Heaven On Earth – Battle for the Family, A Civil War
Focusing on Husbands and Wives
Consider this: God created everything including man, woman, marriage and the family. If you are facing a challenge in your life, marriage relationship or family, seek the Lord to correct it. Since He created everything, who would know better than Him in how to fix it?
Marital Bliss God’s Way
Our church body confesses that, “Husbands and wives of EOC love each other, treat each other with respect, and are faithful to each other. The spirit of divorce, disagreement, infidelity and disunity are bound in Jesus’ name.”
Ephesians 5:29-31 (The Message Bible)
No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.
The power of agreement between a married couple is essential because it threatens the enemy. Whenever Christians agree, they reflect the power and unity of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Satan is terrified of the power of agreement. This is why he works overtime to keep us at war. Our conflict with one another dilutes our power.
As a married couple, your home should be like paradise. Bickering and unhappiness don’t belong there. For example, if a nation is divided against itself, it will not stand. The same principle goes for your home. If you are in constant turmoil with your spouse, the foundation of your relationship will crumble.
What’s the Purpose?
Marriage is God’s first institution; He ordained it. However, for a marriage to be successful, it must be conducted His way–not our way. Today, a staggering number of Christian marriages have failed because they adopted the world’s cultural beliefs instead of godly principles. God’s institutions are organized by biblical guidelines. Make sure your rules line up with His.
Popular Principles VS God’s Precepts
America is a nation that worships the image of God without following His teachings. Families who live by the philosophies, culture and trends of the world deny the power and sovereignty of God. Many people are quick to confess God in tongue but not in their lifestyle. To them, God has become a ceremony and not a daily practice. It is possible to worship the image of God without seeking His will (2 Timothy 3:1-5). As a Christian, you have to decide if you are bending to the peer pressure of the world, or if you are following the instructions of the Lord.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (The Message Bible)
Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
A Tangle of Excuses
Instead of buckling down and obeying the Lord, we often try to bargain with God and seek exemption from His Word. Sometimes, we feel that if our situation is unique or complex enough, then we should be able to take the world’s approach to handling problems instead of doing what He says. This is dangerous to do because satan is right at your door ready to enslave you to the world system.
John 8:34-38 (The Message Bible)
Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn’t yet penetrated your thick skulls. I’m talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father.”
Avoiding Divorce
Did you know that divorce means violence and broken faith? It’s a wicked trend of the world that you don’t have to be a part of. The problems of marriage begin in the selection of your spouse. When looking for a “forever partner”, many people follow their flesh and their eyes. You have to consider more than her “brick house” figure or “Mr. Muscles”. Choose a person that has a heart towards God and who is interested in following His Word.
Make sure that you begin a marriage the right way by standing on God’s principles. Premarital sex is out of the question. It’s a worldly standard that ignores God’s sovereignty. In addition, a great to marriages is when spouses are unequally yoked. Both of you have to change your values to line up with the Word of God (Romans 10:14).
Recipe for a Perfect Marriage
Yes, it is possible for you to have the marriage that God designed. If you want paradise in your marriage, then both parties must change. Husbands and wives must work actively to see a difference in their relationship. Marriage core values include putting God first. You can not disobey the Lord to please your mate. The Lord has promised us that He will never leave or forsake us, and He will never change His Word. In addition, your marriage foundation must be love (1 Corinthians 13). Your marriage is not a business arrangement or a union of convenience.
Anatomy of Adultery
Adultery begins with no soundness in God, and when the Lord is no longer number one. The couple develops a sense of apathy. This opens the door for the accuser to entertain both parties by leading husbands and wives to find fault with one another. Constant blaming cause husbands and wives to attack one another and stop supporting each other.
After this, unforgiveness and discontent set in. Husbands and wives fail to give emotional attention to one another and fail to respect each other. They handle one another unkindly and stop ministering one another as well. The irony is that each party hungers for what they are withholding from one another. Finally, satan sends the unholy connection.
Keep your marriage bed pure.
Love
Pastor Joyce
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