From Holiness to Happiness
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God has forgiven you.
Marriage forces me to face myself honestly to expose my character flaws, bad attitudes and habits that lead me further away from my God ordained happiness.
Created for Intimacy
Genesis 2:20-24 NIV But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
1. We Have Wounds.
Luke 17:1-4 MEV
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible except that offenses will come. But woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he was thrown into the sea, than to offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
John 16:33 NIV
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
2. We Have Worry, War and Why.
The Devil is creating worry in us, waring against us, and answering our questions.
John 8:44 NIV You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Our mind is answering your questions.
Romans 8:6 NLV If your sinful old self is the boss over your mind, it leads to death. But if the Holy Spirit is the boss over your mind, it leads to life and peace.
3. We Have Weapons.
Weapons for Protection
Attack with Words.
Proverbs 15:4 NIV
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
1 Peter 3:9-12
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Weapons for Protection
Anger
Proverbs 29:11 NIV
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
There is HOPE for all of us!
Psalm 34:18 ESV The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
1. Connect to Jesus for Healing
Psalm 147:3 NIV
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
2. Confess Your Sins to Reconcile.
Matthew 5:23-24 NIV “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
3. Create Community for Healing.
James 5:16 NIV Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I will Honor God and my wife/husband/parent by always believing the best about them while serving them in joy.
I will communicate my needs and concerns with all gentleness and patience while lavishing my wife/husband/parent with affirmation and affection.
I will be quick to repent without defense and quicker to forgive without offense while demonstrating the love of Jesus to my wife/husband/parent.
I will seek unity, peace and love with my wife/husband/parent as I deny my selfish desires while living fully surrender to Jesus as I seek holiness on my way toward happiness.
I break every generational curse off of me and my family while taking authority over the devil to relinquish every stronghold in the name of Jesus. AMEN!