Greg Laurie's Notes for the Week of Monday, 23 February 2015 A New Beginning

Greg Laurie's Notes for the Week of Monday, 23 February 2015 A New Beginning
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Teaching NotesFOUR WORDS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR MARRIAGE

Ephesians 5:25 As for husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah loved the Messianic Community, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf, 26 in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikveh, so to speak, 27 in order to present the Messianic Community to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without defect. 28 This is how husbands ought to love their wives — like their own bodies; for the man who loves his wife is loving himself. 29 Why, no one ever hated his own flesh! On the contrary, he feeds it well and takes care of it, just as the Messiah does the Messianic Community, 30 because we are parts of his Body. 31 “Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and remain with his wife, and the two will become one.”[a] 32 There is profound truth hidden here, which I say concerns the Messiah and the Messianic Community. 33 However, the text also applies to each of you individually: let each man love his wife as he does himself, and see that the wife respects her husband.[Footnotes:

Ephesians 5:31 Genesis 2:24]

It is ironic, and a little sad, that many people spend more time and money on preparing for their wedding than they do for the marriage it celebrates. How unfortunate that we expend more energy on a ceremony that lasts one hour than on building a marriage that will stand strong for a lifetime. A strong marriage is not a fluke, or something that just happens. The strongest marriages are the ones in which both people have committed to put in the effort to make it work, rather than letting the inevitable trials and struggles win out. A strong and happy marriage is a result of obedience to God and His Word and a laying aside of this world’s distorted, take-it-or-leave-it concept of marriage. The key to a strong marriage can be found in the first four verses of today’s passage: “Husbands, love your wives.” Now, there is a place in marriage for eros (erotic) or phileo (brotherly) love, but the kind of love that God wants husbands and wives to have for each other is agape love.

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES

When it comes to agape love, 1 Corinthians 13 provides a pretty thorough definition. Verses 4-7 reveal not so much what love is, but what love does.

1. Love is patient. In love, patience is the ability to be inconvenienced, or taken advantage of, by a person over and over again. It stands tall, even in the midst of hardships and difficulties. 

2. Love is kind. Just as patience will put up with anything, kindness will give anything to others. As we model the love of Jesus Christ to our spouses, they will respond submit in love to us. Even if your spouse isn’t loving you as you think they ought to, you still need to do your part.

3. Love does not envy. In other words, love is not jealous. Whether it’s being envious of another couple’s marriage or coveting lordship in the relationship, jealousy in any form is destructive (see James 3:14).

4. Love does not parade itself. This means that love does not brag about itself. Not only should you not talk about how good or bad your marriage, but you should not lift yourself up either, as in “Do you know how much I gave up to marry you?”

5. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. One of the worst things you can do, particularly in an argument, is to bring up something negative your spouse did a long time ago. Just as God has forgiven our sins and treats us as if we had never sinned, we need to do the same for our spouses. 

RELEVANT REMINDERS

Although the key to this passage is “Husbands, love your wives,” this does not mean that the wives are off the hook. Remember, verse 22 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” A strong marriage is not a one-way street; both parties need to put in the work. Honor the commitment that you made when you got married.

APPLICABLE ACTIONS

It’s easy to look at the characteristics of agape love and say, “I can’t do all that.” And it’s true—you can’t do it in your own strength. But God has already given you this love (see Romans 5:5). You just need to start doing it. Husband, love your wife. Wife, love your husband. God will give you the strength to do it. All you have to do is start doing the right thing, whether you feel like it or not.
Monday, 23 February 2015
4 Words That Can Change Your Marriage — II
Ephesians 5:1  So imitate God, as his dear children; 2 and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance. 3 Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people. 4 Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks. 5 For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey him. 7 So don’t become partners with them!

8 For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth — 10 try to determine what will please the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, 12 for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. 13 But everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is, 14 since anything revealed is a light. This is why it says,

“Get up, sleeper! Arise from the dead,

and the Messiah will shine on you!”

