1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Let us pray the young man saith unto him. All 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: these things have I kept from my youth? 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 2: Up? 4 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: What lack eye yet? Matthew nineteen twenty Lord, I did 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: my best to keep your commandments ever since I was young. 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: I went to church, I read the Bible and prayed daily. 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: What am I missing? What more must I do? 8 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 2: Oh? 9 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: Now I see. I did all these things out of obligation, 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: because they were the right thing to do. Did I 11 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: want people to think I was a good person? More 12 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: than I wanted to know you? I didn't understand I 13 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: could have a personal relationship with you. I took pride 14 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: in my good character and didn't think I had to 15 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: acknowledge my sinful nature. I didn't see any need for 16 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: repentance until now. Forgive me for my pride and self satisfaction. 17 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: Keep me humble. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's 18 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: Daily Prayer for more inspiration and an incredible message from 19 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: our feature pastor stay tuned to pray dot COM's Sunday service. 20 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 3: Are you in pain after walking, running, or even just standing. 21 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: It's not your feet, it's your shoes. 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Experience the 31 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 3: miracle of ultimate comfort with g to Phi Shoes. Visit 32 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 3: g D e f y dot com today. 33 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 4: This episode of All In with Pastor Jordan Easley has 34 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 4: been made possible by the generous support of viewers like you. 35 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 4: Welcome to All In with Pastor Jordan Easley. Today's message 36 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 4: is about to begin, and we invite you to prepare 37 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 4: your heart and mind to hear an inspiring message from 38 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 4: God's Word. We hope and pray for God to speak 39 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 4: to you today as you seek to live your life 40 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 4: all in for Jesus Christ and Now from First Baptist 41 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 4: Church in Cleveland Tennessee. 42 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 5: Here is Pastor Jordan Easley. 43 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 2: Have you ever just have you ever just woken up 44 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: in the morning knowing that the devil wants to silence you. 45 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: I feel like today has been that day for me. 46 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: The devil's working really hard to prevent me from preaching 47 00:02:58,360 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 2: this sermon. 48 00:02:59,000 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 6: Today. 49 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: I had two massive trees fall on my driveway preventing 50 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 2: us from going in and out. I mean, trees that 51 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 2: are like fifty years old decided yesterday was the. 52 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 6: Day they were gonna fall. 53 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 2: Last night, when I was going to bed, my I 54 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 2: was tucking the dog again. Right, he jumped up and 55 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 2: he put his dog toenail in my eye and scratched 56 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 2: my eye. And then I woke up this morning with 57 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 2: allergies and my throat's all jacked up, And I'm like, 58 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: you know, a lot of us would get really down 59 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: about that. I get fired up because I know that 60 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: God wants to do a work in somebody's life today. Amen, listen, 61 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: God's word is alive and active, and today we're going 62 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: to dive into it, and we're talking about the stuff 63 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: that's worth fighting for. Let me ask you something. Do 64 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: you believe your marriage is worth fighting for? Man if 65 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 2: you do open up God's Word with me to Matthew 66 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: chapter nineteen, because that's where we're going to start today. 67 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 6: You know, when the phone rings in. 68 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: The middle of the night, I think all of us 69 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: would agree that it's an alarming experience, but especially when 70 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 2: you pick up that phone and the other voice on 71 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: the other line is in an all out panic, it 72 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: really gets your attention. You see, I'll never forget. Just 73 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 2: a few months after moving to Tennessee, we experienced just that. 74 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: At that time, we were living in Hendersonville, Tennessee, just 75 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: outside of Nashville, and one night the phone rang and 76 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 2: it was my buddy Jeff. Jeff was on the other line, 77 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: and he called me in a panic, and he said, Jordan, 78 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: you need to seek shelter immediately because the storm is coming. Now. 79 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 6: I'm gonna be honest with you today. I didn't take 80 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 6: his warning. 81 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 2: As seriously as I should, because already, just having lived 82 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: in Tennessee a little while, I had already heard rumor 83 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 2: after rumor after rumor about these big storms that were 84 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: gonna come, and these big storms that were gonna hit, 85 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: and so many times we had made our way to 86 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: the basement and nothing happened. In fact, just the day 87 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: before this phone call, I was sort of making fun 88 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: of how all of my new fine folks in Tennessee, 89 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: all of my new friends in Tennessee, would just cancel 90 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,799 Speaker 2: school if there was even a remote chance of bad weather. 