Book: The Faith-Filled Home - Chapter 20: Building a Legacy of Faith
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- Jun 9
- 9 min read
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." , 2 Chronicles 15:7
The Hook: The Echo of Your Footsteps
Imagine, for a moment, that you are standing at the edge of a vast, silent canyon. You shout a single word, a name, a prayer, a declaration of love. Seconds later, the sound bounces back to you. But it doesn't just return once. It echoes and re-echoes, traveling deeper into the crevices of the earth than you could ever reach on foot.
Parenting is that shout. Your life is that sound.
Most of us spend our days worried about the "now." We worry about the math test on Tuesday, the soccer cleats left in the rain, or the sourdough starter dying on the counter. But as believers, we are called to a higher vantage point. We are not just raising children; we are launching legacies. We are drafting the spiritual blueprints for people we will never meet, our great-grandchildren, our descendants who will walk the earth a hundred years from today.
What will they hear when your life echoes? Will they hear the frantic noise of a busy schedule, or will they hear the steady, rhythmic beat of a heart that was fully surrendered to Jesus Christ?
The Core Question: What Are You Leaving Behind?
As we reach the conclusion of The Faith-Filled Home, we must ask the most high-stakes question of all: If your children follow your spiritual lead exactly as you have modeled it, where will they end up in fifty years?
This isn't a question meant to shame you. It’s a question meant to awaken you. In the Assemblies of God tradition, we believe in the "blessed hope", the return of Christ, but we also believe in the "Great Commission," which is a generational mandate. Building a legacy of faith isn't about leaving a large inheritance or a famous name. It is about ensuring that the fire of the Holy Spirit, which has touched your life, continues to burn brightly in the lives of those who come after you.
The Biblical Foundation: The Spirit of Reform
To understand the weight of 2 Chronicles 15:7, we have to look at the man who first heard it: King Asa.
Asa inherited a mess. His predecessors had allowed the land to be filled with idols, high places, and spiritual compromise. The nation was drifting. But the Bible tells us that Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. He began a massive "home renovation" of the soul, tearing down the altars of false gods.
In the middle of his work, the Spirit of God came upon a prophet named Azariah. Notice that: the Spirit came upon him. This wasn't just a pep talk; it was a Pentecostal moment of prophetic encouragement. Azariah met Asa and gave him the word that has sustained weary parents for millennia:
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." (2 Chronicles 15:7)
Asa responded by taking courage. He didn't just fix his own heart; he gathered the people and led them into a covenant to seek the Lord. He even removed his own grandmother from her position of authority because she had made an obscene image for an idol. He prioritized the legacy of God over the comfort of family tradition.
The Story: The Grandmother’s Knees
There is a story often told in Pentecostal circles about a woman named Hattie. Hattie lived in a small, dust-blown town during the Depression. She didn't have much money, and she certainly didn't have a platform. What she had was a pair of worn-out knees and a large, black-bound Bible.
Hattie prayed for her children every single morning at 5:00 AM. She didn't just pray for their safety; she prayed for their "spiritual DNA." She would call out the names of her children, then her grandchildren, and then, prophetically, the children they hadn't even had yet.
Hattie passed away forty years ago. But today, three of her grandsons are pastors. Her great-granddaughter is a missionary in Southeast Asia. Her family line is thick with the presence of God. When people ask the secret to their family's "spiritual luck," the pastors don't point to their own talent. They point to Hattie’s knees.
Hattie understood that her work was being rewarded. She wasn't just babysitting; she was building an eternal skyscraper.
Deep Teaching: The Theology of Generational Continuity
In many modern circles, we emphasize "individual" faith to the point that we forget "covenantal" faith. While every child must make their own decision for Christ, the Bible is clear that the atmosphere of the home creates the soil in which that decision grows.
1. The Power of the "Spiritual Atmosphere"
In the Old Testament, the "Shema" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) instructed parents to talk about God’s commands when they sit, walk, lie down, and get up. This isn't about a 20-minute "family altar" time; it’s about a 24-hour spiritual climate. As Pentecostals, we believe the Holy Spirit inhabits the praises of His people. When your home is filled with worship, you are literally changing the atmospheric pressure of your children's lives. You are making it "easy" for them to breathe in the things of God and "hard" for them to stomach the things of the world.
2. Breaking the Curse, Building the Blessing
Exodus 20:5-6 contains a sobering truth: iniquity can be visited upon the third and fourth generations, but mercy is shown to a thousand generations of those who love God.
If you came from a broken background, addiction, abuse, or godlessness, you have a unique opportunity. You are the "hinge generation." You are the one who says, "The buck stops here." By the power of the Holy Spirit, you can break the negative cycles of your past and start a new, thousand-generation cycle of blessing. Your "work" in 2 Chronicles 15:7 might be the hard labor of healing and repentance, but the "reward" is a family tree that finally grows straight.
3. The Role of the Spirit-Filled Parent
We cannot do this in our own strength. Parenting for legacy is a supernatural task. We need the Baptism in the Holy Spirit to give us the "take courage" strength that Asa received. The Spirit gives us discernment to see the hidden "idols" creeping into our homes, whether they are digital distractions or subtle pride, and the power to remove them.
Cultural and Historical Insight: The Erosion of Memory
Historically, societies survived because they were "ancestor-conscious." They knew where they came from. Today, we live in a "chronological snobbery" (as C.S. Lewis called it), where we believe the newest thing is always the best thing. This has led to an "amnesia of the soul."
