WEBVTT

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 7 this morning.

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 As we look, tomorrow is a special day though.

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 It's a day set aside to remember those who paid a price for our freedoms.

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 Because it costs somebody something for everything that we do.

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 And we remember here as Memorial Day allows us to slow down and consider the price that was paid for us.

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 You know, when we consider the thousands that have lost their lives in the struggle to preserve a safe and prosperous nation,

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 you know, that's why we should not take for granted the liberties that we enjoy and the very foundation of those liberties.

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 You know, tomorrow many are probably going to attend a ceremony or many even in our day might visit a gravesite at somebody that died in one of the struggles.

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 You know, while it's good to honor the sacrifices that were made, not only in lost lives but also in the families that were impacted afterwards.

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 You know, when we realize the big picture of what it costs and we need to honor that price that was paid for our liberties.

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 And so as we're going to be looking through here, this for the next few weeks, we've been talking about family.

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 You know, one of the best ways you can honor those who have fallen for our liberties is to have a strong foundation.

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 And our nation is founded strongly upon families.

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 Every nation is built upon a family.

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 That is the basic building block of any society.

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 God established it.

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 We saw a few weeks ago that God is the one who designed marriage.

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 God is the one who put it together.

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 God was the one who organized those things.

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 And so as we're going to look here this morning about the importance of a family being the building block,

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 but I think it's a building block of society,

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 but it's also the building block that keeps our freedom secure.

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 Because it's where we understand and are taught and instructed and all the things that go with it.

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 A family is a valuable enough thing that we ought to work to preserve it,

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 to work for everything to keep families strong.

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 Because strong godly families begin with strong godly marriages.

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 And having a godly marriage is important.

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 Marriages that are built upon the rock, the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

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 And so we're going to look here this morning, Matthew chapter 7.

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 If you found in your Bibles there, Matthew 7, let's stand together.

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 As we'll pick up in verse 24 here this morning.

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 And we see this, it says this in verse 24.

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 It says,

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, as we come before you today, Lord, we're just thankful for what we enjoy.

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 We're thankful for the salvation that we can enjoy in you, of what you've paid for.

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 Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today.

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 Lord, as we look at the importance of marriage, Lord,

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 we know the importance of building strong families and marriages that are built upon the rock,

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 built upon you, built upon your word.

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 Lord, but it's not only it starts with families, but it starts with individuals

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 who decide that they're going to build their life upon the foundation that you've given to us.

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 Lord, help us to build upon the right things.

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 Lord, that we might stand firm in the truth.

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 Lord, that we might not fall.

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 And Lord, we just pray you have your hand upon the message.

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 The things said and done here today might glorify and honor you.

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 And Lord, we just give you all the praise in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 You know, this solid foundation that Jesus spoke about here is himself.

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 You know, he's given an illustration here using a principle of a firm foundation.

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 But he's using an analogy that's very familiar throughout the scripture.

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 When you read through the Psalms, you'll find that the psalmist reminds us that God is our rock and our redeemer.

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 It tells us that he is the rock of our salvation.

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 He is our defender and our refuge.

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 He is the righteous rock.

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 You know, you go on, there's many things.

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 When you look it up, how many different references it is to God.

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 Him being the rock, the solid foundation on which we build our lives.

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 You know, we understand the practicality involved in this.

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 That Jesus makes it clear here this morning.

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 We're going to look at this passage.

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 He's talking here on the Sermon on the Mount.

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 And he gives them very clear illustration about building upon the right things.

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 And the implications if you don't.

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 Because, you know, one thing you'll find as we look at this this morning is when things are untested, things look pretty good.

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 You know?

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 Now, we might analyze that like something today, you know?

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 And today you have different places you can buy things, you know?

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 And you've got websites like Amazon or you have Timu and you get these ads.

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 Well, this guy's selling it so much cheaper it looks the same until you get it.

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 And then sometimes it might even look the same out of the box, but then you find out one falls apart and the other doesn't.

