dobrafamilyministry

Household Prayer: Graduation and Commencement

“For [you] are His workmanship” (Eph. 2:10) And because you are God’s workmanship you know you were created with purpose for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14)

Brothers, Praise God! We have graduated our first! All by God’s grace, all for His glory. This school season has come to a close, mostly, for us. Praying for you all. I’ll try and host a prayer meeting as soon as the graduation parties slow down. Blessings this beautiful Lords day!

Classical Conversations homeschool community at Bethany class of 2024 Graduation

1 The moment: Commencement

Welcome Classical Conversations homeschool community at Bethany class of 2024.

If I had no time constraints I would encourage you all night, not to give you another lecture, although I’m sure it would feel like it, but because I love you all and am so proud and encouraged by the men and women you have become.

This is your commencement. What has been has come to an end, and you are commencing upon a new beginning.

Up to this point your parents have protected, nurtured, educated and shaped you. Preparing you to hit the target.

You are a gift of the LORD to your parents. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, Psalm 127 says.

An arrow is an instrument of purpose, and so are each one of you.

Your parents have been preparing you physically, spiritually, and through your education for the purpose God has prepared for you, “For [you] are His workmanship” (Eph. 2:10)

Now, like arrows from a bow, you are being loosed to commence upon the good works God has prepared for each one of you.

And because you are God’s workmanship you know you were created with purpose for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14)

2 Knowing the times: the war of ideas (1 chronicles 12:32 know the times, son’s of Issachar)

You are commencing on this pilgrimage at a time when our culture has turned away from God.

We live in a postmodern, post- christian culture that has rejected the concept of truth.

Truth is now whatever each individual decides it is, reality has no meaning, each individual’s feelings define reality, and there is no standard for morality.

Without the controlling spirit of truth, all morality is becoming relative and subjective, therefore law becomes arbitrary, which leads to chaos and destruction.

Today our culture professes to be wise, but “they became fools…”

So God has given them “over to an unfit mind…” (Romans 1:21-25, 28-32)

Yes, the sins of the culture today are the same as yesterday, the same as in the garden of Eden, the same as in Sodom, and the same as in Rome during the Apostle Paul’s day.

However, do not walk like many do.

Many people choose apathy and complacency.

Many others choose hopelessness and despair.

But… they have forgotten there is some good news here…

”… God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…“ Ephesians 2:4-10

And that is Good news!

Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Because of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection we can know that sin has no hold over us.

3 How then shall we live?

How then shall you commence?

The eight of you have been prepared for this. You Know God, and now it’s your turn to make Him known.

Jesus is victorious and will return to judge the living and the dead! And you should live like it.

What this world needs is God’s truth and the hope of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. Let your words and life point a lost world to Him.

Life is an amazing mission from God. Many people live only for the pleasures of this temporary world, My prayer for you graduates as you are loosed into to world is that you will live for eternal glory in Jesus Christ.

Walk in the good works which God has prepared for you to walk in.

How about we commence with a little latin word study?

Words have power and I know you all love latin. The word enchant comes from the latin word encantio, which means “to speak meaning into,”

Like Adam naming the animals in the garden for instance.

Or God speaking the creation into existence!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-5,9-10,14

Jesus is the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us!

If God’s people are not reenchanting this fallen world with God’s truth and grace, then it is being disenchanted with the lies of Satan!

Use your words to proclaim the excellencies of God (1 Peter 2:9). To share His truth and the good news of His salvation to all creation in everything you do (Mark 16:15, Romans 10:14-15).

The word muse comes from the latin musus, which is thinking, to think deeply. “to become absorbed in thought especially… to think about something carefully and thoroughly”

To amuse is the opposite, it is unthinking. “to divert the attention… so as to deceive”

Once you commence there are many unthinking distractions to amuse you away from your purpose.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were created with purpose.

Be full of joy, full of fellowship, but resist the temptation to be amused into complacency.

Do what’s right, not what’s cool.

Do what builds up and produces, not what tears down and consumes.

