October 19, 2008 by PastorDave.

#332, Hear God’s Voice, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday 10-19-2008

Not So Easy series:
Text: Matthew 11:15

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October 19, 2008 by PastorDave.

First John 3:24 states, “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” The Bible reveals in this one verse the practical and spiritual relationship we are to have with God. We see the harmony of obedience to the teachings that Jesus gives us (His commands) with the witness of the Spirit that dwells inside of us. As we worship the Lord together, be sensitive to the practical message God has for your life today along with the ever-present need to be “Spirit-touched.” May God richly reward you as you hunger and thirst for Him!

Pastor David McIntosh

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September 21, 2008 by PastorDave.

#329, Be Great, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday, 09-21-2008

Text: Matthew 20:26-27

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August 24, 2008 by PastorDave.

#325, God’s Secret Ingredient, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday 08-24-2008

Text: Romans 1:4-6

INTRODUCTION

1. In the story “A Cranberry Thanksgiving” grandma makes the greatest cranberry bread in the land and a city slicker is trying to steal her secret ingredient for this cranberry bread.
2. Grandma uses something that is so powerful everyone wants her cranberry bread!
3. Well, in a day when many are seeking answers to life we Christians should be demonstrating the power of Jesus Christ in our personal lives to attract others to Him.
4. Instead, multitudes of believers seem powerless against the same forces that destroy the world.
5. Marriages are falling apart, raising children that respect others, anger, bitterness, addictions to sex and pornography are reigning in the land whether you claim to be Christian or not.
6. What is the missing ingredient that will propel us to be genuine overcomes of the sins that destroy in this world? That our light would shine with words & works!

EXAMPLE (Psalm 106:9-16)

1. Read verses 9:11 – “He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; So He led them through the depths, As through the wilderness. He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. The waters covered their enemies; There was not one of them left:
2. V.12-16 on the PowerPoint:
   1. They believed his words & sang his praise (look what God did for me!)
   2. They forgot his works…causing them to not wait for His counsel
   3. This led to lusting after and testing God
   4. God’s consequence is He gives them what they want (but leanness to the soul)
   5. They then envy God’s leaders (Moses & Aaron)
3. Now look at this pattern, God does something they don’t deserve, limited belief and praise, they soon forget, turn from God’s ideas, this leads to lust, consequences and envy.
4. This is a picture of what happens over and over again to believers today.
5. Listen to what James 4:1-4 says; “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasure. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?”
6. Wow, that’s tough, that hurts! What is that secret ingredient that can change everything?
7. How do we live everyday in the ways of our faith? How do break out of this cycle that we see in the O.T. people of God and the N.T. church of believers?

THE SECRET INGREDIENT

1. Romans 1:4-6 – “And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.”
2. We received GRACE to call people to obedience that comes from faith!
3. The missing ingredient is GRACE. It’s not that we haven’t heard of grace but rather we have misunderstood it.
4. To many believers today, being under grace means that they are not under any obligation to fulfill the righteousness of the Law of God but are under a covering of God that allows them to do whatever they think is right and God will approve…this is grace.
5. We need to receive a fresh biblical understanding of God’s grace for our lives!

GOD’S GRACE FROM GOD’S WORD

1. In Romans 1:5 we saw that we received grace to call people to obedience.
2. Look at Romans 5:21 – “So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
3. We see that grace rules through righteousness it is not a ticket for unrighteousness.
4. Romans 6:14 – “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
5. So one of the main purposes for grace is to help us work out God’s righteousness in our everyday lives.
6. This can only be done through the power of God not the efforts of man.
7. Listen to Ephesians 3:7 – “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.”
8. You see, grace is more than God’s loving favor; it is God’s gift of power to do His will in our lives!
9. 2 Peter 1:2-4 – “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
10. Peter is speaking of multiplied grace as divine power by which we have given great & precious promises that we can partake of the divine nature and not the corruption of lust!
11. From God’s Word we see that grace is a gift of divine power that God freely gives us so that we can obey Him, live in righteousness, overcome sin and partake in His divine nature!

