Restoring Family Values Through Gospel Truths

Devotional

Day 1: Upholding Biblical Marriage in a Changing Culture

The redefinition of marriage from a sacrament to a personal preference has led to instability in family structures. This shift reflects a broader cultural trend away from traditional values, resulting in significant societal consequences. Understanding this helps us recognize the importance of upholding biblical principles in our relationships. The cultural shifts have moved marriage from being a sacred covenant to a matter of personal choice, which has weakened the foundation of family life. By returning to a biblical understanding of marriage, individuals can find stability and purpose in their relationships, reflecting God's unchanging character and commitment. [02:58]

Ephesians 5:31-32 (ESV): "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively uphold the sanctity of marriage in your own life and community today?

Day 2: Finding True Contentment in God

True contentment, as taught by Paul, is not dependent on external circumstances but on a relationship with God. This contentment provides strength and purpose, contrasting with the fleeting nature of happiness. Pursuing contentment in Christ leads to a more fulfilling and stable life. In a world that often equates happiness with material success or personal achievements, the biblical call to contentment challenges us to find our satisfaction in God alone. This contentment is rooted in the assurance of God's love and provision, enabling us to face life's challenges with peace and confidence. [06:13]

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV): "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are seeking happiness over contentment. How can you shift your focus to find true contentment in God today?

Day 3: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare with the Gospel

The moral decline in society is a reflection of a deeper spiritual issue. The expectation of cultural moral improvement is futile without the transformative power of the gospel. Engaging in spiritual warfare with the gospel as our weapon is essential for true change. The moral decay evident in our culture highlights the need for believers to actively engage in spiritual battles, using the gospel as their primary tool. This involves not only proclaiming the message of Christ but also living it out in ways that demonstrate its transformative power. [10:54]

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV): "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to engage in spiritual warfare in your community, using the gospel as your weapon?

Day 4: Revival Begins Within the Church

Revival is needed not just in the world but within the church. By embodying the love and service of Christ, we can break down barriers and open hearts to the gospel. This revival begins with personal transformation and extends to our communities. The call for revival is a call for believers to return to the core of their faith, living out the principles of love and service that Jesus exemplified. This internal revival is crucial for the church to effectively reach out and impact the world around it. [42:34]

Revelation 3:2-3 (ESV): "Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent."

Reflection: How can you contribute to a revival within your church community, starting with your own personal transformation?

Day 5: The Transformative Power of the Gospel

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message that can truly transform lives and restore families. It is not political solutions but the preaching of Christ crucified and resurrected that brings lasting change. Our hope and foundation must be in Christ alone. In a world seeking solutions through various means, the gospel stands as the ultimate answer to the deepest needs of humanity. By focusing on the message of Christ, believers can offer hope and restoration to those around them, pointing them to the source of true transformation. [48:13]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the transformative message of the gospel today, and how can you share it with them in a meaningful way?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound challenges facing our society, particularly the erosion of traditional values such as marriage and family. We began by acknowledging the cultural shifts that have redefined these institutions, moving from a sacramental view to one of personal preference. This shift has led to a decline in the stability of family structures, with significant consequences for individuals and society at large. We examined the biblical perspective on these issues, emphasizing that God's love and the sanctity of marriage are not contingent on human happiness but are rooted in His unchanging character and commitment.

The discussion highlighted the importance of contentment over fleeting happiness, drawing from the Apostle Paul's teachings on being content in all circumstances. This contentment is not based on external situations but on a relationship with God, who provides strength and purpose. We also touched on the societal consequences of divorce and cohabitation, noting the increased risks and instability they bring, particularly to children.

Furthermore, we delved into the moral decay evident in our culture, as described in Romans 1, and the futility of expecting moral improvement from a society that does not understand the things of the Spirit. The call to action is not to give up but to engage in spiritual warfare with the gospel of Jesus Christ as our weapon. This is the only message that can truly transform lives and restore families.

We concluded by reflecting on the need for revival, not just in the world but within the church itself. The greatest evangelistic tools given by Jesus are love and service, which break down barriers and open hearts to the gospel. By living out these principles, we can be a light in a dark world, demonstrating the love and power of Christ in our lives and communities.

Key Takeaways

1. Cultural Shifts and Marriage: The redefinition of marriage from a sacrament to a personal preference has led to instability in family structures. This shift reflects a broader cultural trend away from traditional values, resulting in significant societal consequences. Understanding this helps us recognize the importance of upholding biblical principles in our relationships. [02:58]
2. **Contentment vs. Happiness:** True contentment, as taught by Paul, is not dependent on external circumstances but on a relationship with God. This contentment provides strength and purpose, contrasting with the fleeting nature of happiness. Pursuing contentment in Christ leads to a more fulfilling and stable life. [06:13]
3. Moral Decay and Spiritual Warfare: The moral decline in society is a reflection of a deeper spiritual issue. The expectation of cultural moral improvement is futile without the transformative power of the gospel. Engaging in spiritual warfare with the gospel as our weapon is essential for true change. [10:54]
4. Revival in the Church: Revival is needed not just in the world but within the church. By embodying the love and service of Christ, we can break down barriers and open hearts to the gospel. This revival begins with personal transformation and extends to our communities. [42:34]
5. The Power of the Gospel: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message that can truly transform lives and restore families. It is not political solutions but the preaching of Christ crucified and resurrected that brings lasting change. Our hope and foundation must be in Christ alone. [48:13]
** [48:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Introduction and Humor
[00:56] - Frustrations and 2 Timothy 3
[02:12] - Cultural Shifts in Marriage
[03:37] - Redefinition of Family
[04:51] - Happiness vs. Contentment
[06:13] - God's Unconditional Love
[07:32] - Spiritual and Moral Strength
[08:58] - Moral Decay in Society
[10:54] - Futility of Cultural Moral Improvement
[12:44] - Biblical Perspective on Good and Evil
[14:02] - The Call to Spiritual Warfare
[16:40] - Love as a Choice
[20:24] - Consequences of Divorce and Cohabitation
[25:22] - The Decline of Marriage
[34:08] - Historical Context and Revival
[42:34] - Revival in the Church
[48:13] - The Power of the Gospel
[49:17] - Closing Remarks

