PREACHING OF MARCH 30, 2025:
Mentor Antonio Genova
THE RESTORATION OF THE FAMILY PART 3
Today, in this service, we address the third part of the “Restoration of the Family,” a theme that concerns all of us. Even if we are not married, we must understand these truths for our own discipleship and to teach them to others, because the world and families are in need of this restoration. This topic is fundamental and must not be underestimated, because God cares about families, He blesses them and uses them as a testimony of the Gospel in our cities. Many of us, upon arriving at this church, thought we knew what it meant to be fathers and husbands, but through the teachings we have received over the past weeks, we realized how far we were from God’s will. Without these teachings, our marriages would have been marked by conflict and division, but aligning with the Word of God has been essential to experiencing blessing in our families. To restore means to bring everything back to its original condition, just as a restorer does with a piece of furniture damaged by time. God is our great Restorer, and with Him nothing is impossible; if we receive this revelation, we understand that the restoration of the family is possible. God promised that all families would be blessed through Abraham, and we, as his heirs, can already live out this blessing in our families, which has been granted to us in the heavenly places.
Genesis 12:3; 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
We can therefore declare by faith that we are blessed, that our family is blessed, and that in Christ Jesus we lack nothing. Even when reality seems to say otherwise, we must confess the Word; in fact, if today we are experiencing family conflicts or if our children are not yet converted, we must declare by faith: “… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). The Word works through our declarations, and silence hinders the manifestation of the blessing. Often, we do not see the blessing because of disobedience.
Genesis 22:18; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God’s Word teaches us to remain firm in the faith and shows us that obedience brings reward and blessing, while rebellion and disobedience lead to punishment and discipline. Marriage requires mutual commitment, and although there is no magic formula, there are essential steps to building and restoring the family. Let us now look at four of these essential steps for restoration:
First step: Open and honest communication.
Open and honest communication is fundamental in marriage because we must face problems without blaming each other, avoiding accusations that lead to emotional shutdown. Often, men avoid talking, thinking it’s pointless, but dialogue is essential in married life. It is necessary to practice active listening, understanding the needs of our spouse, following the teaching of God’s Word: “do to others as you would have them do to you,” because we all desire to be heard and must learn to listen before we speak. Women have a strong need to communicate; according to various studies, a woman speaks an average of around 20,000 words per day, while a man speaks between 7,000 and 10,000. This difference has been attributed to biological, social, and cultural factors, though more recent research suggests that personality and context play a greater role than gender. Regardless, it is essential to listen to our wife, because if we don’t, someone else might. A single social media interaction can form a connection that could lead to the breakdown of the marriage. If a woman feels unheard, she tends to repeat and expand the conversation, while when a man responds with “I have nothing to say,” he believes he’s closing the matter, but in fact, he’s prolonging it. Communication is key to avoiding division and misunderstandings. That’s why husband and wife must always seek each other’s good and find common ground, this forces the enemy to flee from our home. The family is the most challenging battlefield because we live daily with our spouse. The Word says that we must have our family in order in order to serve God.
1°Timothy 3:4-5; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Before serving others, we must set our own family in order, because if our home is in ruins, we cannot serve elsewhere. We must not allow walls and strongholds to rise between us and our spouse, because when communication breaks down, obstacles begin to pile up, making them harder to tear down.
Proverbs 18:19; 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
In marriage, offenses tend to accumulate, building barriers that are hard to tear down. The husband often forgets, while the wife tends to carry them in her heart for much longer. The most important bridge in marriage is communication, just as God demonstrated by breaking down the wall of separation between us and Himself through Jesus.
Ephesians 2:14; 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
If God has torn down the walls, we must not build any between us and our spouse, because the Word urges us to love and bear with one another in order to work together in the Kingdom of God. Men and women communicate differently: men focus on facts, while women express emotions and feelings. Although we are different, we must meet each other halfway to build a strong and blessed marriage.
Second step: Rebuilding trust.
Trust is fundamental in marriage, and once it is lost, it becomes difficult to rebuild. We must commit to being honest and transparent, avoiding lies and secrets that damage the relationship. If we have made mistakes, we need to decide not to fall into those behaviors again. Keeping promises strengthens trust, if we are not sure we can fulfill them, it’s better not to make them, because our spouse will remember them, even years later. Forgiveness is an essential principle, so we must learn to forgive from the heart, while resentment and bitterness are tools of the enemy. When God forgives, He no longer remembers our sins; if we revisit the issue with accusations, the forgiveness was not genuine. Forgiving is not a feeling, but a divine command we must obey in order to be free and serve God. In moments of anger, we should count to one hundred before speaking, this helps us avoid causing irreparable harm.
Third step: Rediscovering intimacy.
Rediscovering intimacy is essential in marriage because a busy lifestyle often leads us to neglect quality time together, forgetting that the main goal of marriage is sharing life. For this reason, we need to rediscover our common interests and what we need from one another. Times of connection are fundamental to talk, reflect, be together, and reconnect, even in physical intimacy. You see, sex is also blessed within marriage, and while it is not the most important part, it contributes to the fullness of married life.
1°Corinthians 7:5; 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
We must express affection and appreciation, showing love and gratitude through actions and words, because touch and kind words are the language of love. Women need to feel continually appreciated, and this strengthens the bond between husband and wife, helping to keep the marriage strong.
Fourth step: Strengthening and restoring the marriage.
