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Love Bankruptcy: Keeping your relationships in the black (Part 4)
In a relationship it will take ONE to start and TWO to finish.
Make sure you do this GOD’S way. Do your part, so that when you look back, whether the relationship succeeds or fails, you can say, “I have no REGRETS. I did it God’s way.” And you go in God’s blessing.
There is a satanic strategy to DESTROY your marriage.
1Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Love Bankruptcy has to do with the “FEELINGS” of love, not love itself.
Don’t fall into the temptation to operate out of your HURT/pain. LOVE and faith must be our operating system.
Don’t fall into the temptations to break the bond between you and your spouse because you have fallen into this satanic cycle of WORLDLY love.
The bond between a husband and wife is meant to be LIFE LONG. God literally has made you ONE.
Matthew 19:3-9 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
When you break/tear this BOND there is a breaking/tearing effect in your life and the lives of those around you.
When you divorce once, it’s EASIER for you to do it again.
There may be a need to SEPARATE, but this should only be done for the purpose of working toward restoration, not finding a new lover.
1Corinthians 7:10-11 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
There is a time for DIVORCE, but even in the right circumstances it will not be easy or painless. Even in the case of adultery God says you CAN divorce, not that you SHOULD divorce. Ultimately God is a God of reconciliation and forgiveness. His ultimate desire is always to see grace, mercy, and love prevail and to redeem a lost relationship.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Matthew 6:9-15 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Divorce is NOT the unpardonable sin or the end of your life. You must determine not to REPEAT the past. Make sure you do all future relationships GOD’S way. Do all you can to make your relationship WORK.
Application: Married – Do all you can to make your marriage SUCCEED. Single – be PROACTIVE and equip yourself now to do relationships God’s way for future success.
What is God Speaking to You?
What’s Happening Here?
The Revolution Youth Ministry Special Event: Will be attending the BRIAN “HEAD” WELCH event in Jamestown; former lead guitarist of KORN that became a Christian. Any interested in going along it is $12 at the door. Meet at Open Arms at 2:00pm. Leaving at 2:15pm. Event is from 4pm-6pm. Will be home around 7:00pm. Will hit a drive-thru on way home. Bring extra money for food.
Membership Class: March 13, immediately following 2nd service. Find out more about Open Arms; who we are, where we are going, how things work, and what it means to be a member. Lunch will be provided.
Outreach: Bradford will be hosting the State Sectionals Wrestling Tournament on March 12th. They need help in the cafeteria, sales tables, and setup and teardown of mats and tables. Anyone interested in serving please see Pastor Mike or Josh Hatcher.
Daylight Savings Time: March 13th. Turn your clocks ahead! ?
Proof Of Life: New Series starting March 6th. Before a ransom is paid the captors must give proof of life. What does God’s word say is the “proof/evidence” that we are alive in Christ?