Transcript Document
The Creator’s Choice - Family Families – What Are They I am not sure if you have really spent time thinking about God’s intended purpose for families in His creation. On one hand there are those who consider families as good havens of protection and love in a world filled with chaos and dysfunctional human tragedies. On the other hand they are those who reckon marriage and family mean nothing more than just a case of consenting adults agreeing to live together with child bearing as a natural progression of that relationship. If that relationship does not work out one can always find another partner. Then they are those who totally despise the traditional value of marriage and family and doing their best to distort and if possible destroy the very foundation truth of a marriage between a man and a woman. For these people family means the indulgence of one’s desires to make it whatever they want it to be. Many may have mixed views on all of the above. Whether we know it or not we all are influenced by these and other world views on family to various degrees. It is therefore vitally important for us as Christians to understand what God’s original design for marriage and family is. If the world can attack the basic truth regarding family. It will attack all the underlying truths and values concerning family such as the Lordship of Christ, the roles of the mother and father, child bearing and development, sexual relationship, time management, church, etc… The Creator’s Choice - Family Series Outline and Objectives The Creator’s Choice – Family Series aims to achieve the following objectives for the course participants: Section 1 - The Big Picture o To understand God’s original design for the family – the five fundamental truths from the beginning o To identify the distortions the enemy has created through society against God’s original design for the family and learn how to overcome them Section 2 – Husband and Wife o To learn how to live a fulfilled life as husband and wife centring on the Person of the Holy Spirit Section 3 – God, Father, Mother and Children o To understand the roles of a father and mother in relation to children and learn how to practise sound spiritual family principles Section 4 – Achieving The Balance o To learn how to manage balance in church involvement, extended relationships, finance and other practical matters in a marriage The Creator’s Choice - Family God – The Builder of Our Family (Psa 127:1) A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psa 127:2) It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. The Creator’s Choice - Family Our Focus Must Be Right I am not here to change my spouse or others. But to ask the Holy Spirit to change me. I am not here to pray so that God can help others to see His truths. But I am here to ask the Holy Spirit to help me to receive God’s truths so that I can be set free. My family can only be changed for the better to serve God if I am first changed. I submit myself totally to God and His Word expecting the Holy Spirit to do far greater things than my greatest expectations and desires. I am serious and willing to pay and pray the price and do God’s will as He guides me. The Creator’s Choice - Family Prayer of Unity and Release of Blessing (Husband) Heavenly Father today I thank you for my very dear wife ……… whom you have provided for me. I cherish her loving care and helps which she selflessly gives to our family on a daily basis. I ask you Father to pour out your anointing of unity into our family in the power of your Holy Spirit even now. As the head of the household I want to proclaim today your commanded blessings to my dear wife,……….and our children,…….and on myself in the name of Jesus because of your anointed unity in us. I proclaim the blessings of your love, joy and peace to ………., and your renewal power to her body with perfect health, beauty and youth. I bless her with wisdom, strength and spiritual gifts in all that she does and proclaim great prosperity in her life. My dear………..will be blessed with your constant comfort and presence and she will be satisfied in your house forever. I bless her with my love in Christ and thank you for giving me such a beautiful gift in ………….. I bless our children with the Word of God and the salvation of Jesus. ………….., ………………. will be filled with the Spirit of the Mighty God and they (he or she) will prosper in all that they do in their lives. I pray and receive in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus. Amen. The Creator’s Choice - Family Prayer of Unity and Release of Blessing (Wife) Heavenly Father today I thank you for my very dear husband ……… whom you have provided for me. I cherish his leadership and love which he selflessly gives to our family on a daily basis. I ask you Father to pour out your anointing of unity into our family in the power of your Holy Spirit even now. I agree with ………. in receiving the blessings he has pronounced into our family today. I thank you for the anointing in unity that you have initiated through……… and I ask your Holy Spirit to help me in submitting to that unity. I bless our family together with ………and extend your commanded blessings to our children. I proclaim the blessings of your love, joy and peace to ………., and your renewal power to his body with perfect health, strength, and youth. I bless him with wisdom, strength and spiritual gifts in all that he does and proclaim great prosperity in his life. My dear………..will be blessed with your constant comfort and presence and he will be satisfied in your house forever. I bless him with my love and honour in Christ and thank you for giving me such a wonderful gift in ………….. I bless our children with the Word of God and the salvation of Jesus. ………….., ………………. will be filled with the Spirit of the Mighty God and they (he or she) will prosper in all that they do in their lives. I pray and receive in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus. Amen. The Creator’s Choice - Family God’s Original Design For The Family Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Gen 2:23 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. Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. The Creator’s Choice - Family God’s Original Design For The Family In creation God designed for the first married couple (Adam and Eve) to rule the earth with their offsprings. God instituted the original governance plan of the earth through the following truths regrading family. 1. Marriage is between a man and a woman. God chose to express His image through the union of a man with a woman. Not a man or a woman. Nor a man with a man or a woman with a woman. It was no good when Adam was alone without Eve. Representation. 2. Marriage has to be complimentary between a couple. It took the combined effort of Eve (the helper) and Adam (the one who needs help) to do what God intended. Cooperation. 3. Children are a blessing given to families for increase in influence to extend God’s Kingdom on earth. Multiplication. 4. Family is given the governing authority on earth to rule over circumstances and its surrounding. Rulership. 5. Trans-generational families are to be wholesome units responsible and accountable of their God given duties. Inter-Dependency. The Creator’s Choice - Family Let’s Talk about It The Big Picture Representation: What does your family currently represent? Or what is your current view on what a family should represent. How does the truth re Representation in the image of God impact your understanding on marriage and family? Coorperation: Is your marriage based on corporation? If it is so obvious why don’t couples do it? Who is stronger? The helpmate (Eve) or the one needed help( Adam)? Multiplication: How do you view children? Burdensome? Welcoming? Worrisome? Necessary? What is your view on Multiplication of children as part of extension to the rulership of God on earth? Rulership: How can you practise the truth regarding ruling through your family. Are you burdened with many problems imposed on you or are you ruling over them as a family? Inter-Dependency: How did your relationships change with your parents after marriage? What does leaving your father and mother mean to you? Where do you think the balance should be? The Creator’s Choice - Family Pillow Talk The Big Picture Representation: Pray and ask God to reveal to you His real purpose for your family. If your vision is too small ask Him to enlarge your vision regarding your family. Coorperation: Pray and ask God to reveal and remove areas of conflicts and contention in your lives. Ask for forgiveness from each another and submit yourselves to God. Multiplication: Pray and ask God to remove any fear, bitterness, disappointment regarding children. Ask for forgiveness if you have behaved against the will of God concerning children. Bless them and prophesy over them for an anointed and prosperous future. Rulership: Bring your challenges to God and apply the Word of God into the situations in Jesus name. Speak confidently like a king and queen of God. Inter-Dependency: Ask God to show you wisdom in dealing with your extended family and in-laws. If you have misconceptions or misbehaviours regarding family relationships ask God to forgive and be willing to change.