EXAMPLES FOR US

Let's look at some examples of those who have the kind of home Yahweh is looking for. The house of Job is one:

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared Elohim, and eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

It is written that Job was a man who was "perfect and upright, and one that feared Elohim, and eschewed evil." Job had 7 sons and 3 daughters. How much care and concern did he have for the spiritual health of his children?

Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed Elohim in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Job had such care and concern for his children, that he was concerned that they might have sinned in their hearts. His love and dedication to the lives of his children were part of what made Job such a just and upright man.

The house of Stephanas is another example:

1Cor 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,) 

In this casual mention we see that the house of Stephanas had addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints. They were the first fruits 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! 

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. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 

It looks like Philip had his house dedicated to Yahweh. He had 4 daughters who spoke in the power and anointing of Yahweh's Spirit. These are the fruits and results of a righteous home that is filled with the Holy Spirit, directed by a righteous and Spirit filled man. 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:

Psalm 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except Yahweh build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except Yahweh keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 

Yahweh must build the house! Unless the whole house is centered around Yahweh, it is built in vain. I do not speak of just having His name on our walls, and I don't mean His name only.. but HIM, YAHWEH. 

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 lives among them!

Surely Yahweh knows His own plan 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 lives! 

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

Psalm 128:1 "Blessed is every one who fears Yahweh, Who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. 

A fruitful vine? Olive plants?

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears Yahweh. 5 Yahweh bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!". 

If we will only fear Yahweh, we can have the home that Yahweh desires for us to have. Our wives can be as a vine, bearing good fruits within our house. 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:

Psalm 101:1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O Yahweh, I will sing praises. 2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. 

If we want to overcome some sin in our life, we must do it in our home first. 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:

4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. 5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure. 6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me. 7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. 8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of Yahweh. 

Do we really hate the work of them that turn aside or do we love to watch them, learn about them and be entertained by them? 

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

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! There are other ways of getting the news. 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. 

A vision

It seems that some fathers say in their heart about their children "I think they'll be all right, I think they'll make it". 

"Make it?"

We need our vision to be much higher than that! We need to dedicate ourselves to raise spiritual leaders: men and women of Yahweh who will be an example and a light to all? Just as we want our Heavenly Father to be concerned about everything in our own lives, to guide us and lead us and protect us; Even so, we must follow our Heavenly Father's example 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 are willing to love Yahweh above all. A righteous Husband and Father does not compromise this in any way. Let's consider the attributes of such a man. He is:

• A man after Yahweh's own heart. 

• A man who is willing to let Messiah live in him. 

• He is a man who loves His neighbor as himself. 

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

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

• 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 lovingly submits to him, knowing that he loves her. 

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

• A man whose very life and family 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 every thought, word and deed manifest the fruits of the Spirit. 

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

• A man of prayer who prays for his family and with his family and who prays for others diligently and without fail. 

• A man who gives honor to his wife and shows true respect and care for his children.

• 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. 

Perhaps this is a lofty goal that seems out of reach. But let's always remember:

Philippians 3:12 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Elohim in Messiah Yahushua. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, Elohim shall reveal even this unto you.

Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with Elohim.

With Yahweh, we can do it. We can put the past behind us and be this kind of Father and Husband. We can be this man who builds a spiritual heritage not only for his children, but for his children's children. We can be this 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.

Continue to Part 4