Home Sweet Home: Leaving and Cleaving

Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God.

Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library and free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith. Usually a marriage is wrong in my room so you will marriage God's plan for marriage is about leaving and leaving today. Pastor Greg Moore explains how some don't believe they just let go be giving attention, not merely react, listen, if you sleepwalk through Americans wedding planning it down to the most my feet to the event is over in a few hours and quite often same amount of care and attention marriage, was last a lifetime. But it's never too late to correct you been married 50 minutes 50 years. Pastor Greg Lori has a relationship like your long culture this world is not good so you how to have a successful Google look to Coulter for cues on how to have a sick social marriage, but I am little look to a reliable source. The word of God, that tells us everything we know about how to have a strong and lasting merit. The Bible tells us everything we need to know about marriage everything we need to know about singleness everything we need to know about life in general know I want to give you the secret of a successful marital give up what you write this down.

You want to have a successful marriage. Do this to words.

Mary yourself seriously. I didn't work really well for me.

Let me explain. As you know my last name is Lori.

Yes, it is a girl's name and I didn't enjoy that growing up. By the way, especially when I was in military school and everyone is addressed whether last name so I was just Lori.

So when I met Kathy, my wife. Now she's giving up two girl names Kathy Laura Wright and people still to this day, I mistakenly call Kathy Lori looks like, oh, hi Greg. Hi Lori and they being Kathy but you get confuse okay whatever. So going back to our wedding day.

Pastor Chuck Smith your courses with the Lord now married us and he took us to the valves in the movie finally came to the point where he pronounces this man a wife and you kiss the bride is that I now pronounce Greg and Lori are men and why the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. So I married myself.

That's the secret to work very well.

You might try in our marriage like any other marriages face challenges it faces difficulties and we've gone through storms like any other person is gone through storm the worst storm we've ever faced happen one the Lord called our son Christopher home to heaven's devastating and I have to tell you that many marriages do not survive the death of a child and our marriage did not weaken it actually grew stronger and I'll tell you why. It's because from the very beginning to the present day, our marriage was built on our relationship with Christ that is the foundation that will support you.

The hardest of times and that's what you want to keep your marriage relationship built on. So here's my question for you is your marriage on the rocks is your marriage, all the raw of Jesus Christ because of its on him. You'll be okay at the end of the sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave these familiar words. Anyone… My teachings and obeys me is why is like a person who builds a house on solid raw though the rain comes in torrents in the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house won't collapse because it's built on raw Jesus continues on and says, anyone who hears these teachings of mine and ignores them their fullest and their like a man who builds his house on sand and when the rains come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash notice.

Jesus did not say if the rain comes. But when the rain got storms will come, hardships will come temptations will come challenges will come health issues will come. That's $100 we say, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, I commit my love then we should update those valves are some today until a more attractive guy or girl comes along until I get tired of you, or when the marriage gets a little hard. I would be honest, at least, what if you made that commitment to your wife or your husband you need to stand by that commitment because the storms will come and I want to tell you little secret.

One day when your life comes to an end. If you have the luxury of a deathbed. Here's within a matter to you when people are on their deathbed. Three things are important really to faith and family in a distant third is friends, faith, family and friends.

In other words, when a person is on their deathbed.

They don't care anymore. How much money is in their bank account. Discuss what the guilty little they don't care how beautiful or handsome they are, because that is going to become a nonissue quickly know what they think about his faith. By that I mean they think about their lack of relationship with God. Say amen I wish you went to church for. I wish I was closer to the Lord.

I wish to read the Bible more. I've never met a single Christian on the deputy says I wish I didn't go to church all those times I wish I didn't memorize those scriptures. I wish I partied more you kidding me it's the opposite. And then it's family often regrets all I wish it was a better husband or wife wish it was a better parent. Yeah those are the things that matter in life.

So don't wait until your deathbed to deal with them deal with them right now. One day the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah. He said your days are numbered. You're going to die. So get your house in order. Here's my question for you is your house in order. Is your house right is your home right are you being the husband of the wife or the parent or the single God wants you to be.

