Home Sweet Home: God's Plan for Family

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere. No guide this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org soldier is not given, so you know we want to build our marriage on our relationship with God. Culture seems to celebrate our church family coming up today. Pastor Greg Laurie Coulter choose how to six also very reliable source. God tells us everything we need to have a strong front level hard time finding additional families long gone. Father knows best TV show the influence of media on the home is at an all-time high doesn't imitate life dictates trends wishes an agenda today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie helps us get back to God plan for the family that he designed when he designed the family are starting a brand-new day on the family marriage, parenting is the home of general recalling that home sweet home so I could take a quick poll. How many of you here today are married razor.

You're married to quite a few of you while I how many of you are happily married razor. Quite as many had concerns me. Maybe it's good you here for this series. How many of you are single raise up your hand.

Okay, how many of you are happily single you like being single. Okay how about this, you never want to be married razor hand up J how many of you are unhappily single you want to be married one day your onion you want to be married so you don't embarrass her. I would all of you stand up please look around, look around this place to meet someone is in shirts RI you be seated about the guys scrubber Bibles, though turn to Ephesians chapter 5 that's a really anchor ourselves in this five part series on the subject of family and marriage and even a bit about singleness and calling home sweet home. Ephesians 5 let's pray together now. Father I pray for every person here every person watching and listening. First I want to pray for married people because I know there are some marriages that are unraveling some are literally on the way the divorce court, where pray Lord you will save those marriages you'll snatch them out of that the feet and get them established on a firm foundation. Maybe for the first time I pray now, Lord, also for marriages that whether just struggling hard Lotta difficulties right now. Would you bolster that marriage would you strengthen it if necessary, would you restore it. Now I want to pray for strong marriages would you make them even stronger and even better if I the Lord I pray for anyone who single. I pray that they will wait upon you to bring the right person into their life that they will not rush to get a view at all not lag behind you and that they'll remain pure until that day when they're doing together so we commit this series to you Lord, because we need help. We know the family is under attack today. We know the home is under attack.

We want to look to your word for raptors speak to us as we open Scripture, we pray in Jesus name, amen. The reason I call this series home sweet home.

As I just love the word home.

You know when you're in a long trip with a man I wanted to go home.

It's really not about what your house looks like it may actually be an apartment. It may be big and maybe small. That's not the point. It's all it's an important place.

It represents a place of security and safety and dependability.

One person wrote home is heaven for beginners and you know when it comes to home.

The most important time if you're building a house is when you lay the foundation first want to get the blueprints right in the tournament of the city and their approved and they come back but you gotta make sure your electricals right in your plumbing is right in your foundation is poured properly because if you get all of that down and then it's not done as it should have been done. You're going to have to tear it up later. I know it's fondant decorated the choose paint colors and landscaping in those important part of our house is the foundation and the same is true of marriage. The most important part of it is our foundation so we want to build our marriage on our relationship with God. Here's what you need to do this culture this world Hollywood. As an example, is not going to tell you how to have a successful marriage that we see in all these films are: wrong, romantic comedies and all the songs that have been written so we look to these celebrities thinking that all I was thinking of a life like there's really I don't know if you would really want that. I mean I was reading over the lifespan of some of the Hollywood marriages.

I don't know if even though this is getting history numbered kid rock married Pamela Anderson their marriage lasted four months.

Renée Zellweger married country star Kenny Chesney their marriage last four months. Check this out.

Eddie Murphy married Tracy Edmonds.

Their marriage lasted two weeks out of the marriage last two weeks ending that's my Molly Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman.

Their marriage lasted six days. I may understand that a little. I don't know I don't pop star Sumit O'Connor ended report marriage. After 16 days so I'm not going to look to culture for cues on how to have a successful marriage, but I am little look to a reliable source.

