Biblical Family Ministries

Family Issues

In our last article we mentioned that only 22% of people in America attend church every week. Barna tells us 3,500 people per day decide to stop attending church. I don’t doubt for a minute that much of the problem is related to what or what is not happening in churches all across the Country. Some have “exciting” activities, but they are spiritually worthless. Others are virtually dead. There is no joy, no fellowship,   and little truth. Still more have been almost destroyed through internal conflicts. A few hold to biblical truth, but communication of that truth is often carried out with no zeal or fervor. Thankfully, some are on target and witness the blessings of God week after week. With those admissions of church weaknesses however, we need to turn to the Scriptures for guidance. We should be moved and motivated by what the Bible says. Last time we rehearsed the truth of the origin of the Church, the body of Christ. While the New Testament believers were slow in responding to the Great Commission when the Church began, they were somewhat forced into obeying it by the beginning of persecution. For the first 7 chapters of the Book of Acts, all the church activity takes place in and around Jerusalem. In chapters 7- 8 we have the record of serious persecution starting with the martyrdom of Stephen. That pressure drove believers out of the area. As Acts 8:4 puts it, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.” That turned out to be a good thing, but they ignored the full challenge of the Commission. Mark 16:15 records it this way, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” The early Jewish believers must have thought the Lord meant only “Jewish” creatures. It was not until Acts 10 that the Lord convinced Peter through a vision that he should go to the Gentile community of Caesarea to present the gospel to a Gentile centurion named Cornelius. While Peter was preaching all who listened believed, got saved and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. They were also baptized in water as a testimony to their belief. As wonderful as that was, Peter was called back to Jerusalem to explain why he “went into men uncircumcised”. Finally the church began to get it right, which opened the door to the ministry of Paul and Barnabus to the Gentiles. Once things were on track there was an ongoing ministry of preaching the gospel to Jews and Gentiles, who together formed the New Testament Church. The continuing ministry was not simply to see people come to belief in Christ to get saved. In city after city the new believers were joined together in the establishment of a local church. Why? What was the purpose? Has God changed the plan for this age? More next time.       

        

  

Trends & Troubles

In our last Trends and Troubles, we listed many of the issues that are currently undermining and gradually destroying our Country. With our present Administration there is no effort to correct the problems.  Inflation and particularly gas prices are taking a toll on every America.  Our local station was $3.27 per gallon just a few weeks ago. This morning it was $3.75. As terrible as these things are, the greater issues facing the Country, in my opinion, are the crimes against nature, which will bring the nation under the full judgment of God. Last time I mentioned abortion. The destruction of the innocents who have been made in the image of God are an affront to the Creator. I was reading Jeremiah recently and was reminded of the wicked actions of the heathen and the Israelites who sacrificed their infants in fire to Molech/Baal. How wicked, and how wicked that we allow the unborn to be pulled into pieces, burned to death with saline or poisoned with an abortive pill. It has been proven that more and more often newly born children with problems are cast into the trash or simply left to die unattended. There is no doubt about the life of the child. The Law of Moses left no question as demonstrated in Exodus 21:22-23. “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her    and immorality. I raised those issues based on the warnings of, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then shalt thou give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot…”  The Law was very clear. The fruit departing was the premature birth of the child due to the injury. If there was no mischief to the child, then the offender would pay for his offense as the husband demanded and what the judges finally approved. The mischief that might occur was death or injury. If the child died the offender would be put to death, because the punishment would be life for life. The offender would lose his life for taking the life of the unborn child. If the mischief was less including the loss of an eye, a tooth, a hand or a foot, the offender would lose the same, as punishment. This was civil law not personal vengeance. It was about 1500 BC when the obvious truth of the life of the unborn was acknowledged in written law by the people of Israel, Law given by God. The agenda of the radical left has gotten in the way of truth. America will answer for her crime against nature and her rebellion against the Creator.  More next time.

   

 

Prescription

For The Family  

 

The question is: “How does your family measure up against God’s plan for marriage and family?” We have briefly addressed thoughts on the man and on the woman regarding marriage. Few things are more important in this life than this God ordained relationship. As you may know, about 29 years ago we left our church which we loved, and where we had served for just over 26 years.  During those years of pastoring our church, we witnessed the experiences of many families. Some of them were in our church and some of them attended elsewhere, but enrolled their children in our Christian school. During that time we developed great convictions about marriage and the rearing of children. Early in our marriage we received some wonderful biblical teaching on marriage and family life. During those pastoring years our own children grew from infancy to adulthood.  To say the least we saw our own weaknesses and no doubt failed in many areas. Thankfully, God is very gracious. I suppose the initial truth that sank into our hearts was that our life and marriage would determine to a great degree how our family/children turned out. Families face great pressures from outside the home. They may come from work, church, community, relatives and other sources. We faced those pressures and so do you. Based on Scripture and experience we soon realized the outside pressures often paled in significance to problems within the home. If our marriage and family were strong, we could withstand the outside pressures. Turmoil within would be the source of family destruction. We learned and committed ourselves to having the union, which God created at our marriage, be lived out in unity in daily life. That was not always easy, but love and loyalty to God and family became our goal. Marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Children and others should be able to see that in us. None of us measure up to that challenge, but we must spiritually aim and strive for it. The man portrays Christ in love and leadership. The wife portrays the Church in surrender and testimony. Each must carry out their obligations as unto the Lord, never justifying refusal based on the failure or weakness of their spouse. More next time.

From Under the Umbrella

By Patricia E. Griffith

 

 

 “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” Psalm 34:9. How precious it is to read God’s Word and see all the promises God has given to those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  God’s Word has given us wonderful hope and help, IF WE WOULD READ IT AND FIND ALL THE TREASURES THERE FOR US. Life is put in perspective when we read his Word each day and talk to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I’m so thankful for his Word and encourage you to read it, believe it, trust it, and live with our Savior as your guide! God bless you as we journey through this life together.

 

 

God is looking for men…

 

                Is He looking for you?

 

Recently I was stirred by a message from I Corinthians 3. Paul was exhorting the believers to serve and minister faithfully. A few of his comments are, “Ye are God’s building”, “Let every man take heed how he buildeth”, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest”, “Let no man deceive himself”. Paul was talking to men. The building being erected in our life, family, business or church is God’s building. With that in mind, we better take heed how we build. Someday the building will be unveiled for all to see the value of the work. No man should deceive himself. The real “me” will someday be put on public display. Worldly success means little if it only counts for time. A godly man will devote his life to the Lord.

 

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE THAT MAN?

 

 

2023 is here: have you noticed?

 

I am looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. In I John 3:2-3 we read, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Paul wrote in Philippians 3:20, “For our conversation is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Is the Lord Jesus coming this year? I do not know, but I am looking and longing; waiting and watching; hoping, but hustling. Even so come, Lord Jesus!.

 

 

PLEASE start using our new mailing address.

 

P.O. Box 72146

Thorndale PA, 19372