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| − | <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''May's''' featured article</h3> | + | <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''August's''' featured article</h3> |
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| − | ====Deliverance from Family Curses: ==== | + | ====Do not lie to each other. ==== |
| − | <p><strong>Breaking family curses </strong></p>
| + | You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before. You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you ''(Colossians 3:9-10). |
| − | <p>What are family curses? </p>
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| − | <p>By family curses here we, in Christianity, mean curses that come through serious family conflicts. The topic has nothing to do with generational curses. By severe family conflicts we mean conflicts that result in unpleasant words being pronounced against a family member and both or one of them holding bitterness against another. </p>
| + | ''So you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body'' (Ephesians 4:25). |
| − | <p>Severe family conflicts without any reconciliation result in distressing experiences among those not willing to settle scores. The trauma that results may be spiritual, social, physical, material or any combination. This may seem like a contradiction after confirming that undeserved curses are powerless. However the area of family politics seems to be a biblical exception. </p>
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| − | <p>There is something about family issues, especially between parents and children. Family politics can make or break the course of the lives of children. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise—‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth,'” Ephesians 6:1-3. </p>
| + | ''Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One'' (Matthew 5:37). |
| − | <p> Notice that the commandment has a promise—“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” The promise is hindered or goes unfulfilled when serious conflicts come in between the parent(s) and a child. </p>
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| − | <p>The passage that follows talks about parents' input to their children. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” Ephesians 6:4. </p>
| + | ''Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you ''(James 5:16). |
| − | <p>From here we realize that it's a two way street. If parents treat their children well the children are likely to treat them with honor. There is no single formula of ensuring a two way healthy relationship but it can take so much work, prayer, occasional mistakes, differences, breaking and making up. In the final outcome making up must win to ensure that it “may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” </p>
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| − | <p>Parents have immense biblical authority to influence the destiny of their children for better or for worse. Their words are not mere words. They carry with them the power to bless or to curse -socially, spiritually, materially or physically. Children don't have this privilege over their parents. Their words are mere words. Their privilege lies in continuing the family lineage </p>
| + | If things weren't already strange enough in today's society, now some people want to abolish honesty. One noted physician, for example, appeared on a network news-and-talk show and proclaimed, "Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems." Is the saying "Honesty is the best policy becoming obsolete? |
| − | <p>In case a parent uttered cursing words against you or someone you love and channels of reconciliation are still closed please continue praying for God to open them up. It may require sessions of prayer and fasting for God to break the spiritual strongholds over emotions, memories and thoughts that are blocking the way. Like any relationship there is no single formula to reaching a breakthrough. Entrusting it to God will enable him to work in their hearts and minds. </p>
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| − | <p>He may also create matters and events that can facilitate healing and reconciliation. There is no requirement to bind and loose demons in any way. Some resort to binding and loosing spirits they categorize as spirits of division, spirits of unforgiveness, spirits of rebellion, spirits of disrespect, spirits of divorce and so on. It ends up being a ritual of inviting more demonic attacks. </p>
| + | Two surveys taken recently may indicate that many people think it is. A USA Today poll found that only 56 percent of Americans teach honesty to their children. It looks like it's time for those of us who live by God's standard to recommit ourselves to honesty. |
| − | <p>The bottom line is that you or anyone you're burdened for would like to close any doors that may provide legal access for problems that come through parent-child conflicts. But you need to follow prescriptions that are in line with scripture, regardless of the urgency. No short-cuts to deliverance, unless endorsed by the bible. Commit more days of prayer and fasting if possible. Fasting brings amazing breakthroughs. Walk in love, mercy, charity, read more on biblical deliverance on family matters, etc. </p>
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| − | <p>Any one in courtship with someone who has scores to settle with parents is better off waiting and praying for the conflict to be settled before getting into a marriage. Without the conflict settled you could have a rough road ahead. Consolidating such areas is an asset for a strong foundation against life's storms. </p>
| + | '''I. WHO WE DECEIVE: ''' |
| − | <p>Another area that can bring family related curses is when one side of parents refuse to approve a marriage partner of their child. For example some multiracial relationships end up in major problems and eventual separation not because of supposed cultural differences. Many of us have more than one racial descent, however long ago, so at least no one has room to assume there's any bias against interracial relationships. The bias is against parental bullying to the extent of disregarding personal interests of the children. </p>
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| − | <p>Many of the major problems in multiracial relationships, if they arise, come from one or both sides of the marriage not approving the relationship. These lead to words said directly or in the absence of the children that curse the relationship. Tensions grow from the parent(s) disapproving with a determination to see the relationship fail. For such reasons I wish God never gave parents such influence that can bless or curse their children. But he is God. We will some day know why he has made this set-up, giving our parents some god-like powers. </p>
