November 03- 04, 2007 Doors!                        Genesis 19, Selected

Is The Door Locked?

(Senior Pastor Roger Storms)

*** Genesis 19:3-6 “But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. He set a great feast before them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast. After the meal, as they were preparing to retire for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, "Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out so we can have sex with them." Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.” [New Living Translation]

How do we keep our families safe and the Doors Locked?

The Principle of Identity!

*** Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” [New International Version]

The Principle of Communication!

*** Ephesians 6:4 “And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” [New American Standard Version]

Time! – Deut. 6:7 “…tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you're at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.”
[Contemporary English Version]

Listening! – James 1:19 “My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” [New Living Translation]

Observe! Wait! Listen!

Compassion! – 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble.”
[New Century Version]

The Principle of Prayer!

*** Lamentations 2:19 “Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children….” [NIV]

*** 1 Cor. 7:5 “So do not deprive each other of sexual relations. The only exception to this rule would be the agreement of both husband and wife to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time, so they can give themselves more completely to prayer. Afterward they should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt them because of their lack of self-control.” [NLT]

START!

The Principle of The Blessing!

*** 1 Kings 11:6 “So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.” [NIV]

*** 1 Kings 11:9-13 “The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command. So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen." [NIV]

The Umbrella of Blessing!

*** Exodus 20:5-6 “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” [NIV]

*** Psalm 103:17-18 “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children -- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” [NIV]

We Lock the Door to Our Homes when we:

Have a Solid Relationship with God!

Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk!

Authentic Faith Changes Lives!

*** Psalm 127:1a “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless.” [NLT]

Is the Door Locked at Your House?