“Christian parents who don’t have daily family devotions and don’t make time to build a solid Christian foundation to their children’s impressionable years should not be mystified when the children, in their teenage years, turn from the things of God.”
~ The Evidence Bible, Compiled by Ray Comfort
All sin, whether large or small, is rebellion against the ethical and moral standards of God which He has revealed in His Holy Bible.
However, there are some sins that require more drastic measures of discipline. This is to provide protection for the family and to help the offender understand the seriousness of his/her actions of sin and rebellion. The offender should be given clear understanding that mercy and forgiveness are lovingly offered based on sorrowful repentance.
The advice Paul wrote concerning the serious fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5:1-9 regarding his removal from the church family has similar application to the individual family. His being removed from the church with the purpose that his spirit would “be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” was effective to bring this man to compete repentance and ultimate restoration to the church family (2 Corinthians 2:6-11).
All such actions should only be done in the spirit of meekness and in the fear of God.
The parable of the prodigal son would not have ended with the beautiful repentance and father’s forgiveness if the father had forbidden his rebellious son to leave home. The father’s home would never have been the peaceful, righteous, godly atmosphere as previously if the rebellion was overlooked and tolerated.
The rebellious son would never have come to his senses, with repentance and godly sorrow, if he had been encouraged to remain at home in his rebellion.
The mercy, love, and forgiveness displayed by the father who ran towards his repentant homecoming son would not have happened.
Tolerance toward evil never helps to get rid of it!
However, the father never hardened his heart against his son. He watched and watched and waited for his return.
Herein lies the wisdom of God in the dealing with a rebellious son or daughter.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
The compassionate heart of fathers and mothers towards their wayward children must somehow and some way be felt by the erring child. Hardness and rejection on behalf of parents often tends to broaden the divide. Much prayer, wisdom, and discretion is needed.
What should parents do with an older teenager who, for whatever excuse, declares themselves homosexual? Should they be allowed to remain in the family home? What impact would that have on the other siblings as well as the godly atmosphere of the home?
The same question can be asked concerning drugs, alcohol, and pornography. Or even a husband or wife involved in adulterous affairs.
The parents (in a spirit of meekness) should seriously admonish the guilty party toward repentance (2 Timothy 2:25). They must give understanding to the offender of how God views their rebellious conduct--firstly against God, and secondly the parent’s family values. The parents must also give clear understanding that they have a God-given mandate to protect the sanctity of the family home as well as the other siblings in the home.
To protect the sanctity of the family’s Christian values, the offender must understand that unless they repent, they cut themselves off from the family home, which of course, you do not want to happen.
If they are working and making their own money, they must know that unless they repent within a reasonable period provided by the parents they must move and out and put their rebellious sin under their own roof.
You will tell them that you will continue to always love them and pray for them. You could also arrange to meet with them as parents at regular times at a certain place, e.g. a coffee bar to encourage them to turn away from their sin. But not in your own home.
They should also see your compassionate heart and know that their actions bring great grief and weeping to your heart.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
James 5;16: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Men, the only way to have our hearts turned towards our children to the degree that God looks for can only happen through prayer.
If our hearts are not concerned for our children,
if we do not care much about the choices they make in life,
if we do not earnestly endeavor to come alongside them to encourage them in the right direction,
if we are indifferent towards their need of help (whatever that may be),
if we allow them to do whatever they want, go wherever they wish, watch and read whatever they want, and keep whatever company they desire,
if we try to do the right thing, but because of constant resistance we give up for the sake of peace,
if we find our hearts growing cold and indifferent towards them,
if we have given up earnestly praying for them—
WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE POWER OF EARNEST PRAYER!
Before we can expect the right changes to take place in our children’s hearts and lives, we need to first have our own hearts softened and turned toward them. Our own hardness of heart towards them, because of their rebellion etc., can be the biggest hindrance to our children’s hearts being turned back to God’s ways.
I am not staying we should not be resistant towards sin (their sin and our own). However, what I am saying is that our children must FEEL and know more than ever our tender love toward them. Unfortunately, I often find that our severity and abhorrence towards their sin can be the biggest barrier to their healing and restoration. I believe we must never allow hardness to overtake our loving hearts. For this we must pray earnestly.
