God's Plan for Sex & Marriage - III

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue of marriage one word it would be so rarely does a marriage woman around to considering Pastor Greg Laurie has important as what you really do believe me me me me when in reality I will use the needs of your spouse above your own women when they do turn left. As a result, most importantly, you put God first of all said that of marriage and yourself. Selfishness mightily to the end of your marriage a good marriage is made up of givers and for givers today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie brings another of his most requested studies of the year with a look at strengthening our marriages see marriage is the go to distance work on the distance between the two spouses through better communication and reorienting priorities for more grab your Bible and turn to Ephesians chapter 5 that's going to be our anchor Texas as part of a larger series that were doing on marriage and the family called home sweet home would start with the word of prayer.

Father, we you would bless this time a Bible study as we open your word because we want to see our marriage is strong and vibrant.

We want them to last a lifetime and we want to live happily even after the Lord as we deviated from your template and from your plan wave seeing the consequences of this Scripture says we so the when we reap the whirlwind.

Forgive us for that. I prefer every marriage representative.

Every person that's listening that you will strengthen it for those Lord that are single.

Help them to be patient and wait on you for that right person to not rush this thing. We committed all to you now in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Ephesians chapter 5. God is given us an instruction manual online that includes marriage and that includes family that includes raising children. That includes being single. It's called the Bible. BI BLE basic instructions before leaving earth. We need to pay attention to what the Bible says God will tell us how to do this right and that is why this series is anchored in a text, but we wonder is impossible to have a marriage where we live happily ever after woman.

We are to lose the fairytale and just rephrase it as I said earlier to you can live happily even after if you build your marriage on the right foundation wasn't. If you see a strong and thriving marriage that did not happen by accident or by default of a marriage is strong and thriving. That's because two people are doing their part. The man has his part and the woman has her part and it's amazing to me how people will obsess about weddings, but forget about marriage couple spend more time talking about the house are going to purchase rather than the home they're going to build so the most important thing is nothing else, it's the home. The most important thing is not the wedding. It's the marriage and here's how to do it right.

Ephesians 5 God takes us back to the very beginning. Verse 31.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery that I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife as himself, let the wife see that she respects her husband. There why did God bring the woman to the man because she would bring what was missing in his life and the purpose and objective of marriage can be summed up in two words go back to Ephesians 531 for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cleaving those wife and the two shall become one flesh.

I want to write down two words if you're taking notes. The words are leave and flee leave and cleaved two very important words that must be in constant play in the marriage relationship to keep it vibrant, strong.

So it's leave and cleaved or suburban attached to or loosen and secure a successful marriage begins with a leaving a leaving of all other relationships.

Now don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that you don't have other relationships are still up a child to your parents sure you're still a sibling. Your you're still that person. But now a new relationship. A new family has emerged and that should become your number one priority. The closest relationships outside of marriage is specified here. A man will leave his father and his mother, meaning that if it's necessary to leave your father a mother then all lesser ties must be broken, changed or left behind.

The primary responsibility of a husband is to his wife. The primary responsibility is why to her husband. You still honor your parents put a leaving must take place, and this can be detrimental in the marriage. If you don't do it so get this figured out ahead of time leaving as a leaving cleaving also means giving other relationships.

A lesser degree of importance. Listen guys, you can still live your body's girls.

You can select your girlfriend. You can have those relationships but the most important relationship is that of you to your spouse so it's kind of hard to have a best friend that isn't your husband or wife you can have), but your best friend should be your spouse and I hope I don't need to tell you that it's very problematic to have close friendships with members of the opposite sex right so if you sit here waiting on him going out with my best friend Mary and were going to go to dinner and then do a movie but there's nothing here to worry about, forget that.

Okay, that just has to stop. You can't do that, your best friend should be your spouse. Here's a really key verse, you might want to write it down and look at it later, but I'll read it to you. It's Malachi 213 God says the Lord is good with this between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless although she is your companion and wife is interesting to God's approving of the individual for unfaithfulness, but he's refers to the wife is not just the white but your companion and your wife see your wife is just your wife sees your companion and your wife in the word companion means someone that you united with an thoughts, goals, plans, and offer thoughts, goals, plans and efforts should companion are the same ideas communicated over first Peter three husband's throat with your wives with understanding, giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel as being heirs together of the grace of life, so your prayers be not hindered so actually what Peter is saying is take you need to understand how important your wife is because of you know if your you're not united with the ridge want to be your prayers will be so periodically it's a good idea to take stock of your life in your marriage and say, is there anything I'm doing that asserting my relationship with my spouse not be attention. Which of these is Greg II don't like it when you do that or this concerns me know. You may seem trivial to me. Okay, I may dismiss and say what that's ridiculous noble way. If it means something to her, it should mean something to me, and same with her and I when this I don't like this thing here that is happening you need to listen to each other in these areas and take stock and if there is another relationship. Or maybe at your career. It could even be your ministry is becoming more important you and your first ministry which is to your wife and your children then you need to reevaluate and you need to realign again as a Scripture tells us we should note interesting operetta. Many were married.

