New Covenant of Grace

He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah."  (Heb_8:6-8)

These verses contrast the old covenant of law ("that first covenant") with the new covenant of grace ("a second"). The old covenant of law is good, but the new covenant of grace is far better. The law is ordained of God, but it can never bring to people what God desires for them to experience. 

The law is good, but only if it used properly. "We know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners" (1Ti_1:8-9). The lawful use of God's law pertains to the unrighteous, the rebellious.  The law is not designed to give people a righteous standing in God's sight (justification). "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ" (Gal_2:16). Nor is the law intended for developing a godly walk (sanctification) in those who are justified through faith in Christ. "For the law made nothing perfect" (Heb_7:19). The proper use of the law is to lead people to the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. "The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ" (Gal_3:24). 

Grace is far better than law. If the law was without lack, then God would never have sent His Son to die for the establishing of a new covenant. "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." Since the law was lacking (regarding justification and sanctification), God's plan included the new covenant of grace. "Because finding fault with them, He says: 'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant'." The new covenant of grace has Jesus, the giver of life, as the Mediator. "He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant." This new covenant also has greater promises than the law: "a better covenant, which was established on better promises." In the days ahead, we will examine the better aspects of the grace of God.

Dear Father, I agree with You that Your law is good. It tutored me to Your magnificent grace. Lord, teach me the better aspects of Your grace, that I might fully embrace all that You want to accomplish in and through my life, in Jesus name, Amen.

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BUILDING A CRISIS- FREE FAMILY (5)

You are welcome to the last edition of the series of teachings  on Family Matters. From the beginning  of these series, we have been able to examine the Founder of the family, which is God Himself. We equally noted that man and God are the parties involved in building a crisis-free family. We have also been able to look at the various materials for building.
Today, we shall be looking at another wonderful material for building a crisis-free family: The Fruit of the Spirit.
In interpersonal relationships like the family, one has to know how to avoid conflicts and live at peace with one’s spouse, children, parents and other extended family members. All things are yours: a family devoid of conflicts but ridden with peace inclusive. Such a family is known as a crisis-free family. This is your heritage in Christ. God has vowed to give you peace always and by all means, so you must plug into it, by playing your part as it is in the Word of God. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3: 16).
Material for Building the Fruit of the Spirit:
The fruit of the Spirit equips you for peaceful and profitable coexistence with your family members. These help you to be able to live with every kind of character trait and influence them positively. This is actually the character of God, which makes God to be able to bear with all our idiosyncrasies and still reach out to us as His children. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).
Love – Total, unconditional, sacrificial and unending affection. This makes you to have strong regard and attachment to family members. No one hates to be loved. Love is able to cover a multitude of sins, and seek the welfare of every family member.
Joy – Gladness, delight, exuberance about life. Joy is a state of proud and happy satisfaction, a feeling of extreme happiness and satisfaction. This causes you to look ahead to the future, with great expectation of better happenings in your family. A joyful man is an optimistic man.
Peace – This is the state of rest, quietness, freedom from disturbance. This stems from your trust in God to take care of you and your family and to also change whatever habit or situation needs to be changed. Peace in the family starts from the heart. You cannot have peace in your family, if you lack peace in your heart and personal life.
Long Suffering – It is patience, willingness to stick with something until it is accomplished. This is born out of the conviction that all will be well, hence you refuse to give up until your desired expectation happens.
Gentleness – Kindness, amiability, easy to get along with, always willing to help others. Being easy to get along with is one of the most effective ways to be a blessing to your family members, not thoughtlessly harsh or severe. This makes you approachable and disposed to always be of help; to always supply your own quota of assistance. Whenever there is a challenge, seek for ways to be involved in solving it.
Goodness – Benevolence, always willing to give to others. You are always willing to give of your time, substance, ideas, spiritual input, talents and abilities to the enhancement of the family. This means that selfishness is absent.
Faithfulness – Loyal, firm in adherence to promises, consistent and reliable. Such a person sees family as being fundamental, hence sticks to it to play his own part of making it work and succeed.
Meekness – Being teachable, correctable and humble. This talks about the absence of pride. Pride is the devil’s nature; therefore wherever pride is missing, the devil will also be missing. It is meekness that enables you to accept your faults and even apologize on someone else’s behalf. You are able to learn more of what you don’t know or even more of what you thought you already know.
Temperance – Self-Control. With this, you keep your feelings and emotions under surveillance and proper control. This will continually remind you not to talk and act the way you think all the time. It helps you to listen more and therefore able to proffer better solutions for issues at hand.
How do you Develop the Fruit of the Spirit:
You need to know this because at new birth you received a deposit of the righteousness of God, which made you become a tree of righteousness to bear fruits of righteousness. The fruit of the Spirit are actually fruit of the regenerated human spirit.
Seek God’s Word that is relevant to the particular fruit, which you want to develop. God and His Word are one, hence His character is resident in His Word.
Praying in the Spirit
Your spirit is energized, thereby stimulating the growth of the fruit of the Spirit.
Seek for opportunities to consciously exercise yourself in these areas. This also means, to exercise yourself unto godliness.
Benefits of the Fruit of the Spirit:
No law, principle or doctrine can stand against your family peace and fulfilment. This literally means that the devil cannot have a hold (whether legal or otherwise) over your family (Galatians 5: 22, 23).
God’s presence is established in your family, because God is love (1 John 4: 8, 16).
Liberty becomes the hallmark of your family (2 Corinthians 3:17).
In conclusion, employing the fruit of the Spirit makes for marital bliss and all your marital woes will be over, because a crisis-free family becomes your portion.
For you to have the fruit of the Spirit in order to have what it takes to have a crisis-free family, you need the Master Builder, who is able to build all things. For you to be born again, you need to say this prayer of faith:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today”. Thank You for saving me. Now I know I am born again!
Congratulations! You are now born again!