91 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm from Texas. I'd never lived in a 92 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: state that canceled school for cloudy days and too much rainmen, 93 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: But apparently that was the thing. And so I can 94 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: remember getting that phone call, and I'll be honest, I 95 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: wasn't concerned at all. 96 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 6: But then Jeff went on to say this way. 97 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: He said, Jordan, listen, I'm watching the radar, and there 98 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 2: is a tornado that is coming directly at your house. 99 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 6: You need to get underground. 100 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 2: You need to grab your kids and get into the 101 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: basement and prepare for the storm because the storm is coming. 102 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: And man, when I heard those words, and I sensed 103 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 2: the intensity in his voice, we grabbed our kids, we 104 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 2: grabbed the dog's, we grabbed the waters, and we made 105 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 2: our way to the basement with a bunch of blankets, 106 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 2: and we prepared for the storm that we knew was inevitable. 107 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: We knew it was coming, and we wanted to be prepared. Now, Thankfully, 108 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: we didn't take a direct hit that night, but several 109 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: people in our community did take a direct hit, and 110 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 2: some of those people were prepared for the storm, and 111 00:05:59,120 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: other people were. 112 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 6: Not prepared for the storm. 113 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 2: Let me ask you a question today in your marriage 114 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: right now, are you prepared for the storm, Because the 115 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 2: truth is, the storm is coming. And I can't tell 116 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: you where it's gonna come from, or when. 117 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 6: It's gonna hit, or how it's gonna hit, but I. 118 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 2: Can assure you that the storm is inevitable in all 119 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: of our relationships. It may be a spiritual storm or 120 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: a physical storm. It may be a relational storm or 121 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: a financial storm. It may be an emotional storm, or 122 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: even a health related storm. But I can tell you, 123 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 2: if you live long enough, the storm is gonna find 124 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 2: its way to your house. You say, Jordan, my marriage 125 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 2: is just fine. Everything between us is good. And let 126 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 2: me just say praise God for that. Praise God. If 127 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: everything in your marriage is fine, I believe many of 128 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 2: our marriages could say that today we appear to be 129 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 2: strong and we're standing tall today. But the truth is 130 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: we're standing tall when the sun is shining and the 131 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: weather is calm. But let me ask you to look 132 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 2: forward just a little bit, and let me ask is 133 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 2: your marriage prepared to survive the storm? Look at the 134 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: story in Genesis chapter two and Genesis two twenty five. 135 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: It says both the man and his wife were naked, 136 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: yet they felt no shame. The bc season before close, 137 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: it was a season of intimacy in their marriage. They 138 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: were together, they were united, They were fighting for one another. 139 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 2: But then he says in verse twenty three, this one, 140 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: at last is bone of my bone and flesh of 141 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 2: my flesh. 142 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 6: You see this similarities that. 143 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 2: Were being attract He was attracted to Adam looked at 144 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 2: Eve and he saw similarities between the two of them, 145 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: and he said, those similarities are attractive to me. But 146 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 2: he also looked at his bride and he saw the 147 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: differences between Adam and Eve, and he was attracted to 148 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: those differences. 149 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 6: There was an attraction, a desire to be with one another, 150 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 6: and that's what happened. 151 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: You see a man and a wife, and God united 152 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: them as one. Verse twenty four says, this is why 153 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 2: a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with 154 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: his wife and they become one flesh once again. That's 155 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 2: the word God right to become one unity through plurality, 156 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: and we see that in their relationship. 157 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 6: They were together. 158 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 2: They were on the same page emotionally, spiritually, physically, they 159 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: were accepting of one another. 160 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 6: They were trusting of each other. 161 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: They were completely transparent with absolutely nothing to hide. Listen, 162 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 2: that is God's picture of what intimacy is supposed to 163 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: look like in marriage. 164 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 6: The BC season, it was good, but then we see 165 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 6: something happen in their relationship. 