Read Colossians 4:2, 1 Cor 5:7, 1 Thess 3:10, 1 Thess 5:17, 1 Tim 5:5, James 5:13-16, 1 Peter 4:7
Prayer and worship are perhaps the highest uses of the gift of speech. Paul was not ashamed to ask his friends to pray for him. Even though he was an apostle, he needed prayer support for himself and his ministry. If a great Christian like Paul felt the need for prayer support, how much more do you and I need this kind of spiritual help! In these few words, Paul described the characteristics of a satisfying and spiritual prayer life.
First, our praying must be faithful. “Continue in prayer” (Col. 4:2). This means, “Be steadfast in your prayer life; be devoted; don’t quit.” This is the way the early church prayed (Acts 1:14; 2:46). Too many of us pray only occasionally—when we feel like it, or when there is a crisis. “Pray without ceasing” is God’s command to us (1 Thes. 5:17). This does not mean that we should walk around muttering prayers under our breath. Rather, it means we should be constantly in fellowship with God so that prayer is as normal to us as breathing. This is not to suggest that God is reluctant to answer prayer and that we must “wear Him out” by our praying. Quite the opposite is true: God enjoys answering our prayers. But He sometimes delays the answer to increase our faith and devotion and to accomplish His purposes at the right time. God’s delays are not always God’s denials. As we continue in prayer, our own hearts are
prepared for the answer God will give. We find ourselves growing in grace even before His answer comes.
Our praying must also be watchful. We must be awake and alert as we pray. The phrase “Watch and pray!” is used often in the Bible. It had its beginning in Bible history when Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem: “Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them [the enemy] day and night” (Neh. 4:9). Jesus used the phrase (Mark 13:33; 14:38); Paul used it too (Eph. 6:18).
There is no power in dull, listless praying. If there is no fire on the altar, the incense will not rise to God (Ps. 141:2). Real praying demands spiritual energy and alertness, and this can come only from the Holy Spirit of God. Routine prayers are unanswered prayers.
Our praying should also be thankful: “Watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). Thanksgiving is an important ingredient in successful praying (Phil. 4:6). If all we do is ask, and never thank God for His gifts, we are selfish. Sincere gratitude to God is one of the best ways to put fervour into our praying. There is always so much to be thankful for! We have already noted the emphasis in Paul’s Letter to the Colossians on thanksgiving (Col. 1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2). When we recall that Paul was a prisoner when he wrote this letter, it makes this emphasis even more wonderful.
Finally, our praying ought to be purposeful: “Praying also for us” (Col. 4:3). Too often our prayers are vague and general. “Lord, bless the missionaries!” How much better it would be if we would pray for specific needs. By doing so, we would know when God answered and we could praise Him for it. Perhaps it is our lack of faith that causes us to pray generally instead of specifically.
It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth. Prayer is not telling God what to do or what to give. Prayer is asking God for that which He wants to do and give, according to His will (1 John 5:14–15). As we read the Word and fellowship with our Father, we discover His will and then boldly ask Him to do what He has planned. Richard Trench (1807–1886), archbishop of Dublin, said it perfectly: “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness.”
Of course, it is possible to pray in our hearts and never use the gift of speech (1 Sam. 1:13); but we are using words even if we don’t say them audibly. True prayer must first come from the heart, whether the words are spoken or not.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that every single person in your congregation sees the need and value of prayer. Pray that we will all be prayerful each and every single day.
Grab a blank A4 page of paper;
think about your week. and write down the times you set aside to pray.
If your page is relatively blank, think through your typical week and plan to pray daily. Set aside some time each day to be praying.
Without prayer you’ll lead a powerless life.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Saturday November 6, 2010
Read Colossians 3:20-21, Ephesians 6:1-4
Child rearing is mostly left to women today. Husbands are often viewed as the bread winner and the one who steps in only when a heavy hand is needed. They are by and large left out of the child rearing picture. But that’s not the way that God intended families to work.
