NORTH YORK CHURCH OF CHRIST

Pastor Roger Marcos
February 3, 2019

To build a Christian home takes both perseverance and dependence upon God’s power in our life. The family that God blesses is the one that depends on the Lord Jesus. Let me say that again.

Our Motto: "Family First." Don’t forget to remember me my love.

For Christians to receive God's blessings we must live in dependence upon Him. In words that reflect Ecclesiastes the author says it is vain to attempt things without the Lord. He says that the family God blesses depends on Him.

Blessed families don't Build in Vain, Watch in Vain, or Work in Vain.

Psalms 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

If the Lord does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless;

1. Don't Build In Vain - Stability Depends on God.

Why does the Psalmist say to build our own home is vain?

Because most Australians build their houses independently of God. They labor and toil without considering the plans that God has for them. Many Australians build houses but very few Australians own homes. Most Australians share their house with their families, yet very few families share a Christian heritage.

Unless the Lord builds the house we labor in vain.

Proverbs 19:21: There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel - that will stand.

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Why is it vain to build our house without God? Because only God can bring stability to our home. Only the Rock of Ages can make our homes last.

Today the divorce rate is running at over 50%. Children are growing up in broken homes and often suffer abuse from the very people who ought to protect them.

Continually the homes of broken families are sold off and divided up in the divorce courts. These broken families are the result of building independently of God. The parents labored in vain.

Matthew 7:26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like aa foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

To have Stability in your home you must depend on God.

BUILDING YOUR HOME.

To build a good home we needed the right Blueprints, the right Builder and the right Bricks. The same is true when it comes to building a Christian Home.

The Right Blueprints

If we want to build a Christian Home we need to use the right blueprint.

We need to build according to God's plans. How can we know God's plans for us? How can where God wants us to live? How can we know what God wants us to do with our lives? what career we should pursue? These are important issues. How can we find out God's will in these? How can we know His plans?

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Psalms 33:11: The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.

Prayer is vitally important in knowing God's Will. We should ask God to direct our paths. Before we make decision we ought to pray and ask for God's leading.

Our responsibility is to seek the Lord's will in prayer. In response He guides us through the Word, other Christians and our circumstances. He gives us His peace when we make the right choices. Will You Seek Out God's Plans For Your Life?

The Right Builder.

Having the right plans is so important. But so is getting the right builder.

Three years ago I built our extension at the backyard.did you see it?

Believe it or not I was actually considering putting it up myself. Fortunately I decided not to do it but I did it.

I recognised that it was a task beyond my abilities. Suppose I called in an expert. Someone who had the training and skill to do the job.

The same is true of building a Christian home. We can't do it on our own, we need help. A Christian home is not the building, it's the family inside.

The Lord is the Master Builder who alone can build a strong family. To have a solid Christian home Jesus Christ must be the Head..

As Christian parents, we have been given the responsibility to teach our children about the Lord. Through the Bible the Master Builder tells us how to build our home. We must labor together with the Lord. We must example our Christian faith each day not just on Sundays.

Matt 7:24-25: Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

The Right Bricks.

Blueprints and Builders are very important. But so are the Bricks.

1 Corinthians 3:10-12: According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

We must build on Christ's salvation. He is the only foundation for the Christian life and home. What are the bricks we build with? Simply the activities that take place in our lives. How we use our time and talents. How we serve the Lord.

Paul says that spiritual work is like gold, silver and precious stones.

Fleshly work is like wood, hay and stubble. How do we build with spiritual materials? By asking the Lord to work in our life through the Holy Spirit. Do you ask the Lord to work through you in all your activities. Do you commit each day to God? Are you having a personal quiet time each day? Do you pray together as a family? Are you sharing your faith? How much time do you spend with your kids? Are you using your spiritual gifts? Are you asking the Lord to build quality into your life each day?

Conclusion:

Have you asked the Lord to build your Home, to be your master builder?

Do you commit all your plans to Him? Are you building on the right foundation? Will your house stand in trials? Let's depend on God to Build stable homes!

How can we experience God's blessings in our lives? By depending on God. We should ask the Lord to build our homes, protect our homes and bless our work. Our own labor will always fall short. We must believe that God will keep His promises to us. Only Parents who live in dependence on God can pass on a Christian heritage. Will you depend on Him?