Presented by: Bill Perkins

Battle Three: “Fight For Your Family” Battle Three: “Fight For Your Family”

According to the Barna Research Group Christian couples are as likely to divorce as unbelievers.

I’m convinced a major factor in the failure of marriages is the passivity of men.

Win the fight for your family 1.Fight for your wife

If you consciously choose to love your wife as Christ loved the church, I guarantee your marriage will prosper.

The critical issue for most men rests on a decision to value their wife and love her sacrificially one day at a time.

That daily decision is as crucial to the health of your marriage as was Shamma’s to defend his field of beans.

One day David and his Mighty Men had to fight for their families.

Ziklag

1 Samuel 30:19 16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder."

All of us would die for our wives. The bigger challenge is to live for them.

1 Peter 3:7. 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

Win the fight for your family 1.Fight for your wife 2.Fight for your children

It’s impossible to express the need your children have for your blessing.

Mark 10: When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Mark 10: When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

The Greek word for “bless” means: “To speak well of” or “To praise someone.” The Greek word for “bless” means: “To speak well of” or “To praise someone.”

In Old Testament times a blessing transferred a good thing from one person to another.

When Isaac, under God’s direction, blessed Jacob, he imparted the promise of bountiful crops, many servants, and leadership in the family. Genesis 27:27-29 When Isaac, under God’s direction, blessed Jacob, he imparted the promise of bountiful crops, many servants, and leadership in the family. Genesis 27:27-29

Three ways we bless our children 1.Verbal affirmation 2.Physical affirmation 3.Predictive affirmation

Discussion Questions 1.If you’re married, why is it crucial for you to fight for the heart of your wife and children? If you’re single, how can you prepare for such a fight? 2.How did your dad interact with you? How has this affected you? 3.How are you blessing your children? If single, how do you want to one day bless them?

Presented by: Bill Perkins