November 17, 2008

 A Kingdom Marriage Part 2 — The Foundation!

In part one we talked about a kingdom marriage being one that God put together. It is not one where we choose what we want and then ask Him to bless our choice. In a kingdom marriage we seek His will and then we pursue it because we know that what He chooses for us is what is best for us.

I remember hearing Sinbad being interviewed on TBN. He said that if we knew what was behind door number 1 (what God had for us), we would have chosen it in the first place. Just a reminder to all of us, it may not look like we think it should at first but often when it is what God has for us you actually have to trust God, walk in blind and taste it, you know experience it.

In this part 2 of our articles on a kingdom marriage we want to focus on a kingdom foundation. Matthew 7:24-27 says, 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

A marriage that is built on the rock of Jesus Christ is one that will stand. It is built on obedience to God even from the choice to marry. Because the foundation is the rock it will stand through the storms that hit and bump against it. A kingdom marriage can stand through financial difficulty, because Christ is at the center and all of the hope for the marriage lies in Him. A kingdom marriage can stand through infidelity, because again the hope is in Christ and everything comes back to Him.

Because God put it together the basis and the foundation is not the same as something we choose to put together ourselves. The bond is stronger and the relationship is held together with Holy Ghost glue.

Yes, there will be temptations, struggles and tough times. Yes, there may be a desire to give up, but the Holy Ghost glue will hold you together. It will seem crazy to others and almost unexplainable to you, because the way God works is so awesome that we cannot always put our thoughts or feelings into words. Something unexplainable just keeps holding you in place and drawing you together. Something unexplainable causes you to forgive and work through issues that destroy other relationships. When you get tired, God gives you that extra strength you need to press on and hold on a little longer, the ability to keep standing. You look in your partners face and you want to quit, you want to stay angry, but the Holy Spirit that lives inside you will just not allow it.

Your love, God’s love in you for him/or her is stronger than your anger.

The basis of this type of relationship is not sexual or emotional because your desire for a sexual relationship with that person can change and your emotions will die if you get hurt too much for too long. This relationship is based a spiritual connection, where God is the center. The basis of this relationship is agape love, friendship, growing together in the same direction, not being alike, but being connected and caring more for the need of the other than you care for your own need, because you know that they are tied together.

What is God’s purpose for your marriage? What are the key ingredients needed to ensure that you have what it takes for the long haul?

In a kingdom marriage the answer to your problems is not found in the bedroom, but in the prayer room. The relationship in the bedroom is frosting on an already mixed and baked cake. You desire that part of the relationship, because let’s face it, it is nice, but if for some reason you could not have it, you would not throw the entire cake/relationship away. The key ingredients in a kingdom marriage are:

• The Holy Spirit
• Communication
• Agape Love
• Friendship
• Sharing
• Respect
• Understanding
• Purpose

When the ingredients are in place, with just the right amounts of each added in, mixed together, then baked for just the right amount of time, you know you have something of value. This relationship is good on the eye, good to the touch and good when tasted.

Check out your relationship to determine if your marriage has kingdom potential. Is it to heavy on frosting and not enough of the other ingredients are communication, friendship and love in short supply? If The Holy Spirit is in control of the partners and God did the choosing you can remix the ingredients and get just the right consistency. Taste it and see what’s missing then seek your heavenly father to remix it until it is the marriage He ordained for it to be.

The foundation of a Kingdom Marriage is Jesus Christ, the solid rock. You cannot afford to build without Him.

 Weekly Scripture:

Matthew 7:24-27:

 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

New Beginnings 2008 Workout Focus
10,000/steps per day or 70,000/steps per week Walking Program*

This is the fitness opportunity that New Beginnings is promoting for 2008. It is simple and easy and almost everyone can participate at whatever level of fitness they are at. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothing, a pedometer, and you're all set.
For further discussion contact contactus@mynewtemple.org or write to us on the message board http://mynewtemple.org/aMessages.html or the Fitness Blog http://mynewtemple.org/wordpress/.