STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS

11/3/2008 ~ To Not Divorce; Battle of the Sexes


... "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, ...
~ Malachi 2:14-16


Do we believe in God and what Jesus said?
Are we willing to believe in what He said about marriage?
 It can be a battle to see things alike in a marriage. 
The sanctuary of our homes and families
definitely challenges the hopes for our success.
~ More people are just living together and marrying later in life,
because of all the turmoil we have and are experiencing as a nation.

The numbers are grim among us.

Latest Figures:

1980 divorce rate
Current divorce rate
Singles Living together
Marriage rate drop
 = 
 = 
 = 
 = 
50%-55%
40%-45%
Tenfold increase since 1960s
30% less than 25 years ago
Americans are waiting 5 years longer to marry
Only 63% American children grow up with both biological parents

These figures are the same for believers as well as non-believers.
Children of divorce are leery about marriage
because of their own horrific broken homes.
Have we lost our abilities to work together?
How is it we have come to this? – A 50% FAILURE rate.
Is this what God intended for us?


Divorce after divorce ...

1st marriage divorce rate = 50%
2nd marriage divorce rate = Higher chance than 1st ...
3rd marriage divorce rate = Higher chance than 2nd ...

● Many choose just to live together.
● Many don’t want to make a mistake, like their parents did.
● Many take marriage vows lightly, like their parents did?  

What did God do?
What did Man do?
What did Christ do?


┌─> In the image of God.                                                    
... in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ...
~ Genesis 1:26-28


God tells us that man and woman are equal in God’s creation.
Each soul has intellectual, emotional, and volitional parts of life.


In the Image of God:
1. Understanding
2. Feelings
3. Power of Choice
↓ Equal ↓

God tells us we have the power to make it work.
He blessed them to work together.
~ Be fruitful and multiply.

God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
→ Homosexuality is an abomination to God.  
God created constructive and creative goals.
God gave them responsibility to care for the garden.
It was not the environment that deterred man from following God.
~ Many use "if it were only different" excuses.


... "It is not good that man should be alone; ..." ~ Genesis 2:15-25

God said it was good nine times
before saying it is not good for man to be alone.


1. It was good ~ Genesis 1:4
2. It was good ~ Genesis 1:10
3. It was good ~ Genesis 1:12
4. It was good ~ Genesis 1:18
5. It was good ~ Genesis 1:21
6. It was good ~ Genesis 1:25
7. It was very good ~ Genesis 1:31
8. good for food ~ Genesis 2:9
9. gold of that land is good ~ Genesis 2:12

God is social and so is man.
People need people in their lives to cure loneliness.

Do you marry for:
1. Fulfillment? - Good Luck
2. Financial Gain? - Materialistic
3. Romance? - Poorest Reason


The deficiency in man was loneliness.
~ As Adam names the animals he looks for companionship.
Man and woman complement each other as one.


ONE FLESH = UNION OF MINDS AND HEARTS

Satisfaction comes through we are better together than apart.

JUST SEX = PAUPER

God is the origin of their helping distinctiveness.

Two are better than one, ... ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

How can one be warm alone?
It involves a total commitment for life to one another.
When this commitment is kept, God is honored,
man and women fulfilled, and society protected.
~ This is what God did.


"... For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." ... ~ Genesis 3:1-7


Satan tempts Eve by telling her God has denied her and she is limited.
Do we meditate on those things God has told us to do?
We have fallen into what God has told us not to do.
● Man fell into leadership upside-down.
~ This is what man did.


... Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me,
she gave me of the tree, and I ate." ~ Genesis 3:8-12


Adam fell from being a spiritual leader.
● Abdication of responsibility for being a spiritual leader.
Adam blamed God for giving him woman.


... For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but
the woman being deceived, fell into transgression ... ~ 1st Timothy 2:8-15


Our crisis is found in men not rising to be spiritually sound leaders.
Responsibility for their families.


... The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." ~ Genesis 3:13

... It's not my fault.
Her desire overwhelmed her sense of God’s truth.


"... In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for
your husband, And he shall rule over you." ~ Genesis 3:14-16


Her desire was to rule over man but he will have dominion over her.
Men have dominated oppressively over women
- especially where the Gospel is not taught.
Eve was submissive to Adam before they fell in to sin.
Women being submissive to men is not a result of sin, which many believe.
Sin led to oppressive consequences for both.


"... Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life." ~ Genesis 3:17


Eve had the power of persuasion.
Women now carry pains of birth and the ground is cursed for man.
The union of two as one is the will of God.
Marriage is in the world to help us get to heaven.

What did Christ do?
- He reinforced God’s true and original intent.


"... He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' ..."
~ Matthew 19:2-12


Christians should be able to understand God's way, not their way.

1. One Union
2. Permanent
3. Believe God  

... "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce
your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ..." ~ Matthew 19:8-9


We are able when we understand it is God’s way and not our way.

See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:15-16


... submitting to one another in the fear of God. ~ Ephesians 5:21

We need to be subject to one another = Universal Principle
Humility; Servant attitude.
Sin and the unwillingness to repent is what cause divorce.


Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ~ Ephesians 5:22

Do you resent the way of God?
To be submissive?
Our Father knows best.
~ Help him.


... just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives
be to their own husbands in everything. ... ~ Ephesians 5:23-25


HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES = COMMAND

Men need to sacrifice for their wives.
For centuries, men have beaten women to get what they want.
Jesus told us men will go to hell if they do not have sacrificial love.
Fear and intimidation of a woman will condemn a man.
Women submit easily to men that love them with their life.
Do we play our part as commanded by God?
Christ = Peace Maker


Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding,
giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, ... ~ 1st Peter 3:7-9


Make your homes one that is ruled by Christ
~ and you will enjoy the blessings




 

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