Rev. Rusty Johnson- “Building Your Family”

. Thank you all , and may God young couples' lives here tonight .

Right , amen , maybe he's listening , I don't know . Praise God , turn in your Bible to Psalm 127 tonight , psalm 127 . So I pray that you'd put your heart into the word of the Lord and into the preaching tonight , especially you young couples in this service . Put your heart into the word of the Lord , amen , and let God speak to you .

That's an important thing to hear from God , right ? That's pretty weak . I said . It's an important thing to hear from God , right , amen , it's a very important thing . Praise God , to hear from the Lord , and I pray that you would tonight . I believe that God has spoken to me in this service and for this service .

So you open your heart and let the Lord touch you . Psalm 127, . If you want to stand with us , then help us pray over the preaching and then we'll get into the altar of the Lord willing . Verse 1, . For so he giveth his beloved sleep , lo . Children are an heritage of the Lord , and the fruit of the womb is his reward .

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man , so are children of the youth . Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them . They shall not be ashamed , but they shall speak with the enemies In the gate . Praise God , except the Lord , build the house , amen . I want to preach to us about building

a family , building a family . Would you help me pray tonight Over the word of the Lord , father , grateful Lord unto you For the presence of God in this service and how you've been moving and how the Spirit of the Lord is touching us . Oh God , we give you honor and glory and praise for it , and I pray you would talk to me .

Pray you would talk through me , lord , to the heart of our people right here in this service . Lord , speak to us . Oh God , the eternal word of God , the Holy Ghost , to find where we are . That would help , lord , every one of us , and especially Lord , our young couples in this service tonight , lord , that have children .

Let the blessing of the Lord come upon the preaching and upon the hearing of the Word of God tonight . God and I pray , do a miraculous thing in this altar . God , confirm your Word tonight . Let signs follow your Word . God , tonight , god and I pray , do a miraculous thing in this altar . God , confirm your word tonight . Let signs follow your word .

I pray Through a demonstration of the Holy Ghost tonight in this house . Would you lift your hand and thank God for what he's going to do in your life ? Thank him , say Lord , I thank you for what you're going to do in my life and in my family In this service tonight . Praise him for that , amen , believe him for that , trust him for that amen .

Look to him and expect it that god is going to do something in your life and in your home , right here tonight . Praise god , praise god . God bless you as you're seated tonight , amen . Psalm 127 is known as the builder's psalm . Amen , accept the Lord , build the house .

We need to recognize here that the word house is not in the Old Testament , most especially is not always speaking of a physical structure , is not always speaking of a physical structure , and in this Scripture it is not necessarily meaning a physical structure .

But the word house oftentimes in the Old Testament it meant a family , it meant a household and it meant a father , a mother and their children .

In Genesis 7 , verse 1 , you remember where the Scripture said the Lord said to Noah Come , thou and all thy house into the ark , and he certainly wasn't speaking to him about his tent , but he was talking about his wife and his children , all of his house . So accept the Lord , build the house , amen . There's many implications in this scripture tonight .

Number one I'd like to point out that the scripture tells us that a house must be built , a family must be built , amen . It is not something that just happens , praise God . It is not just something that comes out of nowhere , but a house , a family , must be built . It is also implied by that that someone must build the house .

If a house is to be built , there must be a builder , amen . The scripture bears out to us that it is very important who builds our house , amen . I said it's important who builds our house , praise God . Except the Lord , build the house , amen . It goes on to tell us those that do not allow the Lord to build the house are building their house in vain .

They may rise up early , they may sit up late , they may put all of their mind , heart , energy and effort into it , but it is vain for a person to sit up late and try to build their house without God , their house without God . It is vain for an individual To rise up early and try to build their family or their house without God .

And so he said To eat the bread of sorrows . Those that rise up early or even sit up late With the desire of building their home , their house , their household , their own way , without the Lord , are going to eat the bread of sorrows . It's not going to work , amen .

But then it said but then , so he giveth His beloved sleep , and so those that allow the Lord to build their house , they can rest easy because God is doing the work . Praise god , and he gives his beloved to sleep . I want you to know that in this scripture that we see here , it's implied that building a house involves children .

Three of the five of these scriptures that we read tonight imply or speak about children . Children are an heritage , the fruit of the womb is his reward , and happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them .

And so these verses relate to us that in the building of a family , in the building of a house or a household , children are essential unto that building . In the Hebrew , the word son is ben , b-e-n , and it means a builder of the family . The word daughter is bath , and it is the feminine of the word ben .

So the word for daughter means a female builder of the family . The word house in the Hebrew is beeth and it means a man to build . All of those come from the word bena , which means to build , praise God . So the whole concept of a home or a house , there is a building that is involved in that household . Amen , except the Lord , build the house .

It's very important for us to see something in this little psalm of five verses that we have before us here tonight Amen . The heading says A Song of Degrees for Solomon , but actually it was written by Solomon . Amen . This psalm is really a psalm of . You know most of the psalms of David and Asaph and others .

Many of them are psalms of joy and victory and happiness and looking to the Lord . But this is a psalm of his personal experience and so it is a song of his abject failure . It is a song of his regret and of his remorse . Solomon , though he was the wisest man that ever lived , he did some very stupid things , isn't that right ?

Oh , I'm glad we've got the story of solomon in the bible , not only of the glory of his kingdom , but when you look into proverbs and ecclesiastes and the end of his kingdom , then you see of the mistakes that this , this man , made and this song is is really brothers , probably one of the first blues songs that was ever written amen , amen .

It is the blues . He is crying and lamenting , amen , things that he learned in life , his own personal experience Amen . He tried to build his house , amen , though he had the wisdom of God like no other man would ever have , solomon decided to build his house against the wisdom of God .

He tried to build his house in his own thoughts and his own ideas and in his own way , amen , and it failed him . Amen , it matters who builds your house , amen , amen . You think of solomon . We know , amen , that the scripture made it very clear and very plain that that we were to be the husband of one wife ,

that God made Adam and God made Eve and God gave specific commandments to the kings that they were to have one wife and that was to be the wife of the daughters of Israel . Amen . But we that solomon done things his own way . He built his house as he wanted to build his house , amen . We find him .

Not only did he not just marry one of the women of the children of israel , but he married heathen women , he married idolatrous women , he married women , and then he built temples for the gods that they served and that they worshipped Amen .

Not only did he marry ungodly women , but he married multiple women and the Bible said he married 700 wives and then had 300 concubines , amen . When God said you should only have one , amen . And she should be bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh , amen , you should only have one .

He decided to build his house like he thought was best to build it and he went completely opposite of the wisdom of God and the commandment of God and the understanding of God and he married multiple women , amen . 1 Kings 11 tells us of how he loved many strange women .

He married those women , built those temples for them , and then the Bible said he claimed clayed to them in love , amen . And his wives turned away his heart . And the Scripture , verse 9 , said and the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord , god of Israel , which had appeared unto him .

And the Lord said because this is done of thee , thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes . I will surely rend the kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant , amen . Solomon decided to build his house in his own thoughts , in his own wisdom , in his own way , against the commandments of God . Amen and his house ate the bread of sorrows .

As he said , amen and his house fell in vain . Solomon , you're staying up all night and you're trying to figure out how to fix this mess that you made In vain . You're rising up early and you're trying to correct all the mistakes that you made Because you didn't let the Lord build the house . Amen , amen , Amen .

Also , we know that the scripture taught the children of Israel from the very Beginning that they were to be Fruitful and to multiply . Amen . And God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth . Have children , god told them . And when Noah came up the ark , the Lord told Noah Be fruitful and multiply your sons and have children .

Amen , that was the command of God . But Solomon thought he knew better than God . Amen , and Solomon only , even though he had 700 wives . You know , sometimes you read about those kings in the Old Testament and some of them had 60 and 70 sons that rode on white mules . They had multiple children .