We want to have a strong and flourishing marriage. Far too often people have the board says you know, sort of a trapdoor. Well that doesn't work will just get a divorce read an article the other day that said two thirds of Christians who were interviewed considered divorce. A reasonable solution to a problem. Marriage what a reasonable solution. Every marriage is going to have problems. Listen what log should be a padlock if you don't believe it stays single but once you commit yourself. Commit to that person for life no digress for a moment say there are grounds for divorce in the Bible, given to us and will explore those in the future message but let me say and I'm reiterating now. Though there are grounds for divorce. I have found in most cases when divorce happened it could have been avoided. The marriage could have been say it was simply a cycle of selfishness.

The couple got themselves into our lives look at our text now. Ephesians chapter 5. No I think will be think of this particular chapter, we immediately remember the verses were Paul says husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church and gave himself for Edson wives submit in your husband's is on the Lord and so for the will get to those verses.

But we don't consider the verses that precede them, and in many ways the verses that precede those passages I just quoted lay the foundation for a strong and happy home to look at those preliminary statements in this particular message Ephesians 5 starting in verse 13, all things are exposed or made manifest by the light for whoever makes manifest is like.

Therefore, he says awake use sleep and arise from the dead in Christ will give you like see then that you walk circumspectly, not as full but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, don't be unwise. Understand what the will of the Lord is don't be drunk with wine, which is dissipation, but be filled with the spirit speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. So if you're taking notes or some Takeaway truths. Some points. Point number one if you want a successful marriage.

Shine the light of God's word on it.

If you want a successful marriage. Shine the light of God's word on it.

Verse 13 all things are exposed to made manifest by the light. Whatever makes manifest is like you don't, you lose something eternal life know why but I'm always losing things in my car you know my wallet drops between the seats are I misplaced a burrito from a year ago where is it and so sometimes out to get a flashlight out a search under all the seats until I find it so light poses things I heard a story about drunk man who was down at his hands and knees under a streetlight looking for something, someone came up to him said this or what did you lose anything.

I realized my wallet told her he was a drunk man at the drum in there and they said all did you lose your wallet here is I lasted two blocks back. There is no light there. Okay son a very good idea to search for something if you look in the wrong place. I have a little device now II keep in my wallet called tile if you see those things to little ship little electronic chip and then when you press the button on your phone little little little little sound out so it'll help you find your wallet. I think I need to put tiles and everything now because I'm misplacing things all the time but you need to look for something in the right place at the right place to go is to look at what the Scripture says you know sometimes when marriages are having troubles.

They get counseling and I'm for that. As long as it's biblical counseling.

Counseling is not enough.

Listen to this. Just because a person says a Christian counselor doesn't necessarily mean they're giving biblical counsel is all the matters when it said and done, are you getting counsel from the word of God, because I've heard counsel that comes from people who are supposedly giving Christian counseling that frankly is contradictory to what the Bible says so.

We need the counsel of God's word.

That's why when I said a couple down that are having troubles all as some a couple questions 11 start with the you got what versatile are you Christians know always say yes to number two. I'll ask you believe the Bible is the word of God. Again, though, say yes and then thirdly, I'll ask. Are you willing to obey the word of God. If you agree with that or not find it difficult or not lecture some people joke because everybody thinks their marital problems are unique but you know they really aren't.

And after a while you see, these are similar patterns that happen in people's lives because they disregard what the Scripture says they might simple way to sicken Greg.

What if you don't agree with what the Bible says simple answer change your opinion because the Bible is right. If you don't agree with it, you're wrong. Sorry to tell you that. But it's the truth.

So we want to look to the word of God because it gives us the answers that we need and tells us what to do. Principle number two. We need to wake up, wake up verse 14. Awake you that sleep awaken from spiritual lethargy.

Listen, you can sleepwalk through a marriage.

You show me a marriage that strong and vibrant and thriving, and I'll show you a marriage. The people are giving attention to sort of like starting a fire.

We don't know a lot about that urine Southern California.

We observe flame logs and gas fireplaces, but in other places in our nation.