166 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: The storm hit their relationship, and we see this season 167 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 2: of intimacy quickly transition into a season of enmity. Verse 168 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 2: seven in Chapter three says, then the eyes of both 169 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 2: of them were opened, and they knew they were naked, 170 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 171 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 6: Now, get this, they were still. 172 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 2: Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. They 173 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 2: were still husband and wife. They were still together. But 174 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 2: now it's just different. Now they were covering up for 175 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: the very first time. They were entering that ad season. 176 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: The Bible says that they were taking fig leaves and 177 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 2: covering themselves up. 178 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 6: Physically, they no longer had the trust they once did. 179 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 2: They no longer had the transparency they once experienced. They 180 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 2: were now hiding from God, and they were ashamed to 181 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: face God because they had just violated God's. 182 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 6: Command in their life. 183 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 2: They were experiencing fear for the very first time, they 184 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: were experiencing shame. They had guilt in their heart, and 185 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: as a result, they turned their back on God, and 186 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 2: they ultimately turned their back on one another. Listen, Love 187 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 2: looks out for the interest of the other person. Selfishness 188 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: puts our desires at the center of the universe. And 189 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 2: when selfishness replaces love, intimacy becomes impossible and enmity becomes 190 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 2: an evitable. Live with selfishness, and it's a no wind deal. See, 191 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 2: selfishness always leads to sinfulness. 192 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 6: Always. It always leads to segregation in marriage. 193 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,719 Speaker 2: And we cannot be transparent in marriage when we are 194 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 2: filled with sinfulness and selfishness. Why because if we opened 195 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 2: ourselves up, we would reveal the ugliness of our own selfishness, 196 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 2: and that would only lead to judgment, and that would 197 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 2: lead to condemnation and a bunch of conversations we don't 198 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 2: want to have. And that's when the storm hits in 199 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 2: our marriage. We don't draw close anymore. That's why we 200 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 2: avoid each other. We avoid meaningful conversations with one another. 201 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 2: That's why we would rather conceal our thoughts, We would 202 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 2: rather hide our emotions than address them. That's when when 203 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 2: we get to that place in marriage, we've got to 204 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: realize that somewhere along the way, we've allowed sinfulness and 205 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: selfishness to creep into our relationship. And now, as a result, 206 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 2: there is a huge wall separating husband and wife. 207 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,199 Speaker 6: Have you been there before? Listen. 208 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 2: Sometimes storms destroy homes not by tearing stuff down, but 209 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 2: by building stuff up. The devil loves to build walls 210 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 2: that separate husbands and wives. And you know what happens 211 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 2: when we fail to address our enmity. 212 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 6: Let me tell you what happens. 213 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 2: We continue adding bricks to that wall that are separating us. 214 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: You lied to me, You embarrass me, brick, you didn't 215 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 2: give me what I asked for. You broke our trust, 216 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 2: You disappointed me, you don't listen to me, You disrespected me, 217 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 2: you broke our covenant. You hurt my feelings, you let 218 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: me down, you disregarded my opinion, and so on and 219 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 2: so on and so on, and now even the little 220 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 2: things become big things, and there's an enormous wall separating 221 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 2: two individuals that God says should be united. How do 222 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: we fight for our marriage and move from enmity back 223 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 2: to intimacy. Well, if you're taking notes, the first one 224 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: is simple. We've got to pursue God first and foremost. 225 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 2: We talked about that a second ago. 226 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 6: That's the triangle. 227 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 2: If we don't get that right, we're gonna have a 228 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 2: hard time with the rest of this message. But after 229 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 2: we decide we're gonna pursue God in a way we've 230 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 2: never pursued God, then we have to choose to go 231 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 2: to step number two, which. 232 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 6: Is to choose love. We have to choose love. 233 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 2: The path that leads to intimacy is a path back 234 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 2: to love. We've got to work to love each other well. 235 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 2: And I want you to understand I use that word 236 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: work on purpose. The reason I say that is because 237 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,079 Speaker 2: loving someone else doesn't come naturally to any of us. 238 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 2: Don't act like you're super spiritual today. It doesn't come 239 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,239 Speaker 2: natural to any of us. You know what does Loving ourselves? 