Family ~ from a Biblical Perspective
First, let me say that I Love Family. I wanted to write about Family to explain what I think God wants us know and understand it, and what He meant for it to be from the beginning; and how He created us to treat each other, as a whole and also as a married couple, a husband and wife. And finally, how He wants us to be examples for Him to others to show His Love so everyone would see, know and understand the question of all times:
“ Who Is God”
I truly believe the answer to this question is in the Family that God created from the beginning.
Everything I am going to say here is in the Word of God and can be tested and NOT found wanting.
Who is God and what does He want from us? Uniquely, we were created... for His Pleasure...
So, we are all part of a family. What constitutes a family in the eyes of God? Well it's really very simple... a mother, father and their children. In Heaven we were created to be born of woman as God's plan continues, and then we shall forever become the children of God and live with Him forever in His Kingdom which Jesus has gone to prepare for us. But He is returning for us, His Church, the Body of Christ, God shows us throughout the Bible that He loves the family. I will explain further, below:
Jesus was born into a pure bread Priestly and Kingly Line. Both Mary's parents were the completion of what God sent to us, the Only Begotten Son Of God through this blood line that was so pure, and can be traced all the way back to the beginning... when God promised Abraham that his seed would become as the sand so the see.
What is the Answer to our First Question? WHO IS GOD?
Well, the Bible defines itself and says that GOD IS LOVE, quite simple. He sent His Love (Jesus) to us because He first loved us and wanted to spend eternity with us, HIS Family. Yes, we are God's Family if we want, it's our choice. He has given us a free will to choose life or death... Life is believing that God sent His Son to die for us so we could live (He, Jesus became sin for us so we could live; He took our place, paid the price for sin, which was death) Now, we can receive that free gift or reject it.
It is written that all fall short of the Glory of God and that not one of us is deserving of life... but God created us for His pleasure, and we are His family and He wants to spend eternity with us... but He also wants us to WANT to spend it with Him.
God created the first earthly Family, Adam & Eve and all the Nations of the earth. They were told to be fruitful and multiply... and they did. Throughout time we have seen over the past six thousand years, just that. Family after family multiplying because God had a plan. The plan of salvation so we can spend eternity with Him in Paradise in Peace with Love, Him.
Since the beginning the devil, Satan also called by many other names in the bible, has been trying to stop the family from continuing, and continues to this day with the same tactics... his ways do not change. He uses the same things now as he did then, deceiving our minds to believing his deceptions, using God's word and distorting it just a twist so that you almost think he is telling the truth. But we also know that it is written that he is the father of lies, and is a deceiver, coming to steel, kill and destroy what ever he can with what ever it takes.. you see ~ he believes in God, and trembles, as it is written, and knows his end and does not want you to believe. He uses the Word of God to trick the human race because he ultimately wants to become a god, himself. He used this same tactic on Jesus Himself when he took him into the dessert and tried to tempt Him... Satan knows the Word of GOD but he twists it, like He did with Jesus and Jesus corrected him with the Word spoken correctly. We need to know the Word of God, too, so we can recognize the enemy when he comes to threaten us and our families... We are told, to: "study to show ourselves approved a workman rightly dividing the Word of truth..." and to "renew our minds with the word and conform our lives to it..." The devil, Satan will as it is also written pay for that at the end of this age.
Satan, wants nothing more than to destroy the family because he knows God loves the family and will do what ever he can to destroy it, separate it, distort it, divide and conquer it... whatever he can... unfortunately, most do not even realize he is doing this. it's also written that a house divided against itself cannot stand... Satan is who we are fighting, as it is written in Ephesians (N.T.) and our battle is in prayer and with the enemy not our families who are many times just being used against us, so we think we are fighting with them, (which we are but the enemy is behind it all) Satan coming between, and ultimately disrupt God's plan of salvation and a loving family and a wedding that HE, GOD has planned with US, a wedding feast like no other... with the Bride of Christ... Pure because of the righteousness of Christ and His Blood if we receive Him.
The Groom would come to the father of the potential bride and ask for the daughters hand in marriage and they would make a contract, a guaranteed with a cup of wine. At that point they were considered engaged and as good as married...
Then the Groom would go to his father's house (sound familiar?) before they married and go to prepare a home/place for her. Then he would return for her and bring her back with him to their new home together when the time was right.