You know you start a fire that will last and you may start with some kindling or some newspapers and some smaller twigs and sides and then get some logs on and then once the fires going to put another log on the fire in the same way of a marriage is strong, especially over period of time. It's because they keep putting logs on the fire they cultivate their romance. They strengthen the marriage the moment you let go is the moment it's going to start weakening you up to constantly be giving attention to have to be proactive, not merely reactive. What will happen as a marriages neglected the husband neglects his role. The wife neglects hers. One problem turns into another and it gets worse and worse and worse, now or in the state of crisis, I say go back to the beginning and engage in preventative maintenance and strengthen it every day for Greg Laurie feature something special. As today's program continues in a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here. You know my uncle Fred Jordan that one of the first Christian TV programs out there. It was called church in the home.

I remember watching it as a little boy when I was living with my grandparents we have church in the home for you every weekend is called Harvest at Home. You can find it@harvest.org we have worship in a message of God's word.

So join us this weekend for harvested home harvest.there are so many questions surrounding relationships, marriage relationships, dating relationships, and pastor Greg joined a panel of associate pastors from his home church to answer some of the often ask questions pastor Jason Powell begins a really great question. Someone just asked, they been with her boyfriend for four years in their Christian, but there boyfriend is not what they feel like they're being pulled down in a relationship with God. He's pulling me down. What do I do have to say this is kind of a no-brainer. The Bible section very clear and this one says don't be unequally yoked together with nonbelievers for what fellowship does light have with darkness or righteousness with unrighteousness. Here's the reality you know and more cases than the believer pulling the nonbeliever up the nonbeliever polls the believer down and and this is why God warns us about this.

So this is a no-win situation. Were you know missionary dating is not a great form of evangelism you know some guy wants to go out with you service the girls you say I would love to see you. I go to church every Thursday night at harvest OC weather to come in a buy you a cup of coffee afterwards that'll weed them out quickly.

I'll tell you that every shows that great is not a believer wonderful sit next to him or her in church, let them hear the gospel so that's a good opportunity but the whole go out with them and then you get into a relationship with them. And next thing you know you're going down the road you want to be going down so that's declare that one.

What better place to meet your spouse and connect with your spouse then in the church, I met my wife in a Bible study actually went to school together. Before that, but reconnected with her dad in a home Bible study you met mom what you were at church. How many of you met your spouse here at the church. That's awesome, that's right. It's what better place could you think of to find somebody not at the bar not out at the club not out at the beach sunbathing as I could know this person is all about becoming the church to have that worldview. You know you've at least got that foundation to work for us right last question here and it is context and a bunch of times. It says what about single moms to their priority be there kids or trying to find a father for their kids.

I'm confused. What should I do what I would say first of all, the priority should be there relationship with Jesus Christ. First of all, be close to him. You know, Jesus makes a wonderful promise in the sermon on the Mount Matthew 633. He says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you contextually.

Jesus was talking about nonbelievers. He was saying don't be like the nonbelievers only worry about what they're getting either what the gun aware of what the going to drink, don't be that way and that's what some people live for but rather seek first the kingdom.

What is that mean that means put God first in your life and and I believe is a single mother you put God first and walked closely with Jesus Christ because you're gonna having to be mom and dad there.

It's a hard job. But praying that the Lord would bring that right guy along and to and I think Jonathan can speak to this from experience. Yeah I I married a single mom to help my wife Brittany and I both actually and it came from a background were both living in the world as we were living a life that did not reflect wholesome living. We made mistakes but you know why I think that if you're single mom here tonight. You need to know that you made the right decision because you know as a church. We believe that we are in no we believe pro-life were very pro-life, or we believe that life begins at conception and if you brought that child to term.trailer · coin so we commend you for making that difficult decision but if you have made that decision. Now you have to look raise this child and I think that it's a good thing to want to find a father for that child in her my wife and myself.