The word of God, that tells us everything we need to know about how to have a strong and lasting marriage. 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 I feel somewhat qualified to address a topic for a few reasons. Number one. My mom was married and divorced seven times you know that thing will that actually disqualifies you, doesn't know in a way it doesn't because I've seen what divorce looks like. And when people say all the kids are resilient the bounce back.

Let me just tell you from a kids perspective divorce is devastating. If there's any way you can avoid that you do not want to do that to a child. It's even devastating when they're older. You see, so I've seen it up close and personal. I know what it's like to go through divorce after divorce after divorce. Number two, Kathy and I have been married for 42 years, so God is good to us very thankful for that. We got married we were determining up a strong and lasting marriage and we've had that by God's blessing number three I been a pastor for over 41 years and I've counseled a lot of couples. Let me say this at the outset, most marriages that I've seen this all did not have to let me say it again. Most marriages that I've seen this all did not have to but they were unwilling to do what the Bible said in the one thing that people often cite as to why their marriage is failing is irreconcilable differences by care that one more time I want to pull what little hair I have left out of my irreconcilable differences. Give me a break.

Kathy and I have had irreconcilable differences for 42 years know seriously she's very neat and I messy she sometimes laid I'm often early. She likes to watch anything on television as long as the people have a British accent and I like shoot them ups and mysteries in things like that. She's cute and I'm fat, it's irreconcilable will always be there. How is it that the very thing that drew us together now was supposedly driving us apart. I mean, why were you drawn to your husband or your wife.

Well, they were probably different than you. Second oldest presence as opposites attract. Maybe there was something in them that you did not have in your life and you like that, but now that very thing that attracted you to them initially is turned into this. Why Cason is turned into a problem that cannot be resolved. I disagree I say you recognize there's going to be irreconcilable differences. Embrace it if they feel a difference.

It's okay, that's life. That's the way it works and understand that you can always improve in your marriage. The best husband will always be aware of the fact he could do a much better job. But if, in your smugness you laid the blame at the feet of your mate. That tells me the main problem is you, not them. When I talk with someone of the it's all her fault she this and she that while but you are you I'm doing great, great outfit party nor the problem is to see because we have to recognize we each play a part before I address on marriage just a few words to singles because many of you are single and and I just want to tell you that there are certain advantages to being married, and certain disadvantages. And there are certain advantages to being single and certain disadvantages. Here's the thing you need to know when you are married you make a commitment and you want to take that commitment seriously, because were told over and first Corinthians 7. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lords work and thinking to please him. But a married man can't do that so well guess to think about is certainly responsibilities and how to please his wife Paul is not saying that critically like it's a bad thing to be married, but what he is saying is when you're married, you have to think of someone else beside yourself and for a husband is to think about how to please his wife. I want us to think about how to please her husband.

That doesn't mean you can't still continue to please the Lord.

What it does mean is now you have limitations in your life that you did not have before.

When you're single. Your mobile.

In many ways you're free so that's good. Use your mobility for God's glory and use your extra time to serve him and grow closer to him and pray about the right person because here's what you don't want to do. You don't want to hook up with a non-believer in this happens far too often and then you end up married to a non-believer and when you're married to a nonbeliever. The Scripture says you should stay with them and I've met people who are not happy in my marriage is not a Christian or she's not a believer wanted to marry well you know they told me they were Christian we got married they told you was there any evidence other just because someone says a Christian doesn't mean they're a Christian, you know, some guy asked you out whether to invite them to church with you.

You know that instead of going out somewhere else with them yet.