But do you know that Solomon , out of 700 wives and 300 concubines , only had one son , amen . He only had one son , rehoboam , when God had told him to have children , amen . You see how backwards it was in his life . God said have one wife . And he had multiple wives . And God said had multiple children , and he only had one son , amen .

Solomon's ideas , amen About how to build a house Was completely in opposition and completely contrary to the way that God had ordained , amen that he would build his house . And so he writes this little song and he sings to the children of Israel , and he sings to you and me , amen . Of what it is . Amen .

If you're going to build a house , let the Lord build the house . I learned the hard way , amen . That's not the way to do it . I learned the hard way that children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward .

I've had all the money , I've had all the things , I've had all the pleasure , I've had all the fun , solomon said , but I learned the hard way that the way of God is always best . Can you say amen when you read Ecclesiastes especially and you see the decline of Solomon's life ?

You know Solomon , the richest king ever , had any and everything a man could want in life . Amen . The wisest king died a miserable man . Amen . He became hard . That's what his people said when they came to Rehoboam they said , if you'll lighten our load that your father put upon us , king Solomon in his old age became a hard man . He was a lonely man . Amen .

No children and grandchildren . Amen . No children and grandchildren . Amen . To fill that palace up . All those wives went their own ways and Solomon became angry and bitter and began to chase Jeroboam . Amen , he is completely Amen .

A different character at the end of his life Than he was at the beginning of his life , when he was young and tender before god and god was giving visions and understanding and revelation and god was blessing him . Amen . But the end of his life , amen . You see a hard and bitter man , you see a broken man , amen .

That leaves this world and most likely went to hell . Amen . After having so much wisdom Because he thought he was smarter than God . Amen , praise God . Solomon sings a song to us and he teaches us . Amen . The house , the family , is of God . Amen . Family is not a human invention . It is a divine creation by God .

It was the first community on earth that predates the church or even the nations . Amen . When you think of the importance of family to God , god Himself is a family Father , son and Holy Ghost . Praise God , and you and I are created in the image of God and we are created to have family Mother , father and children . Can you say amen ?

And when you consider amen , the family that is in heaven , the angels , the cherubim , the seraphim and all of the redeemed , there is a family in heaven . In Ephesians 3 , 14, . For this cause , I bow my knee to the Father of our Lord , jesus Christ , of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named . Praise God , god's got a family in heaven .

Can you say amen ? I want to tell you something Family is important to God and family ought to be important to every one of us . Can you say amen ? Praise God , amen . Family was important . The Old Testament is a story about the family of God .

Amen , it is the family of the children of Israel , that every tribe and family had their own property rights and they stayed together . Glory to God , and they had a covenant that was to the family . The New Testament is a was to the family . The New Testament is a covenant to the family .

God gave promise to Cornelius and to Lydia and to the Philippian jailer that all of thine household shall be saved . Praise God . God gave promise of the family . The church is the family of God . We were born again and is the family of God .

We were born Again and became the children Of God , and he is our heavenly father and Jesus is our elder brother , and you and I are brothers and sisters , and Galatians 6 Said we are of the household Of faith . Aren't you glad that family Is important to God ? Amen . Family is important so that we may say that the Bible is a family story . Praise God .

It is the story of the family of God on earth and the family of God in eternity . Praise God . Family is important unto God . Amen . We're made to realize the importance of family . Amen . To build our family is the highest calling of God on this earth . Are you listening to me , young couples ? Amen . The greatest aspiration of your life , amen .

It should not to be half the things of the world , but it is to build your family before God . Hallelujah , amen , amen . Even though family is ordained of God , the sad reality is not all families make it . Amen .

The sad reality is that in the hour in which we live , many families separate and divide , and the truth of the matter is , even in our churches there are a lot of families . Amen . That are on life support and many of them have already dissolved and separated , divorced and went their separate ways . Amen . It matters who builds the house . Praise God .

Who builds the family , amen . The foundation and premise upon which your family is being built , praise God , amen . Except the Lord build the house , amen . They that labor , labor in vain . Can I tell you , young couple , something here tonight If you don't let the Lord build your house , amen . You're going to fail . Your marriage is going to fail .

Your relationship is going to fail , amen . Your children are going to fail in life . If you don't let the Lord

build your house , praise God . You say , pastor , how does the Lord build our house ? He builds the house through us , amen . He uses us to build our family , to build our house . We build through his instruction and we build through his power . Glory to God .

There are some things here that this scripture implies to us that , as I prayed and sought the Lord this week , that he brought to my heart , that I want to give to you right here Before we come and pray In this altar service tonight . Amen . The Lord must build the house . In building the house , in building period . It implies several things to us .

There's five things that I want to bring out . There are more that could be talked about , but these are the ones I feel like that are important for this service tonight . Amen . Building implies having a plan . Amen of action in order to build .

If you're going to build something some of you guys work at the shipyard when you go to the shipyard , you have to build according to the blueprint . There is a plan by which that building is being built .

If you build a house through the county , there is an approved set of plans that meets the criteria of the building code that ensures that that structure will be built safely and strongly and that it will be able to withstand the storms and the winds that come . There is a plan Amen .

Certain things have to be in certain places to withstand the storms and the winds that come . There's a plan Amen . Certain things have to be in certain places , certain things have certain jobs to do Amen . And we must build according to a plan . Can you say amen ? Anything that is not built according to a plan ? Amen .

If that plan is flawed , if that plan is not right , then whatever's being built will be built wrong and it will be in vain . I'm glad that God gave us a plan to build by . Can you say amen ? I'm glad God gave us a Bible . Glory to God . And that precious book that you hold in your hand is more than just a spiritual book .

It is a plan by which we must build our life . It is a plan by which we must build our families . It shows us how to build right . It shows us how to build strong . It shows us how to build secure , so when the storms of life comes against our families , our families will be able to stand . Praise God , amen .

The Word of God has a plan for the husband . The Word of God has a plan for the wife Amen . The Word of God has a plan for the children , of parenting the children and how the children ought to respond Amen . The Word of God has a plan for the finances of the home . The Word of God has a plan of how we are to build our house .

Now you and I can think we're smart and you can think that we know better than God . You and I can think that we know how to build a marriage better than God does . Or we know how to rear our children better than God does . We know how to discipline and to teach our children better than God does .

But if we try to sit up late and rise up early and , in our own thoughts and abilities , build our house , we're working in vain and our house is going to crumble and going to fall . But young couples , listen to me right here tonight .

If you'll get into the Word of God , if you'll seek after God and you say , god , I want to be the husband or the wife , I want to be the parent , I want to build my house according to your prescribed plan , according to the word of God , according to heaven's blueprint Amen , it'll be strong , it'll be safe , it'll be secure . Praise God .

Let me ask you something , young man , do you think you're smarter than God ? Amen . Y'all getting quiet on me . Praise God . Young lady , do you think you're smarter than God ? Amen . Do you think your wisdom and ability ? You just do it the way you want to do it and you think that it's going to come out better Than if you follow God's way ?

Amen , vain , amen . They do it in vain . Building implies that there must be a plan , solomon in all of his wisdom , amen . If anybody could have done it Amen . Without doing it God's way , solomon could have done it . Right , I said if anybody could have done it and nobody can but if anybody could have , solomon would have been the one to do it .

But he tried and he failed miserably . You know what he said at the end of Ecclesiastes , in the 12th chapter , the last two verses . Let us hear the conclusion Of the whole matter amen , fear god , keep his commandments . This is the whole duty of man . Thank god . I'll tell you what I've learned .

Solomon said amen , do it god's way , hear the word of god and follow after the lord . That's the only way it's gonna work . You ain't got enough money to buy yourself out of trouble . You ain't got a high enough position amen . To get your marriage out of trouble . You can't get your children out of drugs . You can't get your children out of homosexuality .

You can't get your children out of trouble , amen . You've got to follow God's way . Amen . It implies a plan . Building also implies a cost Amen . Anytime you build something , it's going to cost something , amen . There's a price to pay to build a house , amen . Amen .

