Home Improvement Series February 2009
Part II - Battle of the SEXES
Purpose: To challenge couples not to give up on their marriages and instead of fighting against their spouse, begin fighting for their spouse.
Sermon:
As I look around at our world today I see married couple all around that are battling. The sad thing is that instead of battling for their marriage, they are battling against their marriage. They are more concerned than being right in their own eyes than they are with doing what’s right. In far to many marriages the children can not look at their parents and say, "I want a marriage like my parents." Instead the children are saying the total opposite.
Scripture
Matthew 19:5-6 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
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S
acrifice for the other - Without martyr complex, without expecting anything in return, without quitting.
Philippians 2:4-5 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."
E
ngage in communication - Without condemnation, without accusation, without name-calling, with compassion, with patience, with respect. Attack issues not each other.
Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
e
Xonerate past hurts - discharge, forgive, leave them in the past – you may remember and you may have to forgive frequently but make sure you do forgive Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
E
nlist help of capable people - Counselors, Pastors, and Couples in strong long-term marriages! To often we run to everyone and some of these people are not the ones we should be running to. When our marriage is in crisis we should not be talking with those who also have a marriage in crisis. We should be talking to those who have a strong Christ-centered marriage. We also need accountability partners (These individuals should be of the same gender as you.) that will remind us when we are being self-centered.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
S
aturate your marriage in prayer - Pray together, Pray by yourself, Pray for your spouse, Pray often, Pray continually. They say that the family that prays together stays together.
Ephesians 6:18 (The Message) "In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long"
There have been some claims that the divorce rate for Christians, who attended church regularly, pray together, and who meet other conditions is only 1 or 2 percent. I’m not sure about the statistics but I do know that when you are keeping Christ in the center of your heart and at the center of your marriage you will have a stronger marriage.
Marriage Prayer - Thank you Lord for the love you have given us. We thank you for giving us the power to make the choice to love. Help us dear Lord to see every day as a new beginning. We ask for your guidance in all the choices we make today. Let us treat each other as you would treat us. We thank you for this marriage you have given to us, let us be ever mindful of the gift our marriage is from above.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen