06/15/2001 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Fathers, Turn Your Hearts!

Fathers, Turn Your Hearts to Your Children!

Children, turn your hearts to your Father!

May reconciliation and healing reign in the homes of the people of Yahweh

Last week we discussed the importance of the Father's role and teaching the ways of Yahweh to our children

This week we will look at some scriptural examples of homes and the need for a vision and laying down a foundation

So let's look first at some examples of those who have the kind of home Yahweh is looking for. The house of Stephanas is one:

1Corinthians 16:15 - I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

We see that the house of Stephanas had addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints

They were the firstfruits of Achaia and were held in reputation.

Stephanas and his house were known to have addicted themselves to the work of Yahweh. They had set in their mind that they were going to minister (serve) the saints of Yahweh.

There are few ways a family can knit together more strongly than by working together to minister to others. If only there were more who had a home like the home of Stephanas! 

Philip was another man who appeared to have the kind of home that Yahweh is looking for:

Acts 21:8 - And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

Acts 21:9 - And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Brethren, we must have the anointing oil of the Spirit to do these things, along with our willing heart. We need a Master Builder in our house:

Psalms 127:1 - Except YAHWEH build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except YAHWEH keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

You labor in vain if you build unless Yahweh is in your house.

A home where the Spirit of Yahweh is there will have the fruits of the Spirit therein. A home where the Spirit of Yahweh is there will have the Fathers, Mothers and children all joyfully loving and fulfilling the commandments of Yahweh for each of them.

A home full of people where there is no pretense. A home where Yahweh is there!

Surely Yahweh knows the plan of Yahweh for all of our children. How can we set out for them to fill the plan for their lives unless Yahweh is there to show us the way? We need a co-laborer in our home. We need an Elohim in our home. Yes, joyful and blessed is the home where Yahweh is there! 

But we must fear Yahweh. There is no conviction today that we must have this kind of home. But consider the will of Yahweh:

Psalms 128:1 - Blessed is every one that feareth YAHWEH; that walketh in his ways.

Psalms 128:2 - For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: joyful shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Psalms 128:3 - Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Psalms 128:4 - Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth YAHWEH.

Psalms 128:5 - YAHWEH shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

Psalms 128:6 - Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

Our children can be like the olive plants that make the anointing oil. Little olive plants, filled with the Spirit of Yahweh.

If only we will fear Yahweh and walk in His ways.

Do we desire to "see the good of (the new) Jerusalem", which is above?

Do we desire to "see (our) children's children" there?

Then fear Yahweh, walk in His ways and lead Your family there! Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears Yahweh. 

To achieve it, we must be pure in heart and set the righteous example in our house. David was such a man:

Psalms 101:1 - I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O YAHWEH, will I sing.

Psalms 101:2 - I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

Psalms 101:3 - I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Otherwise, we are just pretending.

David believed in walking within his house with a perfect heart, setting nothing wicked before his eyes.

Too many men today not only set wickedness before their eyes, they do it for entertainment.

Countless hours are wasted away in front of the television sets and computers while their wives and children spiritually rot and starve to death.

But David didn't want anything to do with beholding wickedness:

Psalms 101:3 - I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Psalms 101:4 - A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

Psalms 101:5 - Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

Psalms 101:6 - Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

Psalms 101:7 - He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

Psalms 101:8 - I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of YAHWEH.

The television ("Uncle Charlie") is probably the most deceitful thing in the house, which "Worketh deceit" and "telleth lies"

I say we don't really need it! I disconnected my television set from the antennae years ago, after nearly throwing it off the porch. The only thing that stopped me was the knowledge that there might be some worthwhile video tapes to see

David ruled his house with the mindset of purity and fear of Yahweh. Thus he also ruled Israel with righteousness and integrity (1Kings 9:4). For that, Yahweh blessed this man after His own heart.

We need a home for Yahweh, but we need a vision.

Some might say about their children "I think they'll be alright, I think they'll make it". 

"Make it?"

We need our vision to be much higher than that!

How about we raise spiritual leaders, men and women of Yahweh who will be an example and light to all?

In what way do we want our Heavenly Father to be concerned about everything in our lives, to guide us and lead us and protect us? Even so, may we be toward our children. 

We see the righteous examples given of homes that were pleasing in Yahweh's sight within the pages of scripture. How can we have a home like that?

We need a vision. We need to see it in our own homes. We need to make plans to build a home for Yahweh. What house is built without a vision and plans?

There is no doubt that Yahweh wants families that are a testimony to His righteousness, a testimony to community around them, and indeed the whole world. 

To accomplish this, we need Husbands and Fathers who love Yahweh above all.

A righteous Husband and Father does not compromise this in any way, indeed he is after Yahweh's own heart.

He is a man who loves His neighbor as himself.

A man who is thankful for the Master Yahushua's work of love and his life shows it.

A man of mercy, compassion and understanding yet without failing to stand for what is right.