The passages on raising children in the New Testament focus on the role of the Father for very specific reasons. The modern trend of neutralising the Bible to non sexist terms (such as parents) at this point needs to be resisted. While it is true that both mothers and fathers are not to discourage their children, God has a particular concern to talk to fathers.
Fathers are to be intimately involved in the raising of his children. He is a disciplinarian but also a model of the love that God the Father has for His children. Fathers are not to embitter or discourage children with their heavy handedness, or black and white approach to life. It’s not always as simple, as ‘You did something wrong so you will be punished’. Fathers are called to be fair, involved and dedicated with their children. Fathers are called to be gracious, loving and wise with their children. That wisdom and love will grow as the father grows in his own relationship with the Lord. Personally, I’ve found that my children teach me a lot about me and God in the way they treat me. As I analyse and reflect on my treatment of them, I look at God’s treatment of me and learn volumes about grace, mercy and goodness. That learning then flows though, I hope, into my relationship with my children.
Here’s a few tips to help each of us grow in our fathering :-
Remember: Strongly loving fathers create confident, loving children.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that the fathers in your congregation would be men of the Word who deeply and passionately love their children. Pray that they would effectively communicate that love to their children and model the love of Christ to them.
ÿ Pray that our children would be given a desire and the ability to obey their parents. Pray that our family units would communicate Christ to a world of broken families and fractured relationships.
Child rearing is mostly left to women today. Husbands are often viewed as the bread winner and the one who steps in only when a heavy hand is needed. They are by and large left out of the child rearing picture. But that’s not the way that God intended families to work.
The passages on raising children in the New Testament focus on the role of the Father for very specific reasons. The modern trend of neutralising the Bible to non sexist terms (such as parents) at this point needs to be resisted. While it is true that both mothers and fathers are not to discourage their children, God has a particular concern to talk to fathers.
Fathers are to be intimately involved in the raising of his children. He is a disciplinarian but also a model of the love that God the Father has for His children. Fathers are not to embitter or discourage children with their heavy handedness, or black and white approach to life. It’s not always as simple, as ‘You did something wrong so you will be punished’. Fathers are called to be fair, involved and dedicated with their children. Fathers are called to be gracious, loving and wise with their children. That wisdom and love will grow as the father grows in his own relationship with the Lord. Personally, I’ve found that my children teach me a lot about me and God in the way they treat me. As I analyse and reflect on my treatment of them, I look at God’s treatment of me and learn volumes about grace, mercy and goodness. That learning then flows though, I hope, into my relationship with my children.
Here’s a few tips to help each of us grow in our fathering :-
- Pray regularly, asking God for guidance and wisdom specifically about your fathering and relationship to each child.
- Pray for each child regularly and individually.
- Hang out with other fathers and their children to see what things they are doing. Spend father – child time together with other fathers and their children.
- Make time to talk to mature Christian fathers about the issues that are of concern to you.
- Read books on Christian parenting regularly.
Remember: Strongly loving fathers create confident, loving children.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that the fathers in your congregation would be men of the Word who deeply and passionately love their children. Pray that they would effectively communicate that love to their children and model the love of Christ to them.
ÿ Pray that our children would be given a desire and the ability to obey their parents. Pray that our family units would communicate Christ to a world of broken families and fractured relationships.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Friday November 5, 2010
Read John 13:34-35
Husbands and wives are called to love one another. But what begins as passionate love quickly deteriorates into burden, bane and bitterness. Many spouses, in their determination to be loved, seek to manipulate their spouses. Some husbands use intimidation and force to get what they need in the marriage. Some wives use guerrilla tactics and deny their husbands physical love until they get what they want. Part of the key to a successful marriage is to stop taking and to give. When this happens you have two people together seeking to serve the other and meet each other’s needs. What results is a powerful force of love where both parties have their needs met and are assured that love and dedication are the other’s motives. Suspicion is reduced. Anger is annulled. Trust is grown and harvested.
