FAMILY GOALS (2)

 

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi 

" And it came to pass, when Samuel was old,  that he made his sons judges over Israel.  Now  the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name  of his second, Abiah: they were judges in  Beer-sheba. And his sons walked not in his  ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took  bribes, and perverted judgment." 1 Samuel 8.1-3

    Prophet Samuel was one of the most revered prophets in old testament times. He was groomed by a faithful mother Hannah who vowed to give him to God in appreciation for breaking the yoke of her barrenness. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 2:21' And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord." 

  Women have a major role to play in a person's spiritual development  because they naturally spend more time with children during the formative years  and claim more ownership to their children. The father's role is to receive instructions from the Lord with regards to the purpose for which a baby is born and create the enabling environment for the nurturing of the child to fulfill that purpose .

   The bible says 'Samuel grew before the lord ' and that the word is God ( John 1:1) . That means the baby was surrounded with the word of the lord at a tender age. We see this amongst Muslims , the father ensures the children can recite the Qur'an. This was gotten from the laws of Moses : the Torah which says in  Deuteronomy 6: 7 'And thou shalt teach  them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of  them when thou sittest in thine house, and when  thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest  down, and when thou risest up.'

  And Deuteronomy 11:19 "And ye shall  teach them your children, speaking of them  when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou  walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and  when thou risest up."  Every Christian should learn to memorize Galatians 5:19-22t o resist sin. It is difficult for a person full of God's word to enjoy sin. Such persona are quick to repent whenever they fall short because they have a living conscience. When a person does not have God's word in their heart they easily fall into sin. The Bible says 1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the  latter times some shall depart from the faith,  giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of  devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their  conscience seared with a hot iron;"  the word 'seducing ' in this text is the Greek word 'planos' it means wandering, roving , misleading, leading into error a vagabond, "tramp" , imposter corrupter, deceiver . This describes the modern church where a person keeps moving from church to church without purpose . Children who tell lies a lot have been exposed to a person with a seducing spirit and should learn to subdue that spirit through fasting and prayers. In prayer they should learn to say ' I reject seducing spirits from operating through me , be silent and be gone in Jesus name. " Amen

   Prophet Samuel raised his children the way his spiritual father Eli raised his. Eli's sons were ignorant of God's word and became vagabonds and corrupt . The bible says "How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word.  "Psalms 119:9 

  Make sure your family participates in a bible studies sessions at home and your children should have bible Apps in their phones , with stickers of scriptures on their items ,  parents should learn to memorise scriptures , children imitate parents  A lazy mother or father  in spiritual matters will produce children who are spiritually lazy and prone to corruption (1Tim.4;2). We should aspire to be like Phillip Acts 21:9 'And the  same man had four daughters, virgins, which did  prophesy." Your children should learn to cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ ( Mark16;15-16)

Prayer: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins I believe that Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I  receive him as lord and saviour and receive Holy Spirit and power to overcome evil ..Amen.

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