Our own attitude towards sin must never hinder our love for the sinner.
James 5:15 states: “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON. WE ARE DRIVING IN A DARK WORLD!
The hearts of the fathers are turned toward their children when the light of their spirits is turned on!
1 John 1:6, 7 says: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Men, just as it is impossible for us to have true fellowship with other Christians if we are in any way walking in darkness (dark lusts of the flesh), even so it is impossible to have heart and spirit fellowship with our own family (wife and children), if we allow ourselves to be caught up in any type of darkness.
Proverbs 20:27 says: “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
Men who watch pornography or look lustfully upon the opposite sex cause God’s light in their spirits to be extinguished. When the light of the Lord does not shine through our spirits, it is impossible to have true fellowship with one another.
The light of God shining through our spirits, unhindered by hidden sins, is important beyond measure to the wellbeing of our wives and families.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
10. YOU WILL HAVE A PRAYING HEARTMen, I believe it is impossible for anyone to have their hearts turned toward children as God intends without heart-felt praying. Of course, there are some unbelieving parents that often put some Christians to shame in the way they love their children. Shame on us! Despite these inconsistencies, I think we would agree that our own Christian culture, for a multitude of reasons, is suffering enormously because of broken parent/child relationships.
While we continue to shed innocent blood like an ever-flowing river of evil through abortion, how can we say that our hearts are turned to children? Are we any different to Islamic extremists who say they love their children and yet allow explosives to be strapped to their innocent bodies to be blown up in a crowded supermarket?
Our new President Elect is careful in appointing good people to major cabinet positions and we rejoice as we see the stock market “going through the roof.” However, the blood of the innocent continues to flow. We need to pray and urge our churches and government to drain this morally evil part of our national swamp. We must pray for the sake of our nation’s innocent children, both unborn and born, that God will be gracious unto us and take away from us all the hardness of heart.
By putting jobs and economy first rather than the moral foundation of the priceless value of innocent blood in the sight of our loving and yet holy God, we will make a grave mistake. Like everybody else, I want to see our nation prosper, but not at the expense of innocent blood. Even the appointment of Supreme Court justices in the moral mindset of Anthony Scalia will not necessarily stop wholesale abortion, although it will help.
It will take tenacity and courage to turn the tide. This means heart-felt praying!
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
9) IT WILL BE REVEALED THROUGH YOUR EYES continuedf) ENCOURAGING EYES are the opposite of being critical and condemning. Instead, they convey to your child that you believe they can make it through the tests and disciplines of life. Even when the child fails, your eyes will not convey a sense of hopelessness and failure, but rather a look of encouragement and optimism to try again.
g) PURE EYES look for righteousness. Pure eyes will not look upon evil. No man can look righteously at his wife and daughters if his eyes look at pornography. God is calling His men to have pure eyes that are full of light.
The description of Jesus in Revelation 1:14; 2:18; and 19:12 describes his eyes as “a flame of fire.” Daniel’s vision reveals His eyes as “lamps of fire” (Daniel 10:6).
Conversely, icy, cold eyes reveal that our hearts have not yet been turned toward God’s heart for children. This includes indifferent eyes, uninterested eyes, critical eyes, unloving eyes, prideful eyes, and dishonest and lying eyes.
Shifty eyes cannot be trusted. Flattering eyes also cannot be trusted. Eyes that will not look you full in the face signify dishonesty. Winking eyes denote trickery. Flirting eyes promote unholy relationships. Unholy eyes are full of lust.
