
WAYne - Father please forgive us of any trespasses as we forgive each other
WAYne - Father may Your Name be put on High, May you please give us all hearts inclind to love, and all the qualities that we should have as Your will is! and may Your will be done in our life
WAYne - Abba please give the speaker here tonight words of wisdom and allow us all ears to hear and eyes to see
WAYne - You truely are A Loving Mighty One!
WAYne - These things we ask and give praise to You In Yahushua`s Name
WAYne - So, let it be
WAYne - HalleluYAH!
Tonight begins a series of scripture studies that entail a subject that I believe to be of utmost importance to the future of the people of Yahweh.
It has been on my heart for quite some time now and I believe it is the key part of the "EliYah Message"
Tonight's message is entitled "Fathers, Turn Your Hearts!"
Luke 1:17 - And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of EliYah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for YAHWEH.Tonight's study, along with subsequent studies will be about the home
For those of you who are not married, this study can still be beneficial for you if you ever plan on getting married or if you ever come in contact with those that are married.
So just because you may not be married and may not have children, my hope is that these things will be a blessing so that you may help others who are.
If your children are raised, there needs to be those who are willing to teach these things to the younger men and women. If you aren't yet married, then you need this message if you want to raise your children and have the kind of home that Yahweh desires.
In my search and desire to raise my own family in the way Yahweh desires, I encountered others who have written similar studies on the home. They have greatly influenced some of the points made in this study.
The vast majority of this study will be directed to the men of the home. It is the men that Yahweh has laid the responsibility of leadership, guidance and direction
It is the men that Yahweh will hold accountable for the outcome of the family.
So it is the men that I will direct most of this study to
This may seem unusual, but imagine for a moment that Yahweh came to you in a vision and pointed out a particular man in your community to whom He was going to give permanent amnesia
In this vision, you were commissioned to take this man's life and teach him the ways of Yahweh.
You were entrusted with this man's salvation, with how he views the world and how he views Yahweh.
How seriously would you take this responsibility?
Assuredly I say to you, that if you are a Father you have in many ways been entrusted with this responsibility.
But this isn't a man from the community that you are being entrusted with, it is your own children.
How Important is it really?
For most people, family is the very core of existence. It is the testing ground. It is the place where we can become a hypocrite, or a light to all nations.
Do you want to know the true character of a man and his wife? Observe their children and you will usually know
Many can appear righteous unto men, but who can still be found righteous in their home, behind closed doors?
How important is our family life to Yahweh? How important is it that we teach our children the ways of Yahweh? How important is it that we each fulfill the roles that Yahweh has given?
Let's consider.
Though I do not consider the arrangement or division of the Scriptures to be inspired, it is certainly interesting that the very last word in the last recorded "Old Testament" prophet is none other than "Curse".
To whom does this curse fall upon?
Let's examine:
Malachi 4:1 - For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith YAHWEH of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:2 - But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.We must fear Yahweh's name to inherit this promise.
Malachi 4:3 - And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith YAHWEH of hosts.But what defines who is wicked and who is not? Let's keep reading:
Malachi 4:4 - Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.Remember the law of Moses? Yes, remember the law of Moses with all the statutes and judgments even in the latter days. I tend to think that this is part of the EliYah message, to remember the law of Moses.
Malachi 4:5 - Behold, I will send you EliYah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YAHWEH:EliYah the prophet was the one who said:
1Kings 18:24 - And call ye on the name of your elohim, and I will call on the name of YAHWEH: and the Elohim that answereth by fire, let him be Elohim. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.So we must also call upon the name of Yahweh, this is another part of the EliYah message
But there is a third and much more clearly defined part of the EliYah message that we should pay very close attention to:
Malachi 4:6 - And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. .According to this scripture, a curse will fall upon the earth when it has fathers whose hearts are not turned to their children and children's hearts not turned to their fathers.
So, though at least part the the EliYah message is "My Mighty One is Yahweh" and to remember the law of Moshe, the great duty of the EliYah message is turning the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers!
I believe that this message is greatly lacking today.
According to statistics, in the United States of America, at least 4 out of 10 children will go to bed tonight without their father in the home
In most homes where the father is there, their children are abandoned spiritually and emotionally.
Children are a status symbol or a nuisance rather than a blessing
Fathers, where are you????
They are probably at work or on the golf course
But what is Yahweh's expectation for Fathers? How important is the role of fathers in their children's life? What does Yahweh say?
Yahweh's plan is for us to propagate the mighty works of Yahweh to our children.
When the hearts of the fathers are turned to our children, this can be done.
This will build a kingdom. The Father has the authority in the home and has the responsibility.