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 What makes the difference isn't the picture, it's the use, it's the testing of it that proves out what is it built upon.

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 What is the foundation that it is?

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 And we understand the principle of it.

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 We're going to look here because Jesus here is talking about our lives.

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 He's talking about our families.

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 He's talking about the practicality of building our lives on the foundation of the designer's instruction.

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 You know, one of the things we feel, we listen to a lot of things about our lives today.

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 I mean, you go down here to the bookstore and you have entire sections on self-help books.

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 Trying to give you instruction on how to have a better life.

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 How to fix something in your life.

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 How to do whatever.

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 I mean, if they have a book for everything nowadays, I'm telling you how you can do it.

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 Somebody's an expert.

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 But the reality is, is that for the real foundation of our life can't be built in worldly wisdom,

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 it needs to be built in the designer's wisdom.

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 Built upon the truth of his word.

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 Built upon the things that will last, that gives us stability in life.

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 And Jesus gives this practical illustration here about longevity and stability of a house.

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 Not when things go smoothly, but when the reality of life's storms and struggles come along.

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 I mean, I think it's not long before you realize, you know, when you're a teenager,

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 you think you know all the answers.

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 But then life happens.

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 And you find out that you don't know near as much as you thought you did because you didn't have the questions yet.

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 And when you realize what's going on here, you see that dynamic happening and the struggles come.

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 You know, you have financial problems.

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 You know, it's not long before you start figuring out money runs out fast.

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 You know, that things don't come or unexpected bills come in or you have issues with time or health.

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 You know, storms around us will test the foundation.

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 You know, in relationships, there's a lot of things that test the foundation.

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 There's things such as unmet expectations.

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 You know, because oftentimes when people start a relationship, they have an idea of the other person.

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 And then pretty soon when they really get to know them, they find out there might not be all that they thought they were.

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 That's the reality.

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 That you find out that person isn't everything that you might have thought.

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 And we need to understand that those things are going to happen because sometimes we have unspokens that we have in our mind.

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 This is the way it's going to be.

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 And then when it doesn't happen that way, we struggle with it.

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 It's a storm that comes in a relationship or just needs.

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 You know, how about exhaustion?

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 You know, how do you deal when everybody's exhausted and irritable?

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 I know you guys would never be tired and irritable, right?

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 Or the term we use to do, hangry.

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 You know, you're hungry and angry.

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 But those are things in life.

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 And sometimes in those moments, the test of how we're going to deal with one another comes to play, doesn't it?

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 Those things become a reality.

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 The storms of life.

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 And we find out that these storms are often followed by hurt, heartaches.

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 And you know what hurt and heartaches break too?

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 Bitterness.

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 And all these things are a result of how the foundation has been placed.

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 Because we want a solid foundation.

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 When we respond, how will we respond to the test?

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 You know, how we respond to the test of the things in life is a direct reflection of what you've built it upon.

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 Of how we built those things.

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 You know, because look here back in Matthew 27, 24.

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 Notice what Jesus says here.

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 He says, therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them.

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 Hearing these sayings.

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 I want you to understand.

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 Solid marriages are grounded in the obedience to God's word.

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 It's obedience to God's word.

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 Now, we can all agree.

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 You know, if you do what God tell you to do, it's going to work out.

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 Right?

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 Do you really believe it?

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 I want you to understand it won't work out, but it will be for your good.

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 It might not work out the way you think, but it will be for your benefit.

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 It will serve you well to obey the things of God.

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 God never said it was going to be easy.

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 He never said it would be without the struggle.

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 As a matter of fact, notice here, Jesus doesn't say, if the storms come, it will be tested.

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 He basically, this passage, if you read through, Jesus is basically saying the storms are going to happen.

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 The issues are going to be there.

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 Those things are going to be true no matter what.

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 The question is, will it stand?

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 You know, I believe today we have a lot of marriages that are built upon a sandy foundation.

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 We have couples that get married for all sorts of reasons that are counter to what God says.

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 And then when their reasons fall apart, marriages fall apart.

