Overcoming Family Challenges (Part 4) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

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Topic: Overcoming Family Challenges (Part 4)

Dear Reader,

This week, I shall be exploring the concluding part of this teaching series. Since the beginning of this month, I have been examining family challenges and how you can overcome them.

Every achievement in life is worked for. Nothing works itself, just as no problem solves itself. For instance, a student who wants to pass his examinations but spends all night praying, instead of doing his assignments and studying will definitely fail. Prayer does not actually take the place of studying and bending down to do the assignment; it only complements it. In the same vein, miracles answer to certain inputs from the benefactor. Your obedience to what is required of you is how you initiate it. Take the miracle of the turning of water into wine, for instance. Mary told the men, whatever he tells you to do, do it. The servants initiated their miracle by obeying Jesus instructions to fill the water pots with water.

Whatever you are ignorant about, the best remedy is to seek relevant knowledge. Look at how Mary successfully handled this family challenge during a marriage ceremony in Cana of Galilee. John 2:5,7 records that, His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. When that family in Cana of Galilee was about to experience shame and reproach, Mary gave them the remedy — Whatsoever he tells you to do, do it. That is still the secret of family triumph today. Notice that Jesus instructed them to fill the water pots. That means, whatever the Word of God demands of you, do it, without any reservations. Until they filled the pots up to the brim, the miracle did not take place. Ephesians 5:26 likens the Word of God to water. Therefore, when Jesus told them to fill up the water pots with water, it could be likened to filling them up with the Word.

A testimony I once heard further proved to me that success in family life does not drop down like apples from a tree, as some believe, but is the result of certain deliberate acts of men. A brother who wanted to divorce his wife just a year earlier caught some insights from the Word of God, applied them, and they are both having a second honeymoon now!

Remedy

When you are filled with the Word concerning your family, challenges will be successfully handled. There is what to do to keep enjoying peace and tranquility in your family — keep doing whatever He tells you to do. Not just doing it, but doing it fully, that is, going to the extremes in your obedience.

For instance, until a woman is prepared to submit to her husband in all and with reverence, she will never experience lasting joy in her family. The Word of God has no respect for civilisation, neither does it take cognisance of education, culture or anything else. It is forever settled in heaven. It has been signed and sealed.

To be too smart for the Word is to opt for a life of misery. But you can have miracles of harmony, peace, joy, etc. if you do whatever He tells you to do. God has not changed, and He will not compromise His standard. If you don’t want crises and challenges in your family, do what He tells you to do. When God’s Word is not given its place of priority in the family, there are bound to be challenges. When a man disregards God’s Word, a time comes when he cries out for God’s intervention, God will simply fold His arms, unperturbed (Proverbs 1:28-30).

A family founded on the Word of God enjoys a challenge-free home. Satan is rendered powerless when a couple stands firmly on the Word of God and operates by its principles. Marriage is very exciting if Biblical injunctions are adhered to because the knowledge of the truth is what puts a man on top. This testimony was shared by a sister in the church: When I was ready for marriage, I noticed that some things were working against me. But I was not a serious Christian then. However, when I dedicated my life fully to Jesus Christ in 1992, it became obvious that I lacked wisdom and counsel and was emotionally immature. All the same, I got married, and the Lord has been merciful. On joining this church, from the different ministrations I received, my life and marriage became meaningful and received direction. Now my marriage is established and I am free from all manners of oppression of the wicked. My family has been increased remarkably, and I now apply myself to the wisdom of God that has been imparted to me here!

Yours is the next testimony, but first, you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour or else you might keep wallowing in ignorance which might ultimately destroy your family. To be saved from ignorance you must be born again. If it is your desire, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.