"Remember the law of Moses"
It should be evident to any student of the Torah (Law) that Yahweh demands Fathers to teach His ways to their children
Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH is our Elohim, YAHWEH is one:
Deuteronomy 6:5 - And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:6 - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deuteronomy 6:7 - And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deuteronomy 6:8 - And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deuteronomy 6:9 - And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.In the famous "Sh'ma" passage, we see Yahweh's desire for us to teach His commandments diligently to our children and to talk of them when we sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down and when we rise up.
We are not only commanded by Yahweh to teach them to our children, but to teach them diligently to our children
They are to be in in our hearts and in the hearts of our children.
Not only is Yahweh "Echad", He wants their families to be "Echad"
"Echad" is the Hebrew word for "One"
It is written again:
Deuteronomy 11:18 - Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deuteronomy 11:19 - And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deuteronomy 11:20 - And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:We are to talk of them all the day long. How can we talk of them to our children when sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down and when we rise up if we rarely even talk to them at all?
How can we talk of them to our children when sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down and when we rise up if we aren't ever home or if we ship them off to the government schools every day?
Too often, the adults at various assemblies and meetings engage in high level conversations with one another on the scriptures while the children just sit there bored, squirming in their seats and getting into trouble because they have no clue what is going on or what anyone is even talking about.
By the time they reach teen-age years, it is too late because the prime age of influence and impressionability is long gone. Fathers need to wake up!
Deuteronomy 4:8 - And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Deuteronomy 4:9 - Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
Deuteronomy 4:10 - Specially the day that thou stoodest before YAHWEH thy Elohim in Horeb, when YAHWEH said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.Notice that Yahweh wants us to teach them to our children so that it will also be taught to their grandchildren!
Also notice that one of the intentions Yahweh had when giving His commandments in Horeb was for the Israel to teach them to their children
Exodus 12:26 - And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
Exodus 12:27 - That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of YAHWEH's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
Exodus 13:7 - Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.
Exodus 13:8 - And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which YAHWEH did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
Exodus 13:14 - And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand YAHWEH brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:Can we see the expectation of Yahweh here?
Of Abraham it was said:
Genesis 18:19 - For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of YAHWEH, to do justice and judgment; that YAHWEH may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.So we see that within the Torah alone, there were at least 7 times where Yahweh gave a command or spoke positively about teaching children His ways.
Yahweh repeats this concept in the book of Psalms:
Psalms 78:1 - Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Psalms 78:2 - I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Psalms 78:3 - Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
Psalms 78:4 - We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of YAHWEH, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
Psalms 78:5 - For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
Psalms 78:6 - That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
Psalms 78:7 - That they might set their hope in Elohim, and not forget the works of El, but keep his commandments:
Psalms 78:8 - And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with El.It is the will of Yahweh today, brethren!
Are we failing to properly teach our children the ways of Yahweh? Yahweh wants a righteous generation to be brought forth from our homes. Indeed, He has indicated that this is one of the purposes for marriage to begin with:
Malachi 2:13 - And this have ye done again, covering the altar of YAHWEH with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
Malachi 2:14 - Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because YAHWEH hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Malachi 2:15 - And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a seed of Elohim. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Malachi 2:16 - For YAHWEH, the Elohim of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith YAHWEH of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.Are we going to raise up children of Elohim or children of the devil? Indeed, Yahweh has placed this responsibility into the hands of the fathers.
The Proverb indeed says:
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.Contrary to popular opinion, this scripture does not say, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will abandon Yahweh and sow his wild oats, then come back to Yahweh and not depart" yet this is what many would have us believe!
Much of the book of proverbs is about a man obeying scripture by teaching the wisdom of Yahweh to his son. For example:
Proverbs 23:26 - My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 23:27 - For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
Proverbs 23:28 - She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
Proverbs 23:29 - Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Proverbs 23:30 - They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Proverbs 23:31 - Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Proverbs 23:32 - At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Proverbs 23:33 - Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Proverbs 23:34 - Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.We see the strong desire in this father that his son would not be ensnared with wine and women. This father was committed to the idea that his child would not depart!
I believe that it is high time we raise up a righteous generation that fears Yahweh and keeps His commandments. I believe it is high time that fathers forsake their toys and pursuits of worldly gain and instead focus on raising a righteous generation that will magnify the name of Yahweh!
It is high time that fathers have a vision of what it really means to be a man of Yahweh.
How important is it that our homes are in order and our children are taught Yahweh's ways? Unless one's home is right, they cannot be an effective leader:
1Timothy 3:2 - A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Timothy 3:3 - Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Timothy 3:4 - One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Timothy 3:5 - (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of YAHWEH?)
