Guard the Treasure | Jentezen Franklin
Sunday, June 15
Key Scripture
Ezekiel 22:30; Proverbs 18:22
Monuments Men
During World War II, Nazis looted art across Europe, plundering major collections and hiding masterpieces in occupied territories. In 1943, the Allies formed the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Program (MFAA) to protect culturally significant works from theft or destruction. Initially, art preservation was not a priority, but American art historians, like Francis Henry Taylor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, raised concerns about Nazi plunder. After persistent advocacy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established a commission that led to the MFAA, comprising 345 scholars and curators from 13 nations. Nicknamed the "Monuments Men" (including some women), they safeguarded Europe’s finest artworks and spent years post-war recovering around 5 million cultural artifacts, returning them to their rightful owners in Europe and the Far East.
Introduction
Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV): "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so it would not be destroyed, but I found no one."
Pastor Jentezen Franklin used the "Monuments Men" as an illustration to highlight the immense value of family and the vital role of fathers in preserving, protecting, and defending it. Just as Europe's art and architecture risked becoming forgotten casualties of World War II, the family faces the threat of becoming a casualty of Satan's assault on humanity. Amid visible moral decay in society, the family unit—especially the role of fathers—is under intense attack.
- Ezekiel 22:30 speaks of standing in the gap for the land. How can fathers (or other family leaders) practically ‘stand in the gap’ through intercessory prayer and godly leadership to protect their families from moral and spiritual decay?
Like the Monuments Men who risked their lives to save cultural treasures, fathers are uniquely called to stand in harm’s way to safeguard the social, moral, and spiritual integrity of their families, prioritizing faith and family over all else. By standing in the gap and
interceding for their loved ones, as described in Ezekiel 22:30, fathers not only protect their immediate family but also build a legacy for future generations.
Ezekiel 22:30 speaks of standing in the gap for the land. How can fathers (or other family leaders) practically ‘stand in the gap’ through intercessory prayer and godly leadership to protect their families from moral and spiritual decay?
For fathers:
- In what ways have you seen your family under attack?
- What is your greatest challenge in being able to walk out your role as a godly father?
For all
- How do we address the need for leadership in a family when there is no father involved?
- How do we inspire our sons to become godly fathers in their future?
Honoring Parents and Mentors: A Foundation for Family and Faith
Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV): “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
This is the first commandment with a promise, as the Apostle Paul observes and restates the promise of long life and happiness in:
Ephesians 6:1-3 (BSB): “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”
Honoring parents goes beyond obedience; it strengthens families, anchors them in trials, and protects against evil. This principle shapes not only our present but also future generations. By honoring our parents, we model respect for our children, teaching them to honor us, ensuring their long life and well-being.
If you lack a father or mother, God provides spiritual mentors who embody His values. Jesus, our ultimate mentor, shows us how to love and value others. Even if parents were abusive or ungodly, honor their role—not their actions—through forgiveness, not enabling harm. This reflects Christ’s love and strengthens families through grace, not bitterness.
Children learn by example. Honoring parents demonstrates respect for authority—teachers, employers, community leaders, and God. This builds strong families and lays a foundation for respecting authority lifelong. Create a positive family environment by valuing your children’s thoughts and activities, fostering memories and traditions. A home rooted in God’s principles becomes a refuge amid chaos, inviting peace.
Honoring parents is a divine command that shapes who we are, how we treat others, and how we respect authority. Guard your family and legacy, as the enemy seeks to destroy this foundation (John 10:10). As Pastor Franklin said, “Guard and preserve your story—it starts at home!”
- How can you show gratitude and honor to those who have mentored you?
- How can you mentor others in word and deed? What specific things can you do?
Relishing God's Provision
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) – "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
In a world that constantly pushes us to chase more—more wealth, more status, more possessions—Hebrews 13:5 calls us to a different perspective: to relish what we have rather than resenting what we’re missing. This verse reminds us to guard our hearts against the love of money and to find contentment in God's provision, anchored by His promise to never leave or forsake us.
- Hebrews 13:5 encourages contentment and trust in God’s presence over material wealth. What practical steps can you take to shift your focus from societal pressures for ‘more’ to gratitude for the treasures God has already given you, like family and faith?
Pastor Jentezen's words resonate deeply with this truth when he said, "I'd rather have my family and my wife than fifty million dollars." We must prioritize spiritual and relational wealth over material gain. Our families, our faith, and our relationship with God are treasures far more valuable than fleeting riches. Our challenge is to be "monuments men," guarding these precious gifts with diligence and trust in God's presence.
