1 06OCT13 8 Words to Change Your Family Truth ( Title Slide ) [ John 17.17 NKJV ] Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. Jesus prayed to God to Sanctify the disciples: 1. to set apart to a sacred use 2. to free from sin 3. to change them! Jesus was praying Father change them, all my disciples!! Sanctification is God s transforming process in every believer. AND Truth is the fuel.! Truth is necessary for sanctification - necessary for change in family! Then Jesus left no doubt WHERE we find Truth... God s Word!! Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is TRUTH! - Cause cancer - Prevent cancer - Divorce - Crusts - Wi-Fi - Red Pepper - Toiletries - Licorice - Coffee - Coffee - By men Housework prevents breast cancer - By men Shopping could make men impotent
2 - A glass of red wine a day could help to prevent breast cancer - Truth is drinking alcohol increases chance of breast cancer - The world is flat - The earth is the center of the universe - Bloodletting treatment for fevers, inflammation, even hemorrhage. Was even recommended by some up till 1923 - Evolution has numerous examples of truths that were later exposed as errors. - Nebraska man / Piltdown man / Java man... were said to be missing link in evolution chain but were ALL later found to be a hoaxes - Neanderthal man was reconstructed in 1915 by Marcellin Boule who arranged the big toe to look like a opposing thumb and misplaced the knee joint, spine, and head so the skeleton would have a crouching ape like appearance. It was on display at Chicago field museum of natural history for 44 years before someone detected what was done. Even after the hoax was confirmed they kept it on display for another 20 years till another neanderthal model was created. Then instead of throwing away the old they moved it to a different floor under title An alternative view of neanderthal In place of this shifting, sordid, pseudo truth...!! I proclaim to you the living, abiding, Word of God!!! Always true! Always reliable!!! The Bible is the greatest book ever written...!! Because it s the only book that GOD has written. Bible has NEVER been found lacking... endorsed by the greatest minds in history
3 - Some may argue... - Bible is full of contradiction... - What contradictions???? - I don t believe cause it s out of date... - Which part.. be specific!! People don t argue the Bible because of it s veracity...! but because it cuts to the very heart of their condition Do you want a strong family? Do you want a marriage that is going to make it to the finish line? Do you want kids that will rise up and call you blessed? We all want this but few are getting cause their FOUNDATION is wrong [ Matthew 7.24-27 NKJV ] 24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:! Another word for Rock is TRUTH 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. Two Kinds of Families - A Family building on TRUTH (Rock) - A family building on... - Lies / Neglect / Apathy... not TRUTH
4 - Building on SAND is attractive cause it s Fast... - No anchoring / Easier!!! / Less WORK required - Building on ROCK requires attention... - Lots of TIME / must Drill Deep / Build carefully / Difficult!!! Until a major storm hits... both house look the same!! - Verse 25 & 27 look the same... - Two different families!! Many different storms hit families... (Small & big) - Health crisis - Tragic loss of someone close - Major sudden financial reversal - Or rebellion of son or daughter who breaks your heart! Not until the storms hit do we see what we built on...!!!!!!! TRUTH or otherwise!!!!! When a family collapses... it is the most painful 3 Main Points... 1. Building Family on Truth Requires DILIGENCE (2) Diligence to Avoid Foolish Issues [ 2 Timothy 2.14 NLT ] 14 Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
5 - Remind everyone about these things... - In other words Serious Business - in God s presence... - Idea here is we re not alone. God is with us & wants us to hear - Command them... Stop fighting over words... - War of words - Having to have the last word... lobbing the last grenade - Fighting over SILLY WORTHLESS things! Instead lets chose words of TRUTH - That Build & Guide & Establish foundation for our families! - If we fail in this... can ruin those who hear them. Diligence To Prioritize the Word of Truth [ 2 Timothy 2.15 NLT ] Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.! - Work hard - Be Diligent (NKJV) - Study (KJV)!!!! All mean Make Hast... it s word for today!!!!! -present yourself to God and receive his approval. - God knows how we handle the Bible
6 - Are we digging into it or digging it out of dust - Don t use it to beat down or win argument... use it RIGHT!! -Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed - Truth be know... a lot of people are ashamed of what they know of the Bible... - How much do you know about your cell phone? - Follow things in newspaper or TV - Sports??? - DON T Be ASHAMED! - who correctly explains the word of truth - Rightly dividing the word of truth - We need to cut it straight for our family - Dating or marriage - Do not be bound together to unbelievers (2 Cor 6.14) - Entertainment - Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely... dwell on these things (Phi 4.8) - Marriage (Looking for way out) - What ever God has joined together, let no man separate - Maybe tempted to compromise truth on Tithing. withholding or not necessary - But seek ye first His kingdom of righteousness and all these things shall be added to you (Matt 6.33) 2. Building on Truth Requires Correction! If I do what you say Terry... there is going to be CONFLICT!!!!!!! There are times this can t be avoided!!! (Difference between Peace Maker & Peace Keeper )!