And there is a price to pay to build a family , to build a strong family , to build a good family , to build a solid family , there are sacrifices that must be made . Amen , are you hearing me ? You young people Look this way . You're the preacher tonight , amen . I don't want you to go to the bathroom or anywhere else because I need to preach to you .

I said there's some sacrifices that need to be made if you're going to have a good home . Amen , it cannot be about you . It cannot be about what you want , amen . You've got to sacrifice of yourself to build your family . Praise God , amen . Anytime you have to build something , you're going to have to shell out money . You're going to have to put out a cost .

And our Lord said sit down . Who would build a tower ? And don't sit down first and count the cost , if it has sufficient to finish that tower or not . And I'm going to tell you something . That's something that young people ought to do . They ought to really know what they're getting into . Their heart needs to be fully into it . They need to be committed .

When you walk down that altar and say I do , you need to be fully committed . Let me tell you something in case some of you young people don't know it's married now . You're not a young'un anymore . You're not a teenager anymore . Amen .

You're not out here to have fun on four-wheelers and get lifts on your trucks and put a squad on them and spend all your money and time Amen , indulging in those things . You've got a family to build . I said you've got a family to build . You've got children , family to build . I said you've got a family to build . You've got children to take care of .

You've got a wife to take care of . You need to grow up . It's going to cost you something if you're going to have a good marriage . It's going to cost you something if you're going to have a good family . I said you should have counted the cost before . You said I do .

And now you've made a commitment and you better be man enough and woman enough to stick to your commitment . Praise God . We got a sorry group of young people this day and time that will not live up to their commitments . Amen for better , for worse , for richer , for poor , in sickness and in health . Amen , I'm going to stand with you .

Commitments amen For better , for worse , for richer , for poorer , in sickness and in health . Amen , I'm going to stand with you . I'm going to stand by you . I'm going to put you above myself . I'm going to put my family above myself , amen . You can't build a house without sacrifice . You

can't build a good family without sacrifice . Glory to God , amen . I'm going to tell you something , guys , you , young men , the old saying is you ain't worth your salt . You don't put your family ahead of yourself , amen . Your family has needs and you're going to go buy something stupid that you don't need , amen . Amen .

Your family has needs and you're going to go buy something stupid that you don't need . Amen . Whenever your family has a need . I ain't telling you anything I didn't do . Praise God , amen . I sacrificed anything Hunting camps , hunting clubs , shotguns , whatever . I wanted to buy four wheelers . I didn't have all of that when I was young . Amen .

Don't have a lot of it today , amen . But I didn't have it when I was young because I had a family . I had a family I was trying to build up . Praise God , glory to God . And if you're going to have a good family , you need to grow up mature . Be a man , be Mature , be a man , be a man of God , be a man that's going to take care of your family .

Get out of the bed and go to work . Amen . I'll get to that point in a minute . I'm trying to get ahead of myself here . Glory to God , it's going to cost you something . Building implies time , amen . Strong families are not built overnight . It takes time to do something right . There are so many of our young couples .

They want to have everything all at once when they get married . They want to have three vehicles and a brick house and everything else when they get married Amen . It takes time to build something right , amen . Get married Amen . It takes time to build something right , amen .

I've seen so many that take them credit cards and they just slide the cards or they go to the bank and they sign we can handle this , we can do this . We can handle that , amen . And they don't think about sick days , they don't think about bad days , they don't think about bad weather , they don't think about things happening that are unforeseen , amen .

They don't pray those things through Amen . Until they know it's the will of God , amen . Glory to the Lamb of God . It takes time . I'm going to tell you what . We didn't start out in a brick house . I thank God what I live in right now , but we didn't start out in a brick house , amen . We started out . I had an old Ford Ranger Amen .

And my wife borrowed her mother's car to go to work Amen . We lived in a trailer , moved in without an air conditioner or a septic tank , thank you , praise the Lamb of God . Amen . We ate fish sticks and macaroni and cheese Amen . When we didn't go to her mama's house Glory to God . I'll tell you what we were happy . I said we were happy .

Can I tell you , young couples , it's not things that makes you happy , it's not toys that makes you happy . When you get your heart right with God and you have a good relationship with your family , that's the only thing that can make you happy . I said , that's the only thing that can bring joy to your life in this world . Amen , praise the Lamb of God .

It takes time to get to where some of these people that's been married for years are at To have land and to have property and to have things . Amen , it takes time . It just doesn't happen overnight . Amen , it takes time . It just doesn't happen overnight . Praise God . Building takes time . Building implies work Amen .

I'm going to tell you , building a family is hard work . It takes effort . Praise God . You got to put something in . I'm telling you what you need . You need some skin in the game . You need to put forth some effort for your marriage , for your family , for your children . Praise God , do your part . Let them do their part , amen . But do your part .

I'm going to tell you Amen . All of us are going to stand before God on the day of judgment . As an individual , I'm not going to stand before God for my wife . I will stand before God for myself . What kind of husband and father I have been ? I'm going to stand before God . They may not do their duty , but that does not mean I can't do my duty .

Come on here now and your spouse may not be doing what they should do Amen . But we get into this fight and I'm getting on my next point . But if they're not going to do what they're supposed to do , I'm not going to do what I'm supposed to do , amen . And then it gets worse and it starts compiling and it gets worse , amen .

And before long you're not sleeping in the same bedroom and she's going back to mama's Amen Sleeping in the same bedroom and she's going back to mama Amen . And you can't get along At the supper table . Oh , my God , you got to work at it . Praise God , amen .

I can take any two people in this room right now I don't care how saved you are or how sanctified you are or how much of the Holy Ghost you have and sit you down . You're going to disagree on something , amen . You take two people and put them in the same household , amen . There's going to be disagreements , amen , amen .

And so building to be disagreements , amen , and so . Building implies cooperation , praise God . When you go on that ship , you've got different crafts doing different things . Or you go into that residential house or commercial building that you're working on , you've got electricians and you've got HVAC .

You've got plumbers , and , and you've got HVAC , you've got plumbers , and they're all going different directions and tearing out . One will build something up , the other will come back and tear it out . They'll have to go back and fix it and repair it , etc , etc .

There's got to be some cooperation , praise God , and I'll tell you how it is With them crafts , crafts at the shipyard . And it's the same way with contractors . They don't care about anybody else's job , all they care about is theirs . You can fix your job just nice and pretty , whatever they got to do to get their job done , they're going to cut your boards .

They're going , they're going to mess it all up and then you got to come back and fix it , amen . But we can't do that when we build our house Amen . We can't do that . We've got to work together . You know , one of the worst things in our homes is husbands and wives working against one another , working against one another .

Everything that one's trying to do , the other one's trying to tear it down . Amen , being mean , ugly , rude , unappreciative . You know , it would go a long way if you'd say thank you , honey , for doing that for me . It would go a long way . I thank you for fixing that good meal that was wonderful . Instead of saying is that all you've got ?

Is that the best you can do ? I've been out working all day and I've got to come home and eat that . That's a dumb thing to do . That's a dumb thing to do . I said we need to work together , not against one another . Praise God If you'll do . I don't know why it is . Most of you act like Robin Nelson .

I wasn't there , but I can only imagine when he was trying to date Sister Pammy . Did you even speak to her brother ? See , ain't he talking ? Now she's not here and she's laughing because she knows I'm telling the truth . She probably had to invite you out to dinner . She probably had to ask you to marry her . Look at that .

It's amazing whenever people are Dating or courting and they do everything To win that person's affection oh honey , sweetheart , I love you . I can't wait till we get married . And they're buying them everything and they're doing everything in the world and all of a sudden , whenever they get married , it all stops . Sister Madison , he just saidop it's over .

What's the deal , pickles ? What's going on right ? Amen ? I'm going to tell you , you got to work at it . You got to work at it , praise God . You got to keep on wanting Doing something to make them love you , doing something to make them to want to spend time with you .