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 But I want you to understand today that the emphasis here is clear that we must not only know what we ought to do,

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 but then we need to do it.

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 You know, it's amazing.

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 You can attend church services, give your time to help and serve in church.

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 You can read and study the truth of God's Word.

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 You can have all the information.

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 You might say, you know, it's kind of like students in school.

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 They'll have all the information to pass the test on the written form.

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 But the question is, do you understand how to use it in real life?

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 What's the function?

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 Are you putting it into practice?

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 You know, putting those things into practice and understanding what is the trade-off of those things is important.

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 To know is one thing.

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 To do it is another.

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 And to do God's Word is, even when we implement it into the storms of life.

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 You know, God tells us how to walk through storms.

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 He tells us what we need to, how we need to respond.

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 He tells us how we need to engage.

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 He tells us how we need to think.

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 To understand what's happening around us.

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 Because often I think we know what we ought to do.

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 You know how I know people know what they ought to do?

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 Because they can be sure to tell somebody else what they ought to do.

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 The problem is oftentimes we don't have, it's not that we don't have the answer.

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 The problem oftentimes is the answer is always for somebody else.

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 But not for me.

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 To know and to do.

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 To apply the truth of God's Word.

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 It's a practical reality.

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 Because, you know, Jesus makes it clear that we need to live out the principles in our lives,

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 aligning our relationships with His design.

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 You know, it's kind of funny today.

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 Many think that a godly marriage is won because it was performed in a church.

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 Now, having a church wedding, there's nothing wrong with.

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 Matter of fact, it's a good thing.

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 But that does not make a marriage godly.

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 The ceremony doesn't make it godly.

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 What makes a solid foundation godly is following God's principles.

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 Doing what God has given to us.

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 And Jesus here is applying that very basic principle to us today.

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 You know, as we saw last week, that His design is for compassion and mutual support and unity.

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 But how do we practice the truth of these things in our life?

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 How does it happen?

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 Well, simply by being obedient to what God's told us to do.

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 You know, obedience isn't always easy.

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 You know, look over to Jeremiah chapter 7.

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 Jeremiah chapter 7 and verse 23 tells us this.

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 But this thing I command thee, I command them saying,

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 Obey my voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my people.

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 Walk ye in all the ways I have commanded you.

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 Now notice this, that it may be what?

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 Well with you.

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 I want you to understand, if you obey what God says,

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 it doesn't mean you're not going to have struggles and trials.

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 It just means you're going to be able to walk through those things

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 and be standing on the other side.

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 Because you're built upon a firm foundation.

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 A foundation that doesn't shift and move.

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 You're built upon the principles of God's Word.

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 And we need to obey those things because marriage is grounded on the Word of God.

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 The rock will practice daily.

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 The principles revealed in Scripture.

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 Because, you know, it's very simple.

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 It's not easy to put them into practice.

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 You know, there's a lot of biblical principles that are hard to obey.

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 We expect others to do them for us.

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 But why aren't you doing what you ought to do?

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 You ought to forgive me.

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 You ought to have grace.

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 You ought to have these things.

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 But it's different when we have to say, am I doing that?

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 Am I applying those things in the midst of the struggle?

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 It's only when we see that what God has said to be true

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 and act accordingly by faith that we see the benefits that come from it.

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 Because, see, you have to make a choice.

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 Look over to Romans chapter 6.

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 Romans chapter 6 and verse 16 says this,

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 Know ye not that whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,

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 his servants ye are whom ye obey,

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 whether sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness.

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 You know, the Bible talks a lot about obedience.

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 This is that same dynamic Jesus is speaking about here

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 when he says to hear and to do.

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 You know, now, that's pretty simple terms.

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 You know, it's kind of like when you tell a child,

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 when you're trying to correct them and instruct them on what they want to do,

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 you don't want them just to hear you.

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 You know, it's amazing when you deal with little kids,

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 they'll hear what you say.

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 I didn't put an age on it.

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 And you'll know they understand.

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 And they'll look right at you and defiantly do it anyways

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 or do something different.

