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Overcoming Family Challenges (Part 2) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Overcoming Family Challenges (Part 1) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: Overcoming Family Challenges (Part 2)
Dear Reader,
I welcome you once again to this expository teaching on Family Life. I know that you are already successfully overcoming the challenges in your family by putting the remedies learnt in the last editions to proper use. However, this week, I shall be teaching on another challenge and its remedy.
The Bible says, And the LORD God planted a GARDEN eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed (Genesis 2:8). A garden stands for pleasure, abundance and fulfillment. Marriage and family is a type of garden, planted by God Himself for your pleasure, abundance and fulfillment. This garden, however, is not ordinary; the Word of God makes us understand that it is full of treasures which are valued objects. These valued objects have one way or the other been lost to improper handling of challenges in the family. But these treasures of peace, joy, fulfillment and satisfaction can be restored back to your family if only you can assume the responsibility of locating and handling the root cause of what destroyed it.
No matter how long you have been married and how rough the journey has been, you can still lay hold on God’s treasure in your family and give God a chance to use it to show forth His glory this end-time. And so shall it be in Jesus’ Name! The Bible says, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20). A man doesn’t have to be foolish in himself to be destroyed. All he needs to do is walk with the foolish and soon, the folly of his friend rubs off on him and he is destroyed the same way a foolish man would. Walking with a foolish man is as bad as being foolish. It is clear from the above Scripture that the company a man keeps can either make or destroy him. The company you keep either makes or mars you, it doesn’t leave you the same. A wise man once said, ‘You will remain what you are today in five years’ time, except for the books you read and the company you keep’.
Another major cause of problems in some families today is:
Wrong Association
Family members keep the wrong company, receiving counsel from people that stir up trouble perpetually in their homes. I believe strongly in an adage that says, Show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are. It has a scriptural antecedent. Amos 3:3 says, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Your friend is a reflection of you. A wrong association will affect you negatively. It will make you do things that you may ordinarily never do on your own. You must detach yourself from any child of Belial. Anyone that constantly provokes your spirit and gives you wrong counsel against your spouse or family’s wellbeing will destroy your family. The Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Evil association corrupts good manners.
The story of Amnon and his subtle friend Jonadab is a good example (2 Samuel 13:1-34). My husband believes that every wrong friend you keep is your enemy. Amnon paid for it with his life. After his death, Jonadab, the same ‘friend’ who gave him wrong counsel was the one who announced his death.
Remedy
The Bible says, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3) Agreement should be the basis for any association. Only agreeable people can relate profitably with one another. Also, separate yourself from wrong friends. Who is your wife’s friend? Who is your husband’s friend? Who are your children’s friends? You have no business associating with anyone that brings tension to your family. Stop that association before it stops you! Receive grace to dissociate yourself from evil company, in Jesus’ name.
Remember, Abraham had to separate from Lot before he could enter into the great things God had prepared for him. The Word of God says, Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left (Genesis 13:9).
There is a need to be selective in your association. Select your friends in wisdom, as friendship is not by force but by choice. Even Jesus warns us to beware of men (Matthew 10:17).
You need the grace to be able to cut off from every relationship posing a challenge to your family. This grace is only available to you if you embrace God by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you want to be born again, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