GOD’S GRACE OUR TEACHER

1. If anyone is going to truly partake of God’s grace you have to have one thing…a teachable spirit.
2. Titus 2:11,12 – “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”
3. We learn here that grace is our teacher and we are her students. Grace teaching us (through divine power) to say no to ungodliness & worldly lusts. Grace is not going to just cover over these things, grace teaches us to say no to our way and yes to God’s way!
4. Are you teachable?
5. See the law demands, but gives no strength to obey it, grace promises and gives power to perform for us. The Law points its finger, grace opens its arms.
6. But are we willing to see and be students in the school of biblical grace?

WHERE TO BEGIN

1. Well we know that grace is a gift so you can’t earn it. But there is a qualification that God is looking for.
2. James 4:6 – “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
3. So we see that God considers the opposite of grace is pride.
4. Pride is doing it on my own, pride is reserving the right to make final decisions, pride resists grace!
5. Humility is the key to this incredible gift, daily humility may I add.
6. So here is the first step, completely accept and confess our personal failure and inability to live life in a way that pleases God.
7. With this, we realize our helplessness to do anything good that God accepts, and unless God’s grace moves in my life I really can’t do anything, I am helpless and all the gifts and talents and experience I have won’t do me any good, save for the grace of God.
8. In 2 Corinthians Paul said, “For when I am weak then I am strong,” this is what he was talking about.
9. Humility is realizing that I need God’s help for every decision in my life.

ALTAR CALL

• I would like to open the altars and invite anyone who knows they need the grace of God (the favor, power and desire) to fill their lives like never before that they would become partakers of the divine nature and escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• Grace to say no to this world and yes to righteousness living!
• Grace to obey, grace to grow in faith, grace for self control, grace to overcome!

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August 24, 2008 by PastorDave.

ADULT ELECTIVES FALL 2008 QUARTER
Begins Sunday, September 7, 10:00 - 10:50 AM

WELCOME to the Family
Taught by Pastor Mark
The following course will meet in Pastor Mark’s office.
In this course you will be introduced to the purposes and vision of Leominster Assembly of God as well as the practices and policies of the church. This course is for anyone interested in becoming a member of our church and is a requirement for membership.Class size is limited to 15.

Drawing Closer to God
Taught by Pastor Bob
This course will meet in the Triangle room next to the sanctuary.
This class is for all new Christians as well as any Christian who wants to draw closer to God. God says that if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. This is your chance to become the dynamic, joyful disciple of Christ that you have always wanted to be. This class is a requirement for membership.

Matters of Christian Character
Taught by Pastor Dave
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
How does a Christian respond to the issues of our day–immorality, tobacco, entertainment, and gambling–and integrity issues such as truth, honesty, and self-control. This class will focus on formulating a belief system and lifestyle with a strong biblical center.

The Teenage Years of Jesus Christ
Taught by Pastor Darryl
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
Calling all parents of teenagers and pre-teens! Discover the priorities of Jesus Christ when He was a teenager here on earth. What better model than the plan of the Master himself.

Financial Freedom
Taught by Manny Onos
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
Each attendee will receive the means to prepare his/her individual road to true financial success and will be thoroughly equipped to remove the obstacles on the road to receive his/her rewards of eternal pleasures, possessions and powers in this present life and in the life to come.

Lessons from the Early Church
Taught by Harry Marshall
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
What you will be studying in this class in some ways is a return to “the basics” of what the Church is supposed to be about. Get ready to discover some wisdom from the Book of Proverbs and hear from the faithful man Job.

Biblical Prophecies, Israel, and the Church
Taught by Fumio Taku
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
This is part two of an exciting course begun last spring. This in-depth study of biblical prophecies, from Genesis to Revelation, will give you a greater understanding of end-time prophecies, God’s love for Israel, and His wake-up call to the Church for prayer, humility, and faith.

CHILDREN’S and YOUTH CLASSES

2s and 3s teachers: Jenn Farnsworth and Christine Salliby
Through stories about Solomon and the temple, kids will discover that church is God’s house and that God wants them to help others. They will also learn about people at church as well as how to be like Solomon and God’s people, who enjoyed going to church. Kids will find out how they can talk and listen to God because Samuel listened to God in the temple. Stories about Noah’s ark and the flood will show kids how to obey God and trust Him to keep them safe.

