H.O.M.E
Ephesians 5:21
God plainly ordained everything that He placed in this world from the very beginning.
But out of everything that He created in Genesis 1, there was one creation that God said was not good.
v. 3 – God created light
v.4 – God saw light that it was good
v. 6 – God created expanse of heaven, earth and the sea
v.10 – God saw it was good
v. 11 – God created vegetation (fruit, trees, seed)
v. 12 – God saw that it was good
v. 14 – God created the sun, moon and stars
v. 18 – God saw that it was good
v. 20 – God created sea animals and the birds of the air
v. 21 – God saw that it was good
v. 24 – God created animals on the earth
v. 25 – God saw that it was good
v. 27 – God created man in His own image
v. 31 – God said it was very good
So what is left?
What is that God created that was not good?
v. 18 – It is not good for man to be left alone.
Out of everything that had been created
Out of all the new things Adam had to enjoy
Out of all the animals he was created to name
God said it was not good for him to be alone.
Right then, God ordained the family.
But what God put together, the enemy is trying to tear apart. Satan knows that there is one thing that can tear up a mother or father and that is to mess with the family.
How does he do this?
With the “D” word – Divorce
1970 – 4.3 million divorces filed
1990 – 15.1 million
God instituted the “family” to oversee the earth. The family was to be the guide by which we live and operate.
Satan has got in between our families and has caused havoc, which has caused many more problems.
I am not going into the subject matter of divorce. But tonight I want us to focus on the H.O.M.E.
What can we do to keep our homes together?
What can we do to keep our families together?
What can we do to keep harmony in our marriages?
What can we do to cut down on the fighting?
Whatever problems you are facing go back to your home life.
· What is taking place in your home that is causing problems with you and your spouse.
· What is taking place in your home that is causing problems with your kids; causing them to run away
Can I say the first thing we have to do is put God back in control of our Homes?
A shift has taken place and we have let God be God
In our churches
In our Christian walk at work or school
In our phone conversations with friends
But we have allowed God to be replaced when it comes to our homes. When it comes to our home life, God is not in control.
My prayer, is that this church will become a haven of security and help for those who experience a break down in the home.
Why? Divorce creates more issues and needs.
Are we meeting those needs as a church?
Divorce causes:
· Single parents – moms now providing
· Blended Families
Stepfamilies are increasing 1300 per day
· Lack of male or female models for the kids
· The kids to have to choose between mom/dad
So many issues! So many Needs!
How do we help these people who are currently in our church?
We need to reach out to:
· The single mom or dad raising a family on their own
· The blended family who are battling step-child issues
· Those couples who are just about ready to give up on their marriage
How do we do that?
1. We show that we care – Divorce does not equal hell.
God has is thoughts and his commands on divorce and how to handle it. But this does not mean that your life has ended. God is not finished with you just because you have been through a divorce.
2. We provide a safe place to learn –
Let’s give them a loving atmosphere and classes that can teach them how to move forward with their lives. Show them there is life after divorce.
3. Let’s take that couple that is about to give up and offer support through prayer, counseling and with encouraging words. We work to let God save their souls why not work with them and allow God to save their marriage?
How can I have a H.O.M.E. that is not only pleasing to God but that will keep me out of divorce court?
Let’s take the word HOME as an acronym and let’s see from God’s word how He encourages us to have a home that’s is not in a wreck but in harmony.
Read Ephesians 5:21 – 6:4
v. 21 tells you exactly how to have the Christian home that God wants you to have.
He says: Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ
But how do we do that:
1. H – Humility
You have to humble yourselves to each other. Not only are we taught to humble ourselves before God but also we must be humble to our family.
Turn in your resignation on being in charge.
Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.”
Husbands – treat your wives better than you treat yourselves.
· Some of you spend more on hunting/fishing equipment than you do your wife.
Wives – treat your husbands better than you treat yourself.
· You will spend more time trying to change him to what you want him to be rather than seeing if you are the one that needs to be changed.
We have become humble in putting our spouse ahead of ourselves.
2. O – Obedience - exhibiting submission to authority
Some of you have the attitude:
There’s no man going to tell me what to do
There’s no woman going to tell me how to act
God’s word deals with this issue and uses Christ as the example:
Mark 19:45
“But even Christ did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Titus 3:1 tells to remind each other to be subject to rulers and authority. It also tells us to be obedient.
3. M – Mutuality – sharing the same feelings for each other.
Matthew 7:12
“Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them…”
Some of you receive the same attention that you are giving.
· Do you want Him to be more compassionate?
You be more compassionate – even in public
· Do you want Her to be more understanding?
You be more understanding – she works too.
(Job or at home)
We need to give out the same that we want to take in.
4. E – Empathy – experiencing the same thoughts and feelings of another.
1st Corinthians 1:10
“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
You have to respect the feelings of your spouse.
· If she is concerned over a little turtle, you must show compassion for her who is showing compassion for the turtle.
It has been said that every person needs three homes:
1. A Christian Home – Christ centered
2. A Church Home – be a part
3. A Heavenly Home – secure in your faith
In closing:
You have to realize that Divorce is NOT a sheet a paper just like a marriage is NOT a sheet of paper.
You may say, “I will continue to live with her to keep from going against the bible.” When in fact, you have already divorce her in your spirit, actions, and feelings.
What God put together let no man (thing, argument, circumstance) put asunder.
Put God at the head of your home and see if things don’t change for the better.
