Relationships Part 2

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Dictionary – A connection, association or involvement

When we think of having a boyfriend or girlfriend we should always remember to put God first.

Why do you date or go out as boyfriend/girlfriend.

•          Peer pressure
•          Thing to do
•          Desire/Lust
•          Experiment

What should be the ultimate end of going out with someone? Marriage!

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 2:18-24 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

What are some of the purposes of marriage? A married couple are to be united as a family unit. They are to procreate and help and support each other.

Where do you seek advice? Some people will ask friends, family, parents, minister or a teacher. When people come to ask that all important question, “Who should I marry?” they often try to handle it themselves or ask people who maybe don’t have the knowledge. 

We should always seek the Lord’s direction and seek advice from our parents.

Psalm 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Read Gen 24:4, 7, 12, 14, 48 and 51

What do we learn from these verses?

•          Find a wife/husband from your own people.
•          The Lord will lead.
•          Pray
•          Look for a kind person
•          Look for a hard worker

What should we look for in a husband or wife? Make a list.

One mother when asked what she would look for in a husband for her daughter she gave the following list:

•          He needed to be a Christian
•          Trustworthy
•          Honest
•          Welcoming/Pleasant
•          Mild-mannered

Another mother looks for the following in a wife to be for her son

•          Someone who put God first – Reads the Bible and prays
•          Loving
•          Good housewife – Cook etc
•          One who listens and who you can talk over things with

Read Proverbs 6:20-25

In relationships we need to be careful how we conduit ourselves. Men are stimulated through sight and they need to be careful. 

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

I believe it is also the responsibility of girls that they dress in a modest manner so that they don’t draw wrongful attention.

To lust is to covet – Thou shalt not covet Ex 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

How do difficulties come in a marriage? These happen when husband and wives fail to follow the instructions in Eph 5:21-31.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 says, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

Young people need to be very careful how they develop in their relationships. It is good to get to know people in a group and over a longer period before getting into a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.

We should always keep in front of us 1 Cor 6:20 which says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Further advice can be found in 1 Cor 7:1-9 for both those in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship and those who are married.

Relationships Part 1

Many times when you mention “Relationships” among young people they take it as concerning boyfriends/girlfriend relationships. It can be that would not be the complete view. We need to think of relationships in a fuller sense.

There are relationships between the following

•          Husband and Wife
•          Parent and child
•          Brother and sister
•          Friends
•          Employer and employee
•          Business

Some of these you are placed in e.g. Parent and child. You have not choice who your parents or who your siblings are. Then there are relationships you chose as you go through life.

Many people have a best friend; they have known from primary school, they keep in contact throughout their life.

The dictionary defines a relationship as a connection, an association or where there is an involvement.

When we think of relationships we are thinking of good relationships and how to maintain them. What must happen for there to be a relationship? There has to be a getting to know each other. For a relationship to be strong it takes time. Every time we meet people it takes before we have enough confidence to trust people

All good relationships have agreement in the important things in life. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

We must be attached to people who have the same outlook and values both personally and religiously. You cannot run a 3 legged race if you both are running in different directions. The Christian should not go out with or marry a non-Christian.  They also shouldn’t  go into business with non-Christians.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

The ingredients for a healthy relationship can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

These verses are mentioned often at wedding service but we would do well to weave them into all our relationships.

We must always be careful what words we speak and how we say them. Proverbs 25:11 says “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

Many times in our relationships we go through difficult times and forgiveness is needed. Don’t be like the couple who vowed that they wouldn’t go to sleep without making up after an argument. They haven't slept for 30 years. Be liberal with your forgiveness. Matthew 18:21 says, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"

Perseverance of the Saints or Eternal Security

Reading John 1:12-13

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Many times in preaching we finish with verse 12 but need to read verse 13

Many people preach easy believe-ism. Salvation is sold by its benefits

The law needs to be preached.

Galatians 3:24 - Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Are true believers eternally secure? YES

Great theologians of the past spoke of Perseverance of the Saints.

“Those who are truly regenerated, effectually called, and really converted, and internally sanctified by the Spirit and Grace of God, shall persevere in grace to the end and shall be everlastingly saved; they shall never finally and totally fall, so as to perish everlastingly.” (John Gill)

There needs to be more than just a profession of faith.

•      Matthew 7:20
•      1 John 2:19  
•      Matthew 7:22-23

There will be a change in that person. 2 Peter 1:10

God did not elect men and call them by His Spirit just to accept Christ, but that there should be this ongoing walk of faith, persevering unto the end, being saved to the uttermost. Matthew 10:22

The hallmark of grace

•          Phil 3:14
•          Hebrews 12:1-2
•          Isaiah 40:31
•          Hebrews 6:1
•          2 Cor 7:1

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Read Jude 24-25

It is good to know that Jesus Christ is praying for us.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Irresistible Grace or Effectual Calling

Isaiah 46:10-11 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:  Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Q: What is effectual calling?

A: Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

·         2 Timothy 1:8-9

·         Ephesians 1:18-20

·         Acts 2:37

·         Acts 26:18

·         Ezekiel 36:26-27

·         John 6:44-45

·         Philippians 2:13

·         Deuteronomy 30:6

·         Ephesians 2:5

This is the work of the Holy Spirit

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

In the initial working of the Holy Spirit in regeneration there is no co-operation of the sinner whatsoever. Eze 11:19, Rom 9:16 & Phil 2:13

What do we learn from Mat 22:1-14

Look at what Christ said in John 6:37 & 65

The method we are to use is peaching

·         1 Cor 1:21 to proclaim

·         Rom 10:17

Read Acts 16

What do you learn from verse 6-10

Verse 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us (General call): whose heart the Lord opened (The irresistible work of the Holy spirit), that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul (The effectual call).

Who do you work for?

I am sure we all have different answers for that question. Some will say their boss or even themselves but ultimately it is God.

God is to be our focus in everything we do.
With God as our focus we should strive for excellence. We should do our best.

When work is getting you down remember and look to The Lord. Don't let us be distracted from the our aim to glorify God.

Q: What is the chief end of man?
A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:22-24 KJV)

Salvation is of The Lord

The title of this blog is from the verse that is found in Job 2:9.

Salvation is not of man it is of God only. Man in of himself did not choose God. It was God who choose man. This is hard to understand when you consider how Holy God is and how sinful we are. We rejoice when we consider how God put His electing love upon us. The following verse is a wonderful verse that should drive us closer to The Lord.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

This verse was written to Christians. It is a follow on from verse 8. We have here the heart of God open to us.

He is long suffering.
He doesn't want us to perish.
He desires our repentance.

Let us rejoice in the mercy of God today and in His word.