240 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 2: Looking out for number one. So if it's gonna take 241 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 2: that kind of effort, then yes, love is work. It's 242 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 2: also a choice, it's an attitude, it's a way of thinking. 243 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,079 Speaker 2: Love is choosing to treat our spouse and choosing how 244 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 2: you behave towards your spouse and how you speak to 245 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 2: your spouse. It's a decision that you make. You say, well, 246 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 2: I don't think I can love my spouse again, Well, 247 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 2: we'll just understand from God's word that loving isn't a suggestion. 248 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 2: God commands us to love. It's a command of Almighty God. 249 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 2: Ephesians five twenty five says, husbands, love your wives just 250 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 2: as Christ loved the Church and gave. 251 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 6: Himself for her. 252 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 2: So you think it was easy for Christ to love 253 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 2: the church, and we are the hardest people to love. 254 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 2: And yet Christ showed us that love is a choice, 255 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 2: and he chose to love us and tied us. Two 256 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 2: verse three, It says that older women are able to 257 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 2: teach younger women what is good so that they may 258 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 2: encourage the young women to love their husbands and love 259 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 2: their children. The Bible says we are responsible for loving each. 260 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 6: Other, and we've got to remember that God never tells 261 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 6: us to do something or commands us to do something 262 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 6: that he doesn't get give us the power to actually do. 263 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 2: So, you say, pastor, do you think it's possible for 264 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 2: me to forgive my spouse. Do you think it's possible 265 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 2: for me to love my spouse again? You know what 266 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 2: I would say to that. If you truly know Jesus, 267 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 2: I do. 268 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 6: I do. 269 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: If you have the power of God working in you 270 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 2: and through you, then I do. In order to fight 271 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 2: for your marriage, you've got to be committed to choosing love, 272 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 2: no matter what you say. But they blew it. They 273 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 2: did some horrible things. I understand it. We've all done 274 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 2: horrible things, and yet Christ loves us. The Bible says 275 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 2: you can't just choose love when it's convenient. 276 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 6: We've got to choose love out of conviction. 277 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 2: First John, chapter four nineteen says we love because He 278 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 2: first loved us, right, Jesus showed us how to love. 279 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 6: Love is a choice, Love is a conviction. 280 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 2: Love was consistent, and even when we didn't deserve the 281 00:14:55,440 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 2: love of God, Jesus loved us. When we fight for 282 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 2: our marriage, we'll begin to love like that. But it 283 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 2: will only happen if we're willing to pursue God first 284 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 2: and foremost and to choose love with our spouse. When 285 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 2: you choose love, you're essentially choosing to remove the bricks 286 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 2: from the wall. That separate you as husband and wife. 287 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: But you're not just removing bricks that separate you. 288 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 6: Check this out. 289 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 2: You're redistributing those bricks, and you're using them to build 290 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 2: a bridge back to them. I want to share it 291 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 2: with you eight bricks really quickly that I believe will 292 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 2: build a bridge back to your spouse and prepare. 293 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 6: You for the storms that are coming. 294 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 2: Are you ready? I hope you're taking notes today. The 295 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 2: first one is simply this. 296 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 6: We got to listen. We've got to listen. 297 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 2: James one nineteen says everyone should be quick to listen. 298 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 2: We should be quick to listen and slow to speak. See, 299 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 2: one of the greatest ways to fight for your marriage 300 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 2: is to demonstrate selflessness holflessness to your spouse. You say, 301 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: how do I demonstrate selflessness? 302 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 6: Let me tell you. 303 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 2: You open up your ears, you shut your mouth, you 304 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 2: look them in the eyes, you put the phone down, 305 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: you turn the TV off, you stop watching the football game, 306 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 2: you stop looking around. 307 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 6: The room, and you just listen listen. 308 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: If we got good at this, it would solve a 309 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 2: lot of problems. All you have to do is eliminate 310 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: the distractions around you and focus on the person in 311 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 2: front of you and listen. 