We enjoyed communion and then our pastor concluded his sermon series on Broken.
He reminded us of the last three weeks of teachings that 1) the world is broken, 2) dreams are broken and 3) people are broken. This morning’s message was on Broken Families.
The family may be the church family or the home family. Our homes do not always have healthy families.
Pastor’s parents were churched raised (Catholic and Lutheran) when they met each other but they were not yet Christ followers. During their first year or so together they met and accepted Jesus. From that point forward his family grew toward health. Their home had a foundation built on faith. As they studied and taught at church, their devotion to God and each other grew.
How do you measure your family's success? How the world defines success is very different from how God defines success. The enemy seeks to Destroy the family.
There is pressure in the world to conform. Conforming involves following rules, obeying. Conforming to the world results in brokenness. Conforming to God's will breaks down our independence but leads to blessings. Romans 12:2. The world often measures success in possessions and achievements (lusts and pride). The true Christ follower must be careful not to fall to the cravings and pride of this world. 1 John 2:15-16.
The Point: The foundation for family success is a full commitment to living for God, and a firm refusal to conform to the world.
Serving Christ, then is true success for the believer, not possessions and achievement. Joshua told the Israelite people to “…choose today whom you will serve…” Joshua 24:14-5.
As long as we are living there is still time to work on our families. Take account: Is my family growing stronger? Am I growing stronger spirituality. Your growth in Christ’s service will be identified by your fruit.
Men are to be the God-ordained spiritual leader of their family. It is more likely for the whole family to come to Christ when the father believes and serves. Are there inconsistencies in your life walk? You should be leading your family to church and service, not driving them there.
Do other things take a higher priority over your family's spiritual health? We each must make our family’s spiritual health a priority in our lives – both the church family and our individual households. Look first in the mirror. Is it possible that the enemy is fighting harder for your family than you are?
The good news from these messages is that our heavenly Father restores the broken!
In the spirit of restoration I found two fitting songs, both new to me.
I picked this one.
I picked this one.
Mended!
1 John 2:15-17 NIV
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Lord I pray that you help me to remember, in all aspects of my life, to serve the Lord. Help me to serve the Lord at home, in business and community.
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