This Is Not Your Grandfather's Family, Part 2

Today on Insight for living from Chuck Swindoll. God is faithful and he wants us to be faithful and compassionate. Yes, we can think correctly and still have compassion, we can take a stand against what is clearly wrong against the Scriptures at the same time.

Love and reach out in interest to the lives of those who differ with us. Christ spent his life doing that family and not be compared to a simpler time.

The war that's waging against the sanctity of life and marriage is unlike anything we've ever seen in our lifetime. So here's the twofold question. How can couples cultivate a healthy marriage in this hostile environment how to couples cultivate healthy relationships with those who hold opposing views today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll suggests that the answers are contained in God's manual on merit beseeching from Genesis 2 and three title.

Today's message this is not your grandfather's family was a plan underway to desensitize us, never doubted.

I agree with Robert Lewis pastor up in Little Rock who wrote in one of his works real family values the Christian family looks on while people in authority make decisions that contradict everything they know to be true anesthetized by a corrupt culture. Many families have lost the ability to discern between good and evil are morally just become dull. Our children sit next to us on the sofa at night soaking up the opinions, values, and images of a godless society are silence and passivity are lethal to them and then we have the audacity to marvel at their lack of spiritual passion and their propensity for moral compromise. If you have been asleep during any part of the last number of years.

It's possible that your senses have been detected desensitize if you have found yourself rethinking some truths that you know are in the Scriptures, but wonder now if they're relevant, you're on your way down the slide.

Hopefully we can get back on our feet and have a message that rings with hope and relevance in love. True now. How's that for an introduction. I realize our time is short so let's go after what hasn't changed.

What hasn't changed. First, the heart of humanity hasn't changed you are by nature, by choice and by birth, depraved, without the redeeming power of Christ. You cannot pull yourself out of a moral nosedive and even with Christ, if he is not in control. You will still erode so the power of the Holy Spirit working alongside the power of Christ. This hasn't changed.

You are able to do something, but you can't do it on your own because the human heart hasn't changed. Second, God's desire for his people hasn't changed. God is holy and just and pure and he tells us of the Scriptures to be like he is. So he expects his people to be holy and just and pure not prudish, not dated not cranky, but holy and just and pure, and it can happen or he's given us a directive that's impossible to fulfill God doesn't do God is faithful and compassionate. He wants us to be faithful and compassionate. Yes, we can think correctly and still have compassion.

Yes, we can take a stand against what is clearly wrong and against the Scriptures and at the same time. Love and reach out and crew interest to the lives of those who differ with us.

Yes, Christ spent his life doing that they crucified him diddly come to think of it, don't expect that you will be embraced by the public in general because you stand for the truth. Just know that if you do it correctly.

There will be lives impacted you maybe starting a school where you will have roommates who are but different way of thinking, your life will speak volumes to those roommates and those in the student body. It will be remarkable. What a difference in your life can make not preaching, not carrying banners not crusading but living a life that's godly and holy and faithful and compassionate and pure speaks for itself. Third thing God's truth remains unchanged, as revealed in the Scriptures, by the way men hunt on if you thought about this or not, will think more about it. But God holds the patent on marriage. His idea wasn't ours. He came up with it.

Back in Genesis 2. Finally, were getting in the Scriptures in Genesis chapter 2 we come in. This created plan to the moment when God says that is not good. Up until now, everything's been good. He made the earth.

It was good.

He made the seas. They were good. He made the sun, moon and stars. They were all good. He made the creatures they were good. He made the plans. They were good everything is good. In fact, very good until you get to verse 18 of chapter 2 and for the first time in the Bible the word not appears.

It is not good. What is verse 18 chapter 2 that the man remain alone. Some of you cynics are saying it's because he wasn't married, and he said that but stay with this is a passage of primary reference. This is a passage that can't be repeated or I should say yes. It seemed before this one when it comes to marriage.

This is the first passage.

This is the first God's plan. You can't go back to better, more complete account of it, or even a mention of it unto you get to 18.

So in this passage are primary reference.

Let's let that shape our thinking, God looks at the man as he is alone and God says not good that's not best the aloneness is not good.

And then he says I will make him a helper suitable for him. I hear the brakes.

All of a sudden women say over the Hebrew word means sling no it does not just come on you know I'm jerking you around nine minutes as well. I could describe it. The man seems the melody and the woman sings the harmony. It's a beautiful duet that's put together by God and all alone and your voice can't. Adam, you can't do it alone.

