Family is found 76 times in the Scripture, 75 times in the Old Testament and 1 times in the New Testament, Families is used 164 times in the Old Testament. Most of the time it is simply the plural of family.
Most of the Old Testament references refer not just to a Father and Mother and their children but to their children’s children and sometimes for several generations. i.e. Numbers 26:44-45Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites. Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. The Apostle Paul uses family to refer to all the saved. Ephesians 3:15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Temptation The desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.
Psalm 95:8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Luke 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. Luke 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Galatians 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Hebrews 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
We are not saved by how we live but our living influences others. The Apostle Paul gives some guide lines.
Romans 12:1-2I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Colossians 3:5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
2 Timothy 2:16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
As a believer you are not SINLESS ….. You should SIN Less
Many young believers have asked “How can I know God’s will for my life?”
The answer is “Study God’s word”. Below are 8 questions you should ask yourself before doing anything you are unsure of:
Is it forbidden in God’s Word? 1 John 2:4-6 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Can I glorify God in doing it? 1 Cor 5:13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Is it of the World? 1 John 2:15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Is it harmful to my body? 1 Cor 6:19-20What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Can I still be an example? 1 Pet 2:21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Will I be a stumbling block? Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Do I have doubt about doing it? 1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Would I want to be doing it when Christ comes? 1 John 2:28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
The duty, privilege of every believer: Share the Word.
The Romans Road is a very good tool.
But how do you get there? Ask the following questions: (HINT: it’s the Holy Spirit who prepares the Soul for salvation, so if the answer to any of these questions is NO, consider changing the subject, this individual is probably NOT ready to hear about salvation).
Do you believe in God? If the answer is yes be encouraged and continue.
Do you believe the Bible is God’s word? If the answer is yes be encouraged and continue.
Are you willing to do what the Bible says? If the answer is yes be encouraged and continue.
Good time to move to the Romans Road or some other simple plan that leads to a decision.
Four Spiritual Laws are another good tool.
Another approach is use 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 stressing the Death, Burial and Resurrection. Then move on to Romans 10:9-13 stress that confession means “That Jesus is God”, and then verse 13.
The state of Gentiles before Paul was called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles:
Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
1st wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision
2nd ye were without Christ,
3rd being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
4th strangers from the covenants of promise,
5th having no hope,
6th without God in the world:
7th who were far off.
But now in Christ Jesus ye (gentiles) who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 tells us what to believe and Romans 10:9-13 tells us what to do!
A definition of Saint: a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and typically regarded as being in heaven after death.
Just how do you become a Saint? According to one group there is a 5 step procedure.
Step one: Wait five years – or don’t. The process to make someone a saint cannot normally start until at least five years after their death.
Step two: Become a ‘servant of God’.
Step three: Show proof of a life of ‘heroic virtue’.
Step four: Verified miracles.
Step five: Canonization.
But let’s see what the Bible has to say. Looking into the words recorded in ACTS; Jews who believed that Jesus was the Messiah, were called SAINTS.
ACTS 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: ACTS 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. ACTS 9:41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. ACTS 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Then as the Apostle Paul went to the Gentiles and gave them the Gospel
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and when they believed (Romans 10:9-13) they became saints.
Be sure to read all scripture in context for further understanding.
John 3There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
The Apostle Peter reminds his fellow Jews of this truth: 1 Peter 1:23 Being bornagain, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
The Apostle Paul also reminds the Jews of this: Hebrews 5:12-13 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
And he also writes to the Churches they are babes after salvation: Romans 2:20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
But we are NOT to remain babes, drinking milk. We are to grow, and eat the meat of the word. We are to become of full age.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1. Exodus 3:11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
2. 1 Samuel 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
3. 2 Samuel 7:18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
4. 1 Chronicles 17:16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
5. 1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
6. 2 Chronicles 2:6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
PAUL SAID
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Remember the TV Program or the Movie MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?
The agent would receive a secret tape, which would outline his assignment, should he accept it. The tape would tell him the responsibility he was undertaking and give him some instructions for the task .
He would then lay out his equipment and pick his team members. His success depended solely on his judgements. His accountability (if caught) would be denied.
And the only reward he would get was the fact that he had served well.
Well, God has a Mission for you BUT its: MISSION POSSIBLE
