★ MY SERMON NOTES
Wedding between:
Margret Nuhu Dashwep & Longji Sunday Gunat
@ Covenant Word Christian Centre International (CWCCI),
Plot 2389, Breweries Road,
Opposite Jos Steel Rolling Mill,
Old Airport Road,
Jos - Plateau State
25th April, 2015
SERMON
* Speaker: Rev. James Stephens
* Topic: Building Blocks for a Successful Marriage
 |
| Rev. James Stephens |
→ Marriage is filled with ups and downs & it usually comes with plenty 'distractions' such as: making time for each other, additional responsibilities, kids, parenting, in-laws, etc.
* Young (single) people should take advantage of their period of singleness to serve God and develop themselves before getting married
* When you get married, you will discover that you do not have as much time as you used to have when you were single
* The Building Blocks for a Successful Marriage
1. Build your home on God's Word
→ Make God's Word The final authority in your home & life
→ You must anchor all your dreams, hopes, educational experiences, logic, personal preferences, beliefs etc. on God's Word
→ Everything must find expression through God's Word
* As a believer God's Word is your ultimate standard, not your educational training, cultural beliefs or societal expectations
→ Submit to one another
★ Ephesians 5:21 →"...and you will submit to one another out of reverence for the Messiah.
→ Be humble; put the interest of your spouse above your own
★ Philippians 2:3 →''Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves."
* Whatever your cultural beliefs are, they must be subject to God's Word; if not so, there will be a clash of interests
→ Ensure that you deal with the issue of anger in your life
★ James 1:19 → "You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry."
* The Word of God must always come first before (and take priority over and above) your feelings and temperament
→ Your feelings, opinions and temperament must be subject to God's Word
* A man that will not submit his heart to the Word of God will never submit to any man or woman!
★ Proverbs 4:7 →"Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding."
* Make time to study God's Word and teach each other as a couple (before and after marriage)
* Regardless of the beautiful physical characteristics a person possesses, without God's Word a man or woman is empty and vulnerable to satanic manipulation
* God's Word is the ultimate restraint that keeps a man from sin
★ Psalm 119:9 →"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word."
★ Josh 1:8 →"This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success."
2. The Fear of the Lord
★ Proverbs 1:7 → "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction."
→ You need the wisdom of God to navigate your path through life
→ The fear of the Lord is the restraint that keeps a man in check
→ It is impossible for a person to keep away from sin because of fear of his or her spouse. When such a person is away from his or her spouse and there is an opportunity to sin, without the fear of the Lord, such a person will succumb
☆ Advise to Single people:
→ Instead of looking for a spouse with beautiful physical characteristics, impressive educational achievements or sound financial standing, look for a person who fears the Lord
→ It is the fear of the Lord that keeps a person from abusing his or her spouse physically, emotionally or verbally
→ It takes the fear of the Lord to keep ungodly urges in check
3. Preserve the Original Vision
→ What vision do (did) you have?
→ You must have "seen" something for you to decide to marry your spouse.
→ Keep that vision alive!
★ Proverbs 29:18 →"Without prophetic vision, people abandon restraint, but those who obey the Law are happy."
→ The reason why many marriages are crumbling today is because they lost their original vision
→ If you have lost your original vision, there is second chance - for a second touch (See: Mark 8:22-25)
4. Keep it simple
→ Some people are too 'serious' (in their relationship with their spouse), that is why life is serious on them!
→ Simplicity will help your marriage
→ Your home should be a place of joy: the ambience should be welcoming
→ Lighten up your relationship and home with healthy jokes
→ Play with each other
→ Laugh together
→ Enjoy each others' company
* By all means, keep it simple