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BUILDING A CRISIS- FREE FAMILY (4

Last time , we examined how to develop a family relationship as regards building a crisis-free family.
Today, we shall be looking at the three-in-one factor, which you can use interchangeably to building a crisis-free family. These three factors are: Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding in relating with your spouse.
In the natural, it is not enough to have a good foundation in place, one must also be very conscious of using the right kind of materials to build a structure that can stand the test of time. It is equally true in marriage as well. Materials here represent divine blueprints, biblical principles intelligently drawn from the Word of God. The Word of God listed these three time-tested, unfailing, guaranteed materials for building a crisis-free family. Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength (Proverbs 24: 3-4).
Knowledge – It means facts, skills, gained through learning and experience. We live in an age of information; the informed people rule the world. If you are not informed, you will be deformed.
– You must however translate the information to conviction, which will motivate your actions.
– It takes a meek and teachable spirit to go in search of relevant knowledge, and apply them in the face of reality.
What do you need to know?
– That nothing in life is maintenance-free, marriage inclusive. So, work at making it work!
– Those differences must arise in marriage, but that they are not a proof of crisis. If properly handled, differences are beneficial and essential to a healthy marriage/family relationship.
– How to communicate (both verbally and non-verbally). Communication has been called the life-blood of a relationship. How true! It is a major weapon in our fight against crisis in the family.
– How to confront in love (without rejecting) when things are going wrong. Speak the truth in love always, watching your timing, tone of voice and motives. “Love without truth is hypocrisy, but truth without love is brutality!” Ephesians 4: 15
– How to forgive – marriage is a union between two forgivers! It’s all about giving and forgiving as often as the need arises.
Understanding – means responding to life’s circumstances with insight, a perspective that looks at life through God’s eyes. Understanding causes you to have compassion for your spouse.
Areas of Understanding
i. Understand who you are – your strength, weaknesses, abilities, likes, dislikes, needs, goal for life, expectations, etc. Understand yourself first!
ii. Understand what marriage is and is not – Marriage is the union of one man and one woman in an exclusive, God-ordained relationship for a life-time.
– Marriage is a perfect union with imperfect practitioners. Marriage requires labour and patience to work (Ecclesiastics 9: 9).
– Marriage is not an avenue of having only your needs met, but meeting the needs of another.
– Marriage is not the source of true joy and contentment, God is.
– Marriage is God’s mystery for earthly dominion (Genesis 1: 28).
iii. Understand your spouse – their background/upbringing.
iv. Contributed to making them who they are, their temperaments, their strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, hopes, fears, vision for life, etc. What sets them off negatively? What makes them react in the best way?
Take time to study them.
When you understand your spouse, you will react differently when there is impending crisis.
v. Understand that men and women are very different, not just physically but emotionally, in the way that they react and respond to issues and in their general outlook towards everyday life.
Understand how to get the best out of your spouse without destroying or compromising their uniqueness.
vi. Understand that you can never correct a negative action with a negative reaction. Two wrongs will never make a right. Learn to keep hurts and disappointments in perspective and always give your spouse the benefit of the doubt.
– When you are hurt, don’t lash out; wait until you have firm control of yourself and until the time is right to bring up the issue without rejecting your spouse.
vii. Understand that love is a decision, an act of your will, a choice, commitment and hard work! Love never fails!
