Ground Zero: Part 2
I. What Holy Spirit Has Established, He is Preparing to Expand
a. We have been established as the House of Glory, and now we are preparing for an explosion of His presence in our lives and beyond
i. Your family is going to be Ground Zero
ii. Since the creation of the World, the Lord has partnered with families to bring about His will
Genesis 1:27-28 New King James Version
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [a]moves on the earth.”
b. Last week we discussed setting ourselves up for success
i. Keep showing up
1. Strengthen your hands with His praise and strengthen your knees with His word
2. Every Sunday here at East Gate, every day in the secret place
ii. Keep it simple
1. Make straight paths for yourself
2. Success = obedience
II. Husbands and Fathers Go First: 7 Principles to Ensure You Become Ground Zero for Your Family
Ephesians 5:22-33 New King James Version
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might [b]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, [c]of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 6:4 New King James Version
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
a. You are the Head of Your Home – verse 23
i. The farmer and his tractor story
1. Men of God, headship is your tractor
a. Your understanding of headship is the key that starts the engine
3. It may feel like a headship is a heavy burden, it is, but it’s the source of explosive power you’ve been longing for
a. Don’t trying to pull it, instead step into it
ii. Kephale (G2776) – to seize the head – Carpe Diem
1. The head is crucial for life, provides direction, and leads/prepares the way for the body
1 Corinthians 11:3 New King James Version
3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
a. Your family needs you, like the church needs Christ
i. This is why the church is commanded to care for fatherless homes (orphans and widows) religiously
James 1:27 New King James Version
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
b. This is also why the enemy fights to remove men from the church, families, and society, and why the church should be investing heavily in the men of its communities
2. Anything supreme (high in rank/authority/quality/character)
a. Of persons, master lord: of a husband in relation to his wife
i. Highest authority in the home –the burden of the final decision
ii. Example of quality and character – culture builders (take ours)
b. Of Christ: the lord of the husband and the church
i. Our example and empowerment
John 14:12 New King James Version || Parenthesis mine
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do (for him) he will do also (for his family); and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
iii. Keep it simple: Pick a time of day, and do it every day
1. Your daily secret place makes ALL the difference
2. He will model headship for you, and invite you to step into it
iv. Men, everything we touch on from here forward, if you are not allowing Jesus to do it for you through your daily connection with Holy Spirit, you WILL NOT be able to do it for your family.
b. You are the Example of Love for Your Home – verse 25
i. Love is communicated in words and deeds, but it is measured in sacrifice
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New Living Translation
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
ii. Keep it simple: Pick a time of day, and do it every day
1. Declare this over yourself daily, replacing the word “love” and “it” with your name
iii. Love is the motivator of our headship. It’s the fuel for our “tractor”
1. God is our source, flowing into Jesus, flowing into US through Holy Spirit and finally into our families
a. Unlike a tractor, we are living beings. Jesus teaches us to pray for daily bread (every word that comes from the mouth of God) and that Holy Spirit is our living water.
b. If you ate and drank only as often as you filled up your vehicle how healthy and capable would you be?
2. If you put anything but diesel into a tractor you will damage, if not destroy, its engine (Even 1% gasoline and 99% diesel can severely damage the engine)
a. If anything, but love is the motivator of our headship, we damage and destroy ourselves and our families
b. Pride, pain, fear of failure, bitterness, etc…
c. Purity is HUGE, God (who is described as love) must be our ONLY source and sustainer
Proverbs 4:23 New King James Version
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
iv. Beware of air in your fuel line
1. Air in the fuel line is usually caused by leaks or punctures
a. Leaks – lack of presence/allowing your love and attention to leak elsewhere
b. Punctures – Sharp/painful experiences that drain you of love
2. Signs of air in the fuel line:
a. Low performance/energy
b. Engine stalling
c. Engine refusing to start
v. Men of God, your daily secret place with Holy Spirit is EVERYTHING
1. Allow Him to identify and heal the leaks and punctures
2. It is NEVER about your willpower, it is ALWAYS about His presence
III. Holy Spirit is Going to Activate the Husbands and Fathers of East Gate Today
a. Quick Recap: Keep it Simple
i. You’re the Head of Your Home
1. Holy Spirit will teach you in your daily connection, how to step into your headship
ii. You’re the Example of Love to Your Home
1. Declare 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) over yourself replacing the words “love” and “it” with your name.