I can only speak from experience, but as we both began to seek after the Lord as we both began to live a life that reflected wholesome living and we both began to seek the Lord – is where we happen to connect was at church at a Bible study and it began just really is a friendship hanging out in a group of friends and then it developed more into a relationship and then we end up getting married and so I believe that the Lord has the right person for you, but ultimately the Lord and bring Britney to me didn't bring me to Brittany.

Will we were both living in a compromised way he brought us to each other. We were putting the Lord first.

That's the key. Like you said we put the Lord first and all those things will be out of class yeah that's right.

In the book of Genesis is the story of Isaac and the Eliezer are the servant of Isaac Stead, Abraham went out to find a bride for him and he found her and that he brought back the beautiful Rebecca and it's interesting because the Bible says that when Rebecca was being brought to Isaac. He was out in the field meditating or praying I think it's a principle of Matthew 633 is putting God first. You know you can run after all these things and never get them or make the wrong decision, put God first and wait on the Lord and he will take care of you. She cares about your baby cares about what you're going to wear what you can eat what you going to drink it be cares about every hair of your head. Which of my cases. Not a lot we cares about you know every bird that lives and dies is Jesus as the father knows all these things.

Certainly he cares about the person you would spend the rest of your life was to put God first, if you're married, put God first, if you're single, put God first, wherever you are. Just a kid put the Lord first. If you're getting older, put the Lord first all the way through life. That's the priority should all live by. So when we pray together but were so thankful for this time to hear what the Bible says that's all that matters with the culture sets you to listen your word but don't let this world squeeze you into its mold, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Lord as we just thought about Scripture and heard Scripture and heard biblical principles that renews our mind and we want to live your way because you will bless that so we commit ourselves to you and we thank you for this time together together in Jesus name we pray. Amen Greg Lord speaking today with his associate pastors Jason Powell and Jonathan Lori answering some practical questions about relationships good insight today. You're on a new beginning and then we want to make available an important new book for those challenging times of Lawson crisis and tragedy.

Pastor Greg when tragedy strikes, of course, the first word that comes to mind is why. And, oh yeah. Is it appropriate to ask God why I think it's appropriate to ask God why even Jesus asked why when he hung on the cross and said to the father my God my God why have you forsaken me, but I would add this, go ahead and ask why just don't necessarily expect an answer and to the point if God were to tell us why. I mean, let's just say, the Lord set a standard said alright I'm going to explain. Do you know why every bad thing that happened in your life happened. Are you ready, would we be satisfied. I wonder if we would you know we don't live on explanations. We live on promises and I think we need to understand that there won't always be an answer to the why questions of life, so that brings us to the what and the who. So first of all, what should we do what we should do is turn to God in the who of course is the Lord turn to him and your times of suffering and pain and speaking of that, we have an amazing book to offer you this month. It's written by my friend Tony Evans along with his family members, Crystal Priscilla Anthony and Jonathan, and it's called the buying disruption. This is a book where they all contributed and talked a lot about the loss of their wonderful matriarch. Mother Lois Evans who went to be with the Lord.

This is an honest book. This is a hopeful book.

This is a biblical book and this is a book that's going to help you as you're going through times of difficulty in here.

Some of the questions that are answered in this book.

Why bad things happen despite a good and powerful God how to persevere in difficult times, and experience the peace of God, and what can cause distress in your life and how to move past. That's good information. We all need to hear day because I know there's someone listening right now it has recently lost a loved one, there's someone else listening right now who's very ill. Maybe they're even at death's door. There's another person listening with another problem or challenge you need to get a copy of this book that is called the buying disruption and will rush it to you for your gift of any size and whatever you send this gift will be used. To continue to bring a message of hope to you and others who are listening in our radio broadcast that we call a new beginning. That's right, we really want to place a copy of this in your hands is our thank you gift for those who can partner with us. So these daily studies can continue a new beginning as a listener supported outreach and were so thankful for our partners who believe in this ministry and want to see these studies continue. So go online today for your copy of divine disruption are web address is simply harvest.org or write a set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 take your call anytime around the clock at 1-800-821-3300 next time more insight. Pastor Greg message called home sweet home. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastors and Bible teachers regularly and everybody thinks are listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org to find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God