Wisdom – It means skill in everyday living; the right and correct use of knowledge. It also means using what you have to get what you want. Even God needed wisdom to build the whole universe (Proverbs 8: 22).
Wisdom Nuggets
i. Never underestimate the power of prayer (for one another and together).
The one you pray for (and with) you will find it difficult to fight!
Pray for your children, lift their weaknesses before the Lord and seek His help concerning every area of their lives.
“God does nothing except in response to prayer.”
Gather divine strength in prayer, to keep the family in shape.
ii. Accept and discharge your God-given responsibilities in the home as if the success of your home depended only on you!
– Husband – love unconditionally
– Wife – submit lovingly to your husband’s leadership
Note: Authority is not meant for the benefit of the one in authority, but as a tool for serving those under that authority!
iii. Learn to compromise in love from time to time. Don’t always insist on your own way; be sensitive to your spouse’s opinions as well.
iv. Never rise above servanthood!
Are you born again? Do you need the Builder of all things to build your family? Why not give your life to Him today, and you shall be born again. You can say this prayer of faith and you shall be born again
“Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today”. Thank You for saving me. Now I know I am born again!
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’
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BUILDING A CRISIS- FREE FAMILY (3)

It has been so wonderful since we started this teaching on building a crisis-free family. I know that the Lord has really loaded you with a lot of ingredients that will help you build a crisis-free family. By this, every crisis in your home is ending and never to reoccur in Jesus’ most holy name!
Last week, we examined relationship with God as a very vital material for building a crisis-free family. I taught you on how your relationship with God can help you build a crisis-free family. Today, I want to examine how you can develop a family relationship.
Building a crisis-free family means consciously developing a family relationship that is a reflection of God’s original intent for mankind, as revealed in His Word. The picture we see in God’s Word as He instituted marriage, is that of a rewarding, fulfilling, enjoyable and mutually beneficial relationship in which the two parties function in His own counsel. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an helpmeet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed (Gen 2:18 – 25).

In building a crisis-free family, the very first place to begin from is the man and woman as individuals – their personal relationship with God, the author of marriage. The husband and wife must each have a living, personal relationship with God, apart from each other. It is the quality and strength of this relationship that will provide an invaluable resource from which they will draw, in times of temptation and impending crisis.
Without a deep relationship with God, their deepest yearnings will not be met. Why? Because only God is the source of true, lasting contentment, not a spouse! When these deep yearnings go unfulfilled, there is a tendency to misinterpret this and lash out at one’s spouse, thereby setting the stage for imminent crisis.
Also, a strong fervent relationship with God creates the deepest capacity for possible agape love. The Word of God says: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5: 5).The kind of love that sustains a marriage can only be found in God, Himself and only a close walk with Him can guarantee a flow of the same virtue.
By nature, a man or a woman is a rebel against God. Romans 8:7 makes it clear that the natural man is not and cannot be subject to the will of God. Until one is subject to God via a strong personal relationship with Him, his/her flesh will continually kick against God’s laid down directives in His Word concerning family life and so on. The standards of the Word of God, with respect to marriage and the family, will be practically impossible to attain in the energy of the flesh, apart from the enabling power of God through the Holy Spirit.
Just like building in the natural, in building a crisis-free family, two factors are very crucial:
i. The foundations upon which you build and
ii. The materials with which you build

