Godly Order In The Family

 

Godly Order in The Family

One of the most important if not the most important Scriptures for family is found in:

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

This verse establishes hierarchy not only as it pertains to God and Jesus, but also the hierarchy for the entire family. In other words, it is the order of the family starting with the man (husband father).  Man has been chosen as the head of the family and especially as the spiritual head of the family.  In Genesis, God created women

The Christian Home

Colossians 3:18-21

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

The subject of hierarchy in families is sure to raise eyebrows any time it is mentioned. One reason we are often touchy about this subject is our misunderstanding of how God views hierarchy. In the world’s view, family hierarchy is synonymous with domination, control, superiority, and many times wrath. But those things are contrary to God’s ideal for the family. The world’s system ranks people or groups according to importance and responds to them accordingly. In God’s system, to be the greatest means we must become the servant of all (Mark 10:42–44). There should be hierarchy in Christian families, but not in the way we might naturally enforce it.

When God created the family, He began with one man and one woman (Genesis 1:27). He then instructed them to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). When Adam and Eve sinned, God punished each of them in different ways. Part of Eve’s punishment was that she would be driven by a desire to control her husband, but God would place the man over her in authority (Genesis 3:16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”). Although this was part of Eve’s curse, it was also God’s way of protecting women in the future. He had created Eve different from Adam, and, in order for them to work together in complementary ways, only one could be in charge. Without hierarchy, we have anarchy.

Ephesians 5 picks up this theme and elaborates on the roles of husband and wife. Paul begins the section on family in verse 21 with “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” With that mindset in place, we are then prepared to accept the specifics of God’s hierarchy for the family. Without a willingness to live in mutual submission, we will easily distort and destroy the dynamic by which God designed families to thrive.

God gave the husband the role of servant-leader, as Jesus Christ was a servant-leader (Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many). The man’s responsibilities are to love his wife sacrificially (Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her), care for her as he would his own body (Ephesians 5:28–29 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church), live with her in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.), and bring up his children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). God placed the full responsibility for the family health on the shoulders of the husband. Husbands and fathers must give an account of their service to the Lord in the way they served, led, and loved their families.

To the wife, God gives the role of helper in the family hierarchy (Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”). Rather than indicate subservience to the man, the word helper is also used of the Lord: “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20; Jesus used the term Helper to describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives (John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—, 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.). So, while God places the bulk of family responsibility upon the husband, He places a lighter burden upon the wife and instructs her to submit to her husband’s leadership, as the husband submits to Christ in all things (Ephesians 5:22–24 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.). A wise husband seeks his wife’s input on family decisions, but a wise wife knows when to step back after expressing her opinion. Ideally, husband and wife are in agreement about family decisions. But on those occasions when they don’t agree, a wife is freed from the responsibility once she has expressed her views. She can then trust the Lord to work on her behalf through her husband’s decisions, right or wrong. The Lord has ways of protecting an obedient wife, despite whatever consequences He must levy against an erring husband.

After Christ, husband, and then wife, children are last in the family hierarchy. Children are never to rule the roost. Parents who allow their children to run wild, disobey, disrespect, and have their own way are demolishing God’s hierarchy for the family. Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” When parents require obedience from their children, they are training those children how to respond to God. God does not allow us to run wild, disobey, disrespect, and have our own way without severe consequences. Parents can model their parenting style after the heavenly Father and know they have the best possible example (2 Corinthians 6:18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty”).

God instituted hierarchy in the family for our own good. Christ must always be first and foremost, 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. His Word and His example are to be the standard in a Christian home. As husband and wife both seek the Lord together, they share the leadership role for the home and children. When each member of the family seeks to honor his or her role as a way of honoring God, the family flourishes and everyone’s needs are met.

The Family

Colossians 3:18-21

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

What’s Wrong with the Family in Today’s World?

Based on my experience in a healing ministry for 18 years, I will discuss my findings.

Godly Order in the Family – One of the first few questions I ask the person I am ministering to i: Who is in charge in the family or who is making most of the decisions within the family? Who do the children seek first?  Vast majority say the mother or a mother figure like a grandmother. This is an immediate red flag.  The mother or grandmother have become the matriarch and they can be quite controlling.  The matriarch is only partially to blame.  I blame the husbands for not taking on the responsibility God has chosen for them and that is for them to be head of the family and especially the spiritual head of the family. 

I have seen the matriarch dynamic at work.  They don’t allow much input from the husband.  In fact, the husband chooses to take a back seat to the matriarch.  Unfortunately, most of the children’s conversations on most subjects is with the mother because they have been programed to seek the mother first.

But the wife is not off the hook.  As with the husband, the wife has a responsibility to know what the Bible says about Godly order in the family and not compromise what God wants for the family.