4s and 5s teachers: Sally Dyer and Heidi Antunes
Students will enjoy amazing stories about how Joseph saved his family, how Rahab risked her life, and how Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land. Peter fishing, Matthew collecting taxes, the Samaritan woman drawing water, and Zacchaeus climbing a tree show how Jesus reached out to people around Him. Through the faith of his great-grandmother Ruth and stories about being a shepherd, being anointed by Samuel, and defeating Goliath, David shows kids how to love God like he did.

1st and 2nd grade teachers: Rick and Joanne Boehm
Kids will discover that God not only created everything but that He also loved Adam and Eve even after they sinned. After learning about faithfulness through stories about Noah’s ark, kids will find out about Babel, the first city built after the Flood. Through Abraham, Lot, and Isaac, kids will explore faith, the danger of selfishness, and God’s provision.

3rd and 4th grade teachers: Debbie Nurnberger and Danielle Caron
Because Jesus healed others, kids will discover He still has the power to heal today. Through Esther, Jeremiah and others, kids will discover that God can be their source for guidance, courage, faith, wisdom, and love. Kids will be reminded that gifts aren’t deserved but instead show God’s love for us through stories about Jehoshaphat, the grateful leper, and the Prodigal Son.

5th and 6th grade teacher: Peter Kovacs
Through lessons about God’s nature, kids will see how He is true to His Word, keeps His promises, and provides a way for us to be in His family forever. Because what believers say and do can be a witness for or against Christ, kids will explore how they can help others gain eternal life. This introduction to the Bible focuses on its inspiration and writers, why we need it, and what it tells us about God.

Middle School and High School
The students will be studying the book, The Teenage Years of Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Pattern for Teenagers Today by Jerry Ross. Through Scripture, the students will study how Jesus himself conducted his life during his teen years and prepared for the work of His Father.

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August 24, 2008 by PastorDave.

Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” It truly is the word of God that is the source of wisdom and teaching! With these alive in our lives the joy they produce causes us to sing unto the Lord spiritual songs from the heart. If we allow the word to dwell in us we will become a people of praise and worship to the Lord! He tells us that He inhabits the praises of His people, so His presence will be strong and life changing! It is my prayer that you will sing unto the Lord today and allow His word to dwell in your life! You won’t regret it!

Pastor David McIntosh

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July 27, 2008 by PastorDave.

#321, The Last Tomorrow, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday, 07-27-2008

Text: Matthew 24:42-44

INTRODUCTION

1. A father looked out the window and began to frantically call out instructions to his family. Quick, shut off the TV’s, dust off the family bible, put these magazines away.
2. The cause was that he saw his pastor had pulled up and this was a surprise visit!
3. If the condition of our homes when an unexpected visitor arrives can cause such embarrassment, how much more concerned should we be about the condition of our lives in light of Jesus’ return?
4. The disciples asked Jesus an incredible question once, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Jesus is coming again-foundational truth-hope)
5. Jesus responded by saying, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming I am the Christ, and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars…There will be famines and earthquakes…All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:4-8)
6. Let me give you some signs and you give me what they mean:
   1. First robin on your front yard
   2. Changing of the leaves
   3. When leaves turn their back in the wind
   4. When sheep gather in a huddle, tomorrow we will have a puddle.
7. Jesus gave us four signs to look for:
   1. Come in my name: since 1799- 20 people have claimed to be the incarnate Jesus Christ. (hold up 1992 USA Today)
   2. Wars: estimated: more than 14,000 wars with approx. 3.6 billion killed
   3. Famines: 2 worst famines ever recorded took place in China & India from 1876-1879 claiming 12-17 million lives (26,000 children a day die for lack of food)
   4. Earthquakes: 1556 China killed 830,000, 2004 in the Indian Ocean 300,000.

Transition: How does Jesus’ return personally affect my life?

