RISE 2023 | Empower the Family

Today is the last message in the RISE series. Today towards the end of the message I am going to tie it all together with the life of Joseph. (so we are concluding 2 message series today)

I am so excited to see how God is working. Not in our church alone, but truly God is at work globally. I believe this with all of my heart - the time is drawing so close to the return of Christ that we are no longer on Rapture watch - we have moved to Rapture Warning.

Let’s go through our Letter

R - Reach Others (are you)

I - Involve More (get in there)

S - Serve the Community (we can)

E - Empower the Family. (total)

Today- the last of the encouraging thoughts for as a believer, as a church, and as we seek to move forward with God in 2023.

I need not tell you that one of the primary areas satan attacks is the family -

The Home - by attacking the biblical values of family.

The Church (a family) - by attacking first in the home, then in the community, then in the church itself.

Years ago things that are issue today, were not issues (satan does not change things quickly) think back

There were never ballgames or practice on Sunday’s - There were limited activities on Sunday. I played baseball, ran track, was in the boy-scouts and they would have never dreamed of holding practice or meetings on a Sunday. But we all know how things are going now.

Today - we aren’t going to focus on the wrong - I want us to hear with our hearts and focus on what makes us different.

You’ll see that as believers we have some pretty clear orders to keep things in the family (home/church) running smoothly.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 CSB

6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

For all of the family - It starts with one decision. It is a big one too. Because you cannot

Joshua 24:15 CSB

15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”

The path of our family at home and here at church hangs in the balance of whom we decide to follow, and if we will do so with all of our hearts.

I pray today that you are able to say - “As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord”

I don’t know what your particular family experience has been, and I cannot possibly speak to every unique situation. But I will say - that I am aware that not everyone has had the best experience with family. Some have been abandoned, left hurt, and family, to you is not something very positive to talk about. However - I want you to transition your thinking. Where earthly fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers fail - we can share in the love of a Father that has never-ending love for all of his children, and when we come to him in salvation - we are adopted into his family and are given the right to be called the sons and daughters of God.

There for the Family.

A important aspect is to just be there.

When you are there - be present. put down the screens.

Plan family time - make it a priority.

This goes for home and the church family. Don’t give up on gather with the church family every week. Hebrews 10:25

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Practical Idea: Plan one night a week to just be with your family. A game night, out to dinner, some bonding activity. This does not have to be “born family” - you can make plans with your church family too, not everyone has family near them - but in Christ we are family. Get a group together and go make memories together.

The Brother / Sister Bond

You may remember a time when in the church we called each other - brother and sister. Some still do this. It’s a reminder that we are family - purchased with Christ’s blood (bought into the family) of God.

Let me enter this by saying - there are NO perfect families, and there are NO perfect churches. There are NO perfect people. There are only people, both in our home families and in the church family that have been through some stuff and need one another to make it!

How many have a sibling? If yes - you already know that everything is always peachy keen. There are never any arguments. (LOL)

No you already know. There is bickering, and all kinds of little rifts. But at the end of the day - WE ARE STILL BROTHER AND SISTER.

This is the idea of scripture. We strive to live at peace with all people - but in every family there will be situations, and times of arguing -

it doesn’t mean we don’t love each other - it means we are brother and sister. HOWEVER.

We cannot be like the cancel culture of the world and when things get difficult we just fold up, toss our lolly in the dirt and quit.

God’s design for family is to last. His eternal kingdom is the example of our earthly kingdom. I am not talking about going through abuse, or even infidelity. I am talking about those that have a divorce lawyer on speed dial. We give up on each other way too fast. Imagine if God had the same longsuffering that some of us exhibit.

We are called the family of God - but repeat this with me. (AND IT’S TRUE AT HOME TOO)

Psalm 133:1 CSB

1 How delightfully good when brothers live together in harmony!

UNITY IS NOT EASY !

BUT UNITY PLESES GOD AND IT TAKES WORK.