It's not something that pleases me, nor would it really satisfy you. There is another you need who is suitable for you. This is all part of his plan put into words that we can at our best. Do our best to understand. I will make him a helper suitable for him to bring someone alongside will harmonize with his life who will fill in the spots that are missing and add the things that are there on his own no remember Adams never read Genesis 2 so he doesn't know what's coming. And as he watches things happen all of a sudden the animals began to walk in front of inverse 19 out of the ground the Lord forms every beast of the field, every bird of the sky and brought them to the man to see what he would call them and whatever the man called a living creature that was its name. Did you know that Adam named all the he was never stopped. He was never at a loss to know what a good name would be for the 4 foot for each one of these birds and animals cattle whatever.

Why because there's innocence.

There's no sin is Aki was off the chart. This soon. Make sure the Sims factor beginning in chapter 3 took a massive toll not only on us volitional E and in our emotions, but in our minds the boundaries were much closer, and our minds became darkened because of sin, but Adam is now operating in the context of innocence.

It must've been magnificent breathing clean air, drinking, and enjoying clean water and eating fresh and good and healthy food and along come these wonderful first made animals and Adam names one after another, watch closely. Verse 20 the man gave names to all the cattle and the birds of every beast of the field and for Adam there was not found a helper suitable he was looking he was looking made one of these.

Maybe one of these and there was not found that it means he was looking so the Lord, knowing that there wasn't any one of those who would fill his life as she could and that she should. Verse 21. The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man and he slept and God took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place and the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which he had taken from the man and brought her to so Adam's recovery from surgery. It looks up there. She verse 23 verse 23 could simply be rendered while but there's more here. Notice the word. Now that's the emphatic word of the verse. We will in other words, finally someone to fill the aloneness of my life. Finally look look bone of my bones and flesh of my Flemish, she shall be called woman. She was taken out of then principles are given for the first marriage, a man, woman permanently sacredly joined in harmony and hope for life. That's never forget it. That's the plan can be improved on. That's the plan hasn't changed in God's plan. There is monogamy a heterosexual relationship between a man and a woman joined by God and to be lived out in the harmony of life. That's the point.

Sin messed up the whole thing. You know but don't forget the plan. It in fact it is so lovely and fulfilling. The last verse of the chapter describes them as both being naked without shame there is no self-consciousness. There is no uneasiness with one another.

There is no reluctance, there are sexual relations and joy to the maximum and frequently and fulfilling leak from God, all from the heavenly father who made them saying man alone is not as good as man joined and in the beauty and intimacy of this innocent setting. There is even freedom in their nakedness.

That hasn't changed that. Still, God's desire in the bonds of marriage. There is this delightful intimacy found nowhere else. And when you move from Genesis chapter 2 over two Deuteronomy chapter 6, much as happened just a whole lot of thing.

Stay with me now Abraham is been brought on the scene and with him the beginning of the Hebrew race. The Hebrew race is grown out of the millions they spent over 430 years or over 400 years in the bondage of Egypt, and God delivers them through a leader named Moses he said the age of 80, and by the time he comes to about 120 and the Lord says this is it for you. Moses. Moses sits down to write his last will and testament his swansong is Deuteronomy and like old grandfather or great-grandfather dying on his bed.

He pulls his family around him and he set some principles in place so that they will all understand how the family is to operate. Why is it so important because they are on the edge of the land that's been promise them they will move into cities that they did not put together live in houses they didn't build they will heat from trees and vines that they didn't plant they will drink from wells they didn't dig and they will enjoy a lifestyle so broad and big it will be easy for them to forget the monotheistic deliberate Trinity kind of lifestyle lived when things were simple so Moses said, I want to warn you hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one chapter 6 of Deuteronomy verse four, it means one in the cluster used for grapes Lord our God is father-son spirit, the Lord our God is one. He is to be your focus next verse here to love him with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might. And not only that, you were to teach such to your kids. Verse seven.

Teach them diligently in the word is the is the term sharp sharp and the thinking of your kids when you are sitting in your house when you talk with them when you are walking by the way, when you lied down when you rise up. It's not a family altar. Once in the evening.

It's a lifestyle of teaching. It's a way of life that you pass on to them. Why is it so important, why is he so exercised over this really tells us he says in verse 10. At the end of the verse. I'm giving you great and splendid cities you didn't build it on putting you in houses that that that that are full of good things that you didn't fill in and you will you will drink from cisterns you didn't dig and eat from vineyards and trees you didn't plant you will eat and listen you be satisfied and before you know it. The Canaanite lifestyle which by the way, is the foundation of the first steps of pornography. You will find the Canaanite lifestyle a lot more appealing because you're living in Canaanite homes and dwelling in Canaanite city and eating from Canaanite plants and drinking Canaanite water and because not all of them have been removed. Your start to change. Don't go there. In fact, verse 13. Your to fear. Only the Lord your God, and worship only him and swear by his name he say check your you are you are really pressing the point. I mean this is nothing but a club that is beat them over the head with verse 24 doesn't say that I'm giving you these commandments and statutes, to fear the Lord your God, why I have my Bible mark. The two reasons are or are good for our survival for our good and for our survival. You, the implication if you don't go there. It will be good for you if you do that survive like I want you to supply all this leads me to some principles that are true and timeless.

