Summary: Giving practical building blocks for creating and maintaining a powerful marriage.

Power House Marriages

"5 building blocks"

 In these end times, family values have come under great attack.

 Marriages have become a disposable item.

 The commitment is gone.

 God’s word has not changed.

 We can have great marriages

 We can have Power-House Marriages.

 We need only believe and act on in faith, what God’s word says about our marriages.

5 vital "building blocks" to a power-house marriage

1. Covenant

 This is the foundation

 Today it is difficult to understand the true weight of covenant agreement.

 Contract - limited liability, limited commitment

 Covenant - unlimited liability, unlimited commitment

 Covenant means:

 The strongest commitment.

 Loyalty unto death.

 The end of independent living.

 Individual desires are no longer the priority.

Marriage is a covenant

Mal 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

 The Lord calls marriage a covenant.

 He also says that He is a witness to our keeping of the covenant.

 He is also a witness to any violation of that covenant.

First- "She is thy wife"

 Bone of thy bone and flesh of thy flesh

 She is the nearest to you of all the relations

 The one you cleave to and leave everyone else.

Secondly - "She is the wife of thy youth"

 The person who made your heart pitter-patter

 She was the first choice.

 The one you have lived this long life with.

 The freshness of that relationship should not turn to bittnerness.

Thirdly, "She is thy companion"

 She has long been an equal sharer with you

 in your cares, griefs, and joys.

 A spouse is not to be looked upon as a servant, but as a companion.

 One with whom we should freely converse and take sweet counsel, as with a friend

 One whose company we should take delight in more than in any other’s

Fourthly, "She is the wife of thy covenant"

 to whom you are firmly bound

 That, while she continues faithful, you cannot be loosed from her

 A covenant is for life.

 There is an oath of God between you.

 This is not a trifle thing, this is the most serious commitment.

 Married people should often call to mind their marriage-vows, and review them with all seriousness

 We must bear in mind the promises made on that day.

 In Covenant relationship, all goods are held in common.

 God expects us to honor covenants even if they were not of His choosing (Israel and the Gibeonites)

2. Edification

 Of all people to edify, your spouse should be first.

 Even joking around is harmful.

 We must continually build up on another.

Eph 4:29-32

 This passage is speaking of our interaction with all people.

 How much more should this apply to the one you are in covenant with.

 Words can be corrupt, the can breakdown, dissolve, kill.

 (Prov 18:21) Power of life and death.

 When we talk bad to each other, it grieves the Holy Spirit.

 Vs 31, put all evil speaking away.

 The principle of sowing and reaping is hard at work in a marriage.

 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another.

 The way to power in a marriage (is humility and selflessness)

 If you can’t speak a kind, edifying word - that keep you mouth closed.

 "Forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

3. Forgiveness

 Forgiveness must be at the heart of every Christian marriage.

 Forgiveness is a command of God.

 It is oil in the engine of a marriage.

Matt 6:14-15

 God sets the standard of forgiveness.

 Unforgiveness hold you in bondage.

 Unforgiveness blocks the promises of God.

 True, sincere forgiveness will turn around failing marriages and make them strong.

4. Agreement

 There is great power in agreement.

 God intends our marriages to walk in agreement

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

 There are carnal ways to walk in agreement.

 Refusing to argue, compromise, manipulation, default, logical

 Agreement in the Spirit.

Matt 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

 Agree: (harmonize together, together make a symphony)

 God will cause us to harmonize together.

 To play our part that has been written by Him.

 Faith Agreement comes from knowing the will of God for your lives.

 Comes from praying together.

 To walk in agreement, praying together is a primary key.

 Praying together must be a priority in order to have a power house marriage.

 Jesus always did the will of the Father.

 Agreement must be based on God’s perfect will for your lives.

 If you choose to walk in this agreement, you can expect powerful things to happen.

5. Respect

 I see a decay in the relationship between husbands and wives.

 When mutual respect leaves a marriage, it leaves very little hope for holy covenant to survive.

 Respect is earned (this concept is a fallacy)

 Based upon a continual approval rating. (also wrong)

Phil 2:3-5

 Lack of esteem breeds out of selfish ambitions.

 This is where criticism and judgemental attitudes.

 The Bible says that we ought to put others interests before our own.

 How much more someone who we are in covenant with.

 Lack of respect allows your soulical realm to run rampant.

 Respect the Holy Spirit.

 He abides in your spouse.

 This is the mind of Christ.

6. Vision

 A power-house marriage must have vision.

 In order to overcome obstacles we must see things as God sees them.

 We must see our spouse as God sees them.

 We must see our marriage as God sees it.

Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

 Vision gives life!

 Vision causes faith to rise up!

 The devil desires to destroy your marriage.

 God has desires to prosper your marriage.

 God has a unique plan and purpose for every marriage.

 He will honor marriages not chosen by Him.

 Speak out in faith concerning your marriage and your spouse.

 Always speaking good things over them.

Power House Marriages...

 Are people that others want to be around.

 Encourage the body.

 Accomplish great things in the Kingdom.

 Are people who God entrusts with much.

 Are people who others greatly respect.

 Are a sign to the world that God is with them.

 Are a true representation of the Kingdom of God.

 Are people who, when they vowed to each other and made an oath before God, they meant every word.