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 To hear and to do.

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 They have to go together because just to hear isn't enough.

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 You know, consider what James says over in James chapter 1.

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 He says this,

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 Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only,

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 deceiving your own selves.

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 You know, I think oftentimes we can deceive ourselves

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 into thinking that we're doing what we ought to do

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 when clearly from God's word we're not.

00:16:52.040 --> 00:16:54.100
 Because when we look here, notice what it says,

00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:56.639
 For if anyone be a hearer of the word and not a doer,

00:16:56.700 --> 00:17:01.139
 he's like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.480
 For he beholdeth himself and goeth away in a straight way,

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:05.480
 forget of what manner of man he was.

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.559
 But whosoever looketh into the perfect law of liberty

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:12.079
 and continueth therein shall not be a forgetful hearer,

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.839
 but a doer of the work.

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:16.980
 This man shall be blessed in his deed.

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.400
 Now I want you to understand,

00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:21.579
 it's for your benefit, it's for your good,

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.380
 it's for your blessing.

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:27.740
 But nowhere does the Bible say you're not going to have the problem.

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.319
 It's you're going to be a benefit

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:31.639
 even though the problem is present.

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.059
 Because the storms are going to come.

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:37.399
 You know, I hate to break the bad news to you

00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:39.059
 that storms in life are going to happen.

00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:42.179
 Some are going to come,

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.439
 you're going to kind of see them coming,

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:47.319
 you know, kind of like you see a storm brewing on the horizon.

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:49.679
 Other ones are going to hit you like a freight train

00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:50.480
 just out of the blue.

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:52.359
 It doesn't matter which kind it is,

00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:53.000
 they're going to come.

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.859
 Those things are going to be a reality.

00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:58.299
 You know, today are you building your marriage

00:17:58.299 --> 00:18:00.699
 on obedience to God's word?

00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:04.039
 It needs to be prioritized in your relationship.

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:07.159
 Now as we look through this,

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.859
 notice what Jesus says in verse 25.

00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:10.379
 He says,

00:18:10.479 --> 00:18:12.439
 And the rain descended, and the floods came,

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:14.339
 and the winds blew and beat upon the house,

00:18:14.719 --> 00:18:18.199
 and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:20.699
 Solid marriages founded on the rock

00:18:20.699 --> 00:18:23.839
 are strengthened to withstand the storm.

00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:28.759
 They have in place the things to withstand the storm.

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.359
 You know, today we live in a generation

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:35.079
 that thinks as soon as marriage gets difficult,

00:18:35.219 --> 00:18:36.819
 it's time to trade off for a new model.

00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:39.139
 Like the new model is going to have something better

00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:39.979
 than the old model.

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.919
 You know, the problem is that when you get married,

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:44.179
 you soon find out the other person is just a human being,

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.479
 and all of us are the same, really.

00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:48.799
 Got our different uniquenesses and things,

00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:49.599
 but we're all sinners.

00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:51.479
 You're not going to find a perfect person.

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.720
 The person you marry,

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:55.740
 you might enter into it with rose-colored glasses,

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.779
 but you'll soon find out

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.339
 they're not as perfect as you think they were.

00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.240
 What are you going to do?

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.440
 How are you going to respond?

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.400
 What's going to happen?

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:06.099
 Jesus tells us that storms will arrive

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:08.380
 that test the strength of the structure,

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:12.200
 and the outcome is determined by the foundation.

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:17.440
 When you put into practice his precepts and his commands,

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:20.779
 it will endure the trial, the disagreements,

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:23.900
 the external pressures without coming apart.

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:26.059
 You know, today the problem is a lot of people say,

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:26.940
 well, there's a problem.

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:28.880
 We're just going to get rid of the problem.

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.920
 But if you don't deal with the problem

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:32.620
 according to God's words, you know what you do?

00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:33.960
 You just trade it for a different problem.

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:36.660
 We need marriages that are solidly built

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:39.019
 upon the truth of God's word.