Unloving – Unloving is tied to the father not following God’s order which includes declaring his and God’s love to his children.  I found ninety percent of people I minister to have never heard the words “I love you” by their father growing up.  Or if they did, they didn’t believe them because of the way their father treated them. This includes being absent their lives emotionally or physically.  Unfortunately, the fathers were not taught the words “I love you” from their fathers.  So, we have many past generations where fathers failed to proclaim their love to their children and wives.  This is a generational curse and it causes many family issues as well as sicknesses and diseases.   

Because of our failure to love our family as God loves us, an unloving spirt can enter in many ways.   Unwed/unwanted pregnancy, not ready for children so early in marriage, disappointed in the gender, or unexpected pregnancy to name a few. Again, we must greatly consider the generational curse.  Fathers from previous generations have not taught their children to say “I love you.”

Along with it comes fear throughout their lives.  Fear of not being loved, fear of not feeling worthy, fear of not being worthy to be loved, rejection and abandonment issues. 

As a person ages, anger becomes an issue.  Angry for not being loved and not feeling loved.  Anger turns into bitterness, which leads to unforgiveness and a record of wrongs against whomever.  This can lead to many things trying to fill the void of unloving.  Primarily, addictions.  Addictions in my opinion are the result of feeling unloved.    All that I have come across have more than one addiction.  Addictions can come down the generational line as well.  The are called curses.  Addictions from the previous generations have the same roots, unloving.

Most people that have these characteristics tend to beat up on themselves. They don’t like what they see in the mirror or don’t like who they are. They become depressed which is cause by anxiety/fear (Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression). They start to get sick and diseased.  They go to doctors, life coaches, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, and even pastors/ministry.  All they do is treat the symptoms with drugs or counseling.

The Characteristics of the Matriarch in the Family

·         Take Control of the children and family

·         Strong-willed

·         Failure to heed husband’s advice or defy instruction from the husband

·         Many times, the husband is left out in the decision-making process

·         They are over protective of the children

·         They coddle the children. Especially the males. 

·         They don’t allow the sons to stand on their own and make their own decisions

·         They have difficulty giving up control of the sons when they get married.

·         They can be jealous, envious, and critical of their son’s wife. 

·         The daughter in-law is never good enough for their son

·         They make all the decisions for the children and even the husband

·         The children seek the advice of the mother rather than the father

·         Many times, the father is ignored when children and mother have conversations

·         The wife ignores the needs of the husband

·         Many times, the mother loves the children and pets more than the husband

·         They will adamantly deny that their house is out of order

All this is contrary to what is God’s order in the family should be.

The Husbands Failure as Head of the Family

·         The husband is mostly at blame for allowing the family to be out of order

·         Husbands take a back seat to the wife

·         They have given the authority and decision making to the wife

·         They succumb to the wife as head of the family

·         They have chosen to be silent

·         They have distance themselves from the family

·         They have a tendency to give up being a contributor to the family

·         They can have low self-esteem

·         They feel unloved or not worthy to be loved

·         They can have depression issues

·         They can have self-pity issues (nobody loves me or listens to me)

·         Many times they give up trying to be a leader

This behavior is contrary to what God wants the husband/father to be.

Headship in Marriage

What is required of us as husbands and as fathers and what wives and children should expect from us. The fact of God-ordained headship is clearly stressed in Scripture. Paul writes to the Corinthians: ‘But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God’ (1 Cor. 11:3). To the Ephesian church he declares: ‘The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church’ (Eph. 5:23).  Again, as spiritual head of the family, fathers and husbands are required to love the family as God loves us.

Godly Headship

Godliness is vital. We are to glorify and enjoy the Lord in everything we do. Everything good begins with God, comes from Him, and should return to Him in praise and thanks. Because we husbands are to be heads of our wives and families, we need to be godly not only for our own sakes but also for theirs. An ungodly head would be a great curse to those under him. To be godly is to be holy and God-like God is the great Head. Headship is patterned after Him (Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children Ephesians 5:1). Yet, God is unique as the supreme Head from whom all authority flows. Husbands must submit to Jesus and God and strive to bring all under their control to worship and serve Him. The godlier the husband is the easier it should be for the wife to submit.

Biblical Headship

The man is not free to decide what his headship will be like. The Bible is the rule. The husband’s authority comes not from the man’s strength or wisdom but from God’s appointment. The practice of the headship is to be according to the Scriptures and submitting to God.  Therefore, submit to God……James 4:7.

Loving Headship

While stating clearly that the ‘husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church’, and that ‘as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. The Apostle goes on to emphasize, ‘Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it’ Eph. 5:23-25. Christ who is the Head of the church loved the church so much that He died for it. That kind of sacrificial love is to be the pattern for husbands. It should be easy for wives to submit to husbands who love them so much that they are willing to die for them. There is no room here for the tyrant or oppressor. It is a gentle leadership calculated for the benefit of the wife.