I'm going to tell you something If you're mean and ugly all the time , they're not going to spend time with you . They're not going to want to hold your hand , go out to eat with you . That's why they find their girlfriends to talk to the girls . That is , they find their girlfriends to talk to . That's why they find their girlfriends to talk to the girls .

That is , they find their girlfriends to talk to . That's why the guys go to the hunting camp and they go fishing and everywhere else with their buddies Because they don't want to be around their spouses Because they're so mean and ugly and rude to one another . Huh , you got to build up your house .

Make your house a good place , a place where your spouse wants to be , where your children want to be , where your family wants to be . Amen , praise God . Oh , amos and Andy , everybody remember Amos and Andy . I didn't know you . Was that old Brother Frankie ?

Praise God , I was listening one day and they was fighting , I think him and Sapphira , was that what her name was ? Sapphire , sapphire , sapphire . He'd been listening too much , so it's a joyful If he calls you Sapphire . You know what's going on . And he said I'm going to be the big man and I'm going to forgive . Hallelujah . I'm going to say I'm sorry .

You need to be the big man . Say I'm sorry , isn't that right ? I want us to stand here . We're going to do something A little different tonight . I'm not finished preaching't that right ? I want us to stand here . We're going to do something a little different tonight . I'm not finished preaching , but I got another Scripture I want to read .

But I want all the young married couples to come together around the altar for me right now . Stand across this front , all you young folks and elders . If you would bear with us just a little bit here . My focus is on this group right here tonight . Come on up close , I'm not going to hurt you . Come up close . Amen .

Hallelujah , we've got a job to do to build up our homes . Sister Ashley , can you all come get us a song please ? Praise God , we've got a job to do to build up our homes . Look across this congregation Three , four , five , six , that's nine young couples right here . Amen . Some of you all probably could fit that category , but a little bit above it .

That's right , brother Derek , y'all got young children . Come on up . Who else has got young children ? Come on . What are y'all doing sitting back there ? What are y'all doing back there ? Praise the Lamb of God . Hallelujah Spread out a little bit , make some room . We've got three or four more young couples . What are y'all doing back there , brother Christopher ?

Praise God . Hallelujah . Move on up here for us , glory to God , glory to God . We've got a job to do to build up our families . Can you say amen , amen . But I need to give you some Scriptures here tonight , across this congregation of all you young couples . Proverbs 11 , 29 . He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind . Amen .

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind . Do you know what that means ? If you trouble your house , you're going to end up with nothing . You're going to reach out to grab a hold of the wind and you're going to have nothing left . God commands us to build up our house , that it ought to be the priority of our life .

But if you trouble your house , you fight against your house . You do things that tears down and destroys your relationship , your marriage , your spouse . You're going to inherit the wind . In Ecclesiastes 5 and 16 . Also , there is a sore evil that , in all points , as he came , so shall he go . And what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind ?

The wind is nothing . The wind is nothing . Listen to me , you may feel like you'd be better off without a marriage , without bills , without responsibility , without having to take care of all the things that you're taking care of . You feel like you'd be better off , but you won't .

You're going to reach to grab those things in the world and when you open your hand it's like grabbing the wind . You're going to be ending up with nothing . You lose your family . You're going to have nothing left . Nothing left . All of you , young couples need to listen to the Word of God tonight . You've got an opportunity to build up your house .

You've got an opportunity to make it strong . You've got an opportunity to have happiness and joy and peace . You've got an opportunity to have children and be blessed of the Lord . You can make that opportunity or you can break it . Amen , lord . You can make that opportunity or you can break it . Amen .

You can be like Solomon , become an old , hard , lonely individual Because you tore your family down and God cannot bless you if you don't work on your family . How many have we got ?

Let's pray right now . Father , in the name of Jesus , lord , I felt the Holy Ghost this week . Deal with me , lord . I felt that it was very important and imperative that young couples in this service understood , lord , where they are , god , and how quickly that their family can be destroyed . They're reaching for things that really of no importance , god .

They're reaching for things that are going to bring their demise and destruction . But I pray , help young men and young ladies , god , these couples right here tonight . Oh , that they would build up their house . That they would build up their house , that they would strengthen their home . Oh , god , in the name of Jesus , their children , those that desire children .

I pray , open the womb right now , lord . Open the womb of those in this altar . Open the womb , oh God , of those that are crying Lord and sighing for children . Bless them , lord , with children . Bless them , lord , with children , oh God , and let them build up their house . Let them build up their home .

Oh God , lord , we can't do it without you , except the Lord . Build the house . We've got to do this your way , oh God , lord . We can't do it without you , except the Lord . Build the house . We've got to do this your way , god . We've got to put godly standards in our home . We've got to put godly convictions in our home .

God , we've got to bar the gate and the windows and don't let the world in our home , or it'll destroy us . Oh God , my God , I pray . Help every young couple in this altar if they expect their home to make it God , to bind together , to work together , to pray together , to love one another with a pure heart , fervently to be good to one another .

Oh God , in the name of Jesus , let there be a transformation that will take place throughout this altar tonight . In these young couples' hearts , I bind . Every power of darkness , every spirit of hell , lord , it is coming against our marriages and our young couples right here tonight . Satan , I rebuke you and I plead the blood over them right now .

God , we're going to do it your way . We're going to do it your way . Accept the Lord , build the house . Accept the Lord , build the house , build our homes , build our relationships , build us up . Lord , in the name of Jesus , come on , pray together . Children Pray together . Young Jesus , come on , pray together . Children Pray together . Young people Pray together .

Mom and daddy Pray together , lest hell destroys your marriage , lest hell destroys and you're left with nothing but the wind . Nothing but the wind . Oh God , oh God , let the wind , oh God , oh God , in the name of Jesus . Lord , sister Nona , touch her , and brother Josh , brother Mark and sister Erica . Lord touch them .

Every young couple in this church , whether they're here or abroad , luke and Mariah , lord touch them tonight . Oh God , every young couple that hail has made a bid for their marriage , that hail has made a bid for their babies . Oh God , I bind the enemy right now . I bind the enemy right now . Work , children , work and pray for your family .

Work and pray for your marriage . Work and pray for your family . Work and pray for your marriage . Work and pray for your home . Hallelujah , hallelujah , thank you God , thank you God , thank you God , thank you God , thank you , god , oh God , would you do what I cannot do tonight , lord , let the Spirit of the Lord come upon these couples .

Let the spirit of the Lord Come on . Make some commitments , brother . Make some commitments , sister . No matter what they do , I'm going to do right . No matter what they do , I'm going to do right and I'm going to pray for my marriage . I'm going to pray for my spouse . I'm going to pray for my spouse . I'm going to pray for my children .

I'm going to sacrifice , I'm going to give of myself . I'm going to do everything I can to make and build my family . Praise God , holy holy holy holy . Oh , come on , as you're standing before the Lord

, make commitments , as you're standing before the Lord right here tonight . Oh God , let this baby transform this family . Oh God , lord , in the name of Jesus , that's right . Pray for them , grandma and Grandpa . Pray for them , hallelujah , hallelujah , hallelujah , hallelujah , lord . This brand new home right here , god , let it be sanctified unto the Lord .

God , let their home be a holy place . Let the love of God Come on , build , build your family together , build it in the knowledge of the Lord and in the wisdom of the Lord . Let the Lord lead you . Let the Lord desires to do in everybody's life , but especially in young couples' lives .

Here tonight , praise God and young married couples in this service tonight , and the Lord has blessed our church with a good number of young married couples . We're thankful for these young families , these young couples , and maybe some soon-to-be couples we don't know yet Praise . God , if her daddy heard that he would be hurting right . Amen .

Maybe he's listening , I don't know . Praise God , turn in your Bible to Psalm 127 tonight , psalm 127 . So I pray that you would put your heart into the Word of the Lord and into the preaching tonight , especially you young couples in this service . Put your heart into the Word of the Lord , amen , and let God speak to you .