The Bible says God called their name Adam.

He saw them as one flesh to become one and so when you're married, your gear you note. Technically, one flesh know it's going to take a lifetime to kind of work that out. Kathy and I realized recently that between us we have one complete bring. It's like I have one. She has the other happened when I forget something. She remembers it and she forgot something and I remember it, and so together we have one working brain. But you see that it takes time. It takes a lot of time to get to know a person at the flex with the person and adapt in all the things that happen in a relationship and that can be said of our relationship with God needed to become a Christian. I'm forgiven of my sin right to become a Christian. The Bible says unjustified, which means that all my sins are forgiven in the righteousness of Christ is placed in the my account. But then there's what is called in the Bible.

Sanctification. Sanctification is now living out what God is done in my life and it sort of that we marriage them in your technically married your technically one flesh. It's a lifetime now discovering what that means the first to leave and then you cleave what is the word cleaving will it doesn't mean to divide is in the meat cleaver it actually needs to bring together the suggested determined action. There's nothing passive about the act of leaving your holding on your clinging to each other and one of the ways that we express that love. One of the ways that we demonstrate that love is for the sexual union.

You know I think sometimes people think that God disapproves of sex. How ridiculous God created sex clearly in the Bible, we can see that he gave it to us to be fruitful and multiply. So guess it's for procreating exit for bringing children into the world, but God and say you couldn't have some fun while you're doing it and you can't have fun and sex. It doesn't have to be a dirty word. It doesn't have to be a taboo subject. It's something that can be enjoyable, pleasurable, and listen to this even blasts but only in the boundaries and safety of a marriage relationship because God will bless this as you come together in his perfect master Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. So many listeners have commented on the strength they received from these daily messages God's word ministers to them and it often gets them through some of their darkest hours standing.

I listened recently. I listen to your sermon about how you handled your son's tragic death expanding something similar. My family was driving to meet me for Wednesday night Bible study at our church when they were stand head on by an elderly nondriving. I think 16-year-old daughter and a four-year-old granddaughter 17-year-old daughter is currently at a rehabilitation center trying to recover from a traumatic brain injury.

My stepdaughters was driving managed to escape within a few broken bones and a concussion is her four-year-old daughter that we lost. I'm grateful that God has led me to listen to your sermon help prepare me for the spiritual and emotional struggles in my heart so that I could stand strong in my faith we continue to pray for my daughters complete. Please continue to be revealing your sermons about death and grief as they provide a wonderful foundation when things don't go their way and we expect them to God's word is such a comfort to so many difficult times, and if you like to share your story why not draw Pastor Greg an email send it to grade@harvest.org again, that's great@harvest.org. What were looking at marital intimacy today Pastor Greg's message called God's plan for sex and marriage.

One of the top 10 most requested studies of the past year. Another way that we express this oneness to each other is through communication. One of the keys to a successful marriage is communication that means you gotta talk a lot together. You need to spend time together. You need to take time off together from all the things that you're involved in.

Share your heart� I read a survey that pointed out the divorced couples were asked why did their marriage fail. Why did their marriage fail. You know the number one reason was deficient communication, 86% said my marriage fail because it deficient communication. So you see while even cleaver operative words all through a marriage first to leave all other relationships and make your marital bond your most important and then you're constantly cleaving constantly growing constantly loving and expressing that love toward one another.

I mean, it's as simple as telling your spouse you love them when the last time you said your wife I love you or to your husband I love you. I appreciate you, even a hug would go a long way and about a couple that was having some marital problems so they went on to see their pastor. After a few sessions of listening and asking questions. The pastor said he had discovered the main problem he set up came up from behind his desk, walked over the woman asked her to stand and he gave her a hug and return of the husband. This is that's what your wife needs at least once a day. Husband said they could pastor Lynn Osman said what time do you want me to bring her back tomorrow. This employee if I could sum up the breakdown of marriage one word it would be selfishness what it should be selflessness. Artie said don't marry someone if you think you're going to fix them because the probably get worse so you can have to accept and love them as they are and if you're not willing to do that you have a problem Houston we have a problem it selfishness.

We walk into the merging.

How are you going to fulfill me how you going to meet my needs.

What are you going to do for me it's me me me me when in reality it should be. How can I fulfill you. How can I meet your needs.

You put the needs of your spouse above your own. And then when they do it in turn everybody's blast. As a result, but most importantly you put God first in all things, but this breakdown in communication is what causes I think because we don't have the excitement we initially felt when we first got married all the way through the marriage. We think well I guess the marriage isn't working anymore, like that actor site coded in the beginning. I'm not so sure that two people are meant to be together for a lifetime know actually what it is is they are meant to be together for a lifetime, but they have to understand that life changes emotions change, but it gets better listen, it gets better.