To help you meet your spouse’s needs, consider the five languages of love. Most people have a greater need in one of these areas and they ‘feel’ loved when this particular language is ‘spoken’ by their spouse. The five love languages are:-
1/. Words of Affirmation.
Words of affirmation are positive words spoken about the other person whether it be about them, or their performance in some area. Comments about how nice the house looks, or how professionally mowed the yard looks, or how well the car is running after hubby’s service, are words of affirmation. To those who have Words of Affirmation as their key love language criticism and negative words communicate something like, ‘You’re hopeless’, or ‘I hate you’ are destructive for the marriage relationship. Take note that even if Words of Affirmation are not the key language for your spouse, negative and critical words are still destructive.
2/. Quality Time.
Quality time is time spent together without an agenda or goal to reach. It’s not about leading up to sex or just sitting together so that something may happen later tonight. Quality time together is spending deliberate time together with the intention of getting to know each other better, talking, falling in love again and just being together. If quality time is your spouse’s love language then not spending time together communicates, ‘You’re not important enough for me to spend time with you’, or ‘I don’t value you enough to spend time with you’.
3/. Receiving Gifts.
Some spouses feel particularly loved when gifts are received. It’s not about the size or value of the gift but the knowledge that one’s spouse has gone to the effort to buy or make a special gift. A small gift will often communicate as much as a large expensive gift. A flower placed on the bed in the morning or a special note in the lunch box are special gifts. If your spouses love language is receiving gifts and you don’t buy him/her gifts then you are communicating that you don’t value your spouse and that money is more important than he/she is.
4/. Acts of Service.
Acts of service are only limited by your imagination. Some people feel very special when the other partner goes out of his or her way to serve or help them. Doing the dishes or cleaning up after dinner is a way that a husband can serve his wife. Taking the children out so mum can enjoy quality time alone is another. Cooking a special meal or making an effort to help in the garage (for example) are ways that a wife can serve her husband.
5/. Physical Touch:
When we talk of physical touch men will often think of something sexual. But physical touch is the hugs and kisses, the hand holding and so on that occurs throughout the day without reference to sex. For the spouse that has this love language, lounging together in each other’s arms, holding hands over a meal, a regular hug throughout the day says, ‘I love you’ in the most powerful way. If physical contact is your mate’s love language then an absence of physical touch communicates something like, ‘You’re embarrassing’, or ‘You’re ugly’, or ‘I don’t really love you’.
Let me encourage you to seek to find out your mate’s particular love language. How do you do that? Ask him or ask her! Go out for coffee and cake and spend time talking through the five languages. When you have found it out, speak that language to your spouse each and every single day. But don’t forget to use the words ‘I love you’ regularly as well.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that the families in your congregation would be bound together in love and unity. Pray that both husbands and wives would be sacrificially loving one another and serving each other under the headship of Christ.
ÿ Pray that both husbands and wives would be willing and able to serve in the ways and in the roles that God has ordained for them.
Plan a date with your spouse. While you are on a date, talk about the 5 languages of love and which one you and your spouse predominately need. It will probably differ for each of you. Talk about ways that these needs can be met by each other.
Husbands and wives are called to love one another. But what begins as passionate love quickly deteriorates into burden, bane and bitterness. Many spouses, in their determination to be loved, seek to manipulate their spouses. Some husbands use intimidation and force to get what they need in the marriage. Some wives use guerrilla tactics and deny their husbands physical love until they get what they want. Part of the key to a successful marriage is to stop taking and to give. When this happens you have two people together seeking to serve the other and meet each other’s needs. What results is a powerful force of love where both parties have their needs met and are assured that love and dedication are the other’s motives. Suspicion is reduced. Anger is annulled. Trust is grown and harvested.
