04/04/11

Leave family for Christ?

Luke 18:29,30 - And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.


Yesterday there was a sister in Church who testified when she came into Christ how she was given a choice by her father to have a share in his property or choose to follow Christ. She chose the latter and today God has blessed her with her own property.

In today's scripture the Lord is asking us if our family is more important than Him? Unless we do not put Him at the head of all things including our family members, our father, mother, brothers, sisters, wife, husband, children, kin and friends, we will not have great blessings in the Kingdom of God in Heaven.

That also means we do not really need to physical or permanently disconnect all relations with our family. If we see scriptures even though Peter followed Jesus, he did have relationship with his family including his in laws, the same with the other disciples.

Our hearts or inner-man is the Temple in which God dwells and this only happens if God is seated in the Holy of Holies of our inner-man or soul. What does that really mean?

Like I told you our inner-man has 5 parts and one of the parts in the Throne area which in simple terms means our will area (top on our desire list). It is only when God is top on our will then we will have the glory of God present in our Temples. So whenever we say the Lord is in us we need to also confirm that the Lord seated on the Throne of our hearts.

There is also a dark side to this coin because many Church leaders foolishly advice many members to leave their jobs and join as full time ministry members leaving their family to fend for themselves.

All are not called to do this. If we read in the Bible many among the Apostles had families and like Paul they did continue their business even though they were diligently doing God's work. If God has given us the grace to do His work, as well as be mediums for providing for our family, then we should not reject it and burden ourselves to our congregations.

Understand the most difficult place to testify Christ is in our own families and the place where we work, for people 'know us' and thus judge us by what they see outwardly. Even for Jesus this was the most difficult area. So people, who misquote this scripture, are those who try to wash their hands of the responsibility which God has given them or are escaping from the challenge.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are God and we love You with all our hearts. Be seated Lord on the Throne of our hearts. Let You be the most important purpose of our lives. By your Spirit guide each one of us so that we do not lose any soul You have given us nor lose our blessings in Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripturesr ]
Matthew 8:14
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Acts 8:5-8
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 21:8-9
8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

1 Timothy 3:1-12
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

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