Good Works – Dobra Family Ministry

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.

“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/

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: A shining light of good works

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.16.NKJV

Brothers, praying that our households, homeschool communities, and local assemblies of the Church are set apart as lights in the darkness (Matt. 5:16), illuminating God’s truth and grace. Lord I pray that our salvation produces the fruit of good works (Eph. 2:10, James 2:20), and May our good works shine a light (Matt. 5:16) that adorns “the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Titus 2:7, 10)

The pilgrims, according to William Bradford, “sought a better country for a more fruitful life, body and soul, but most importantly, to protect their children from corruption… they swore ‘in the Presence of God’ to form a ‘civil Body Politick’ for the ‘Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.’”

It’s often told of the persecution of the reformation time period that led the pilgrims across the ocean. But what is overlooked is the concern they had for the spiritual development and protection of their children from the degenerate corruption of the culture. This motivated them to be set apart as a shining example of “the ‘Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.’”

“Do it for the kids”

“What was intolerable—“of all sorrows most heavy to be borne”—was that some of the children of Bradford’s group had been influenced by the “great licentiousness of the youth in that country, and the manifold temptations of the place” been “drawn away by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses, getting the reins off their necks and departing from their parents… to the great grief of their parents and dishonour of God. So that they saw their posterity would be in danger to degenerate and be corrupted.” … They sought a better country for a more fruitful life, body and soul, but most importantly, to protect their children from corruption… There they swore “in the Presence of God” to form a “civil Body Politick” for the “Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.” The Pilgrim exodus was both evangelical and political, and not born from a martyrdom complex but from zeal to build anew and, most of all, to acquire space to exercise their preferred way of life. The security and longevity of their children were paramount… Though the proclamation of the Gospel would, of course, not be neglected, the Pilgrim emigration was effectively flight from a blue state to red territory. Would-be modern pilgrims needn’t feel ashamed of their decidedly natural and sensible impulses to safeguard their families and way of life by seeking out greener pastures.” ‘The Pilgrim Option, or On the Blue State Exodus’ by Timon Cline, American Reformer https://americanreformer.org/2023/07/do-it-for-the-kids/

William Bradford’s (1590-1657) ‘Of Plymouth Plantation’ https://books.google.com/books/about/Bradford_s_History_of_Plimoth_Plantation.html?id=1SwSAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&ovdme=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

Household Prayer: Rule Well, Bring Order

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV

Brothers today I’m praying for order. Many times when I find myself discontent or ineffective in life (work, family, ministry), it is often because I have not ruled myself or my areas of responsibility well and things have gotten out of order (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15). So I am praying that we rule well under the Lordship of Jesus and bring our souls, minds, and life into order. 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!” (Matt. 28:18-20) – Amen

Take dominion, subdue and rule, work and keep. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15) Go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) These summarize the mission God has given us.

Happy birthday Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Also, “Today — Feb 4th, 1906 — marks the birthday of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the greatest Christians of the modern era. He understood that faith without ACTION is no real faith.” https://ericmetaxas.com/books/bonhoeffer/

“He had theologically redefined the Christian life as something active, not reactive. It had nothing to do with avoiding sin or with merely talking or teaching or believing theological notions or principles or rules or tenets. It had everything to do with living one’s whole life in obedience to God’s call through action. It did not merely require a mind, but a body too. It was God’s call to be fully human, to live as human beings obedient to the one who had made us, which was the fulfillment of our destiny. It was not a cramped, compromised, circumspect life, but a life lived in a kind of wild, joyful, full-throated freedom—that was what it was to obey God.” Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas https://a.co/9b6VdVe

Creation Mandate – Dominion

In “Genesis 2:15, we learn how man is to fulfill his calling: ‘The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.’ … Work. To work is to labor to make things grow… Keep. To keep is to protect and to sustain progress already achieved… God calls us to bear His image in the real world, in this garden that has become corrupted by sin but is being redeemed by the power of God’s grace in Christ. He calls us to do this by being leaders and servants in the ultimate cause of displaying God’s glory and bearing the fruit of God’s love in real relationships… Our calling in life really is this simple (although not therefore easy): We are to devote ourselves to working/building and keeping/protecting everything placed into our charge.” The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips https://a.co/hPkBUjb

Household Prayer: Joyful Labor for a Thousand Generations

[24] The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it…
[26] and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;
Revelation 21:24,26 (NASB)

Brothers I’m praying we experience joy as we labor in love. I’ve been meditating on the things of glory and honor in the nations that will be brought into the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:26). What joy we have in our salvation. Joy that we didn’t have to earn it by works of the law. Joy that we are now free to work for/in the glory and honor of our Savior to fulfill our purpose and mission. Jesus warns the church, ““I know your WORKS” (Rev. 3:2,15) We do not know the hour of Jesus’ return and should continue working in joy and the power of the gospel for the good and future propagation of the gospel and discipleship of nations in this world for a thousand generations!

Whatever you do, “do all to the glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:31) Whatever our calling and vocation, building or supporting schools, healthcare clinics, farms, and businesses, whatever, our purpose is for the love of our neighbor and the discipleship of the nations. These good works, when motivated by love of God and neighbor, are good things. These things educate, disciple, employ, and care for neighbors, loving them as Christ commanded and can be used to point people to the gospel. The things of glory and honor in the nations will be brought into the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:26). Rejoice in your labor brothers!

5 Important Christian Political Acts

Thread:
The most important political act Christians do is gather on the Lord’s Day to worship God according to His Word. If you gather for a rock concert, comedy hour, or pep rally, you’re part of the problem. There are no quick fixes in politics, and Jesus is not your quick hit.

The second most important political act Christians do is get married, keep covenant with their spouse till they die, and raise a troop of children who love their parents’ God, hate the devil & all his works, and are sharp & dangerous to all unbelief with their joy & creativity.

The third most important political act Christians do is build Christian schools & colleges. These are not worldly institutions with pinches of Bible. These are covenantal boot camps training our kids in the Lordship of Jesus over all things. Classical Protestantism built the West

The fourth most important political act Christians do is start businesses & services producing real goods long term for all, especially the family of God. Those who don’t start their own join others & work for Kingdom minded entrepreneurs, building generational wealth & wisdom.

The fifth most important political act Christians do is participate in the political process, starting locally and then more broadly as opportunities and gifts align. The last 2 years have woken many up to just how rotten our system has gotten; it will take generations to reform.

None of this will work if we are not saturated in all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation applied to all of life. Secular neutrality is a myth: Christ or nothing, Christ or chaos, Christ or tyranny. And that means the forgiveness of His bloody cross at the center of it all.

Originally tweeted by Toby Sumpter (@TJSumpter) on November 9, 2022.