FIREPROOFING YOUR MARRIAGE

FIREPROOFING OUR CONGREGATION
“NEVER LEAVE YOUR MARRIAGE BEHIND”

Intro:
In 2008, the same group who created the movies, “Facing the Giants” and “Fly Wheel”, produced the box office hit, “Fireproof.” Fireproof was the story of Caleb and Kathrin, and the dysfunctional household which they had created. During the course of the movie, both Caleb and Kathrin seem to loss sight of the love which brought them together in the first place. As we watch, they begin to fix their problems, and attempt to rebuild their marriage.
One of the greatest lessons which they learn is the true meaning of the word “FIREPROOF.” As one of Caleb’s friends told him, “Fireproof doesn’t mean that fire won’t come, but that when it does you’ll be able to withstand it.”
In the Church today, this is a lesson which we would do well to study. So many are walking away from the Lord’s body owing to the fact that life is hard, and being a Christian in the world today isn’t easy. We have come to believe that if we come, if we set in the pues, that problems are canceled, that we have become fireproof. Well, as Michael said, “Fireproof doesn’t mean that fire won’t come, but that when it does we will be able to withstand it.”
Beginning tonight, we want to conduct a four part series on fireproofing our congregation. Brother John and I want to help you to take the steps which are necessary if we are to withstand the fire. In order to understand these lessons, there is one other scene from the movie which you will need to know about.
Caleb is a fireman. Early in the movie he is speaking with one of the younger firefighters. The young man had made a mistake and gotten separated from his partner in a burning house. Caleb tells the man, “You never leave your partner behind.” Brethren, this is a lesson which we must also take to heart.
If we are to fireproof our congregation, then there are certain things which we cannot leave behind. We cannot leave our marriage, our children, our Brethren, nor our God behind if we are to fireproof the Church which Jesus died to establish. You might be wondering why we selected these particular areas. The reason is quite simple. It is these relationships which form the foundation of the Church. If we are not strong in these areas, then as a Church, we have no hope.
I want to invite you to come back for each of these lessons. However, right now, I want you to join me as we consider the need for us to never leave our marriage behind. If we hope to “withstand in the evil day”, then we must make our marriages as strong as possible.

I. STRENGTHEN YOURSELF IN THE LORD

1. In Psalms 31, we find David giving us the blueprint for strengthening ourselves in the Lord.
A. Psa 31: 1 “Deliver me”
B. Psa 31: 2 “Be my rock”
C. Psa 31: 3 “lead me and guide me”
D. Psa 31: 9 “Have mercy upon me”
E. David needed to be strong in his relationship with the Lord first, if he were to be the type of leader his people needed.
2. If we, as husbands and wives, are to make our marriages the most spiritually successful relationships that we can, then we must apply this same principle.
A. Matt 7: 1-5 Christ himself actually points us in this same direction during his Sermon on the Mount.
B. So often we look at this passage in terms of judgment, but I would submit to you that what Christ is wanting us to see is that we must first make sure that we are right with God, and that in and of itself will influence those around us.
C. Our first step shouldn’t be the correction and instruction of others, rather we should look to make ourselves the best husbands or wife we can be.
D. Pro 12: 15 when a problem arises don’t look for a way to assign the fault to your spouse; instead listen to what it is that they have to say.
E. 1Sam 30: 6 before we can strengthen our marriages, we must make it our first objective to strengthen ourselves in the Lord!
F. 1Jn 4: 20 if we don’t love our spouses, how can we say that we love God? On the other hand, if we love God over all else in life, then we will never leave our spouse behind.

II. SHARE YOUR LIVES TOGETHER

1. If we are to avoid leaving our marriage behind, then we need to share our lives with one another.
A. Psa 31: 10-13 share your trials and temptations with one another.
B. Psa 35: 9 share your Joy with one another.
C. Psa 127: 1 share the Lord with one another.
2. First, let’s consider the way in which we should share our trials and temptations with one another.
A. Psa 31: 10-13 David describes the problems which he is having both inwardly and outwardly.
B. David speaks to the Lord on these issues because he knows that the Lord is there to listen to him.
C. The same should be true of husbands and wives today.
D. 1Pet 3: 12 we should open our ears and listen to one another as God listens to us.
E. Heb 4: 16 we should empathize with one another in our trials and temptations just as God empathizes with us.
F. 2Ti 4: 17 we should stand up for one another just as God stands for us!
3. Also, we need to make sure that we are sharing our joy with one another.
A. Psa 35: 9 David makes it clear that he has found great joy and happiness in the Lord.
B. How many couples do you know today who simply don’t enjoy being around each other?
C. They don’t laugh, they don’t joke, and they don’t even speak to one another.
D. Let me encourage you by saying; make your spouse your best friend.
4. Finally, if we are to avoid leaving our spouse behind, we must learn to share the Lord with one another.
A. Psa 127: 1 the truth of the whole matter is that if we hope to build a strong, successful, Christian household, then it must be built upon the Lord!
B. If it is not built upon the Lord, then our labors are in vain, and that house will not stand.