| + | A. Self |
| − | <p>In a non-racial or ethnic example a minister and his fiancée went ahead and got married when the parents to his wife strongly disapproved. This is a man after God's heart, serving in front-line ministry. But even this could not help save their marriage when the parents continued their disapproval. To some extent he and his wife did not see it as a major area of concern and probably devoted less prayer to it. </p>
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| − | <p>For anyone already in a marriage with some form of family tension identify your area of prayer and let God fight your battles. Many couples have prevailed whether from a disapproved marriage or one partner having personal conflict with a parent. </p>
| + | • The Alcoholic says "One beer won't hurt me." |
| − | <p>God has now joined you together. Let no man or woman pull you apart because of some spiritual influence God gave them which they're misusing to curse instead of bless. But devote much prayer to it (and occasional fasting) so that reconciliation, healing and approval wins the day. </p>
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| − | <p>The following principles define the nature of family politics and how it needs to remain a work of team effort rather than one of personal interests: </p>
| + | • The Addict to pornography says, "If my spouse was only a better lover." |
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| | + | • The Adulterer says, "I NEED her/his love." |
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| | + | B. Others |
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| | + | An Associated Press poll found that almost half of the people regularly call in sick when they're not. Ninety-one percent of them say they lie regularly, at work and at home. In another poll, sixty-five percent of America's high school students say they would cheat on an important exam. Fifty-three percent said they would lie to protect a friend who vandalizes school property. |
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| | + | C. God |
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| | + | Of course, we can't actually deceive God, but we try to. It's amazing that we would try to lie to Someone who detects our every thought (Psalm 139:2) and even knows our motives and intentions better than we do (Jeremiah 17:9-10). |
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| | + | '''II. WHY WE DECEIVE: ''' |
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| | + | A. To Avoid Pain |
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| | + | In USA Today, Jerald Jellison says, "Each of us fibs at least 50 times a day. We lie about our age, our income, or our accomplishments. And we use lies to escape embarrassment. A common reason for "little white lies," we are told, is to protect someone else's feelings. yet in so doing, we are really protecting ourselves. According to Jellison, here are the most common fibs: "I wasn't feeling well." "I didn't want to hurt your feelings." "The check is in the mail." "I was just kidding." "I was only trying to help." |
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| | + | B. Out of Habit |
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| | + | A woman once said to a famous evangelist, "I'm deeply troubled over a problem that I know is hurting my testimony. It's the habit of exaggeration. I start to tell something, and then go on and enlarge the story until it's all distorted. People know that what I say is not true, and lose confidence in me. I wonder if you can help me?" The evangelist looked at her and said, "Let's talk to the Lord about it." She prayed, "O God, Thou knowest that I have this tendency to exaggerate -" At this point the evangelist interrupted, "Call it lying, Madam, and you may get over it!" The woman began to weep and finally made a fully confession of her evil habit. |
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| | + | C. For a Higher Good. |
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| | + | • Corrie Ten Boom deceived the Nazis about hiding Jews. |
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| | + | • Rahab the Harlot deceived her people about the Israelite spies (Joshua 2:1-6; James 2:25). |
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| | + | • An undercover drug agent uses a false ID to gain information. |
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| | + | • The Hebrew midwives deceived Pharaoh to save the life of Hebrew babies (Exodus 1:15-21). |
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| | + | '''III. HONESTY IS COMMANDED WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST: ''' |
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| | + | ''Do not lie to each other'' (Colossians 3:9). |
| | + | A traffic cop flagged down a young driver, got his name, then snarled, "Oh, so you're a preacher, hey? Now don't go telling me you didn't see that stop sign." |
| | + | The honest pastor said, "Oh, to be sure I say the sign, officer. The point is - I didn't see you." Now that's truthfulness! |
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| | + | Dr. Alan Redpath, former pastor of Moody Memorial Church, tells of the time his father, after a brief period of tension in the home, looked across the table at his wife and said, "I'm so sorry I spoke to you the way I did. I'm ashamed of myself." Dr. Redpath said that although at the time he was not a Christian, he went to his room after the meal, knelt, and prayed, "O God, I thank you for a father like that. Make me more like him." |
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| | + | '''IV. WHY SHOULD WE BE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL?''' |
| | + | A. God is truthful in all He says (Number 23:19) and you are becoming like the One who made you (2 Corinthians 3:18). |
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| | + | B. We are family and part of the same body. -- Working together '''cannot''' be done in distrust (Ephesians 4:15,25). |
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| | + | C. Satan is the Father of lies (John 8:44). |
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| | + | D. Honesty is necessary for our healing (James 5:15).es, for encouragement for the fulfillment of this Promise from |