I read about a dating service is called just coffee so you can just have a cup of coffee with someone you're not stuck in a whole dinner escapade so you get one look at him and don't like anything I want to really need small espresso looking to say here it's great have a copy with five out to go, instead of just copy just church so guys if you want to go out with you as a Christian girl are you a Christian will love even the way he says it's kinda creepy. I love God really can't tell you what, let's list me to church. What needs I wanted to kill to coffee yet will coffee at church really good coffee, maybe a church will coffee afterwards that'll really narrow the field down a bit. Why should you not be involved with the nonbeliever because second Corinthians 614 says don't be unequally yoked together with nonbelievers for what fellowship does like Wood darkness or Christ with Satan. Another translation puts it this way and I like this. It sort of it a paraphrase. Don't become partners with those who reject God company make a partnership out of right and wrong that's not partnership. That's more is like best friends look dark. This Christ go strolling with the devil to trust and mistrust hold hands well stated no. Because yours would happen. In most cases the believer is not going to pull the nonbeliever up debate. But the nonbeliever is going to pull the believer down. That's why it's a trap and something we should avoid, listen, single person wait on the Lord and the person that God's going to bring to you. Maybe you know them already and maybe are going to meet them tomorrow. But whatever the state is you can start praying for them today and pray for wisdom for that right person for that right moment cousin once you're married now, you enter into a relationship that you want to last a lifetime.

James Dobson said, don't marry the person you think you can live with Mary. Only the individual you think you can't live without Mr. Greg Laurie will have something special. Today's program continues in a moment, and emails, letters and phone calls from listeners are so encouraging to us and they let us know the effectiveness of these studies. Greg a lot.

I had graduated from college black here. I came back home from job and I would go to putting my update on the back burner about me from being at work and now in my morning. I looked near my dad and I never got there with the Lord. I've been praying more and I been going to church regularly angered by got in fact, with my update though.

Thank you for the work you doing out here in the and I get to listen you usually in the car on the way to the gym where I work out and I love your method to look at the analytic truth that you bring each and every single day. Thank you for sharing the word of the Lord and all that you do their part of ministry great stories how Pastor Creek's teachings from God's will made an impact on this man's life. If you'd like to listen to Pastor Greg's podcasts.

You could do that through Google Apple course modify or just Google harvest.org that's harvest.org well. As we continue.

Pastor Greg discusses the practical side of marital relationships with his associate pastor Jason Powell.

Good insight is just ahead. So we got Tim and Jason had a lot of really great ones. One person said, is there a too fast in Christian dating and you moved too fast can you get married too fast is our time limit. They need to stay in while I would say the answer is yes, but there can be exceptions and I'll tell you why I interviewed Pastor Chuck Smith a number of years ago, before he went to heaven, and Chuck was probably around 85 when I interviewed him and he met his wife Kay. She wasn't his wife, yet obviously he met Kate and three months later they were married so I can't say never but I will just say in general as a principal it's good the way in and I would recommend a minimum of a year because here's what if it's real love that will stand the test of time. The Bible says many waters cannot quench love either can floods drown it if you're in so much of a rush. You have to be careful because the Bible does think love is patient and that means long tempered so you know weblog should be a padlock and you know we need to understand that when we go into this marriage so I would say, slow it down as you got Jason yeah and so we've got a question a few of these came in. I'm widowed.

What does the Bible say about that. In my free to get into another relationship. Of course, absolutely you are in you know you want to go through a time of morning and you don't want to rush that you don't want to rush into a relationship. He could almost give the same answer to someone were relationship falls apart and they rush too quickly and they make the wrong decision, but absolutely you could remarry again and then maybe you want to remarry again you depending on how the Lord leads you, depending on where your out of life, depending on a lot of things but but I mean in the technical sense.

There's no reason you could not remarry again after that yet, so we've got someone that is going through divorce.

And they say that how I talked to my kids about marriage. When I been divorced twice. I feel like such a poor witness. I live for the Lord but I made serious mistakes. How do I talk to them about relationships. When I would think you have to own it. I think you have to be honest and I would just sit my child down and say I've I've made some mistakes and I failed and I'm sorry for that I'm sorry for the pain that's brought your life, but I've asked God to forgive me and then I think you need to take them to Scripture.

