BUILDING A STRONG FAMILY FOUNDATION ON MARRIAGE.

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--- WHAT does it mean to build?

–------ we have some related words that could bring us closer to understanding the
phrase “TO BUILD”.

---- TO FORM like some of us here that are married.....

after the payment of the DOWRY; WEDDING,
A FAMILY was FORMED---- 2 became 1

--- yet at another time, there was an addition...TO ADD, INCREASE, MULTIPLY or
MAKE GREATER the number.

Forming, Adding, Multiplying, Making greater OR even the day to day PLANNING
& RUNNING of the family
–---be it for the Children's Education, their welfare, family Business, the extended
family....... ARE ALL PART OF BULDING.
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-- IN ALL, these ACTIONS DO NOT depend on us but GOD.

UNLESS the LORD BUILDS the house, ITS BUILDERS labour in vain. (Psalm127:1)

UNLESS the LORD WATCHES over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
The word UNLESS means WITHOUT, IF NOT.

IF the LORD is NOT INVOLVED in any issue

/ be it business/ marriage / in the up bringing of the children.....all the labour will

just be another wasted activity.
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WHY IS JESUS the only one that can BUILD A STRONG family foundation for us?

1. Because JESUS IS before all things. And so, have the capability in guiding us all...in all things.
2. IN JESUS ALLthings hold together.........even in marriages. (in Him everything stands)
3. In EVERYTHING, GOD made it that JESUS, might have the supremacy ( Col 1:15-20)

in singing ... HE is the very best

in dancing ... He is the no 1
in death ... His appearance was so disfigured beyond that
* of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness---(Isaiah 52:14). ( 719 bc)
in features... HE IS the most handsome
What we could call better than perfect.

In JESUS, GOD made it that HE might have supremacy. To be the overall best IN EVERYTHING
even as a husband!
* Guiness book of records..........JESUS breaks every record!
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And for this reason, millions upon millions in the body of Christ are His bride....being the
best of HUSBANDS! ALLELUYAH!

JESUS the best of Husbands, likens OBEDIENCE to His word

AS BUILDING on a strong foundation.

READ (Luke 6:46-49; Matt.7: 24-27) To build on the rock is to build on a strong foundation.
Jesus is the Rock
it means: to be a hearing and responding disciple i.e applying God's word to our daily
lives.....EVEN IN OUR MARRIAGE.

(Matt 7: 24-27) IS similar to the passage we read in Luke (6: 46-49) .

The 2 passages, refer to 2 GROUPS.

The group that hear …...do...... and then succeeded.
And the 2nd group that hear but do not do and as a result, failled
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Obeying GOD as I said before is like building a house on a strong, solid foundation.
That FOUNDATION stands firm when storms come.
When all is well, many abandon God. But when crisis come, our foundations are tested.
Be sure your life is built on the solid foundation of knowing and trusting JESUS CHRIST.

So that when temptations / trials come, lack knocks on the door, someone is sick in the family
or when we seek to take decisions over certain issues

WE can lay them down at... the feet of the Lord JESUS through prayer.
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Learning to pray about Anything and Everything with thanksgiving and to
TRULY be willing to let God's will be the no 1 in our marriage
is the secret to building a strong family foundation on marriage.

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In the beginning when GOD instituted marriage, it was to be as a shadow of that which is to
come.
The husband / wife relationship in marriage is a shadow of the original. A reharsal of the original
that is coming. If the choir did not reharse, there will be no co-ordination.
The original being THE CHURCH / CHRIST relationship.

Each and every one of us represents the church yet all of us put together make up the church,
the bride of CHRIST.

READ (Eph 5: 22-30; 6: 1-4)

AT any point in time, you as the wife relates to your husband, let it be as you would to Christ.
The husband must also, relates to the wife as he would to Christ.

That is to say, the 2 must see the reflection of Christ on each other and the treatment each receives
is that which you would want THE LORD JESUS TO RECEIVE. ITS EQUIVALENT......the same
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Putting this into practice whether in submission or in love, we prove that we are the church,
the bride of CHRIST.
The issue of Submission and love ...are the greatest problems we have in marriages. As a result
most marriages do not have strong foundations. God wants us to submit and love one another;
because it brings abundant joy and peace that money cannot buy.

SUBMISSION... - being able to distinguish roles and work we are called to do

- a loving acknowledgement of another's value
- a mutual humble co-operation with one another
- an acknowledgement by the church that Jesus is Lord in all.
Therefore, submission is a voluntary co-operation with anyone out of love and respect for
God first; and 2ndly, out of love and respect for that person.

Jesus is our good example …HE showed love by laying down His life for His bride....shedding
His blood to cleanse her and to make her HOLY.
…...He showed submission even unto death. Isaiah 52:14 records that HIS appearance was so

disfigured beyond that of any man yet in the face of all provocation He openeth not His
mouth. 1 Peter 2:22-23
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(EPHESIANS 6:1- 4) In the TRAINING UP of our CHILDREN:

* WE must correct them in the way of the LORD. Make them to know that corrections are for
their good 1. It's the way of the Lord. 2. because we love them and 3. because we
want them to make heaven.

* Guide them in reading some Bible passages.

*Don't always speak to them screaming- it builds fear in them.

*There is time to be firm TO insist on what you want them to do but do not exasperate them.
(exasperate.)......to annoy exceedingly, to vex, to try their patience , to the extent they begin to
wander why they were ever born into that family.

In this way you can never be able to correct.

*Yet not correcting at all is sinful.

PRAY daily for the light of God to shine forth in their lives. Without prayer we can receive
nothing from the Lord.

Pray that God grants you His wisdom to be able to bring them up in the way of the Lord.

ENCOURAGE them to pray so that they can begin to learn to do so on their own.

The lives of Joseph, Samuel, Gedeon, Daniel, David, Jeremiah, Timothy & Titus who started
young in their walk with God are good examples,
. ….while the book of Titus, and the Gospel of John serve as good reference for them.
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When you begin to do these things, you will not be far from having a strong family foundation
built for you by JESUS because it is the LORD that builds.

Don't forget to always relate and treat people the way you would to Christ. EVERYONE.

Wives should show love to their husbands & children too. Titus 2:4-5

Newly weds need a strong start Deut. 24:5

Religious differences is to our disadvantage in marriage 1 Kg 3:1, 1 Cor 7: 12-14 ; 15-16

Show appreciation towards each other. Songs of Songs 4:1-7

Instructions on christian marriage/ households 1 Cor 7; Eph 5; Col.3:18-25

On submission ( women) Eph 5:22 1 Pet 3: 1

Submission to authorities 1 Pet 2: 13

// to one another out of reverence for Christ Eph 5:21

// of slaves to masters Eph 6:5

// Masters to slaves Eph 6:9

// Husbands to wives 1Pet 3:7

Rules for christian households Col 3:18-25

Submission is the only way to follow Christ Lk 14:27

On women dressing *1Tim 2:9-10; 1Pet 3:3-6; Isaiah 3:16-24: Deut 22:5

Out of 4 issues that the word of God says causes the earth to tremble,
--2 of them are family issues.They come from the home.
Therefore, 50 % of world's problems are derived from the home. Proverbs 30:21-23