Family and Faith

Distress is often in our home and environment.
- To deal with distress at home:
  - Be concerned: Show compassion and interest.
  - Be convinced: Believe in Jesus Christ's transformative power.
  - Be a Christian at home, not just in public or at church.

Build our youth by:
- Telling them the truth about sin and the adversary's tricks.
- Taking a stand against unrighteousness and setting a standard.

The world had fallen into darkness, worshipping idols.
Terah had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Terah takes Abram and Nahor to a land beyond the Euphrates.
God tells Abraham to leave his country and kindred to become a blessing.
Abraham obeys, and his name is changed to Abraham.
God is about to judge Sodom and Gomorrah but tells Abraham because:
- God knows Abraham will command his children and household to keep the way of the Lord, doing justice and judgment.
- God chose Abraham to bless him and make him a blessing to his family.

Come out of family's ungodly traditions.
Leave ungodly practices behind to walk with the Lord.
Jesus Christ has called us out of darkness into His light to bless us and make us a blessing.
Leave behind ungodly practices and traditions.
Lead your family in a new and different way.

Be holy in all manner of conversation (lifestyle) as He who called you is holy.
We were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold from our vain (empty) lifestyle.
We were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.
We inherited an empty way of life, a mess passed down through generations.
Money, jobs, education, or moving cannot free us from generational distress.
Christ freed us from the bondage of sin.
Decide whether you want to influence your family or be influenced by them.
Choose between having fun with your family and saving your family.
Choose between being in with your family or your family being delivered.
Don't close your mouth about the truth just to have fun with your family.

Settle into the Christian way of life.
Commitment to the Lord must be genuine and sincere.
Be for real with your family.
Your family knows your weaknesses, shortcomings, and sinful propensities.
They will test your sincerity, commitment, and resolve.
They take mental notes on how you act and deal with conflict, watching for inconsistencies.
They observe how you treat others.
You cannot influence your family if you lack credibility.
It is better not to tell your family you are a Christian than to not be for real.

We are in a spiritual battle.
The adversary seeks to destroy the family.
The family is tattered, scattered, lost its sense of purpose and value.
The family is full of division, anger, resentment, and strife and is dysfunctional.
The family has no direction and lacks godly leadership.
The family seems hopeless and beyond repair.
If you can be delivered, your family can be delivered.
If you can be set free, your family can be set free.
God still loves our families.
Strengthen your hands to do this good work, stir ourselves up, and shake off complacency.
Exert ourselves to meet the challenges we face.
Embrace this new opportunity for change and grab hold of God's instructions.
Work on ourselves, our home, our youth, and our family.