In Matthew 7, Jesus points out two possible foundations upon which one can build, either upon sand (by refusing to submit oneself to the Word of God) or upon a rock. The only sure foundation upon which to build a crisis-free family is the rock of the Word of God. Anything else apart from the Word is sand, and no successful foundation can be built on sand. There can be no successful family life without strict adherence to the dictates of God’s Word as it relates to marriage and family life. Psalm 11:3 says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Take whatever God has said as absolute and final. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable! My Father in the Lord Bishop David Oyedepo said, “When you uphold the Word of God in any area of life, you become a star in that area.”
Everything about the Christian family must be built upon the foundation of God’s Word – husband/wife relationship, child training, relationship with in-laws etc. Other foundation can no man lay that that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 3: 11).
Just like you cannot build any lasting, crisis-free structure on a weak faulty foundation in the natural, you cannot have a crisis-free family building upon a wrong foundation.
Make the Word of God the final authority in your family and on every issue, and your family shall be crisis-free!
In building a crisis-free family life, you need Jesus Christ, the Builder of all things. If you want to be born again, you can say this prayer of faith and you shall be born again.

“Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today”. Thank You for saving me. Now I know I am born again!
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus

Building A Crisis Free Family Part 2

We started this teaching yesterday by examining the foundation of the family. In that teaching, we saw that God Himself founded the family. We equally noted that God and man are the parties involved in the building of the families. Furthermore, we also learnt that understanding is the material for building a crisis-free family. Lastly, I enumerated God’s concept for marriage.

Today, we shall be examining another vital material for building a crisis-free family which I titled: Relationship With God.
God has made available and set in motion all that is required to build a crisis-free Family. His Word says: For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God (Hebrews 3: 4). He is the foundation for the family. It is the heritage of every believer to have a crisis-free family; God is no respecter of persons. He loves his children equally. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him (Romans 10:12). It is man’s input that determines the difference in results.
God cannot build a crisis-free family all by Himself, because it is a joint venture with God. God and man are the senior and junior partners respectively, hence man needs to know his part in the script of destiny and play it out; this is called Word practice.
The place of Word-practice can never be over- emphasized, especially when one desires to enjoy God’s blessings. In working and walking with someone, it is good to know the person’s likes, dislikes and expectations. This simply means being in a relationship with God.

Material for Building

Relationship with God:
The vibrancy of man’s relationship with God, determines the vibrancy of His relationship with men, especially his family. Difficulty in relating with family members is an indication of a non-existent relationship with God.
How does your Relationship with God help you to Build a Crisis-Free Family?
Remember that your relationships mould your life and destiny; therefore whoever you company, with is who you will be like.
God’s nature rubs off on you; you are injected with his kind of personality. God loves sacrificially and unconditionally; so loving your family members in the same way becomes a way of life for you.
An understanding of the fact that “All Things Are Yours” dawn on you, a crisis-free family inclusive.
You imbibe His mentality. God thinks good of us, hence your thoughts about your spouse, children, in-laws, etc would also become good.
You receive His wisdom for discretion to know how to handle and relate with every one in your family.
You become godlier. The godlier you become, the godlier your family becomes and the farther away crisis will be.
He supplies his unfailing help and grace, which man needs, to live crisis-free in his family life.