To help you meet your spouse’s needs, consider the five languages of love. Most people have a greater need in one of these areas and they ‘feel’ loved when this particular language is ‘spoken’ by their spouse. The five love languages are:-
1/. Words of Affirmation.
Words of affirmation are positive words spoken about the other person whether it be about them, or their performance in some area. Comments about how nice the house looks, or how professionally mowed the yard looks, or how well the car is running after hubby’s service, are words of affirmation. To those who have Words of Affirmation as their key love language criticism and negative words communicate something like, ‘You’re hopeless’, or ‘I hate you’ are destructive for the marriage relationship. Take note that even if Words of Affirmation are not the key language for your spouse, negative and critical words are still destructive.
2/. Quality Time.
Quality time is time spent together without an agenda or goal to reach. It’s not about leading up to sex or just sitting together so that something may happen later tonight. Quality time together is spending deliberate time together with the intention of getting to know each other better, talking, falling in love again and just being together. If quality time is your spouse’s love language then not spending time together communicates, ‘You’re not important enough for me to spend time with you’, or ‘I don’t value you enough to spend time with you’.
3/. Receiving Gifts.
Some spouses feel particularly loved when gifts are received. It’s not about the size or value of the gift but the knowledge that one’s spouse has gone to the effort to buy or make a special gift. A small gift will often communicate as much as a large expensive gift. A flower placed on the bed in the morning or a special note in the lunch box are special gifts. If your spouses love language is receiving gifts and you don’t buy him/her gifts then you are communicating that you don’t value your spouse and that money is more important than he/she is.
4/. Acts of Service.
Acts of service are only limited by your imagination. Some people feel very special when the other partner goes out of his or her way to serve or help them. Doing the dishes or cleaning up after dinner is a way that a husband can serve his wife. Taking the children out so mum can enjoy quality time alone is another. Cooking a special meal or making an effort to help in the garage (for example) are ways that a wife can serve her husband.
5/. Physical Touch:
When we talk of physical touch men will often think of something sexual. But physical touch is the hugs and kisses, the hand holding and so on that occurs throughout the day without reference to sex. For the spouse that has this love language, lounging together in each other’s arms, holding hands over a meal, a regular hug throughout the day says, ‘I love you’ in the most powerful way. If physical contact is your mate’s love language then an absence of physical touch communicates something like, ‘You’re embarrassing’, or ‘You’re ugly’, or ‘I don’t really love you’.
Let me encourage you to seek to find out your mate’s particular love language. How do you do that? Ask him or ask her! Go out for coffee and cake and spend time talking through the five languages. When you have found it out, speak that language to your spouse each and every single day. But don’t forget to use the words ‘I love you’ regularly as well.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that the families in your congregation would be bound together in love and unity. Pray that both husbands and wives would be sacrificially loving one another and serving each other under the headship of Christ.
ÿ Pray that both husbands and wives would be willing and able to serve in the ways and in the roles that God has ordained for them.
Plan a date with your spouse. While you are on a date, talk about the 5 languages of love and which one you and your spouse predominately need. It will probably differ for each of you. Talk about ways that these needs can be met by each other.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Thursday November 4, 2010
Read Colossians Ephesians 5:25-33, Colossians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7
Read Proverbs 31:10-31
In Ephesians 5:21, we are called to submit to each other out of reverence for Christ. The husband submits by loving his wife as Christ loved the church. This is a profound love that is completely sacrificial and other centred. This is the kind of love that is completely and utterly self denying and giving to the other person - what did Jesus demand for Himself in the last few days of His life???
Husbands are not to be harsh with their wives. They are to live considerately with them, knowing and understanding that they are the weaker partner. They are to be filled with understanding and compassion, seeking to remove any obstacle, any impediment to the prayers they share together! Husbands are to set the spiritual tenor of the household!
Husbands are to be willing to die for the purity and sanctity of their wives. They are to treat their wives as a young sapling, fertilising it, watering it and nurturing it so that it grows into the beautiful flowering tree that God created it to be. Husbands are to bring out the purity and reverence, the holiness and inner beauty in their wife.