Sermon Clips

"Now, I want to say something here about expectations that the unregenerate will embrace a moral code proclaimed by followers of Jesus Christ, and imposed by politicians who increasingly are having difficulty imposing a minimal moral code on themselves if you've noticed. Just in the last one hundred years, we've had examples of various self-improvement, and cultural improvement movements, from prohibition, and the anti-cigarette movement of the same period, to moral re-armament, to the moral majority of which I was a part for a while, and the Christian Coalition. All failed. Not because of bad intentions, but because the natural man doesn't understand the things of the Spirit, and God has built futility into His creation in hope that the creation will turn to Him, as Paul writes in Romans 8." [00:09:25]

"Now, this and Ed Dobson's in my book 'Blinded by Might,' is not a call to give up. Rather it is a call to enlist in another army with better weapons than politics, and that would be the army of God, with the weapon being the gospel of Jesus Christ -- the only message and the only power that can transform a life. Here's some breaking news for you: God hates divorce." [00:14:11]

"Now, I know of so-called Christian counselors who see mostly women, and give them permission to divorce their husbands because they are unhappy, and they deserve to be happy. Sort of like entitlements, we hear a lot about. You're entitled to things -- other people's money. In the 1970's (you'll love this one), a prominent evangelical writer and speaker (who shall go unnamed today) said the reason he was divorcing his wife was because he married out of God's will, and when the right woman God intended for him came along, he had to be obedient to God and marry her." [00:17:12]

"According to the National Institute of Child Health and Development, cohabitation, once rare is now the norm. The researchers found that more than half (54 percent), of all first marriages between 1990-1994 began with unmarried cohabitation. They estimate that a majority of young men and women of marriageable age today will spend some time in a cohabiting relationship. Cohabiting relationships are less stable than marriages, and that instability is increasing." [00:19:24]

"Now, I read to my wife every night before we go to bed -- an Old Testament passage, a psalm and proverb, a New Testament passage. We've done this for years. I was first impressed for doing this many years ago when the former senator Bill Armstrong of Colorado told me something that he does every morning before he leaves to go to the office. He stands in his kitchen with his arms around his wife and they pray for each other every day." [00:38:51]

"So, if Jesus is at the center of a marriage, and we live and conduct ourselves in ways that please Him, we will be a light shining in an increasingly dark world. If we share with others His sacrificial death on the cross and bodily resurrection for the remission of sins; to them he also extends the right to become sons and daughters of God." [00:39:58]

"Ravi Zacharias and I were talking about this last night. Now, what is the greatest set of evangelistic tools that the Lord Jesus ever gave us? Now, think about this for a moment. This is not a trick question. Number one, 'Love your enemies.' Ooh, I hate that one. But then you know what's neat about that? When you actually love your enemies, a couple of things happen. Number one, they stop being your enemies, for the most part. And number two, God is then able to use you as a channel to reach those other people." [00:43:02]

"Two television producers I had the privilege -- they're married to each other -- had the privilege of leading to Christ in Washington over a decade ago. They took us out to dinner one night, and the woman said 'You know what first attracted us to Jesus?' I said 'What?' She said 'Well, we knew that we drank too much and we smoked too much and we cussed too much, but you never condemned us.' Natural man behaves naturally." [00:44:01]

"Alright. Well, my time's almost up, which many of you, I suspect, are grateful for. So, I'm not going to tell you about the great revivals. You can go read them at J. Edwin Orr's book. But the gospel is the only power that can change your life, improve a marriage and save a nation. Not Republicans or Democrats, but Jesus only. Preach Him, His crucifixion and resurrection, and more than just the family will be restored." [00:48:18]

"Marriage was once a sacrament, then it became a contract, and now it's an arrangement. Once, religion provided the sacrament, then the law enforced the contract, and now personal preferences define the arrangement. The words 'dating' and 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' have taken on different meanings than when I was a younger person." [00:22:34]

"Now, I want to read something. I hate being assigned topics. I wish I wasn't assigned this, but it was interesting. Good heavens, this Bible is heavy. I want to read something to you and I want you to keep in mind throughout this. A lot of us are frustrated by the direction in which the country is going. A lot of us are frustrated by our smaller paychecks. A lot of us wonder what we can do. Let me read you something out of 2 Timothy 3." [00:01:15]

"Oswald Chambers offers this insight: 'To maintain good health, I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while I am alive, work to decay and disintegrate my body once it is dead. If I have enough inner strength to fight, I help to reduce the balance needed for health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a strong and active mental life, I have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance called thought' -- a characteristic absent in Washington these days, where the only politicians with convictions are in prison." [00:07:32]

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