Just days ago, I was praying for my grandchildren and felt the pain of leaving in the Rapture without them. I am praying in utter brokenness that it will not happen. The greatest accomplishment for Christian living is to have a Godly home and family. This is clearly the Biblical standard and the promise of the Lord. If your family is lost, you must accept the blame.

The Heavenly Father has made a covenant with every believer to save their family. Twice in one chapter of Acts of the Apostles, this covenant is confirmed. A woman named Lydia, a business woman who shows clear evidence of success, was converted at a riverside prayer meeting. The Scripture confirmed her faith, “And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, ‘if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there’. And she constrained us” (Acts 16:15).

Then Paul and Silas were cast in jail for their revival success in this city. At midnight, they were in stocks and bonds but still having revival. As they sang, an earthquake shook the jailhouse and they were set free of their stocks by a miracle of God. The jailer, who was about to kill himself, was thrilled to learn that no one escaped. He cried, “…what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30b). The apostle spoke in the Holy Ghost, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31).

Remember, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16). It is God’s perfect will to save your household, yet we must understand that we are part of the covenant. Every covenant is between two parties or more. God can keep His Covenant if you will keep His Covenant. The Bible plainly states, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). The Bible must be the textbook of your home.

The relationship of the mom and dad to each other must be based on the Book. A wimpy father or a dominant mother will wreak havoc in their home. The love of a man for the wife of his youth is the greatest factor of balance for this relationship. Fornication on the part of either will sow corrupt seed in that home that almost often never dies.

Separation of a father and mother opens the gates of hell to a family. In my entire life, I have never seen a case that did not spell broken lives, rebellion, and disaster for one or more of the children. No Christian couple has any Biblical right to even talk about divorce. Death is a million times better than divorce. The home of Bible-believing Christians must be a sanctified place. There is no room for shady books, CDs, DVDs, or questionable materials of any description. Occultic books or programs on the T.V. bring their spirit right into the home and minds of the family.

Do not allow sinners to bring their smoke or questionable drink in your home or in your yard. Cousins, uncles, aunts, or other family members that live together without marriage must not be allowed to sleep in your beds or even court on your premises. Kindly tell them about the purity that you hold before your family and most of them will understand or even come to conviction and be saved.

Teach your family respect for authority. Give your child’s teachers the perfect assurance of your support and do not allow the criticizing of authority at any level. You sow seeds of destruction when you question authority in front of your children.

The House of God must be a sacred place to your family. Even if your church is not perfect, you can teach your family to be faithful and love the House of God. They must be taught love for the Bible and faithfulness to tithe every dollar they receive. Give them a child’s allowance with a tithing envelope to place the tenth. No home can remain pure that exalts anything above the Bible, the House of God, and your minister.

This is only a foundation to start, but a good foundation. Build on it, add to it from the Scripture, and learn the mighty power of a family altar. Pray together by the Spirit and learn how to sing together when prayer time is over