We’ve been studying our way through one corinthians, and so we’re going to continue in chapter number seven, and it has to do with God’s ideal conditions for marriage. And so those that might be considering marriage be good to tune in on and listen in on and then how God handles other relationships within marriage and different things of turning marriage. What God is doing through these early chapters is he’s dealing with certain conditions that were in the church at Corinth that were needing addressed before they could move forward, because he was going to get he’s going to get to spiritual things through Paul. Paul is going to get to spiritual things, but God is telling him to write these things, to answer certain conditions that are there. And now he’s answering questions that they had written to Him about and they applied to us today, no doubt. And so we’re going to look at that. But we got to deal with some of these practical things before we can get into the spiritual things. A little later on in the Book of I Corinthians, how many would agree that the Bible is our final authority for everything we do and say and believe? I would agree with that. And if we come across anything in the Bible that contradicts popular opinion, we go with the Bible, right? If we come across anything that contradicts preconceived notions, we still go with the Bible. And so that’s what we’re going to do tonight. We’re just going to read the Bible and study these verses and see what the Bible has to say. And it does not deal with marriage relationships in its entirety. In Ephesians. It deals with the order of the Home and Colossians. It does as well, but it answers certain specific questions regarding Christians and marriage. And again, God is dealing with some carnal things, some practical things, side of things, before he gets into spiritual matters. Our primary consideration as Christians is always to put the Lord first. Would you agree with that? He should have the preminance and everything that we do and say. And I tell you, if we were to live our lives always, constantly, by that guiding rule, we probably wouldn’t have need of some of these chapters dealing with certain things. But I don’t know about you, but I get out of the way quite often, quite easily out of the way that God wants me to be in. So I need practical instruction. It’s about like your mom when you were little, telling you not to touch the stove because it’s hot. If you were guided by an overriding principle of not staying out of the kitchen, you wouldn’t have to worry about touching the pot or touching the stove, but you got to be told certain specific things, what not to do, right? Anyone else like that? Okay. Got to be told specific by there, you got it all downpad, don’t you? All right, let’s pray and then we’ll get into it. Now, the devil loves to attack a family. You agree with that too? And he’s obscured the meaning of what a family is. And so we’re looking at that too, as well. Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, we love you. And Lord, we come to you this evening asking for your help. And Wendy’s. Very practical considerations. Practical matters. Those that would be considering marriage, help him to understand what your requirements are. And those that are married, help us to understand what your requirements responsibilities are. And the Lord, I pray if there are any questions that they’d be answered from Your Word tonight and lead us through this. Help us to see Jesus and to live for Him in this life so that others may see Jesus as well. In Jesus name, amen. We’re going to touch on some sensitive things. But the theme of this chapter, believe it or not, is reconciliation. And if God is concerned put this out upfront. We’ll address it again later, Lord willing. But if God is concerned with reconciliation in the physical relationship between husband and wife, if at all possible, then how much more is God concerned with being reconciled spiritually? What I mean by that is, if anybody, anywhere is falling away from God god is interested in getting you back to Him. Even in this chapter. If there’s things that touch close to home in any of our past or whatever the case may be, god’s still interested in reconciliation. I’m thankful for that. I’m glad God’s the God of second, 3rd, 4th chances and so on. Long suffering upward. All right, chapter seven, verse number one. Now, concerning the things wherever you wrote unto me, he’s answering questions. Certain specific questions regarding marriage are being addressed. It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication. Let every man have his own wife. Let every woman have her own husband. A cross reference here might be, and we’ll be careful, but Proverbs 627 can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? We might use a modern expression today play with fire and you’re going to get burned. There are certain situations we don’t want to put ourselves in. So we don’t allow the flesh to be tempted because all of us are just human beings with corruptible flesh. And so best to avoid certain situations. You understand what I’m saying? We’ll leave it there. Okay? The Bible states clearly that a family unit consists of a husband and a wife that’s male and female. And it may or may not have children. God doesn’t bless every home with children. It’s not meant for everybody. But the children are best raised by a husband and wife. They are serving the Lord together. Marriage is a beautiful thing that’s ordained by God. It was ordained by God in the beginning with Adam and Eve. As a matter of fact, it was the very first organization unit that God established was the family unit before government, before the church even. It was the family unit. And so he hallows it and bless it. Two lives in fellowship, one with another in communion in a loving relationship that’s honoring to the Lord. Anything outside those bounds is not honoring to the Lord, but verse number two. Verse number three