312 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 6: But we can't stop there. Not only must we listen, 313 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 6: we must also communicate. Communicate with your words. Let me 314 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 6: say it this way, gentlemen, This one was to you. 315 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 2: Intimacy becomes improbable when your favorite word is fine. 316 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 6: Trust me, man, it doesn't work. 317 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. How is your day fine? How is the dinner 318 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 2: that I just made you for two hours is fine? 319 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 6: How do I look in this dress? You look fine? 320 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 2: Boys, don't do it, I'm telling you. Your friend Jordan says, try, 321 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 2: try something else. Don't use the word fine. Listen, when 322 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: my wife and I are having a conversation, you know, 323 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: she likes she likes when I use verbs and adverbs 324 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 2: like the whole English language. She wants to hear all 325 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 2: the words all right. And even when I don't want 326 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 2: to use all the words and say all the things, 327 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 2: she loves it. 328 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 6: See. 329 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 2: The Bible teaches that words have the power of what 330 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 2: life and death probably is. Fifteen one says, a gentle 331 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 2: answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. 332 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 6: That's some powerful stuff that says. 333 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 2: Your words, the words that are coming out of your 334 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: mouth can either lead you towards intimacy or they can 335 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 2: prevent intimacy, they can lead you away from intimacy. 336 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 6: So we've got to listen, but we've also got to communicate. 337 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 2: The third block I would like to suggest to you 338 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 2: today is that we've got to fight fair. 339 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 6: We got to fight fair. 340 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 2: There's a lot of cheap shots that have been taking 341 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,719 Speaker 2: place in marriage, and the devil loves it when we 342 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 2: fight unfairly. If we're gonna have a God honoring marriage, 343 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 2: we've got to learn to fight fair. And that doesn't 344 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,919 Speaker 2: mean that we should avoid conflict altogether. In fact, I 345 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 2: believe a little bit of conflict, if done right, can 346 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 2: actually be a benefit to marriage and make marriage a 347 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,239 Speaker 2: little bit stronger. If we were to sum up what 348 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 2: fighting fair looked like in marriage with one single word, 349 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 2: I think I would use the word cooperate. We've got 350 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 2: to cooperate with one another. We've got to be able 351 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 2: to communicate. We've got to be able to listen and 352 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 2: be committed to listening. We've also got to learn how 353 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: to move forward together while yielding to one another. See 354 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 2: that's a cooperation that we see that we see talked 355 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 2: about all throughout scripture. Going back to that verse in 356 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: James James one nineteen says everyone should be quick to listen, 357 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 2: slow to speak, slow to anger. 358 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 6: He's giving us a pattern here, a pattern for success. 359 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 2: And I believe that verse perfectly describes a cooperative attitude 360 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 2: in our marriage relationship, and so we've got to fight fair. 361 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 2: The fourth I would tell you is this, you gotta grow, 362 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 2: you gotta grow. You say I'm ninety years old, I'm 363 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 2: done growing. No, you're not listen. We're all still growing. 364 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 2: You know, when I was eighteen years old, I was 365 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 2: this tall, and probably you could say the same. Most 366 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 2: of us stop growing like this when we're eighteen years old. 367 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 2: But the crazy thing is we know that we never 368 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 2: stop growing physically. And I'm not just talking about our 369 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 2: waistline today. Okay, there are other ways that we continue 370 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 2: to grow. For instance, we grow intellectually as our brain develops, 371 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: we grow emotionally as our heart develops, we grow spiritually 372 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 2: as our soul develops. But if these areas are going 373 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 2: to develop in the way that God wants them to develop, 374 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 2: we have to be intentional in cultivating that growth in 375 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 2: a way that we know honors God see. In the 376 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 2: same way, if we're going to grow in our relationship 377 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 2: as husband and wife. We've got to take intentional steps 378 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: to cultivate that growth. He said, what are those steps? Well, 379 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 2: they begin with you personally. Let me ask you. Are 380 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 2: you taking personal steps to make sure you're the man 381 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 2: of God the woman of God that. 382 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 6: He desires in that relationship? You can? 383 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 2: If not, you can take a step in reading God's 384 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 2: word daily, loving God with all your heart, engaging in 385 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 2: a Bible, a Bible study, surrounding yourself with godly people 386 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,479 Speaker 2: that are going to point you in the right direction 387 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 2: and sharpen you as a man or sharpen you as 388 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 2: a woman. I believe that God says you need to 389 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: grow personally, find ways to grow closer to the Lord, 390 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 2: and when you do that, you will actually grow closer 