Our culture encourages children to "find their own truth" and "sever ties" with anything that feels like a burden of the past. But a tree with severed roots cannot stand in a storm.
The early church, particularly in the book of Acts, was built on households. When the jailer in Philippi was saved, Paul didn't just say, "Good for you." He said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). The historical Christian view is that the family is the primary vehicle for the transmission of the Gospel. If we lose the home, we lose the culture.
Practical Application: Tools for the Legacy
How do we move 2 Chronicles 15:7 from a wall hanging to a lived reality? Here are two powerful tools to implement today.
1. The Family Mission Statement
A business without a mission statement is a hobby. A family without a mission statement is a group of people living in the same house. A Family Mission Statement is a written declaration of who you are, whom you serve, and where you are going.
How to create it:
The Gathering: Set aside a special night. Order pizza. Make it a celebration.
The Question: Ask everyone, "If someone described our family in one sentence, what would we want them to say?"
The Verse: Choose a "Life Verse" for your home (e.g., Joshua 24:15, 2 Chronicles 15:7, Matthew 6:33).
The Draft: Write out 3-5 core values. Example: "The McDonald Family seeks God first, loves people fiercely, speaks the truth in love, and never gives up."
The Display: Frame it. Put it in the entryway. Let it be the "north star" for every decision, from which movies you watch to how you handle a conflict with a neighbor.
2. The Faith Scrapbook
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were constantly told to build "altars of remembrance." When they crossed the Jordan, they took twelve stones and piled them up so that when their children asked, "What do these stones mean?" they could tell the story of God’s faithfulness.
A Faith Scrapbook is your family's "pile of stones."
What to include:
Testimonies: Write down the day your child was dedicated or baptized. Include a photo.
Answered Prayers: Keep a log of "Big Asks" and "God’s Answers."
Prophetic Words: If a pastor or friend has shared a scripture or word over your child, write it down.
The "Hard Years": Don't just include the wins. Include the times you had to "be strong" when things were falling apart, and how God brought you through.
The 2 Chronicles 15:7 Page: Have each child sign their name next to this verse, committing to stay strong in their own generation.
Reflection Questions
The Anchor: What is the "high place" or "idol" in your home right now that is distracting your family from seeking the Lord with all their heart?
The Heritage: If your children inherited only your prayer life as their spiritual foundation, would they have enough "spiritual capital" to survive a crisis?
The Vision: Close your eyes and imagine your family four generations from now. What is the one truth about Jesus you want to make sure is still being taught in their homes?
The Encouragement: Where do you feel "weak hands" (the opposite of 2 Chronicles 15:7) in your parenting? Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit for the "Asa-level" courage to continue.
Prayer and Declaration
A Legacy Declaration: I declare over my home that we are a people of the Covenant. We will be strong, and we will not give up. Our hands will not be weak, for our work shall be rewarded. I break every generational chain of silence and compromise, and I speak a thousand-generation blessing of Spirit-filled fire over my children and my children's children. In this house, we seek the Lord!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of this family. I thank You for the promise that my labor in the Lord is not in vain. Holy Spirit, fall upon us just as You fell upon Azariah. Give us the courage to reform our lives, the wisdom to lead our children, and the stamina to stay the course. May our family be a lighthouse for generations to come. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The Takeaway
Your parenting is not a series of chores; it is a spiritual investment with eternal dividends. Every prayer, every scripture read, and every act of consistent character is a stone being laid in a legacy that will outlast the stars.
Next-Step Action
This week, schedule your "Legacy Night." Draft your Family Mission Statement and start your first page of the Faith Scrapbook. Don't wait for "the perfect time", the best time to plant a tree for the next generation was twenty years ago; the second-best time is today.
Citation Vault
Scripture References: 2 Chronicles 15:7 (Primary); Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (The Shema); Joshua 24:15 (The Choice); 2 Timothy 1:5 (Generational Faith); Exodus 20:5-6 (The Thousand-Generation Blessing); Acts 16:31 (Household Salvation).
Theological Framework:Assemblies of God 16 Fundamental Truths (The Blessed Hope, The Mission of the Church).
Historical Context:The Chronicler’s History, Analysis of King Asa’s Reforms (c. 911–870 BC).
Concept Credits: C.S. Lewis ("Chronological Snobbery" from Surprised by Joy); The "Family Altar" tradition (Pentecostal heritage).
Glossary of Terms
Asa-Level Courage: A term for the spiritual boldness required to remove cultural or family "idols" to restore true worship.
Generational Hinge: A person who breaks negative family cycles (sin, addiction, trauma) and initiates a new legacy of faith.
Legacy Scrapbook: A physical or digital collection of God’s faithfulness intended to teach future generations "what these stones mean."
Pentecostal Atmosphere: A home environment intentionally curated through worship, prayer, and the welcoming of the Holy Spirit to make spiritual growth natural.
Spiritual DNA: The core values, beliefs, and prayer habits passed down through a family line.
About Layne McDonald, Ph.D. Dr. Layne McDonald is an author, researcher, and Christian leader dedicated to helping believers navigate modern culture with biblical wisdom. With a focus on leadership, family discipleship, and spiritual formation, his work combines deep theological insight with practical, life-changing application. He is committed to the mission of building strong, Spirit-filled homes that honor Jesus Christ.
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The Zinger: You are currently writing the history of people who haven't been born yet: what kind of story are you giving them to read?
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