Whether we feel rich or poor, anxiety and insecurity can tempt us to chase wealth at the expense of compassion and contentment. Yet, trusting in God's promise to meet our needs dissolves discontentment and frees us to live generously. When we express gratitude for what God has provided—our loved ones, our faith, our daily blessings—we
shift our focus from what we lack to the abundance we already have. Every earthly treasure will pass away, but God's presence and love endure forever.
- What are some "treasures" in your life (e.g., family, faith, community) that you can thank God for today, and how can you prioritize them over material pursuits?
- How does trusting in God's promise to never leave or forsake you help you combat feelings of anxiety or discontentment in your daily life?
Take a moment today to thank God for His provision and to rest in the assurance that He will never leave you. By cherishing the treasures He has placed in your life, you can live with a heart full of contentment and trust.
Passing Down a Legacy of Faith
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NKJV): “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:14–15 gives a two-step outline for a foolproof strategy on how a father or mother is to lead and raise their family.
Step 1:
In verse 14, Paul tells us to “continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of.” In other words, stay strong in the truth you have learned in your heart so that the power of the Holy Spirit in you can be used to touch others—but most importantly, as a father, to alter the hearts of your children.
Titus 1:9 (NKJV): “Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
Step 2:
Our goal is to be able to say of our children, “that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” We pass on the wisdom we have gained in hopes that it will multiply through generations, just as Psalm 119 describes:
“I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.” —Psalm 119:99–100
In faithfully living out and passing on the truth of God’s Word, we do more than teach—we lay a generational foundation of faith that leads our children not just to knowledge, but to salvation and wisdom in Christ.
- What practical steps can you take to ensure the children or people you influence know the Holy Scriptures "from childhood" (2 Timothy 3:15)? How can you make scripture engaging and meaningful for them?
- Reflecting on Titus 1:9 and Psalm 119:99–100, how can holding fast to sound doctrine and meditating on God’s Word equip you to pass on a generational legacy of faith and wisdom? Share examples from your life or others you’ve observed.
Resources
Nehemiah 4:17-18 (NIV): “…who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me."
Fathers, and all parents and grandparents, have a critical role to play in the safety and well-being of their families. Pastor Franklin reminded us of the response to call in Nehemiah for the men to build and to defend the city at the same time. It is a call to be ready for action and willing to work on both the temporal needs of your family but also the spiritual needs.
When the battle was over, or at least the battle lines were pushed past critical cultural areas, it was the job of the Monuments Men to go into area where the treasures were and do three things:
1. Assess the damage that was done to the art or architecture
2. Repair or stabilize the damage, as well as oversee its repair
3. Ensure that no further damage occurs to the art or architecture
The same is true for father who are willing to serve as monuments men to the treasure of their families. It is not a question about whether or not a battle comes to your family, only how and when. And once you have been through the battle for your family, the calling fathers have is to assess the damage. Since the attack will be spiritual in nature, fathers must be godly men, well versed in the Bible or deliberately growing in that capacity. You cannot assess the damage if you don’t have a baseline standard to go by. Your baseline is given by God, and it is unchanging, but you must study it to know what it says.
To stabilize and repair the damage caused by the Enemy, you must cultivate the character of God through a personal relationship with Jesus and His Holy Spirit, bearing the fruit of
the Spirit—love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).
- Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to embody in your family life, and how can you rely on the Holy Spirit to grow in this area?
Lastly, you must be prepared to ensure that no further damage can occur. You will not be able to do this simply by being a ‘good man’ and a ‘nice dad.’ It doesn’t matter how smart you are, how good a provider or how strong you are. These are all things that can actually be used by the Enemy against you and your family. It comes when you arm yourself with the weapons that are fatal to the Enemy. You must be a man of prayer, and you must be a worshipping man. Our battle is not with flesh and blood but with spiritual forces. Defend yourself and your family by being a spiritual warrior!
Call To Action:
- Fathers, and all parents: commit to pray each day for your children by name. Intercede for their spiritual well-being.
- Fathers: commit to praying daily for your wives and place a spiritual hedge of protection around them as they share the responsibility for your children.
- Mothers: pray for the fathers of your children so that they will work with you to provide spiritual covering and leadership.
- Children (adult children): pray for your parents, especially fathers, so that they will be able to lead you with a godly example and leave a legacy of faithful service and obedience.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, watch over us and empower us to be passionate about what you are passionate about. Help us to make our families and our children the priority that You have made them. Thank you for the treasures that our families and children are and give us the ability to stand firm against the Enemy’s efforts to attack them. May we always be the godly leaders of our households and influencers in our communities that You desire us to be. Help us to leave a godly legacy that will be something for our children and grandchildren to build on. In Your Holy name Jesus, amen.
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