First Principles

1. First Principles

2. Lesson 11

3. Lesson Text—Genesis 5:21-24 Genesis 5:21-2421 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

4. Lesson Text—Genesis 5:21-24 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

5. Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 19:14 Deuteronomy 19:14Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it.

6. Lesson Text—Proverbs 22:28 Proverbs 22:28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

7. Lesson Text—Jeremiah 6:16-17 Jeremiah 6:16-1716 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

8. Lesson Text—Jeremiah 6:16-17 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

9. Focus Verse—Psalm 78:6 Psalm 78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children.

10. Focus Thought We must pass the truth that we have received from our forefathers to generations that follow.

11. Culture Connection I. Generation to Generation Imagine you are standing before the Lord at the time for receiving your eternal rewards in Heaven. What could possibly be the greatest rewards you might receive? Accolades from your Savior? Golden, bejeweled crowns for assorted accomplishments? What about seeing your children and grandchildren receive their eternal rewards? What could be a greater reward than to see our children hold to the apostolic message and be saved?

12. Indeed, the wise man Solomon indicated that “children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6). He was pointing out that we are edified by the successes and accomplishments of our children and grandchildren, and any parent or grandparent knows the true ring of his words. Certainly we are proud of them when they graduate from college, receive promotions at work, or achieve scholastic honors. I. Generation to Generation

13. I. Generation to Generation But what could possibly make parents prouder than when their children embrace the apostolic message, choose to live for Jesus Christ, and go on to lead others into relationship with the Lord? Surely there is no greater reward for our faith than to see it replicated within our offspring. The interesting thing is we get to begin enjoying the rewards before we reach the judgment—enjoying the fruit of our labors both here and in Heaven.

14. Contemplating The Topic In a relay race with several runners on each team, the race often is won or lost by the smooth transition of the baton from one runner to the next. Just a half second of hesitation in the handoff can cost several seconds of start-up for the next runner and possibly even cost the race. In a similar fashion, every generation will experience the shift of the older to the younger generation. I. Generation to Generation

15. A. Generations of Cain Principles, values, and patterns of living will be changed, accepted, or rejected by the ones following. The history of nations, religious movements, and even families continually demonstrate this life cycle of change. In this lesson we will trace some generational patterns in the Scriptures and apply the teachable principles to our need today to pass on a godly heritage to the generations who follow.

16. Generation to Generation I. Generation to Generation Generations of Cain One of the saddest commentaries on any person’s life is that they “went out from the presence of the Lord” (Genesis 4:16). Cain went away from the communion of God’s presence in much the same way that Judas left the upper room after the Last Supper, “that he might go to his own place” (Acts 1:25). (See also John 13:30.)

17. A. Generations of Cain The place where Cain settled was the land of Nod, which means “wandering” and is symbolic of Cain’s sentence to be a wanderer. Cain lived in the “Land of Wandering.” Moses listed the generations of Cain’s family in the fourth chapter of the Book of Genesis. The fifth generation from Cain was Lamech, the first man in Scripture who took unto himself two wives. He also committed murder as did his grandfather (Genesis 4:23).

18. Generations of Seth B. Generations of Seth Adam and Eve accepted the birth of Seth as a gift from the Lord in replacement for the loss of their son Abel (Genesis 4:25). The Book of Genesis lists the generations of Seth’s family, which evidently represented God’s righteous legacy. (See Genesis 4:26.)

19. Genesis 4:26 “And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26).

20. A. Generations of Cain God extended grace to Seth’s family by choosing a person from his lineage to build an ark and save the human race from destruction.

21. Still Walking with God A. Enoch Enoch In the midst of the evil generation before the Flood, Enoch walked with God by faith. The Book of Jude calls Enoch a prophet: “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 14).