This is the model we fall short of this, but this is what we should all seek to live by. I think sometimes parents are afraid to apologize to children because were all-knowing and we don't make mistakes but actually we make mistakes all the time. We know what the kids know it and so there might come among we had just so you know what I really blew that. I'm sorry I said that her that that was out of line and in her case she just needs to be honest then point the child cries when the child description Greg Laurie along with associate pastor Jason Powell were just getting started in a new family series here on a new beginning hope will be along just as often as you can. The title of the series is home sweet home is also the title of today's message everybody I have a very special guest with me right now. My friend Levi Lesko and he has written a brand-new book for you parents to read to your children to help them grow spiritually is called roar like a lion 90 devotions to a courageous faith. You know what I love about this book is it beautifully done.

Graphically it takes the truth of the word of God and presented in a very appealing way little sidebar articles build little factoids to keep the interest of the kids and the parents are grandparents depending on his reading it, but Levi shared with me right now.

Levi thought maybe I would ask you to pick one of these devotions and just read it to us so we can see what roar like a lion is all about will thank you so much Pastor Greg and I just want to encourage everyone to make sure and support new beginning because above and beyond you receiving this amazing gift.

You're going to have fruit in heaven through what God does is people come to Jesus on a new beginning every day and at such an important calling out every day 60 which is called supernatural. The Scripture verse for the day is from Psalm 4211 which says why am I so sad. Why am I so upset I should put my hope in God and keep praising him, my Savior and my God so you didn't make the team you spent weeks practicing for funk the test even though you studied hard. Your mom got called into work and that trip you been dreaming of is suddenly canceled. Life comes with so many good things, but it also comes with disappointments when things don't go the way you had planned. What you do, do you mope around all sad and gloomy. Do you complain or throw a fit. After all your upset it's only natural to show it right. What if you chose to do something supernatural instead.

Now when I see supernatural. I'm not talking about ghosts or magic or nonsense like that. I'm talking about doing something bigger and better than what people usually do, like praising God for looking for something good in the middle of your disappointment are showing others how good God is to the way you act okay so you didn't make the team. So cheer on your friend who did yeah you flunk the test, but a number on a piece of paper doesn't make you any less wonderful to God and missing the trip was a bummer. So why not think of something closer to home that your family can do together when you're disappointed don't do it seems natural due to supernatural prayer for the day. Dear God when things don't go the way I want them to help me remember all the reasons I have to praise you. Amen.

And then the did you know for the day which I tell you in our family. We never say, did you know we always do. The highest squeaky's voice we can.

We always save each other.

Did you know it doesn't work unless your voice cracks so we go as high as you can. It's a fun little game. We do here is the did you know what is Abraham Lincoln's beard have to do with boardgames. It all started with a man named Milton Bradley he was a talented lithographers kind of printer in one of his best-selling prints was a portrait of Abraham Lincoln beard list.

Abraham Lincoln, when Lincoln grew a beard.

No one wanted the beardless Prince anymore. It was a pretty disappointing time in Bradley's life.

In fact, he had to find another way to make a living. He created a board game called the checkered game of life which later became simply the game of life. Thankfully it was a hit. His company went on to create several other games you might've played including Candyland operation and battleship.

I think I played all those so listen everybody you've just been listening to Pastor Levi Lesko read from his brand-new book roar like a lion 90 devotions to a courageous faith and we want to send you a copy of this book for your gift of any size whatever you send to us here. The new beginning will take those resources that money and channel it into continuing this ministry and even expanding this ministry around the nation and the world.

So for your gift of any size will send you your copy of roar like a lion at such an engaging resource the artwork from Catherine Pearson is just stunning. And what better time to get a new devotional resource than right here at the start of a new year, so thanks so much for partnering with us. We can continue to touch lives with the gospel and to thank you tangibly will send the new book roar like a lion by Pastor Levi Lesko and this is the last time will be able to mention this resource. You can make a donation online@harvest.org or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or reach us by phone anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 – 1-800-821-3300 one Pastor Greg here's more practical insight on how we can enjoy successful marriage relationships. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible feature Greg Laurie everybody thinks or listening beginning. This is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org