Let’s live in God’s presence and in His Word to keep pure eyes.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
9. IT WILL BE REVEALED THROUGH YOUR EYESa) LOVING EYES reveal love even when it is not deserved. Every child should see the message of love in your eyes. No question about it.
b) ADORING EYES go a step further than loving eyes. Adoring eyes reveal a special attraction to the object of attention (the son of your own bowels). God spoke of His own son: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Adoring eyes are devoted and intimate eyes in a godly sense. The Scriptures speak of God’s people as “the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8).
c) ATTENTIVE EYES are more than willing to give attention to the child that seeks your attention.
d) MERCIFUL AND COMPASSIONATE EYES are the eyes of a parent that are more than willing to forgive. They are more than willing to identify with the pain of the hurt or offended one. The father of the prodigal son revealed merciful and compassionate forgiveness in his eyes towards his repentant son.
e) LONGING EYES reveal the longing cry of the parent’s heart for the wayward child who has lost their way. They reveal remorse and disapproval of the sinful behavior of their loved one, yet at the same time, their hearts cry out to God for their child to turn back to the way of truth.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
8. SMILE AT YOUR CHILDREN
When your heart is turned toward your children, you will find yourself smiling at them more. A loving smile does wonders, even when child does not deserve it. A smile of agreement and approval always gives encouragement. A knowing smile gives comfort and assurance to a child who needs to overcome insecurity and uncertainty.
Smiling lights up your home and family. Smiling is the language of love. Smiling that comes from spirit that is in a healthy relationship with the indwelling Christ can melt the hardest rock and break the most solid ice.
Many times, when words don’t bring healing to deepening wounds, why not try smiling? Too many religious Christians think that smiling and laughing are too worldly, frivolous, and carefree and that Christianity is a pious, straight-faced business. Just look at some of the older generation photographs.
And yet smiles are the most healing of all influences. They are also very contagious.
Hebrews 1:9 gives a testimony of Jesus: “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." He was full of joy, gladness, and smiles more than anyone else!
Be encouraged to smile more in your home,
Colin Campbell
3. CONDUCT FAMILY DEVOTIONS WITH YOUR FAMILY
2 Timothy 3:15 says: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Be concerned for the over-all well-being of your children. This means their spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. Be concerned enough to earnestly bring about positive and constructive changes.
4. WATCH OVER YOUR CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING
This means their spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. Be concerned enough to earnestly bring about positive and constructive changes.
5. BE RELATIONAL TO YOUR CHILDREN
Take time to converse in a positive, friendly way, as regularly as possible, depending upon the age of your children. In most cases, daily.
6. SHOW GENUINE INTEREST IN THE THINGS THAT INTEREST YOUR CHILDREN
Talk to them about the books they like to read, the hobbies they enjoy, their sporting activities, the food they love to eat, the wholesome movies they like to watch, the friends they have, and much more.
7. TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO FUN PLACES
Take your little children to places where they can have fun on the swings and slides etc. Take them for walks in the woods and around the rocks at the beach. Take them to creeks and caves.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
2. A TURNED HEART INVOLVES CHANGED PRIORITIES
Next to God, who is without doubt the highest priority, a man’s wife and family is his highest priority.
1 Timothy 5:8 says: “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” Even though a man may mentally agree with the high degree of family priority, it may not necessarily translate into action. It takes more than agreement to accomplish the result. A man who has a bad valve in his heart may agree with his doctor that he needs an operation. However, his agreement must be backed up with action to get the job done.
James 1:22-25 says: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
It takes the divine Elijah anointing to turn hearts. Malachi 4:5, 6 says: “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
Just as mental agreement is not sufficient to make one a good parent, desire can also be insufficient unless we submit our desires to God’s enabling. Agreement and desire both need to be bathed before God in earnest prayer.
Some men think that so long as God sees they AGREE that parenting should be a high priority and they DESIRE to be a better parent, that this should be enough. And yet they still drop their children off at daycare centers. They continue to let the state (with all its ungodly, worldly agenda, plus the uncontrolled peer pressure of the playground) teach their children. There is something wrong with this mindset.
Mental agreement and uncommitted desires that do not result in righteous actions to materialize godly priorities will not “cut it” in these critical days.
It is high time for each one of us who call ourselves Christian parents to take a fresh stock on just how our top priorities affect our families, right now.
Is there anything today in my life that hinders my family from being my highest priority, next to God?
Be encouraged,
Colin Campbell
1. POSITIVE ATTENTION VERSUS NEGATIVE ATTENTIONThere is something seriously wrong when a father is so absorbed in himself, his own interests or needs that he shows very little attention to the emotional and physical needs of his children.