391 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: to your spouse. The fifth block I would like to 392 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 2: suggest is that we've got to serve one another. Serve 393 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 2: one another. You say, where does that come from, Well, 394 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 2: it comes from Ephesians five twenty five. Paul says, husbands, 395 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 2: love your wives just as Christ loved the church and 396 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 2: gave himself for her. See the reason that says loved 397 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 2: the church instead of loves the church is because Paul 398 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 2: was referring to a specific way that Jesus demonstrated his 399 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 2: love for us. How did he do that, Well, he 400 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 2: served the church. He suffered for the church. He laid 401 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 2: down his life for the church. And if you and 402 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 2: I are going to fight for our marriages, and if 403 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 2: we're going to pursue intimacy in our marriage, if we're 404 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 2: going to be prepared for the storm in our marriage, 405 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 2: I believe the. 406 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 6: Same is true for us. We've got to serve one another. 407 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: Look for ways to serve your spouse, but not only serve. 408 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 2: I want you to get number six, and that's the 409 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 2: word submit. We've got to not only serve our spouse, 410 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 2: we need to learn to submit to our spouse. You say, well, 411 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 2: I thought she was supposed to submit to me. Well, 412 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,680 Speaker 2: that's a whole different story and a whole different sermon. 413 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: But I'll tell you what it does say in Ephesians 414 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 2: five twenty one, it says that we should submit to 415 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 2: one another in fear of Christ. 416 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 6: We ought to submit to one another. He say, what 417 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 6: does that mean? 418 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 2: Well, in the context of marriage, when you look up 419 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: that word submit, you find out it's a military word. 420 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 2: In the original language, it was a military word that 421 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 2: literally meant that we we rank beneath or under another person. 422 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 2: We rank beneath or under another person, which tells us 423 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 2: that if we're going to live our lives in such 424 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 2: a way where our marriage is growing and we're prepared 425 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 2: for the storm, that we ought to live with a 426 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 2: mindset that puts our spouse above us. We ought to 427 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 2: live with a mindset that puts their needs above our needs, 428 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: their desires above our desires, which means instead of us 429 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 2: asking what is my spouse going to do for me today, 430 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 2: we ought to wake up in the morning with a 431 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,919 Speaker 2: submissive attitude that says, what can I do for my 432 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 2: spouse today? See the difference when we submit to one 433 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 2: another as Christ tells us to, we live with a 434 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 2: mindset that looks out for them number one and us 435 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 2: number two. So that's submit to one another. Let me 436 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 2: give you number seven. We're going back to something we've 437 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 2: already talked about, but it's important that we've got to 438 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,479 Speaker 2: pursue God. Remember this is a personal If you're going 439 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 2: to reach any goal in this life, you're gonna have 440 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 2: to pursue it. 441 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 6: It's not gonna happen by accident. 442 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,439 Speaker 2: No one ever just had a great relationship with their 443 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:14,439 Speaker 2: spouse by accident. No, you're going to pursue it. So 444 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 2: if intimacy in your marriage is the goal, pursue that goal. 445 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,399 Speaker 2: What is the goal for your marriage? And I want 446 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 2: to have a God honoring marriage that fulfills all the 447 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 2: purposes of God's plan for marriage. And that's not going 448 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 2: to happen unless we pursue it. See, we've got to 449 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 2: pursue God first and foremost if that's going to happen. 450 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 2: I think back to John one fourteen and how it 451 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 2: says the word became flesh and dwelt among us. You 452 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 2: know what that was. You know what the Christmas story was. 453 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 2: You know what Jesus comingto planet Earth was. It was 454 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 2: an intentional pursuit. It was God's intentional. 455 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 6: Pursuit of you. 456 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 2: And the way that Jesus demonstrated his pursuit of us 457 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 2: is how I believe we should pursue him, and also 458 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 2: how I believe we should sue our spouse. So let 459 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 2: me ask you, are you pursuing God with all your heart? 460 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 2: And are you taking the intentionality of God's heart to 461 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 2: your marriage relationship? One more and then we're done, Last, 462 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 2: but not least, we got to pray. We've got to pray. 463 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 6: Man. There is something. 