Who is....... My Family? (370) - October 3 2026

Although the holidays are approaching for some, many cannot celebrate with family. Why? Because of sickness, political parties and religious beliefs have caused change within the family.

Many look around and say, “Who is my family?” Families used to have the same belief systems in general, and the ability to stay together. For believers a new spiritual family arises, those who do the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ.
 
 This program covers the following Scriptures from the Amplified Classic version (AMPC): Romans 8:7-9, Matthew 10:36, Matthew 10:32-38, Genesis 4:8, 1 Samuel 16:10, Genesis 37:3-4, Genesis 37:20-25, Matthew 12:50, Mathew 26:14-16, Mark 14:43-46, Matthew 26:47-56, Luke 22:47-53, Luke 6:27-28, Romans 12:17-21.

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(Transcribed by TurboScribe. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) And a good day to everyone. This is Catrice and I'll be bringing you the message today. Today's program is who is my family and who are my friends? Who is my mother and who are my brothers? That is the name of the message that I'm bringing you today. And I'm bringing it to you for a reason, because a lot of people do not have mother and father, sister, brother, and they don't have those things to cling to during these times. And I know that the holidays are sometimes one of those moments that people go to their family and they want to spend time with their family. But God is bringing you a new family. He's bringing you new friends while he's working on your family and reconciling them. But we have to begin to have understanding for these times that are occurring and that rest in God that he knew what was going to happen during these times. And he's made provision for you in advance. Before we move further, I just wanted to say that all scripture is coming from the amplified classic version of the Bible in case you are wanting to follow along. As this message goes out today, many have lost their loved ones. Some due to COVID, some to disagreements, some due to election voting that's here in the States, and some due to belief systems. Some losses were spiritual, meaning as you who believe draw closer to Christ, praying and fasting, doing the work of the ministry, some people who you called family or important in your life became sensitive to your beliefs. Are your family and friends sensitive to Jesus in your life? Are they sensitive to the things that Jesus represents because their lives are carnal? Did you know that in Romans 8 verses 7 to 9, it says, because the minds of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God for it does not submit itself to God's law. Indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh, catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature cannot please or satisfy God or be acceptable to him. But you are not living the life of the flesh. You are living the life of the spirit. If the Holy Spirit of God really dwells within you, directs and controls you. But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. He does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God. Wow. Many can say, Lord, Lord, but it is those who do not say anything, but just believe. There is no particular reason why some family members, acquaintances, coworkers, people you know are mad or distant towards you. They have no reason. They just don't like you now. Something is different about you. Does this sound familiar? In Matthew 10 verse 36, it says, and a man's foes will be they of his own household. So let's dive into that deeper and let's look at Matthew 10 verses 32 to 38. It says, therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, so this is talking about Jesus, and confesses me out of the state of oneness with me, I will acknowledge him before my father who is in heaven and confess that I am abiding in him. But whoever denies and disowns me before men, I also will deny and disown him before my father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword for I have come to part asunder a man from his father and a daughter from her mother and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law and a man's foe will be they of his own household. He who loves and takes more pleasure in the father or mother more than in me is not worthy of me. And he who loves and takes more pleasure in a son or a daughter more than in me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow me cleaves steadfastly to me, conforming wholly to my example in living and if need be in dying also is not worthy of me. So what Christ is saying is that he's come here and he knows that during these end times he knew that it was going to be division, that the word is dividing, right? Because Jesus Christ is the word. It says in the Bible, in the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God. So Jesus is the word of God and the word of God divides rightly, especially during these times. So we're just talking about righteousness being divided from unrighteousness and sometimes the dividing line lands in your family. It lands in between friends, it lands in between coworkers, and that's exactly what is going on here. So just so that you know you are not imagining things, here are some examples in the Bible to use as references to the same current situation occurring in some people's lives right now. Family and friends that just are not okay with their brother because God is with them. Let's take a look at Cain and Abel. So this story takes place in Genesis four and we're going to particularly looking at verse eight. And just to give you a little background on this so that you can actually go and just read the entire story yourself, I just have to shorten it for time purposes. This story is about two brothers who made an offering to the Lord. God was only pleased with one of the brother's offerings who offered the best they had. The other brother became jealous of his brother who gave his best. So this brings us to Genesis four, verse eight. And Cain said to his brother, let us go out to the field. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. So this is just one example of rivalry within the family because God is for one and the other offering was displeasing to the Lord. Let's take a look at King David and his family. And to do that, we're going to go to first Samuel 16, verse 10. But again, let me give you a little bit of background on this story so that when I'm reading the verse, you have understanding because again, for time purposes, the entire story is too long to actually fit in here, but I just need to tell you of this story just for the purposes of what we're talking about. So God tells the prophet Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as king. And again, this is first Samuel 16, verse 10. Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. So Samuel was already at the house and Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, the Lord has not chosen any of these. So then verse 11, then he said to Jesse, are all your sons here, Jesse? Jesse said, there is yet the youngest. He is tending the sheep. Samuel said to Jesse, send for him for we will not sit down to eat until he is here. Jesse sent and brought him. David had a healthy reddish complexion and beautiful eyes and was fine looking. The Lord said to Samuel arise, anoint him. This is he. Verse 13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Rama. One of the last examples that I'm going to give you is Joseph in the Bible. To look at Joseph's story, we're going to go to Genesis 37 verses three to four to start. And it says, now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children. So we can see here that Joseph is the son of Israel. And he loved him more than all of his children because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a distinctive long tunic with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than all of his brothers, they hated him and could not say peace in friendly greeting to him or speak peaceably to him. So let's move on to Genesis 37 verse 20. We're just moving further down into the story. And in this one, Joseph's brothers are speaking and they're saying, so come on now, let us kill him and throw his body into some pit. This is Joseph's brothers speaking about what they want to do to Joseph. So they're saying, so come let's kill him and let's throw his body into some pit. Then they will say to our father, some wild ferocious animal has devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams. Verse 21, Now Reuben heard it and he delivered him out of their hands by saying, let us not kill him. And Reuben said to them, shed no blood, but cast him into this pit or well that is out here in the wilderness and lay no hand on him. He was trying to get Joseph out of their hands in order to rescue him and deliver him again to his father. Then Joseph had come to his brothers. They had stripped him of his distinctive long garment, which he was wearing. Verse 24, Then they took him and cast him into the well like pit, which was empty. There was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat their lunch. When they looked up, behold, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites, mixed Arabians coming from Gilead with their camels bearing gum of a tree and then balm, myrrh and ladnum going on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So we can see here that because God was with Joseph, his brothers distinctively did not like him and they became jealous of him and they threw him in a pit. So you can see if any of your stories compare to what believers are going through with the different disagreements that have occurred between different belief systems, because some believers are believing in Christ and in morals. And during this time with elections and during this time with COVID and the many different things that are going on around the world, believers are making decisions to draw closer to the Lord and to be in Christ. And some of them are experiencing this. And if you are someone who are experiencing this, I hope that these stories are just showing you that this happened in the Bible. And of course, when things happen in the Bible, God has the answers. So one thing I love about the Bible is that the Lord already knew was going to happen in these last days and gives us the answers we are looking for in the next verses. Jesus identifies exactly who is your family. So let's take a look at Matthew 12, 46. Jesus was still speaking to the people when, behold, his mother and brothers stood outside seeking to speak to him. Someone said to him, listen, your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to you. But he had replied to the man who told him who is my mother and who are my brothers. And stretching out his hand toward not only the 12 disciples, but all his adherents, he said, here are my mother and my brothers, for whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. So let's just reiterate that for whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. Sometimes people are asking, so God is telling us that whoever does the will of his father, that's who your family is essentially. So if you're looking for family right now, your family is those who do the will of your father. And you begin to heal and we'll pray into that, of course, as far as just having family and having people around you to support you, that those who do the will of the father will be that family. Does this apply to the spiritual family as well? Sometimes it does. So for time purposes, I won't go deeply into the story, but we can always just bring up the example of Jesus and Judas. And if you're looking for where that is, that's Matthew 26, verses 14 to 16. We have Mark 14, verses 43 to 50. We have Matthew 26, 47 to 56. And then we have Luke 22, 47 and 53. And all of these verses depict how Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. But that was just kind of like a spiritual division. And again, all of these divisions sometimes can occur. It is not God's will that we are divided. But Jesus came to bring the ministry of reconciliation. So God does want reconciliation. But he also has come to bring life and life abundantly to those who believe. And so Jesus' goal was for us to become disciples and to believe so that God's will may be made manifest on this earth and that people would live a life abundantly. So you can look up those verses. We're going to go on and in Luke 6, verse 27 to 28, Jesus is speaking. But I say to you, you are listening now to me in order to heed, make it a practice to love your enemies, treat well, do good to you, act nobly towards those who detest