Generational Blessings

Generational Blessings
May 10, 2009 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
A Jonathan Edwards was married to Sara in 1727, one of the colonies’ most respected/ noted preachers (First Great Awakening).
1 The Edwards were blessed with 11 kids, & every night Mr. Edwards was home, he would sit in his chair for one hour with his kids.
a Small talk, conversation, & he prayed blessing over his children every night.
b In 1900, A.E. Winsup tracked down 400 descendants of Mr. & Mrs. Edwards.
aa 285 college grads
bb 300 preachers, 13 noted authors, 13 college presidents
cc 65 professors, 100 lawyers, 1 dean of a law school, 30 judges
dd 56 doctors, 1 dean of a medical school, 80 holders of office
ee 3 U.S. Senators, 1 Vice-President of the U.S., 1 Comptroller for the U.S. Treasury
c The spiritual seeds Jon & Sara planted into their kids blossomed into a family tree, producing numerous generations of spiritual fruit.
2 I believe it’s possible for today’s family to begin planting a family tree that will produce & become a legacy of righteousness because blessings are generational.
B Four generations of Hebrew fathers prove the existence of generational blessing.
1 Abraham planted the seed of our spiritual family tree.
a He began chasing God’s vision for him with nothing but a promise and a person-in the seed son, Isaac.
b Spiritual trailblazer (new lands, new wells, building herds, gold, etc.)
c Sent his servant Eleazer to get a wife for Isaac. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich ; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. Gen 24:35 (NASB)
d Every family/generation needs someone to get the ball rolling...trailblazers!
2 Isaac watered the tree of our spiritual family tree.
a When Abraham died, he not only received Daddy’s physical inheritance, but also the spiritual blessing of God’s covenant with his daddy.
b I believe Isaac got a second measure of blessing. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. Gen 24:35 (KJV)
And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great...Gen 26:13 (KJV)
aa Abraham was great, but Isaac was VERY GREAT!
bb Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him...Gen 26:12 (NASB)
c I want my boys to take water from my spiritual wells.
3 Jacob grew the spiritual family tree (branched out).
a When Isaac was dying, he started thinking of Esau & Jacob, & he blessed Jacob in Gen. 27:28-29: Now may God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine;29 May peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you; be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you." Gen 27:28-29 (NASB)
b Jacob (one of my favorite characters in the Old Testament) increased in wealth, got a word, worked hard, stayed loyal even though mistreated, focused on what he wanted, & under a special generational covenant blessing through Isaac. So he came close and