22. Enoch was the first man about whom the Scriptures declared, he “was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). This righteous man demonstrated that regardless of the society in which a person lives, he can please God and leave behind a righteous testimony. Neither our peers nor our circumstances should dictate our morals. A. Generations of Cain

23. Godly values are the product of our personal relationship with a living, holy God. Giving us hope for a similar visitation that Jesus promised the church, the Lord rescued Enoch out of the world because he had walked with Him and pleased Him. Indeed, the Lord will rescue those who walk with and please Him from this present evil world in an event we refer to as the rapture of the church (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17). A. Generations of Cain

24. Noah B. Noah Mankind had become blatantly evil in the days before the Flood. (See Genesis 6:5-7.) The wickedness of mankind grieved God so greatly that He decided to destroy all living creatures from the face of the earth. The one bright spot in this desperately dark landscape was that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). Like his predecessor, Noah was the second person recorded in Scripture to have walked with God (Genesis 6:9).

25. God testified that he “was a just man and perfect in his generations” (Genesis 6:9). In a world filled with thousands of people, Noah and his family of eight were the only ones who found favor with God. Not only was it a lonely place, but it was also a highly honored place of great responsibility. Before God sends His judgment, He always sends a warning. God charged Noah with the responsibility of building an ark to save his family while warning the world of the coming flood (Hebrews 11:7). Peter called Noah “a preacher of righteousness”(II Peter 2:5). A. Generations of Cain

26. The overwhelmingly negative response of his audience did not affect his singular message of pending judgment. Noah was successful in his mission every time he preached his sermon. Through his faithfulness, Noah condemned the world and justified God’s judgment. His faith moved him to action, and his obedience to God’s call validated his faith. James declared that faith without works is dead (James 2:20, 26). A. Generations of Cain

27. Generational Cycles III. Generational Cycles In Daniel Butler’s book The Last Generation of Truth, he refers to the sectarian cycle, which is defined as “frequently recurring trends in the life of religious movements and denominations.” He writes, “The trend is for the first generation to grow, the second to reach a peak, and the third to experience decline.

28. III. Generational Cycles Because of intellectualism and rationalization, the third generation often rejects divine truths, and consequently God turns to people who are open to and hungry for the move of His Spirit.”

29. First Generation: Relationship to God A. First Generation: Relationship to God The period of Israel’s history contained in the Book of Judges chronicles the roller-coaster ride of human failure and God’s intervention after the death of Joshua, a total of approximately four hundred years. (See Judges 2:7.)

30. Judges 2:7 “And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel” (Judges 2:7).

31. Characteristically, the first generation includes individuals who have received a spiritual experience with God or a new understanding of His truth. Those of the first generation are genuinely dedicated to God, placing priority on the things that please God and continually desiring to know more about Him. Joshua’s generation had a firsthand knowledge of God’s miracles in the wilderness, from the Red Sea crossing to the banks of the Jordan River. A. Generations of Cain

32. Second Generation: Responsibility to Father’s God B. Second Generation: Responsibility to Father’s God The second generation includes individuals who were the children of those who received firsthand knowledge or experience with God. While this generation had a dedication to the God of their fathers, they only knew Him indirectly through their parents’ experience.

33. B. Second Generation: Responsibility to Father’s God They copied their parents’ lifestyle and fully embraced the doctrines and behaviors modeled by their parents. However, the second generation was more dedicated to their parents’ lifestyle than to their parents’ God.

34. Third Generation: Formal Religion C. Third Generation: Formal Religion The third generation in the Book of Judges were the grandchildren of the people who were delivered from Egypt. (See Judges 2:10.)

