Posted in Food For Thought

Another great sermon by our pastor on the family last night.  Our church, Central Baptist Church, is doing this as a series on Sunday evenings for the next several weeks.

Ephesians 4:3-16, 24-32  Yes I know these are the intructions for the church but these also would apply to the family.

Everyone is biased in some way or another.  We are that way from experiences that we have had in the past.  Everyone wants a happy home!  Nobody wants to be miserable.  You must apply the knowledge in order for it to work.  You can't have the knowledge but not apply and still expect to have a happy home.

These things are things to build your marriage in order to have a happy home life.  These are also things that we have all heard at one time or another about marriage but some of us do not apply them all!

1.  Vs 24- And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
You must grow up in Christ.  Do not worry about your spouse or try to change them.  You can't.  You must worry about growing  yourself.  Do just like it says, put off the old and put on the new.

2.  VS 25-Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Be honest with one another, not decietful!  Healthy families are honest with each other.  But you must speak the truth in love.  If you love your family speak up to them.  Not only must you be willing to speak the truth in love, you must also be willing to take the truth.  Sometimes it's easier to give than to recieve but you must do both!!

3.  VS 26-27  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.
It's ok to be angry at sin.  But don't live in anger because that is sin.  The more time you spend with someone the more opportunity there is for getting angry at them!  Solve the problem before  you go to sleep or you will plant a seed of bitterness in their heart.  Your biggest problem in your marriage will be Satan.  Don't let him in!  Always remember that nobody wants to hurt their spouse.  That is simply not what we want to do.

4.  VS 29-Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Watch what you say and how you say it!  Talk only good things to and about each other.  Your words can build up and tear down others.  And remember what Thumper says?  If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  That is hard to do.  For some of you, you may not speak for some time! LOL  If you want to talk to your hubby, watch the timing.  If he's doing something that he really enjoys, don't interrupt in order just to talk.  Let him finish it up!!  When talking to your wives, watch your tone!  Women are sensitive creatures.  Proper communication builds up relationships!

5.  VS 30-32-  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
If you get involved with anyone, marriage or not, you will get hurt and you will hurt others.  Not intentionally of course but it will happen.  We are all humans!  You must learn to forgive others.  It doesn't matter what it is, forgive them.  Let go of the past and past hurts.  Quite often it's not that you can't forgive, it's that you won't forgive.

If you apply these 5 principals, you can have a happy home!!