★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Jiyep - Hwolshe;
Jos, Plateau State - Nigeria
26th December, 2015
WEDDINGS:
☆ GAMPAN & NANMAN HAGGAI
☆ MUSA & FLORENCE SAMBO
SERMON
* Speaker: Rev. Dinfa Lamda
* Topic: Be Merciful When Your Spouse Fails
* Text: Exodus 32:11-14
* God was angry with the Israelites and wanted to destroy them.
→ He wanted to break the covenant that existed between Him and the Israelites due to their unfaithfulness;
→ Moses interceded for them & God relented in his intention to destroy
* Remember that there may be failures on the part of your spouse as long as you live
⇒ Offenses are inevitable
→ Even best friends offend each other periodically
* Note: Israel was not the best nation on earth, but God decided to chose and love them
→ Similarly, out of all the men and women in the world, married couples have decided to choose each other - this is a good thing, regardless of what happens (good or bad)
* Sometimes, what you are expecting from your spouse is not what you will get, but you must continue to love him/her - because you have vowed before God to do so
* Many people do not understand the implication of Christian marriage which is meant to be permanent
* NOTE: Though Moses was a motal man, but God listened to him when he interceded for Israel
→ Some people are adamant when their spouse offends them and is seeking reconciliation
* As a believer, you must give allowance for the shortcomings of others who offend you
→ You must always forgive freely
* Refusal to forgive is a sign of spiritual immaturity
* Divorce should not even be an option in Christian marriage
* Don't listen to the voices of men when bad advices come
* Always weigh every advice in the light of God's Word
* As a child of God, the Scripture must be your standard
* Always remember that people around you are observing your conduct
* The only secret of success in marriage is to do all things as unto God and for His glory
* When you take the vow "for better for worse", NO EXCUSE will suffice as justification for breaking your sacred covenant with your spouse, taken in the presence of God and the Church
★ Revelation 2:10 →"Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victor’s crown of life."
* Your faithfulness to your marriage vows must be unconditional - even to the point of death
* There is a difference between patience and longsuffering!
→ longsuffering starts where patience is totally exhausted
* You cannot 'soften' God's Word to suit your circumstance when things are not going your way in marriage
* Remember your covenant and always try to fulfil them as long as you are alive
* As a Christian, your life must be governed by the Scriptures, not your emotions, societal expectations or your culture
* You must keep your marriage covenant even when it hurts you
☆ Marriage is a choice: You must accept the good or bad consequences of your own choice for the rest of your life
* NOTE: Marriage would bring extra problems to you
→ A person who does not want extra problems in his life should not get married at all!
* Marriage is a test of your patience and your ability to withstand challenges in life
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