duty – Dobra Family Ministry

Household Prayer: Summer Discipleship

To the Law and to the testimony! …” Isaiah 8:20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/isa.8.20.NASB2020

Brothers, another school year over for us. How did that happen so fast? I pray we continue to teach our families about our great God through the summer (Eph. 6:4). Also, I pray we older men encourage and disciple younger men “teaching them all God has commanded” (Matt. 28:19-20). I pray we relate all of life’s experiences back to the word of God and share it with others (Isaiah 8:20). I also pray we don’t heap guilt upon ourselves, especially when we don’t get the desired results. Duty is ours, but results are God’s. Trust Him. (Rom. 8:1)

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/eph.6.4.NASB2020

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew 28:19-20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.28.20.NASB2020

“To the Law and to the testimony! If they do not speak in accordance with this word, it is because they have no dawn.” Isaiah 8:20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/isa.8.20.NASB2020

“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… 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.” … the purpose of the magistrate is to restrain the wickedness and violent disposition of depraved humanity (cf. Rom 13:3–4and 1 Pet 2:13–14)… God says to Noah in Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” … If a human man sheds the blood of another, then by mankind in the sphere of the magistrate is evil to be restrained and the murderer to be punished… Capital punishment carried out by the civil magistrate is to restrain the earth from being filled with violence as before the flood as well as to punish any evil-doer who might kill what God has especially marked with His image.” The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State – Founders Ministries

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: Teach Your Wife

“But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:35 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1co.14.35.LSB

Brothers, meditating on 1 Cor. 14:35. “But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home…” I pray we wield the sword well for our wives (Eph. 6:17). I pray we cultivate an appetite to delight in God’s word (Psalm 1:2). I pray we don’t fall for the error of abdicating our responsibility to whom it doesn’t belong. I pray we accurately handle the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

“But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:35 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1co.14.35.LSB

“also receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/eph.6.17.LSB

“A woman must learn in quietness, in all submission. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first formed, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into trespass. But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with self-restraint.” 1 Timothy 2:11-15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1ti.2.12-15.LSB

“But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.1.2.LSB How to be a man or woman of God from Psalm 1 https://ministry.family.blog/faith/being-a-man-or-woman-of-god-psalm-1/

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/2ti.2.15.LSB

HouseHold Prayer: On Mission

““Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a container or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.” Luke 8:16 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/luk.8.16.LSB

Brothers, meditating on Luke chapters 8-11. I pray we walk daily in our mission. I pray we light our lamp every morning for all to see (Luke 8:16), that in our households we “recount what great things God has done for” us, “proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for” us (Luke 8:39). I pray we are ready for the mission to sow the word of God (Luke 9:2,10; 10:1-3; 11:33). Worship, disciple, proclaim, and build. “Whatever you do,” in your household, in church, at work, in your civil duties, “do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23-24; Gen. 2:15).

““Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a container or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.” Luke 8:16 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/luk.8.16.LSB

““Return to your house and recount what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/luk.8.39.LSB

“And He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick… And when the apostles returned, they recounted to Him all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He slipped away by Himself to a city called Bethsaida.” Luke 9:2, 10 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/luk.9.2-10.LSB

“Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go! Behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” Luke 10:1-3 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/luk.10.1-3.LSB

““No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.” Luke 11:33 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/luk.11.33.LSB

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/col.3.23-24.LSB

“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

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.”

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.

“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.