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:42.119
 Now, one of the main reasons we often don't practice

00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:45.480
 is that we don't see it as beneficial for us.

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:50.079
 You know, oftentimes we say, well, what about me?

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:52.859
 It becomes a very me-focused thing,

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:55.839
 and we don't see how it's going to benefit me in the moment

00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:56.960
 when it makes me uncomfortable.

00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:59.440
 There's things that make you uncomfortable in life.

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.500
 There's going to be challenges that come.

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:06.019
 But notice here, it tells us that it fell not.

00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:07.180
 Why did it not fall?

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:09.259
 Because they were obedient to those things.

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:12.279
 We just read in James 1.25 where it says,

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.460
 but a doer of the work,

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:15.759
 this man shall be blessed in his deed.

00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.320
 Do you believe that God will bless you for obedience?

00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:21.600
 You know the test of that is whether you do it.

00:20:21.820 --> 00:20:23.759
 Look at Job 34 in verse 3.

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.019
 It tells us this,

00:20:25.560 --> 00:20:29.259
 for the ear trieth words as the mouth tasteth meat.

00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:32.600
 You know, we can hear it,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:34.080
 but do we consider it good?

00:20:34.080 --> 00:20:35.660
 Do we consider it beneficial?

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:39.600
 Do we consider it something that's going to make us prosperous?

00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:44.240
 Psalm 34 in verse 8 says this.

00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:44.620
 It says,

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:48.380
 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.240
 You know, how do you taste and see if the Lord is good?

00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:54.740
 By being obedient to see and then see what happens.

00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:55.560
 Notice it says,

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:58.279
 Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:00.579
 Obedience is critical.

00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:03.000
 I wanted to just talk a little bit here this morning, though.

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:06.079
 Just cover a few things of practical application.

00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:10.200
 You know, there's a book by Lawrence Crabb called The Marriage Builder.

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:16.819
 And he gives three essential building blocks from Scripture for a marriage.

00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:21.220
 And he says there's grace, there's commitment and acceptance.

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.119
 Grace.

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.379
 You know, I want you to understand.

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.119
 He says this.

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.419
 He says,

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:27.559
 We cannot have real commitment without first having grace.

00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:33.579
 It's impossible to accept our spouse as we need to accept them without first being committed to them.

00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:38.579
 Now, let's break that down a moment because grace is what's needed.

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:40.179
 When's grace needed?

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.259
 When there's failure.

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.339
 When there's a storm.

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:47.059
 When something didn't happen the way you thought it should have happened.

00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:50.319
 Or that you had it pictured in your mind.

00:21:50.699 --> 00:22:01.399
 Grace is needed when failure, disappointment, or tragedy begin to rob us of the confidence that God can heal your marriage and deepen our maturity in him.

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:06.259
 And there's no situation so desperate that God's grace isn't sufficient to walk through.

00:22:06.540 --> 00:22:08.600
 The problem is oftentimes people don't believe that.

00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:13.500
 You know, but consider what God told the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, 9.

00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:21.480
 Now, this isn't regarding to marriage, but I think this application of grace and God walking through applies to all the problems we have in life.

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:26.680
 If it applies to the ones outside a relationship, it definitely applies to the ones within.

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:56.660
 And he says this, and he said,

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.620
 Consider Job.

00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:00.860
 Job chapter 2, it tells us this,

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:03.000
 And then said his wife unto him,

00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:04.759
 Dost thou still retain thy integrity?

00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.340
 Curse God and die.

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.880
 Now, that's a marital encouragement.

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.759
 You know, you think about that in the context of marriage.

00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.779
 Here's Job's wife comes up to me and says,

00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:13.920
 Just curse God and die.

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:17.460
 She's basically saying, I'm done with you.

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.080
 Notice Job's response.

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.420
 He said,

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.400
 But he said unto her,

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:23.460
 Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.480
 What?

00:23:24.580 --> 00:23:26.779
 Shall we receive good at the hand of God,

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:29.779
 and shall we not receive evil?

00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.860
 You know what Job said?

