PASTOR OF WEEK:BUILDING A STRONG FIRM CHRISTIAN FAMILY FOUNDATION

Scripture: Joshua 24:15,

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

In Psalm 11:3, When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are His’” (2 Timothy 2:19).

Summary: Talking to an expatriate worker one day, I asked him the question: What motivate you to endure all the hardships, discriminations, injustices and loneliness? The expatriate answered, “ I’m doing all these for my family!”

BUILDING A STRONG FIRM CHRISTIAN FAMILY

Psalms 27:1-5

What motivate you to endure all the hardships, discriminations, injustices and loneliness while working in other country? The expatriate answered, “I’m doing all this sacrifices for my family.”

I am one of the many expatriates working in Africa and I can tell you by experience how hard it is to work in a foreign land with the culture totally different from your own. We all agree that we are doing all this sacrifices for our family. But ironically, instead of building our family, statistic show us the other stories of broken marriages, fatherless children and ruin lives.

If we will just be sensitive to what these circumstances are telling us, we will realize that it is impossible to make a successful and happy family without God as the foundation of the house. The Scripture said:

Psa 127:1 [1] EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.(1)

Psa 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil–for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.

Psa 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.(2)

Psa 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

Psa 127:5 Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city’s] gate.(AMP)

In the year 1787, one statesman stands in the US constitutional convention. Here is the part excerpt from his speech.

“I have lived for a long time [81 years]; and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of man.

And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that “Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it.”

I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall proceed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: we shall be divided by our little, partial, local interests; our prospects will be confounded; and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a by-word down to future ages.

And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, or conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers, imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business;’ and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service”. – The man is Benjamin Franklin who gave his Speech in Convention for forming a Constitution for the United States, 1787.

If the great men of history acknowledge that the great God is the foundation of even the great country, when we will realize that God is also the foundation of the strong family?

I. THE FOUNDATION OF A STRONG CHRISTIAN FAMILY

We must put our dependence on God in all the affairs of the family. We must look on God as the builder, the keeper and the ultimate provider.

1. GOD IS THE BUILDER OF OUR FAMILIES.

Psa 127:1 [1] EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;…

As a parent, it is our responsibility to train our children and prepare them for their future. We want them to be strong and we build them according to the knowledge that we acquired in our experiences in life. Those human strategy and disciplines are not bad.

However we have to realize that God is the real owner of our children. He is the real builder of our family. We must acknowledge Him as the real head of our family and we must build our family according to His Word.

All our effort will be a failure in the end unless we recognize God as the real head in our family.

God use pillars to build your house:

• God uses the pillar of His word to build our faith on Him

• God uses the pillar of prayer to build our trust on Him

• God uses the pillar of love to build our bond

• God uses the pillar of understanding to build our character

• God uses the pillar of forgiveness to make us compassionate

• God uses the pillar of examples and testimony from parents to build our attitude

• God uses the pillar of obedience to make us His children

2. GOD IS THE PROTECTOR OF OUR FAMILIES.

Psa 127:1… except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.(1)

In the time of advance technology and information, the access of our children to bad influences and polluting information is almost impossible to avoid.

All of us specially our children are vulnerable to the attack of bad influence and protection of our family is on the alarming status.

This is the right time to admit our own limitation and ask the help from the real protector of our family no other than God.

We cannot watch and protect our family 24/7. Only the omnipresent and all power God is able to do this impossible job of protecting our family.

God use fences to protect our family:

• God uses the fence of His teaching to protect us from false belief

• God uses the fence of the church and brethren to protect our emotions

• God uses fence of our family to protect our hearts

• God uses the fence of his presence to protect our soul

• God uses the fence of His love so no one can separate us from Him

3. GOD. IS THE PROVIDER OF OUR FAMILY?

Psa 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil–for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.

The effectiveness of labors and cares is dependent on the operation and providence of God; and all human strength care, and industry is in itself vain

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God provide us blessing to give us reasons to thank Him

• God use the milk and bread of the word of God to nourish us

• God use the water of His Spirit to refresh and revive us

• God provides favors and opportunities

• God provides our life

• God provides us wisdom and abilities

• God provides us healing

• God provides wealth

• God provides our jobs

• God provides friends

• God provides partners in life

If God is the foundation of a strong family, then we should build our family on Jesus. Jesus is the Rock, the Strong Foundation of our family.

