Rediscovering the Good in the Marriage Institution (Rev. Ejide Eme) 28-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

28th October, 2016

COUPLE'S RETREAT 

(Day One: 1st Session)

Rev. Ejibe Eme
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Ejibe Eme

* Topic: Rediscovering the Good in the Marriage Institution

* Text: Genesis 2:7-25

* Rediscovery is a process of seeking out what the original plan of a thing is

☆ Discovery arises when there is:

1. Confusion

→ Today, there is much confusion about marriage institution

→ Civilization has worsened the confusion

→ Many perversions have been introduced to undermine the sanctity of marriage

2. Damage

→ To repair a damage, you need to refer back to the original manual of the product

→ The manual for marriage is the Bible

☆ Points to note:

* 1. At the institution of marriage at Eden, everything was provided (material wealth was is abundance)

→ NOTE: The presence or absence of material wealth is not enough to determine the good or structure of marriage

→ There is something about marriage that money cannot provide

2. God is the sole initiator of marriage

→ The design of marriage precedes civilization and human knowledge

★ Acts 17:26

→ Man cannot have a superior design more than God

→ God's design predates your village tradition & customs

☆ The Principles that can bring out the good in Marriage:

→ For anything to be good, it must follow the right principles and specifications (as predetermined by the initiator or manufacturer)

1. The God Factor and the Divine Agenda (Genesis 2:21)

→ "God made"

→ "God caused deep sleep"

→ "God brought her to Adam"

* NOTE: God is deliberately involved in your marriage

→ He has an agenda for your marriage

→ He has an interest in your interest

→ He is a major stakeholder/shareholder in your family affairs

* God always works behind the scenes to establish and sustain marriage

★ Malachi 2:14 →"Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant."

* NOTE: The consciousness that God is a constant witness in your marriage should cause you to be mindful of how you treat your spouse

★ Malachi 2:15 →"And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.''

* A seed is a deposit that will produce more harvest

→ when God is looking for bountiful harvest, he plants seeds in godly families!

* God always searches for a man and woman whom He can trust and entrust them with His godly seed

* NOTE: Examples of the 'seeds' God planted in godly families:

(a) Moses (see: Exodus 2:1-2)

(b) Samson (see: Judges 13:2)

(b) John the Baptist (see: Luke 1:5)

(c) Jesus Christ (see: Matthew 1:18)

* Question: Where are the families that God can trust today?

* Satan is always targeting the structure of marriages to bring it down

→ he aims at destroying the psyche of our children (eg, by planting them in homes with homosexual 'parents'. They will not be able to appreciate the sanctity of marriage as they grow up)

★ Psalm 11:3 →"When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (ISV)

★ Psalm 127:3

→ Your children are a gift from the Lord and you must protect them from the perversions of the world

* God has a divine arrangement for a woman to bring joy to the man

→ A woman carries destiny and births it!

⇒ Women play important roles in the godly upbringing of children

★ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

→ A man a woman are meant to compliment each other

2. The Covenant Factor in the Union

★ Genesis 2:23

→ Marriage is not a business contract (that may be terminated when the conditions are not favorable)

→ Marriage breaks the covenant of birth (leave father and Mother)

→ It is not a social arrangement between two people to co-exist

* Marriage is not about compatibility (it is virtually impossible for two different people to be totally compatible)

→ That is why it is a mystery

→ Two different personalities becoming one

* What the world cannot understand, they try to develop a new theory

3. The Mystery of Oneness

→ In marriage, the two different personalities have collapsed into one!

→ This is what the world does not understand

★ Matthew 19:4-6

* God's plan is for the couples to be ONE in everything

→ If your wife does not know something about you, then you are not one!

* A sane person would never maltreat or insult himself

* Whenever there is anything wrong with your marriage, somebody or something is intruding

* Your marriage is your life!

→ You should do all that is possible to preserve, protect and nourish it

* When there is oneness, you will always feel the pain of your spouse

* NOTE: You must keep an eye on the devil

→ Question: What is the devil sponsoring to undermine your marriage covenant?

* You must understand the tricks of the devil and guard against them

☆ Questions for Personal Reflection:

→ Can God brag about your marriage?

→ If God is looking for a family that He will use as a model to convince unbelievers that His principles of marriage are timeless and enduring, can He send them your way?

→ SINGLES: If God is about to send a seed into the world, can He trust you with it?

Couple's Retreat (Exhortation) Mr. Sunny Ekunwe 20-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

28th October, 2016

COUPLE'S RETREAT 

(Day One: Friday)

☆ PRAYER SESSION (EXHORTATION)

* Leader: Mr. Sunny Ekunwe

* Text: 1 Peter 5:8 →"Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

* The devil is seeking the man in which he will embarrass

→ You need to be vigilant and prayerful at all times

* The devil has no power over a man who knows this rights in Christ!