That's an important thing to hear from God , right , that's pretty weak . I said it's an important thing to hear from God , right , amen , it's a very important thing . Praise God , to hear from the Lord , and I pray that you would tonight . I believe that God has spoken to me in this service and for this service .

So you open your heart and let the Lord touch you . Psalm 127, . If you want to stand with us , then help us pray over the preaching and then we'll get into the altar of the Lord willing . Verse 1 , "except the Lord , build the house . They labor in vain that build it . Except the Lord . Keep the city . The watchman waketh , but in vain" .

It is vain for you to rise up early , to sit up late , to eat the bread of sorrows , for so he giveth his beloved sleep . Lo . Children are an heritage of the Lord , and the fruit of the womb is his reward as arrows in the hand of a mighty man . So are children of the youth . Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them . Praise God .

Except the Lord , build the house , amen . I want to preach to us about building a family . Building a family . Would you help me pray tonight over the word of the Lord , father , grateful Lord unto you for the presence of God in this service and how you've been moving , how the Spirit of the Lord is touching us .

Oh God , we give you honor and glory and praise for it , and I pray you would talk to me , pray you would talk through me , lord , to the heart of our people right here in this service . Lord , speak to us , o God , the eternal word of God , the Holy Ghost , to find where we are .

That would help , lord , every one of us , and especially , lord , our young couples in this service tonight , lord , that have children . Let the blessing of the Lord come upon the preaching and upon the hearing of the Word of God tonight . God and I pray do a miraculous thing in this altar . God , confirm your Word tonight . Let signs follow your Word .

I pray through a demonstration of the Holy Ghost tonight in this house . Would you lift your hand and thank God for what he's going to do in your life . Thank Him , say , lord , I thank you for what You're going to do in my life and in my family in this service tonight . Praise Him for that Amen , believe Him for that , trust Him for that Amen .

Look to Him and expect it that God is going to do something in your life and in your home , right here tonight . Praise God , praise God , praise God . God bless you as you're seated tonight . Amen . Psalm 127 is known as the Builder's Psalm . Amen , accept the Lord , build the house .

We need to recognize here that the word house is not in the Old Testament , most especially is not always speaking of a physical structure , and in this Scripture it is not necessarily meaning a physical structure . But the word house oftentimes in the Old Testament it meant a family , it meant a household and it meant a father , a mother and their children .

In Genesis 7 , 1 , you remember where the Scripture said the Lord said to Noah Come thou and all thy house into the ark , and he certainly wasn't speaking to him about his tent , but he was talking about his wife and his children , all of his house . So , except the Lord , build the house . Amen . There's many implications in this scripture tonight .

Number one I'd like to point out that the scripture tells us that a house must be built , a family must be built , amen . It is not something that just happens , praise God . It is not just something that comes out of nowhere , but a house , a family , must be built . It is also implied by that that someone must build the house .

If a house is to be built , there must be a builder Amen . The Scripture bears out to us that it is very important who builds our house , amen . I said it's important who builds our house . Praise God . Except the Lord , build the house . Amen . Except the Lord , build the house . Amen . It goes on to tell us .

Those that do not allow the Lord to build the house are building their house in vain . They may rise up early , they may sit up late , they may put all of their mind , heart , energy and effort into it , but it is vain for a person to sit up late and try to build their house without god .

It is vain for an individual to rise up early and try to build their family or their house without god . And so he said to eat the bread of sorrows those that rise up early or even sit up late With the desire of building their home , their house , their household , their own way , without the Lord , are going to eat the bread of sorrows .

It's not going to work , amen . But then it said but then so he giveth his beloved sleep . And so those that allow the Lord to build their house , they can rest easy because God is doing the work . Praise God , and he gives his beloved sleep . I want you to know that in this Scripture that we see here , it's implied that building a house involves children .

Three of the five of these scriptures that we read tonight imply or speak about children . Children are an heritage . The fruit of the womb is His reward , amen . Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them .

And so these verses relate to us that in the building of a family , in the building of a house or a household , children are essential unto that building . In the Hebrew , the word son is ben b-e-n , and it means a builder of the family . The word daughter is bath , and it is the feminine of the word being .

So the word for daughter means a female builder of the family . The word house in the Hebrew is beeth , and it means a man to build . All of those come from the word beinah , which means to build . All of those come from the word baina , which means to build , praise God .

So the whole concept of a home or a house , there is a building that is involved in that household . Amen , except the Lord , build the house . It's very important for us to see something in this little psalm of five verses that we have before us here tonight Amen . The heading says a song of degrees for Solomon , but actually it was written by Solomon . Amen .

This psalm is really a psalm of . You know most of the psalms of David and Asaph and others . Many of them are psalms of joy and victory and happiness and looking to the Lord . But this is a psalm of his personal experience , and so it is a song of his abject failure . It is a song of his regretject failure .

It is a song of his regret and of his remorse . Solomon , though , he was the wisest man that ever lived . He did some very stupid things , isn't that right ?

Oh , I'm glad we've got the story of Solomon in the Bible , not only of the glory of his kingdom , but when you look into Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and the end of His kingdom , then you see the mistakes that this man made and this song is really , brothers , probably one of the first blues songs that was ever written .

Amen , amen , it is the blues he is crying and lamenting , amen , amen , things is the blues he is crying and lamenting , amen , things that he learned in life , his own personal experience Amen , he tried to build his house .

Amen , and though he had the wisdom of God , like no other man would ever have , solomon decided to build his house against the wisdom of God . He tried to build his house in his own thoughts , in his own ideas and in his own way , amen , and it failed him . Amen , it matters who builds your house . Amen , amen . You think of Solomon .

We know , amen , that the scripture made it very clear and very plain that that we were to be the husband of one wife , that God made Adam and God made Eve , and , and God gave specific commandments to the kings that they were to have one wife and that was to be the wife of the daughters of israel . Amen , but we find that solomon done things his own way .

He built his house as he wanted to build his house . Amen , we find him . Not only did he not just marry one of the women of the children of Israel , but he married heathen women , he married idolatrous women , he married women and then he built temples for the gods that they served and that they worshipped Amen .

Not only did he marry ungodly women , but he married multiple women , married ungodly women , but he married multiple women . And the Bible said he married 700 wives and then had 300 concubines , amen . When God said you should only have one , amen , and she should be bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh , amen , you should only have one .

He decided to build his house Like he thought was best to build it and he went completely opposite Of the wisdom of God and the commandment of God and the understanding of God and he married multiple women . Amen . 1 Kings 11 tells us of how he loved many strange women .

He married those women , built those temples for them and then the Bible said he claimed to them in love , amen . And his wives turned away his heart . And the Scripture verse 9 , said and the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord , god of Israel , which had appeared unto him .

And the Lord said because this is done of thee , thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes . I will surely rend the kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant , amen . Solomon decided to build his house in his own thoughts , in his own wisdom , in his own way , against the commandments of God .

Amen and his house ate the bread of sorrows , as he said . Amen and his house ate the bread of sorrows as he said . Amen and his house fell in vain . Solomon , you're staying up all night and you're trying to figure out how to fix this mess that you made In vain .

You're rising up early and you're trying to correct all the mistakes that you made Because you didn't let the lord build the house . Amen , amen . Also , we know that the scripture uh taught the children of israel from the very beginning that they were to be fruitful and to multiply . Amen .

And god told adam and eve to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth , have children , god told them . And when Noah came off the ark , the Lord told Noah be fruitful and multiply your sons and have children . Amen . That was the command of God . But Solomon thought he knew better than God . Amen , and Solomon only , even though he had 700 wives .

You know , sometimes you read about those kings in the Old Testament and some of them had 60 and 70 sons that rode on white mules . They had multiple children . But do you know that Solomon , out of 700 wives and 300 concubines , only had one son , amen . He only had one son , rehoboam .