Read Proverbs 31:10-31 again and notice what the godly wife is like. But then think about what the husband is like that allows this woman, noble woman to develop into her beautiful self. He loves her. He supports her. He opens the door of opportunity for her. He allows her to use her talents. He nurtures her. The ‘typical’ husband who comes home and demands that dinner is on the table and then expects the wife to clean the house and tend to the kids and then to put out in the bedroom, is as far from the Biblical picture of husbandry as you could possibly get. This is a model of selfishness and self gratification.
Let the Word of God describe and convict you of what a husband’s love is to be like.
Read Colossian 3:18. 1 Peter 3:1-6. Ephesians 5:21-24
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that our congregation will be filled with godly men who set the spiritual tenor of the home and lead their wives and families deeper into relationship with Christ. Since this is naturally a battle, pray that wives and families will be willing to be led by their husbands and fathers.
ÿ Pray that we will see all men in our congregation grow in Jesus - like manhood, taking on the qualities and characteristics of men that are Biblical and honouring to God. Pray this in particular for our teenagers.
Read Proverbs 31:10-31
In Ephesians 5:21, we are called to submit to each other out of reverence for Christ. The husband submits by loving his wife as Christ loved the church. This is a profound love that is completely sacrificial and other centred. This is the kind of love that is completely and utterly self denying and giving to the other person - what did Jesus demand for Himself in the last few days of His life???
Husbands are not to be harsh with their wives. They are to live considerately with them, knowing and understanding that they are the weaker partner. They are to be filled with understanding and compassion, seeking to remove any obstacle, any impediment to the prayers they share together! Husbands are to set the spiritual tenor of the household!
Husbands are to be willing to die for the purity and sanctity of their wives. They are to treat their wives as a young sapling, fertilising it, watering it and nurturing it so that it grows into the beautiful flowering tree that God created it to be. Husbands are to bring out the purity and reverence, the holiness and inner beauty in their wife.
Read Proverbs 31:10-31 again and notice what the godly wife is like. But then think about what the husband is like that allows this woman, noble woman to develop into her beautiful self. He loves her. He supports her. He opens the door of opportunity for her. He allows her to use her talents. He nurtures her. The ‘typical’ husband who comes home and demands that dinner is on the table and then expects the wife to clean the house and tend to the kids and then to put out in the bedroom, is as far from the Biblical picture of husbandry as you could possibly get. This is a model of selfishness and self gratification.
Let the Word of God describe and convict you of what a husband’s love is to be like.
Read Colossian 3:18. 1 Peter 3:1-6. Ephesians 5:21-24
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that our congregation will be filled with godly men who set the spiritual tenor of the home and lead their wives and families deeper into relationship with Christ. Since this is naturally a battle, pray that wives and families will be willing to be led by their husbands and fathers.
ÿ Pray that we will see all men in our congregation grow in Jesus - like manhood, taking on the qualities and characteristics of men that are Biblical and honouring to God. Pray this in particular for our teenagers.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Wednesday November 3, 2010
Read Colossians 3:18. Ephesians 5:21-24, 1 Peter 3:1-6
God has rules and functions for marriage, just as He does for every area of our life. But before we move forward, we need to be absolutely clear about how these passages are and are NOT to be used. These passages should be read and applied first and foremost to myself. I need to let God’s Spirit convict me and change me so that I am a more Jesus-like spouse. At no point should I read the passage and demand that my spouse act like this, or that, or do this, or do that. These are not passages with which we can domineer or lord it over our spouse.
Wives are called to submit to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Wives are called to be submissive in a way that glorifies our Lord or Saviour. Wives are never called to disobey or bring dishonour to God when the Lord is disobeyed, or His standards are called into question, or when sin is desired by the husband! Wives are to submit to their husbands as the head as Christ is the Head of the Church. Given what we’ve already learned in Genesis 3, that statement may cause hackles to rise up on the necks of women, to incite incense and a deep desire to argue the point. If that’s the case for you, read Ephesians 5:21-24 again and again, if necessary.