let the husband render unto the wife do benevolence. And likewise also the wife unto the husband. How many of your husbands know that your wife have special needs? Better raise your hand if your wife sitting beside you. Right? Your wife has special needs. Not just maybe emotionally, maybe mentally, physically has special needs. But how many of you wives would say your husbands have special needs, too? Right? All of us, right? We all have special needs. And there are responsibilities. There are certain considerations we need to be careful of before we enter into marriage. And I know some of you are saying, richard, brother, why in the world I’m not even considering marriage at this point. Well, this might help some other person. It might help somebody else. But also it might help you, if you are in a marriage relationship, to stay in that marriage relationship as well. Give you some practical advice, too. I remember where I was going with this due benevolence. The whole idea of a marriage relationship is for the husband to care for the needs of the wife and for the wife to care for the needs of the husband. Ideal setting. Now, you and I are human beings, flesh and bones. And we have selfish desires, selfish wills. And if we’re deciding where to eat on our anniversary, little Caesars falls down at the bottom of the list. But if your wife wants Little Caesars and you’ve made it through the whole week without Little Caesars pizza then you’re willing to give a little bit to satisfy the needs. Hypothetical situation, but to satisfy the needs of your wife. I used to love pizza until I married Rachel. And then we have it so much, it’s just kind of getting stale. But for the needs of her, I guess, go along with it. But anyway, really it is. And when I run into conflict and when I run into trouble is usually when I’m concerned more about me than I am about her. And I think we would all agree with that. So that’s the relation between husband and wife. And I know there’s other things involved, but verse number five says defraud you, not one the other, except to be with consent for a time that you may give yourselves a fasting and prayer and come together again. That Satan tempts you not for your incontinency. For as husband and wife, there is a physical connection as well. And there’s a time when you set that aside when you’re praying and fasting unto the Lord. There’s a time that God said I want you to set that aside, but there’s a time when you come back together again. He said, I speak with my permission and not a commandment. Let’s just stop here and address this. I don’t believe, and I don’t believe the Bible teaches this, that Paul is saying I’m not inspired here in this writing. Believe what he’s saying is there’s no direct command from the Lord while he was on earth. But I’m still being inspired by God to write these words. So I’m going to give you what God is telling me now. He said, and I speak this by permission, not a commandment. For I would that all men were even as my myself, that every man had this proper gift of God, one after this man or another after that. What’s he even talking about? Well, you remember when Jesus said unto the disciples that there be some that were eunuchs from birth, some are made eunuchs by men, and then some decide to stay that way for the kingdom’s sake. For the kingdom’s sake, I believe is the wording of it. What he is saying, saying it’s not a sin to be married. There are certain conditions that need to be met. It’s not a sin to remain unmarried either. There are certain conditions that need to be met. So let’s not go to one extreme or the other and say that everybody has to be married. He said, it’s not a sin to be married as long as not being married leads you into sin. That makes sense. So he’s saying, I would that all men were, even as I myself. And why does he say that? We’re going to see later. In fact, let’s go and look at it now. Jump over to verse number 32. But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. My wife is very easy to get along with. She’s very easily pleased and I thank the Lord for that. There are some who it takes a lot of money to please their wives and I’m thankful that my wife is not like that. She’s very easy to be pleased, but still yet in order to have a healthy and happy relationship, I’ve got to make sure that her needs are taken care of. I’ve got to make sure that she has clothes, that she has food, that she has the things that she needs. She is caring for me as well. And same with the boys back there looking at me with their eyeballs. And what God is saying is, if I’ve got those things on my mind, I’ve got to be worried about a career, got to make sure that I can work in order to provide for those needs. I’m worried about other things in this life and I’m not wholly given to the Lord. Let’s just keep reading verse number 34. There’s a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. She doesn’t have a husband in her life that she has to worry and care for. She’s given herself to the Lord completely, but she that is married cared for the things of the world. How she may please her husband. Not that the Lord, or not that the husband is more important than the Lord, but sometimes it’s a balancing act. And this I speak for your own prophet. Not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that you may be attend upon the Lord without distraction. Here’s the reason why I say that, saying if you’re unmarried, don’t rush into marriage. You pray about it. Consider is this God’s will for my life? And maybe it is. There are certain other conditions and parameters we’ll look at, but the main consideration is will I serve the Lord better in this capacity of being married, or will I serve the Lord better? Would it be better for me to remain unmarried? And let’s go back to verse number eight. I say therefore, to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I, but if they cannot contain, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn than the burn with passion, he’s saying. He said so. In other words, it’s okay for people to remain single, and it’s okay for people to be married. It’s not a sin either direction necessarily, but there are certain considerations we’ve got to look into. The married I command yet not I, but the Lord. Now he’s switching gears. He said there’s a direct command from the Lord let not the wife depart from her husband. But if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife. So you got it both ways. Let not the wife depart, and don’t let the husband put the wife away. And I know there’s thousands of circumstances that come up, but what about this? What about this? These are the guiding principles by which we live, and these are the standards that we set. We line everything up to the word of God. If something’s not clear cut, we pray. Say, Lord, what about this situation? And how closely does it resemble the word of God that’s spoken? So what’s he saying here? He’s saying, well, if someone is married, don’t seek to get unmarried. That’s pretty good common sense, right? But look what he says in the middle of verse number eleven. But if she departs later, remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. See, the overriding theme in this verse and in future verses is if someone the parts want to do our best to leave that option open for reconciliation. Now, that’s not possible in every situation, I understand that and God knows that. But if it’s possible, he said, I want you to leave that option open because I want the intent is for two to dwell together for the lifetime. And if he cares that much about physical reconciliation, how much more does he care about us being reconciled to him? You see what I mean? You see what I’m saying? Verse twelve but to the rest speak I not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not and she’d be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath and husband that believeth not and if he’d be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. A question no doubt had come up. So we got married, we were unsafe and we got married. And now the husband has trusted Jesus Christ as savior, the wife remains unconverted, or vice versa. The wife has trusted the Lord is her Savior and the husband remains unconverted. Now, I know the Bible teaches we need to be separated from the world and the Israelites put out the wives of different generations of different nationalities by God’s commandment. Do we need to do the same as Christians? And God is using Paul to tell them. He says, no, that’s not what God’s after. God wants you to remain married. Look at verse 14 here’s the reason for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband doesn’t mean that they’re automatically saved. Here’s what it means elsewhere your children are unclean, but now are they holy? We’ll look at verse 15 a minute. Look at think about verse 14. He’s saying there is a special privilege of children growing up and of the unsafe spouse, of being in the home of a Christian spouse, that spouse will pray for them, will love them, do the best they can to win them and that is the best case for that unsafe person to be saved. Not every situation lends itself to that and you say that’s the best case. So you’ve got a special privilege here, especially with the children. And you’ve seen I don’t have to tell you this, but when homes split, the people that are affected the most are the children. It’s not the husband and wife. They’re doing what’s usually a lot in many cases they’re doing what’s easy, not necessarily what’s best, not in all cases, I know that. But the people that are affected the most are the children. And most of the time the children will follow after the footsteps of the one that you don’t want them following after the person that’s in the world the most thing. But if you can keep that unit together, if at all possible, keep that unit together as much as life and you live peaceably with all men. And I believe it applies to this verse too, because there’s a special privilege of having a godly mother, a Godly father right there, that can train and teach and show by example the love of Christ in that relationship. That makes sense. Okay. Verse 15 but if the unbelieving the part, let’s say two get married unsaid, one gets saved and one gets saved, the other one that isn’t saved says, I can’t handle this, I’m leaving. The Bible says, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases. Such cases. But God has called us to peace. For what knowest thou, old wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, old man, whether thou shalt save thou wife? He’s saying the main consideration here, so let’s not forget that everybody has a soul. Everybody is going to live somewhere eternally, either in heaven or in hell. He said, this might be the only way that you can have that person saved, that your child saved, or that unbelieving spouse saved. But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called everyone to let him walk, and so are they and I in all churches, he said verse 1615 he said, if they’re going to the park, they are believing in the park, then let them go. You’re not under bondage in such cases, he said. You’re no obligation, you did all you can do. They’re going to leave. Let them go in peace. Verse 18 here’s the overriding principle, overruling principle of life, a guiding principle. As the Lord have called everyone, so let him walk. We’ll look at verse 1720 and 24 together walk with the Lord, abide in the same calling, and abide with God. Verse 17 but as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called everyone, so let him walk. And so are Danai. In all churches, is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called him uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God. He’s saying it’s not the outward appearance, it’s not the outward form. So that if a person gets saved while they’re a Jew, they don’t have to throw off their celebrations of the feast, of the Jewish feast. They can still serve God and worship in the feast that God has ordained. Obviously they can’t do sacrifices. And Paul never did anything to sacrifices, because sacrifices are done away with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He said, but you don’t have to stop being a Jew just because you became a Christian. You don’t have to become a Jew if you’re a Gentile and you become a Christian. He’s saying the same thing. Let’s look further. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called art thou called being a servant? Care not for it, but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather for he that is called in the Lord being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman. Likewise. Also, he that is called being free is Christ’s servant. He’s saying there’s a case of circumcision. Paul practiced Jewish customs, but doesn’t lay that burden upon any convert, whether Jew or Gentile. He observes some of the feast. God’s not calling us to either circumcision or uncircumcision, not in the outward forms of the flesh, but rather to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then there’s a case of being a servant or a case of slavery. I forget who wrote this down, but one of the commentators I was reading after said this, and I wrote it down and said, christianity does not make all its converts captains of industry. Some must still stay laborers. Just because you get saved and you’re on equal footing, you have a brother or sister in Christ, you’re equal footing at the cross does not mean that you are suddenly the boss of everybody. You understand what I’m saying? Employer employee relationship. Because you’re saved and your employer is unsafe doesn’t mean that you’re superior to your employer who’s unsaved. If you were saved as an employee, you are still an employee. You’re still servant to that employer. Okay? You are bought with the price. Be not ye the servants of men, brethren, let every man wherein he is called therein abide with God. Now, think about this. When the apostle John was sent to the Isle of exiled to the Isle of Patmos, he was exiled for his faith, right? He would be considered a prisoner. He was saved, no doubt. But where did God meet with him? Was on the Isle of palace. Right? He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and he saw all that God revealed to him, and he upended down the Book of Revelation. What a blessing that was. What about John Bunyan? How many of you ever read Pilgrim’s Progress? Progress? I know it’s an older book, but it’s a good one. But he wrote that while he was in prison. He was in prison because he was preaching against the decrees of the Church of England, I think it was, or the Anglican Church, that might be one of the same. But he was in prison, and God used that time. He didn’t set him free because he was saved, but he used that time, him being in prison, to do a work for the Lord. So what God is saying is that your outward circumstances may not change, at least not even right away. What about Joseph? How often was he in a pit, in trouble? He was in prison and not to his doing, but God was using him. So your circumstances may not change, at least not right away, but God can still use you where you are, so don’t rush to move, especially without consulting God first. All right. Now he’s changing gears again a little bit. He says now concerning virgins. I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my judgment. He still I believe wholeheartedly that this is still inspired Scripture. He’s not saying I’m giving my opinion. He’s saying that it’s not from God. He’s saying there’s no direct commandment of the Lord while he was here on earth. Yet I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose, therefore, that this is good for the present distress. I say that it is good for man so to be. Now, what present distress as he’s talking about? There were persecutions here in Corinth. There was increasing darkness. There was a fear that many would fall away. There were definite attacks from the devil. And I believe God was telling Paul to write this that he would spare some young women from facing some of these persecutions. Now, I think that applies today as well. That’s why I say this it’s not a sin to remain unmarried. It’s not a sin to be married. But there’s certain considerations we’ve got to address when that time comes. Verse 27. Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. So husbands don’t seek to be loosed from the bond of your wife. Okay. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. Are you loose? Don’t seek a wife. But if thou married, thou hast not sinned. Do you see that? And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh. But I spare you blue. Verse 29, through a few more verses for this I say, brethren, the time is short. Saying life is short. I don’t have to tell you that many of you brother Eddie, was sister Wendy passing away just over a year ago now. Probably seems like yesterday. I know with me and Rachel. It seemed like yesterday. We were on our honeymoon. About ten years later we got more aches and pains and all kinds of things. But life is short. He’s saying, I want you to think about young people, those that are here. Think about the future before you get married. Don’t just marry anybody. It is sometimes better to remain unmarried than to be married and regret the one you married. Makes sense. Okay, the time is short. It remains that both they that have wives be as though they had not. Now, it’s not a sin to be married. Paul’s not forbidden to be married. I’m hoping I’m making that clear. In one Timothy, he gives description of a bishop and elders and that they’ve got to be the husband of one wife. And he’s not forbidden to marry. He said in Hebrews, I forget what chapter, but marriage is honorable. Marriage is good. Saying, just be careful, be considerate. Think about this. Is this what God wants for me? And they that weep as though they wept not. And they that rejoice as though they rejoice not. And they that buy as though they possess not. And they that use this world as not abusing it for the passion of this world passeth away. But I would have you without. Carefulness. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord how ye may please the Lord that he that is married cares for the things that of the world, how you may please his wife. There’s a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, but that she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own prophet. Not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is coming that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction. So here’s some things to consider before marriage. Okay? Will I be better able to minister into the Lord with a spouse or without a spouse? Will I be serving the Lord together? Will there be a hindrance there? May I add this? And honestly, I don’t know your personal life and don’t tell me your personal life. OK, anybody? But I would suggest this, strongly recommend this as your pastor. If there’s anyone here that is unmarried, probably our young people in the back, then I would not even recommend dating or courting anyone that you don’t seriously consider marrying. And there are many reasons for that. But honestly, we’re going to leave it there. But if you take your advice, it’d save you a lot of take the advice from your pastor, save a lot of heartache. If that person is not good enough to marry, they’re not good enough to date. Why even go down that road? All right, so still good? All right, I don’t see anything flying at me yet, so let me know. I’ll start ducking. Saint Corinthians six, verse 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers? For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? What concord hath Christ with belle? Or what part hath he that bleedth with an infidel? And what agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are the temple to live in God, the God that said, I will dwell on them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Brother Frank mentioned this in Sunday school. This verse. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. First requirement for considering a life’s mate would be are they safe? Are they Christian? Same consideration. Are they trying to serve the Lord with their life? Not are they pretty on the outside or are they hunky on the outside? I don’t know what the terminology is now I’m old, I’ve been married, I don’t know, someone fill me in later. But what’s the inner man like? Are they willing. To serve the Lord. It’s a lifetime commitment. It’s a lifetime bond in the right way till death do us part. Marriage is not a right thing. It’s a solemn and serious thing and should be entered two, with only the full knowledge of its responsibilities as well as its privileges. And I’m glad our young people are not even considering that right now. That’s a blessing not for another 20 years, but followed away. Okay. Also the needs of the other individual, those that are married. The needs of the other individual should come first, and I will give my wife permission to remind me of that later. Okay? Neither the other individual should come first. And that’s the way for a happy marriage. If I’m putting her first, Lord’s first and foremost, he should be the head of the home. What’s that? Versus Scripture and Psalms that said except the Lord built the house, they labor in vain. That build it. The Lord comes first. But then if I’m putting her needs above my own, she’s putting my needs above her own. That’s a good formula for a happy marriage. It doesn’t always happen. She might fulfill a hurry in, but I’m selfish. I just got to be honest with you. I’m selfish. When it comes time for college football, it’s college football time. It’s not talk time, it’s college football time. But she’s very understanding, patient, enduring long suffering. She’s so spiritual. The needs of the other individual, the cares of life and pleasing the other individual. So solemn prerequisites. A believer should not marry an unbeliever. Okay? So young people can consider that same desire to serve the Lord and evidence of Christian testimony we’ve talked about this Christian standard of marriage is one man and one woman, male and female. There’s no argument there. That’s just Bible, mutual understanding and respect. And let me just give our young lady some advice and our young man advice to here, but it’s good advice passed down to me. I don’t know how we got off on this, but you’re welcome. If the boy that you’re interested in is not treating his mother very well or respectfully, he’s not going to treat you very well respectfully either. And if he doesn’t have enough gumption to ask for your father or your grandfather or somebody’s permission to talk with you, then I wouldn’t even give the time of day to him. So it’s all about respect and understanding because it’s just downhill from there because you’re trying to win the other person. So they’re giving you the best they got. If that’s the best they got, there’s not much else. It’s all fluff. So that’s free. You’re welcome on that. I love you guys. I’m trying to save you all some heartache. And there’s some things I wish I would have done differently in those days, but I’m sure many of us feel the same way. All right, let’s keep going. Verse number 36. If any man thinks that he behaveth himself uncombly toward his virgin. This is talking about a father giving away his daughter in marriage, giving her hand in marriage. We do things a little bit differently. Now, as far as I know, we don’t have arranged marriages. Brother Eddie Goddard tried, but it didn’t work. But as far as inside, as far as I know, there’s no arranged marriages today. But then they would have arranged marriages. He said, if a father thinks he behaves himself uncombly toward his version, if she passes fire for age and needs so required, let him do what he will. He