“The Call to Remain Loyal in our Relationships” 9/24/06
Have you wondered, Does God really love me? Where is the proof? Is my worship to the Lord acceptable? Do I really love God? Am I faithful in my relationships and in my marriage? Is my financial giving to the Lord pleasing to Him? Is it enough? Is serving God really worth it? Can we really know right and wrong? Our study of Malachi will answer these questions!
Society is in shambles in relationships. Everyone out for THEMSELVES. Marriages are broken and families dysfunctional. B/C we have not kept His ways. See 2:9
POINT 1- God holds us accountable in loyalty to our spiritual FAMILY Vv. 10-12
A. God as their Creator and Father made them into one BODY
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 Acts 9:5
B. The sin they committed brought contamination on ALL
“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-7
C. They were sinning, yet continuing to go through the MOTIONS
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matt 5:23-24
Ways in which we can demonstrate loyalty: 1) Pray for one another; 2) Speak only good about one another (James 3:9-12); 3) Don’t judge each other; 4) Judge each other (1 Cor 5:9-13); 5) Defend each other’s reputation; 6) Accountability
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 read IMAGINE IF WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS:
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35
POINT 2- God holds us accountable in loyalty to our MARRIAGES Vv. 13-16
A. Their offerings were rejected because they had wronged their WIVES
“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7
B. God created one woman for Adam and to produce godly CHILDREN
C. Divorce is like murder and that is why God HATES IT
"And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” Matthew 19:9-10
Ways in which we can show loyalty to our marriages: 1) Talk with kindness; 2) Wash the wife with the Word; 3) Defend the wife in public and private;
4) Know her needs and meet them; 5) Love her sacrificially as Jesus did; 6) Apologize for wronging her.