1Timothy 3:12 - Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Titus 1:6 - If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Titus 1:7 - For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of YAHWEH; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;We have to be true believers at home, not just when others are watching. The requirements of a spiritual leader is a righteous family with righteous children.
Our family is the expression of ourselves and our life. If a man of Yahweh leads a family in righteousness, you can know you have one who is in righteous in his private life. See? Our family gives us away!
We cannot hide ourselves and what we are like. If Father or Mother are foolish or rebellious, then except by the grace of Yahweh so shall the children be.
Abraham and Eli were leaders. As we read earlier, Abraham had his house right:
Genesis 18:19 - For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of YAHWEH, to do justice and judgment; that YAHWEH may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.Eli the priest did not:
1Samuel 2:11 - And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto YAHWEH before Eli the priest.
1Samuel 2:12 - Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not YAHWEH.Eli apparently made the foolish decision to let his sons be corrupt
1Samuel 3:12 - In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
1Samuel 3:13 - For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.Consider the differing end result of Abraham and Eli!
Abraham and his descendants were exalted and blessed beyond measure, but Eli had his generations cut off and destroyed
So let's ponder the question today, are we an Abraham or are we an Eli?
Will our descendants be cut off or will they be multiplied and blessed?
Can we begin to see how important it really is?
Yahweh is seeking righteous offspring, a Seed of Elohim to walk in His ways.
Yahweh desires that His people produce children of righteousness, children of Yahweh.
Let's consider the scriptures which show the results of families who did not pass the truth of Yahweh onto the next generation:
Judges 2:10 - And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not YHWH, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:11 - And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of YHWH, and served Baalim:
Judges 2:12 - And they forsook YHWH Elohim of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other elohim, of the elohim of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked YHWH to anger.There were at least 7 times in approximately 335 years where the book of Judges records one generation that would serve Yahweh, and the next generation forsaking Him.
Imagine for a moment the great blessings that might have been realized had only the first generation taught their children to "Know Yahweh"! As a result of their failure, these rebellious children served other gods. So Yahweh said:
Judges 2:20 - And the anger of YHWH was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
Judges 2:21 - I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
Judges 2:22 - That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of YHWH to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.Similar flip flops are found in the books of First and Second Kings. There would be a generation that would finally repent and serve Yahweh, only to see the succeeding king be exceedingly wicked
. Is there a way to stop this destructive cycle?
How about in our generations? How about in the nations that we live in?
In recent history there has been a spiraling increase in wickedness. Consider some of the statistics one can find in the United States:
Half of all marriages end in divorce. Remarkably, studies show that the divorce rate among denominational Christian churches is equal or higher than that.
The Census Bureau states that in 1998, 58.7% of mothers with infants work outside the home. 61% of married women as a whole work outside the home compared to 6 percent in 1900 (US News & World Report, 12/18/00 pg 56).
According to a CNN news article, Only 6.9 percent of men and 21 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 59 are virgins when getting married.
The birth rate in the U.S. in 1997 was 14.6 per 1,000 population. The world average was 22.6. The birth rate in the U.S. would be higher, but approximately 1 out of 4 babies are murdered by their mother before they even have a chance to be born
Of those that are born, 1 out of 3 are born out of wedlock.
A child conceived in the United States has a 75% chance of not having their biological father and mother in the home at age 18. Yet, 47% of this nation goes to church every week and 85% profess to be Christian.
With such stunning figures, what has gone wrong?
The bottom line is that the principles given in scripture for the roles of husbands, fathers, mothers and wives are not appreciated, nor are they followed.
Instead, many have chosen to follow their own principles, the principles in psychology & self-help books and principles given in self appointed marriage experts.
Meanwhile, people are suffering along with their little children.
If only people would respect and appreciate the roles given to them by Yahweh! Yahweh, who created us from dust, surely knows the RIGHT way.
But who will heed it? The people of this world have little or no vision or burning desire for righteousness within themselves, let alone for the next generation.
But it need not be so for us. We need not be conformed to this world:
Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of YAHWEH.We see the sad state of affairs in this world. Many of us were raised in this age of rebelliousness, so what can we do?
The most difficult sin to overcome is the one you cannot see. But I believe the word of Yahweh will make it very plain that the average believer in this age honestly has absolutely no idea how Yahweh wants our homes to be like.
Let's examine for a moment the book of Ephesians:
Ephesians 5:17 - Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of YAHWEH is.
Ephesians 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,We must understand what the will of Yahweh is. What is the will of Yahweh? Surely the will of Yahweh is that rather than being filled with wine and/or the cares of this life, we need to be filled with the SPIRIT of Yahweh.