Wives are called to live such pure and reverent lives that unbelieving husbands are drawn to worship Christ. They are not to ‘nag’ their husbands into believing (this is the more probable meaning of ’without words’ in 1 Peter), but are to adorn themselves with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. They are to be attractive from the inside out.
Wives are not called to be submissive only when it suits them, or when they are happy to submit. They are not to manipulate their husbands to get their own way, or badger them after what they feel is a wrong decision.
What God wants is for two people to live in harmony together, helping and supporting one another and going out of their way to serve Him and serve the other. Marriage is about service sacrifice and bringing joy to the other person.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that the wives in our congregation will be women with a quiet and gentle spirit that make themselves attractive by loving God wholeheartedly and by adorning good deeds that are appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
ÿ Pray that husbands will not be abusing their position or using Scripture manipulate their wives.
God has rules and functions for marriage, just as He does for every area of our life. But before we move forward, we need to be absolutely clear about how these passages are and are NOT to be used. These passages should be read and applied first and foremost to myself. I need to let God’s Spirit convict me and change me so that I am a more Jesus-like spouse. At no point should I read the passage and demand that my spouse act like this, or that, or do this, or do that. These are not passages with which we can domineer or lord it over our spouse.
Wives are called to submit to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Wives are called to be submissive in a way that glorifies our Lord or Saviour. Wives are never called to disobey or bring dishonour to God when the Lord is disobeyed, or His standards are called into question, or when sin is desired by the husband! Wives are to submit to their husbands as the head as Christ is the Head of the Church. Given what we’ve already learned in Genesis 3, that statement may cause hackles to rise up on the necks of women, to incite incense and a deep desire to argue the point. If that’s the case for you, read Ephesians 5:21-24 again and again, if necessary.
Wives are called to live such pure and reverent lives that unbelieving husbands are drawn to worship Christ. They are not to ‘nag’ their husbands into believing (this is the more probable meaning of ’without words’ in 1 Peter), but are to adorn themselves with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. They are to be attractive from the inside out.
Wives are not called to be submissive only when it suits them, or when they are happy to submit. They are not to manipulate their husbands to get their own way, or badger them after what they feel is a wrong decision.
What God wants is for two people to live in harmony together, helping and supporting one another and going out of their way to serve Him and serve the other. Marriage is about service sacrifice and bringing joy to the other person.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that the wives in our congregation will be women with a quiet and gentle spirit that make themselves attractive by loving God wholeheartedly and by adorning good deeds that are appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
ÿ Pray that husbands will not be abusing their position or using Scripture manipulate their wives.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Tuesday November 2, 2010
Read Genesis 3
The statistics on marriage aren’t good. Divorce rates in Australia have increased from 28% in 1987 to 33% in 2002. That means 1 in 3 marriages ended in divorce. Even worse, the numbers of people existing in a marriage that is burdened with unhappiness, hurt and bitterness is particularly high. The rates of extra marital affairs is ridiculously high. What went wrong? Why such extremes? Why is there a battle of the sexes being fought out within the institution of marriage?
Genesis 3 has the answers. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, chose to disobey God. They chose, albeit at the temptation of the evil one, to eat from the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil, to do what God had said expressly not to do. The result affected every area of our lives. The woman, through her disobedience, engaged all womanhood in a battle with the serpent and through that battle would come the Saviour who, though bruised, would crush the serpent’s head. Addedly, the woman would suffer greatly increased birth pains and would have a desire for her husband. This word desire has a history of abuse and conflict. It’s been debated ever since Adam and Eve heard the words from the mouth of the Lord. Read Genesis 4:7 and you begin to see the sphere of meaning of this word desire. It means something like, to have mastery over, or to rule harshly over. The woman’s desire will be to have mastery or dominion over the man. In return, out of suspicion and fear, he will ruler over the woman with harshness and self interest! The battle of the sexes was born by our first parent’s disobedience!
