Phil. 3:7-11, 10 WHAT NEEDS TO BE RESURRECTED IN YOUR LIFE, pt. 1 Your Relationships
Intro.-The Resurrection of Jesus Christ showed His Power to forgive our sins, and make us the children of God. The Resurrection does even more than our Salvation however, it empowers every area of our lives for the Resurrection means Christ lives in us!
Ephesians 5:33-6:4
I. A RESURRECTION OF RESPONSIBILITY Eph. 5:33
“in particular”
A. The Husband has a role he is responsible for!
B. The Wife has a role she is responsible for!
C. The Key is to be focused on what our task is, not theirs!!
Illustration: Perfect Pictures of Marriage
Dr. Howard Hendricks has said people get married witha picture in their minds ofa perfect marriage.Then after a few trials, they discover they aren't married to a perfect picture, but an imperfect person.When this realization occurs, they will either tear up the picture or they will tear up the person.
ONLY THE GOSPEL MAKES THIS A JOY!
II. A RESURRECTION OF HONOR Eph. 6:2
A. Children are to Obey 6:1
B. We never outgrow giving Honor to our Parents
*Josh McDowell- testimony was: His father beat his mother bloody every week. She eventually gave up the will to live and just withered away and died. Josh said as a child, he would dream about ways to kill his father and get away with it. He hated his father with a passion. While in college, a young lady challenged him to examine faith in Christ. He later was saved after trying his best to disprove it all. After a while he intellectually believed that Jesus was God, but didn’t accept. His biggest obstacle, was that he knew IF he trusted Christ then he could no longer HATE his father. Finally he gave up and surrendered his will accepting Christ as his Savior. He went to visit his father who was sick in a hospital. He went into the room, held his father’s hand and said: Dad, I’m a Christian now, and I love you!! His dad started crying and said: If you can love me after all of the wicked things I’ve done, then I want what you have, will you tell me. He led his father to the Lord and said for several more years he lived and it’s as though God flipped a switch and the most wicked man he ever knew became the sweetest most godly man he ever knew!!
*It came from a Resurrection of Honor!!
THE GOSPEL MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
III. A RESURRECTION OF NURTURE 6:4
*word “nurture”
A. English-the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something
Originally meaning to feed or nourish, but later used of helping development
B. Greek-(pahee-di'-ah) discipline; training and education of children, hence: instruction; chastisement, correction.
BECAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, JESUS NURTURES US!
IV. A RESURRECTION OF CHRIST-LIKENESS
5:22,23,25; 6:1,4,5,6,7
As Christ; in the Lord, as unto Christ, …
**The REAL Plaque in our Relationships is we need to let the Resurrected CHRIST control our lives!!
POEM:
Text Illustration:
Edgar A Guest was born in 1902, and eventually received the title “Poet Laureate of Michigan.” His poem “Sermons We See,” drives home the urgency of being a good, Christ-like role model for others to follow:
I’d rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example’s always clear;
And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness,
I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles
and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him,
then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful
as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness
that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them,
but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many,
men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed
is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor
learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language
which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me
with his eloquence, I say,
I’d rather see a sermon
than to hear one, any day.
ARE YOU READY TO TRUST THE GOSPEL?
ARE YOU READY TO YIELD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS TO JESUS CHRIST?