This week, pastor Dave B. is speaks on fighting and arguing from a biblical perspective. Everybody goes into a relationship with certain expectations, and when the other person doesn't meet those expectations, it can cause arguments and fights. Pastor Dave examines the root cause of arguments and fights and talks about some bible based principles for handling disagreements within christian relationships. The scripture for the sermon is James 4:1-
"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?"
This week was our second week in the series 'Man vs Wife' Pastor Tommy is speaking mainly to the men this week as he examines what God's word says about how husbands should love their wives with the love of Christ. Of course, this is only possible with the Holy Spirit!
"In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." -1Peter 3:7
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansingher by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church'- for we are members of his body." -Ephesians 5:25-30
Here at Oasis Church, we are starting a new series on relationships called "Man vs Wife" This week, pastor Dave (and his beautiful wife Lydia) open God's Word and examine what the bible has to say about christian relationships. This series isn't only for married people either! Even if your in a Christian dating relationship or single, this series if for you!
Lets face it: We live in a society that promoting the idea that marriage (if you even want to get married, that is) should be put off until you have 3 college degrees, an established career and steady income. The concept of being single isn't foreign at all, in fact the media is portraying it as being the norm. Singles are being shouted at by our society that a life focused on bettering yourself, materialism and casual sex is better than settling down in marriage ESPECIALLY if you are young and unestablished. At first glance, remaining single while you focus on a career and education may seem like the logical thing to do. However, when you take a deeper look into what is happening to our society and compare it to what God's Word has to say about marriage, it might cause you to think again about putting off mariage.
God created man with a strong sex drive - and not just for procreation, but also to enjoy intimacy and affection with each other. He put the desire for sexual union with the opposite gender in us from the very beginning.
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." -Genesis 2:24.
That is just the way we are wired as humans, and when we try to change the established order of what God intended, it only leads to pain! Marriage and sex were created by God for man to thrive the way God intended. It is no surprise that two virgins marrying each other is almost unheard of these days. Never before in the history of man kind has there been a push to abstain from marriage! Interestingly enough, 1 Timothy 4:3 states that one of the signs of the last days is the "forbidding of marriage", an "idea taught by demons!"
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry......" -1Timothy 4:1-3
He goes on to say that: "everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving" 1Timothy 4:4
Considering how popular the ideology of abandoning marriage for lives of casual sex and single-parent families is becoming, I think we as Christians really need to seek the Lords will on this issue! The enemy wants to pervert God's plan for humanity as much as possible, and as his children, we are called to be set apart as holy to the Lord.
If the enemy wants to trap us and tempt our weak flesh, and our desire for marriage and sexual union is God given, we need to be diligent and prayerful in this area or we may injure out spirits with sinful relationships. 1 Corinthians 7:9 says that it is better to marry than to burn with lust.
I understand that many people reading this article may have the desire to get married and are waiting on God for their spouse. That is a totally different situation than purposely deciding not to get married. The point I'm making is that we need to let God be sovereign over our lives and we need to surrender our future to his will.
The week we celebrated Easter - the resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus the Messiah! Jesus gave his all for us on that cross and in return, he expects us to give him our all. We are called to be living sacrifices daily denying ourselves and following Christ! This week, pastor Cliff takes an in depth look at Mary Magdalene's story and examines her full surrender to her Lord!
As a Christian single waiting on God to bring my spouse into my life, I often times get frustrated, discouraged and overcome by loneliness. These feelings start to creep up on me whenever I take my eyes off Jesus and focus upon myself instead. The transition from Jesus to self happens slowly and subtly so that I don't notice it until I look back and realize how spiritually dry and desolate I am! I've learned to combat these feelings with my faith and my sword (the Word) as soon as they start to creep into my head! The following bible verses have been very encouraging to me as I trust the Lord for my spouse, so I figured I'd share them with you!
"Since he [Jesus] did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?" -Romans 8:32
This verse is so encouraging! God's love is so great that we don't have the ability to fathom it! I'm sure that in God's eyes, everything else is worthless compared to His Son's life! So not only do we have the best gift imaginable, (Salvation through Jesus death and resurrection) but we have the confidence to trust the Lord for everything else - including a spouse!
