Oh, that I had a thousand voices
00:01:03.69\00:01:09.73
to praise my God
with thousand tongues.
00:01:09.76\00:01:14.97
My heart, which
in the Lord rejoices,
00:01:15.00\00:01:20.38
would then
proclaim in grateful songs.
00:01:20.41\00:01:26.85
O all ye powers
that God implanted,
00:01:30.79\00:01:36.99
arise, and silence keep no more;
00:01:37.03\00:01:42.16
Put forth the
strength that He has granted.
00:01:42.20\00:01:47.70
Your noblest work is to adore.
00:01:47.74\00:01:53.81
All creatures that
have breath and motion,
00:02:03.28\00:02:08.69
that throng the
earth, the sea, the sky,
00:02:08.72\00:02:14.16
now join me in
my heart's devotion;
00:02:14.20\00:02:19.73
help me raise
God's praises high.
00:02:19.77\00:02:24.97
Now join me in
my heart's devotion;
00:02:25.01\00:02:30.68
help me raise
God's praises high.
00:02:30.71\00:02:36.82
O Father, deign
Thou, I beseech Thee,
00:02:58.57\00:03:04.55
to listen to my earthly lays;
00:03:04.65\00:03:10.19
a nobler strain in
heaven shall reach Thee
00:03:10.22\00:03:15.76
when I with
angels hymn Thy praise
00:03:15.79\00:03:21.13
and learn amid
their choirs to sing
00:03:21.16\00:03:26.84
hallelujahs to my King.
00:03:27.04\00:03:36.98
Amen.
00:03:37.71\00:03:47.69
Hello 3ABN family, and
welcome to the Paradise Valley
00:03:55.33\00:03:59.77
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:03:59.80\00:04:02.30
We're glad that wherever
and whenever you're watching
00:04:02.34\00:04:05.64
this, that you are involved and
welcomed to, Pathways to Life,
00:04:05.67\00:04:11.51
in Phoenix, Arizona.
00:04:11.55\00:04:13.21
This is in fact, like I
say, the Paradise Valley
00:04:13.68\00:04:16.42
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:04:16.45\00:04:17.79
I'm the pastor, Jim
Hakes, of the Phoenix church.
00:04:17.82\00:04:21.19
If you have been
watching through the last seven
00:04:21.22\00:04:24.39
presentations, and there
are fifteen presentations
00:04:24.43\00:04:27.23
with Pastor Lomacang of
this, Pathways to Life, series,
00:04:27.26\00:04:31.30
so we're right at halfway,
00:04:31.33\00:04:33.20
but if you've been
watching the first seven,
00:04:33.30\00:04:35.47
you may notice that
right now we're doing
00:04:35.50\00:04:37.71
a little bit different.
00:04:37.74\00:04:39.64
The reason is, wherever
or whenever you're seeing
00:04:39.67\00:04:42.91
or hearing this meeting today,
this is actually the Sabbath
00:04:42.94\00:04:49.18
morning worship service
here in Phoenix, Arizona.
00:04:49.22\00:04:52.15
So this is the
Saturday morning service.
00:04:52.19\00:04:55.49
And I hope that
it's a good day for you
00:04:55.82\00:04:58.49
whenever and
wherever you're watching it.
00:04:58.53\00:05:00.96
You've just heard
the sanctuary choir
00:05:02.16\00:05:05.23
of the Paradise Valley church
00:05:05.27\00:05:07.34
under the direction of
Mr. Claudio Marsollier.
00:05:07.37\00:05:11.67
And Pastor Lomacang will be
speaking to us in just a moment.
00:05:13.38\00:05:16.78
We just want you to know
what a blessing it has been
00:05:17.41\00:05:20.22
here in Phoenix to have
Elder Lomacang and his friends
00:05:20.25\00:05:25.22
from 3ABN putting on
this presentation of meetings.
00:05:25.25\00:05:31.09
And it has been a
blessing to our church family.
00:05:31.33\00:05:34.50
We hope and pray that
it is a blessing to you
00:05:34.53\00:05:37.03
as you're
watching and listening.
00:05:37.07\00:05:38.83
Whether you're watching
on 3ABN or live streaming,
00:05:38.87\00:05:42.20
or whether
you're on Good News TV,
00:05:42.24\00:05:45.14
we just want you to
know that we hope that these
00:05:45.57\00:05:48.54
series of meetings are
a blessing in your family.
00:05:48.58\00:05:52.31
Today, Elder Lomacang is
going to be speaking to us
00:05:52.51\00:05:55.52
on the subject,
The Family of God.
00:05:55.55\00:05:59.22
And as he speaks to us about
the subject, The Family of God,
00:05:59.25\00:06:02.66
it is our prayer that
your family is blessed
00:06:03.12\00:06:08.43
as we talk about God's family.
00:06:09.96\00:06:14.34
Elder Lomacang, come and speak
to us, if you would please.
00:06:14.37\00:06:16.91
Good morning, everyone.
00:06:18.07\00:06:19.41
I can say, as the pastor
said, happy Sabbath, everyone.
00:06:21.11\00:06:24.08
Glad to see you here.
00:06:25.95\00:06:27.28
We are going to dive right into
the presentation this morning,
00:06:27.32\00:06:29.72
and ask for the
Lord's blessings.
00:06:30.22\00:06:31.72
Amen to that choir.
00:06:31.75\00:06:33.22
It's so good to hear an organ
shake a church for a change.
00:06:33.42\00:06:36.46
And we know that the
Holy Spirit will guide
00:06:36.79\00:06:39.03
our hearts this
morning as the Spirit of God
00:06:39.06\00:06:41.66
shakes our thoughts.
00:06:41.70\00:06:43.03
In reference to what I
believe is the key to having
00:06:43.23\00:06:47.54
a successful growing
church is a family that is
00:06:47.57\00:06:51.41
grounded in Christ.
00:06:51.44\00:06:53.17
Let us bow this
morning as we call on the Lord.
00:06:53.68\00:06:56.24
Heavenly Father, we
thank You for the privilege of
00:06:56.28\00:06:59.81
opening Your Word this morning.
00:06:59.85\00:07:01.18
Speak to our hearts
as we talk about family;
00:07:01.22\00:07:03.39
one of the other
blessings You established
00:07:03.42\00:07:07.06
in the Garden of Eden before
sin came and marred the world.
00:07:07.09\00:07:10.93
We talk about the Sabbath,
which is Your blessed day today.
00:07:11.49\00:07:14.80
And we thank You for the family,
00:07:15.23\00:07:16.63
which is Your
blessed institution.
00:07:16.67\00:07:18.77
Cause our hearts to
be guided by Your Spirit.
00:07:19.47\00:07:21.74
And, Lord, wherever
there is a relationship,
00:07:21.77\00:07:24.07
a marriage, a
husband and a wife,
00:07:24.11\00:07:25.87
give them the willing heart
to be all that You envisioned
00:07:26.17\00:07:29.61
marriage to be.
00:07:29.64\00:07:30.98
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
00:07:31.01\00:07:34.15
We'll begin with a
text in the book of Genesis.
00:07:34.58\00:07:36.79
In the Garden
of Eden God created
00:07:37.69\00:07:39.52
two wonderful institutions.
00:07:39.55\00:07:41.76
And I don't like
the word, institution,
00:07:41.79\00:07:43.96
so much when it
comes to marriage.
00:07:44.06\00:07:45.59
I like to say, God
created two wonderful
00:07:45.63\00:07:48.96
foundational principles.
00:07:49.00\00:07:51.40
Because marriage, when
you use the word, institution,
00:07:51.63\00:07:54.07
it sounds like a
sentence rather than a blessing.
00:07:54.10\00:07:57.74
But God established the
marriage in the Garden of Eden.
00:07:57.97\00:08:00.38
And notice the words of
God in the very beginning.
00:08:00.41\00:08:03.48
When God made man and woman,
it is as if God divided Himself
00:08:23.47\00:08:29.54
down the middle.
00:08:29.57\00:08:31.21
He created in man the
divinity, the maleness
00:08:31.91\00:08:36.71
of His divinity
He inserted into man.
00:08:36.75\00:08:40.25
And the femaleness
He inserted into woman.
00:08:40.28\00:08:43.92
That's why whenever man
and woman is joined together in
00:08:43.95\00:08:47.66
marriage, they complete the
image of God in the human race.
00:08:47.69\00:08:51.53
It is not possible for the
image of God in the human race
00:08:51.99\00:08:55.26
to be
represented in any other way.
00:08:55.50\00:08:57.87
And as we come to the modern
setting today in our world,
00:08:58.23\00:09:00.94
it is not possible for
man and man to complete
00:09:00.97\00:09:04.31
the image of God
in the human race.
00:09:04.34\00:09:06.17
It is not possible for
woman with woman to complete
00:09:06.31\00:09:10.55
the image of God
in the human race.
00:09:10.58\00:09:12.05
- Can I get an
amen, somebody? ~ Amen.
00:09:12.08\00:09:13.98
Even though our society
has moved in a completely
00:09:14.02\00:09:16.85
different direction.
00:09:16.89\00:09:18.22
And I'm not shocked.
00:09:18.25\00:09:19.59
Because the world in
which we live has moved for
00:09:19.62\00:09:22.92
thousands of
years in the opposite
00:09:22.96\00:09:25.46
direction of God's blessing.
00:09:25.49\00:09:27.23
But the church is
not called to follow
00:09:27.60\00:09:29.56
the direction of the world.
00:09:29.60\00:09:30.93
The church is called to
follow the direction of God.
00:09:30.97\00:09:34.00
So the church should
never apologize for being strong
00:09:34.47\00:09:38.04
on a, "Thus saith the Lord."
00:09:38.07\00:09:40.21
That's why God,
when He called the church
00:09:41.01\00:09:42.58
to reflect His image,
He made this statement.
00:09:42.61\00:09:45.01
And then He gave them a
command that Paul the apostle
00:09:52.95\00:09:55.59
makes very clear, as
the husband and the wife
00:09:55.62\00:09:58.43
is a reflection of God's
relationship with His church.