464 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 2: About the power of prayer, and if you are not 465 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 2: pray a praying person, you will most likely be an 466 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 2: unhappy person in marriage. You know. A few weeks ago, 467 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 2: we were hosting our creative arts camp on our campus 468 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 2: and there were little boys and girls all over the place. 469 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 6: It was fun for me because I. 470 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 2: Just got to walk around and see all the different activities. 471 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,439 Speaker 2: And I would go to one classroom they'd be baking 472 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 2: and it would smell great, and they would offer me cookies. 473 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 2: And I'm like, I don't eat cookies that kids make, 474 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:45,919 Speaker 2: all right, but it's like, you know, it's great that 475 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 2: it's great, smells good. You go over this corner over here, 476 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 2: and there's percussion and kids are drumming and having a 477 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 2: great time. Over here, kids are singing, and overhead they're dancing, 478 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 2: and they're building sets and so many cool things, and 479 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,439 Speaker 2: all of them were creative arts. But then I made 480 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 2: my way up the stairs and I started looking to 481 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 2: my left and right, and I came across the room 482 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 2: where I saw kids doing something that I was surprised 483 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 2: to see. I looked in and this was the karate room. Karate. 484 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 2: I'm like, man, my church growing up was not that cool, 485 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 2: all right, and we never got If I punched and 486 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 2: kicked in church, I got a spanking when I got home. 487 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 2: But these kids were training them to do that. And 488 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 2: so I look in there and kids are punching and 489 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 2: kicking and bowing and learning all these disciplines, and it 490 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 2: was awesome just to kind of stand. 491 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 6: In the corner and watch all this play out. 492 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,719 Speaker 2: The instructor's name is Charlie, and he's talking to him 493 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 2: and he said something to the boys and girls that 494 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 2: day that got my attention. He was teaching them a 495 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 2: proper stance for karate, and I'm not going to do 496 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 2: it right now because I'm gonna get it wrong. 497 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 6: So don't critique my karate skills, all right. 498 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 2: But basically what he told him that day was this, 499 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 2: always fight with your hands up. Always fight with your 500 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 2: hands up. And then he went on to say this. 501 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 2: He said, when your hands are up, always ready to respond. Hey, 502 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,439 Speaker 2: you put your hands up real quick. Put your hands up. 503 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,679 Speaker 2: I want you to think about this. Someone takes a 504 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 2: jab at you, what do you do? 505 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 6: Do it with me? 506 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 2: You block the jab and you're prepared to return the jab. Hey, 507 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 2: I can see you this isn't TV. I want you 508 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 2: to participate in my illustration. 509 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 6: Put your hands up. Come on, sir. 510 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 2: When someone takes a kick at you, what do you do? 511 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 2: You swipe their leg and you jack them in the throat, 512 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 2: all right, And that's what I learned in karate at 513 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 2: our creative arts camp. I learn that when your hands 514 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 2: are up, you're always ready to respond. 515 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 6: And man, let me just tell you something. As I left, 516 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 6: I felt really equipped in karate. But I thought to myself, 517 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 6: you know, that's how so. 518 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 2: Many of us naturally operate in our marriage relationships. We're 519 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 2: not together, we're apart, and because we're apart, we fight 520 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 2: with our hands up. We live with our hands up, 521 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 2: and we're just waiting for the next job. We want 522 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 2: to be able to block that and return another job. 523 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 2: We're waiting for the next criticism because we're going to 524 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 2: swipe the leg and we're gonna respond with another criticism. 525 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 2: And let me just tell you that this right here, 526 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 2: it works in karate. Fighting with your hands up works 527 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 2: in karate, but it is a horrible model for success 528 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 2: in marriage. So let me encourage you with this. Married folk, 529 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 2: don't fight with your hands up, fight with your. 530 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 6: Knees down and just see. 531 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: How God blesses your marriage. Don't fight with your hands up, man, 532 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 2: fight with your knees down. 533 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,919 Speaker 4: This episode of All In with Pastor Jordan Easley has 534 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 4: been made possible by the generous support. 535 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 5: Of viewers like you. We hope and pray for God 536 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 5: to speak to you today as you seek to live 537 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 5: your life all in for Jesus Christ. 538 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,199 Speaker 7: Begin your day with a burst of inspiration and a 539 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 7: guiding light on your spiritual expedition. Introducing the All In 540 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 7: Daily Devotional Email. 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