For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. -Genesis 24:7
I'm currently leading a Bible study going through the book of Genesis. When I came across this passage, it made me stop and think that God is intimately involved with my love life to the point that he sends angels to intervine! God won't let me miss meeting my wife, in fact, he would send an angel to ensure that I do meet her! I find myself in a similar situation as Abraham's servant in Genesis 24 - waiting and praying! I have the sovereignty and love of God on my side, and he will never leave me nor forsake me!
I hope you find these bible verses to be encouraging! Keep trusting in the Lord, and keep seeking his face in prayer, fasting and reading the Word!
This week, pastor Phil speaks about giving. All throughout scripture, God makes it clear that giving and tithing are important aspects to our faith in Him. Giving not only empowers the church to do the work of God, but it also causes you to surrender your financial life. The good news is that God promises to bless us when we give!
"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full'-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." -Luke 6:37
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,' says theLord of Heaven's Armies, 'I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" -Malachi 3:10
God even tells His people to put him to the test when it comes to giving Him the full tithe! When we put God before our money, he will ensure that we have an over abundance of all that we need! WHen God is number one in our lives, everything else falls into place!
What you love is what will drive you in life. If you love money or "stuff" then the pursuit of that will drive you in life. The end result is that you trade the glory of God for a lie that will not only turn your life and heart bitter, but will lead to your destruction! This week, Dave encourages us to prayerfully examine where our hearts are so that we can live with the full joy that Christ offers us when we live for Him and Him alone!
"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." -1 Timothy 6:10
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." -Matthew 6:24
In a Christian dating relationship or marriage, money issues can cause lots of problems! Even if we try not to worry about money, it can still find a way to sneak into many different areas of our lives to create stress and even cause relationship problems. This week Tommy speaks out of 1 Timothy - the first week of a series called "How To Be Rich" Whether your a Christian single waiting on God for your soulmate, in a Christian dating relationship, or married, you will find this weeks message to be encouraging and helpful. The most important thing to remember is that with Christ, you are rich and financial problems or not, He will provide you with everything you need and more! It's all about letting go and putting your trust in Him alone!
Are you a Christian single suffering from a broken heart? Lets face it: at one point or another, EVERYBODY gets their heart broken from a lost relationship. Speaking from personal experience, heartbreak is one of the most bitter and painful experiences one can go through. Everybody I talk to about it says the same thing. As painful as it can be, the good news is that a broken heart never lasts forever! While the healing process takes different amounts of time from person to person, these tips on how to mend a broken heart will be helpful to all single Christians dealing with heartbreak.
Go To God First When Dealing With A Broken Heart
One of the worst things you can do after a breakup is to try and find comfort in something other than Jesus! After all, he created your emotions and knows every detail about your life. He loves you and you are always on his heart, so take refuge in His love! Turn over all the pain and bitterness and give it to Jesus! Claim these beautiful promise in Jesus name:
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." -Psalm 34:18
"Cast your burdens on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."-Psalm 55:22
Use this time to connect with God and seek his face! Worship Him and rest in His love! Remember that he has amazing plans for your life because you are His child! Rejoice in the LORD: for all that he has done, for all that he is doing, and for all that he will do!
Mending A Broken Heart Advice - Talk About It With People Close To You
There is something very therapeutic about talking about a broken heart with a close friend or family member who will listen to you. Talking about it gets all the built up negative feelings out and helps along the healing process. Keeping it all inside can lead to depression and other emotional issues down the road, so it isn't good to try and act strong by not being open with somebody about how you're feeling. It is also a good idea to pray with somebody if it is possible! Let God move in the situation and see what he does! The more you talk and pray, the better and more at peace you will feel about the situation.
Christian Dating Advice - Forgive Your Ex!!
There is an extraordinary amount of healing power in forgiving somebody for something that they have done to you! Jesus calls us to forgive each other in the same way that Christ forgave us! Sincere forgiveness brings closure and new beginning. This will speed up the mending process of your broken heart! Once you offer forgiveness, what the other person does with that is up to them. If they want to remain bitter and upset, you did your part and have a clear and clean conscience.
Dealing With A Broken Heart- Stay Healthy!!
Although it can be easy to throw health out the window when dealing with a broken heart, it is not at all a good idea! Eating healthy, getting regular exercise, and drinking a lot of water will reduce stress hormones, and keep you from becoming depressed. Even though you probably don't feel like getting out to the gym, you will be in a much better mood after you blow off some built up emotions!
Hopefully you find these Christian dating tips useful! Remember to stay focused on the LORD and get your strength in Him alone! For more Christian dating articles, stop by our home page!
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