A study was done in couples who had serious conflicts but decided to stay together. The study revealed that two thirds of unhappily married spouses who stayed married reported their marriages were happy. Five years later Stephen just hung in there another marriages are happy. Five years later both striking this article says long-term studies demonstrate two thirds of those unhappy marriages out there will become happy within five years. The people stay married do not get interesting when stats bear out with the Bible said all along is the let's just do it God's way. Leaving in cleaving leaving all of the relationships making your marriage a most important relationship putting the needs of your spouse above your own selflessness instead of selfishness. Watch what God will do saving sex and keeping sex for you and your spouse only you never cross those lines. Do everything you can to cultivate and weed the garden of your marriage and you will live happily even after why because God said you would in the Bible, and you can trust what God says so now we just need to start living it out. No enclosing the marriages of course a picture of the love of God for us in the picture of our love for God and how to God shows love to us. I mentioned earlier why we Christians because we responded to the love of God how to God show his love to us. He sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sin and there he hung on the cross and and for every wrong in every sin and every evil thing. You and I have ever done, but he rose again from the dead three days later in the stands at the door of our life and he knocks to procure his voice and open the door. He will command� I'm not talking about marriage right now I'm talking about life objected about eternal life. So if you're married if you're single live. If your divorce if you're widowed you know if you're a kid you don't even know what I'm talking about. Here's what I want to save you.

It just need Jesus wherever you're at in life, you need Jesus Christ you need him living inside of you, helping you to be the man of the woman is called to be in there might be some of you here who don't have Christ living inside of you may be available go to church and you learn a few biblical principles and how to have a better marriage and be a happier person.

That's what I'm here for all share with you principles that will help your marriage.

I'll share with you principles that will help you have a happier life.

But that's not my job, my job, if you will, is to tell you how to get right with God and go to heaven when you die. That's what I want for you more than anything else in the moment were going to bring, to give you an opportunity to ask Christ to come into your life and forgive you of all of your sin might be some of you that we have kind of wandered off. You know it's right but you straight, and you've done things you're ashamed of. Maybe your marriage is unraveling. Maybe your single watcher of insects before you're married. Or maybe you're doing this you don't know whatever you're doing, you need to get right with God.

You need to repent of your sin and get right with God. I want to give you an opportunity to do that. Let's all pray father I pray for any person here, especially those that don't know you.

Those that have gone astray, help them become due now and believe and be forgiven of all their Jesus name I pray for Greg Laurie with important prayer and if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord, don't turn away. Pastor Greg will help you do that before today's addition of a new beginning.

Concludes now to hear any part of today study again.

One of the most requested messages of this past year. You can get a replay by going to harvest.org just look for the message called God's plan for sex and marriage stream. The study while you're online or download an MP3 for later for CD copy of the entire presentation, call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 people over at Pastor Greg's new book, Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon are raving about it. It's a fascinating look into the spiritual journey of Johnny Cash. He was raised in the very traditional country home.

They went to the southern Baptist church. She worked out on the farm. He literally pick cotton in the field affect was very proficient at it, and an early age, picked up a guitar and started learning some cords and he was raised singing gospel music and they would actually be out there in the cotton fields singing the songs that would help them get through the day, but God had given Johnny a very special gift. His gift would later taken to the heights of the music industry being inducted into the halls of fame of rock, country and gospel are rare on her little Johnny Cash people in America had her songwriter Johnny Cash generally like to sing about trains. He liked to sing about death and redemption, but so often from the beginning, middle, and to the end of his career that was at strong faith in Christ city put across to his music, including singing it many many Billy Graham Crusade, although his faith was always there.

His life often suffer bad choices she made the Lord's grace was always there.

You can follow the spiritual journey of Johnny Cash and Pastor Greg's new biography Johnny Cash redemption of an American icon is now available and will be glad to send a copy right to your door to thank you for your investment in keeping Pastor Greg's teaching coming your way.

Each day it's only through the partnership of our listeners that we can continue if you can help us on a regular basis.

Ask about becoming a harvest part, these are the close friends feel strongly about the importance of evangelism may help with the donation each month and will thank you. With Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org then great for those who want to make a change in the relationship with the Lord today. What's the next step. I would say the next step is that you have to recognize you're a sinner and be sorry for your sin and ask God to forgive you and the way that we do that is through prayer. That's how we communicate with God, so I would like to lead those people listening you that are listening that do not yet know Jesus Christ in a word of prayer. If you want Christ to come in your heart if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven. Pray this prayer with me right now. God, I know I'm a sinner and I'm sorry for what I've done and I turned for my sin. Now and ask for you to forgive me.

Thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and shed his blood for me. Jesus come into my life be my Savior and my Lord be my God, and be my friend. I want to follow you from this day forward. So fill me with your spirit and help me to be your disciple. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for forgiving me.

Thank you that I am now yours in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you have just prayed that prayer was Pastor Greg and asked Jesus to be your Savior would like to offer some help as you begin your new life as a Christian would like to send you our new believers growth packet.

It will help answer some of the questions you might have and get you started toward building a strong foundation for your face so get in touch for your free new believers growth packet are addresses a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God when next time more from the most requested presentation last year. Pastor Greg brings a heartfelt message called hope for those who have lost loved ones. Be sure to tune in and if you know someone facing that pain invite them to listen as well here on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie Greg Laurie possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org