For Adam’s part, he listened to his wife and caused the ground to be cursed. We see natural disasters and eco systems collapsing because of this very disobedience. We see weeds and thorns and small harvests (food shortages etc) because Adam sinned. This verse too, has been abused. Many a husband has ignored his wife and refused to listen to her counsel because of this verse. How perverted! We are not to listen to our spouse when they tempt us to move away from God or to disobey God. At all other times we are to include and consider their counsel!
The implications of Genesis 3 for marriages today is paramount to understand.
û Women will find it hard to submit to their husbands because of that inbuilt desire to dominate.
û Husbands will have a natural instinct to rule harshly over their wives.
û There is a natural tendency to be suspicious and self protecting in a marriage.
û Men will find it hard to communicate and open up to their wives because of this suspicion and desire, or perceived need to rule harshly over them.
û Conflict is built into the marriage because of the first rejection of God’s rule.
But it’s not all bad news. In Christ Jesus we can find a marriage that is both God honouring and joyous. We can move towards the Biblical picture of marriage. That’s the focus of this week’s passage.
In what ways can you see these sins in your side of the marriage. It’s all too easy to point the finger but take time to look at yourself. Take time to think and pray about where you need to repent and change.
The statistics on marriage aren’t good. Divorce rates in Australia have increased from 28% in 1987 to 33% in 2002. That means 1 in 3 marriages ended in divorce. Even worse, the numbers of people existing in a marriage that is burdened with unhappiness, hurt and bitterness is particularly high. The rates of extra marital affairs is ridiculously high. What went wrong? Why such extremes? Why is there a battle of the sexes being fought out within the institution of marriage?
Genesis 3 has the answers. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, chose to disobey God. They chose, albeit at the temptation of the evil one, to eat from the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil, to do what God had said expressly not to do. The result affected every area of our lives. The woman, through her disobedience, engaged all womanhood in a battle with the serpent and through that battle would come the Saviour who, though bruised, would crush the serpent’s head. Addedly, the woman would suffer greatly increased birth pains and would have a desire for her husband. This word desire has a history of abuse and conflict. It’s been debated ever since Adam and Eve heard the words from the mouth of the Lord. Read Genesis 4:7 and you begin to see the sphere of meaning of this word desire. It means something like, to have mastery over, or to rule harshly over. The woman’s desire will be to have mastery or dominion over the man. In return, out of suspicion and fear, he will ruler over the woman with harshness and self interest! The battle of the sexes was born by our first parent’s disobedience!
For Adam’s part, he listened to his wife and caused the ground to be cursed. We see natural disasters and eco systems collapsing because of this very disobedience. We see weeds and thorns and small harvests (food shortages etc) because Adam sinned. This verse too, has been abused. Many a husband has ignored his wife and refused to listen to her counsel because of this verse. How perverted! We are not to listen to our spouse when they tempt us to move away from God or to disobey God. At all other times we are to include and consider their counsel!
The implications of Genesis 3 for marriages today is paramount to understand.
û Women will find it hard to submit to their husbands because of that inbuilt desire to dominate.
û Husbands will have a natural instinct to rule harshly over their wives.
û There is a natural tendency to be suspicious and self protecting in a marriage.
û Men will find it hard to communicate and open up to their wives because of this suspicion and desire, or perceived need to rule harshly over them.
û Conflict is built into the marriage because of the first rejection of God’s rule.
But it’s not all bad news. In Christ Jesus we can find a marriage that is both God honouring and joyous. We can move towards the Biblical picture of marriage. That’s the focus of this week’s passage.
In what ways can you see these sins in your side of the marriage. It’s all too easy to point the finger but take time to look at yourself. Take time to think and pray about where you need to repent and change.