00:09:58.46\00:10:02.23
Notice these
words in Ephesians 5:25.
00:10:02.50\00:10:06.80
The 21st century
family is under attack.
00:10:15.28\00:10:19.45
More than ever before.
00:10:20.82\00:10:22.32
And the reason I say, more
than ever before, is because
00:10:22.52\00:10:24.72
the devil knows
he has a short time.
00:10:24.75\00:10:26.65
He also knows that the church
is only as strong as the family.
00:10:26.86\00:10:31.76
My wife and I are going
on 35 years of marriage.
00:10:31.86\00:10:34.13
We didn't get
here on a bed of ease.
00:10:34.16\00:10:36.13
But one of the challenges
today is not that marriages
00:10:37.17\00:10:39.80
are doomed to fail
because of challenges,
00:10:39.83\00:10:42.44
but too many times the marriage
succumbs to the challenges
00:10:42.47\00:10:47.61
rather than
standing on the power of God
00:10:47.64\00:10:50.58
to defeat and be
victorious over any challenge.
00:10:50.61\00:10:54.02
The 21st century has come
with all of its challenges.
00:10:54.42\00:10:57.09
I saw this...
Actually my wife and I...
00:10:57.12\00:10:59.32
So many times she helps me
get these little sermon nuggets,
00:10:59.62\00:11:02.49
which I appreciate.
00:11:02.52\00:11:03.86
She gave me this yesterday.
00:11:03.89\00:11:05.23
Think about the 21st century.
00:11:05.26\00:11:07.86
Our phones are
wireless; cooking, fireless;
00:11:08.23\00:11:11.23
cars, keyless; food,
fatless; tires, tubeless;
00:11:11.27\00:11:15.50
dresses,
sleeveless; youth, jobless;
00:11:15.54\00:11:18.57
leaders, shameless;
relationships, meaningless;
00:11:19.01\00:11:23.31
attitudes,
careless; wives, fearless;
00:11:23.35\00:11:26.01
babies, fatherless;
feelings, heartless;
00:11:26.11\00:11:29.08
education,
valueless; children, mannerless;
00:11:29.12\00:11:32.65
even though I'm
speechless, my hope is endless.
00:11:32.69\00:11:35.42
Amen, somebody.
00:11:35.46\00:11:36.79
The 21st century has come
out with its fists balled up.
00:11:38.53\00:11:42.36
The Mike Tyson, the Muhammad
Ali of destruction of the family
00:11:43.16\00:11:47.07
has come out swinging.
00:11:47.10\00:11:48.44
And so many families go
down because they look more
00:11:48.47\00:11:52.21
at the world's
pattern for family than at
00:11:53.01\00:11:56.08
God's pattern for family.
00:11:56.11\00:11:57.91
You could never find outside
of God's ideal for marriage
00:11:57.95\00:12:01.85
what God intends to
be only in marriage.
00:12:01.88\00:12:04.25
We talked about the Sabbath
in our last presentation.
00:12:04.72\00:12:07.02
The Sabbath is a
horizontal relationship
00:12:07.06\00:12:09.59
between man and God.
00:12:09.62\00:12:11.39
The marriage... Sorry.
00:12:11.43\00:12:12.93
Vertical relationship
between man and God.
00:12:12.96\00:12:14.96
The marriage is a
horizontal relationship
00:12:15.00\00:12:17.47
between a husband and wife.
00:12:17.50\00:12:19.13
And you cannot find
outside of that relationship
00:12:20.17\00:12:22.94
that God has established.
00:12:22.97\00:12:24.64
It's the oldest
institution in the Bible.
00:12:24.87\00:12:27.11
And it is God's plan
that wherever the family
00:12:27.51\00:12:30.58
is established, His
image will be reflected.
00:12:30.61\00:12:33.68
Not only through the husband,
but also through the wife,
00:12:33.72\00:12:36.18
and also through the children.
00:12:36.22\00:12:37.72
Any family based on
God's principles in His Word
00:12:37.75\00:12:41.19
will always come to the
place where they can reflect
00:12:41.22\00:12:43.93
the blessing of God.
00:12:43.96\00:12:45.29
But on the other side, it
is Satan's determined purpose
00:12:45.33\00:12:48.13
to cause the
family to be a curse.
00:12:48.70\00:12:51.37
As he tries to
violate the Sabbath,
00:12:52.17\00:12:55.47
he also aims at
violating the family.
00:12:55.50\00:12:58.44
And today in our
world, Lord have mercy,
00:12:58.47\00:13:01.24
the family has
to pray harder today
00:13:02.11\00:13:04.48
than at any other
time in human history.
00:13:04.51\00:13:06.61
Because this is
not the kind of world
00:13:10.72\00:13:12.92
that existed 20
years ago, or 40 years ago,
00:13:14.16\00:13:18.03
or 50 years ago.
00:13:18.39\00:13:19.89
There was a time, you know,
when you watched television...
00:13:20.10\00:13:22.66
If you're old enough to
remember Ozzie and Harriet.
00:13:23.33\00:13:25.37
I'm not, but I've
seen some of those
00:13:25.40\00:13:29.24
black and white
shows on YouTube.
00:13:29.27\00:13:31.34
Those were the days
when, you know, they showed
00:13:31.71\00:13:33.61
husband and wife, they
slept in separate beds.
00:13:33.64\00:13:35.54
Remember that?
00:13:35.58\00:13:36.91
They would never
show them in bed together.
00:13:36.95\00:13:38.81
Now that's all they do.
00:13:39.25\00:13:41.15
Sometimes you're
watching a family program
00:13:43.15\00:13:45.02
and the commercial is corrupt.
00:13:45.05\00:13:46.62
Sometimes you cannot
walk through the mall.
00:13:47.52\00:13:49.42
Sometimes a man that has
struggles with sexual issues
00:13:49.46\00:13:52.33
cannot walk through some malls.
00:13:52.36\00:13:54.30
You know what I'm talking about.
00:13:56.53\00:13:57.87
You've got to walk
through a mall with a bridle.
00:13:58.77\00:14:00.84
Not a bridal as in a wedding,
but a bridle as in a horse.
00:14:02.50\00:14:05.57
And men, you've got to
train your eyes not to gawk.
00:14:06.98\00:14:11.31
But when you look at the
ideal for God and the family,
00:14:17.82\00:14:20.29
when you look at
God's ideal for the family,
00:14:20.32\00:14:21.89
notice what He
says in Genesis 2:24.
00:14:21.92\00:14:24.03
One of the first principles
of marriage, I learned this,
00:14:32.33\00:14:35.40
is when you are married, do
not live with your relatives.
00:14:35.60\00:14:40.84
I hope you have
on your seat belts.
00:14:44.71\00:14:46.61
I'm going to come
at you this morning.
00:14:46.65\00:14:47.98
Do not live with your relatives.
00:14:49.55\00:14:51.42
Because your
father, your wife's mother
00:14:51.45\00:14:55.06
will always be her mother.
00:14:55.09\00:14:56.59
And your husband's mother
will always be his mother.
00:14:57.59\00:15:00.66
And ladies, you know
about mother-in-law's that...
00:15:01.76\00:15:04.33
Well, I had a
beautiful mother-in-law.
00:15:05.47\00:15:07.24
But in some cases
you know how that goes.
00:15:08.57\00:15:10.51
I won't even talk about
that too much this morning.
00:15:10.54\00:15:12.64
But seven times in the Bible you
find the phrase, "one flesh."
00:15:13.38\00:15:17.11
Which means, and I took
this, seven times the phrase,
00:15:17.61\00:15:21.18
"one flesh,"
shows up in the Bible,
00:15:21.22\00:15:23.18
which means, seven is
the number of perfection.
00:15:23.22\00:15:25.22
You can only be one flesh if
you rely on the perfection of
00:15:26.35\00:15:30.03
God to hold you together.
00:15:30.06\00:15:31.76
You can only be
one flesh that way.
00:15:32.19\00:15:34.03
Because the world in which
we live is trying to challenge
00:15:34.06\00:15:36.50
the flesh on every side.
00:15:36.53\00:15:38.57
Matthew 19:6 makes it clear.
00:15:38.60\00:15:40.74
Which brings me to my
first point this morning.
00:15:52.15\00:15:54.05
Very important.
00:15:54.08\00:15:55.42
Don't give anyone
the place that belongs
00:15:55.48\00:15:57.49
only to your spouse.
00:15:57.52\00:15:59.82
Whether at work,
whether in your carpool,
00:16:02.92\00:16:07.30
whether in your social setting,
don't give anyone the place
00:16:07.50\00:16:11.67
that belongs
only to your spouse.
00:16:11.70\00:16:13.84
If people would have
forward looking vision.
00:16:14.10\00:16:16.87
Sometimes people might
say, "Well, we're just talking."
00:16:16.97\00:16:19.34
Well, you know, that's
what Eve and Satan did.
00:16:19.44\00:16:21.71
They just had a conversation.
00:16:21.74\00:16:23.24
Look at where we ended up.
00:16:23.58\00:16:24.91
It just started
with a conversation.
00:16:25.78\00:16:27.48
That's why the Bible
says and makes it very clear,
00:16:27.98\00:16:29.88
Proverbs 6:23, a
powerful passage.
00:16:31.02\00:16:33.86
Are you ready today?
00:16:33.89\00:16:35.32
I hope you are.
00:16:35.82\00:16:37.16
Not even a piece of
bread, but a crust of bread.
00:17:02.68\00:17:06.79
You've got to think
beyond the moment, men.
00:17:15.30\00:17:17.27
Can I talk to the men today?
00:17:17.93\00:17:19.27
You've got to think
beyond the moment, men.
00:17:19.30\00:17:21.40
No amens necessary.
00:17:21.80\00:17:23.57
Because I don't think
I'll get many on that point.
00:17:23.87\00:17:25.87
You've got to
think beyond the moment.