you and pursue you with hatred, verse 28, invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessings, favor upon those who abuse you, who revile, reproach, disparage, and highly handedly misuse you. Let's move on to Romans 12, verse 17, repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble, aiming to be above reproach in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God's wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. Verse 20, but if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him drink for by so doing, you will keep burning coals upon his head. Do not let yourselves be overcome by evil, but overcome master evil with good. So this is Jesus's response to just what is going on here on this earth. And again, this is not something that we all take lightly, but as we press in, and as we pray, we will see God's will on this earth even more. And so right now, let's just pray for those who are just in need, in need of a family, God, that your hand is coming down on those listeners who are listening to this and that your presence would come and just touch their heart and touch their mind, Lord, and just bring peace. God, that you would just strengthen them. Lord, bring endurance during this season, Lord, surround them with like-minded believers, Lord, those who are doing the will of the father. I thank you, God, that you are healing them from all hurts. Lord, and above all, Lord, that they find it in their heart, Lord, that they would forgive and bless their enemies, Lord. And that you would show them, show them the way, show them how to forgive, show them how to bless their enemies, Lord, after they have gone through what they have gone through, Lord, because above all, Lord, you want to bring them peace, Lord, and so I just thank you right now. We just drive out darkness out of their hearts and minds right now in the name of Jesus. We drive out the plans of the enemy right now in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is locating those of you right now who just have heavy hearts and who are heavy laden and God is going to give you rest. The Holy Spirit is just coming upon you right now and you're just going to sit back and to just reflect on God and reflect on him healing your heart. As you look to him to repent and as you repent and you ask the Lord for forgiveness, he is faithful to forgive you. So God, I just thank you right now, Lord, that you are just removing any false lies of the accuser, any voices of torment out of their lives right now in the name of Jesus Christ. I thank you, Lord, that you are just showing them, Lord, the new place that you want them to dwell, the people that you want them to be around, Lord. That you are touching them, God, that you are bringing provision, Lord, if there was separation at their job, Lord, that you're bringing provision, God, that they would heal through forgiving and blessing their enemies, Lord, because you, Lord, have made a way for us, Lord, and you would not give us a bad gift, but you would give us a good gift, God. And so your words are showing us the way and what you need us to do because you've made provision and spiritually, God, you're making healing behind the scenes, Lord, because Proverbs 3, 5, 6 says, trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge him in all your ways and he will direct your path. And so right now, God is wanting to direct your paths on this journey right now. Thank you, Lord, that you're just bringing new family to replace those people in their lives, Lord, as you're working on reconciliation in their lives in Jesus name, amen. Thank you, Katrice. As we think about this, different people have been affected by family members and close friends, perhaps who no longer speak to them or treat them as close as they once did. So some of you may be feeling like orphans or alone, even though family may be living in the same town or even in the same home, you feel separated from them because of circumstances that we have all gone through, such as COVID in recent years or the government elections in different countries, people have views about important topics and they are different from each other and people have their own opinions, sometimes very strong about different topics, important topics, and in some parts of the world, people are getting treated differently and not respected for having a different opinion to someone else. And those opinions may not align with family and friends. So we may find from time to time that people are against us, but they don't necessarily argue with us, but they don't associate with us anymore. And we are almost afraid to bring up these topics with them. And so we don't communicate with them for risk of falling out with them even more. So let us pray. Lord, we pray against the orphan spirit that Lord you would heal the hearts and strengthen those people listening today that have endured a orphan type situation, separation from family and friends as a result of strong opinions and views of those individuals. Lord, let these precious souls that have been feeling separated, protect them against developing a heart of bitterness and unforgiveness. Lord, we ask that you soften the hardened hearts and shut the mouth of the accuser. Lord, we thank you that as they draw near to you, that you will bring people into their lives that would act as a mother or a father, a sister or a brother, but may these people be in Christ. Like-minded believers. Lord, we pray for the people today that are affected by such breakdowns in relationships with family and friends. Lord, renew their strength and determination to hold steadfast to the truth of your word. Lord, heal the broken hearts, heal the rifts, put back together what has been separated, that wasn't meant to be separated. Lord, we believe that your word will remain when heaven and earth passes away. Your word will never pass away. Your word is the truth. Let us not trust in any man, but by your word and the leading and teaching of your Holy Spirit, that in discussions with others, we would never deviate. We would never separate from the truth of the word of God when we speak out of our mouth. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Know that Catrice and I love you very much and we ask the Lord to bless you and your household today. And until next week, you have a blessed week. Amen.