Firm Headship

Sometimes so much stress can be laid on the loving and gentle aspect of this leadership that it is forgotten that it is to be real headship. The husband is to lead and the wife to follow. He is to use the Scriptures, the Helper, and his God-given leadership gifts to direct the family. Yes, he should value the wisdom and advice of his wife and he should try to attain consensus as much as possible and yet at the end of the day the man must lead.

Sacrificial Headship

The idea that the husband sits on his throne and orders his wife what to do is contrary to Scripture. He should not treat his wife as a slave or kitchen-maid. He expects his wife to perform certain chores but he must also show himself enthusiastic in performing other chores. The best leadership is always from the front – follow me! This means self-denial. Christ is the great example for us.  Jesus loved ‘the church, and gave himself for it’ and in the same way the husband is to love his wife and give himself for her.

Moral Headship

The moral standards of the family are to be set by the husband in submission to Scripture. The law of God is the rule and the man is to enforce it. He must diligently study the Bible and seek to apply the Word of God to all of life. As much as possible he must strive to set out the black and white of Scripture and make clear what God requires (For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Romans 15:4).

Educational Headship

As the head of the home the man is duty-bound to arrange for the education of his family for both his wife and his children.  Education is a life-long occupation and one that is very important. The husband is to encourage his wife to learn true wisdom. In educating his children the father should make use of the talents of his wife. A mother has a special relationship with children and is usually the primary educator especially when the children are young.  This includes sound schooling, biblical teaching, and words of wisdom.

Disciplinary Headship

Rules are to be enforced and as the head of the family (But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one Mathew 5:37). Sometimes the husband has a responsibility to rebuke his wife if she is behaving unseemly, inappropriately, or unwisely. Sin has to be corrected. Overindulgence in worldly pleasures must be admonished. Gossip and slander should not be tolerated. This of course must be done in private and in love. The most effective discipline is that which is loving. It should not be done in anger but with patience and backed up by the Word of God. Fathers are also responsible for disciplining children. Fathers may use their wives to do this as mothers are often best at it but the father must be there backing up the mother.

Exemplary Headship

The husband should be an example of patient, humility, and holiness (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control Galatians 5:22-23). Godliness earns respect. The fear of God and being tender are beautiful and give authority. Hypocrisy leads to contempt. Saying one thing and doing another undermines leadership.

Financial Headship

A husband should provide for his wife. The biblical pattern is that the woman bears the children and the husband by the sweat of his work earns the bread. Sometimes the woman can earn also without the home and the upbringing of the children suffering, but the responsibility to provide for the family rests on the husband. His wife may be able to help him greatly in managing the finances but he is the one who must ensure that the family are well cared for.

Protective Headship

There are many dangers in life. The husband has the duty as much as is within his power to protect his wife and children from harm. He must carefully guard them from spiritual, mental or physical danger. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace Luke 11:21

Praying Headship

In some ways this is the most important headship. The husband calls on the Helper (Holy Spirit John 14:16, 26), to pray effectively for his wife and children and leads them in prayer. He brings them before the throne of God and pleads for them. He seeks their souls’ salvation. He protects them by surrounding them with effective prayer, which does not include praying for symptoms, but looking for what caused the symptoms.

 

Accountable Headship

God holds the man responsible before Him. On the judgment day the head of the home will have to answer to God not just for himself but also for his wife and children.  Once the children get married, they must understand Godly headship whether they were taught by their parents or not.  Headship is not an option but a God-given responsibility.  Once the children get married, their father takes a back seat as head of the family.

Response to Headship – Review

The Scriptures plainly state, ‘Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord ... As the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything’ Eph. 5:22, 24. This makes plain that there is to be a willingness on the wife’s part to submit to and to follow the leadership of her husband as much as that is possible in the Lord. The type of obedience is a very high one – ‘as the church is subject unto Christ’. So, it is not merely outward conforming but also from the heart. In fact, the wife is to ‘see that she respects her husband’ (v 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband). This reverence is made easier by the fact that the husband is to love the wife as Christ loved the church and sacrificed Himself for it (v 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her).

Both husbands and wives today often forget this Scriptural teaching. Husbands have a duty to lead. Of course, they must not tyrannize their wives or provoke them to wrath by unreasonable harshness. Peter says: Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered ! Peter 3:7. The wife is to be respected because she too is a child of God, equally saved by the death of Christ and jointly a heir of heaven. Yet there is to be a real managing of wife and children and home to the glory of God.