00:17:26.98\00:17:28.78
Many homes have
been completely destroyed
00:17:29.44\00:17:32.55
because somebody
fluttered their eyelids
00:17:32.78\00:17:35.88
or gave you the attention that
you know you did not deserve.
00:17:36.15\00:17:39.15
And all of a sudden, what
God intended to be a blessing
00:17:40.22\00:17:43.22
became an absolute curse.
00:17:43.26\00:17:45.39
And the pain that
could have been avoided
00:17:45.79\00:17:47.80
often hangs around
longer than you desire
00:17:48.00\00:17:49.90
for it to hang around.
00:17:49.93\00:17:51.27
If she looks good,
doesn't mean she is good.
00:17:51.30\00:17:53.80
And if she's not
your wife, she ain't good.
00:17:54.27\00:17:56.67
That's why I take
my wife everywhere.
00:18:02.61\00:18:04.25
So when you see me
hugging somebody in church,
00:18:06.31\00:18:08.58
it's my wife.
00:18:08.62\00:18:09.95
I was invited to a foreign
country once, and they told me,
00:18:10.45\00:18:12.85
"Well, we can't
afford to bring your wife.
00:18:12.89\00:18:14.86
We can't afford another ticket."
00:18:14.89\00:18:16.49
I said, "Well then cancel me."
00:18:16.52\00:18:18.09
They said, "We can't
because you're on the program."
00:18:18.93\00:18:20.43
I said, "Well
buy another ticket."
00:18:20.46\00:18:21.80
They said, "Well
we can't afford it."
00:18:21.83\00:18:23.16
And I was
contending with a strong woman.
00:18:23.20\00:18:25.20
She said, "We cannot afford it.
00:18:25.93\00:18:27.27
But you're on all the
posters. You need to be here."
00:18:27.30\00:18:29.00
I said, "Well, I don't
care if I'm on the posters.
00:18:29.04\00:18:31.24
Cancel me if you
can't pay for my wife."
00:18:31.27\00:18:33.84
Well they paid for her.
00:18:34.34\00:18:35.68
And they said,
"What's she going to do?"
00:18:37.21\00:18:38.55
I said, "Be my wife.
00:18:38.58\00:18:39.91
See, after I talk to you guys,
00:18:41.02\00:18:42.35
I need somebody
to keep me sane."
00:18:42.38\00:18:43.72
Amen?
00:18:44.95\00:18:46.29
But do not allow what you
see to determine what you do.
00:18:46.32\00:18:50.53
Because if the devil
knows where your weakness lies,
00:18:50.83\00:18:53.66
he will bring to
you exactly what your
00:18:53.70\00:18:56.10
heart is alluring after.
00:18:56.13\00:18:58.33
Notice the Bible. Very clear.
00:18:59.03\00:19:00.74
Can you take this any other way?
00:19:01.10\00:19:02.74
Very... The seventh commandment.
00:19:06.07\00:19:09.74
"You should not
commit adultery."
00:19:10.15\00:19:11.88
That means God
gave you one wife.
00:19:12.48\00:19:14.78
And if you stay
with that one wife
00:19:15.35\00:19:16.95
you'll find joy and
happiness forever more.
00:19:16.99\00:19:19.75
Some people think the grass
is greener on the other side.
00:19:21.12\00:19:23.32
No, it needs to be mowed too.
00:19:23.36\00:19:25.76
And the sun dries that up.
00:19:26.93\00:19:29.00
And often times we go
after somebody that we only
00:19:29.40\00:19:31.53
see during the daytime.
00:19:31.57\00:19:32.90
We don't see their
attitudes and all that stuff
00:19:32.93\00:19:34.70
that they deal with.
00:19:34.74\00:19:36.07
But then again, you shouldn't
even be concerned about that
00:19:36.10\00:19:37.77
if they're not your wife.
00:19:37.81\00:19:39.14
You guys are
awfully quiet today.
00:19:43.35\00:19:44.68
But I'm not
asking for amens anyhow.
00:19:44.71\00:19:46.48
Proverbs 6:32
00:19:47.22\00:19:48.75
When you read Proverbs 5 and 6,
00:19:55.62\00:19:57.99
the counsel to husbands,
the counsel to young men.
00:19:58.89\00:20:02.36
All through the Scriptures
there are so many principles.
00:20:02.40\00:20:05.07
All through the Scriptures.
00:20:05.47\00:20:07.30
Not only, "Be
not unequally yoked."
00:20:08.10\00:20:10.17
I hear about young
ladies, they say, "Well I can't
00:20:10.21\00:20:11.87
find anybody in the church."
00:20:11.91\00:20:13.44
And I say to them,
"Well have you traveled
00:20:13.64\00:20:15.18
all around the world?"
00:20:15.34\00:20:16.98
If you can't find
an Adventist young man
00:20:18.05\00:20:19.51
in an Adventist
church in Phoenix,
00:20:19.55\00:20:21.08
go to California.
00:20:21.12\00:20:22.52
Go anyplace else,
except to be unequally yoked.
00:20:23.02\00:20:26.29
Hallelujah.
00:20:29.19\00:20:30.53
Because the misconception is
you're going to find somebody
00:20:31.53\00:20:35.20
that you think you can change,
when you cannot change them.
00:20:36.00\00:20:39.33
If you don't like who you are...
00:20:39.73\00:20:41.10
If you don't like who that
person is when you find them,
00:20:41.37\00:20:43.20
chances are they're not
going to change any time soon.
00:20:43.24\00:20:45.47
And you can't
change anybody anyhow.
00:20:45.64\00:20:47.74
But when you step
outside of what God intends
00:20:47.98\00:20:50.45
to be a blessing to
you, you lack understanding.
00:20:50.48\00:20:53.21
You lack understanding.
00:20:54.15\00:20:55.48
If you look at the
Bible, one of the reasons why
00:20:55.52\00:20:57.35
Eve was deceived
is she entertained
00:20:57.39\00:20:59.72
her conversation
with Satan too long.
00:20:59.75\00:21:01.86
She thought about what
he said for so long that
00:21:04.23\00:21:07.16
by the time he said,
"You will not surely die,"
00:21:07.20\00:21:10.07
she was already gone.
00:21:10.10\00:21:11.50
And one of the reasons why
we often fall into the places
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.37
we do is we think that we won't
be the one that gets killed.
00:21:15.40\00:21:19.24
And marriages get
killed, trust gets killed,
00:21:19.64\00:21:22.18
love gets killed,
strength gets killed.
00:21:22.21\00:21:25.61
So when the devil says, "If
you go outside of these confines
00:21:26.05\00:21:28.68
you will not
surely die," it is a lie.
00:21:28.72\00:21:30.89
- Amen, somebody. ~ Amen.
00:21:30.92\00:21:32.62
Lack understanding.
00:21:32.65\00:21:33.99
The Bible says
in Hebrews 13:4...
00:21:34.02\00:21:35.79
So when God blesses
you, hold in high esteem...
00:21:42.93\00:21:48.20
Gentlemen, husbands, single men.
00:21:48.24\00:21:52.11
If you're looking for a
wife, pray twice as hard.
00:21:52.31\00:21:55.24
...hold in high esteem the
value God has given to you.
00:21:55.94\00:21:59.95
Because you can never
find outside of God's plan
00:21:59.98\00:22:03.45
what God intends
only to be in His plan.
00:22:03.49\00:22:06.86
Amen?
00:22:07.66\00:22:08.99
Elders, be careful how much
time you spend with a deaconess.
00:22:09.26\00:22:15.16
Church members, a
man should not be found
00:22:18.50\00:22:23.07
counseling a woman by himself.
00:22:23.10\00:22:25.17
All she's got to
do is cry. That's it.
00:22:26.51\00:22:28.51
Shoulder; next thing you know,
"It's going to be alright."
00:22:29.94\00:22:33.15
"Oh, I'm so glad you're here."
00:22:33.48\00:22:35.05
And before you know it, you're
outside the Garden of Eden.
00:22:35.55\00:22:39.22
And the angels
barring the very blessing
00:22:40.19\00:22:42.12
God intended for you to have.
00:22:42.16\00:22:43.63
But I also want to say this.
00:22:43.89\00:22:45.36
While adultery is a horrible
violation of the marriage,
00:22:46.76\00:22:51.93
there is no sin that you could
commit that the Lord cannot
00:22:53.74\00:22:56.74
forgive you of.
00:22:56.77\00:22:58.24
It doesn't mean...
00:22:58.67\00:23:00.01
And when you read
about adultery in the Bible,
00:23:00.04\00:23:01.51
Moses said that God allowed
adultery only because of the
00:23:01.54\00:23:04.45
hardness of someone's heart.
00:23:04.48\00:23:06.28
Divorce. He only
allowed divorce because of the
00:23:06.55\00:23:09.55
hardness of someone's heart.
00:23:09.58\00:23:10.92
It was never God's intention
for there to be divorce.
00:23:10.95\00:23:13.66
But some people use
the word, "divorce,"
00:23:13.76\00:23:15.86
the moment problems arise.
00:23:15.89\00:23:17.56
One of the reasons why marriages
fail today is not because
00:23:17.99\00:23:20.93
they don't have problems, or not
because they do have problems,
00:23:20.96\00:23:24.93
but because they don't fight
through the problems together.
00:23:24.97\00:23:28.57
And so many
people fight each other.
00:23:29.24\00:23:31.34
My wife and I have discovered
we either win together
00:23:31.54\00:23:34.01
or we lose together.
00:23:34.04\00:23:35.38
Amen?
00:23:35.41\00:23:36.75
You can't fight
your wife and win.
00:23:36.78\00:23:38.11
Gentlemen, you'll never win
an argument against your wife.
00:23:38.15\00:23:40.78
If you think
you've won, it's not over.
00:23:41.48\00:23:43.25
You ever had an
argument and think about
00:23:46.42\00:23:47.89
what you should
have said later on?
00:23:47.92\00:23:49.46
But I want to
show you God's grace.