Some fathers think that so long as they provide the financial needs of their family, that is all that is required of them. There are some fathers who have succumbed to the entitlement mentality that the world owes them everything, that they do not have any responsibility to find a job and diligently work for their own needs, as well as their wife and family. Such men are not worthy to be called fathers. They have grown up with a deceived mentality.
While fathers need to be at some form of employment, they miss the mark if they do not see the importance of positively imparting into the lives of their children. Ephesians 6:4 states: “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up (don’t pull them down) in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Children need the positive influence of both parents daily.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
Isaiah 49:15: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”
Men, it is imperative to guard our hearts, so they will be alert and sensitive to the needs of our children. The end time Elijah revival is primarily about the “turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers" (Malachi 4:6).
How sad that we live in an age of such disintegration of parental love for their own children. Divorce creates great havoc in multitudes of Christian families, turning the hearts of the children away from one or even both parents. One of the greatest gifts parents can give to their children is a very loving and secure marriage. This creates a stabilizing sense of security that every child deserves. Children born out of wedlock in a relationship where they refuse to get married does not provide an environment of loving, parental care and protection.
All these things stint the heart relationship that can only come from hearts that have been truly turned by God toward children (their own children and embracing God’s heart toward children). This enables the children to have their own hearts turned to their parents.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
Malachi 4:6: “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” Scripturally speaking, the heart is the center of affections and feelings. It is the storehouse of love, loyalty, valued relationships, and all that we hold dear.
We say that people have “no heart” who are cold, withdrawn, and indifferent.
To have a heart of love and affection for children and family is a very godly, noble, and honorable thing. Man’s heart is the garden of the Lord. God has innately put into the hearts of fathers and mothers the instinct to love their children and to do what is best for them. To sacrifice for them, to provide, nurture and sustain them (emotionally, physically, and spiritually) to the best of their ability. There is something radically wrong with parent’s hearts when they are cold, unloving, and uncaring towards their own offspring.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
Painting by Carol Marine
“God Forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).
“I exhort therefore, that, first, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty . . .” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Pray daily. Pray individually, and pray corporately as a family for Donald Trump, our President Elect:
1. That he will personally seek God. Pray that instead of being a man of the flesh, he will become a man of the Spirit. 2 Chronicles 26:5 says of Uzziah: “As long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.”
2. That he will seek God for:
a. Wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:7-10).
b. Godly counsel
c. Humility before God and man
d. Righteousness
3. That he will choose righteous people to take the key positions in our federal government, cabinet, Supreme Court, etc. Mike Pence is heading up the transition.
4. That he will be fearless and strong against all national and international ungodly, unjust, liberal agendas, especially foreign policies; and that all government corruption will be exposed and dealt with.
5. That he will not compromise on all matters of importance, e.g. life (against abortion and euthanasia), Common Core, national security, Obama Care, Israel, border control, military, etc.
6. That he will continually have his eyes opened to God’s ways. That he will have discernment between good and evil, right and wrong, clean and unclean, e.g. homosexual agenda. Ezekiel 44:23 states: “They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Read also Jeremiah 15:9 and Ezekiel 22:6.
7. That God will give divine protection over him and his family, Mike Pence and his family. Pray against assassins.
8. That he will take the office of the presidency seriously (not casually), and be a godly example to the nation and the world.
9. That he will be a great example for good, that he will be respected both at home and abroad, and that his enemies will shut their mouths.
10. That he will be gracious and kind, but bold and strong when appropriate.
Keep praying,
Colin Campbell
Millions of God-fearing people prayed around the world the night of the elections. It was a miraculous deliverance from a government sold out to an agenda of extreme socialism, big government, legalization of moral perversions (such as abortion and homosexuality) and anti-American constitutionalism. This nation was about to go over the cliff and down into the abyss of anti-Christ extreme liberalism and moral bankruptcy.
God, in His great mercy heard our prayers and gave us another window of His mercy and grace. We were so close to losing without God’s divine intervention.
You may remember from my earlier writings during the time of the primaries that I did not endorse Trump, but voted for Ted Cruz. However, that was not to be. In the end, it came down to the fact that we had to vote for a conservative or extreme liberal agenda. God knows what He is doing far beyond our finite minds and has given us a man who will make things happen. But ultimately He saved us from disaster.