This is a commandment and the will of Yahweh to "be filled with the Spirit".
It isn't a one time experience, but a whole lifetime experience. We must be continually filled with the Spirit. This is the will of Yahweh! If we are filled with the Spirit, the fruits will manifest themselves.
.s gal 5 22
Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 - gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.Are these fruits in our home?
These fruits are not necessarily something that we just strive to attain, but they are the fruits of the Ruach HaKodesh or Holy Spirit that should already be in us. If we have repented and accepted Yahushua the Messiah and are walking in His ways, the blessing of Yahweh's Spirit can be upon us:
Acts 5:32 - And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim hath given to them that obey him.
Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?Notice that the Spirit is given to those who ask, to those who obey Him
Let's continue reading the book of Ephesians and how it describes the life of one who has heeded the command to be "filled with the Spirit". These verses can put a vision in our minds of how our homes can and should be like if we are all filled with the Spirit:
Ephesians 5:17 - Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of YAHWEH is.
Ephesians 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:19 - speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to YAHWEH,Does this not sound like a home that is filled with the Spirit? The joy and praise of Yahweh in the form of song is overflowing in such a place. The songs will be sung in the home with joy. This isn't a one time a day affair, it is a lifetime of joy, peace and walking in the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:20 - giving thanks always for all things to YAHWEH the Father in the name of our Master Yahushua the Messiah ,When we are thankful for what we have been given in life, this makes it possible for the joy of Yahweh to grow in us. All of us thanking Yahweh. Husbands, wives, children praising and thanking and singing to Yahweh, loving Yahweh with all their heart. This is the kind of home we should be having!
Ephesians 5:21 - submitting to one another in the fear of YAHWEH.Every one of us should have a spirit of meekness, submission and humility. This means that sometimes the Fathers/Husbands submit to their wives and children within the will of Yahweh. Yahweh wants to fill our homes with His Spirit.
Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to Yahushua.This is truly a beautiful picture that is being drawn. A home where wives know the power of submission, submitting their heart to Yahweh without fear of consequence. There is no strife between mothers and fathers in such a home because the wives submit themselves to their husbands.
Ephesians 5:23 - For the husband is head of the wife, as also the Messiah is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
Ephesians 5:24 - Therefore, just as the assemblyis subject to the Messiah, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah also loved the assemblyand gave Himself for her,
Ephesians 5:26 - that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27 - that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.The picture gets more and more beautiful as we read. This is the picture of a home where the husband loves his wife. He is tender and gentle with her as Messiah is to His assembly. He takes care of her needs, spiritually and physically
And she knows that he loves her, not because he says it once a day but because she senses it coming out of his heart by the way he expresses himself in his home. I know that Yahweh wants to bless such a home. I know this is the kind of home I want!
Imagine a home where the husband leads his wife as Yahushua leads the assembly into absolute perfection, leading her as the Great Shepherd leads his sheep.
Ephesians 5:28 - So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
Ephesians 5:29 - For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Yahushua does the church.
Ephesians 5:30 - For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
Ephesians 5:31 - "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
Ephesians 5:32 - This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning the Messiah and the church.
Ephesians 5:33 - Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.Such a beautiful picture! One of the Messiah and His assembly. Everyday, right here in our homes. What a great witness this can be for our children!
Ephesians 6:1 - Children, obey your parents: for this is right before YAHWEH.
Ephesians 6:2 - "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
Ephesians 6:3 - "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."To me, this sounds like a home that has taken to heart the command to be "filled with the Spirit".
Children who obey and honor their father and mother, There is no conflict or disrespect because the Spirit filled children love Yahweh and have great faith in that promise of Yahweh that they will live long on the earth.
They see the righteous example of the mother's submission to the father and the father's honor and care for the mother and by that learn how to submit to Messiah and how much Yahweh loves and cares for them.
Ephesians 6:4 - And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of YAHWEH.A Spirit filled father guides his children gently, not jerking them around with a harsh and frustrated spirit, but gently guiding and directing them in the way they should go. He teaches, nurtures, loves and disciplines them.
So now have a completed picture, all of these things bringing together a home filled with the Spirit of Yahweh. Do we have a vision? Do we have a picture? Do we have a hope? We need it!
Proverbs 29:17 - Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.Every one of us needs this vision for our homes, brethren. Yahweh demands that we have such a home. His word says it, we need to do it! It is the will of Yahweh today. Happy is the home where Yahweh is there!
Psalms 144:11 - Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
Psalms 144:12 - That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:Have you ever seen a plant or a garden that wasn't well cared for? You will see the sad and sorry shape of that plant. The leaves are wilted and brown, the ground dried out, there is no fruit or flowers to speak of and obviously without life.