00:23:53.83\00:23:56.23
One of the most
powerful stories in the Bible
00:23:56.46\00:23:58.43
is the woman caught in adultery.
00:23:58.47\00:24:00.84
There's nothing you can commit
that God cannot forgive you of.
00:24:01.47\00:24:03.84
Don't go into it with
your eyes open thinking that
00:24:03.87\00:24:06.31
God will overlook it though.
00:24:06.34\00:24:07.81
Look at this wonderful story.
00:24:07.84\00:24:09.31
John 8:3-11
00:24:10.01\00:24:11.68
One writer said that Jesus was
writing their sin in the sand.
00:24:36.71\00:24:41.04
I'm glad that God does
not write our sin in stone.
00:24:43.24\00:24:46.21
Sometimes people spend
more time highlighting what
00:25:01.00\00:25:03.67
your problem is than
what their problem is.
00:25:03.70\00:25:06.74
And whatever it is, the door
hit the nail on the head here.
00:25:06.90\00:25:09.70
But he goes on by saying this...
00:25:09.74\00:25:11.47
The oldest was
always the most responsible.
00:25:26.02\00:25:28.29
This is powerful. I
want you to get this.
00:25:42.70\00:25:44.47
"Has no one condemned you?"
00:25:44.51\00:25:46.31
Yes they did, but
they're not there anymore.
00:25:47.98\00:25:50.15
Now I want you to get something.
00:25:57.95\00:25:59.32
Jesus didn't condemn her.
00:25:59.65\00:26:02.79
He condemned the sin.
00:26:02.82\00:26:04.43
Look at the Bible.
00:26:07.50\00:26:08.83
He forgave her.
00:26:08.86\00:26:10.20
He did not by any
means give her permission
00:26:10.67\00:26:14.60
to remain in the sin.
00:26:14.70\00:26:16.04
He said, go and
do what? Sin no more.
00:26:16.07\00:26:18.67
Don't let this happen again.
00:26:18.71\00:26:20.28
And when you read the story
in the Bible of Mary Magdalene,
00:26:20.71\00:26:23.51
you read that Jesus
cast seven demons out.
00:26:24.05\00:26:26.41
In fact, it was the
same demon seven times.
00:26:26.45\00:26:30.45
God is a God of grace.
00:26:31.42\00:26:32.82
Somebody ought to say amen.
00:26:32.85\00:26:34.22
He forgave her, but
notice what He did not do.
00:26:34.42\00:26:36.73
Romans 8:3
00:26:37.53\00:26:38.86
He didn't condemn the
sinner, He condemned the sin.
00:26:47.24\00:26:51.21
Only those who refuse to repent
will be condemned in the end.
00:26:51.24\00:26:55.14
Only those who
refuse to confess.
00:26:55.51\00:26:57.48
He who confesses and
forsakes will have mercy.
00:26:57.51\00:27:01.15
But he who covers
his sin will not prosper.
00:27:01.98\00:27:04.49
You cannot
remain in sin and think
00:27:04.92\00:27:06.42
that God has overlooked it.
00:27:06.45\00:27:07.79
No, there's a
judgment day coming.
00:27:07.82\00:27:09.32
The woman caught in the very act
00:27:18.90\00:27:21.70
was not
condemned by God, by Jesus,
00:27:23.37\00:27:25.61
but the act was condemned.
00:27:25.64\00:27:27.08
That's why He said,
"Go and do this no more.
00:27:27.11\00:27:30.11
Sin no more."
00:27:30.15\00:27:31.78
And when you think
about it, in the book of Luke,
00:27:31.81\00:27:34.22
Jesus speaking about
the person out of which
00:27:34.98\00:27:40.26
demons were cast, He
said, "Go and sin no more,
00:27:40.36\00:27:43.46
lest a worse
thing come upon you."
00:27:43.49\00:27:46.49
What people don't know
is, you cannot be in sin
00:27:47.43\00:27:50.07
and play with it like you
play with a German Shepherd dog.
00:27:50.17\00:27:53.23
Because it will bite you.
00:27:58.04\00:27:59.37
It will get you.
00:27:59.71\00:28:01.04
Point number two, that's why
you have to guard your thoughts.
00:28:01.38\00:28:04.11
Say that with me.
00:28:04.15\00:28:05.48
Guard your thoughts.
00:28:05.51\00:28:07.38
Here's the reason why.
00:28:07.42\00:28:08.75
Whatever your
thoughts reflect on is going to
00:28:08.78\00:28:10.22
take over your character.
00:28:10.25\00:28:11.59
Proverbs 4:23
00:28:11.92\00:28:13.39
The first sign of
departure from God's Word
00:28:27.44\00:28:31.27
should frighten you
enough to say, "Lord, help me."
00:28:31.31\00:28:36.24
But I've discovered, and I've
seen in the lives of so many,
00:28:37.88\00:28:42.95
that by the time a
person is about ready to fall,
00:28:43.28\00:28:46.12
they have stayed
at that tree too long
00:28:46.15\00:28:48.49
and they cannot
rescue themselves.
00:28:49.69\00:28:51.59
Guard your thoughts.
00:28:53.50\00:28:55.06
And your thoughts are
controlled by what you see.
00:28:55.63\00:28:58.80
Many people don't know.
00:28:59.60\00:29:00.94
And that's why the world we
live in today is so provocative.
00:29:00.97\00:29:03.20
It's designed to
mess up the mind of a man.
00:29:03.41\00:29:06.61
Men are
stimulated by what they see.
00:29:08.48\00:29:10.88
Women are stimulated by touch.
00:29:10.91\00:29:13.11
If you're not married
to a particular person,
00:29:14.45\00:29:17.22
don't feel that you have the
liberty to walk up to them and
00:29:17.32\00:29:19.69
touch them any way
you feel that you want to.
00:29:19.72\00:29:22.22
Just because...
00:29:22.26\00:29:23.59
Watch out that phrase, "Greet
your brethren with a holy kiss."
00:29:23.63\00:29:26.66
Most of those
kisses are not holy.
00:29:26.86\00:29:28.56
As I wrote down here,
the Lord gave this to me,
00:29:32.77\00:29:34.70
keep the issues that
will destroy your heart
00:29:34.74\00:29:37.01
out of your mind.
00:29:37.04\00:29:38.37
Keep the issues that
will destroy your mind
00:29:38.41\00:29:40.58
out of your heart.
00:29:40.61\00:29:41.94
The heart will not grow fonder
where the mind does not wander.
00:29:41.98\00:29:45.81
These destructive thoughts.
00:29:49.35\00:29:51.42
This is a survey
that I chose these from.
00:29:51.75\00:29:54.72
Destructive thoughts.
00:29:54.76\00:29:56.26
When things go wrong,
don't ever utter those words.
00:29:58.39\00:30:01.86
"Our marriage was a mistake."
00:30:02.36\00:30:03.90
Now in some cases if
you choose to marry somebody
00:30:03.93\00:30:07.17
that God never led you
to and you're determined
00:30:07.20\00:30:09.40
in spite of all of God's counsel
that you're going to take
00:30:09.44\00:30:12.11
that person, that
man or that woman,
00:30:12.14\00:30:13.88
just because
that's who you want...
00:30:13.91\00:30:15.24
And you've seen so
many examples in Scripture.
00:30:15.28\00:30:17.25
Samson was one of those.
00:30:18.25\00:30:19.65
He said to his
father, "Get me that woman.
00:30:19.68\00:30:21.85
She pleases me."
00:30:21.88\00:30:23.42
And God said,
"That's not the intent.
00:30:23.85\00:30:26.02
Don't marry foreign women."
00:30:26.05\00:30:27.46
Solomon; I think
that man is going to need
00:30:27.49\00:30:29.52
counseling throughout eternity.
00:30:29.56\00:30:31.06
Seven hundred wives,
three hundred concubines.
00:30:31.89\00:30:35.50
And Ellen White says in the
book, Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:30:35.66\00:30:38.50
that Solomon had so
many women in his life
00:30:38.53\00:30:42.27
that toward the
closing of his life
00:30:42.30\00:30:44.24
he had an effeminate persona.
00:30:44.37\00:30:48.78
It changed the way he talked.
00:30:50.11\00:30:51.95
It changed the ways in his life.
00:30:52.48\00:30:53.98
Even though he repented,
he had an effeminate persona
00:30:54.02\00:30:57.59
toward the closing of his life.
00:30:57.62\00:30:59.12
God will forgive you.
00:30:59.49\00:31:00.82
But sometimes you have to live
with the result of your choices.
00:31:00.86\00:31:03.46
"I can't take
much more of this."
00:31:04.33\00:31:05.86
When you get into an argument,
stop saying things that
00:31:05.89\00:31:09.16
you're going to regret.
00:31:09.20\00:31:10.53
Some people don't have a
stop in front of their mouths.
00:31:10.70\00:31:12.33
They get all
upset, "I'm out of here."
00:31:12.37\00:31:14.00
The next thing you know they
are outside and they realize,
00:31:14.64\00:31:16.40
"How did I get out here?"
00:31:16.44\00:31:17.77
Destructive thoughts.
00:31:17.81\00:31:19.14
Some more...
00:31:19.17\00:31:20.51
Yes they do.
00:31:23.01\00:31:24.35
But sometimes if
you're insisting your way,
00:31:24.38\00:31:26.28
it may appear as
though you're not understood.
00:31:26.31\00:31:28.42
Stop and reason together.
00:31:28.75\00:31:30.55
My wife and I have learned
a very important principle.
00:31:30.82\00:31:33.05
When it gets too
hot, let's stop and pray.
00:31:33.09\00:31:36.42
Amen?
00:31:36.99\00:31:38.33
I say, "Honey, we're
going to win together
00:31:38.36\00:31:40.50
or we're going
to lose together."
00:31:40.53\00:31:41.86
And we've gotten to the
place, after so many years
00:31:42.80\00:31:44.63
we got to the place in
our relationship where we say,
00:31:44.67\00:31:47.34
"You know, I'm really sorry.
