Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Three points:
1. Roughly 20% of Americans are divorced. About 10% of first time marriages end in divorce. The percent of marriages also is also dropping.
Why these horrible statistics? What can be done?
2. A lack of applying the above verses will answer both.
3. Some things to stop
a. Bitterness: Defined by WordWeb as, "A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will". This usually rears its head after being hurt from insults, physical abuse, lies, verbal abuse, etc.
b. Wrath: This is passion, the look of anger, yelling, screaming, verbal abuse, calling someone names to hurt another's feelings.
c. Anger: This is that deep hatred of anger. The sneer when you see someone you don't like, the unkind actions. In punishment this is correct, as government anger against a murderer, but in relationships it is wrong. It is only to hurt someone deeply and repeatedly.
d. Outcry: or clamor. This is shouting, screaming at some one in anger.
e. Slander: This is a type of lie meant to hurt and insult another. When told to others it is meant to have those hearers hate, despise the person as well.
f. Malice: the foundation of all the about. It is a loathing, an hate, a way to hurt someone in any way possible.
Haven't we seen this in some relationships? It is time to STOP.
Some things to start
a. Kindness: This is thinking about the other person to help them in distress, hurt, pain. It is listening to another and being aware of their needs.
b. Tenderhearted: This is being sympathetic, caring, hoping to help someone. It is the tenderness to help when someone needs it maybe doing another's chores if they are sick, etc.
c. Forgiving: This is turning all hurt and pain over to God himself to deal with as HE sees fit. It is the release of revenge to Him; maybe that sinner will repent. God knows that which is why we need to turn all over to Him. Forgiving doesn't mean that nothing happens, no punishment, no consequences, no nothing. This in NOT true. Life has consequences. That is why forgiveness means turning everything over to God to punish, chasten, teach, motivate someone to do what is right. If God himself forgives, then we MUST forgive, too.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Zechariah 8:16
These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; (Zechariah 8:16)
Three points:
1. Truth
When we make a decision, this is the first thing to do. We have to know the truth and find the truth. This make take some time. Truth is the facts.
2. Justice
Fair and correct, a decision based on the facts, not making decisions based on favoritism, bribery, anger, revenge, or pressure.
3. Peace
Lack of conflict. There is peace when a correct decision is made and done with a right attitude. There is a rest when things are done in the right way.
Three points:
1. Truth
When we make a decision, this is the first thing to do. We have to know the truth and find the truth. This make take some time. Truth is the facts.
2. Justice
Fair and correct, a decision based on the facts, not making decisions based on favoritism, bribery, anger, revenge, or pressure.
3. Peace
Lack of conflict. There is peace when a correct decision is made and done with a right attitude. There is a rest when things are done in the right way.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1)
Three points:
1. Love
Love is the deep, emotional bound of tenderness and care. It is a thing placed higher in our priorities than other things. Here it is to love instruction, to learn, but the learning is not in the sense of learning secular topics; it is learning by correction, rebuke, and experience. Knowledge is skill as in one who has learned something and is an expert. Instruction has the idea of being corrected by constructive criticism, chewed out, even including physical punishment.
2. Hate
The absence of love as cold is the absence of heat and dark is the absence of light. It is a despising and acting out in mockery or verbal abuse. Correction means to correct with words, talking to someone to show them the facts and experience of a certain course of action.
3. Stupid
Brutish in the King James Version. It has the idea of being thinking like an animal. No one can sit and rationally discuss issues with an animal, so the comparison. In God's eyes we need to be open to rebuke especially when it is the plain, normal reading and understanding of the Scripture.
Three points:
1. Love
Love is the deep, emotional bound of tenderness and care. It is a thing placed higher in our priorities than other things. Here it is to love instruction, to learn, but the learning is not in the sense of learning secular topics; it is learning by correction, rebuke, and experience. Knowledge is skill as in one who has learned something and is an expert. Instruction has the idea of being corrected by constructive criticism, chewed out, even including physical punishment.
2. Hate
The absence of love as cold is the absence of heat and dark is the absence of light. It is a despising and acting out in mockery or verbal abuse. Correction means to correct with words, talking to someone to show them the facts and experience of a certain course of action.
3. Stupid
Brutish in the King James Version. It has the idea of being thinking like an animal. No one can sit and rationally discuss issues with an animal, so the comparison. In God's eyes we need to be open to rebuke especially when it is the plain, normal reading and understanding of the Scripture.
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