So, husbands, love your wives in a self-denying and self-sacrificing way. But also make sure that you take your responsibility seriously and lead your wives in the ways of God as those who will be answerable at the end of the day. Wives, be careful that you respect your husbands and do not manipulate them or usurp the headship which they have been given by God. Remember that you too will have to answer to God if you do not submit to your husbands. Surely, you want the blessing of God upon your marriage and family.  There will be no blessing if God’s directions for marriage are ignored.                                              Tony 2-21-23

Repentance - Does It Absolve Us of Our Sin?

 

Repentance Definition - feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin.

Repentance in Christianity means a sincere turning away, in both the mind and heart from sin. It involves a change of mind that leads to action—the radical turning away from sin. A person who is truly repentant recognizes God the Father as the most important factor of our existence.  Repentance is a hatred of our sin as an offence against God. Repent means to change our sinful ways.

I have noticed that Believers can be confused with what repentance means.  Sinning and repentance are separate.  Repentance cannot take away your past or existing sins or the sins of the generations (Deuteronomy 5:9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me).  Repentance dose not absolve you of your sins.

If we don’t address our sins, they will pile up making it harder to repent. Do you know someone who is so overwhelmed by fear they can hardly function?  Do you anyone who is so bitter and un-forgiving and you can’t reach them?  Then, how can you expect them to repent when they have become one with their sins?

Fear, as an example is a big sin issue with us all.  The Bible mentions fear 385 time in the Bible.  Is God trying to tell us something?  Like, it’s a big problem?  The Bible says in II Timothy 1:7 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  God tells us not to fear. Rather He wants us to have power over sin, to have love and a sound mind.  Fear causes us to have an unsound mind.  Most people have fear-stress-anxiety multiple times per day.  Let’s say we have fear 10 times a day times 31 days in a month, which is 310 unconfessed sins in one month.  What do you think will happen if you multiply this by four decades?  14,880 unconfessed sins. BONDAGE!  Each fear is its own sin that we need to address.  From ministry, I can tell you it is very difficult for people to change their ways (repent) on their own. Did you know stress, anxiety, worry, and fear causes depression?  That’s what the Bible tells us in Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.  There is not one person who has not delt with depression.

Fear is the cause and the following are some of the effects (symptoms): panic attacks, insomnia, migraines, high blood pressure, constricted vessels, and contracted muscles rubbing against the nerves in the back, neck, and sciatica nerves.

So how do we get rid of our sins so that we can change our ways (repent)?

First, sin has to be identified and acknowledged as sin in our life. 

Second, we must confess or sin to God.  Not to Jesus.  Jesus says to pray to the Father in Matthew 6:9 In this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Third, we must ask God to forgive us for our sin. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. 1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.  Jesus Christ is the atonement for our sins.  1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

It’s only when we confess our sins each day that we can be brought out of captivity.  It’s only when we confess our sins each day and to one another that we can be healed from sickness and disease.  James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James

We are called to bring everyone out of captivity whether it’s at home or at church. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me. To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound Isiah 61:1.

Unfortunately, the church is not doing what God commands us to do.  When was the last time you heard a correct full-fledged message on repentance?  When have you ever seen a pastor at a church service lead everyone in a prayer confessing sin out loud?  I didn’t think so. Jesus Christ was the only one capable of carrying out the atonement for all of mankind’s sin.                   Tony Sanchez 1-17-22

Healing Is A Promise From Good

 Can We Be Healed of Sickness and Disease? 

Moses stood before hundreds of thousands of Israelites in the desert.  God had a message for how they should live once they entered the promised land.  The message was a warning and offering them a choice between blessings and curses, between health and sickness.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; Therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

Moses gives us details of blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28.  He reveals God’s truth that we all need to know concerning the spiritual roots of disease. “Now it shall come to pass, if (condition) you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.  Look at what God is promising!  His people (us) will be “high above all nations of the earth,” and they will be “overtaken” by more blessings that they can count if we obey and not sin.

But Moses’ message doesn’t end there.  He follows with a warning in verse 15 that he never wants them to forget. But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey (if you sin) the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.  In verses 15-68 Moses describes the curses – the disastrous events and the disease that will overtake God’s people if we don’t listen to Him and not follow His commandments.  By disobedience, we will open ourselves up to curses and many of those curses are sicknesses and diseases.

Yes, we are under a new covenant, but there are many things that do not change between the old and new covenants. Like the Ten Commandments.  “If you love Me, keep My commandments, John 14:15.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 1 John 5:3.

Every class of disease know to man is found in those verses in Deuteronomy and many that are not listed in Verse 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.

Believers should ask themselves why diseases aren’t considered a curse.  Better yet, ask yourself “do you think disease is a blessing?” Not according to God’s Word.

The church is filled with every work of the Satan found in Deuteronomy 28 that is called a curse, depression, anxiety disorders, autoimmune disorders, cancer, incurable diseases, addictions, family discord, job loss to name a few.  Satan and his army of devils come to destroy us, The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. John 10:10. In the same verse God says: I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  If we believe God, why are we still getting sick?