00:31:47.67\00:31:49.30
I am really sorry.
00:31:49.97\00:31:51.37
I apologize."
00:31:51.97\00:31:53.48
Through the years
we've grown through this.
00:31:53.98\00:31:56.01
Because sometimes we
got angry with each other
00:31:56.04\00:31:57.98
and went to bed like
4:00 o'clock in the morning.
00:31:58.31\00:32:00.32
She's at the edge
of the bed that way
00:32:00.35\00:32:02.32
and I'm at the edge
of the bed that way.
00:32:02.78\00:32:04.12
You know how I'm
talking about, right?
00:32:04.15\00:32:05.49
You become stone monuments.
00:32:05.52\00:32:06.86
You don't move,
you don't breathe.
00:32:06.89\00:32:08.22
For four hours you
haven't taken one breath.
00:32:08.32\00:32:10.09
You can't move
because you are determined,
00:32:10.13\00:32:11.99
"I am not going
to give in this time.
00:32:12.03\00:32:14.60
I am not going to give in."
00:32:14.63\00:32:16.77
4:00 o'clock in the
morning, "You awake?"
00:32:17.27\00:32:20.90
"Yeah, I' awake."
00:32:21.57\00:32:22.90
"I'm sorry."
00:32:24.74\00:32:26.07
"I'm sorry too."
00:32:26.94\00:32:28.28
"It was my fault."
"No it was my fault."
00:32:29.04\00:32:31.18
And then you start
arguing over whose fault it is.
00:32:31.78\00:32:34.08
"Just would you
let it be my fault?"
00:32:35.48\00:32:37.22
"No, it was my fault."
00:32:37.25\00:32:38.59
"I don't want to
talk to you anymore."
00:32:38.62\00:32:39.95
Not really, but...
00:32:39.99\00:32:41.32
God will humble the
heart who wants to be humbled.
00:32:41.36\00:32:44.49
But if your mind is
recalcitrant and you just
00:32:44.53\00:32:46.59
want to win an argument...
00:32:46.63\00:32:47.96
Let me say this to ladies.
00:32:48.00\00:32:49.33
Don't throw anything at me.
00:32:49.53\00:32:50.87
Some women want
just to be right.
00:32:51.90\00:32:55.97
Some men want to just be right.
00:32:57.24\00:32:59.97
If you want to win the argument,
you may lose the person.
00:33:00.01\00:33:03.98
Some issues are
not even the issue.
00:33:07.15\00:33:09.58
It's the attitude in the
issue that's often the issue.
00:33:09.62\00:33:12.52
Going on, a few
other destructive thoughts.
00:33:13.49\00:33:15.72
"Divorce is always an option."
00:33:16.42\00:33:18.03
No it is not.
00:33:18.13\00:33:20.16
"I'll go home to my mother."
00:33:20.80\00:33:22.53
If she does, don't follow her.
00:33:24.07\00:33:25.97
"Spending time
together is not a problem."
00:33:27.77\00:33:30.27
Be careful who you
spend too much time with.
00:33:30.31\00:33:33.61
"I saw him smile at
her. I saw her smile at him."
00:33:35.74\00:33:39.31
What you saw may
not be what you saw.
00:33:39.71\00:33:41.92
The list of the top ten killers.
00:33:46.29\00:33:48.22
Top ten marriage killers:
lack of trust, suspicion,
00:33:49.02\00:33:52.19
not being heard,
taken for granted,
00:33:52.23\00:33:54.43
growing apart, a
don't care attitude,
00:33:54.73\00:33:57.63
divided heart, marital
affair, career over family,
00:33:57.67\00:34:02.67
and one of the key
ones, no religion in the home.
00:34:03.30\00:34:07.41
You cannot build a
marriage that was made by God
00:34:08.91\00:34:11.98
on a foundation
where God is missing.
00:34:12.18\00:34:14.68
Am I right?
00:34:15.85\00:34:17.19
God blessed the
marriage, but you want to
00:34:17.22\00:34:18.75
have a marriage without God.
00:34:18.79\00:34:20.26
No, that's a contract.
00:34:20.96\00:34:22.36
That's a contract.
00:34:22.72\00:34:24.06
Let me talk to the
young people today.
00:34:24.09\00:34:25.53
Or any age, if you
fall into this category.
00:34:25.56\00:34:28.46
Point three, don't live
together unless married.
00:34:28.83\00:34:32.33
Now older people do this
as well as younger people.
00:34:34.90\00:34:37.77
Older people; and
I've had some situations.
00:34:38.21\00:34:40.64
My dad, who is now
deceased, and his wife,
00:34:40.91\00:34:43.38
neither of them were Christians.
00:34:43.41\00:34:45.38
And they lived together.
00:34:45.61\00:34:47.68
They got married.
00:34:48.18\00:34:49.52
And then they got divorced.
00:34:49.55\00:34:51.02
And I said, "Why
did you get divorced?"
00:34:51.05\00:34:52.39
"Well we don't have any issues.
00:34:52.42\00:34:53.76
It's just that we have
to divorce because if we're
00:34:53.79\00:34:55.59
married, she'll
lose her social security
00:34:55.62\00:34:57.93
and I'll lose my
social security."
00:34:57.96\00:34:59.96
Well, you know,
it's bigger than that.
00:35:00.53\00:35:02.40
You'll lose your salvation,
and she'll lose her salvation.
00:35:02.43\00:35:05.53
So don't get married
for financial convenience
00:35:07.14\00:35:09.57
when it's not in
harmony with God's will.
00:35:09.60\00:35:12.27
And young people say,
"Well, how would we know
00:35:12.87\00:35:15.44
if we're going to work
unless we live together first?"
00:35:15.48\00:35:17.65
I was reading a
statistic last night.
00:35:18.58\00:35:20.32
And it's so much; I mean,
I've been a marriage coach
00:35:20.78\00:35:23.45
for many, many years.
00:35:23.49\00:35:24.82
I was reading a statistic
last night, and they said
00:35:24.85\00:35:27.19
about 80% of the marriages...
00:35:27.29\00:35:29.29
And there are various polls.
00:35:29.32\00:35:30.83
You know, not everybody agrees.
00:35:30.86\00:35:32.19
But in this particular
poll, 75% to 80% of people that
00:35:32.23\00:35:35.06
live together before they marry
don't usually stay married.
00:35:35.10\00:35:38.83
And when you're living together,
and you get upset that he or she
00:35:40.14\00:35:42.70
leaves, they have the right.
00:35:42.74\00:35:44.97
Because you don't
have any papers on them.
00:35:45.31\00:35:46.81
They could get up at any moment
and say, "I'm out of here,"
00:35:47.48\00:35:49.31
and you have no legal recourse.
00:35:49.34\00:35:51.91
Do not live together.
00:35:51.95\00:35:53.38
It is not a blessing and
it will never be a blessing,
00:35:53.42\00:35:56.02
because God never intended
for you to shack up together.
00:35:56.05\00:35:59.02
Amen, somebody.
00:35:59.05\00:36:00.39
And then there are
other people that say,
00:36:01.02\00:36:04.83
"Well, we're not
sexually involved.
00:36:04.86\00:36:07.30
We just share an
apartment together."
00:36:07.33\00:36:09.80
Right!
00:36:10.17\00:36:11.50
There was a couple in
our church once that...
00:36:11.80\00:36:14.30
I'm going to tell the story.
00:36:14.90\00:36:16.24
I noticed in one of
our evangelistic series
00:36:16.27\00:36:18.07
many churches ago...
00:36:18.11\00:36:19.44
So you don't know
which one I'm talking about.
00:36:19.47\00:36:20.91
...and I noticed that
both their names were on our
00:36:21.64\00:36:24.71
Revelation seminar list, and
they both had the same address.
00:36:25.51\00:36:28.32
And they were
both church members.
00:36:28.35\00:36:29.68
And I said, "Wait a
minute. They're not married."
00:36:29.72\00:36:31.35
And I asked my leaders,
I said, "Is this a typo?"
00:36:31.59\00:36:33.86
They said, "No,
they live together."
00:36:33.89\00:36:35.22
And they were
leaders in our church.
00:36:35.52\00:36:36.89
I said, "They live together?
00:36:36.93\00:36:38.63
When were you
guys going to tell me?"
00:36:39.26\00:36:40.60
"Well, pastor, we didn't
want to be a tattletale."
00:36:40.63\00:36:42.56
"So you wanted to bring God's
reproach on our church, right?"
00:36:42.60\00:36:45.07
I went to their
house the next day.
00:36:46.47\00:36:48.50
I said, "Let me in."
00:36:48.90\00:36:50.67
They said, "We're
just sharing an apartment.
00:36:52.37\00:36:53.74
We're not... There's
nothing going on here."
00:36:53.78\00:36:55.11
I said, "Come on,
guys. Really? Honestly?
00:36:55.14\00:36:57.05
I'm from New York.
00:36:57.61\00:36:59.01
Really?"
00:37:00.15\00:37:01.48
I said, "Okay,
I'll tell you what.
00:37:01.52\00:37:02.85
We have a board
meeting coming up Sunday.
00:37:02.88\00:37:04.32
You either move
out or you get married.
00:37:04.35\00:37:06.42
But you've got just
a couple more days."
00:37:06.45\00:37:08.39
Well by Wednesday I
didn't hear anything.
00:37:09.62\00:37:11.83
And I went back
and visited them.
00:37:11.86\00:37:13.19
I said, "You know,
you've got two days before the
00:37:13.23\00:37:15.53
marriage office to get a
marriage certificate closes.
00:37:15.66\00:37:18.67
You've got Thursday and Friday.
00:37:19.13\00:37:20.47
We're having a
board meeting Sunday.
00:37:20.50\00:37:21.84
Your name will come up."
00:37:21.87\00:37:23.20
They got their
marriage license on Thursday,
00:37:23.94\00:37:25.97
they had a wedding on Saturday.
00:37:26.01\00:37:27.78
They got baptized on Saturday.
They had the wedding on Sunday.