Find ways to produce, contribute, and serve your household, church, and community.

If you know God’s word, you know His will for you. Love God and love your neighbor.

I see in every one of you the capacity to share truth, hope, and love in the world.

By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), commence subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying – in marriage – (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20).

What ever path you take and what ever you do, do it “as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Reenchant this world with God’s truth and grace speaking into every sphere of life (Psalm 102:15, Philippians 2:10-11) – Amen and God’s speed.

THE GOOD NEWS

There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.

We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV

Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV

But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV

““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV

We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV

There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV

It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV

Household Prayer: Household Enterprise

”Then he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then he gave him a tenth of all.“ Genesis 14:19-20 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/gen.14.19-20.LSB

Brothers, I read an article about running a business (and household) as a prophet, priest, and king drawn from Gen. 14. Read that chapter and meditate on the household enterprise Abraham led. I pray we can lead our households well (1 Tim. 3:2-12). I pray we walk by faith in obedience and that God would establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17) in our household enterprises to raise Godly offspring (Malachi 2:15) and to proclaim God’s glory to the ends of the earth! (Mark 16:15)

”So Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, and he led out his trained men, born in his house, 318 in number, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his men against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. And he brought back all the possessions, and he also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions and also the women and the people.“ Genesis 14:14-16 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/gen.14.14-16.LSB

”An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach… leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)… Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, leading their children and their own households well.“ 1 Timothy 3:2, 4-5, 12 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1ti.3.2-12.LSB

”Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And establish for us the work of our hands; Establish the work of our hands.“ Psalm 90:17 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.90.17.LSB

”Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.“ Malachi 2:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mal.2.15.ESV

”And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.“ Mark 16:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/mrk.16.15.LSB

Household

In Latin domus, Greek oikos; oikos, the root of “economic,” refers to the household.

“For Aristotle, the household is a family understood as a community of daily life. The family, the Church, and civil society are true societies. They have a real metaphysical standing because they are intrinsic to the human condition… a community woven together by common actions toward common ends… husbands and fathers face a dramatic and pressing need to develop habits that reinvigorate the life of the household. Men need to think about how to orient their families around common projects and enterprises.” https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/11/reclaiming-the-household

Household Prayer: gardens, working, keeping, protecting

”… I had men stand in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I had the people stand by families with their swords, spears, and bows. Then I saw their fear. And I arose and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “Do not fear them; remember the Lord who is great and fearsome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”“ Nehemiah 4:13-14 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/neh.4.13-14.LSB

Brothers, I’ve been out of commission for a bit. How is it April already? Makes me think of the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15) and 4/19/1775 at Lexington and Concord (Gen. 14, Neh. 4). I also do a family safety stand down. I pray we are preparing our gardens, working and keeping, cultivating and protecting (Gen. 2:15).

”Then Yahweh God took the man and set him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.“ Genesis 2:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/gen.2.15.LSB

”So Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, and he led out his trained men, born in his house, 318 in number, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.“ Genesis 14:14 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/gen.14.14.LSB

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World: Pastor Jonas Clark and Lexington’s Law of Liberty

“This day, April 19, should be forever marked in the American mind as the day a few Americans stood their ground, refusing to surrender their God-given rights in the face of British tyranny… Many of the militiamen were members of Pastor Jonas Clark’s church. Clark stood close by on the road, along with forty to one hundred spectators, watching the events that morning as church member Captain John Parker (for whom the Minuteman Statue was dedicated in 1900 at the 125th anniversary) modeled the principles he had been taught from the Scriptures. Captain John Parker of the Lexington militia was a deacon in Pastor Clark’s church. In addition to being a believer submitted to the Bible, his militia was under the Continental Congress. The Americans were not rebels, for the vast majority of those who resisted British tyranny had been taught the Biblical doctrine of interposition by their pastors. Simply put, it meant the only lawful way to resist tyranny is to do so under duly constituted authority. They understood that direct resistance is rebellion and had been taught that only a defensive war in a just cause can be blessed by God. That is why Parker’s orders, engraved on the Lexington militia line marker, are so significant: Stand your ground, don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here. After Revere alerted Hancock and Adams at Pastor Clark’s home that the British regulars were coming, Clark was asked, “Are your men ready?” He replied, “I have trained them for twenty years for this hour.” … Jonas Clark taught from the Bible that true liberty was a result of covenanting with God under the rule of law-God’s law. Why is the “shot that was heard ’round the world” so important? It is important for Americans to remember that our War for Independence was both lawful and just. It was a defensive war fought in a lawful manner consistent with Biblical principles. It was not a rebellion nor was it lawless. Where did the many militia units get such teaching, and why would they adhere to such Biblical principles? It was taught almost universally by the “Black-Robed Regiment”-the patriotic pastors who led the Revolution behind the scenes as well as taking up arms themselves.” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