A curse by definition is of great harm, misfortune, and torment resulting in sickness and disease.  We are cursed because we violated community standards defined by God.  We disobeyed God.

When Can a Curse Affect a Christian? – The Bible tells us that a curse without cause, or without a reason for being there, cannot affect us. “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim, Proverbs 26:2. In other words, we don’t have to worry about curses if we are doing right by God.

Did Jesus Christ end the curse form Adam and Eve by His death on the cross?  Yes! But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree, Galatians 3:13.

Then how can Christians who are covered by the blood of the Lamb, be under the burden of a curse?  It is because of the effects of the curse are a result of disobedience of God’s Word, and Christians can be just as disobedient to God’s Word as the Old Testament Believers were.  Curses (sickness/disease) can come because we give them the permission to do it. 

Satan does not have all the power.  He can only touch us with our permission.  We do this by disobeying God and His Word.  Even Paul struggled with the curse (sin). And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it, Romans 7:18-20.  Sin is Satan’s legal right to torment and destroy us.

Generation Curses – Where do generation curses come from?  The curses come from the same disobedience that we struggle with every day as outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-63.  Unfortunately, we are not exempt from the sins of our fathers.  Many of these curses come down the line affecting us all at one level or another.  The Bible tells us what happens when we are born, Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin (Adam) entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.  Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Psalm 58:3 These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way. Every person born into this world has inherited and been affected by the sin of Adam and the following generations to this very day.  No exceptions.

There will be people who will make the argument based on Exodus 34:7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”  The Bible has a lot of symbolism and it is apparent when one reads the Bible thoroughly over and over. This probably refers to the number of current generations living under normal circumstances.  Curses don’t end after the fourth generation.  Generational curses are perpetual.

How to Be Healed from Sin that causes Sickness and Disease

Why are we not being healed when God promises Healing?  These are my findings from being in the healing and deliverance ministry for many years.

1. We don’t read His Word consistently and we don’t fully believe what we read in the Bible
2. We don’t apply the Word to our lives
3. We don’t make ourselves available for prayer
4. We don’t pray effectively when people make themselves available for prayer
5. The church of today as a whole does not teach healing. 
6. If the church does pray for healing, its not effective.  They pray for the symptoms, not the cause

If sin is causing our diseases, what can we do to heal these diseases?  We can start by knowing Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  But Christ has rescued us from the curse (sin) pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree, Galatians 3:13.

Two stories about Jesus that are important to understanding what we must do. First, is the woman caught in adultery in John 8. The Pharisees saying, she should be stoned.  Jesus says in verse 7: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Verse 10-11 “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.  And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”  The woman was suffering from mental anguish from the act of adultery and from the Pharisees accusations.   In other word, sin no more and she would not suffer from her sinful acts.  Second, is about the man who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. in that was healed at the pool of Bethesda. John 5:7-9 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”  Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  Jesus knew sin was what caused the infirmity.  Jesus said in verse 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” 

Deuteronomy tells us what causes sickness and disease in the Old Testament. SIN! Jesus confirms this in the New Testament.  If Jesus died on the cross for our sin Galatians 3:13, what is our process to be healed?  The first thing everyone mentions when we talk about sin is repentance.  Although repentance is important, repentance does not absolve us of our sin.  Repentance is changing our sinful ways. 

In order to change our sinful ways, we must first address our sins so we can repent (change our ways).  The bible is clear and basic.  I didn’t say it was easy.  It is very hard in that we don’t make the effort outlined in His Word.  His Word tells us the basic concept in James 5:16 Confess your trespasses (sins) to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  It means to confess your sins to one another before God.  God is the healer, not us.  Many interpreted this scripture incorrectly.  The trespasses James particularly has in mind may be those of the sick person, which could have been the root of their sickness or they may be those of the believers in general.

The process is basic as I mentioned before.

First, confess your sins to God every day. Second, ask God to forgive you for these sins.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed, Isaiah 53:5.

Keep in mind that you may have to confess the same sins every day until it doesn’t ping you anymore, the sin has been absolved, or you have a healing breakthrough. Some of the hardest to overcome are unforgiveness, bitterness, rejection, feeling unloved, offences, anger fear, addictions, depression, stressors, traumas (emotional/physical and the stressor tied to them) and many others.  His guaranteed promise to us is healing in the name of Jesus.         

Folks, the reality is we have damaged believers coming to church every Sunday and they leave damaged because they are not being taught the healing promises of God.  Even if they are taught, which I have not seen much, they are not taught how to pray effectively.  Every prayer is important, but we will only have minor successes if we continue to pray for the symptoms (effects) rather than the root cause.  The medical profession treats the symptoms and we continue to suffer with illnesses.  They cannot heal you! Only God can heal you.   and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you,” Exodus 15:26.  God has healed me of many things following what God teaches in His Word. He can heal you whether you are a believer or a nonbeliever.  The healing promises are for all.