Many prophetic words have come to God’s people (some of these given a long time ago) stating God would give Trump for president and that he would be like a Cyrus who helped the people of God, even though he was a heathen. Read Isaiah 45 of God’s word to Cyrus, the king of Persia. God says to him: “I have even called there by thy name . . . though thou hast not known me.” (It’s interesting that Trump will be our 45th President).
The day before the election I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart: “Colin, if I give you Trump, will you be faithful to pray for him every day?” I was taken aback. Could I do this in my own strength? I answered, “Yes, Lord, only by your grace.”
I believe we must all arise against every entrenchment of the devil and apply ourselves with earnest and heart-felt prayers, coupled with every endeavor to live a godly lifestyle that will impact the nation and the world.
Will you join with me in praying for our President Elect every day? This is a man who walked in the flesh. However, as God’s people arise and pray, he can become a man who walks in the Spirit. Imagine what can happen to our nation and the world if every God-fearing Christian interceded for him every day?
I will write a separate post with 10 points to pray for Trump. You can print this off and keep it in your Bible, or of course, keep it on your iPhone to remind you.
We must also pray against any evil agenda Obama would seek to enforce in his last 90 days of office. Pray for God’s divine protection.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
My heart is filled with gratitude to God this morning for the historical win of President Elect Donald Trump in this 2016 presidential elections. As some of you know, I fasted and prayed for Senator Ted Cruz to win the GOP nomination. I loved his uncompromising stand for truth and righteousness. However, after he was dropped from the race, I had to re-examine my personal preferences and look at the bigger picture. Rather than voting for Donald Trump versus Ted Cruz etc., I felt obligated to vote for the Republican agenda which is light years ahead on conservative, godly values than the liberal, ungodly, extreme socialist agenda of Hilary Clinton and the Democrat party.
One thing above all that President Elect Donald Trump espouses in his agenda for Americans is victory for pro-life through the appointment of conservative pro-life judges to the Supreme Court. The slaughter of 50 - 60 million unborn babies since Roe v. Wade, including partial birth abortions, smears the ground of our beautiful country with innocent blood. This blood cries out for justice to the God of all justice.
Even more importantly, abortion sends a strong message to God that we do not believe that every baby He creates in the womb has the right to be born. Or have the opportunity through hearing and receiving the gospel message, to be conformed into the image and likeness of God. Abortion is a slap in the face of our creative God who wants his righteous image to be fruitful and multiplied.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is for every person in the whole word, no matter what color, location, or culture. Every baby born into this world should have the privilege to hear the gospel at least once in their lifetime. The declaration of the truth found only in Jesus has the power to transform every man and woman, and boy and girl into the image and likeness of God.
We received a great victory for life last night. Let’s be encouraged to pick up our swords and continue the fight for life.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
Many Christians who say they believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God fail to realize that God’s first mandate for all husbands and wives to be fruitful and multiply. It is just as important today as it was to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
“Why is it important?” you ask. It’s all about the image and likeness of God. How amazing that God should entrust to frail human beings the propagation of His glorious likeness and image.
I wonder how many Christians have stopped, or even paused to ask themselves these questions: What is His likeness and image? Why is it so important to take time to prioritize this subject?
Some may think that God’s image is His business and not ours. Surely there are other things about God that are more important. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Our very existence in this world is primarily for this express purpose. We should look and act entirely different to the way the world looks and acts.
Are we a clear revelation to this needy world of how God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit looks and acts like? Wouldn’t this world be a better place to live in if the image and likeness of God was multiplied and manifested everywhere—in all its glory and clarity? A thousand times, yes.
Is it possible that every child born to a Christian couple and raised in the ways of God, born again, and filled with the Holy Spirit could be like a great neon sign, showing to the world the image of God? Absolutely, yes. Your street, your family, your city, your country, and your world would be far better off with the multiplication of God’s image and likeness. God’s love, His truth, mercy, holiness, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, and all His virtues are what it is all about.
It all begins with a newborn baby being raised in the ways of God. And why would we stop with only one? We need to multiply God’s image with two, three, four, or however many God plans to give us. This truth needs to be shouted from the roof tops.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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