35. Judges 2:10 “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).

36. Joshua and Caleb were the exception to their generation. They were two of the twelve spies Moses sent out to tour the Promised Land on the west side of the Jordan River and bring back a report to Israel. However, the evil report of the other ten spies overruled their report of faith and vision. Consequently, God condemned that generation to die in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Everyone over twenty years old died in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb. A. Generations of Cain

37. The families who crossed Jordan and divided the land eventually died and were buried in what we now know as Israel. However, their children did not have a relationship with the God of their fathers. Somehow, that generation did not transfer to their children the knowledge of God’s powerful works, the fear of the Lord’s judgment, and the necessity of obeying the Law. Consequently, they did evil in the sight of the Lord, forsook the God of their fathers, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. A. Generations of Cain

38. Fourth Generation: Revival D. Fourth Generation: Revival The decline of spiritual values and the devastation left behind by the third generation ultimately set the stage for a new cycle of renewed fellowship with God. By studying the Book of Judges, we observe this recurring sequence of revival and decline. From Othniel to Samuel, God sent thirteen judges to rescue and renew Israel’s relationship with the Lord. In each case, Israel denied her heritage, her identity, and her God.

39. A. Generations of Cain She exhibited incomplete obedience to God’s command, apostasy from serving the one true God, and intermarriage with the surrounding heathen nations. Each time Israel descended into the depths of heathenism and experienced God’s judgment, the people repented. Then God sent a deliverer to bring a revival of righteousness, which resulted in a return to the fear of the Lord.

40. Individual Revival A. Initiating a New Generational Cycle Initiating a New Generational Cycle Daniel Butler, in his book The Last Generation of Truth, says, “Although the sectarian cycle generally operates over three generations, persons within a movement may escape the cyclic tendencies.

41. Regardless of a movement’s generational trends, because God’s focus is directed to ‘you,’ He still finds hungry individuals and extends to them benefits, while turning from those who have alienated themselves from godly principles. Scripture records the faithful, courageous patriarchs who braved the scorn and rejection of their generation to receive the favor of God. Jacob and Esau were raised in the same home by the same parents, yet they were vastly different in their spiritual values. A. Generations of Cain

42. Jacob desired the birthright and the blessing of his father. Perhaps this was the reason God said, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13). Daniel’s three Hebrew friends in Babylonian captivity were determined to remain faithful to their convictions. They were the only ones in Babylon who did not bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. While a whole generation might be falling into apostasy, anyone who is genuinely hungry for God can seek His favor and receive a personal revelation and experience with Him. A. Generations of Cain

43. The decision remains with the individual, for nothing can abrogate or overrule a person’s ability to choose. Parents have the power and the responsibility to set the level of spirituality in their home. They should be the holy, consistent, positive role models necessary for their children to follow. Furthermore, they should follow the admonition of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is to teach their children diligently day and night. They should also involve their children in the kingdom of God by putting them to work in church-related activities. A. Generations of Cain

44. A. Generations of Cain Personally teaching each child how to pray, read his Bible, witness to others, give to the work of God, and attend church faithfully is every parent’s duty. However, when the child reaches adulthood, he still must decide whether to live by the values of his parents. The convictions by which the family members consistently lived in their home eventually must become the convictions of the children.

45. Psalm 78:6 “Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done” (Psalm 78:3-4).

46. Psalm 78:3-4 “That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children” (Psalm 78:6).

47. Parents should remember that what they do in moderation, their children will do to excess. We really do not know how well we have done in raising our children until we see how our grandchildren are raised: “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6). A. Generations of Cain

48. Staying True to the Message B. Staying True to the Message “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

49. Times, rulers, governments, languages, and cultures change. People often change their view of life, the way they satisfy their needs, and the manner in which they express themselves. All of these changes affect the church collectively and believers individually. However, one thing is timeless and unchanging even in changing times: God’s message for every generation. While the methods of moving, transmitting, and communicating the message have changed, the message itself is still the same as when Paul preached it. A. Generations of Cain

50. A. Generations of Cain Much of the time, traditions of mankind are connected to worldliness and violate the Word of God. (See Matthew 15:3, 6; Colossians 2:8; I Peter 1:18.) However, Paul spoke of his tradition as a necessary point of obedience in the church (II Thessalonians 3:6). He also instructed the Thessalonian church to “stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (II Thessalonians 2:15).