WOW! I have taken a hiatus recently from posting...SORRY! It's been crazy around here, so it's been difficult. But, I'm going to try to get back on track now! Here is the 2nd post for the study on Connect... FAMILY!
When Jesus says in the Bible that we are to be connected to vine... we are the branches, and it's to bear MUCH fruit! I believe there are 4 areas in our lives that must be connected to the vine of the Kingdom in order to see life-changing fruit. Family, Finances, Faithfulness, and Friendships - the 4 Keys to Kingdom Fruit!
FAMILY:
A lot of times in marriage, the spouse is the most obvious portion, but the most overlooked. It's easy in life to many times, underappreciate, undervalue, and even ignore our spouse during the context of marriage. In order to see marriage restored in America today, we must begin to appreciate, love, and value our spouse again. That's the reason that divorce rates are on the rise, less kids understand the context of marriage, and society downplays the longevity of marriage - because we are not producing the MUCH fruit that God promised. Why? Because we are no longer connected to the vine.
Proverbs 18:22 > our wives and even husbands must are a blessing to us! Marriage isn't supposed to be a burden, but a blessing. The reason it has become a burden is simply because we don't treat the spouse with the appreciation of a precious jewel. Our actions/reactions, our speech, our dress, and even sex all speaks volumes to your spouse about your value of them. When we connect not only our marriage but our spouse to the Kingdom Vine, we can bear GREAT fruit that people would love to taste!
Here are some other verses about marriage: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, Ephesians 5:25-28, Genesis 2:24
Kids are also brought into the mix when we begin to connect our families to the Kingdom Vine. Your kids were NOT an accident, and you did not just HAPPEN to become their parents. It was all planned from the beginning. Your greatest, most important ministry doesn't happen at church or work, but at home! (1 Timothy 3:4-5) We must be able to lead our first ministry, home, before we can lead another ministry away from home. The discipline we offer our kids, the direction, and the guidance we offer them must first be connected to the Vine!
I cannot expect my son to grow up loving God, if in my home I haven't made it a priority, fun, or even respectable. Bishop Greg Amos once told me "What you allow on your platform will reproduce itself in your people." I would like to tweak that for home, what we allow in our homes, will reproduce itself in your kids. Connect your kids to the Vine... if you don't like the fruit, change the Vine!
Additional verses: Ephesians 6:1-3, Ephesians 6:4
The structure of our families must also be connected to the Kingdom Vine. If I make decisions without asking God first, I'm making a ME decision, not a HE decision. The structure must be a Kingdom structure... now I know this may not be popular but it's biblical, MEN you are the head of your house! Women, you are to submit and support the man. Men: you are held responsible for the structure and guidance of your family. You are responsible to connect your family to the Vine of the Kingdom. Ladies, it's not your biblical responsibility to overrule or override your mans decision. HE is the spiritual authority placed by God in your family. You must both work together in making the decisions, but the man is the authority. (Don't get mad at me, it's biblical... Ephesians 5:23-24 - this is not a plea to downplay women's roles in life.)
Additional verses: Proverbs 11:29, 1 Timothy 3:4-5, Ephesians 5:23-24
If we, as Kingdom Seekers, want to see the fruit of family in our lives, churches, and society we must connect to the proper vine. We have connected our families to the vine of friendship, laziness, and society for too long. We must stand up and begin to connect to the vine of the Kingdom! God promises us if we connect to the Kingdom Vine we will see MUCH fruit - MUCH being abundant! Let's connect today!
What does it look like for you to connect your family to the Vine?
What do you need to change in your life to connect to the Vine?
What are some thing you can begin doing TODAY to connect to the Vine?
