Living God's Way: Practical Christian Relationships

Next Sunday July 13 our very own James Washburn will be bringing the message. Melody and I may or may not be camping....we are scheduled to leave Friday for Stockton with family however the RV that my dad lets us use is in the shop and wont start and they have yet to be able to figure out why.....they have had it since the first part of June. If the RV is not available we are going to drive over each day and will probably be here on the 13th to support James.

When we were doing our It series and I challenged you to look at what you are passionate about and to seek your gifts James came to Gary and me and mentioned that he felt a call to preach. So this is so much more than filling the pulpit it is walking in God’s calling for his life and whether I am here or not I will not stand in God’s way so either way James will be preaching next Sunday

July 20th right after service is a meeting for all who attended jr sr high camp June 1-6. This is for parents and students any who went to camp....doesnt matter if you finished the week or not you need to attend

On July 27th we have a celebration. Zoey and Zadey Washburn accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior while at camp this past week and they will be baptized on the 27th. Praise the Lord!!!!!!

August 3rd Ryan Watts will be with us and bring the message

I have known Ryan and his family for many many years and helped with his ordination last month and want to give Ryan a chance to bring the message and follow God’s calling in his life

August 10th Juliet Hardee will be back with us to share how the mission trip to Kenya went last month. You supported her by the purchase of the bags and things when she was here last.

Finally this morning please be praying for those in Texas who have had their lives changed forever due to the flooding

Pray for those who are still missing and their families

pray for the camp staff and all involved at Camp Mystic where 27 girls are still missing as it was hit by the flood

Let’s pray

We will be continuing this morning in Colossians

We just spent a few weeks looking at what to put off and what to put on as Christians

Today we get a practical application of what a Christians life should look like

if you have put off the old and put on the new then you do life God’s way not the world’s way or man’s way

Today we will get hands on

practical

rubber meets the road application

Colossians 3:18

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Colossians 3:18 KJV 1900

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

This flies in the face of today’s feminist culture

this is a choice

let’s look at the Greek

Submit yourselves

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comes from a Greek word meaning to subordinate, to obey, put under, subdue, subject

Wives you are to

subordinate

put yourselves under

subdue yourself

subject yourself

to your husbands

why

As it is fit

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Comes from Greek word meaning to obtain

be proper

Convenients...which means fit, suitable, proper according to websters 1828

Wives subordinate

obey

subdue themselves

unto your own husbands to attain, be proper, fit in the Lord

Submit yourself to your husband because it is right in the Lord

This God’s expectations of wives

All the husbands are like OH YEAH

wives may be upset.....hang in there

I am going to read this next section of scripture out of the Christian Standard Bible

I Peter 3:1-2

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Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

1 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives.

Win over the ones who disobey by how you live!!!!!

Not all husbands will obey God’s Word

shame on them

however wives you must still choose to live

pure

reverent lives

You are to put on being a Godly wife

The western world hates reverence

the world teaches to be irreverent at all times

do you

live your best life

look out for number one

Look no further than politics which has permeated the lives of the lost and even some Christians sadly

today in politics there is no debate about issues or policy

no both sides attack and make fun of the other person or people

they call for violence against their opponents

that carries over into people’s interactions

just look at social media

someone gets upset with a business or person and they don’t complain about what was wrong they attack the business or person

calling them stupid

idiots

worthless

among many other things

they are completely irreverent

that is the opposite of Christ

here is what I want you to see

even if your husband is a jackleg

disobedient

even if that is the case you are to live a Godly life because a Godly life ALWAYS points to Jesus

and it is Jesus that will win them over but if you never show them Jesus how will they know?

Trust in God

God is the God of redemption following repentance

God is the God of reconciliation following repentance and redemption

Now obviously if there is abuse.....protect yourself as God works you through the situation

it is okay to leave to protect you and your babies

Just because you leave doesn’t mean the marriage is over but there are times for boundaries and that boundary may include leaving for a time

God is pointing to lifestyle here

Let’s continue

I Peter 3:3-4

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Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

3 Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4 but rather what is inside the heart,—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

How many here today or online chase beauty

have to have the perfect hair do

have to have the perfect nails

have to have the perfect makeup

Have to be fashionable in your clothes and shoes and accessories etc

That is of the world

Why because chances are if you are driven by these things then these things drive your identity..… more than likely these things are in fact your identity and that my friends is a sin

God is your identity as a Christian

and because God is your identity then none of those things matter

look at what God says

beauty is not outside but inside

imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit = great worth and beauty to God

Imperishable Quality

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comes from a Greek word meaning undecaying, not corruptible

elaborate hairstyles

fine clothes

jewelry

they all decay

they are all corruptible

they are all temporary and useless

Gentle

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comes from a greek word meaning mild, humble, meek

How many times have we seen this

humble, mild, meek here in this study of colossians

Quiet

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comes from a Greek word meaning keeping one’s seat, still, peaceable

Spirit

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comes from Greek word translated Holy Spirit....breath.....breeze