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.800
 Storms are going to come.

00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:36.240
 Should we not trust God when things are going good as much as we should trust God when there's problems?

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:38.799
 Because notice Job's response in all this,

00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:41.500
 Did not Job sin with his lips?

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:44.339
 Now, that could be a whole message right there, problems with our tongue.

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:49.120
 Because when it comes to grace to others,

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.900
 you know our tongue gets in front of us

00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:54.019
 and gets us in trouble, doesn't it?

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:54.880
 Commitment.

00:23:55.559 --> 00:24:02.200
 Commitment is established when we know that our strength of hope is seen by persisting to work on our marriage,

00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:03.779
 even when we're tempted to quit.

00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:06.380
 You know, I guarantee you,

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:08.480
 there's nobody, whether they've been married a year,

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:11.059
 or they've been married 50 years.

00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:14.440
 If you talk to people who've been married 50 years,

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:16.980
 I guarantee you, you'll find they had problems along the way.

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.640
 You know why?

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.980
 Because there were two human beings.

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:20.920
 And there's going to be things you don't agree on.

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:23.160
 There's going to be decisions about the kids,

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.539
 and future, and jobs,

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:26.299
 and all sorts of things.

00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:29.400
 There's going to be things happen in life that you can't control.

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.259
 What do you do?

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.900
 How do you deal with all those things?

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:34.240
 Well, in order to deal with them, there has to be a commitment.

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:38.380
 Commitment is what God prescribes in our marriage, you know?

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:41.940
 But you can't have commitment if you don't understand you need to have some grace.

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:44.180
 Just as God had grace for you,

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:46.000
 you have to have grace for others.

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:48.779
 You know, commitment is what God has.

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.580
 He prescribes in our marriages,

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:55.140
 although we must not be committed as a duty or grudgingly compliance.

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.200
 You know?

00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:59.240
 That's an important point right there.

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:02.100
 Because as human beings, we can do our duty.

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:04.100
 You can do what you're supposed to do,

00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:06.600
 and you can do all the right things,

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:08.220
 and fulfill all the right commitments.

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.900
 But you know what the problem is?

00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.920
 You can do it with the wrong attitude.

00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:15.860
 A dutiful commitment without the right attitude is a problem.

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.559
 Because you know what?

00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:20.100
 You might be going through all the actions,

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.559
 but you know what the other person sees?

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.980
 Your attitude towards it.

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:25.600
 Am I doing this just because I have to?

00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:27.879
 Or am I doing this because I want to?

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:32.639
 Grace is the first building block that allows us to have a commitment of want to.

00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:37.759
 When we give grace to the other, we have ability to say,

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:42.660
 I need to do this because it's beneficial for me,

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.980
 it's beneficial for them,

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:47.500
 and it's obedience to God to have the right attitude.

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:50.460
 Because if it's obedience to God, it's for my benefit.

00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:52.980
 But oftentimes we look at what God tells us.

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.160
 Well, God, that's going to be hard.

00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:56.099
 That's going to cause issues in my life.

00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:58.000
 I don't feel good about that.

00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.500
 But obedience and blessing are tied together.

00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:02.400
 We practice it all the time.

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:06.980
 I mean, it's like when a kid disobeys, do you give them extra stuff?

00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:11.900
 You know, if somebody's disobeying and you give them promoting their misbehavior,

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.560
 what are you doing?

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.120
 It's not beneficial.

00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:18.200
 We don't do that.

00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:19.460
 And then we look at God and say,

00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:21.360
 I'm not being obedient, but bless me.

00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:23.960
 Commitment is what God prescribes.

00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:28.280
 Your attitude is dependent on how you see God's command.

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:31.180
 Do you think that they are grounded in your best interest?

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:34.120
 Do you think what God tells us how to live is in our best interest?

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:38.240
 It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be where the place of blessing is

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:40.320
 because God says this is what's going to be beneficial.

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:44.240
 You know, you'll have to live very long to realize

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:46.400
 often things that are beneficial are not easy.