I will leave you with two profound scriptures to ponder: 

Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man (Jesus) is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; And by Him everyone who believes is justified (set free) from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.  Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish!  For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you’” Acts 13:38-41.   

Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ Acts 28:26-28  

Final thoughts:  We are a sickly people.  We would rather trust doctors who simply treat symptoms with drugs and advice.  Doctors and alternative practices cannot heal you of terminal sicknesses and diseases.  If you or others in your family have sickness or disease and it’s getting progressively worse, why continue to ignore God’s promises of healing in the name of Jesus?  Why are you not seeking effective prayer?  Don’t make it complicated! 

Obedience is a blessing.  Disobedience is a curse causing sickness and disease.  God wants us all to be healed and He provides a way in His Word.                                                                                                                             

Folks, we are the last defense for those who are in trouble or are dying.  What do they have to lose?                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

Regrets = Sickness and Disease

Sickness and Disease

·         Something that you have done and wished that you had not done and have regretted it ever since.

·         Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment.

·         Marked by fear of failure, fear of abandonment from family and friends, fear of not being loved, fear of being judged, fear of guilt, fear of shame, fear of being shunned, fear of rejection, and, extreme dislike of self (self-hatred).

·         Regrets leave a person very angry with themselves and others.

·         Regrets are a result of our choices and will cause depression at one level or another.

·         If we have bitterness of self and others, rejection, unloving spirits, hatred, self-hatred, it takes a toll physically and emotionally.

All of the above can compromise one’s immune system because of the fear created by one’s regrets.

Mind-Body Connection

We must understand the mind body connection.  What we think in our mind affects us in the physical and emotional.  Example: Everyone has been called up in front of the class to make a speech or do a presentation.  Leading up to that, great fear rises up in us causing panic attacks, stress, and anxiety, which can lead to sweating, lightheadedness, upset stomach and even diarrhea.  So, what you think in your mind roles over to physical and emotional manifestations. This is what we are talking about in this article.  What we think affects our physical and emotional health.

Cortisol

Cortisol is an important in fight or flight but, if it is present on a long-term basis, it destroys your immune system.  What this means is we either deal with an issue (fight) or we don’t (flight).  What God has created for us to help fight an enemy has now turned on us and has become the destroyer of our lives.

According, to medical information, long-term over-secretion of cortisol has direct physiological effects on the following functions: Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, protein metabolism, inflammatory effects, lipid metabolism, immune reserve, digestive function, urinary function, connective tissue function, muscle function, bone function, vascular system and myocardial function, and central nervous system function.

Cortisol directly influences immune responses to antibodies and inhibits the production of helper T cells.  The diminished helper T cells cause a decrease in B cells and antibody production.

This begins the destruction of the immune system due to the over secretion of Cortisol. The body is attacking itself. We are in essence beating ourselves to death. Over years, and especially with the elderly, our immune system becomes weaker and weaker.

Cancer and other immune disease are the effects. What is the cause or roots as related to this article?  Regrets!

Our bone morrow produces white T cells to fight off immune disease.  Lack of white T cell production increase our chances of immune diseases.  The bible mentions what happens to bone marrow production when we have regrets and fears.

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit (regrets) dries the bones (marrow). Proverbs 17:22.

Solution

God is not complicated and His solutions are not complicated.  Actually, God’s solutions are very basic and gives us the keys to our health, good or bad, according to His Word.

First, we have to understand where in the Bible sickness and disease comes from.  That would be Deuteronomy 28:15-68.  Second, we must understand what causes sickness and disease.  That would be disobedience, which is sin.

So, we take all things mentioned in this article as a result of regrets and identify them as sin.  We confess these as sin to God, ask God to forgive us, and ask God to help us to change our ways (REPENT). Any time the regrets seep in each day, we repent again. We do this each and every day until we see healing progress.

There are no cures for immune diseases.  But, there is healing in the name of Jesus.  It is God’s promise.  He sent His Son so that we can be healed from our sin that caused sickness and disease.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Gather with family and friends to Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much James 5:16.

Why do we turn to man and not believe God’s promises to heal?                  Tony Sanchez 9-25-21

Pastors In Todays Church

 I was prompted to write this piece based on a fellow believer sending me a video teaching from a pastor. Unfortunately, and unknown to this person, this pastor’s church has documented Kundalini manifestations in church services and an inter or self-healing ministry.  Only God can heal you.  I told this person I would try to find a pastor or teacher who is teaching the true and complete Gospel of God as the Acts church did in the first century. 

What are pastors teaching and what church are representing? The list below is some of the things they are teaching and not teaching when clearly, they should imitate what Jesus did in His ministry and what He taught the disciples to do for the 1^st century Acts church.

