The Family Under Attack

Scripture: Gen. 1:22

Title: “The Family Under Attack”

Introduction: The Attack on the “World Trade Center” was very visible. Everyone has been alarmed and angered by this “WICKED” act. We have viewed it over and over on Television. The results of this awful attack has been devastating. Multiple thousands of families have been torn to pieces and plunged into despair.

 The term, “A Different Kind of Enemy” has resounded over and over in my mind.

 A “Different Kind of War” also has echoed over and over in my mind. We weren’t prepared for this kind of holocaust.

 But there is another “Attack” that has been going on for many, many years that is almost undetected. There is an “All-out” attack on the “Families” of our country.

 The American Family is one of our most VALUABLE ASSETS!

 The “Master Mind” of this attack is none other that “Satan” himself.

I. SATAN’S STRATEGY – (The Battle for the Mind)

a. Satan seeks to “Destroy” our families and churches by “Seducing” our children away from their parents and from God.

b. When you control a person’s thinking you control the person!

c. Our minds are subjected to an “Endless” stream of sinful thoughts from worldly movies, books, and Television.

d. Satan is an “Expert” at injecting thoughts into your mind. – Out of a survey of 286 students of a Christian High School these results were gained:

 45% said they have experienced a “presence” (seen or heard) in their room that scared them.

 59% said they’ve harbored bad thoughts about God.

 43% said they find it mentally hard to pray & read their Bible.

 69% reported hearing “voices” in their head, like there was a subconscious voice talking to them.

 22% said they frequently entertain thoughts of suicide.

 74% think they are different than others (“It works for others but not for me”).

e. Satan doesn’t march into your lives with a brass band, but he comes as a “Deceiver.”

f. Satan worms his way into people’s lives through “opportunities” that they present to him.

g. Satan does his crafty work because people have not been taught much about him.

II. GOD’S PLAN FOR THE FAMILY

a. God created the man FIRST! – Then he created the woman to be a COMPANION and a COMPLIMENT to the man.

b. God designed man & woman to have a desire for each other. (Gen. 2:24) “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” – (Gen. 3:16) “ …..your desire will be for your husband, he will be your master.”

c. (Gen. 1:22) “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:”

d. (Prov. 22:6) “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

– Training is done by EXAMPLE.

e. (Eph. 6:1-3) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

f. (Eph. 6:4) “And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.”

– There are TWO kinds of DICIPLINE, “Positive” & “Negative.”

– Many children have been driven away from their families by mistreatment.

III. FAMILY VALUES.

a. On Monday September 11, 2001 there were people fighting against praying in schools – On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying.

b. On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property – On Tuesday the same people all said, ‘God help us all’ while thinking, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’

c. On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room – On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids.

d. Divorce is up 700% this century, thus many single parents.

– Both spouses working.

– The kids always suffer.

– Disintegrating families pass on their troubles to next

generation.

e. We are reaping the after-effects of allowing our “Society” to set our value system. – Much like Lot did during his stay in “Sodom.” (Gen. 13:12 “Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

f. Families can set their own values. (Joshua 24:1) “Choose”

– Joshua - "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."

g. Values Christian families should have.

– Commitment to love.

– Positive actions.