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:49.560
 Things that are going to benefit you are not easy things.

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:53.180
 Do you think they're grounded in your best interest?

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:57.940
 Do you think that God is good and his instruction and precepts are for your benefit?

00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:59.500
 You know, the one thing you'll find,

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:03.140
 that when you think something is for your benefit, it's easier to do it.

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:05.559
 When you think there's something good attached to it,

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:07.160
 it's easier to accomplish it, isn't it?

00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:10.900
 Even if it's difficult because we say,

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:13.819
 hey, I know there's going to be an outcome here

00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:15.880
 that's going to be beneficial.

00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:19.019
 There's something attached to it.

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.980
 And this builds us into that next stage of acceptance.

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:26.639
 Because I want you to understand acceptance is not endurance.

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:30.980
 You know, praise God I put up with her for 50 years.

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.960
 We're not there yet.

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:36.200
 Thankfully, we still enjoy hanging out with one another.

00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:38.740
 Problem is we don't get to hang out enough sometimes.

00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:42.319
 You know, I want you to understand acceptance is not endurance.

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:47.559
 When there's grace extended, just as God extended his grace to you,

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:51.120
 and a commitment, because God says that's what we ought to do,

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:54.380
 we ought to understand and it builds to acceptance.

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:59.079
 But God requires an acceptance more than endurance.

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:02.339
 Romans 15, 7 says this,

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:06.639
 Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:10.720
 I want you to understand the principle here is this.

00:28:11.959 --> 00:28:14.439
 Would you want God to say, well, I put up with him?

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.459
 Think about that for a moment.

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:17.919
 If God looked at you and said, I've just been putting up with you.

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:20.419
 The great thing is God doesn't put up with us.

00:28:21.959 --> 00:28:23.119
 God loves us.

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:27.740
 The Bible says we're accepted in the beloved.

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.599
 There's a true acceptance.

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.000
 And you know what?

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:35.240
 God knows everything about your heart and he still accepts you.

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.180
 Your thoughts.

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:38.440
 Everything about you, God understands.

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.980
 And he accepts you.

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.240
 Why?

00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:41.420
 Because of his grace.

00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:45.319
 And he says that whosoever shall call upon him shall be saved.

00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:47.119
 That's a commitment that God makes.

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:49.319
 And he says we're accepted in the beloved.

00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:53.079
 Because remember, marriage is a picture of our relationship

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:56.839
 between believers and Christ.

00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.059
 It gives us a picture.

00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:00.240
 It reveals those things.

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:03.900
 God didn't just put up with us.

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:05.279
 He gave himself for us.

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:08.160
 He acted with you and I in view.

00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.759
 Look over to Ephesians 4.

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:13.299
 Ephesians 4 and verse 32 says this,

00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:23.279
 Now there's a biblical principle that's real easy some days, right?

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.919
 Especially in relationships.

00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.000
 Is that always easy?

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:28.000
 It's not easy, but it's commanded.

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:32.379
 And forgiveness is an important dynamic of any relationship.

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:39.720
 If you cannot forgive one another because the reality is that living with an imperfect partner

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:44.340
 makes the task of accepting one another sometimes a severe test.

00:29:44.760 --> 00:29:50.580
 Yet as Christian marriages require a thorough, sincere, and substantial felt acceptance of the

00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:54.840
 other, no matter what disagreeable habits make the task difficult.

00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:56.140
 There's going to be difficulties.

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:59.680
 When two people come together, there's going to be tension.

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:01.020
 There's going to be some problems.

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 But the problem is, not that there's a problem.

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 The problem is, what is your relationship built upon?

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 Because remember, the storms are going to come.

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 The problems are going to come.

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 The question is, what foundation have you laid to withstand them?

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 Not just to endure them.

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 Because I want you to understand that acceptance does not mean we agree with everything that

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 they do.

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 You know, that's the important thing, that you're not going to agree with every detail of what

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 somebody else does.

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 If that's the only time you'll accept somebody, you're going to be pretty lonely.