Quote: “Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.” -Martin Luther-

PERSONAL POSITION

1. You are in one of three categories: Disciple/Doubtful/Deceived
2. Disciple = the picture of a disciple is found in Acts 2, where Scripture declares that 3,000 people repented of their sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. V.42 goes on to describe what they did next, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
3. Doubtful = this is a person who has made a confession with their mouth but lives in doubt with their relationship to the Lord. This is because they have embraced the idea of Jesus but the practices of their life have not changed.
4. 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 – “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
5. If you have prayed a prayer but still embrace any of these (willfully practice them) you are in danger! Because Jesus is coming again.
6. Deceived = this is a person who thinks they are going to enter into heaven but they are in for a big surprise.
7. Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven…Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord…Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!”
8. According to Jesus many people live deceived, their hearts have grown hard, their motives are selfish and even though they display a religious performance, they don’t know Jesus and the sobering thing is that they think they do!
9. Only one of these categories is safe. Are you a disciple, doubtful, deceived?
10. Matthew 24:44 – “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

POSITION OF THOSE UNDER YOUR CARE

1. The father of an 18 yr. old son was frustrated with his son. He had invested much time and effort in training his son to live a Godly life, and now his son was turning toward the world and influencing his brothers & sisters to do the same.
2. In talking with the son he revealed that his dad did indeed invest much in his life; however the father neglected to talk to his son about salvation and his need to repent and place his trust in Jesus Christ.
3. He took for granted the fact that his children would accept Jesus as their Savior.
4. We must prepare for Jesus’ return by faithfully sharing the Gospel with our children until each one repents and is saved!

PERSPECTIVE OF TIME

1. 1 Peter 4:7 – “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled…”
2. Romans 14:12 – “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
3. Ephesians 5:15, 16 – “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
4. 2 Corinthians 5:10 - “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
5. “Hours of boredom or useless amusement reveal that we have no concept of God’s cut-off date with history, when we must give an account of every minute.”
6. “The hour of Christ’s return will remain a mystery, but our readiness for it should be an ever present fact.”
7. Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”

CLOSING

1. In the beginning God created the heavens & the earth (world changing catastrophic event)
2. Worldwide flood in Noah’s day (world changing catastrophic event)
3. The birth of Jesus Christ
4. The death of Jesus Christ
5. The resurrection of Jesus Christ
6. The next world changing catastrophic event is the return of Jesus Christ!
7. Are you personally ready; are those under your care ready, are you redeeming the time?
8. ALTAR CALL
   1. Repent
   2. Confess wrong life practices
   3. Hard heart
   4. Young people/children – to repent and place your full trust in Jesus Christ
   5. Redeem whatever time you have left to being the greatest disciple of Jesus Christ you can.

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June 29, 2008 by PastorDave.

#317, Make Disciples, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday 06-29-2008

Text: Matthew 28: 18-20

INTRODUCTION:

• I sat in this chair some weeks ago and told you we were going to take the next four weeks and talk about us, who we are, who we are becoming and where we are going.
• We began by letting the words of Jesus speak into our lives, first He told us to Honor our parents, (Donna Goss gave a great testimony of how honoring her mother lead to her mother receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior).
• Next, Jesus told us to despise not the little ones, and men were huddled down at this altar and encouraged to write, call and take out on a date their sons and daughters.
• Last week Jesus told us to honor marriage and we saw not only did God create marriage, have in interest in marriage, but also he laid out a perfect design for every marriage to understand and follow.
• Today we are again going to hear words that Jesus spoke. These words give common purpose to every Christian home. But instead of beginning with Jesus’ words we are going to end with them.

QUOTE:

“The common response to the spiritual development of children, then, is for parents to seek the best help they can find and then get out of the way.” -George Barna-

TRANSITION:

I would like to ask you to take these next few minutes and come on a journey with me. In order to benefit from the journey you will have to take all your pre conceived notions about family life and any conclusions you have already made about family life and Christianity and lay them aside.

1. In this journey we will simply allow the bible to speak to us all by itself, about what should be happening inside a Christian home.
2. I have some helpers this morning that will be assisting us on our journey.
3. The journey will have four stops and each stop gives incredibly specific instructions for our lives. So specific you may get uncomfortable, but let me assure you the word of God wants you and your home to be prosperous and successful!