15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. 16 Use your time well, for these are evil days. 17 So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — 19 sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; 20 always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

21 Submit to one another in fear of the Messiah. 22 Wives should submit to their husbands as they do to the Lord; 23 because the husband is head of the wife, just as the Messiah, as head of the Messianic Community, is himself the one who keeps the body safe. 24 Just as the Messianic Community submits to the Messiah, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 As for husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah loved the Messianic Community, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf, 26 in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikveh, so to speak, 27 in order to present the Messianic Community to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without defect. 28 This is how husbands ought to love their wives — like their own bodies; for the man who loves his wife is loving himself. 29 Why, no one ever hated his own flesh! On the contrary, he feeds it well and takes care of it, just as the Messiah does the Messianic Community, 30 because we are parts of his Body. 31 “Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and remain with his wife, and the two will become one.”[a] 32 There is profound truth hidden here, which I say concerns the Messiah and the Messianic Community. 33 However, the text also applies to each of you individually: let each man love his wife as he does himself, and see that the wife respects her husband.[Footnotes:

Ephesians 5:31 Genesis 2:24]

1 Corinthians 13:1 I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels;

but if I lack love, I have become merely

blaring brass or a cymbal clanging.

2 I may have the gift of prophecy,

I may fathom all mysteries, know all things,

have all faith — enough to move mountains;

but if I lack love, I am nothing.

3 I may give away everything that I own,

I may even hand over my body to be burned;

but if I lack love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful,

5 not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered,

and it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not gloat over other people’s sins

but takes its delight in the truth.

7 Love always bears up, always trusts,

always hopes, always endures.

8 Love never ends; but prophecies will pass,

tongues will cease, knowledge will pass.

9 For our knowledge is partial, and our prophecy partial;

10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass.

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child,

thought like a child, argued like a child;

now that I have become a man,

I have finished with childish ways.

12 For now we see obscurely in a mirror,

but then it will be face to face.

Now I know partly; then I will know fully,

just as God has fully known me.

13 But for now, three things last —

trust, hope, love;

and the greatest of these is love.

Pastor Greg Laurie says there are four words that can change your marriage for the better. Do you know what they are? He reveals the answer and helps us take our marriages to the next level of harmony and understanding.
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
4 Words That Can Change Your Marriage — III
Ephesians 5:1  So imitate God, as his dear children; 2 and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance. 3 Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people. 4 Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks. 5 For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey him. 7 So don’t become partners with them!

8 For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth — 10 try to determine what will please the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, 12 for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. 13 But everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is, 14 since anything revealed is a light. This is why it says,

“Get up, sleeper! Arise from the dead,

and the Messiah will shine on you!”

15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. 16 Use your time well, for these are evil days. 17 So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — 19 sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; 20 always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

21 Submit to one another in fear of the Messiah. 22 Wives should submit to their husbands as they do to the Lord; 23 because the husband is head of the wife, just as the Messiah, as head of the Messianic Community, is himself the one who keeps the body safe. 24 Just as the Messianic Community submits to the Messiah, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 As for husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah loved the Messianic Community, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf, 26 in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikveh, so to speak, 27 in order to present the Messianic Community to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without defect. 28 This is how husbands ought to love their wives — like their own bodies; for the man who loves his wife is loving himself. 29 Why, no one ever hated his own flesh! On the contrary, he feeds it well and takes care of it, just as the Messiah does the Messianic Community, 30 because we are parts of his Body. 31 “Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and remain with his wife, and the two will become one.”[a] 32 There is profound truth hidden here, which I say concerns the Messiah and the Messianic Community. 33 However, the text also applies to each of you individually: let each man love his wife as he does himself, and see that the wife respects her husband.[Footnotes:

Ephesians 5:31 Genesis 2:24]

1 Corinthians 13:1 I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels;

but if I lack love, I have become merely

blaring brass or a cymbal clanging.

2 I may have the gift of prophecy,

I may fathom all mysteries, know all things,

have all faith — enough to move mountains;

but if I lack love, I am nothing.

3 I may give away everything that I own,

I may even hand over my body to be burned;

but if I lack love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful,

5 not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered,

and it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not gloat over other people’s sins

but takes its delight in the truth.