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 I want you to understand, it doesn't mean that you agree with everything, but it does require

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 a willingness to be vulnerable, even to be rejected sometimes.

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 In other words, there's a connection there that makes you vulnerable.

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 That's true acceptance.

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 Much more could be spoke about here, but, you know, for biblical forgiveness in the context

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 of grace and commitment and acceptance.

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 But we don't have time this morning to cover all that, but I want to put forth that thought.

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 Those are essential building blocks upon the foundation of the Word of God.

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 Because you know what happens when marriages reflect what God wanted them to reflect?

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 You know what it does?

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 It's a testimony to the world.

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 A marriage that stays together upon the principles of God's Word is a testimony to a lost world.

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 It's a testimony to those around us.

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 You know, Matthew chapter 7, look at verse 26.

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 And for everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened

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 unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand.

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 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house,

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 and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

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 You know, today marriages are built upon either a solid foundation or a sandy foundation.

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 And the testimony of a solid foundation speaks loudly.

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 It's a testimony because they see what God has shown to us put into action.

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 God's love for us is seen through a good marriage.

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 A solid marriage built upon the truth of God's Word.

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 Because when marriages continue through trough and trying times,

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 it stands as a testimony to the truth of God's Word.

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 The foundation is revealed not when things are good.

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 The foundation is revealed when things are hard, when things are difficult.

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 Because the foundation is revealed through the storms of life.

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 It will either be devastating, great was the fall of it,

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 or it will offer hope and encouragement to others around about them.

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 Because we see here that it was founded upon the rock.

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 Notice in verse 25,

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 It fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

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 It was founded upon a rock, the rock of the truth of God's Word.

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 When a marriage reflects Christ's love and faithfulness, it brings glory to God.

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 You know, this morning, you can either build your life upon the solid rock of Christ and His Word,

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 or the shifting sands of emotion and selfishness.

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 A life built upon the true rock begins when you trust Him as your Savior,

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 and begin a new life with Him.

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 You know, if you know Christ as your Savior, I'll ask you today,

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 are you putting into place the things that are going to build a solid foundation?

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 You know, we're talking specifically about marriage this morning,

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 but you know, the principle in this passage deals to everything in life.

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 It deals with you as a person.

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 Am I building, am I putting together the things that are going to build upon a solid foundation in obedience to God's Word,

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 or am I building upon falsehoods that the foolishness of this world promotes?

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 That's the reality that we need to deal with.

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 Is He the foundation of your relationships?

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 Are you trusting Him by obeying the truth of His Word?

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 And really, it boils down to this, are you just a hearer?

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 Are you going to be a doer?

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 Because after salvation, we have a choice to make.

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 Are we going to apply the truth of God's Word in our lives?

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 As heads are bowed and eyes are closed this morning, what about you today?

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 Maybe the Lord spoke to you.

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 Maybe you're unsure about where you stand with God.

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 Maybe you're not sure about when we talk about being saved,

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 talk about salvation, talk about being redeemed,

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 that your sins might be forgiven, that you might understand truly the grace of God.

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 If you don't understand that today, I trust that you'll seek the Lord today.

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 You can come and talk to somebody.

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 We can show you from God's Word what God has to say about it.

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 But maybe you're here today, and God's spoken to you about some things in your relationship,

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 whatever the need might be.

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 What about you today?

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 Heavenly Fathers, we come before you today, Lord.

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 We just thank you and praise you for your Word, Lord, as we look at the reality of obedience.

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 Lord, not just to be a hearer, but a doer.

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 Lord, it applies to each and every one in areas of our life, Lord, of decision that we make.

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 Lord, I pray your Spirit work upon hearts and lives here today in a mighty way.

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 Lord, we might not depart here the same way that we walked in,

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 Lord, that we'd be changed according to your Word.

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 Lord, as we have an opportunity to respond today, Lord, you might just work mightily in hearts here today.

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 And we ask it all in your precious name.

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 As the piano plays, what about you today?

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 What about you today?

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