At that point, when he was ready, (his father would tell him when he though it was the proper time), the Father would say, OK, now GO, shout and go for your bride. Then all his groomsmen would follow him through the streets, and as they went many would follow, (the bride would never know when the groom was coming for her, until she heard the shout, and warning from her brides maids.. she had to be ready because she never knew when her groom was coming for her (sound familiar?) When the men got close enough there would be a SHOUT, the Bride Groom Cometh!
Then the brides maids would warn her... and she must be ready with OIL in her lamp in case he arrived at midnight... ( sound familiar? The 10 virgins with oil in their lamps? Not all were ready?).
The Groom would go into the Brides house and consummate the marriage as the other waited outside for the groom to shout that the wedding was consummated. Now they were married and for seven days, the whole family would celebrate with them.
That is what is going to happen again when Jesus returns for His Bride (US!) He will return with a SHOUT (A Trumpet call) and He will return, Only the Father Knows the day and hour, and He will come for his Bride and take her to wed.
Interesting, we have a covenant with our Lord Jesus, He drank from the cup on Passover with His disciples before His death on the cross and said I will not drink from this cup again until I drink it again with you when I return, but I will send you a comforter to help you until I return.... I go to prepare a place for you, where I go you can not come now, but I will come back for you. The days following as it is written in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles, explain this further.
He Resurrected and every eye saw Him and He will return again, just as He said, for His family.
We are His Family... Get ready, and don't be found without oil in your lamps, the olive oil, the Holy Spirit, that which raised Him from the dead dwells in us so that we too on the last day can be raised incorruptible and live with Him for eternity.
- John 14:28
You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.
John 14:27-29 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter)
- John 15:1
I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
John 15:1-3 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
- John 15:5
I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
John 15:4-6 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
- John 16:7
However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
Thy Will Be Done on earth as it is in Heaven
Now, remember, the prayer “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name?” Remember the part that says, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done on earth as it is in Heaven? OK, this is where The Word of God explains His will for us. Everything is in Heaven First... then He re-creates it on earth! Selah' ~ pause and think calmly about that!
We have been given a great gift. We have been given a promise that tells us if we believe and trust, rely on and love Him with our whole heart and soul and all our strength ~ we become the family of God.
Yes, the Prayer, the Our Father, when studied tells us everything we need to know and if you read on, the next several chapters, the Bible explains itself completely concerning the prayer, for example, forgiveness, there can not be answer to prayer without forgiveness and so on. When we receive Jesus as our savior, as it is written in the Gospel of John, we are in Him and He is us and God in Jesus and Jesus in God... We receive His Spirit which brings life, and makes us the body of Christ a new creation in His Kingdom with a promise to become his family for eternity. God is the Father and we become Children.
Everything that is done on earth was first done in heaven, including marriage, and the mystery in the New Testament that Paul talks of in his epistles (Letters) we are to be married to Christ, we are the Bride of Christ. That is what marriage is all about. Which is why it is used so many times as examples in the bible. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and the wife is to love her husband with all her heart and as it is written in Proverbs 31 we are to do our husband's only good all the days of our lives. Our marriage's here on earth are for examples to others of what God has planned for us when He returns for His bride, and we are to live in harmony with our children. Fathers don't provoke your children, and we are even given instructions on how to get along as a church of believers together until He comes for us. He said in John that He will not come until we are united in Love as one Body.
Many promises and prophecies that have been told in the Old Testament have already been fulfilled and Jesus, Himself has fulfilled almost all the prophecies already, and there are only a few left to be finalized before his return.
It is written of His return in in the Gospels and other places, too... and we are living in that generation of the Fig Tree now... When Israel became a nation in 1948, it became the beginning of that generation... He said he would return. Zechariah says when the armies surround Jerusalem to split her, God will fight against all those nations...
We are living in a time that we need to be praying for the peace of Jerusalem, spiritually and literally.
We are the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven as the Bride of Christ. (you can read this for yourselves and check all these things out, please do not just take my word for it... it is written for all to read in His Word). Daniel in the O.T., Revelation, the last book of the bible and Matthew chapter 24 talk about this as well.
I wanted to talk about the family because I see how badly it is being attacked today because Satan knows he has but a short time... God has many promises that tell of His love for us and promises that HIS children, are NOT destined for HIS WRATH... He also says that He will cut the time short because times will get so bad, He wills that ALL men be saved so He is trying to give you time to come into the fold. He said that if He did not cut the time short that no man would be saved.... but because of His great love, He Will make sure HIS OWN will NOT perish but have eternal life... He says that His arm is not too short that it cannot save.
