Jesus gave His life for us as a demonstration of the Father's love and goodness towards sinful mankind.  He proved His love, not only in words, but with action. "This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." His desire is that we would imitate His good actions by, not only receiving His extraordinary, sacrificial gift, but also, doing the same.   "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are My friends if you do what I command" (John 15:13-14). Everything in our flesh wars for self-preservation, while the Spirit calls us to self-sacrifice.  We are called by Christ to share in His suffering, and as His friends we should desire to please Him.  God calls us to lay down our life for our friends [note that the Greek word "friend" describes one who is part of an "inner circle" around a king].  Jesus demonstrated for us the type of conduct required of His friends and followers.  "[He] gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14).  As Christians, we are followers of Jesus Christ, and we should be prepared to follow Him to the death - the death of ourselves!  And our love toward our brothers should be the same as Christ: personal, sacrificial, and obedient.  True love is active love. We should desire what is good, not only for ourselves, but also for our friends. "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed" (1 Peter 3:13-14a).    

It is easy to love those who love us, but it can be deeply painful to walk the path of obedience when we are called to demonstrate Christ's love and forgiveness with those who have hurt or betrayed us.  Today, the church is under a powerful, strategic, and demonic attack aimed at destroying one of God's most sacred institutions: Marriage.  The one thing God declared not good in His creation was that man should not be alone, therefore He created marriage.  "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him...And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man...Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:18, 21-22, 24). The marriage bond between a man and a woman is a beautiful illustration of God's sacred bond between Himself and His Bride, the Church.  It has become the main topic of much heated debate in recent years; and many in our nation believe the issue has been settled by a recent court decision.   However the issue on marriage was already settled at the beginning of Creation by God - and it cannot be changed (read Genesis chapter 2)! "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of creation, God 'made them male and female.'  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Mark 10:5-9).  While what has been happening outside of the walls of the church, in our courtrooms and communities, has been wreaking havoc on this holy institution, there is an even more sinister and evil seduction going on within the walls of the church that needs to be addressed.   

It is time for the church to awaken from her slumber and join our faithful Mediator in unceasing prayer before the throne of grace, so we can be strengthened to take a stand and wage war against the real enemy; "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).  The covenant bond of marriage is a sacred bond that must not be taken lightly by the children of God.  We will not have victory outside the walls of the church until we gain victory over the flesh in the lives of the people of God.  This afternoon let us repent and ask God to awaken His Bride to righteousness and holy living, and to live set apart and separated from this evil world, and return to her First Love with wholehearted devotion and zeal. Let us pray fervently for healing and strengthening for Christian marriages so that the entire Body of Christ can be made healthy, whole, and strong; and become holy representatives of the Lord. "...who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (1 Peter 2:23-25). 

May Christian husbands and wives commit to living for Christ and not this world (and that includes not conforming to the patterns of the world or responding as the world does); and be willing to lay down their lives for one another; even to the point of suffering pain, humiliation and anguish to stand in the gap for the weaker vessel when the enemy attacks them (as Christians, we are all being sanctified in Christ; and while we may be at different points along the path, we are heading in the same direction, and we need to encourage and exhort one another along the way; this includes being willing to hold each other up if one should go astray or lose their way - no matter how difficult that may be.  This calls for deep reliance and trust in God, and perseverance in prayer!).  May husbands and wives have spiritual eyes to see the bigger kingdom picture when they are faced with personal, financial, health, family and other issues; recognizing that the enemy wants to hurt God by attacking His heart in the destruction of marriage and the family!  May Christian married couples remember their vows and the sacred and holy covenant they signed and sealed in the presence and witness of Holy God (reference Malachi 3:14); and may they realize who the real enemy is, and remain united together and take a bold stand against the enemy of God who wants to rob them of their legacy and their children's future inheritance of faith in God.   

We all have many friends and family members who are suffering in the midst of broken and hurting marriages.  Let us pray fervently for them to remain steadfast and strong in their faith in God, and encourage them to humble themselves before God, and to seek the Lord in His Word and prayer, and to not rely on their flesh and emotions, but to trust in God to bring healing to their home.  Let us pray for those prodigals who have walked away from God's blessing for their home to remember the riches of the kingdom of God which awaits them and their families, and for the "standers" who are faithfully praying for their prodigal husband or wife to return home to be filled with God's peace and joy as they wait on God.  Pray for husbands and wives to arm themselves with God's truth and to stand on God's promises; ask the Holy Spirit to equip them and empower them to persevere through the pain and suffering as they wait for God's perfect timing and healing. Ask the Father to provide godly friends and counselors to come alongside these hurting couples and children and offer them encouragement and truth, and a shoulder to cry on; and be willing to be obedient if the Lord lays it on your heart to be the one who ministers to them.  Let us pray for godly men who will be strong spiritual leaders in their homes.  May Christian men be willing to rise up early and take their positions in prayer on the walls of their home; to protect their home from the enemy who is gaining entrance and wreaking havoc because too many have been enticed away by fleshly and worldly desires.  Pray fervently for the men, women and children who have been wounded by separation and divorce to know the heavenly Father's great love for them, and to experience His goodness and faithfulness in the midst of their pain, as the Lord tenderly and compassionately heals their wounds and mends their broken hearts.  Pray that God will have His way in the heart's of all His people; that love will win the battle; and that marriages will be healed, and many will come to salvation.  There is no greater demonstration of our love for God than the time we commit to laying down our lives in prayer!  May we, as believers, see the importance of nurturing our love relationship with the Lord and making the preparation of the Bride our greatest priority, as we remain watchful and prayerful for our beloved Bridegrooms' return!

 

"Now may the God of peace
who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you complete in every good work to do His will,
working in you what is well pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory
forever and ever. Amen."
(Hebrews 13:20-21)