A man who lets Yahushua live in him.

A man who gives honor to his wife and respect to his children.

One who is dedicated to bringing up his children in the nurture and admonition of Yahweh.

One who does not fail to lead by example.

A man whose children are highly in love with the Heavenly Father because they see Yahweh in their earthly Father.

A man whose wife submits to him because she knows it is as good as submitting to Yahweh.

A man whose children obey him because they love him and would not want to do anything to risk that relationship.

A man whose family and very life are a light unto all nations.

A man who teaches and keeps all of Yahweh's commandments, no matter what book or time they were written in.

One who keeps his tongue from evil and whose speech is as the oracles of Yahweh.

A man whose speech inspires others to walk before Yahweh blamelessly.

One whose fruits of the Spirit are manifest in every thought, word and deed.

A man who takes captive every thought and brings it to total submission to Yahweh. A man of prayer.

One who prays for his family and with his family. One who prays for others diligently and without fail.

A man who is a servant to others, meeting their needs in Yahweh.

A man who has spiritual discernment because he is so in tune with the Spirit of Yahweh.

A man, like Daniel, in whom nobody can find fault, unless it be with him and his Elohim.

A man who leads His family in all of these characteristics. This is a man who fears Yahweh.

This is a man who can build a spiritual heritage not only for his children, but for his children's children.

This is a man who will see his children's children in the new Yerushalayim (Jerusalem)!

Such a man will bring forth children who are bright lights for Yahweh, shining with Yahweh's light to all they come in contact with. Children who are a testimony to all: 

Psalms 127:3 - Lo, children are an heritage of YAHWEH: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalms 127:4 - As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Psalms 127:5 - Joyful is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Why shall they speak with their enemies in the gate?

Because a man who has a home of righteous children has the armor and strength to battle against the enemy, a united and strong front that nothing can destroy.

A man of righteousness may be strong, but an entire home of righteousness? THAT'S POWER!

We need arrows that will hit the mark against the enemy. Let's make arrows for Yahweh!

I can tell you about men who have done this.

I know one man whose 6 year old had already read through all the scriptures twice and 4 year old was half way through!

I can tell you about one man who had a home like this and it completely turned my world upside down.

Brethren, I was going the wrong way, my children were headed for destruction and I had no vision and I had no realization of what a family could or should be like. I'm still in damage repair, but assuredly I say to you, things have never been better, we have never been happier and all things are possible with Yahweh! 

I was going the wrong way, in part, because there is very little teachings on the home among us

Brethren, I have learned that we aren't raising children, we are raising adults.

If you are raising children, you will have children when you are done. If you raise righteous adults, you will have righteous adults when you are done. Who are we raising, foolish children or righteous adults? What kind of heritage are we leaving to our grandchildren?

We need to be Building generations of Righteousness

If we have children, we are laying a foundation for the generations to come. How many generations will the foundation we have laid bear fruit to righteousness?

In truth, we are the foundation of the next generation. The next generation will grow up on you. What kind of foundation are you laying down?

If our children are lost to the world, what kind of foundation is that? We want a foundation of righteousness that will last many generations.

Satan knows if he turn our hearts away from our children, he has the best chance at destroying them and the children that they will bear

Did you know that if you had 2 children and 6 generations thereafter had 2 children, you would have influenced 252 children?

Did you know that if you had 5 children and 6 generations thereafter had 5 children, you would have influenced 97,655 children?!

Can we begin to see why the Torah repeats itself, giving at least 7 verses commanding or lifting up the importance of raising a righteous generation?

Can we begin to see why Yahweh will smite the earth with a curse unless somehow, some way the Father's hearts are turned to their children and the children's hearts are turned toward their Fathers (Malachi 4:6)?

Some might say, "Well, the Messiah will be here before 6 generations".

To them I say, this was said 6 generations ago and look at the situation we are in today!

Is that an excuse to neglect your children? Yahweh forbid! How many children must be thrown in the lake of fire before you will commit yourself? One? five? 97,655? 

But how many are willing to make the sacrifice, pay the price, change the priorities of their life for raising their children?

If the generation before us had paid that price, there would be multitudes of good examples for us to look to. There isn't much today, but that can change:

Psalms 112:1 - Praise ye YAHWEH. Blessed is the man that feareth YAHWEH, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Psalms 112:2 - His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

It is true that our children are usually excited about the things we are excited about. If we are totally consumed with raising up righteous children, it will happen.

We should want children that will be a mighty influence in this world for Yahweh.

If you minister in their presence, the whole house can be a ministry to others. But who is willing to pay the price?

Most people today are too busy to raise up righteous children. Too busy to make arrows to hit the mark, too busy making money, chasing after the wind. 

Galatians 6:7 - Do not be deceived, Elohim is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:8 - For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

I have never heard a man on his death bed say "I wish I hadn't spent so much time and effort raising righteous children".