Please do not take this lightly... this is real.. it's going to happen whether you believe it or not; His Word says that every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
God gives us all the examples for this life we need in his Word. Paul explains this in detail in his letters to the Corinthians. He explains in several other books he wrote too in the New Testament.
It is written that there will be wars and rumors of wars but that this is only the beginning...
Please take the time and read for yourselves... I know you will not be sorry. <3
I am praying for the Peace of Jerusalem ~ Psalm 122:6
Pray for the
peace of
Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!
Psalm 122:5-7 (in Context)
Psalm 122 (Whole Chapter)
We are told in many other places who and what to pray for. Please pray... these are hard times for many and especially the family. Don't let the enemy get the best and your family... ultimately, we are the family of God and He loves us more than you know. Jesus Loves you and wants to give you peace that passes all human understanding.
Please pray for our soldiers, families, schools, Nations, leaders, and our churches and pastors... all ministries are being attacked right now, because like I said earlier, the enemy, Satan knows there is not much time left. We see the signs all around us as it is written.
Please share the Love of Christ with someone you know... and Love your GOD with all your heart and soul and your neighbor as yourself. The ten commandments are summed up in two. The first several have to do with God the second half or so having to do with your relationships with mankind.
If you keep these the Word says you will never fail or stumble. Of course, no one is perfect and thank the Lord because since His death and resurrection we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus the Son of God who sits on the right hand of GOD, and intercedes for us night and day before the father, and is faithful and just to forgive us for all our sins when we ask Him to. And when God looks at us then, he doesn't see our sin, but the blood of Christ, that covers us, like it did in the Passover, of the Old Testament, when the death Angel came over and the Jews were told to Slay the Lamb, and put the blood on their doorposts so the death Angel would Passover their homes... so now, we have the Lamb of GOD the Passover Lamb that was slain once for all... for the forgiveness of sins... for all who would receive.
My prayer for all of you is that you would receive Him into your hearts and let Him in... He is waiting at the door of your heart knocking, He loves you more than you know. And so do I <3.
May the Lord Bless you
Numbers 6:24-26 (New King James Version) 24 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’
Blessings,
Sz
PS Below are some additional resources for your study <3
Ephesians 6 (Amplified Bible)
Ephesians 6
1CHILDREN, OBEY your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right.
2Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise--
(A)
3That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.
4Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.
5Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]--
6Not in the way of eye-service [as if they were watching you] and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul;
7Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,
8Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.
9You masters, act on the same [principle] toward them and give up threatening and using violent and abusive words, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons (no partiality) with Him.
10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
(B)
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
19And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),
20For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.
21Now that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord [and His service], will tell you everything.
22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may console and cheer and encourage and strengthen your hearts.
23Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
24Grace (God's undeserved favor) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible [love]. Amen (so let it be).
Cross references:- Ephesians 6:2 : Exod 20:12
- Ephesians 6:15 : Isa 52:7
JESUS PRAYS FOR US AND TO THE FATHER
John 17 (Amplified Bible)
John 17
1WHEN JESUS had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You.
2[Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.
3And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.
4I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do.
5And now, Father, glorify Me along with Yourself and restore Me to such majesty and honor in Your presence as I had with You before the world existed.
6I have manifested Your Name [I have revealed Your very Self, Your real Self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have obeyed and kept Your word.
7Now [at last] they know and understand that all You have given Me belongs to You [is really and truly Yours].
8For the [uttered] words that You gave Me I have given them; and they have received and accepted [them] and have come to know positively and in reality [to believe with absolute assurance] that I came forth from Your presence, and they have believed and are convinced that You did send Me.
9I am praying for them. I am not praying (requesting) for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You.
10All [things that are] Mine are Yours, and all [things that are] Yours belong to Me; and I am glorified in (through) them. [They have done Me honor; in them My glory is achieved.]
11And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [in the knowledge of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one].
12While I was with them, I kept and preserved them in Your Name [in the knowledge and worship of You]. Those You have given Me I guarded and protected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot--the one who is now doomed to destruction, destined to be lost], that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
(A)
13And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].
14I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world.
15I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.
16They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
17Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
18Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.
20Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
21That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.
22I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:
23I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.
24Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You, I have known You [continually]; and these men understand and know that You have sent Me.
26I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them.
11I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.
12This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.
13No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.
14You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.
15I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]
16You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.
17This is what I command you: that you love one another.
18If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.
20Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.
21But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me.
22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23Whoever hates Me also hates My Father.
24If I had not done (accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin. But [the fact is] now they have both seen [these works] and have hated both Me and My Father.
25But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause.
(A)
26But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.
27But you also will testify and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
