The next generation

Speaker: Jane Askew

Notes

In the Old Testament our God is known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, three generations. In Genesis 32 Jacob speaks to Laban of the God of his father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac being with him (verse 42). He obviously saw that his father and grandfather had seen different aspects of God's character but that they had both known, trusted and worshipped Him and found Him faithful and he was going to do the same.

God put us in families, in generations (Psalm 78:1-6)

The Story of Acsah (Joshua 15:16-19 and Judges 1:12-15). Read about Caleb in Num 13 and 14, Josh 14.

Caleb believed and hoped and passed the baton to his daughter and her husband. He was able to pass it on because of his passion and she shared that passion and his faith in the Lord being with them and pleased with them.

What we learn from this story

Caleb provided Acsah with the means to realise the vision: The land and the streams, when asked, and a strong husband. We need to fight for our children and the youngsters we know and nurture. Nehemiah learnt that lesson as he rebuilt the walls with whole families involved in the work. Pray for good and righteous friendships, that they will be able to resist temptation and that God will deliver them from the evil one

Caleb knew the vision and the task ahead and he saw Acsah and Othniel catch and run with the vision. He passed it on because of his passion and his faith. But they took possession of the vision and did it their own way.

There will always be "giants" and how we deal with them will differ from how someone else deals with them. Will we see ourselves as grasshoppers and be rendered inactive by our fear or will we see with the eyes of faith and become overcomers? We don't necessarily have to face physical giants but there are certainly some spiritual and ideological ones for us; political correctness, injustice and the rulers, authorities and powers Paul mentions.

We need to equip ourselves for these battles and encourage and train up those who will carry on when we are no longer able.

What will the next generation see us doing and what will they learn from this? David could not fight in Saul's armour but could rely on his faithful God. As we pass on the vision we must allow the next generation to do it their way or God's way for them

Caleb knew his God and knew he was faithful from the beginning. Othniel was a strong man. The word of God was dwelling in Acsah, she knew and believed the promises of inheritance and fruitfulness and was ready to work for them and to ask for what was necessary to go for it!! Are we?

There are not all that many examples of people who finished well in the bible, training up the next generation to run with the vision, Samuel, Joshua and many kings had no successor. Hezekiah, when told that the country would be overrun in the time of his descendants was just pleased that he would not see suffering himself. We do not want to be like that.

And so we need to:

• Know the vision

• Impart the vision

• Share the vision

• Pray for them as they grow and catch the vision

• Encourage them and Release them to run with the vision

• Pray, pray, pray!

Challenge of Jesus' words from Luke 18:8 - "When the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?"

Only if we are faithful and reliable witnesses of that faith to our children and our children's children, if we share with them, fight for them, release them and learn from them too.

Paul commends Timothy in his second letter to him remembering "your sincere faith, which first lived in your Grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and ... now lives in you also." A faith that crosses generations as did Caleb's faith to Acsah.

How can we pass on that faith in our time?

Application

To what extent is your faith a result of your parents or grandparents passing on what they had? Which other older people have shaped your walk with the Lord? Thank God for those people.

Who are the younger people who you may have opportunity to influence? How much of a priority is it to pass on faith to the next generation?

Posted: 8 Feb 2009