Ingredients of a Veritable Relationship with God

Communing:
Communing is the art of having intimate conversation, passing across information, feelings, thoughts, and emotions to another person. The Bible says: Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured (Proverbs 27: 18).
You can’t claim to know someone you don’t commune with. Communication is the livewire of any relationship.
Communication with God Involves:
Talking to Him in prayer as a child would to his father; discussing issues with Him; expressing your thoughts and desires to Him.
Listening to Him through the study of the Word and meditation.
Receiving rhema from within your heart, which instructs and inspires you.
Love and Respect Luke 7: 7, 8

If you love and respect God, love and respect for and from your spouse would be easy to achieve.
Love and respect for your husband/wife will become second nature in you.
A woman who loves God will receive a harvest of love from her husband.
A woman who respects God will find it a natural thing to respect her husband.
A man, who respects God, will receive a harvest of respect from his wife.
A man who loves God will find it a natural thing to love his wife.
In conclusion, God has set up and made His specifications known to man about building a crisis-free family, which includes a vibrant relationship with Him. Anyone who therefore, complies will reap desirable results.
For you to build a crisis-free family, you need God to build your family. You need to be born again, so as to be free from crisis. If you want to be born again, I want you to say this prayer of faith:

“Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today, I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I believe You died for me and on the third day, You rose that I might be justified. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into your kingdom.
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name.

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BUILDING A CRISIS-FREE FAMILY PART1

I thank God for the great privilege He has given us to see the beginning of this fourth quarter of the year. There is no doubt that the Lord has been doing us well ever since the year began. It is my prayer that before the end of this quarter, the Lord shall do you good and a supernatural turnaround shall take place in your family in Jesus’ name!
  This WeekI shall be teaching on Building a crisis-free family and today, we shall be looking at the foundation of the family.
When we talk about building a crisis-free family, one may ask, “Is it possible to build a crisis-free family?” I can say categorically, it is very possible. Possessing a crisis-free family is a possibility, because with God all things are possible. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). All things become possible when you understand that all things are yours. All things are yours means that you are in charge of all things and can do what you like with them, a crisis-free Family inclusive.
The Word of God also says: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). I want to assure you that you can build a crisis-free family, when you follow God’s principles of building.
Building means the process of erecting/constructing by putting materials together systematically, to form a complete and functional whole. It also means establishing and setting up something, according to specifications and prescribed requirements. Crisis-Free means the absence of danger or trouble which results in unpleasant circumstances and conflicts. This is indicative of unending bliss and peace. Family means a group of people who are closely related to one another, especially a father, mother, their children and sometimes close relatives. Marriage between a man and a woman however, forms the bedrock upon which a family is built, because all families stem out of marriages. It goes without saying therefore, that as goes a marriage, so goes the family. In other words, the marriage relationship is at the very centre of any family.
Understanding the Foundation of the Family:
God is the foundation of the family; He founded families And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2: 18). He decides which family each person is born into. God has a heritage of peace for every family. He wants to give His people peace always and by all means. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3: 16).
Parties Involved in Building
In the building of any enterprise that will last and excel, every party involved must locate their individual roles. The parties involved in the building of a crisis-free family are namely:
God
Man
God’s Word says in Hebrews 3: 4: Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. God has His part, which is always intact; man is the variable.
Material for Building:
Understanding
Understanding is the analysis of facts for onward action; it is the power of the mind by which man attains truth or knowledge. No one can become outstanding without understanding. Understanding makes you grasp things, and whatever you grasp becomes yours. This means that understanding gives you control of all things. Understanding or the lack of it influences your actions.
God’s Concept of Marriage:
a. It Is Good, Not Evil (Genesis 1: 31; 2: 18).
b. It Is For Better Living (Deuteronomy 32: 30; Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12).
c. It Is Designed For Fruitfulness (Genesis 1: 28; 5: 1-4).
d. The Law Of Departure; this comprises of:
Leaving
Cleaving