☆ Three (3) Points to Note if you are to have a Successful Marriage:

1. Be Knowledgeable about God's word

→ Everything you need is in God's Word

2. You should be a person of Prayer

★ Luke 18:1 → "Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up."

→ Heaven is moved when men pray!

* A man must not relegate the duty of prayer to his wife

→ Do not relinguish your priesthood

3. God desires that men should provide for the family

→ God's endorsement is upon the man to fulfil the mandate of provision

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF) - Rev. Dr. David Pofi & Mrs. Gyarta Pofi 26-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)
Combined Fellowship, Abuja Zone
☆ Venue: Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Nyanya - Abuja
26th May, 2016

* Guest Speakers: Rev. Dr. David Pofi & Mrs. Gyarta Pofi

* Marriage is a lifetime venture.

→ Do not just wake up one day and decide that you want to break it up

→ You must resolve to make your marriage work at all cost

→ You must delibrately invest in your marriage

★ Deuteronomy 5:9-10 → "you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." [NKJV]

★ Isaiah 59:21 →"As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.” [NKJV]

* You can choose to be a source of blessing to your children up to a thousand generation

→ You may also choose to be a curse to your children to the 4th generation

 * Your present lifestyle will determine your children's blessings

 * Today, Satan is waging war against godly marriages

⇒ This explains the rise of divorces, domestic marriages and stained relationships

 * If you get it right by sowing the right seeds, your children will also get it right when their time comes

 * Your relationship with God will definitely affect your relationship with your spouse

 * Once you are disconnected from God, you will invariably be disconnected from your spouse

 * Do not be bold to stand before people to minister God's Word when your "home Church" is in disarray

 * You can pretend to believers outside, but you cannot successfully pretends to his family!

* Ensure that your family worship is vibrant and that your spouse and children are connected to God

→ This affects your children in a positive way

* You must ensure that you pass on the Word of God as a legacy to your children

→ this solidifies the foundation of having a thousand godly generations

* Whatever spirit you are carrying is also what will be obtainable in your kids

→ Children learn alot by watching & emulating their parents

* NOTE: Consciously or otherwise, there is something that somebody around you is learning from your life

* Your relationship with God will definitely affect your relationship with your spouse

* Your values will be passed on to your children

→ Ensure that your values are based on the Word of God

* Do all it takes to make your marriage work

* There are so many couples who need you to encourage them. Do not disaapoint them; do not disappoint God!  

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

☆ Mrs. Gyarta Pofi

★ Matthew 13:44-45 → ''Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls."

* If your family is valuable to you, you will make all the required sacrifices to make it work

* You must make up your mind to make heaven TOGETHER with your spouse!

→ You must not do it all alone. It is a partnership

→ Read God's Word TOGETHER, Pray TOGETHER, attend Church TOGETHER, do everything TOGETHER. This is the secret of success in marriage!

★Ecclesiastes 9:8-10 →"Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going."

☆ 3 Levels God wants You to Maintain in your Life:

1. Personal Holiness (verse 8)

→ Make sure there is no sin in your life

→ You must spend time with God

→ The anointing must never be lacking in your life

2. Your Family (verse 9)

→ Ensure that their is an unbreakable bond of friendship between you and your spouse

→ Friendship is what makes marriage enjoyable

→ Enjoy each other: decide together, plan together, talk together, play together, sleep in the same room and on the same bed together

* Marriage is the bridge you must cross into outside ministry

→ If your marriage is not correct, your ministry outside is futile

* When you are not united with your spouse, your children will divide and rule you

→ Issues of discipline must be approached from the same perspective by both spouses

→ It is disastrous for spouses to antagonize themselves on the issue of discipline of their children

3. Outside Work (verse 10)

→ Crossing the first two bridges successfully empowers you to excel outside

 

Mrs. Gyarta Pofi

Rev. Dr. David Pofi (Founder, Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF))

The will of God (Evangelist Lewis Dam) 07-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Ecumenical Christian Centre,

Central Area,

Behind Central Bank of Nigeria - Abuja,

7th May, 2016

☆ Marriage Between

Barr. Prizing Binwai & Grace Barde

Evangelist Lewis Dam

SERMON

* Speaker: Evangelist Lewis Dam

* Topic: The will of God

* Text: 1 John 2:17 →"And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (NKJV)

* In this generation, many marriages are 'upside down' because they do not understand nor walk in the will of God

★ Ecclesiastes 12:13 →''The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you." (MSG)

* The most damnable thing in life is not death

→ It is life outside the will of God

* It is impossible for a man to find fulfilment outside the will of God

* Foolish people think they are free to do whatever they like outside of God

* Gone are the days whereby young people travel into marriage on their knees. Today, they travel into marriage on their feelings

* Many people do not take the time and the pains to discover God's will for marriage before they make the commitment

* Many marriages in Church are founded on deciet

* One of the most foolish questions in life is "what will people say?"

