Is there anyone here today who says: I need to start perpetuating godliness in my life, by choosing to follow Jesus Christ? I have never made that choice to whole-heartedly, with everything in me - to follow Jesus Christ.
I might have come to church. I might have put the fish on my car. I might have the “What Would Jesus Do?” bumper sticker. I might even have the bracelet, the cross around my neck; and I realise that none of that's going to do anything for me in eternity. I know that it won't.
Today God's knocking at the door, and I need to make a whole-hearted decision to follow Jesus Christ. I realise nothing else I can do is going to help me in eternity. I need to make a decision to re-write the history of my family, if nothing else. I'd like to accept Jesus Christ today. It goes like this...
“Lord, Jesus Christ, thank You for coming; thank You for dying for me. I confess that I'm a sinner. I have no hope of saving myself, so I ask You Lord, to forgive me, cleanse me, come into my heart, and be the Lord of my life. I want to live for You in Jesus' name. Amen.”
Bible says about that: God is so excited about your decision, that He just stopped all of heaven to have a party for you. Welcome to the kingdom of God! It's a fantastic thing.
You serve a God who believes in you, more than you believe in Him.
The godliness heritage is sitting on you. It's your decision what you do with it.
A lot of husbands and wives need to go home today and say: we need to talk about this. What needs to change in our house? If you're willing to stand with me, and say: right now I'm going to take a stand: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”.
We're going to investigate the godliness, and keep it going; but we're also going to say ‘no’, and repent to the ungodliness; and we will honour our father and mother to perpetuate godliness. Four generations from now we will be the heroes of this family.
Lord, we repent for the ungodliness of our past. We repent for racism and prejudice and greed, anything that's held our families back. Lord, we proclaim the blood of Jesus over that, and ask for a fresh start.
We make a decision today to perpetuate godliness; to honour our father and mother - by perpetuating godliness, and repenting from ungodliness. Lord, may this church be a haven of honour in Jesus' name. Amen.
Let the name rest on you. I bless you to go today to be people who ‘carry the name’.