7 Gentleness Amid Opposition! [ 2 Timothy 2.24-25 NLT ] 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people s hearts, and they will learn the truth.! A decision to Diligently pursue Truth on your home will bring Opposition! - Words are SO IMPORTANT... Gently instruct those who oppose the truth Be Gentle Amid...! Opposition of MISUNDERSTANDING - Some family members will think you ve gone off deep end with Bible - Accused of being Harsh no matter how loving... - Hey your e not exactly perfect yourself! Opposition of TIREDNESS - Constant teaching & training kids in truth - Amid tired and correction you will get tired...! Opposition of Emotional Distance - Teenagers will call you uncool & unloving - They won t see for many years the value of Truth!!!! - DON T DRAW BACK... - No matter how hurtful words.. - Rolling of eyes... - Do what s right EVEN if it sets off war... STICK WITH IT!!!!!! BUT REMAIN GENTLE IN IT ALL...
8 Standing Where It s Hardest You may be saying... I ve been standing only on the big stuff!! You re not standing for the truth unless you re standing at that specific! point where the truth is being resisted If I profess, with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition, every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity. Where the battle rages the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle-field besides is mere flight and disgrace to him if he flinches at that one point. - You can be standing for Truth in 15 different places, but if you are conceding at the very point of opposition, you are building your home on sand... not the Truth!! - It only takes one leak to create a flood of compromise...!!!!!!! Don t Compromise the Truth!!!! Where is the point of opposition to your marriage? Kids? Home?!! Where is the battle raging?... STAND FIRM AT THAT PLACE But WHY?????! Why stand on Truth? Why go through such hardship?! Because... Only when we are standing in Truth...!!!!!! we are partnering with God
9 [ 2 Timothy 2.25 NLT ] 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people s hearts, and they will learn the truth.! You say... I want my Marriage to change...!!! I want my Kids to change...!!! I want my Parents to change...!!! I want to reach my brother for Jesus...! When you yield to Truth you re are in Partnership with God! It s amazing... True repentance on OUR part...!! can help in leading others to Jesus Finally... (Jimmy) 3. Building Your Family on Truth Requires!!!!!!!! Relationship! Relationship with the Learner - God gave us rules but He call us to Relationship with Him - Jesus had very close relationships!!! [ 2 Timothy 3.14 NLT ] 14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.! - Timothy s Grand mother, Mother, Paul
10 What matters most is NOT HOW or WHY...!! It s WHO did the teaching, that is paramount! Quote by Josh McDowell: Rules without relationships lead to rebellion - It s not the Pastor s job to teach your kids God s Word... - Not the Sunday School Teacher s job... - Not the Youth Pastor s job... - It s the PARENTS job!!!!!!! Loving, meaningful relationship!! Parents... if you are getting this done... let me encourage you!!!! The Blessing will bring them back!!!!! Relationship with the Author At the end of the day... It s all about Jesus!!!! - We don t worship the Bible. - Bible is the TRUTH about GOD!!!!!!!!! It s the Person in the Book!!!
11 PRAY! That s the enemy wanting us to quite the fight.!!! Lay down our spiritual weapons and surrender.! Do you want Prayer to strength in following through?!!!!!!!! Come forward!!!!! ( Handout Building Strong Families Ten Ways )