Becoming one (Genesis 2: 24; Matthew 19: 5; Mark 10: 7,8).
e. Covenant Obligations Of The Husband (Ephesians 5:23,25-29).
f. Covenant Obligations Of The Wife (Ephesians 5:22-24).
g. Mutual Obligations:
Romance (Proverbs 5:15-20; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5).
Child training (Deuteronomy 6:6,7; Proverbs 22:6).
It imparts real life and not just mere existence (Psalm 119:144; Proverbs 16:22).
It keeps and preserves the family from crisis (Proverbs 2:11).
It releases God’s favour and goodness upon you and your family (Proverbs 13:15; 19:8).
It breeds excellence (Proverbs 17:27).
In building a crisis-free family life, you need Jesus Christ, the Builder of all things. If you want to be born again, please say this prayer of faith:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for saving me. Now I know I am born again!”
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name.

I thank God for the great privilege He has given us to see the beginning of this fourth quarter of the year. There is no doubt that the Lord has been doing us well ever since the year began. It is my prayer that before the end of this quarter, the Lord shall do you good and a supernatural turnaround shall take place in your family in Jesus’ name!
ThisWeek I shall be teaching on Building a crisis-free family and today, we shall be looking at the foundation of the family.
When we talk about building a crisis-free family, one may ask, “Is it possible to build a crisis-free family?” I can say categorically, it is very possible. Possessing a crisis-free family is a possibility, because with God all things are possible. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). All things become possible when you understand that all things are yours. All things are yours means that you are in charge of all things and can do what you like with them, a crisis-free Family inclusive.
The Word of God also says: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). I want to assure you that you can build a crisis-free family, when you follow God’s principles of building.
Building means the process of erecting/constructing by putting materials together systematically, to form a complete and functional whole. It also means establishing and setting up something, according to specifications and prescribed requirements. Crisis-Free means the absence of danger or trouble which results in unpleasant circumstances and conflicts. This is indicative of unending bliss and peace. Family means a group of people who are closely related to one another, especially a father, mother, their children and sometimes close relatives. Marriage between a man and a woman however, forms the bedrock upon which a family is built, because all families stem out of marriages. It goes without saying therefore, that as goes a marriage, so goes the family. In other words, the marriage relationship is at the very centre of any family.
Understanding the Foundation of the Family:
God is the foundation of the family; He founded families And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2: 18). He decides which family each person is born into. God has a heritage of peace for every family. He wants to give His people peace always and by all means. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3: 16).
Parties Involved in Building
In the building of any enterprise that will last and excel, every party involved must locate their individual roles. The parties involved in the building of a crisis-free family are namely:
God
Man
God’s Word says in Hebrews 3: 4: Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. God has His part, which is always intact; man is the variable.
Material for Building:
Understanding
Understanding is the analysis of facts for onward action; it is the power of the mind by which man attains truth or knowledge. No one can become outstanding without understanding. Understanding makes you grasp things, and whatever you grasp becomes yours. This means that understanding gives you control of all things. Understanding or the lack of it influences your actions.
God’s Concept of Marriage:
a. It Is Good, Not Evil (Genesis 1: 31; 2: 18).
b. It Is For Better Living (Deuteronomy 32: 30; Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12).
c. It Is Designed For Fruitfulness (Genesis 1: 28; 5: 1-4).
d. The Law Of Departure; this comprises of:
Leaving
Cleaving
Becoming one (Genesis 2: 24; Matthew 19: 5; Mark 10: 7,8).
e. Covenant Obligations Of The Husband (Ephesians 5:23,25-29).
f. Covenant Obligations Of The Wife (Ephesians 5:22-24).
g. Mutual Obligations:
Romance (Proverbs 5:15-20; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5).
Child training (Deuteronomy 6:6,7; Proverbs 22:6).
It imparts real life and not just mere existence (Psalm 119:144; Proverbs 16:22).
It keeps and preserves the family from crisis (Proverbs 2:11).
It releases God’s favour and goodness upon you and your family (Proverbs 13:15; 19:8).
It breeds excellence (Proverbs 17:27).
In building a crisis-free family life, you need Jesus Christ, the Builder of all things. If you want to be born again, please say this prayer of faith:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for saving me. Now I know I am born again!”
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name.
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