·         Only once in my visits to many churches, have I seen pastors call on the Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26).  This should be the first order of church procedure before any Godly function. Jerimiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

·         The Great Commission given to the eleven disciples is very rarely taught in the body of Christ today. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover,” Mark 16:15-17.  This is spiritual warfare to set the captives free. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isaiah 61:1

·         Repentance is seldom taught in the church today.  When in fact the bible tells us to repent of our sins about 100 times in the Bible. Why? It is the key to healing emotional/physical sickness and disease. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, James 5:16. The prayer is basic: Confess your sins to God, ask God to forgive you, and ask God to help you repent.  This should be done consistently.

·         The church is not emphasizing the need to constantly forgive the person who offended you every time the offense comes to mind.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you, Ephesians 4:31-32.  Forgive them every time the offense comes to mind.

·         They are not teaching how to identify the roots of sickness and disease due to disobedience (sin) as outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and Leviticus 26.  Repentance is the key to healing according to God’s Word, James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

·         The “Grace” message. Many teach that God in His “grace” will overlook our sins if He sees that we have made a genuine effort to do the right thing, mend our ways, and avail ourselves of the help He offers through the church.  If He sees that the trajectory of our lives is headed in the right direction, then in His “grace,” He will forgive our sins and grant us eternal life.  Fact is, our sins are not forgiven by works.  Our sins are only forgiven if we confess our sins to God, ask God to forgive our sines, and ask God to help us change our ways, which is repentance. 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.

·         The church is teaching us to disregard the laws of commandments, statutes, precepts, and ordinances in the Old Testament.  Actually, Jesus presents a chief purpose of His earthly ministry: to fulfill the law and the writings of the prophets. Jesus came to accomplish all that the Old Testament foretold and to complete all the righteousness the Old Testament required and included a stark warning. 17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven, Matthew 5:17-20

·         They teach ‘there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” as written in the newer translations.  In other words, there is no accountability.  You can sin without any condemnation. They have conveniently left out the condition:  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Romans 8:1.

·         They are teaching from the newer translations that omit, add, or change many of the truths God intended us to know. Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. Deuteronomy 4:2 you shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.  Deuteronomy 12:32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

·         Too often the elderly people are ignored in the church. Leviticus 19:32 ‘You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord. Especially in leadership roles.

·         Many of the so-called charismatic churches or large new churches are run by younger people who don’t have the Biblical or Holy Spirit experience to lead the Body of Christ.  They have little place for the elderly who have knowledge that the younger leadership need to tap into.  To them, old is not hip or needed?

·         Pastors feel a need to be funny more than is necessary. Some remind me of comedians or game show hosts.

·         Pastors have become story tellers of experiences.  Let Scripture tell the stories and give knowledge.

·         Pastors provide too much commentary and counseling, rather than flooding the sermon with Scripture.  Let the Word counsel the congregation.

·         The church in so many cases operate as a business. Finances have become central to their church. One church I attended had a whole month devoted to tithing sermons.

·         Churches have separated the body of Christ into contemporary and traditional services and have placed the children in child care during services. Did Jesus separate the flock in His ministry? The Bible is for all ages.

·         Churches are not taking care of the orphans and widows, which is pure and undefiled region before God, Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world James 1:27.

·         Very few come to the altar for repentance and prayer because pastors do not invite them to the altar.

·         Pastors very seldom visit the ministries the church promotes.

·         The church music of today sounds like a loud concert with light shows, fog machines and a shaman drum beating rather than Holy Spirit inspiring music and worship.

·         Too often people proclaim their churches Holy Spirit filled or led when in fact they don’t know the Holy Spirit or call on the Holy Spirit.

·         We are seeing an uptick of pastors prophesizing future events (soothsayers) in the media. When their prophesy does not come true, they are not asking the followers and God to forgive them.  Jeremiah 50:36 A sword is against the soothsayers, and they will be fools. A sword is against her mighty men, and they will be dismayed.

·         Many have anointed themselves as prophets and many believers are following them.  In the Old Testament prophesy it was to point forward to the mystery of God yet to be revealed. As is true of most of the Old Testament prophets, prophecy has three components, 1) the pronouncement of specific and often universal judgement for sin; 2) an appeal for repentance because God is righteous and willing to forgive; 3) a promise that the remnant who have made God their refuge will be saved.  The pattern of prophets in the New Testament is to make known the heart of God for His people, creation, and His church. The Prophets in the new covenant are different than the prophets of the old covenant.

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

 

·         Many are preaching false doctrine based on what they have learned or perceived from false doctrinal sources. Not what the Bible teaches.

·         Many lift up pastors as idols, congregate around them or name drop.