When God had told him to have children , amen , you see how backwards it was in his life . God said have one wife , and he had multiple wives . And God said have multiple children , children , and he only had one son , amen . Solomon's ideas , amen , about how to build a house was completely in opposition and completely contrary to the way that God had ordained .

Amen , that he would build his house . And so he writes this little song and he sings to the children of Israel . And he sings to you and me , amen , of what it is , amen , and if you're going to build a house , let the Lord build the house . I learned the hard way , amen , that's not the way to do it .

I learned the hard way , amen , that's not the way to do it . I learned the hard way that children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward . I've had all the money , I've had all the things , I've had all the pleasure , I've had all the fun , solomon said . But I learned the hard way that the way of God is always best .

Can you say amen , amen . When you read Ecclesiastes especially and you see the decline of Solomon's life , you know Solomon , the richest king ever , had any and everything a man could want in life . Amen . The wisest king died . A miserable man , amen . He became hard . That's what his people said when they came to Rehoboam .

They said If you'll lighten our load that your father put upon us , king Solomon in his old age became a hard man . He was a lonely man . Amen . No children and grandchildren . Amen To fill that palace up . All those wives went their own ways and Solomon became angry and bitter and began to chase Jeroboam . Amen . He isam , amen . He is completely Amen .

A different character At the end of his life Than he was at the beginning of his life , when he was young and tender Before God and God was giving him visions and understanding and revelation and God was blessing him . Amen . But the end of his life , amen . You see a hard and bitter man . You see a broken man . Amen .

That leaves this world and most likely went to hell . Amen . After having so much wisdom because he thought he was smarter than God . Amen , praise God . Solomon sings a song to us and he teaches us . Amen . The house , the family , is of God , amen . Family is not a human invention . It is a divine creation by God .

It was the first community on earth that predates the church or even the nations . Amen . When you think of the importance of family to god , god himself is a family father , son and holy ghost . Praise god . And you and I are created in the image of god and we are created to have family Mother , father and children . Can you say amen ?

And when you consider amen , the family that is in heaven , the angels , the cherubim , the seraphim and all of the redeemed , there is a family in heaven In Ephesians 3 , 14 . For this cause , I bow my knee to the Father of our Lord , jesus Christ , of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named . Praise God , god's got a family in heaven .

Can you say amen ? I want to tell you something Family is important to God and family ought to be important to every one of us . Can you say amen to God , and family ought to be important To every one of us . Can you say amen . Praise God , amen . Family was important . The Old Testament Is a story About the family of God . Amen .

It is the family of the children of Israel that every tribe and family had their own property rights and they stayed together . Glory to God . And they had a covenant that was to the family . The new testament is a covenant to the family . God gave promise to Cornelius and to Lydia and to the Philippian jailer

that all of thine household Shall be saved . Praise God . God gave promise of the family . The church is the family of God . We were born again and became the children of God , and he is our heavenly father and Jesus is our elder brother , and you and I are brothers and sisters , and Galatians 6 said we are of the household of faith .

Aren't you glad that family is important to God ? Amen . Family is important so that we may say that the Bible is a family story . Praise God . It is the story of the family of God on earth and the family of God in eternity . Praise God . Family is important unto God . Amen . We're made to realize the importance of family . Amen .

To build our family is the highest calling of God on this earth . Are you listening to me , young couples ? Amen . The greatest aspiration of your life , amen Should not to be half the things of the world , but it is to build your family before God . Hallelujah , amen , amen . Even though family is ordained of God .

The sad reality is not all families make it Amen . Amen . Even though family is ordained of God , the sad reality is not all families make it Amen . The sad reality is that , in the hour in which we live , many families separate and divide , and the truth of the matter is , even in our churches there are a lot of families , amen .

That are on life support and many of them have already dissolved and separated , divorced and went their separate ways . Amen . It matters who builds the house . Praise God . Who builds the family . Amen , the foundation and premise upon which your family is being built . Praise God , amen , the foundation and premise upon which your family is being built .

Praise God , amen . Accept the Lord . Build the house , amen . Day that labor , labor in vain . Can I tell you , young couple , something here tonight If you don't let the Lord build your house , amen . You're going to fail . Your marriage is going to fail . Your relationship is going to fail . Your marriage is going to fail . Your relationship is going to fail , amen .

Your children are going to fail in life . If you don't let the Lord build your house , praise God . You say , pastor , how does the Lord build our house ? He builds the house through us , amen . He uses us to build our family , to build our house . He builds the house through us , amen . He uses us to build our family , to build our house .

We build through his instruction and we build through his power . Glory to god . There's some things here that this scripture implies to us that , as I prayed and sought the Lord this week that he brought to my heart , that I want to give to you right here before we come and pray in this altar service tonight Amen , the Lord must build the house .

In building the house , in building period . It implies several things to us . There's five things that I want to bring out . There are more that could be talked about , but these are the ones I feel like that are important for this service tonight Amen . Building implies having a plan , amen of action in order to build .

If you're going to build something some of you guys work at the shipyard when you go to the shipyard , you have to build according to the blueprint . There is a plan by which that building is being built . If you build a house through the county , there is an approved set of plans that meets the criteria of the building code .

That ensures that that structure will be built safely and strongly and that it will be able to withstand the storms and the winds that come . There's a plan Amen . Certain things have to be in certain places . Certain things have certain jobs to do Amen . And we must build according to a plan . Can you say amen ? Anything that is not built according to a plan ?

Amen , and we must build according to a plan . Can you say amen ? Anything that is not built according to a plan ? Amen . If that plan is flawed , if that plan is not right , then whatever is being built will be built wrong and it will be in vain . I'm glad that God gave us a plan to build by . Can you say amen ?

I'm glad God gave us a Bible to build by . Can you say amen . I'm glad God gave us a Bible . Glory to God . And that precious book that you hold in your hand is more than just a spiritual book . It is a plan by which we must build our life . It is a plan by which we must build our families . It shows us how to build right .

It shows us how to build right . It shows us how to build strong . It shows us how to build secure . So when the storms of life comes against our families , our families will be able to stand . Praise God , amen . The Word of God has a plan for the husband . The Word of God has a plan for the husband . The Word of God has a plan for the wife Amen .

The Word of God has a plan for the children , of parenting the children and how the children ought to respond Amen . The Word of God has a plan for the finances of the home . The Word of God has a plan of how we are to build our house . Now , you and I can think we're smart and you can think that we know better than God .

You and I can think that we know how to build a marriage better than God does . Or we know how to rear our children better than God does . We know how to discipline and to teach our children better than God does . We know how to discipline and to teach our children better than God does .

But if we try to sit up late and rise up early and , in our own thoughts and abilities , build our house , we're working in vain and our house is going to crumble and going to fall .

But young couples , listen to me right here tonight If you'll get into the word of God , if you'll seek after God and you'll say God , I want to be the husband or the wife , I want to be the parent , I want to build my house According to your prescribed plan , according to the word of God , according to heaven's blueprint . Amen .

It'll be strong , it'll be safe , it'll be secure . Praise God . Let me ask you something , young man . Do you think you're smarter than God ? Amen . Y'all getting quiet on me , praise God . Young lady , do you think you're smarter than God ? Amen .

Do you think your wisdom and ability , you , you just do it the way you want to do it and you think that it's going to come out better than if you follow god's way ? Amen . Vain amen . They do it in vain . Building implies that there must be a plan , solomon in all of his wisdom . Amen . If anybody could have done it amen , without the uh .

Doing it god's way , solomon could have done it right . I said if anybody could have done it and nobody can but if anybody could have , solomon would have been the one to do it . But he tried and he failed miserably . You know what he said at the end of Ecclesiastes , in the 12th chapter , the last two verses .

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter Amen , fear God , keep his commandments . This is the whole duty of man , thank God . I'll tell you what I've learned . Solomon said Amen , do it God's way , hear the word of God and follow after the Lord . That's the only way it's going to work . You ain't got enough money To buy yourself out of trouble .

