Path to fulfilment in the family – Part 2

But it is not all doom and gloom for those families that have made mistakes in the decisions they took or are under the butt of satanic attacks and activities. The Lord has made provision for such families to exit their problems, whatever they may be. Breakthrough starts when the right steps of repentance and restitution prescribed by the Lord are taken by the family.

An instance in the Bible best illustrates this fact. King Abimelech had snatched another man’s wife and thus brought untold burden of bondage and hardship, pain and suffering upon himself and his family. “For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.” The burdens of problem, oppression, barrenness, calamity, sickness, challenges, difficulties and heartaches had come to his family in torrents. But the Lord prescribed that the way out was the way of repentance and restitution. God expressly commanded King Abimelech to “restore the man his wife” before his family could enjoy breakthrough. Some people today hop from one prayer house to another, in search of breakthrough for their families. But the solution lies in simple obedience to the commands of God, as Abimelech was directed to do.

Taking Abraham’s wife had brought barrenness, calamity, sickness, oppression and heavy yoke upon Abimelech’s family. The beginning of breakthrough in a family is when items of idolatry that were brought into the family are thrown out; when all the garments and instruments of secret cults and occultism that were brought into the family are thrown out; when all the maids that have familiar spirits are sent back to where they came from; when relationships with strange men that have married other people’s wives, and strange women that have become second wives, are broken; when sinful things are got rid of; when cases of bribery and corruption are dealt with and taken away; when stolen items are restored to their owners; when there is change of heart concerning divorcing the rightful wife because the Lord hates divorce. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

In our present world or quick and insincere rationalisation, these are not easy things to do, especially as people now believe they can continue to live in sin, evil and wickedness, and at the same time, continue to claim to serve God. If there is any offence in the family, there must be forgiveness. This comes when Jesus is deliberately invited into the home through the decision to change the course of their lives and get rid of sin, backsliding, bitterness, anger and evil speaking in the family.

Blessedness in the family starts when every member goes to the Lord to ask for and receive forgiveness of sins; when after the new birth experience, couples begin to repose their trust and confidence in the Lord, instead of man or idols or any other power; when they disassociate themselves from liars that divide families; when they make the Lord their strength.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful … he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The family that wants to experience beatitudes or blessedness must remain undefiled in the way. When there is willingness to live righteously, when Christ is allowed to rule and reign, when there is a decision to live according to the word of the Lord, the family will be blessed on earth, and there will be that opportunity for members of that family to get to heaven at the end of life.

Further Reading (King James Version): Psalm 128:1-6; 144:11-15. Genesis 20:7,18,7-9,14; 21:9-14; Matthew 1:19,20; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:3-6; Romans 7:2,3; Matthew 18:21,22; Ephesians 4:31; Matthew 5:3-12; Psalm 32:1; 40:4; 84:5,7,12; 1:1-3; 119:1-3; 128:1-3; 112:1-8.