Strengthening and restoring the marital bond requires commitment, patience, and a willingness to change, knowing that God deeply values our union. Our home should carry the fragrance of a pleasing aroma, of praise and worship, so that others may see the presence of God and be drawn to Him. Both spouses must be willing to examine themselves and work consistently to grow, using God’s Word as a mirror, which in these verses describes what a blessed family looks like:
Psalm 128:1-4; 1 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
We have the responsibility to be priests of our home, watching over what we allow to enter and leave. If we permit compromise and sin, we bring a curse upon our family; but if we walk in God's ways, we will receive blessings. God is love, but He is also a righteous judge; each person must accept the consequences of their actions, as the Word says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and those who fear Him will be blessed.” The wife, like a fruitful vine, brings blessing to the family, nurtures it with love, and teaches the children. The vine, rich in its fruit, produces grapes, from which wine comes a symbol of joy and abundance. Therefore, a blessed man finds in his wife praise and worship, not complaints; on the contrary, Scripture warns us by saying:
Proverbs 25:24; 24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Unfortunately, today, situations like these are a reality because where divine order is missing, many men prefer to stay out of the house to avoid family tensions. Children are compared to olive plants, a symbol of divine anointing. If we walk in the Lord’s ways as priests, living in praise and worship, God will bless our descendants, and the enemy will not be able to undermine our family. Just as the Israelites marked their doors with the blood of the lamb so that the angel of death would pass over, we must cover our home with the blood of Jesus to protect ourselves from the enemy’s attacks. We live in difficult times marked by wars and crises, and even God's people are affected by fear, but God’s Word is sure and unchangeable: if we call upon the protection of the blood of Jesus, no harm will come to us. Furthermore, God provides for His children: if we, as fathers, know how to give good things to our children, how much more will our Heavenly Father do for us? We must fight for our home, our marriage, and our children, not being passive, because prayer and faith are our weapons. God performs miracles and wonders, which are normal to Him, and we should not be amazed when they happen, but when they don’t. We must not give up but face difficulties with determination and trust, because a united marriage overcomes any challenge. Life's trials often become tools of the enemy to divide us, causing arguments and tensions. When problems arise, we tend to blame each other, losing sight of the value of our marriage, while the enemy rejoices, knowing he has achieved his goal. Sometimes we argue over trivial matters, like a high bill, instead of facing the situation together. We need to change our attitude, take our spouse’s hand, and say, “Let’s agree and pray,” because agreement in prayer brings God’s power, while accusing each other solves nothing and only adds more problems.
Matthew 18:19; 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Agreeing in prayer is incredibly powerful in the spiritual realm, and this is why the enemy seeks to divide us. Some may have an unconverted spouse, but we believe that God is restoring all things, including the salvation of every family member. If we pray with perseverance, even the hardest heart will open to God’s grace, and we must see our spouse as our primary prayer partner. Often, we rely on other brothers and sisters to pray for us, but it is crucial that our spouse becomes our first prayer partner, because those who pray together, stay together.
Ephesians 4:3; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Unity is not just about daily activities, but especially about the Spirit; in fact, when husband and wife are spiritually united, they release an extraordinary power that destroys the works of darkness.
Ephesians 4:13; 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Prayer with faith moves mountains, destroys obstacles, and transforms suffering into glory through the power of God. The only key to withstand the enemy's snares is perseverance in the prayer of agreement between husband and wife. We must work to restore our marriage, but the devil will try to make us fall back into old patterns, pushing us to argue and making us believe that every effort is in vain. God has placed a divine calling on our lives, and no force of evil can stop us; if we stand firm in faith and persevere in prayer, He will fulfill His plan for us. For our part, we must stay strong and declare with determination that God's purpose for our lives is a blessed family, committing ourselves to achieve it at any cost. The world needs a revival, and God wants to build strong families that can establish strong churches capable of shaking the kingdom of darkness and shaming the works of the devil. This sense of responsibility drives us to grow, to level up, quickly getting on the right path. We must have passion for this goal, protecting our marriage from the enemy, working on it and strengthening it so that it becomes an impenetrable fortress. Now, to conclude, consolidating the marriage is the hardest part, because restoring it is like a conquest: without consolidation, there is a risk of losing what has been gained. We all need to restore our marriages, because without Christ, the enemy has shattered our bond, but thanks to God, we can restore it. Once restored, the marriage must be consolidated with concrete steps, guarding our garden so it remains strong and safe, protecting it from the enemy. A stable marriage is like an oak tree that endures, a ship that doesn't sink, a mountain that doesn't collapse, a bond that time cannot tarnish; the key to all of this is Christ at the center of our home. Daily routines can easily make us forget who should be at the center of our marriage: our Lord Jesus Christ, the hope of glory for our marriage. We must never lose sight of Him; every day we must cultivate a personal relationship with God, inviting Jesus into our life and marriage, because, as a true gentleman, He waits for our invitation. There is a biblical episode that teaches us how easy it is to lose Jesus: Mary and Joseph, despite having kept Jesus, lost Him along the way. We too can lose sight of Jesus due to the distractions of life. In Luke 2:41, it is told how Mary and Joseph, during their journey to Jerusalem, realized after a day of travel that Jesus was not with them, initially assuming He was in the group. We cannot live on assumptions, nor should we presume that Jesus is automatically in our home just because we welcomed Him in the past; we must invite Him every day actively into our married life.