00:37:27.88\00:37:30.05
Amen?
00:37:30.08\00:37:31.41
And whenever I go back
to that church, they say,
00:37:31.45\00:37:32.95
"Pastor," they never forgot
that, twenty-seven years later,
00:37:32.98\00:37:36.38
"Pastor, the best
thing you could have done
00:37:36.55\00:37:38.99
was tell us to get married.
00:37:39.09\00:37:41.06
Because our
daughter is a blessing to us
00:37:41.09\00:37:43.69
ever since we got married."
00:37:43.73\00:37:45.36
Because God will not
bless you when you live
00:37:45.93\00:37:47.70
outside of His harmony.
00:37:47.73\00:37:49.06
It won't happen.
00:37:49.10\00:37:50.43
So here's the text
for those of you that
00:37:50.60\00:37:52.33
think it doesn't really matter.
00:37:52.53\00:37:53.87
And then when you don't think
that anybody thinks it matters,
00:38:02.64\00:38:06.21
abstain from what?
00:38:06.25\00:38:08.25
When two people are
walking in the same apartment
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.65
and they're not even married,
you mean to tell me that
00:38:12.69\00:38:14.56
the devil won't
set traps for you?
00:38:14.59\00:38:16.29
Come on, let's
get realistic here.
00:38:17.26\00:38:18.76
You just so happen to just
end up in the same living room
00:38:19.83\00:38:24.20
at the same time,
and it was a coincidence.
00:38:24.23\00:38:26.87
And all of a sudden the devil
says, "It took me some time,
00:38:28.34\00:38:30.27
but I got you there."
00:38:30.31\00:38:31.64
Be careful. And let
me tell you something.
00:38:31.94\00:38:33.27
The devil is patient.
00:38:33.31\00:38:34.91
He'll wait.
00:38:36.38\00:38:37.85
He'll wait and
he'll work on your mind.
00:38:38.85\00:38:40.25
Because when you stay at
the tree of the knowledge
00:38:40.28\00:38:42.78
of evil, the devil
is going to orchestrate
00:38:42.82\00:38:45.92
circumstances as to mess
up your relationship with God.
00:38:45.95\00:38:49.86
The other one, don't allow
your anger to go beyond one day.
00:38:50.06\00:38:55.16
Some people, I don't know about
this, there are some couples
00:38:56.16\00:38:58.13
that don't talk for like a week.
00:38:58.17\00:38:59.97
That will never
happen in our household.
00:39:00.80\00:39:03.07
That's satanic.
00:39:04.01\00:39:05.44
That's deep
satanically born pride.
00:39:06.07\00:39:10.45
That's why the seventh
thing that God hates is pride.
00:39:10.95\00:39:14.45
The Bible says...
00:39:14.98\00:39:16.32
Too many people, their
minds are not focused on
00:39:21.69\00:39:25.06
what may be best for
the other individual.
00:39:25.09\00:39:27.60
So they determine what
they want and they build a
00:39:27.63\00:39:29.56
box around themselves
and they refuse to come out.
00:39:29.60\00:39:32.77
I know people that
have lived together
00:39:33.67\00:39:35.20
and they just have
not talked for a long time
00:39:35.30\00:39:37.67
and they act like strangers.
00:39:37.71\00:39:39.04
"How was your day?"
00:39:39.07\00:39:40.41
"How was your day?"
00:39:40.51\00:39:41.88
And they are like at odds.
00:39:42.14\00:39:43.75
Totally in opposite
directions when it comes
00:39:44.11\00:39:46.48
to love for each other.
00:39:46.51\00:39:47.85
They act like robots together.
00:39:47.88\00:39:49.22
Let me tell you something.
00:39:49.25\00:39:50.59
When anger gets into
your mind and it stays there,
00:39:50.62\00:39:53.46
it will be a cancer
that may bring a disease
00:39:53.49\00:39:56.32
on the person that stays angry.
00:39:56.36\00:39:59.03
Many diseases have
sprung up in the lives of people
00:39:59.59\00:40:01.83
that could have been
avoided, but their anger
00:40:01.86\00:40:04.83
has been their god.
00:40:05.47\00:40:07.14
And instead of
getting rid of that anger,
00:40:07.54\00:40:09.44
they have lived with it and
now they've got brain cancer
00:40:09.47\00:40:11.97
or some kind of cancer in
their body because their anger
00:40:12.01\00:40:15.01
has eaten them up
more than anything else.
00:40:15.04\00:40:17.98
I tell you, pride
will kill a marriage.
00:40:18.68\00:40:21.88
Don't raise your
hand, but I know some of you
00:40:27.22\00:40:28.96
have argued at times.
00:40:28.99\00:40:30.33
Right? We've
all argued at times.
00:40:30.73\00:40:33.03
But I tell you what.
00:40:33.13\00:40:34.46
My mother-in-law use to say
this, and I never forget this.
00:40:34.56\00:40:37.20
My mother-in-law, my
wife's mother, now deceased,
00:40:37.73\00:40:39.70
wonderful mother-in-law.
00:40:39.73\00:40:41.17
She said to her daughter,
"If one of you is the fire,
00:40:41.30\00:40:43.97
the other one
needs to be the water."
00:40:44.01\00:40:45.87
But that has to be an
intentionality on your part.
00:40:49.11\00:40:52.25
That has to be an
intentionality on your part.
00:40:52.61\00:40:54.85
And my wife and
I have learned...
00:40:54.95\00:40:56.28
No matter how long
you've been married,
00:40:56.32\00:40:58.75
you can still learn something.
00:40:58.79\00:41:00.22
Am I right? Come on, husbands.
00:41:00.26\00:41:01.59
Because it is said statistically
that every seven months,
00:41:01.89\00:41:05.66
or every seven years, your
spouse becomes a new person.
00:41:05.89\00:41:09.30
There are new things
that entered her mind,
00:41:09.90\00:41:11.63
her life, her experiences.
00:41:11.67\00:41:13.07
Learn her love language.
Learn his love language.
00:41:13.10\00:41:16.57
Sometimes a love
language may be spending quality
00:41:16.60\00:41:20.11
and quantity
time with each other.
00:41:20.14\00:41:22.54
My wife goes with me everywhere.
00:41:22.74\00:41:24.61
Because when I get older,
as Pastor Brooks told my wife
00:41:25.71\00:41:28.55
and I, he said, "When you
get older and all you have
00:41:28.58\00:41:31.29
is photos, make sure
that both of you are in them."
00:41:31.32\00:41:34.29
Amen?
00:41:35.09\00:41:36.42
There are some pastors I
know that travel the world,
00:41:36.46\00:41:38.19
very famous, very visible,
00:41:38.39\00:41:39.86
I don't even know
who their spouse is.
00:41:39.89\00:41:41.66
But I love it when
people write me an email,
00:41:43.33\00:41:45.23
"Let Angela know I said hello."
00:41:45.47\00:41:48.17
"Tell John I said hello."
00:41:48.27\00:41:49.84
It's the John
and Angie ministry.
00:41:49.87\00:41:51.77
Amen, somebody.
00:41:51.81\00:41:53.14
God didn't just call
me. He called my wife too.
00:41:53.27\00:41:55.11
I could not be who I
am if God did not give me
00:41:55.14\00:41:57.71
the godly woman that He gave.
00:41:57.75\00:41:59.38
Quality time,
affirmation, acts of service,
00:41:59.61\00:42:01.95
and physical touch.
00:42:02.15\00:42:03.49
Sometimes we're...
00:42:03.52\00:42:04.85
You know, here during
the meetings I'm busy as...
00:42:04.89\00:42:06.96
Man, I tell you, the word,
"busy," is an understatement.
00:42:07.62\00:42:09.89
But I look at my wife
and I see her over there,
00:42:10.43\00:42:12.46
and I'll walk over
to her, and she says,
00:42:12.49\00:42:14.23
"My love cup is
empty. Can I get a hug?"
00:42:14.26\00:42:17.27
And we have this
song that comes over.
00:42:18.03\00:42:19.93
It's a song that talks
about no matter how old you get,
00:42:19.97\00:42:22.70
you know, we will dance in
the sun or in the pouring rain.
00:42:22.80\00:42:27.04
And when our steps get
slow, and time goes on,
00:42:27.21\00:42:31.85
we will still hold each
other and we will dance.
00:42:31.88\00:42:34.62
Now I'm not talking
about carnal dancing.
00:42:34.88\00:42:38.49
But there's no sin to
hold your wife or your husband
00:42:38.59\00:42:41.16
and just embrace
her or him and say,
00:42:41.19\00:42:43.36
"I need that."
00:42:43.76\00:42:45.09
So much could be
resolved if you would just
00:42:45.63\00:42:47.96
take time and
embrace each other.
00:42:48.00\00:42:49.86
And relish the thing
that God has given you.
00:42:50.20\00:42:53.40
You cannot light a candle if the
flame is all the way over here.
00:42:53.44\00:42:57.24
You've got to bring that
flame close and warm that heart.
00:42:58.01\00:43:01.04
And so many problems
could dissipate with one embrace
00:43:01.14\00:43:04.95
and a heart that has allowed
pride to be put to death.
00:43:04.98\00:43:07.72
Let's go to the next one.
00:43:08.35\00:43:09.68
Develop an eye for your spouse.
00:43:09.92\00:43:12.62
Whew.
00:43:14.09\00:43:15.42
As I travel
sometimes, my wife is with me,
00:43:17.79\00:43:19.79
we sometimes go
places, and I'd say, "Honey,
00:43:19.83\00:43:22.43
that woman is too friendly."
00:43:24.30\00:43:25.97
She says, "I
sense the same thing."
00:43:27.17\00:43:28.87
When you see that somebody
is looking at you too long
00:43:32.97\00:43:35.21
or being too overly
nice and kind to you,
00:43:35.24\00:43:37.75
and you're married, watch out.
00:43:38.11\00:43:40.05
No amens necessary.
00:43:43.35\00:43:44.85
I said to my wife,
"Honey, hold onto me.