I am glad to see the choir back. We are working on Easter, Black History Sunday, Missions Sunday, and a few other events - But I am hear to tell you. I have a problem and Jamie can attest to this. I cannot just hear Harmony. Some people can just hear it and sing it. It frustrates me. We spend A LOT of time in choir working on HARMONY so that all the parts sound beautiful together. It takes work, but it’s worth it! The same is true within our families. To live in harmony takes work, it takes a conscious effort on the part of all in the family - the end result is worth it.

That’s why - We are brothers & sisters. We love each other through it all. No matter what! We have to know that no matter what (husband,wife, kids, church, etc) we may go through some stuff - but we will weather the storm, love each other, and commit to harmony.

-look beside you and say - unity & harmony take work. Let’s clock in.

PRACTICAL IDEAS:

Say “I Love You” - it matters.

Talk, Talk, and Talk - commit to time.

Demonstrate Commitment.

Demonstrate Faithfulness.

Seek to resolve issues, and commit to not being a cemetery fighter.

Do not bring up past events

Do not attack the person

Be the first to apologize.

Understand that it’s almost always spiritual battles that we are fighting.

Understand the people just have bad days - love them through it.

Family Helps

Galatians 6:2 CSB

2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Well then - what is the Law of Christ?

Mark 12:28–31 CSB

28 One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

We fulfill the Law of Christ in this way.

Profess and Know that God is God and God is One. Over all.

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, strength.

Love your neighbor (as yourself)

There is no greater command.

By helping bear the burdens of our family we fulfill the law of Christ (home and church)

But let’s get practical.

You cannot get help until you acknowledge the need for help.

We can’t pray for you, and do what we can do to help each other until you share your burden.

One of the hardest things to do in a society with impossibly high standards placed on the outward apperance is to admit that we ned help, prayer, and someone to just love on us.

Give Example of Fire. I know tired of hearing about it - but this was a very traumatic event for us. Our church family helped carry us through. What a great example of family and love.

There are those in the room today going through traumatic situations, depressions, anxiety, stress, wondering when it will all end, wondering if they will make it at home. - It is the church family that needs to step up and love them through.

Look Beside you and say - I’m loving you through it!

Practical Ideas:

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Share you heart, and let others share your burden.

Know that you have a church family that loves you, wants the best for you, and is here to support you.

Call Satan the liar that he is. He will tell you no one cares, and to give up. Put him in his place.

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Celebrate Family

Family is a big deal. God instituted the family. God uses the family. God adopts us into His family. Family is a BIG DEAL!

We need to celebrate family - both at home and at church.

2 Corinthians 6:18 CSB

18 And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.

At home:

make a big deal out of accomplishments.

openly love on each other

compliment each other often

pray together

have family devotion time

spend time together

do check -ins - high & low points

Set aside a period of time for NO screens. (tv, phones, etc)

Be there!

At church:

see above!

and - set an example of making worship together at church a priority. Be Here! Bring the family.

Don’t allow things to get in the way.

Church on Sunday is a Saturday Decision.

So Pastor - you’ve talked a lot but how does this EMPOWER THE FAMILY.

I’m glad you ask. Watch this.

1. Choose Whom You will Serve.

2. Commit to Unity & Harmony

3. Commit to Helping the Family

4. Celebrate the Family Often.

5. Make Family (home and church)

Put these together and I promise you will have an empowered family. Both at home and here within the church.

DOING MORE:

There is a card with a link to RIGHTNOW Media where you and your family can find a ton of video driven family devotions, as well as devotions for everyone in the family. They are worth the time. (find the card in your bulletin.)

We will be looking to have FAMILY DAY this year - think of it has a super powered family reunion -

We will be offering on-site classes soon, for parents to bond, grow closer, and learn together about God-Centered parenting.

KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR THESE EVENTS AND GROUPS - BE A PART.

Salvation intro.