You ain't got a high enough position Amen , to get your marriage out of trouble . You can't get your children out of drugs . You can't get your children out of homosexuality . You can't get your children out of homosexuality . You can't get your children out of trouble . Amen . You've got to follow God's way . Amen . It implies a plan .

Building also implies a cost Amen . Anytime you build something , it's going to cost something . Amen . There's a price to pay to build a house . Amen . And there is a price to pay to build a family , to build a strong family , to build a good family , to build a solid family . There are sacrifices that must be made . Amen , are you hearing me ?

You young people Look this way to the preacher tonight . Amen , I don't want you to go to the bathroom or anywhere else because I need to preach to you . I said there's some sacrifices that need to be made if you're going to have a good home . Amen , it cannot be about you , it cannot be about what you want . Amen .

You've got to sacrifice of yourself to build your family . Praise God , amen . Anytime you have to build something , you're going to have to shell out money , you're going to have to put out a cost . And our Lord said sit down who would build a tower ? And don't sit down first and count the cost , if it has sufficient to finish that tower or not .

And I'm going to tell you something . That's something that young people ought to do . They ought to really know what they're getting into . Their heart needs to be fully into it . They need to be committed . When you walk down that altar and say I do , you need to be committed . When you walk down that altar and say I do . You need to be fully committed .

Let me tell you something In case some of you young people don't know it's married now . You're not a young'un anymore , you're not a teenager anymore , amen . You're not out here to have fun on four wheelers and get lifts on your trucks and put a squad on them and spend all your money and time , amen , indulging in those things . You got a family to build .

I said you got a family to build . You got children to take care of . You got a wife to take care of . You need to grow up . It's going to cost you something if you're going to have a good marriage . It's going to cost you something if you're going to have a good marriage . It's going to cost you something If you're going to have a good family .

I said you should have counted the cost before . You said I do . And now you've made a commitment and you better be man enough and woman enough to stick to your commitment . Praise God , we've got a sorry group of young people this day and time that will not live up to their commitments .

Amen For better , for worse , for richer , for poorer , in sickness and in health . Amen . I'm going to stand with you . I'm going to stand by you . I'm going to put you above myself . I'm going to put my family above myself , amen . You can't build a house without sacrifice . You can't build a good family without sacrifice . Glory to God , amen .

I'm going to tell you something . Guys , you young men , the old saying is you ain't worth your salt . You don't put your family ahead of yourself , amen . Your family has needs and you're going to go buy something stupid that you don't need ? Amen . Whenever your family has a need . I ain't telling you anything I didn't do . Praise God , amen .

I sacrificed anything Hunting camps , amen . I sacrificed anything Hunting camps , hunting clubs , shotguns , whatever . I wanted to buy four wheelers . I didn't have all that when I was young Amen . Don't have a lot of it today , amen . But I didn't have it when I was young because I had a family . I had a family I was trying to build up .

Praise God , glory to God . And if you're going to have a good family , you need to grow up Mature , be a man , be a man of God , be a man that's going to take care of your family , get out of the bed and go to work . Amen . I'll get to that point in a minute . I'm trying to get ahead of myself here . Glory to God .

Woo , it's going to cost you something . Building implies time , amen . Strong families are not built overnight . It takes time to do something right . That's why many of our young couples they want to have everything all at once when they get married . They want to have three vehicles and all a brick house and everything else when they get married .

They want to have three vehicles and a brick house and everything else when they get married Amen . It takes time to build something right , amen . I've seen so many that take them credit cards and they just slide the cards or they go to the bank and they sign we can handle this , we can do this , we can handle that , amen .

And they don't think about sick days . They don't think about sick days . They don't think about bad days , they don't think about bad weather , they don't think about things happening that are unforeseen , amen . They don't pray those things through Amen . Until they know it's the will of God , amen . Glory to the Lamb of God . It takes time .

I'm going to tell you what . We didn't start out in a brick house . I thank God what I live in right now , but we didn't start out in a brick house . Amen . We started out . I had an old Ford Ranger Amen . And my wife borrowed her mother's car to go to work Amen .

And we lived in a trailer , moved in without an air conditioner or a septic tank , thank you , praise the Lamb of God . Amen . We ate fish sticks and macaroni and cheese Amen . When we didn't go to her mama's house Glory to God . I'll tell you what we were happy . I said we were happy .

Can I tell you , young couples , it's not things that makes you happy , it's not toys that makes you happy . When you get your heart right with God and you have a good relationship with your family , that's the only thing that can make you happy . I said , that's the only thing that can bring joy To your life in this world . Amen , praise the Lamb of God .

It takes time To get to where some of these people that's been married for years are at To have land and to have property and to have things . Amen . It takes time . It just doesn't happen overnight . Praise God . Building takes time . Building implies work , amen . I'm going to tell you , building a family is hard work . It takes effort .

Praise God , you've got to put something in . I'm going to tell you what building a family is hard work . It takes effort . Praise God , you've got to put something in . I'm going to tell you what you need . You need some skin in the game . You need to put forth some effort for your marriage , for your family , for your children . Praise God , do your part .

Let them do their part , amen . But do your part . I'm going to tell you amen . All of us are going to stand before God on the day of judgment . As an individual , I'm not going to stand before God for my wife . I will stand before God for myself . What kind of husband and father I have been . I'm going to stand before God .

They may not do their duty , but that does not mean I can't do my duty . Come on here now and your spouse may not be doing what they should do Amen . But we get into this fight and I'm getting on my next point . But if they're not going to do what they're supposed to do , I'm not going to do what I'm supposed to do , amen .

And then it gets worse and it starts compiling and it gets worse . Amen . Before long you're not sleeping in the same bedroom and she's going back to mama's Amen . And you can't get along at the supper table . Oh my God , you've got to work at it . Praise God , amen .

I can take any two people in this room right now I don't care how saved you are or how sanctified you are or how much of the Holy Ghost you have and sit you down . You're going to disagree on something , amen . You take two people and put them in the same household , amen . There's going to be disagreements , amen .

And so building implies cooperation , praise God . You go to a on that ship . You've got different crafts doing different things . Or you go into that residential house or commercial building that you're working on , you've got electricians and you've got HVAC , you've got plumbers and they're all going different directions and tearing out .

One will build something up and the other will come back and tear it out . They'll have to go back and fix it and repair it , etc . Etc . There's got to be some cooperation , praise God , and I'll tell you how it is with them crafts at the shipyard . And it's the same way with contractors . They don't care about anybody else's job .

All they care about is theirs . You can fix your job , just nice and pretty . Whatever they've got to do to get their job done . They're going to cut your boards , they're going to mess it all up , and then you've got to come back and fix it , amen . But we can't do that when we build our house Amen . We can't do that . We've got to work together .

You know , one of the worst things in our homes is husbands and wives working against one another , working against one another . Everything that one's trying to do , the other one's trying to tear it down , amen , being mean , ugly , rude , unappreciative . You know , it'd go a long way if you'd say thank you , honey , for doing that for me .

It'd go a long way if you'd say thank you for fixing that good meal that was wonderful , instead of saying is that all you've got ? Is that the best you can do ? I've been out working all day and I've got to come home and eat that . Is that the best you can do ? I've been out working all day and I've got to come home and eat that .

That's a dumb thing to do . That's a dumb thing to do . I said we need to work together , not against one another . Praise God If you'll do . I don't know why it is . Most of you act like Robin Nelson . I wasn't there , but I can only imagine when he was trying to date Sister Pammy , did you even speak to her brother ? See , ain't he talking ?

Now she's not here and she's laughing because she knows I'm telling the truth . She probably had to invite you out to dinner . She probably had to ask you to marry her . It's amazing whenever people are dating or courting and they do everything to win that person's affection oh honey , sweetheart , I love you . I can't wait till we get married .