DEUTERONOMY 6:6-9

1. 1st responsibility is to place God’s words in our hearts. (impress them inside yourself)
2. Teach with diligence these words to your children.
3. TALK ABOUT THEM (sit at home, go about your day, evening & morning)
4. Keep them before your eyes by having the visibly on display in your house. (example)

PSALM 78:5-7

1. Father’s are commanded to declare to their children God’s law (God’s ways)
2. Specific purpose: Next generation would be spiritually prepared (3 generations-parents, children, grandchildren)
3. The need for the next generation:
4. Hope in God (growing faith in God)
5. Not Forget His works (healthy fear of the Lord)
6. Obey His commands (living relationship with Jesus Christ)

PROVERBS 6:20-23

1. Specific responsibilities; first for the parents
2. Father’s commands & mother’s teachings (mom & dad are command here by the word of God to have a plan for their children)
3. If I asked your children, what does your dad stand for? What is your mom teaching you? What would our children respond?
4. Second, responsibility of the children (impress them on your heart and around your neck)
5. They will lead you, keep you and speak to you as you go on in life.
6. See how important it is to have commands & laws that we instill in our children!
7. They work together like a lamp & light to guide in an ever growing dark world. (show oil lamp picture)

MATTHEW 28:18-20

1. Now we get to the words of Jesus. Because He posses all authority we are told to do something.
2. Make disciples (of all nations): Disciple = disciplined learner
3. TEACHING THEM (know God)
4. TO OBEY (see it modeled, understand what it means to them, have questions answered, see benefits and consequences)
5. EVERYTHING
6. I COMMANDED YOU
7. Our homes should be Learning Centers; where everyone is leaning to obey everything Jesus commanded.
8. The great commission is simply an extension of what should be happening in our homes as Christians.
9. If we are purposing to follow God’s ways for our homes then when we get to the Great Commission to go and teach people to obey Jesus, we & are children will be experts!

QUOTE:

“After all, God never told His followers to take over the world through force or intelligence. He simply told us to have children and then raise them to honor God in all they do. Therefore, you might logically conclude that bearing and raising children is not only our most enduring legacy but also one of our greatest personal responsibilities.” -George Barna-

CLOSING

• According to the Word of God, parents have a simple but deeply profound responsibility to evangelize & disciple their children.
• The local church should be and intimate and valuable partner.
• Israel cried for deliverance from the bondage of Egypt, God sent a Moses, but he was a baby.
• When Israel needed a judge to replace a corrupt leader named Eli, God sent Samuel, but he was a young boy.
• When the whole world needed a Savior, God sent Jesus, but he was a child.
• I was a young Christian, but hungry, and growing in the Word and ways of God. I was about to be put into a position of leadership in a church and I wondered what God was looking for. I came upon a Scripture that changed the focus of my life, because I was focusing all my attention on church & ministry, but just as I was about to be put into a position of leadership I read God’s perspective on it:
• 1 Timothy 3:4, 5 – “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
• I began to understand that perhaps God’s church is struggling because we have not focused on our families.
• God determines potential leaders by what is happening at home. Do we?

ALTAR

• Invite up all young people 18 and under. Here is a generation that needs to be disciple… that begins at home.
• Who will teach them, who will model it for them, who will answer their questions, bring them understanding, who will love them with the love of the Lord.
• Who will join these young people and say I want to turn my home into a discipleship center for the Lord, no matter who lives there!

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June 29, 2008 by PastorDave.

In Deuteronomy 32:9 we read, “The Lord’s portion is his people.” What an incredible understanding God gives us of His heart. There is nothing that has been created that God hasn’t created. He owns everything and is the maker of all things. His portion or what belongs to Him is without measure. We learn from this Old Testament verse of scripture that God is very specific about what He wants. God wants you, “his people.” You are God’s son! You are God’s daughter! You are what God is interested in so much that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you. God wants to have a relationship with you every day. Today is your day to draw close to the God who loves you!

Pastor David McIntosh

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June 22, 2008 by PastorDave.

#316, Honor Marriage, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday 06-22-2008

Text: Matthew 19:4-6

INTRODUCTION

• We are focusing our attention this month on the Christian home.
• We first looked at honoring our parents, last week turning our hearts to children and today we are going to look at marriage.
• Remember, 19 out of 20 families have no type of worship experience together outside of church.
• The foundational relationship for all of mankind, not just the spiritual health of the family, is the husband, wife relationship.