If we can raise a generation of righteous children, we'll raise up a generation of people that will surpass all that we could have imagined.

Fathers, it is time for repentance, a change of mind that brings about a change of action!

It is needful to repent, if knowing that we are going the wrong way. We need to take this knowledge and make the change by turning our hearts to our children:

Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy Elohim, I will also forget thy children.

That they would be destroyed because of a lack of knowledge

Because of your own failure to teach them the knowledge of Yahweh!

I cannot bear the thought, brethren

Let's not forget that the law of Yahweh commands us to teach our children the ways of righteousness. Let's remember to teach them diligently and show them the way by our example and concern for their spiritual livelihood.

Let's yield our heart and our life to Yahweh. Let's thirst for laying a foundation of righteousness for this next generation:

Isaiah 44:2 - Thus saith YAHWEH that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

Isaiah 44:3 - For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Isaiah 44:4 - And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

Isaiah 44:5 - One shall say, I am YAHWEH's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto YAHWEH, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Isaiah 59:20 - And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith YAHWEH.

Isaiah 59:21 - As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith YAHWEH; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith YAHWEH, from henceforth and for ever.

Isaiah 61:8 - For I YAHWEH love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Isaiah 61:9 - And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which YAHWEH hath blessed.

Proverbs 14:26 - In the fear of YAHWEH is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Proverbs 20:7 - The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Proverbs 25:28 - He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Ancient cities of renown always had walls. Within the walls, one could find peace and protection.

There would be at least one elder at the gates. The elders decided who would enter the city and who would not. If there were ever a breach in the wall, it was quickly repaired lest an enemy enter in.

Our homes are also a walled city.

The father is the elder at the gate, deciding who and what influences will enter the home.

Whether it be a person, a book, a magazine or anything that could potentially harm his home spiritually, the Father should be there to keep his wife and children from the subtle influences of sin.

I believe that the Television is one of the most destructive things a person can have in their home. It is a breach in the wall and impossible to filter ahead of time unless it is previewed it in some way.

With the television, it forces scenes and words upon you, and the damage is often already done by the time you determine how wicked it really was. It is also a thief that robs a man's time when time is so short!

But what if the elder is not even at the gate of his walled city? What if he is out working all hours of the day or night?

What if he ships his children off to the world, outside those walls for 8 hours a day where they are a companion of fools and taught the ways of the world?

Surely we wouldn't let a little child play in the street because we know about the risk of their physical death. Why then would we send them into the dangerous playground of this unbelieving generation where there is great risk of spiritual destruction?

No, we must protect the children within our walled city and train their hands and minds for war until they are ready to do battle.

YES, absolutely yes, this means that the children are schooled and taught at home. I do not believe that children of Yahweh have any place whatsoever in public schools.

It is not the responsibility of the government to teach our children. It is not the responsibility of the assembly to teach our children. The Torah says it is OUR responsibility to teach our children.

When we sign over that responsibility to the world, they won't have the same values or care for our children that we do.

If we really want to raise up a righteous generation, then we need to be together.

I believe that this means that Mom, Dad and the children are all together in the same house throughout the course of a day.

If we want to fulfill the vision, and heed the call, then men NEED to be home with their families. This practice of going off to work every day and children going off to school every day can be very destructive to homes and relationships! I strongly encourage all fathers to do what it takes to work from home, even if it means having to lower your standard of living. 

If it weren't such an evil time, I wouldn't be nearly as concerned as I am today

Be warned!

Proverbs 27:8 - As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

While the men are out, the spiritual forces of wickedness are often in

The home is left without an elder at the gate

But some might say "What about making a living?" I

I say, lower your standard of living, sell your house, get out of debt, sell that expensive car, do whatever it takes to be there with your children, that you might talk of the precepts when you rise up, when you lie down, when you walk by the way and wherever you are.

The man I told you about whose 6 year old has read the scriptures twice and 4 year old half way through?

He lives in a bus!

But His children are blessed and full of joy

Far more so than if Daddy was never home

Which is worse? Losing your career or losing your children to Satan's clutching power?! Better to lose your big beautiful house than to lose the soul of your own children! 

Matthew 16:26 - For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Yahweh will provide your needs:

Matthew 6:32 - (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of YAHWEH, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Isn't this the example that Yahushua gave?

Did He fail to withhold even His very life for our sakes?

Greater love has no man than this! We should be a wonderful living example of Yahushua to the world, and especially to our own children!

Fathers, we must be burdened enough about it that we will not rest until we see it. 

We cannot rest, brethren.. satan is out to destroy our children

We must fulfill the vision

We must be strong

We must do the work

We must give up our self

We must die to ourself

The time has come

The time is now

Fathers, turn your hearts!

Psalms 71:18 - Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O Elohim, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

1Chronicles 28:10 - Take heed now; for YAHWEH hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

May Yahweh bless you all!