Monday November 1, 2010
Genesis 2
As we begin to think about the Biblical concept
of a family, we need to go back to the very start of the Bible, where God first created the family. Picture the action with me. God makes the man from the dust of the ground. He breathes life into the nostrils of this clay lump and mankind becomes a living being. Man and God converse and relate. God gives Adam (the Hebrew means ‘red’ like the colour of the dust he was created from) a command, and Adam seeks to keep it. God has a job for Adam to do as part of his leadership of all creation - name all the animals. Can you picture Adam pointing to the wondrous creatures of creation and naming them accordingly? Crocodiles, birds, bats, dolphins and so on.
But notice vs 20. It ends in a very strange way.
So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
God had created all the animals in their pairs so that they could reproduce and fill the world. As Adam worked his way through the creatures it would have dawned on him that he was alone. He was unique, different to the animals, but unlike the creatures, he was alone. What God knew from the very beginning slowly dawned on Adam - there was no suitable helper for this man. And with that realisation, God causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep and out of his own flesh makes him a suitable helper - the woman!
As Adam awakes God presents the woman to him and he bursts forth in excited jubilation and sings the world’s first love song!
God’s original intention was that one man and one woman would live together as one flesh in a mutual relationship of love and trust and respect. There were different roles in this ‘marriage’ but before God both the man and woman (see Genesis 1:27-29) were intrinsically equal. God loved them both and they were to love each other with this God-like love.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that God would bless the marriages in your congregation with a deep, God-like love that is sacrificial, loving.
ÿ Pray for the singles in the congregation as they struggle with specific issues and temptations. Pray that strong bonds of friendship and love will be formed and that there will be a depth of godliness and holiness.
Are you married?
If ‘yes’ do something today that will bless and bring joy to your spouse. Do something that says ‘I Love You’ to your spouse.
If ‘No’ do something to bless and bring joy to another believer of the same sex as you, for obvious reasons
As we begin to think about the Biblical concept
of a family, we need to go back to the very start of the Bible, where God first created the family. Picture the action with me. God makes the man from the dust of the ground. He breathes life into the nostrils of this clay lump and mankind becomes a living being. Man and God converse and relate. God gives Adam (the Hebrew means ‘red’ like the colour of the dust he was created from) a command, and Adam seeks to keep it. God has a job for Adam to do as part of his leadership of all creation - name all the animals. Can you picture Adam pointing to the wondrous creatures of creation and naming them accordingly? Crocodiles, birds, bats, dolphins and so on.
But notice vs 20. It ends in a very strange way.
So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
God had created all the animals in their pairs so that they could reproduce and fill the world. As Adam worked his way through the creatures it would have dawned on him that he was alone. He was unique, different to the animals, but unlike the creatures, he was alone. What God knew from the very beginning slowly dawned on Adam - there was no suitable helper for this man. And with that realisation, God causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep and out of his own flesh makes him a suitable helper - the woman!
As Adam awakes God presents the woman to him and he bursts forth in excited jubilation and sings the world’s first love song!
God’s original intention was that one man and one woman would live together as one flesh in a mutual relationship of love and trust and respect. There were different roles in this ‘marriage’ but before God both the man and woman (see Genesis 1:27-29) were intrinsically equal. God loved them both and they were to love each other with this God-like love.
Prayer:-
ÿ Pray that God would bless the marriages in your congregation with a deep, God-like love that is sacrificial, loving.
ÿ Pray for the singles in the congregation as they struggle with specific issues and temptations. Pray that strong bonds of friendship and love will be formed and that there will be a depth of godliness and holiness.
Are you married?
If ‘yes’ do something today that will bless and bring joy to your spouse. Do something that says ‘I Love You’ to your spouse.
If ‘No’ do something to bless and bring joy to another believer of the same sex as you, for obvious reasons
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