·         Far too many pastors and ministries you see in media are for profit, filling their money buckets. Promoting and selling every conference and book under the sun. Fact is, we only need one book.  His Word! Matthew 21:12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

·         The church of today fails to recognize that the seven churches of Revelation (2:1 – 3:22) are all represented in their church.  Five of the seven churches are told to repent. All seven has this verse: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Are we listening to the Holy Spirit in the matters of the church? The wise believer takes the time to listen with his spiritual hearing to what the Spirit is saying to the church.  This is as needed today as it was in the first century. One who hears and follows the voice of the Holy Spirit does not need to fear the deception that leads to apostasy.  Rather, he will walk where Jesus requires and will grow in the things of the Spirit of God, which produce healthy, vibrant, Spirit-filled churches capable of preaching the gospel all around the world.

·         Very, very few have deliverance/healing ministries.  Unlike Jesus in His ministry.

·         So many of the pastors or leadership boast about their credentials and accomplishments.  Did Jesus boast about His accomplishments?

·         How many pastors or churches allow the Holy Spirt run the serves without time restraints?

These are just a few things that highlight what pastors are teaching or not teaching.  We are being led astray by false doctrine and the failure to teach what the Word of God teaches.

There are many who have good teachings, but many are wolves in sheep’s clothing deceiving us. Beware of false prophets (and teachers), which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves, Matthew 7:15. Unfortunately teachers and pastors can open themselves up to what Satan wants them to teach.

Today's Church is NOT producing the same caliber of Christianity as those Christians in the Book of Acts. 

But, how can we when many Churches are so busy becoming relevant, contemporary, working to build their own kingdom, preaching motivational, self-help, preaching a feel-good message, while striving to becoming the happening place so that they can draw the masses. Or offer something that would keep them coming so that they can meet the bills and call themselves a thriving ministry. 

Many churches, especially mega churches are under the false pretense that they are called to grow the church, which is not in the Bible.  Rather, God wants us to grow our relationship with Him.

Many Churches are spending more money on salaries, buildings, programs and marketing the church as a corporate business and calling it ministry.  Letting the 5013C dictate their church success.  Did Jesus or the Acts church have a 5013C?  The 5013C is issued by the government and they can take it away.  Meaning, they control your 5013C church.

In doing so, we have trained the body of Christ to become more interested in buildings, programs, positions, titles and entertainment rather than a real book of Acts Christianity.  So much so that if a Church is not meeting in a nice building somewhere, then it is not considered a valid ministry. 

Think about it. if you meet in a home, you do not pay your pastor, staff, music director, or musicians.  You can spend most of your budget on missions, feeding the hungry taking care of the elderly, the widows, and the fatherless children, bringing people out of captivity and teaching repentance.   If you spend the Wednesday night service in prayer only and use Sunday School to teach people how to win their world for Christ.  You can teach every member during the week to share Christ and to be fishers of men.  In the main service the pastor is equipping people to live a selfless, sacrificing, and servanthood life.  The ministry is for the people. The ministry work is laboring for the Kingdom of God. A type of lifestyle.  The home church requires sacrifice and obedience to truly take us to the place God wants us to be.

You see, should you invite people to this kind of Church, many people in the community may not consider it to be a "real church or ministry.  For many people would not get past the fact that you are meeting in a home.  Yet this type of home Church is selfless, servant minded, and actively reaching the world for Christ. They are a body of believers describes in the "Book of Acts New Testament Church"

Now are we saying that we must go back to this kind of Church?  YES!  We must go back to the methods that raised the caliber of Christians that were meeting from house to house in the book of Acts. It is not about where we meet.  It is about what we are truly producing at the end of the day.

Reality is the only way to produce Christians of the same Caliber of those in the Book of Acts is to model the Church after that of the Book of Acts.  Those Christians who "loved not their life even unto death," Revelation 12:11 Those Christians were selfless, sacrificing servants who considered themselves bought with a price and no longer their own.

We had the privilege to meet for six years in our house.  We originally called it a Bible Study, but in fact it was our home church.  We got frustrated with the direction the church was going in.  We followed not only the book of Acts, but we followed what the whole Bible taught to the best of our ability.  In doing so, we became “doers of the Word,” James 1:22.  We called on the Holy Spirit (Helper) to be a major part of our home church. We carried out the Great Commission, Mark 16:15-18 as Jesus instructed His disciples to do. We saw many miracles of healing and deliverance every week.  We weren’t restricted by time. Many times, our service lasted 3-4 hours.  Bottom line is we avoided the trappings of the current church of today.

It has been difficult finding a pastor or church that are teaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have come to the realization that the only fool proof teacher is God’s Word (Jesus), In the beginning was the Word, and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word was God, John 1:1.

The question you have to ask yourself: What Church will you choose to be a part of going forward?

Tony Sanchez 5-31-21