sinus not let them marry. Nevertheless, he that stands a steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin doth well. So then he that giveth her in marriage doth well. He says, no, there’s no sin there. That’s fine, he does fine. But he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. Then it goes back again. What is the reason for being married? Is it so you two can serve the Lord together? Is that better? Is that the Lord’s will? If that’s the Lord’s will, go for it. If not, it’s better to remain unmarried. The wife is bound by the law here’s the duration of marriage as long as her husband liveth. So don’t get any ideas, Rachel. The wife was bound by the law as long as her husband liveth. But if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my judgment. And I think also I have the Spirit of God, just some conclusions on this. When a person decides to get remarried and I just touch on this and go from there again, same considerations apply. Is it going to be better for me and the Lord to serve the Lord together with that or not? If you want a happy and blessed home, whether you’re considering marriage or already married, christ should be the head of the home. The consideration is put the Lord first. You remember what Paul said. He said, those are unmarried, they’re free to give themselves to the Lord. And oftentimes what we find ourselves in, we’re so busy trying to meet our physical material needs that the Lord comes down further in the list. So lift the Lord back up in his preeminent place. Then there I believe there’s an importance of keeping that of a family altar, keeping a spiritual heart in the home, of serving the Lord together, having a time where you pray together, where you read Scripture together. And we’re not as consistent at it as we should, but we try to have a time of prayer in the evenings, trying to have a time of Bible reading. And I think that’s necessary. You got to have time where you share things of the Lord with your family, whether it’s just you and your spouse with your family as much as possible. Important thing to remember here, no matter our past, none of us want to display what our past looks like. But One John one nine applies to all of us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just. Forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Doesn’t matter what’s happened if it’s in the past. You’ve gone to the Lord, you’ve asked forgiveness for it. You’re cleansed. Just like this morning we talked about. We were labeled as such and such, but now we’re labeled as washed. We’re cleansed or we’re washed, we’re sanctified. We’re set apart for his use. And we’re justified since, and such were some of you. But you are washed, you’re sanctified, you’re justified. Same is true now. Whatever’s done in the past is in the past. It’s under the blood. If you’ve asked God to forgive you for it and you move on, let me say this gently and lovingly, but move past it and get on with your life, following the Lord and doing what’s right from there on. Amen. God still has a purpose for all of us. God still has a use for all of us. There’s no excuse not to get in serving God with our life. Amen. God still got a purpose. God still got to use for every single one of us. And I like the thought that God has through this chapter. I said, if it’s possible, love for the two that are at odds to be reconciled. That’s not always possible in the physical realm. But let me tell you this. On the spiritual side of things, it is always possible to be reconciled under our heavenly Father. And the way is confession. One John one nine, just get it under the blood, no matter what we’re talking about in the past. Okay, that’s first green is chapter number seven. Are we all good? So far? I’m glad we got through chapter seven. Amen. Let’s stand head bound and eyes closed, just giving you what the Lord has said in his word. And we’ll take that as our standard and go from there. None of us live up perfectly to the standard, but that’s the standard. And I hope all of you know that you’re saved on your way to heaven. If not, you can make sure that tonight. But if you do know that, just slip up your hand. It’s a testament of the Lord. I know. I’m saying you slip your hand up, put it right back down. God’s got a purpose for you. You and I are called the bride of Christ. We’re to keep ourselves spotless and holy. You and I know we’re not holy in ourselves. We’re not sinless, we’re not spotless. It takes a daily effort yielding to the Spirit’s control.
If you make that commitment today, ask God to help you make that commitment. Say, Lord I want to keep myself holy under you. I want to handle my relationship. If I’m in a marriage, I want to be the husband or the wife that you want me to be. I want to put you first in our home. I want to make efforts to have a family altar, to have time reading the Bible, praying. Maybe I’m not yet married to help me in my relationship, my friendships, to have the right kind of friendships starting now, whatever it may be. Heavenly Father. Lord, thank you for your word. It always directs us on the right path. And the Lord, I know none of us have kept a straight, narrow path as we should. Lord, thank you for restoring us back into Your fellowship, bringing back the wayward which is me. Lord, thank you for loving me, restore me and Your fellowship. Lord, I forager help me from this day forward to be the husband I should be, be the father I should be, be the pastor to the church I should be, and be the Christian that you have me be. Lord, I need your help. I struggle selfishly so many times with my own will, my own way. Lord, it should not be difficult than it is to yield to you. Lord, I ask you to forgive me, to help me again, to be what I should be, help our church, help us to be what we ought to be. Lord, where we have failed you, would you forgive us and help us to move past it, get back where we need to be and start serving you again, jesus, namely prayer. Amen.