Building Lasting Relationships

The Traditional Family is Under Assault:
I Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith….

The Enemy comes to Divide & Conquer:
Matt 12: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

29 …how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Eph 5: 25 ¶ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…

I. God loves Us! But Love can mean different things to different people….

Does anybody know what Love is?

Love: agape- to be fond of, to love dearly.
…to take pleasure in, prize it above other things, be unwilling to abandon it or do without it.

Agape is a selfless giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment.
It can be defined as a sacrificial, giving, absorbing kind of love. The word has little to do with emotion; it has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another.

“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you get to annoy for the rest of your life.”

I Cor 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity(love)
I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

“People of little religion are always noisy; he who has not the love of God and man filling his heart is like an empty wagon coming violently down a hill: it makes a great noise, because there is nothing in it.” —Josiah Gregory, cited in Clarke

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,fn but do not have love, I gain nothing.

I Cor 13:4(NLT) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

II. We must See our differences as the strengths that complement each of our weaknesses.

6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

III. 5 ways good relationships go Bad:

1)Other interests come between them. It could be a hobby or work, or anything that
gets a higher priority than the marriage. Distractions will destroy a good marriage.
Let’s Refocus our Priorities!

2)Unresolved conflict. Conflict left unattended will sit like a pressure cooker.
The longer it sits the deeper the wedge it causes. Calmly & Respectfully talk things out!

3)Couples stop dreaming together. When a couple is dating they have lots of dreams together. They discuss their future. They dream about where they will live and travel. They dream about family and adventure. It’s an energy that fuels the relationship.
Is it time to Dream Again!

4)Boredom Sets In: Couples quit dating, laughing & having fun together. They get caught in the routines and busyness of life. Boredom sets in and the closeness they once shared begins to drift. The enemy love this and suddenly one or both seek excitement elsewhere.
Is it time to Have Fun Again!

5)Living with Separate Agendas. It’s okay to have separate identities & some different interests. It keeps things interesting. But, it’s not okay to have separate agendas. The agenda should be two very different people blending those differences into one. When that’s not happening — the strength of the marriage will slowly — or quickly — fade.
Is it time to Create Oneness Again!

John 15: 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Rom 8 Speak the Word Only….

Prov 18: 20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.