A Holy Home

A. Introduction:

Since the beginning of time, the home has been under Satan’s attack.

We live our life worried about the separation of church and state when we have a separation of our church and home.

Our patient demeanor at church is a temper filled attitude at home.

Our counsel of christian living at church is corruptible living at home.

Our desire for God’s Word begins in Sunday School and ends after the invitation.

What if we could go from our character at church to our home and not change a thing.

What if our home was so holy that the only difference between home and church was the fellowship with other Christians.

B. 3 Steps in Building a Holy Home

I. The Foundation

1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV 1900)

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

a. A God Oriented Foundation

Genesis 2:18 (KJV 1900)

18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

i. The key phrase is, “I will make...”

ii. Every family is built upon some source of authority.

A. How we make our decisions.

B. Our value system.

C. Many people build a family according to the one they were raised in.

b. A Goal Oriented Foundation

Genesis 2:24 (KJV 1900)

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

i. The goal is:

A. Oneness

B. Togetherness

C. Unity

ii. Leaving and Cleaving does NOT mean we are to leave our family behind never to speak again.

iii. When we get married:

A. We are putting together something brand-new

B. We are putting together something that has never existed before.

C. It’s your marriage.

D. It’s your family

E. The goal is unity.

Cecil Osburn said, “The difficulty of achieving a happy marriage is compounded by the fact that men and women are basically incompatible. They have goals, needs, emotions and drives which are incompatible with each other.”

Matthew 19:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

iv. The word “joined”

A. Drives home commitment.

B. We are commited to that husband or wife.

C. When we have kids, you keep your commitment to your spouse first.

Ask yourself this question:"What is life like for my spouse having to live with me?”

c. A Grace Oriented Foundation

Genesis 2:25 (KJV 1900)

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

i. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a verse 26 that read, “And they lived happily ever after.”?

ii. Genesis 3 records sin entering the world.

A. Sin entered this relationship.

B. Sin entered this home.

iii. To have a firm foundation, we understand that we are all sinners.

A. You married a sinner.

B. Your spouse married a sinner.

IV. Because we are sinners, we need forgiveness.

A. The Bible speaks of a boy who landed his life in the hogs pen.

B. He spent all of his inheritance.

C. He came home not deserving anything.

D. Yet, his father said, “Come on home, son. Welcome back!”

V. A grace oriented foundation must be built on forgiveness without conditions.

II. The Walls

A. Wall of Communication

i. 65% of divorce is caused by communication issues.

ii. Of that, 43% is caused by inability to resolve conflict.

ii. How many times have you heard the excuse, “We just don’t communicate.”

iii. Genesis 3 shows a breakdown in communication.

Genesis 3:9–13 (KJV 1900)

9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

iv. Often our self-centeredness and selfishness can cause us to start pointing and blaming.

v. At times the loudest things you will ever say will be in silence.

vi. A wall of communication must be built so that there is openness of:

A. Words

B. Care

C. Concerns

B. Wall of Trust

i. No relationship can last without trust.

A. Business relationships

B. Treaties between countries.

C. Our marriage

ii. You can have a contract that is a stack of papers a foot thick, but...

A. The lawyer can hide one sentence that changes it all.

B. Changing it all because of the lack of trust.

C. Husbands and wives need to show they are trustworthy.

C. Wall of Enjoyment

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV 1900)

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:

But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

i. I’ve never seen two people get married that detest each other.

A. But, after a few years, couples are trying to ENDURE rather than ENJOY one another.

D. Wall of Flexibility

i. This is a movable wall.

A. Recognizing that each day you are adapting to life together.

B. We must improve our...

understanding

patience

responsiveness to one another

III. The Roof

A. Notice what Peter says in I Peter 4:8

1 Peter 4:8 (KJV 1900)

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

B. In lifes...

i. experiences

ii. challenges

iii. difficulties

iv. We must have love one for another.

1 Corinthians 13:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Charity never faileth...

B. We may not have enough patience

C. We may not have enough understanding

D. We may not have enough strength or wisdom

E. We may not have enough resources:

i. Money

ii. Time

F. Keep the love of God in your home