TRANSITION:

Jesus said, “Haven’t you read…that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” -Matthew 19: 4-6-

“THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH. SO THEY ARE NO LONGER TWO BUT ONE.” -Jesus Christ- (describes the covenant between the three)

• “In marriage each one willingly offers all he has to the other.”
• “Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.” -Malachi 2:15-16-

HONOR MARRIAGE

Invite Tatiana to come and we will share together for the next few minutes.

Before we begin, let me say that what we are going to share next is what we have learned and are learning even today about how the Word of God applies to marriages and is the source of a dynamic marriage for the lord.

EXPOSING THE ENEMY OF MARRIAGE

1. Because God created marriage between a man and a woman and loves marriage, the enemy hates marriage.
2. Marriage is the picture of Jesus and the Church (the enemy hates both) and marriage is the plan God created & designed for godly offspring (the enemy hates godly offspring as well).
3. So, the enemy will take God’s design for marriage and make-up a counterfeit and sell it to couples so they choose it over God’s design.
4. God’s design is shared in 1 Corinthians 11:3 – “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
5. God speaks to us, protects us, teaches us and leads us from inside of His Perfect Design.
6. The enemy’s desire is for husbands and wives to work outside of this design.
7. This picture describes our RESPONSIBILITY to God. (show 1 Cor. 11:3)
8. This picture describes our RELATIONSHIP to God (Galatians 3: 28-29; 1 Peter 3:7)
   1. Gal. 3:28,29 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (value of our God designed role)
   2. 1 Peter 3:7 – “Husbands, dwell with them (wives) according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life.”
9. This is a test of our virtue (responsibility); this is picture of our value (relationship).
10. The roles of male, female, husband & wife are still our responsibility; but through the finished work of Jesus Christ all people are of equal value, have equal access to Jesus, can achieve great things for the Lord and have the potential to store up treasure in heaven equally! To that I say Amen!

THE CHALLENGE

It was challenge to me not to mix these two up in my mind. God says to renew our minds. Ladies/wives we need to understand our responsibilities and challenges that God had given us in His design.

1. Respect Him: Ephesians 5:33b – “and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
   1. One way to respect your husband is to ask him your spiritual questions.
   2. Realize that God will use him (saved or unsaved) to give you guidance. (1 Cor. 14:35)
2. Accept Him: Confidence that God is working through him (Romans 8:28)
3. Be Grateful for Him: (1 Thess. 5:18- “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”) HERE’S HOW
   1. Giving expectations to God and taking them off your husband.
   2. Learning contentment with Godliness (Col. 3:1) growing character
4. Influence Him: Gain influence by not rehearsing past failures but by demonstrating present faithfulness in these areas:
   1. Genuine love; loyalty; servant’s heart; asking forgiveness
   2. Work on goals together with your husband
   3. Influence him by LIVING IN THE NOW LADIES!! LOVE IN THE NOW!!

HUSBANDS: We to need to understand our challenge in the responsibility that is given to us in God’s design.

1. Husbands need to understand that they are not on the top of the chain of command. As the wife is under the husband, so is the husband under Christ. We need to look up for our direction & answers.
2. We are given the responsibility to be spiritual leaders. Our wives need to experience us actually leading spiritually. This means four things:
   1. Regular times in God’s Word
   2. Faithfulness in prayer
   3. Regular church attendance
   4. Discussion of spiritual matters, followed by searching the scriptures for God’s answer.
3. Our wives need to know that they are meeting vital needs in our lives that no one else can meet. (sharing our fears, goals, heart)
4. Our wives need to know that we will listen to hear their heart. They need to know that we are making efforts to understand them.
   1. But honey, do you UNDERSTAND what I mean?
   2. Do you UNDERSTAND what I am trying to say?
   3. If our wives don’t think we will even try to understand them they will get discouraged, then lose hope, that leads to depression.

BEACH STORY

WE NEED EACH OTHER TO SUCCEED! (Genesis 2:18)

1. Husbands: It is not good for man to be alone. (thought life, work, heart, dreams)
2. Wife: I will make a helper

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