Rights

President John F. Kennedy in where human rights come from “ …the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe-the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution… proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. “ President John F. Kennedy, 1961 Inaugural Address, The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

”¶But You, O Yahweh, abide forever, And the remembrance of Your name from generation to generation… So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh And all the kings of the earth Your glory… “The children of Your slaves will dwell securely, And their seed will be established before You.”“ Psalm 102:12, 15, 28 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.102.12-28.LSB

Fear God, Make disciples, Protect your family!

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” Genesis‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“The right to life is a good example of what legal historians refer to as an objective right: it is objective in the sense that it exists outside ourselves and is unalienable… The right to life imposes obligations: you must do everything in your power to preserve it.”
#SlayingLeviathan https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan/

AMENDMENT II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
https://ministry.family.blog/america/second-amendment/

“Religion and liberty must flourish or fall together in America. We pray that both may be perpetual.” Pastor William Smith, Christ Church Philadelphia, 1775
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.” John Witherspoon, 1776
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“And if our religion is given up, all the liberty we boast of will soon be gone.” Samuel Langdon, 1788
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

Household Prayer: Saint Patrick’s example – proclaim the excellencies of God

”But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;“ 1 Peter 2:9 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1pe.2.9.LSB

Brothers, I’ve been meditating on 1 Peter 2:9. We find our identity, a chosen people, and our purpose, to proclaim the excellencies of God. I pray we proclaim God’s excellencies in our households and as Saint Patrick exhorts, I pray we “bear witness to his great wonders before every nation under heaven.”

“… I cannot be silent – nor would it be good to do so – about such great blessings and such a gift that the Lord so kindly bestowed in the land of my captivity. This is how we can repay such blessings, when our lives change and we come to know God, to praise and bear witness to his great wonders before every nation under heaven.” Saint Patrick https://www.confessio.ie/etexts/confessio_english#

“”St. Patrick: His Confession and Other Works” from Catholic Book Publishing gives the listener an excellent perspective on this beloved Saint, making him even more relevant for modern times. This book details two of the Saint’s written works: Confession and Letter to Coroticus, providing a deeper understanding of the Saint who converted Ireland. https://mycanonplus.com/tabs/search/audiobooks/6163

“Each local church plays a vital role in the great commission… How do we go forward as the people of God in 2024? As pastors, if our congregation is to function as a public witness for Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century, we must prepare our people for it. Our people must know the message of the gospel that we are to proclaim. They must be firmly committed to the means that God has given us to share the gospel, namely, the proclamation of his Word. And as pastors, we must seek to train and disciple leaders who will then go out and proclaim the gospel on the streets. To encourage public witness in the church, Spurgeon would do two things. First, he would make public evangelism [a] regular pray[er] in the life of the church. Second, he would actively encourage and development evangelists in his local church. We can do the same as we seek to be salt and light in this dark generation.“ Charles Spurgeon’s Public Evangelism (Part 1), https://founders.org/articles/charles-spurgeons-public-evangelism/

Household Prayer: the mission of marriage is greater than the Roman Empire

”Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.“ Ephesians 5:25-33 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/eph.5.25-33.LSB

Brothers, it’s the end of February and I’m praying for our marriages. We learn from Valentinus that the mission of marriage is greater than the Roman Empire. I pray we would be encouraged in the mission, that we would love our wive’s as Christ loved the church, that we would be students of the Scripture, and that we would not fall for the trap of Balaam (Number 22-23, Rev 2:14,16). I pray our marriages would be a reflection of the Gospel.

