PREACHING OF MARCH 23, 2025:
Pastor Antonio Russo
THE RESTORATION OF THE FAMILY PART 2
Last Sunday, we introduced the theme of the “Restoration of the Family,” and as a continuation of a teaching given to us from heaven, we will continue discussing it in this second part. Before delving deeper into this, last time we saw that when the Eternal created man, He placed him in the Garden of Eden, which represents the family and our home, entrusting him with the task of working and keeping it. To have a family that walks in God's blessing, we must understand that spiritual blessings have already been given to us in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3; 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
However, to see these blessings manifest in our lives and our homes, our obedience is necessary. The Bible, in Hebrews 6:8, teaches us that to obtain results, we must put in the effort: a field left to itself will produce only thorns and thistles, but if cultivated with diligence, it will bear fruit. We must work within our homes, guard them, and commit to plowing, sowing, watering, and harvesting. Blessings do not come suddenly but through our obedience, because God wants to work with us, not without us. Many would like God to act alone, but we must collaborate with Him for the good of our family. If we want a strong Church, we must first build strong families, as written in Genesis 2:15, where our task is to "work and keep" our family environment. In the book of Genesis, we find God's original intention, a perfect plan that was altered by man's fall. Jesus Himself, when asked a question about family, responded, "From the beginning, it was not so" (Matthew 19:8), showing that the divine order established at the beginning was very different from what we see today. To walk in God's blessing, it is necessary to return to the principles established in His Word, because "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35). This means that when we completely trust in God, we receive great blessings. The fall of man had serious consequences because Adam abdicated his authority, giving it to the woman, and from this mistake, disasters began. Many men today delegate the role of leadership to their wives, but the wife was not created to lead; rather, she was created to support. The Bible tells us that the serpent tempted Eve, knowing that by doing so, he would also cause Adam to fall because the authority had been entrusted to him.
Romans 5:12; 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The Law of God, which is His Word, is the most precious treasure we can receive.
John 1:1; 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
When we honor and obey the Word, we are honoring and obeying Jesus not a man, but the will of God. The Law was given by God, and we have also understood the reason why He established it:
-) To prevent rebellion: When we obey God, we do not become slaves to rebellion and do not fall into the snare of sin.
-) To prevent evil from spreading: Evil spreads when we distance ourselves from the Source, the Creator, the Almighty God.
The reason God does this is not because He wants to control our lives, but to spare us from the worst. Regarding this, Jesus said in Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” To live in peace and prosperity, we must return to the Word of God, which is the source of life. God cares about families and desires to restore them, and even though no family is perfect, every day we strive to improve, working to honor His will in our lives and homes so that we may enjoy His blessings. This teaching emphasizes that we should not seek to create a perfect family like the ones we see in advertisements, but rather be aware that perfection does not exist and that God looks at our willingness and desire for change in our hearts; if this is present, then change happens. Just as Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15), we too must make the same declaration. An Eastern researcher conducted a study in which, after speaking words of destruction over certain bottles of water, the water became undrinkable, while in others, where words of faith and life were declared, the water remained pure and drinkable. This experiment demonstrated that the words we speak impact our bodies, which are made up of approximately 60% water. Every time we speak destructive words, we send a message of death to our bodies, whereas every time we speak in agreement with God’s Word, we send a message of life and hope. Therefore, we must not agree with circumstances, but always with what God says in His Word, as written in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 18:21; 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
We must believe and speak with faith and hope, proclaiming the truth of God’s Word even in times of difficulty.
Mark 9:23; 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
We must declare that our children will obey God’s will and not focus on the dark picture of destruction, but align ourselves with the good that He has prepared for us. Let us learn to speak with faith, never agreeing with circumstances, because we believe and trust in God. We must never say, "I can't" or "I'm not good enough," but declare what He says in His Word.
Philippians 4:13; 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
If we trust in Him and place our lives in His hands, we can fulfill His will for us. Our family will not be perfect, but if we walk according to His Word and work diligently, we will improve day by day. God established laws through His Word and created order, but disorder appeared after Lucifer's rebellion, as described in Genesis 1:1-2, when the earth became formless and void. Yet, when God created, He made everything perfect. "The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters" (Genesis 1:2), and with His Word, He said, "Let there be light!" (Genesis 1:3). Even if there is darkness in our family, we must declare: "Let there be light in my home, let there be light in my family, let there be light in the name of Jesus!" The Holy Spirit is ready to move when He finds people speaking in agreement with God's will. The order that God has established is the right path to follow, not the one we desire. The freedom God has given us is not to do whatever we want but to do what is right, as He teaches us in His Word. That is why we must learn to discern between what we desire, what we prefer, and what is right to do. Our desires are often led by the flesh, but we must do what pleases God, what is right according to His will. We must not compromise the truth but submit to it, because following our emotions or doing what seems right to us can lead us into error. However, if we follow the truth, which is the Word of God, He will always sustain us.
Proverbs 14:12; 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
This verse reminds us that even if we think we are on the right path, if we are not submitted to God's will, we may make choices that lead us away from Him. It is essential to involve God in our decisions, especially in important ones like marriage. Young people should not seek a partner based only on appearance but someone who walks with God and is guided by His Word, because outward beauty is temporary, and what attracts us today may change over time. A man of God is not just any man but a spiritual leader of the family one who loves, leads, and provides for his loved ones. Likewise, a woman of God is not just a "good girl" but a woman who prays, has a strong spiritual life, and takes care of her home with wisdom. Many young people are influenced by temporary desires and physical attraction, but it is essential to submit to God's will and seek a partner who puts God first, as they will be a solid guide and support in life. God has established order in the family and all of creation so that there may be harmony, but what are the purposes of this order?