Listen closely. Complacency still blinds us from seeing realistically. Complacency still blinds us from seeing realistically easy to drift. Easiest thing in the world. Second, knowledge still frees us to think clearly.

Knowledge still frees us to think clearly you shall know the truth and what the truth shall make you free.

The truth will help you think clearly. Knowledge third discernment still prompts us to act courageously as I see these things as I read God's truth and compare or contrast them to my world in which I live. I realize it's going to take some courage to take a stand to be different to take a lot of wisdom to know how to help my kids do that without looking like freaks or sounding like they're weird though some will jump to that conclusion no matter what complacency still blinds us from seeing realistically knowledge still frees us to think clearly understanding our discerning still prompts us to act courageously for God still loves us unconditionally that is such a great truth. God still loves us unconditionally. He doesn't look down on us in these times and say I'm finished with you.

I I've had my fill God's got a great grace course. He is a right at any time to pull the plug and he hasn't told me when he plans to do it. Frankly, I think were sort of living on borrowed time. So time is of the essence.

Therefore I got some two word applications to go with each one of these principles first wake up since complacency blinds and numbs us. We need to wake up no time to be sweet especially if you still got small kids in the home, especially if you still got teenagers running around looking for direction in the midst of what is for them a time of confusion. Understandably, wake up. Second, listen, listen up. Since knowledge frees us.

We need the directives God's word to counteract the messages and missiles of the media, listen up. Third, since understanding and discernment prompts us into action. We need to step up and even speak stepping into it, rather than stepping away from it.

We need to be modern-day sons of Issachar who understood their times and knew what Israel should do first Chronicles 1232. If there's legislation that comes out in defense of the family. Step into it. Step up connect with that legislation cast your vote. Protect your family. There aren't many such statements available for us as a country. When you see them and know of them speak up. Tell your friends talk about it. Your oven may be self-cleaning, but society is, and I can assure you when society cast its vote. It will not be with Scripture be against fourth and perhaps most important of all, since God continues to love us look let's look at disabled it's a like a great way to you. Discernment is it ever help.

Let me tell you a quick story and through in the middle of the 18th century, Great Britain was in such a sad state of decline. The parliament had to be dismissed in the middle of the day because so many of its members were in a drunken stupor.

Immorality was rampant in the land. Children were abandons families were were a forsaken and fractured and in chaos. And God reverse the trend.

How through the preaching of a man named John Wesley and another named George Whitfield there began through the strength of the pulpit. A message that spread into a revival that swept the land. And some historians believe that revival spared Britain the bloodied fate of France torn by violent revolution. It was the courage of a few who said we will look up to God and he will give us direction and strength like us to bow together. Please sit quietly before him known over the message today find you but I have a feeling there's been a twinge of conviction at various places good for you.

That's the beginning of change your feelings of uneasiness could very well lead you to decisions that could begin a change in a whole trend in a new direction for your home and family, beginning with you personally. If you've never met Christ the Lord Jesus who paid the price for your sins. Certainly that is the place to begin.

And if you have met him your decisions now could not be more important if for no other reason than for the good and for the survival of your family love to talk with any of you struggling with these issues needing direction eating Christ go there start. Thank you father for the pleasure of being in your presence and with your people. Thank you for your word and it's penetrating message to all of may we, as a result of hearing and learning and making decisive action make a difference in the world is long since lost its way.

We pray in the name of Christ. See's a minute. You're listening to Insight for living with Pastor Chuck Swindoll to learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org and if you're feeling that twinge of conviction. Chuck mentioned a moment ago you'd like to take action. Let me point you to a helpful resource were pleased to remind you that Chuck Swindoll has written a daily devotional is called wisdom for the way in this inspirational book.

Chuck provides 365 daily reflections and as you walk with Jesus this year. We believe this wisdom from the Bible will help you discover, balance, how to cultivate your most cherished relationships and how to resist the temptations that could destroy a marriage and family ask for a copy of wisdom for the way the deluxe leather soft edition is available for purchase. When you go to insight.or/offer Chuck's personal mission is to help you learn more about the Bible and its relevance to your life is only possible because people just like you give voluntary donation through your gifts receiving a constant source of Bible teaching for yourself and for countless others come to rely on Chuck as well. So as God leads you. Please remember the influence of your donation email inbox is filled with affirming notes.

Each one tells the story of God's faithful men and women learn to apply the truth or lie to give a donation right now, you're listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 also give online insight.or/donate when Dall continues his practical study on merit Friday Insight for living. The preceding message. This is not your grandfather's family was copyrighted in 2004 and 2006, and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2006 Charles R.

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