Marriage is greater than the Roman Empire (Valentinus 269 A.D). Creation starts with a marriage. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number” (Adam and Eve, Genesis 1:28) and ends with a marriage. ”Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”“ (Revelation 19:7 LSB).

Men Be Encouraged in the Mission

Your marriage is a reflection of the Gospel! (Eph 5:22-6:18). Love your wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her (5.25, 5:33a) and let each one of you love his wife as himself. Christ loved 100% in obedience to the Father!

You must be a student of the Scriptures! Lead your wife and children in the instruction of the Scriptures. Protect your families from the lies and falsehoods of the world. To lead in the instruction of the Scriptures and protect your families from worldly ideas and falsehoods, you must be a student of the Scriptures!

Men, don’t fall for the traps! Keep sexual purity with your wife. The same trap of Balaam to curse God’s people in Numbers 22-23 is set today. Temptation to sexual immorality destroys God’s people. To the church at Pergamum – ”But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality… Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.“ Revelation 2:14, 16

“A husband’s love for his wife should be efficacious… Notice that when Christ efficaciously loved His bride, His love transformed her. His love was also incarnational: Christ’s love for the Church was embodied in His willingness to die for her… as Paul says, “He that loveth his wife loveth himself” (Eph. 5:28)… when a husband really loves his wife, he will discover that as he gives these blessings to his wife, his wife consistently gives a bigger return. He shovels blessings on her, and then discovers that she has a much bigger shovel. He who loves his wife loves himself. She is always able to return more in blessing to him than he has given to her. Godly wives are multipliers. Husbands who love their wives in an incarnational way will consequently have the authority to speak at the dinner table, and they will find that people want to listen. If a husband is not doing this, everyone around him will check out, right after they roll their eyes. If you are not loving your wife efficaciously, any instruction or teaching you offer your family is going to bounce off their foreheads. And if you want to transform your family, then you must be willing to die—and you cannot do this on your own. You have to look to the Christ who died, in order to imitate Him, daily taking up your cross and following Him.” The Covenant Household by Douglas Wilson https://a.co/3Sz5qNn

Household Prayer: Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God https://ministry.family.blog/2024/02/15/household-prayer-resistance-to-tyrants-is-obedience-to-god/

The cosmic battle started early in creation and has continued since (Gen. 3:15). So I pray we understand the profound nature and purpose of our marriages and the armor needed to protect them (Eph. 5-6). https://ministry.family.blog/2024/02/03/household-prayer-marriage-and-the-cosmic-battle/

More about Saint Valentine: https://ministry.family.blog/2023/02/11/saint-valentine/

Household Prayer: Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God

”But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had spoken to them, but let the boys live… So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very mighty. Now it happened that because the midwives feared God, He made households for them.“ Exodus 1:17, 20-21 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/exo.1.17-21.LSB

Brothers, meditating on the midwives in Ex. 1:17-21. Also thinking about Valentinus’ defiance of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. I pray we have such love and affection for God that we would always choose Him over the authorities of this world. I pray we know God’s word and choose obedience to Him above all others. I pray we protect our families from the lies and falsehoods of this world and fill them with the truth of God!

Disciple the Nations

”And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.“ Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭LSB‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/3345/mrk.16.15.LSB

We have a duty to teach the nations God’s gospel, commands, laws, and principles (Grace and Truth). This would include informing the nations ( neighbors, civil authorities, etc…) when they are out of line with God’s will.

How do we know when we or the nations are outside of God’s will? When we disobey God’s commands, laws, and principles.