So what is of great worth to God

a woman who through the Holy Spirit is mild

humble

meek

still

peaceable

uncorruptable because of the Holy Spirit

Colossians 3:18 is pointing to character

it is pointing to lifestyle

it is pointing to surrender first to Jesus and Holy Spirit and then the relationship with your husband will take care of itself and submitting to your husband will come easy because you are not submitting to Him but to God

Colossians 3:19

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Colossians 3:19 KJV 1900

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Husbands.....we are up

Love

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Greek word agapao meaning to love, the Biblical usage of this word is of persons, welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

Bitter

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comes from Greek word meaning be or make bitter

This truth packs a huge punch for us

husbands if you want to be a Godly husband then your marriage and specifically your treatment of your wife must be different than the world

If you have ever heard me address Melody as my beautiful bride it is because of this truth

I think Melody is physically stunning but spiritually even more stunning

Her outward beauty is temporary and fleeting

her inner beauty is driven by the Holy Spirit and incorruptible

She is also a daughter of the King of kings

our Father God

and she is the bride of Christ as a Christian so I want to remind me and I want her and the whole world to know that she is beautiful and that she is Jesus’ bride

it is more than just a catchy saying

God blessed me with her for this short time on earth as my bride but she is my sister in Christ for eternity!!!!!

how do you love and be not bitter against your bride

I want to look at two scriptures here first is again from CSB

I Peter 3:7

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Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

7 Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Weaker Vessel

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comes from Greek word that refers to physical strength not mental or moral strength

Husbands are to physically protect their brides

you are physically stronger....that is the way God designed you to be

you are to then defeat any threats against her

Back when this was written it made great sense

men did the physical labor in the fields etc because they were physically stronger

they were also called to put that strength to use when their brides and families were threatened by lions or bears or any physical danger

now today you will probably never have to take on a lion or a bear but you are to physically protect your brides from physical threats

This goes beyond bad guys.....carry in the groceries

mow the lawn

cut down the tree

protect her as the physical weaker member

Understanding Way

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Comes from a Greek word that means knowledge, science

Through God’s Word and through the Holy Spirit you have knowledge of your wife

God has explained a wives role and how she is to act and think as a daughter of the King

you know that and therefore are to treat her accordingly

Imagine for a moment you bride was a princess

a true daughter of an earthly king

would you speak to her the same way you do today

would you treat her the same way you do today

a king could have you beheaded for treating his daughter poorly

would that knowledge change your behavior

if so shame on you because you are married to a daughter of the King of kings who can send you to hell for eternity

Something that might make this clearer

Ephesians 5:25

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Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Jesus gave Himself for the church......that is all Christians....the Bible also speaks of CCC church.....local bodies and we will look at that before we dive into romans

Jesus physically gave Himself on the cross but also with presences

He denied His spiritual royalty by being present with His creation

I firmly believe men we are to willingly lay down our physical lives for our brides

but it goes beyond that

First and foremost is Jesus

Everything for and through Him and Him alone

He is the top priority

right behind Jesus if you are married is your bride

Her physical and spiritual wellbeing and protection are YOUR responsibility..… no you cant make her be saved but you for sure can lead your household in seeking God

Pray together

Study the Bible together

do ministry together

The closer you get to Jesus the more you see this!

Lay down your life for your bride

That may mean that you need to miss a round of golf or maybe even give it up for your bride

Replace golf with anything you do that takes you away from your bride

Jesus was present in the lives of those He came to save

You must be present

not just with your body but with presence

in the moment

being engaged

not just sitting reading the paper or watching tv

or in my case doom scrolling on facebook or playing video games

be present

willingly give up whatever it is that stands between you loving and guiding and leading your bride as you follow Jesus

If you are truly loving her as Jesus loves you

If you are truly laying down your life for her then there isnt a woman on this planet that wouldnt submit to you because you are submitted to Jesus

I challenge all the husbands of CCC or any husband who hears this message to stand on this

to change through the Holy Spirit to match God’s Word

To truly put God first and your bride second

to truly die to yourself so that you can lay down your life for your bride

treat her different

love her different

protect her different

feed her different in terms of spiritual food

be a Godly husband and not a weak man

Colossians 3:20

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Colossians 3:20 KJV 1900

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Children pay attention

Well Pleasing

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Comes from Greek word meaning fully agreeable, acceptable

Ephesians 6:1

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Ephesians 6:1 KJV 1900

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Children you obey your parents because it is right in the Lord!!!!!

here is why this is important

when you disobey mom and dad you disobey God

when you obey mom and dad you are fully agreeable and acceptable with God

You please God by obeying your parents here on earth

It goes much further than

do the dishes

make your bed

brush your teeth

that is the fruit of obedience

that is the fruit of a child wanting to honor God by obeying their earthly parents

How many times do you do what you are asked to do but

do it with an attitude

do it with defiance

do it with back talking etc

that is not obeying and that for sure does not honor God

Kids if you claim to be Christian but disobey and disrespect your parents you are sinning and you must deal with that sin through repentance and confession

you are not too young to come to the altar

you are not too young to deal with sin

if you are saved you must be a doer of the Word not just a hearer only because when you are a hearer only you deceive yourselves