→ Because of other people's opinions, many become frustrated and even kill themselves

→ The people whom you worry about their opinions do not really care about you

* Fulfillment and genuine success does not come from man's ingenuity, but by walking in God's will

* You must be mindful of what God says, not what people think

★ Hebrews 10:36 →  "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
 

* There is a promise for those who do and obey the Word of God

★ 1 John 2:17 → "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
 

* Most Church marriages end in divorce (or separation) because of selfishness  

→ Many people enter into marriage only to please themselves.

→ They lie to themselves, their friends, their families and the Church that they are God's will for each other

★ John 6:38 → "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me."
 

★ John 16:13 → "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

★ Jeremiah 23:21 →  "I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message;I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied."  

* God was upset at Priests that ran with messages when they have not heard from God

* A good sermon is comprised of a message from God delivered to a targeted audience by a faithful messenger

* There is no marriage that succeeds without the ability to hear God clearly  

* Each day you will be confronted with decisions either to do your will or God's will

* The Holy Spirit helps us to hear and obey God always

* The best and most successful couples are those who wake up every day, ready to die to themselves and submit to God's will

★ Is doing God's will easy?

→ It is not easy, but it brings the best rewards in the end

* God rewards a believer for doing what asks him/her to do

→ You cannot decide to do what you want to do and expect God to reward or bless you

* The greatest pleasure in life is to know and do God's will

 

* Some people live through life only labouring for their stomachs

* Do not allow the history of your life to be written on the lives of others

→ Allow God to write your own history for you

* You can hear what people say, but do not listen to them

* NOTE: Anything done with the spirit of unforgiveness does not have God's blessings

 

Barr. & Mrs. Prizing Binwai

 

Responsibilities of Spouses (Husband) 05-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)

Lugbe Group, Abuja Zone

5th May, 2016

* Topic: Responsibilities of the Husband

* Leader: Barr. Panshak Haggai

 

1. The Husband as Father:

(a) Training (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-6)

- Training is a process of inculcating moral, spiritual, physical and economic (etc) values in children

- The difference between teaching and training is that teaching involves passing of information (whether learning occurs or not) while training is a sort of continuous discipleship whereby the character of a child is transformed

 

* For training to be effective: 

- It must be practical (children learn more from what they observe in their parent's lives)

- It must be consistent

- It must be done with a specific goal in mind

(b) Discipline (Proverbs 13:24; Ephesians 6:4)

* Discipline is a process of correcting a child when a wrong occurs

 

* Principles to note in Child Discipline:

- do not discipline a child to the point that he/she becomes provoked or discouraged

- ensure that you explain why you are disciplining the child

- discipline must be done in love

- always consider the age and temperament of a child in choosing an appropriate form of discipline

- a parent must not always over-react when children does wrong

- both parents must be one while disciplining their children. They must always be on the same side!

 

(c) Encourage & Exhort (Colossians 3:21)

- Children need to be constantly encouraged

- Parents must be wary of the words they use against their children especially when they fail in school or are not performing as good as their peers

- Your words should always be gracious towards your children

- When a parent is harsh, a child may be pushed to rebellion

2. The Husband as Head and Provider

(a) Hardwork (1 Timothy 5:8)

- It is the sole responsibility of the Husband to provide for the home

- A man must not be lazy

- When the husband's income or job is affected, the wife should support him if she is able

- A woman who becomes the breadwinner of the family  must not look down on her husband and she must not cause the children to disrespect him

(b) Pastor of the House (Deuteronomy 6:1-6; Job 1:1-5; Joshua 24:14-15)

- The husband is the Priest of his own home and he is expected to take the lead in spiritual matters  

- The spiritual wellbeing of the family is the husband's primary responsibility.