Share the truth in love, but share. They may respond to correction or opportunities may open for gospel conversations. Duty is ours, results are God’s. ”And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.“ Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ ‭LSB‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/3345/eph.5.11.LSB

“Soft days for [true] Christians are past, and only a strong view of Scripture is sufficient to withstand the pressure of an all-pervasive culture built upon relativism and relativistic thinking. We must remember that it is a strong view of the absolutes [absolute truths of scripture] which the infinite-personal God gave to the … church… which enabled the early church to withstand the pressure of the Roman Empire.” Francis A. Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster

More about Saint Valentine: https://ministry.family.blog/2023/02/11/saint-valentine/

Important resources

Really good conversation about A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants. We need to pray for our church leaders to re-learn these old and very costly won theologies. https://youtu.be/0cxGEjKbJn0?si=GDDORCCMkN6a7Yq_

A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/

The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella https://a.co/aVQzfiR

Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan

By What Standard? God’s World…God’s Rules https://press.founders.org/shop/by-what-standard-gods-world-gods-rules/

The Essential Church https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.aa4a63f3-44a5-499c-8846-06d00c6d0c56&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web
more here: https://essentialchurchmovie.com/

Household Prayer: Marriage and the cosmic battle

”Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.“ Ephesians 5:25-33 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/eph.5.25-33.LSB

Brothers, I’m praying for our marriages. I see the continued battle against God’s design for sex, marriage, and households. The cosmic battle started early in creation and has continued since (Gen. 3:15). So I pray we understand the profound nature and purpose of our marriages and the armor needed to protect them (Eph. 5-6). May we be faithful to our marriages and call to build Godly households.

We learn in Ephesians that “God now has a people in the world who belong uniquely to Him. In them His purpose of grace is being worked out, and through them He plans to effect His intention for the universe… The most comprehensive statement of the theme of Ephesians is this: the eternal purpose of God and the place of Christ and His people in that purpose.” https://press.founders.org/shop/fsgc-ephesians/

“The American Church Needs Repentance and Revival… Hibbs identified three symptoms of the American church’s malady: idolizing comfort, rejecting conviction, and avoiding personal responsibility… He urged Christians to exercise ‘personal responsibility,’ beginning ‘right there in your own home.’ … ‘I’m talking about living righteously as we have been commanded,’ said Hibbs. ‘What is it going to take for us to cry out?’” https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/the-american-church-needs-repentance-and-revival

“We who have had the gospel passed to us by martyr hands dare not trifle with it, nor sit by and hear it denied by traitors, who pretend to love it, but inwardly abhor every line of it. We have come to a turning point in the road. If we turn to the right, mayhap our children and our children’s children will go that way; but if we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and to his Word.” Charles Spurgeon in his sermon entitled “Holding Fast the Faith,” delivered in 1888. “Let these words from Charles Spurgeon embolden you to stand firm against the gathering forces of evil and darkness in America today. Don’t just admire dead men who were firm in the faith— aim to live and speak like them today. And who cares if they call us narrow-minded bigots, or even worse? Remember, as the always-quotable Spurgeon said elsewhere: ‘Oh, my brethren! bold-hearted men are always called mean-spirited by cowards.’” https://www.standingforfreedom.com/2023/10/here-is-the-day-for-the-man-where-is-the-man-for-the-day

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us… It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” President Abraham Lincoln, Proclamation 97, 1863, to establish a national day of ‘humiliation’ (repentance), fasting, and prayer.

This year, 2024, “The overarching message that pierced each prayer was that, in order to bring a lawless society back into some kind of order, God must be prioritized. He is the power behind protecting fathers, mothers, and children. He is the truth behind gender, marriage, and life. He is the conviction of what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, the Lord is our hope amid darkness, and our stronghold as we draw near to Him through prayer and repentance.” https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/2024-national-gathering-for-prayer-and-repentance-no-revival-comes-without-repentance

Household Prayer: February Devotional Topics

”And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”“ Matthew 19:4-6 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/mat.19.4-6.LSB

Brothers, I’ve been thinking about and praying for all of the opportunities for instructing and discipling our families in February. From Saint Valentine’s example: Pray for our marriages and households and their part of the war for the cosmos (Eph. 5:22-6:17). Pray that we have wisdom to discern when to resist tyrants in obedience to God (Exodus 1:15-22, Acts 4:18-20). And I pray we love our wive’s as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25). These three things I will focus family devotional time on in February. I pray God grants faith, knowledge, and wisdom to our children.