00:43:47.12\00:43:49.42
I may not look like
Arnold Schwarzenegger now
00:43:49.92\00:43:51.93
but I will in eternity.
00:43:51.96\00:43:53.50
I promise you that.
00:43:55.13\00:43:56.46
Hold on till the
next version comes along.
00:43:57.80\00:44:00.67
Please don't leave me because
I look like I'm wasting away."
00:44:01.50\00:44:04.67
And she said, "Honey, I love you
no matter what you look like."
00:44:06.04\00:44:09.31
That's why we have
to fall in love with
00:44:09.61\00:44:11.21
things that do not change.
00:44:11.25\00:44:12.91
Because I tell you,
there were those days when
00:44:12.95\00:44:15.18
your husband had ripples,
00:44:15.22\00:44:16.72
now they're just
flailing in the wind.
00:44:16.82\00:44:18.85
But love him anyhow.
00:44:21.06\00:44:22.42
Am I right?
00:44:22.46\00:44:23.79
And no matter what
color your wife's hair is,
00:44:23.83\00:44:25.49
love her through every shade.
00:44:25.53\00:44:27.50
That's why I decided I'm
letting my hair turn gray.
00:44:29.60\00:44:32.23
My wife loves my gray
hair even though sometimes
00:44:32.80\00:44:34.74
she says color it black.
00:44:34.77\00:44:36.20
She even did a
survey on Facebook,
00:44:36.84\00:44:38.71
"How many think my
husband should color his hair?"
00:44:38.74\00:44:40.84
I was so happy when the people
said, "Let him leave it gray."
00:44:40.98\00:44:43.91
Amen.
00:44:44.61\00:44:45.95
Develop an eye
for your own spouse.
00:44:45.98\00:44:47.32
Because here's the point.
00:44:47.35\00:44:48.68
When you think the grass is
greener, it's artificial turf.
00:44:48.72\00:44:52.69
You ought to
know that in Phoenix.
00:44:53.96\00:44:55.59
It's artificial
turf. Ain't no life in it.
00:44:56.19\00:44:58.73
You know what that means?
00:45:05.83\00:45:07.17
An immoral woman will
tell you what you want to hear.
00:45:07.20\00:45:09.77
"Oh, you so
fine. You so handsome."
00:45:10.31\00:45:13.74
And you know you ain't all that.
00:45:14.91\00:45:16.31
But she just tells you that
'cause she's trying to trap you.
00:45:16.34\00:45:19.21
Like Delilah said to Sampson,
00:45:20.02\00:45:21.38
"Tell me where
your strength lies."
00:45:21.42\00:45:23.28
And you want to
shake him in the story.
00:45:23.32\00:45:24.82
Have you ever
wanted to like hit him?
00:45:24.85\00:45:26.19
"Sampson, come on. Wake up."
00:45:26.72\00:45:28.82
"Tell me where
your strength lies."
00:45:29.52\00:45:30.96
The devil wants to find
out where your strength is
00:45:30.99\00:45:32.76
and sever your tie with God.
00:45:32.79\00:45:34.63
The woman you think that
likes you will cut you down.
00:45:40.40\00:45:43.61
Let the Bible be clear.
00:45:47.84\00:45:49.68
Lord have mercy, the Scriptures
are full of knowledge.
00:45:51.45\00:45:53.92
Number six, don't nag your mate.
00:45:54.28\00:45:56.55
I thank God I don't
have a wife like that.
00:45:58.72\00:46:01.36
Let me let the Bible speak.
00:46:02.82\00:46:04.16
Because I could
really go off on this one.
00:46:04.19\00:46:05.79
Proverbs 21:19
00:46:07.33\00:46:08.66
Let the Bible speak.
00:46:21.24\00:46:22.58
I need to guard
my own lips today.
00:46:22.61\00:46:24.18
Proverbs 27:15
00:46:25.15\00:46:26.82
Chinese water torture.
00:46:33.09\00:46:34.62
If your wife's lips,
read what Ellen White says,
00:46:36.22\00:46:38.26
if the lips and the heart
of a wife is not converted,
00:46:38.36\00:46:41.03
she could bring
her husband down.
00:46:41.06\00:46:43.16
But it's not just
women that are that way.
00:46:44.63\00:46:46.47
Some men have the same issue.
00:46:46.50\00:46:48.54
Proverbs 26:21
00:46:49.24\00:46:50.57
Some men just want to fight.
00:46:59.91\00:47:01.72
Pray for those men that
don't have God in their lives.
00:47:03.32\00:47:05.92
They just want to fight.
00:47:06.02\00:47:07.36
They cannot let
their wives have peace.
00:47:07.76\00:47:09.66
They walk through the
door, they're ready to fight.
00:47:09.76\00:47:11.69
Be a peacemaker.
00:47:12.39\00:47:14.36
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called
00:47:14.40\00:47:18.07
the children of God."
00:47:18.10\00:47:19.70
Don't think you always
have to win an argument.
00:47:20.14\00:47:21.84
Contention.
00:47:21.87\00:47:23.20
And stop harping
on stuff all the time.
00:47:23.77\00:47:25.67
One guy said he
thinks his wife is an angel.
00:47:25.71\00:47:27.74
She's always
harping on something.
00:47:27.78\00:47:29.34
That's through the
years of counseling people.
00:47:35.72\00:47:37.92
Number seven, children...
00:47:38.35\00:47:40.26
You thought I forgot
the children, didn't you?
00:47:40.29\00:47:42.22
...honor and obey your parents.
00:47:42.52\00:47:44.23
Can the parents say amen?
00:47:44.26\00:47:45.76
Today, children
are flat out unruly.
00:47:46.93\00:47:51.23
And society has made
giving them a spanking
00:47:51.77\00:47:55.00
a ten year sentence in jail.
00:47:55.04\00:47:57.01
I tell you what.
00:47:57.77\00:47:59.11
I was raised in
a West Indian home.
00:48:00.24\00:48:02.64
Did say a mouthful just now?
00:48:03.18\00:48:04.88
In West Indian homes,
some of those cultural homes,
00:48:05.58\00:48:09.82
my other knew that my
bottom was not just for sitting.
00:48:10.02\00:48:13.89
And if that didn't
work, I remember once
00:48:16.49\00:48:18.59
I stepped out of
line and she made my...
00:48:18.63\00:48:20.73
She had a birthday party for
me and I had to sit in my room
00:48:20.76\00:48:23.80
and watch people
blow my birthday out.
00:48:23.83\00:48:25.60
Birthday cake out, candles out.
00:48:25.63\00:48:28.24
I tell you, sometimes
punishment hurts worse
00:48:28.44\00:48:31.47
than a whipping.
00:48:31.77\00:48:33.11
Nowadays you say to
kids, "Go to your room,"
00:48:33.48\00:48:35.31
that's exactly what they want.
00:48:35.34\00:48:36.85
They've got a
computer, television, phone.
00:48:37.25\00:48:41.38
They probably want
you to put them in there
00:48:41.48\00:48:43.02
for a five year sentence.
00:48:43.05\00:48:44.39
They don't really
want to talk to you.
00:48:44.42\00:48:46.12
Am I telling the truth?
00:48:47.59\00:48:49.12
So children, honor your parents.
00:48:49.82\00:48:52.46
Here's the reason why.
00:48:52.49\00:48:53.90
There's a promise
that many kids miss.
00:48:53.93\00:48:56.06
Exodus 20:12
00:48:56.10\00:48:57.43
Some children die
before they should because
00:49:03.30\00:49:05.94
they despise their parents.
00:49:05.97\00:49:07.91
In old Bible times
when a kid was a despising
00:49:08.34\00:49:11.08
ruling in his
family, they'd stone him.
00:49:11.18\00:49:14.25
Take him down...
"We don't need that kid.
00:49:15.02\00:49:16.75
You can stone him."
00:49:16.79\00:49:18.12
If that was happening today...
00:49:19.99\00:49:21.89
"How many kids do you have now?"
00:49:22.86\00:49:24.19
"Five."
00:49:24.23\00:49:25.56
"How many do you
have now?" "Four."
00:49:26.76\00:49:29.70
But the child is the one that's
robbing himself or herself
00:49:33.03\00:49:35.80
when they are rude.
00:49:35.84\00:49:37.17
They don't know
that your parents have
00:49:37.21\00:49:38.54
been where you
think you're headed.
00:49:38.57\00:49:39.97
And for those of you who
think that you're smarter
00:49:41.24\00:49:42.98
than your parents, you need
a check-up from the neck up.
00:49:43.01\00:49:45.71
That was a New
York term, by the way.
00:49:47.42\00:49:49.05
Ephesians 6:1,
"Children, obey your parents
00:49:50.12\00:49:53.86
in the Lord, for this is right."
00:49:53.96\00:49:55.79
The key is, "in the Lord."
00:49:55.82\00:49:57.33
If your parents are
telling you to do something that
00:49:57.36\00:49:59.19
is not godly, don't do it.
00:49:59.23\00:50:01.46
Because some parents
will get their kids to
00:50:01.96\00:50:03.63
sell and buy drugs.
00:50:03.67\00:50:05.00
There are some
corrupt parents in the world.
00:50:05.03\00:50:06.60
"Obey your parents,"
the principle, "in the Lord,
00:50:07.07\00:50:10.47
for this is right."
00:50:11.14\00:50:12.47
Colossians 3:20
00:50:13.61\00:50:14.94
I've often thought to
myself, how can we say,
00:50:21.52\00:50:25.25
"My Father,
which art in heaven,"
00:50:25.65\00:50:27.62
if our father on
earth is an evil man?
00:50:27.66\00:50:30.56
You know, that messes
up a child as they grow up.
00:50:31.33\00:50:34.10
They come to meet God
and they think about the
00:50:34.40\00:50:36.40
kind of relationship
they had with their dad.
00:50:36.43\00:50:38.33
And because He was evil
they can't even call God
00:50:38.37\00:50:40.34
their Father.