- He must always take the lead in family worship

- He must not abandon that duty to his wife, though she may support him  

- His goal should be to ensure that everyone in his house makes heaven

Be Merciful When Your Spouse Fails (Rev. Dinfa Lamda) 26-12-2015

★ 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

→ Psalm 15:4

☆ 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

Joint Heirs to the Kingdom of God (Dr. Patrick Dakum) 26-11-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF),

End of Year Combined Fellowship,

Abuja Zone,

@ Mungo-Park Garden, off Gimbiya Crescent, Area 11,

FCT - Abuja, Nigeria

26th November, 2015

☆ EXHORTATION

* Speaker: Dr. Patrick Dakum

* Topic: Joint Heirs to the Kingdom of God

* Text: 1 Peter 3:1-7

* NOTE: Yourself and your wife are joint heirs of the Kingdom of God

* This means that you both have a responsibility to uphold each other spiritually

 

* You would not be happy if you see your spouse in hell

* The problem that couples face is a global one

* At the point you become married, you have become one

→ NOTE: Becoming one is a process because marriage involves two different people that must adjust to each other

* If you have to properly adjust to each other, you must be able to understand each other, complement each other and uphold each other

* A man must take his place and discharge responsibility as the Priest & provider of the home

* A wife must comport herself in such a manner that her life is attractive to God

* Wives: learn to trust God for the change that you want to see in your husband

→ Place emphasis on developing inner beauty

* Wives: If you want your husband to treat as a queen, you must treat Him as a King

→ You must not disrespect Him [Esther 1:9-18]

* Husbands: You must treat your wife with consideration

* Violence against women is one of the worse things that a man can ever do!

→ A Christian man must never disrespect a woman by beating and oppressing her

* NOTE: Your wife is not your servant or your cook.

→ She is your partner and a helpmate

* You must not use your wife in a harsh way, but you must help her and treat her with

★ Joel 2:28 → "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

→ The same spirit that is in you is the same spirit that your wife has

★ Assignment: Evaluate your family:

1. How has this year being?

2. Have we been able to achieve our goals for this year?

3. What are the goals we want to achieve next year?

4. What are your spiritual plans for the family?

5. Do you have any plans for academic advancement?

→ Do not go into the next year accidentally without a plan.

* NOTE: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Relationships (Mrs Patricia Chollom) 26-04-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Jesus Revelation Assembly (JRA)

Tudun Wada Ring-Road,

Jos - Plateau State

26th April, 2015

JRA WOMENS' CONVENTION 2015

Theme: Excelling Through Every Season of a Woman's Life 

☆ SUMMARY OF TEACHING

FOR SATURDAY 25th April, 2015

* Speaker: Mrs Patricia Chollom (Lecturer, University of Jos)

* Topic: Relationships

Mrs Patricia Chollom

* God wants you to excel in your relationships



* God has set a standard for us (for relationships) in Jesus Christ

* If you do not have a vertical relationship (with God) you cannot have a horizontal relationship (with people around you)

* If your relationship with God is not complete, you will always have frictions in relating with people around you

* Do not be like the Galatians. They accepted Christ by faith, but they want to work out their salvation by self-effort (Galatians 3:3)

☆ Ingredients for Achieving Successful Relationships:

1. Faith

★ Rom 1:17 → "For in the gospel God’s righteousness is being revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”



* Successful relationships Cannot be established and maintained by self effort. It is by faith

* Self effort has limitations, and it will ultimately fail

* By knowing that we are partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)

2. Love

★ Ephesians 1:4 → "just as he chose us in the Messiah before the creation of the universe to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love."

→ The love being referred to here is Agape love (pure, unconditional love)

* God expects us to love unconditionally and to also love the unlovable

→ We love because we have received unconditional love (1 John 4:19)

* For a relationship to be sound, there must not be any iota of suspicion

* Your love should not be like the ones politicians display in Nigeria

→They join a political party and pledge their love and allegiance to that party, but when they Cannot realize their personal (selfish) ambitions, they decamp to another party

* God's love is constant and does not change

★ Galatians 5:6 →"for in union with the Messiah Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. What matters is faith expressed through love."

→ Faith works (and its expressed) by love

* If the basis of your relationship not love, it will ultimately fail

* Do not love because you are expecting something

→ The moment you don't get what you are expecting, the love will die out naturally

* Always ask God for a dose of His love

* You cannot give what you don't have

→ If God does not fill your heart with love, you become incapable of showing genuine love to anyone

* 1 Corinthians 13 → Describes God's kind of love

* The greatest weapon on earth is love

→ Love is more effective than any known man-made weapon of destruction

* Trust God in faith and allow Him to fill Your heart with His love

* Pursue love as your highest goal (1 Corinthians 14:1)

* Try by faith, not by effort

* Husbands have a responsibility to love their wives

→ Follow Jesus' standard of love (Ephesians 5:25)

* Women: Love unconditionally, whether you are appreciated or not

☆ Counsel to Singles:

(a) Do not fall in and out of relationships (looking for love);

(b) Keep yourself pure;

(c) Remain lovable

☆ NOTE:

→ God made us for relationships

→ God wants to relate with us, and for us to relate with others

→ If you do not want to love, you must relocate to another planet!

Building Blocks for a Successful Marriage (Rev. James Stephens) 25-04-2015

★ 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