More about Saint Valentine: https://ministry.family.blog/2023/02/11/saint-valentine/

”But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had spoken to them, but let the boys live… So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very mighty. Now it happened that because the midwives feared God, He made households for them.“ Exodus 1:17, 20-21 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/exo.1.17-21.LSB

Household Prayer: Priorities, Goals, and Resolutions

”I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.“ 3 John 1:4 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/3jn.1.4.LSB

Brothers, meditating on 3 John 1:4 today. Praying that the number 1 priority in our households, churches, neighborhoods, and workplaces is that every member will know “the doctrines of the gospel, the life of Christ, and the great precepts of Scripture.” Praying for the wisdom and energy to bring God’s truth into every conversation possible (Deut. 6:7). Praying that every goal and resolution is founded on God, His truth, and His purpose for us!

Priority

“I hope no parent will allow their children to grow up and leave their roof without knowing the doctrines of the gospel, the life of Christ, and the great precepts of Scripture—without having as clear an understanding as possible of the great principles and plan of salvation. It should be the holy ambition of every parent that his entire family should be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Happy as a marriage day is that day when a parent sees his child surrendered to the people of God, having first given his heart to Christ. The joy of the text is that the children “walk in the truth”—the actual demonstration of the power of the gospel in their lives. This proves that the teaching was well received, the feeling was not mere excitement, and the profession was not a falsehood but was done in truth.” The Spurgeon Study Bible

Goals

This year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years…

Roles

Family/household sphere, the ministry of health, education, and welfare.
Church sphere, the ministry of grace and peace.
Civil sphere, the ministry of justice.
Self-Government, by God’s grace, born again, the ministry that makes the other three possible.

By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen. God willing, to be the good and faithful servant until He calls me out of this world.

“Duty is ours, results are God’s.” – John Quincy Adams

”“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.“ Deuteronomy 6:4-7 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/deu.6.4-7.LSB

Warnings for getting our priorities wrong

”“If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?” …“ Psalm 11:3-4 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.11.3-4.LSB

”My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from ministering as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I Myself also will forget your children.“ Hosea 4:6 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/hos.4.6.LSB

Household Prayer: Goals for our mission this year

“we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

Happy New Year! Brothers, I’m not one for resolutions, but we do have a vision and mission from our King, and we should set goals to strive to accomplish the mission in the time God gives us. I pray we consider our created mandate, our great commission, and our duties in our various roles and live fully for God’s purpose and for His glory! “Duty is ours, results are God’s.”

“My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do, and more than could be reasonably expected; but your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear.” George Washington encouraging his men to re-enlist in the army Tuesday, December 31, 1776

The family is God’s smallest battle formation

Family/household Government, the ministry of health, education, and welfare.
Church Government, the ministry of grace and peace.
Civil Government, the ministry of justice.
Self-Government, by God’s grace the ministry that makes the other three possible.

“The sphere of the family is perhaps the most important sphere of the three, anthropologically speaking. It was created before the fall, and thus it is a necessary component for humans to thrive in their creation mandate as well as to encourage proper roles in the other two spheres of church and state. In that way, we could say that the sphere of the family is the foundation upon which God has chosen to flourish human societies. It is the sphere in which the image God has borne upon humans will reproduce and thrive. Show me a collapsing society, and I will show you a crumbling institution of the family. We see God’s creation of the family most clearly in Genesis 1:27–28… The home is further set apart in Genesis 2.“ The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State, Timothy Decker, https://founders.org/articles/the-creation-of-the-3-spheres-of-family-church-and-state/