Children honor your parents and be agreeable with God

Colossians 3:21

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Colossians 3:21 KJV 1900

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Parents

Provoke

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comes from Greek word meaning to stimulate, to stir up, to excite

Fathers and mothers do not stimulate, stir up, excite your children to anger

That is not saying if your child becomes angry you are wrong

nope

this is referring to that constant nagging

constantly pushing buttons

ignoring their thoughts and opinions

constantly putting them down

any type of abuse....

not respecting them

God has given you these gifts.....your children are gifts from God....how you raise them and treat them matters

parents I believe you will stand in judgement for what you did or didnt do as a parent

if you are not bringing them up in the Lord

praying with them

studying the Bible with them

doing ministry with them

you are wrong and i believe sinning because the Bible says train up a child in the way he should go

that is God’s way and if you are not training them in God’s way you are wrong

parents and grandparents this is so important

This also isnt against discipline

I spanked my kids and I believe there is a time and place for that type of punishment.......just not when you are angry.....you are training them not beating them

why does all this matter

They Be Discouraged

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comes from Greek word meaning to be spiritless, disheartened, dismayed

I see this both in education and athletics and in ministry

Parents provoke their children to anger long enough and their children then are lifeless, spiritless, disheartened and dismayed

that comes out in all kinds of forms and fashions but is the result of being provoked to anger over and over again by their parents

These children are broken and defeated and yours will be as well if you continue to provoke them to anger

As you can see all members of families have a role

a God given role to play

While I am here

God established and expects marriage to be one man and one woman...period end of story

no man and man

no woman and woman

one man one woman....God established it and that is the only acceptable form of marriage

If you are just living together you sin and are not husband and wife

If you live together and have kids you are going to face problems because how can you train a child in the way they are to go if you are disrespecting and disobeying God by choosing to live together instead of honoring God by getting married

If that is you pray about it

pray God gives you the courage to do what is needed to honor Him

Get married

quit living together until you are married

Colossians 3:22-4:1

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Colossians 3:22–4:1 KJV 1900

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Many would jump right over this section of scripture but that would be horrible

It is here for a reason

Today we don’t have servants.....legally binding agreements to be enslaved to another human being

today we do not have one country attacking and taking over another country and placing those taken in slavery

However these principles still apply to us now and if slavery ever returned then as well

When you hear servants think worker or employee

When you hear master think boss or employer

Ephesians 6:5

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Ephesians 6:5 KJV 1900

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

God has job expectations for Christians

Be obedient with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ

Work for them with the same fear and trembling and singleness as for Christ

Fear

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comes from Greek word meaning alarm or fright

Trembling

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comes from Greek meaning quaking with fear

why because they can fire you and take away your ability to provide for yourself and your family

Singleness

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comes from Greek meaning sincerity, bountifulness, liberally

While you are on the clock you work with

sincerity be honest in all that you do, work to honor them, to benefit them

you work with bountifulness be overly productive

you work liberally go above and beyond expectations

Why

because you are working for them as you are working for Jesus

I Timothy 6:1

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1 Timothy 6:1 KJV 1900

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

You want to ruin your witness

you want to run God’s name through the mud

be a terrible

disrespectful

just barley getting by worker

This is eternal church

i dont care if you are the president or you clean toilets do it all as if for God with honor and hard work going above and beyond to honor the name of God

Why

why does all of this matter

Colossians 3:24

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Colossians 3:24 KJV 1900

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

You are building rewards in heaven

especially when your employer is bad

Follow God and always put Him first

Again remember what God teaches

if someone asks you to sin you are to respectfully decline

If there is a conflict between God’s Word and mans expectations or rules

you follow God’s Word

period end of story

As a Christian the physical no longer matters

Only the spiritual matters.

church that is in everything

I am preaching to myself this morning

I dont like where I am teaching....I dont like elementary.… i love the kids and staff but I do not enjoy teaching elementary

I have allowed this and the influence of my flesh and my sin damage some relationships with bosses

Shame on me

I spend most of my energy looking for a way out instead of honoring God by following His expectations of me at work

In fact as i sat in my office on Thursday writing this message I had to stop

go to the altar

seek forgiveness through repentance and confession and I nailed that sinful attitude and work ethic to the cross

Colossians 4:1

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Colossians 4:1 KJV 1900

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Employers treat your employees justly

treat them fairly

you honor God by how you treat your employees

again discipline is okay but in God honoring ways

Dont lead with emotions

Dont lead with anger

lead others as Christ leads you

If you are not following Christ you are going to fail as an employer

Dont lead by position

dont lead by power

lead through service

Be a servant leader just as Chris is for you!

We have covered a lot today and if God has moved in your heart come

dont leave here without dealing with whatever it is God is asking you to deal with

That is what this part of the service is all about

You and God

God has spoken and is calling

will you be a doer and not a hearer only

Invitation

If it wasn’t for Jesus

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