And they're buying them everything and they're doing everything in the world and all of a sudden , whenever they get married , it all stops . Sister Madison , he just said , oop , it all stops . Sister Madison , he just said , oop , it's over . What's the deal , pickles ? What's going on ? Right ? Amen ? I'm going to tell you you got to work at it .

You got to work at it , praise God . You got to keep on wanting , doing something to make them love you , doing something to make them to want to spend time with you . I'm going to tell you something If you're mean and ugly all the time , they're not going to spend time with you . They ain't going to want to hold your hand and go out to eat with you .

That's why they find their girlfriends to talk to the girls . That is , they find their girlfriends to talk to the girls . That is , they find their girlfriends to talk to .

That's why the guys go to the hunting camp and they go fishing and everywhere else with their buddies , because they don't want to be around their spouses , because they're so mean and ugly and rude to one another . Huh , you got to build up your house .

Make your house , make your house a good place , a place where your spouse wants to be , where your children want to be , where your family wants to be . Amen , praise God . Oh , amos and Andy , everybody remember Amos and Andy . I didn't know you was that old Brother , frankie . Praise God , I was listening one day and they was fighting . I thank him .

And Sapphira , that was her name , sapphire , sapphire , sapphire , he'd been listening too much , so it's a joyful if he calls you Sapphire , you know what's going on . And he said I'm going to be the big man , I'm going to forgive . I'm going to say I'm sorry . You need to be the big man . Say I'm sorry , isn't that right ? I want us to stand here .

We're going to do something a little different tonight . I'm not finished preaching , but I've got another scripture I want to read . But I want all the young married couples to come together around the altar for me right now . Stand across this front , all you young folks and elders . If you would bear with us just a little bit here .

My focus is on this group right here tonight . Come on up close , I'm not going to hurt you . Come up close . Amen . Hallelujah . We've got a job to do to build up our homes . Sister Ashley , can you all come get us a song , please ? Praise God , we've got a job to do to build up our homes .

Look across this congregation Three , four , five , six that's nine young couples right here . Amen . Some of you all probably could fit that category but , a little bit above it . That's right , Brother Derek . Y'all got young children . Come on up . Who else has got young children ? Praise God , Come on . What are y'all doing sitting back there ?

What are y'all doing back there ? Praise the Lamb of God . Hallelujah , spread out a little bit , make some room . We've got three or four more young couples . What are you all doing back there ? Brother Christopher , praise God , hallelujah , move on up here for us . Glory to God . Glory to God . We've got a job to do to build up our families .

Can you say amen , amen . But I need to give you some scriptures here tonight , across this congregation , all you young couples , proverbs 11 , 29 . He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind . Amen . He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind . Do you know what that means ? If you trouble your house , you're going to end up with nothing .

You're going to reach out to grab a hold of the wind and you're going to have nothing left . God commands us to build up our house , that it ought to be the priority of our life . But if you trouble your house , you fight against your house , you do things that tears down and destroys your relationship , your marriage , your spouse .

You're going to inherit the wind . In Ecclesiastes 5 and 16 . Also , there is a sore evil that in all points . As he came , so shall he go . And what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind ? The wind is nothing . The wind is nothing . Listen to me .

You may feel like you'd be better off without a marriage , without bills , without responsibility , without having to take care of all the things that you're taking care of . You feel like you'd be better off , but you won't . You're going to reach to grab those things in the world and when you open your hand , grab those things in the world .

And when you open your hand , it's like grabbing the wind . You're going to be ending up with nothing . You lose your family . You're going to have nothing left . Nothing left . All of you young couples need to listen to the Word of God tonight . You've got an opportunity to build up your house . You've got an opportunity to make it strong .

You've got an opportunity to have happiness and joy and peace . You've got an opportunity to have children and be blessed of the Lord . You can make that opportunity or you can break it . Amen . You can make that opportunity or you can break it . Amen .

You can be like Solomon Become an old , hard , lonely individual Because you tore your family down and God cannot bless you if you don't work on your family . How many have we got ? One , two , three four , five , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 young couples with little children around this altar here tonight . You guys come on up a little bit .

I want some mamas and daddies , grandmas and grandpas come gather in . If some of them is kin to you , come get behind them . Right now we're going to pray over these couples . I want you to hold one another , hold one another by the hand or by the arm right now . I want us to bind together in this altar . Let's pray right now .

Father , in the name of Jesus . Lord , I felt the Holy Ghost this week . Deal with me , lord . I felt that it was very important and imperative that young couples in this service understood , lord , where they are , god , and how quickly that their family can be destroyed . They're reaching for things that really of no importance , god .

They're reaching for things that are going to bring their demise and destruction . But I pray , help young men and young ladies , god , these couples right here tonight . Oh , that they would build up their house . That they would build up their house , that they would strengthen their home .

Oh , god , in the name of Jesus , their children , those that desire children , I pray Open the womb right now , lord . Open the womb of those in this altar . Open the womb , oh God , of those that are crying , lord , and sighing for children . Bless them , lord , with children . Bless them , lord , with children , oh God , and let them build up their house .

Let them build up their home , oh God , lord , we can't do it without you , except the Lord . Build the house . We've got to do this your way , oh God , lord . We can't do it without you , except the Lord . Build the house . We've got to do this your way , god . We've got to put godly standards in our home . We've got to put godly convictions in our home .

God , we've got to bar the gate and the windows and don't let the world in our home , or it'll destroy us . Oh us , oh God , my God , I pray . Help every young couple in this altar if they expect their home to make it God , to bind together , to work together , to pray together , to love one another with a pure heart , fervently to be good to one another .

Oh God , in the name of Jesus , let there be a transformation that will take place throughout this altar tonight . In these young couples' hearts I bind every power of darkness , every spirit of hell , lord , it is coming against our marriages and our young couples right here tonight . Satan , I rebuke you and I plead the blood over them right now .

God , we're going to do it your way . We're going to do it your way . Accept the Lord , build the house . Accept the Lord , build the house , build our homes , build our relationships , build us up . Lord , in the name of Jesus , come on , pray together . Children Pray together . Young Jesus , come on , pray together . Children Pray together . Young people Pray together .

Mom and daddy Pray together . Lest hell destroys your marriage , lest hell destroys and you're left with nothing but the wind , nothing but the wind . Oh God , oh God , win . Oh God , oh God , in the name of Jesus . Lord , sister Nona touch her and brother Josh , brother Mark and sister Erica . Lord , touch them .

Every young couple in this church , whether they're here or abroad , luke and Mariah . Lord Touch them tonight . Oh God , every young couple that hail has made a bid for their marriage , that hail has made a bid for their babies . Oh God , I bind the enemy right now . I bind the enemy right now . Work , children , work and pray for your family .

Work and pray for your marriage . Work and pray for your home , hallelujah . Oh , thank you God , thank you God , thank you God , thank you God , thank you God . Oh God , would you do what I cannot do tonight , lord , let the Spirit of the Lord come upon these couples . Let the spirit of the Lord come on . Make some commitments , brother .

Make some commitments , sister . No matter what they do , I'm going to do right . No matter what they do , I'm going to do right and I'm going to pray for my marriage . I'm going to pray for my spouse . I'm going to pray for my children . I'm going to pray for my marriage . I'm going to pray for my spouse . I'm going to pray for my children .

I'm going to sacrifice , I'm going to give of myself . I'm going to do everything I can to make and build my family . Praise God . Holy , holy , holy .

Oh , come on , as you're standing before the Lord , make commitments , as you're standing before the Lord , right here tonight . Oh God , let this baby transform this family . Oh God , lord , in the name of Jesus , that's right . Pray for them , grandma and grandpa . Pray for them . Hallelujah , hallelujah , hallelujah , hallelujah , lord .

This brand new home right here , god , let it be sanctified unto the Lord . God , let their home be a holy place . Let the love of God Come on , build , build your family together , build it in the knowledge of God . Come on , build , build your family together , build it In the knowledge of the Lord and in the wisdom of the Lord . Let the Lord lead you .