7 Love always bears up, always trusts,

always hopes, always endures.

8 Love never ends; but prophecies will pass,

tongues will cease, knowledge will pass.

9 For our knowledge is partial, and our prophecy partial;

10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass.

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child,

thought like a child, argued like a child;

now that I have become a man,

I have finished with childish ways.

12 For now we see obscurely in a mirror,

but then it will be face to face.

Now I know partly; then I will know fully,

just as God has fully known me.

13 But for now, three things last —

trust, hope, love;

and the greatest of these is love.

Do "happily ever after" relationships only exist in fairy tales? Pastor Greg Laurie says no, God wants our marriages to go the distance. He helps us discover four words that can help our marriages find fulfillment over the long haul.

Teaching NotesHOW TO GET A NEW HUSBAND

1 Peter 3:1 In the same way, wives, submit to your husbands; so that even if some of them do not believe the Word, they will be won over by your conduct, without your saying anything, 2 as they see your respectful and pure behavior. 3 Your beauty should not consist in externals such as fancy hairstyles, gold jewelry or what you wear; 4 rather, let it be the inner character of your heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great value. 5 This is how the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves and submit to their husbands, 6 the way Sarah obeyed Avraham, honoring him as her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not succumb to fear.

Marriage should last for as long as each person is alive. Sadly, so many marriages fall apart when one person decides to leave for another, like they were trading in a car. Instead of trading in, we should be thinking about restoration—restoring our marriages to the way God intended. There are three principles in 1 Peter 3 that can help you turn your husband into a new man—and that includes bringing a non-believing man to faith. PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES

1. Let your beauty be primarily inward (but don’t neglect the outward). The Bible doesn’t condemn women who dress nicely (see Proverbs 31:25). What Peter speaks of in this passage are women who dress in a way that calls attention to their bodies, their wealth, etc. They put so much effort into dressing up the exterior that they neglect the interior. Rather, there needs to be a balance between maintaining your outward appearance and inwardly becoming a true woman of God. Don’t just be beautiful on the outside; be beautiful on the inside too.

2. As much as possible, submit. It’s important to keep in mind that the biblical view of submission is different than the world’s view. Submission doesn’t mean the wife must disregard her feelings and obey her husband only. Paul wrote that the wife should submit to her husband “as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). She should yield to her husband and submit, wherever possible. The exception is if she is asked to do something unscriptural. The husband’s authority is not greater than God’s.

3. Reach him more through your actions than your words. This is a good principle for all believers when sharing the gospel. There is a place for preaching, but there is also a place for living it out. You don’t need to lay down the law every day with your spouse. They need to see it lived out in your life. Instead of picking on the things he does wrong, encourage him on the things he is doing right. You will build up a person far more by encouraging them than you will by nagging them.

RELEVANT REMINDERS

Verse 4 says that women should be known for “a gentle and quiet spirit.” This doesn’t mean silence, but a lack of harshness or agitation. A wife has the God-given right and responsibility to set her husband straight if he is wrong. But she should and needs to do this in a loving way, cultivating the peace of God in her life, and not in a pushy way. APPLICABLE ACTIONS

Simply put, the world has its ideas of how a marriage should be. Through the Bible, God has revealed His design for marriage. Are you going to let the world dictate how you conduct your marriage, or are you going to let God? God’s way works, and He will bless you and help you to be the wife He wants you to be.
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
How to Get a New Husband — I
Pastor Greg Laurie points out, much of what's on the inside of women's magazines deals with the outside of a woman . . .make-up, hair care, and so on. He points out that inner qualities are much more important. We'll look past the magazines to the timeless counsel in God's Word.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
How to Get a New Husband — II
Submission in marriage is something few like to talk about. But Pastor Greg Laurie says that's only because of a misunderstanding of what the Bible says on the subject. A candid discussion of mutual submission between husbands and wives.
Friday, 27 February 2015
How to Get a New Husband — III
What first attracted many people to their spouses is often what now drives them a little crazy! Pastor Greg Laurie and his wife, Cathe, help husbands and wives find the harmony God intended for the home.
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