Family determines the strength of the Church and nation Malachi 2:10-17 Psalms 112:1-10 Hebrews 12:1-12

Divorce – Broken Family? GOD HATES DIVORCE (Malachi 2:16) Quote by JoyBell C. “There is no such thing as a "broken family." Family is family, and is not determined by marriage certificates Families are made in the heart.

Divorce – Broken Family? The only time family becomes null is when those ties in the heart are cut. If you cut those ties, those people are not your family. If you make those ties, those people are your family. And if you hate those ties, those people will still be your family because whatever you hate will always be with you.” 

Malachi 2:10-17 Marriage - It symbolizes God’s covenant with His people (vs 11) Marrying daughter of a foreign god = backsliding or failing to accept Christ (GOD is HOLY) Marriage covenant is not to be broken, so is the relationship with Christ our saviour

Divorcing the wife of your youth is like denouncing your faith in God after Gods blesses you When family breaks the church weakens and the nation weakens

Consequences of divorce according to Malachi LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob(vs 12) – God doesn’t recognize him as his Son or Daughter God no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands (vs 13) GOD HATES DIVORCE (Vs 16) – Both physical and spiritual

Psalms 112: 1-10 “We always think of men behaving badly – what about men behaving Godly” Psalms 112:1 Blessed are those who fear the Lord,     who find great delight in his commands.

Fruits of a united family (Psalms 112) Their children will be mighty in the land the generation of the upright will be blessed Wealth and riches are in their houses their righteousness endures forever Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice the righteous will never be shaken will be remembered forever They will have no fear of bad news Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear in the end they will look in triumph on their foes

Running the race without unnecessary baggage Hebrews 12:1-12 Running the race without unnecessary baggage

Gods Discipline have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? (vs 5) For what children are not disciplined by their father? (Vs 7) God disciplines because he loves us Disciplining brings out the best and drives out the bad “I am not caning you – I am caning your sins”

Short Story

Summary God hates divorce - invest more moral, spiritual, cultural, political energy in supporting marriage As we invest in the earthly marriages we should not forget the heavenly one

God desires that we live in accordance with his commands and our families will be blessed Lets discipline our children God (our father) also disciplines us ( the children he loves)

Amen