• We can build our life on Jesus by hearing and obeying His word (Mt 724-25)

• We can build our life on Jesus by making Him our top priority (Mt. 6:33)

• We can also build our life on Jesus by prayer of devotion to Him

• We can build our life to Jesus by trusting and thanking Him in every events of our life

• We can build our life to Jesus by inviting Him to be the King and Lord of our life

• WE can build our life to Jesus by surrendering our will and plans to Him

4. THE COMPENSATION OF A SUCCESFUL CHRISTIAN FAMILY

Children: If we can just train them in the ways of the Lord, they can be a reward, a weapon and a blessing not only to their parent but to the whole community.

1. GODLY CHILDREN ARE A REWARD.

Psa 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.(2)

Mentoring our children is not an easy job. It takes prayers, patience and love to train them. But those who successfully prepare them according to the will of God will reap bountifully the fruit of their labor.

2. GODLY CHILDREN WHO ARE DISCIPLINED ARE LIKE WEAPONS

Psa 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

As the bow of an arrow is being pulled and bended by the archer and aim it to the right direction, so our children should be bended, shaped to reach the right direction according to the will of God.

As we aim the arrow to the right direction and release them, children will reach their proper goal if we prepare them and point them to Jesus.

If we release them without proper bending and aiming, they will not reach the right direction.

3. GODLY CHILDREN TAUGHT BY GOD’S TEACHINGS ARE BLESSING.

Psa 127:5 Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries Cin gatherings) at the [city’s] gate.

The first command of God is for man to be fruitful and multiply. The Lord gave the divine ordinance that every living creature should produce their own kind.

 As Christian, we should produce the same faith, values and character through our children. Children can be a blessing to us and to the community if we can only train them according to God’s word.

Shalom shalom shalom

Archbishop Dr Peter Rhoyd Ndhlovu

BIO          

Archbishop Dr Peter Royd Ndhlovu remains the presiding founder of Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) since inception in 2001 with nine pastors. Bishop Peter is an eagle.

He has a loving wife, Pastor Hildah Phiri Ndhlovu and together they have five children Timothy, Thandiwe, Caroline, Collins and Kelley.

BIGOCA is one of the fastest growing churches with  over 312 locations throughout Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, DR Congo, Liberia and Zimbabwe. There are now more than 289 pastors and evangelists spreading The Word like a bush fire.

The “secret” to the ministry is seeking yhe Presence of God. When lifted high, Lord Jesus draws His people to Him. God is our Ebenezer – not man – only God. Today by the grace of The Lord, BIGOCA leads, disciples, hosts and care-takes for +20,000 members plus orphans and senior citizens. Those who live in rejection by their society and all are welcome at BIGOCA. BIGOCA finds joy in honoring and serving the people.

Bishop Peter has served in several organizations throughout his lifetime.

The following are a few of the bodies in which he was a board member.

• Presiding Founder – Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) from 2001 to date
• Board Member – Christian Council of Zamia (CCZ) for ten years. This is a mother body for many churches.
• Vice Chairman – Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) for five years. This group has +500 churches within the organization.
• Chairman – Bible Society of Zambia for ten years. This organization makes available the Bible to all people.
• Chairman for SADC Christian Leaders Summit. 
• Board Member – Back to the Bible College, Nelspruit, South Africa for eight years. International training for pastors. 26
• Founder Rhoyd Ministries International – For orphans, vulnerable children and elderly, senior citizens
• Founder and Board Member – Father’s Heart Africa for six years, which became Father’s Heart International. Takes care of single and double orphans.
• Former Board Member – Breath of Heaven Children’s Ministry. This group takes care of children, orphans and schools.

Prior to these appointments, positions and organizations, Bishop Ndhlovu attended the Reformed Church’s Bible College from 1979 and graduated in 1983.

He then served full-time with Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) from 1983 to 2001 in varying positions including Pastor, Synod Secretary, vice moderator and moderator.

Before studying theology, Bishop Ndhlovu worked for the National Agriculture Marketing Board where he first encountered former President Rupiah Banda and late President Michael Sata as colleagues.