But a plant that has been cultivated, watched over, and watered, fertilized and nurtured is vibrant and bearing fruit. If strange children and their influences are choking out your sons, remove the tares from their presence!
Psalms 144:13 - That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
Psalms 144:14 - That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
Psalms 144:15 - Joyful is that people, that is in such a case: yea, joyful is that people, whose Elohim is YAHWEH.Happy is the home where Yahweh is Elohim, and love fills every word and every action. We must have a home like that, brethren
We must desire it like Jacob who wanted the blessing from the angel and strove all night to receive it.
We must desire it like Yahushua wanted to redeem His people.
Like David wanted to be delivered from his enemies. Like Hannah wanted a child. Like Abraham wanted a son, so must we desire and want a home like this.
In this crooked generation like no other, this is what we must do brethren
Yahweh wants Spirit filled homes in every place, not just one in that assembly or two in another.. but ALL homes.
Without a Spirit filled home, there will not be a Spirit filled assembly!
How can an assembly be filled with the Spirit of Yahweh when the homes are filled with anger, depression and strife?
Home is the truth detector. Home is where the real character of a man and woman are revealed. This is reality, you cannot have a Spirit filled assembly without Spirit filled people within it!
Otherwise its a hypocritical joke.
Do you want to know the true test of an assembly? Wait about 10-15 years and find out where the children are!
We might lay claim to a great period of restoration in this age, but if in 10 years our children have gone the way of the world, what kind of restoration is that?
What shame, what reproach on the name of Yahweh!
We need a vision. There needs to be a vision for a torah-keeping home of righteousness.
Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.It is time that the people of Yahweh reach out into the world around us. Our witness is ruined by having broken homes, and rebellious children.
You can lay claim to the Torah all you want, but unless you are heeding these things you are not keeping the Torah
Proverbs 11:29 - He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.Do we trouble our own house by ignoring our own family and chasing after a career or seeking out the scriptures only for ourselves rather than teaching them and speaking of them continually? We will inherit nothing.
Proverbs 15:27 - He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.We need to bring honor and glory to Yahweh's name by having a spirit filled home. What good is it if we seek the possessions of this world, and lose our children to it?
What good is it, if we keep every feast day, every sabbath, keep clean/unclean commands, and then our homes are a disaster?
Yahweh said:
Isaiah 1:13 - Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Isaiah 1:14 - Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
Isaiah 1:15 - And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah 1:16 - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.Perhaps our hands aren't full of blood, perhaps our children aren't fatherless and our wives a widow. But is it so, spiritually?
Are our children on the road to destruction? If they are young, it may not show up right away. But according to the Torah/Law of Yahweh, parents are held responsible for teaching and training their children in the ways of righteousness. Are our children spiritually fatherless?
How much time is spent with our children in the Word? Do we fail to "talk of them" at all times? Are our wives spiritual widows? How much time do we spend in the Word with our wives?
Why is Yahweh so concerned about the fatherless and the widow? Is it only because their physical needs must be met? Are not the spiritual needs just as important, if not far more important?
Considering all the scriptures where Yahweh is angry because the fatherless and widow are neglected, woe to the fathers who neglect the spiritual needs of their wife and children!
All the Sabbaths, calling of assemblies, feast days can be a burden to Him because He cannot endure the neglect. He cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
Yahweh is VERY concerned about the wives and children, shouldn't we be?
If, in Isaiah 1:13-17, Yahweh cannot endure the offerings, Feast Days and Sabbaths of those who are neglecting the physical needs of what used to be another man's wife and children (fatherless and widow), how much more so if we neglect the spiritual needs of our own wives and children?
Consider:
1Timothy 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.Is it just the physical providing that Yahweh is concerned about? Surely, the spiritual is far more important. The first leads to physical death, the latter leads to spiritual death. So, are we worse than an unbeliever? Let it not be!
It is high time that fathers turn their hearts to their wives and children!
No outreach ministry, feast/sabbath keeping or calling on the right name is going to save us if we neglect in these areas.
If Yahushua returns tomorrow and we find out that we didn't keep the feast at the right time or we made a mistake in our observances, we might be able to say "I desired the truth, but I was wrong, have mercy on me".
We might then be able to observe it correctly under the direction of Messiah.
But if Yahushua returns and says "Look, you didn't even provide for your own wife and children", there won't be any correcting brethren, the damage is done!
Let it not be so among us
Fathers, turn your hearts!
Next week, we will look at examples of righteous homes in scripture and the importance of emulating them. Until then, may Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all.
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