00:50:40.37\00:50:41.70
Husbands, be careful
how you raise your children.
00:50:41.74\00:50:47.08
If you're a godly man, may
you be the first lord they know.
00:50:47.31\00:50:53.58
Your thoughts, your
actions, the way you love them,
00:50:53.68\00:50:55.88
the way you guide them,
00:50:55.92\00:50:57.25
let them see God in
the way you train them.
00:50:57.29\00:50:59.72
Here's what the Bible says.
00:50:59.92\00:51:01.32
And here's what I've learned.
00:51:13.87\00:51:15.24
When I left the
church as a young man
00:51:15.27\00:51:17.24
and I went out into the world,
the things that Mama Haynes
00:51:17.94\00:51:21.54
taught me when I was young,
00:51:22.84\00:51:24.65
when she died and I
was only 12 years old,
00:51:24.75\00:51:27.42
when I turned 13 and left
the church and went out into
00:51:27.52\00:51:29.42
the world, there were certain
things I just could not do.
00:51:29.45\00:51:32.69
Because those seeds
were so deeply planted in me
00:51:32.79\00:51:35.89
I just couldn't do it.
00:51:35.92\00:51:37.26
I just couldn't do it.
00:51:37.93\00:51:39.59
Because I could her
mama saying, "Now, now, now."
00:51:40.20\00:51:42.70
"Train up a child in
the way they should go."
00:51:42.96\00:51:46.13
And stop trying to
be your child's friend,
00:51:46.27\00:51:49.50
and be their parent.
00:51:49.54\00:51:50.91
Some parents want
to be their friend.
00:51:52.11\00:51:53.64
"My daughter and
I are good friends."
00:51:54.38\00:51:55.71
That may be right, but if you
put friendship above parenting
00:51:55.74\00:51:59.35
then you're in
the wrong category.
00:51:59.38\00:52:00.98
Some parents say, "I don't
want to get them mad because
00:52:01.38\00:52:03.08
they may not talk to me."
00:52:03.12\00:52:04.45
What!
00:52:05.22\00:52:06.55
Don't let me... Anyway.
00:52:08.32\00:52:09.92
If they need some time to
think about who the parent is,
00:52:11.39\00:52:14.80
it may do them well.
00:52:14.83\00:52:16.46
Some kids don't know that
the parent is the one that
00:52:18.33\00:52:21.87
gave them life.
00:52:21.90\00:52:23.37
And the reason this
is so important to me,
00:52:24.47\00:52:26.14
I'm going to
invite Tim to come up,
00:52:26.34\00:52:27.68
the reason why this
is so important to me,
00:52:27.71\00:52:29.04
I have two more points,
00:52:29.71\00:52:31.05
the reason why this
is so important to me,
00:52:31.08\00:52:32.41
my mom and dad abandoned
me at three months old.
00:52:32.61\00:52:36.08
Left me in the home of
an Adventist babysitter.
00:52:36.25\00:52:38.62
God allowed my life
to begin as a tragedy
00:52:38.99\00:52:41.32
so it could wind
up as a blessing.
00:52:41.36\00:52:43.06
I know what it's
like to be wanted,
00:52:43.53\00:52:46.29
and I know what it's
like to not be wanted.
00:52:46.33\00:52:48.63
So I don't have issues when
it comes to fathers and mothers.
00:52:48.73\00:52:51.00
God gave me one that loved
me. And praise God for that.
00:52:51.03\00:52:54.90
I've got to get
to the end of this.
00:52:55.24\00:52:56.91
Let there be joy
in your home daily.
00:52:57.14\00:52:59.01
Every day my wife and I laugh.
00:52:59.04\00:53:01.11
Either at each other
or at maybe one of you.
00:53:02.28\00:53:04.88
We find
something to laugh about.
00:53:07.25\00:53:09.02
The Bible says...
00:53:11.22\00:53:12.55
Too many sad people.
00:53:17.49\00:53:19.46
Some of you need to go
back to your younger years
00:53:19.49\00:53:22.00
and remember when you
were young you smiled.
00:53:22.03\00:53:24.57
Amen.
00:53:24.60\00:53:25.93
Stop being so
sour and all dried out.
00:53:25.97\00:53:29.14
Stop being so stoic.
00:53:30.01\00:53:31.67
Nothing to smile about.
00:53:32.57\00:53:34.14
Short life.
00:53:34.61\00:53:35.94
Your blood doesn't even pump
00:53:35.98\00:53:37.41
when there's no
joy in your home.
00:53:37.45\00:53:38.98
Walking around, just
can't even loosen up.
00:53:39.81\00:53:42.18
Anyway.
00:53:44.62\00:53:45.95
And my last point.
00:53:46.15\00:53:47.49
Make Jesus the center of
your marriage and your family.
00:53:47.66\00:53:50.73
Amen?
00:53:50.76\00:53:52.09
The Bible makes it
very clear. Matthew 22:37-39
00:53:52.36\00:53:55.80
These two young people...
00:54:08.94\00:54:10.41
My wife and I on the left, 1983.
00:54:12.18\00:54:14.82
My wife and I on
the right, 2008 when we
00:54:14.85\00:54:16.79
celebrated our 25th anniversary.
00:54:16.82\00:54:18.65
This year is
going to be our 35th.
00:54:18.69\00:54:20.76
Let me tell you something.
00:54:21.56\00:54:22.89
We were clueless in the left.
00:54:23.29\00:54:25.13
We are wise in the right. Amen?
00:54:26.96\00:54:29.56
Let me tell you something.
00:54:30.27\00:54:31.60
We're going to do a seminar many
months down at a camp meeting
00:54:31.87\00:54:34.87
later on at one
of the conferences.
00:54:34.90\00:54:36.71
And it's entitled,
To Have and To Hold On.
00:54:36.74\00:54:39.81
Not just to have and to hold,
but to have and to hold on.
00:54:40.28\00:54:43.41
I have a beautiful wife.
00:54:43.78\00:54:45.55
But she's going to be the
prettiest woman in eternity.
00:54:47.95\00:54:50.55
Because she's the
prettiest woman in my life.
00:54:51.09\00:54:52.92
Amen, somebody?
00:54:52.95\00:54:54.29
Tim, give me a minute.
00:54:55.39\00:54:57.93
I've got to tell
them a closing story.
00:54:57.96\00:54:59.69
A couple sitting on
the couch after 50 years.
00:55:01.33\00:55:04.50
And she says, "Honey, do
you remember when you use to
00:55:06.70\00:55:10.31
whisper sweet
nothings in my ear?"
00:55:10.34\00:55:12.57
And so in the midst of his
recalcitrant television viewing,
00:55:14.31\00:55:17.61
he slid over closer to her and
started whispering in her ear.
00:55:17.65\00:55:21.58
Honey, I'm going to do
something out of the ordinary.
00:55:21.62\00:55:22.98
Would you come up here,
please? Come on up and join me.
00:55:23.02\00:55:25.12
Come on up and join me.
00:55:25.55\00:55:26.89
I keep talking
about my lovely wife,
00:55:27.59\00:55:29.02
I want the world
to see who that is.
00:55:29.06\00:55:30.83
And then she said,
"Remember when you use to,
00:55:32.46\00:55:34.90
when you use to hug me closely?"
00:55:35.66\00:55:38.57
And so then he put
his arm around his wife
00:55:38.67\00:55:40.90
and hugged her closely.
00:55:40.94\00:55:42.70
Come on
sweetheart. Hugged her closely.
00:55:43.07\00:55:44.97
Isn't she lovely.
00:55:46.91\00:55:49.28
That applies to her.
00:55:50.35\00:55:51.68
And then, you know, he started
speaking nicely in her ear
00:55:51.78\00:55:55.95
and hugging her.
00:55:55.98\00:55:57.45
And then she said, "I
remember when you use to
00:55:57.49\00:55:59.25
nibble on my ear."
00:55:59.29\00:56:00.69
And he got up and ran.
00:56:01.22\00:56:02.79
And she said,
"Where are you going?"
00:56:04.36\00:56:05.99
He said, "I'm
going to get my teeth.
00:56:06.03\00:56:07.56
I'll be right back."
00:56:07.60\00:56:08.93
The woman that God gave
to me is the woman I love
00:56:14.00\00:56:16.40
to this very day.
00:56:16.44\00:56:17.77
Tim is going to play a
song, As For Me and My House.
00:56:18.67\00:56:22.14
As for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.
00:56:22.44\00:56:25.01
Are there husbands
and wives here today?
00:56:25.41\00:56:26.85
I'm talking to
the viewing audience.
00:56:26.88\00:56:28.78
If the Lord has given
you a spouse, a husband,
00:56:29.25\00:56:32.95
God has given you a wife,
00:56:33.56\00:56:34.89
wife, God has
given you a husband,
00:56:35.09\00:56:36.66
love that man as if he's
the only man on the earth.
00:56:36.93\00:56:41.23
Husband, love that
wife as if she's the
00:56:41.63\00:56:44.50
only woman on the earth.
00:56:44.53\00:56:45.87
Because when you do it
the way that God intends,
00:56:45.90\00:56:48.14
eternity will prove to
be an eternal blessing.
00:56:48.34\00:56:51.11
And this world will
become the blessing that God
00:56:51.31\00:56:53.58
always intended it to be.
00:56:53.61\00:56:55.58
May the declaration be,
"As for me and my house,
00:56:55.98\00:56:58.45
we will serve the Lord."
00:56:58.81\00:57:00.15
I'm going to
challenge you there.
00:57:00.55\00:57:01.88
But Tim, just sing
that chorus for us together.
00:57:01.92\00:57:04.65
~ We stand here together...
00:57:04.92\00:57:06.76
Husbands and
wives, please stand.
00:57:06.79\00:57:08.39
...as a family; we
join hands together
00:57:08.42\00:57:14.36
lifting praises
to our Father above
00:57:15.83\00:57:22.34
for sending His Son.
00:57:22.74\00:57:26.57
God bless you.
Until we see you again.
00:57:26.81\00:57:28.64