The First Purpose is: To Avoid Chaos and Confusion.
Living outside of God's divine order generates disorder, which leads to stress, anxiety, and disturbance both in daily life and in spiritual life. This disorder is also reflected in the family: if the husband does not take his role as leader, or if the wife dominates, chaos becomes inevitable. God is a God of order, and when we live according to His order, we can easily recognize disorder. Spiritual disorder brings jealousy, envy, and strife, as written in the Epistle of James:
James 3:16; 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
If we follow God's principles, everything returns to divine order, bringing peace and blessing. In the home, the head of the family has the responsibility of maintaining order, and if he does not fulfill this role, disorder reigns, demonstrating that living according to divine order brings protection and blessing, while chaos generates confusion. When we come to church, we do not choose the pastor, but we recognize the authority that God has established over our lives, just as in the family, where the husband has the final word. However, this is not a dictatorship, but an authority of blessing that is not imposed by force, but brings order and promotes good. Understanding the principles of authority helps us recognize that God has established a divine order that must be respected.
The Second Purpose is: To Transmit Life.
Order is not an end in itself, but it produces concrete effects: where there is order, there is life, while disorder generates stress, which can compromise our health; on the contrary, order brings the life of God, "Zoe." In an ordered marriage, life prospers, and by doing the right thing, we attract blessing, while disorder brings suffering and discomfort. Order is what allows us to live in peace and health, both in our homes and in our spiritual lives, generating life around us.
The Third Purpose is: To Establish Peace.
This is realized when, in an orderly home, each member knows their role and focuses on improving it, bringing serenity. You know, when marriage counseling is done, husbands and wives often accuse each other. The real question is: have we learned to focus on ourselves rather than on what the other should do? If we commit to doing our part, we will bring order and peace into our families.
Psalm 133:1-2; 1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
This is God's order.
Verse 2; 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Why the head? Because the anointing doesn’t rise from the feet, but descends from the head; the anointing and blessing always flow down from the head, and thus from the husband. If a sister has an unsaved husband, she should pray for him to surrender to Christ, because it is through him that the blessing flows into the house. The Bible says, "the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the wife is the husband," but God did not place the wife under the husband, but beside him. When there is order between husband and wife, the blessing flows to the whole family. Jesus said, "From the beginning, it was not so," so we must learn how things were in the beginning, as God established them. God has established the pastor in the church and the father in the family, and those who align with them walk in blessing, because our task is not to compete, but to unite with them to receive the blessing God has established. For this reason, if we are not married, we must prepare ourselves to be the best husband or wife, and if we are already married, we must strive even more. How many times do we bend our knees before God to pray for our home? Let us pray for our family and look at what is written in the book of Joshua:
Joshua 24:15; 15 … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
If you do not pray for your family, how can you serve the Lord? Put order in your life and pray for your family. Many do not recognize the value of the family that God has given us, and that is why they do not pray, but we need to pray for our home, our spouse, and our children, because prayer brings order to our lives. Let us now talk about boundaries, the limits that God has established in the order of the family and throughout creation. The boundary represents a restriction, a limit established by God to keep us in order, protecting and guiding us in the place He has chosen for us. For Adam, the limit was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, from which he was not to eat (Genesis 2:16-17), a divine command that, if ignored, would lead to death. Just as a road with a "no entry" sign protects us from dangers, the limit set by God is a protection for our lives. God established the limits for the sea, saying, "You can go this far, but no further," because if the sea surpassed this limit, it would cause disasters.
Proverbs 8:29; 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
In the same way, God sets limits for us to avoid disasters, giving us His Word which restrains us and grants us wisdom:
Proverbs 9:10; 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Obeying divine limits brings blessing, while ignoring them leads to ruin. Therefore, when it comes to marriage, it is crucial to respect the roles that God has established. Husbands should not reject the role of head of the house, and wives should not usurp a role that is not theirs, because the woman was created to be beside her husband, complementing him, but not to take his place; moreover, crossing these limits brings disorder and conflict. Outside of these limits, we become vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy, while God invites us to remain in the place He has chosen for us, to avoid danger and fulfill His purpose. If we stay in our divinely established role, we bear fruit, while deviating from it leads to failure. The man must be a husband and father, and the woman a wife and mother. Respecting these roles is essential to live according to God’s will and to avoid chaos and destruction. Just as God set limits on the sea to prevent it from exceeding its boundaries, He establishes limits to prevent us from self-destructing. The world today is going through a period of self-destruction because it has crossed the boundaries set by God. Another purpose of boundaries is to help us understand where God has placed us. Therefore, if He has placed us in a church or ministry, we should not seek another to satisfy temporary emotions. Outside the place established by God, spiritual life is lost. Indeed, if an apostle leaves his ministry or a pastor abandons his calling, he loses his anointing and authority. The same happens to a wife who shirks her role, or a husband who abandons his place. When Adam disobeyed and left the place God had set for him, he lost his authority, which was given to Satan. Similarly, when we move away from the place God has chosen for us, we lose the authority He has given us.
Genesis 2:18; 18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
What God affirms in this verse does not mean that the wife should compete with her husband, but that she should be a support to him. The wife’s help is like a prop that holds up the husband, not a force that opposes him. When husband and wife compete, it creates disorder and destruction. When the spirit of competition enters, disorder, chaos, and anarchy follow, and when these things are present, the family does not prosper, because the word, order, and limits are connected to prosperity and blessing. We jokingly say that, in the presence of family arguments, plates fly, and not just that, while God would like to make blessings fly in a family, in a house, and in our lives.
