After looking at the big picture of the husband and wife role last week,
we now zoom in on God’s instructions for husbands.

Before we get going on this, let’s start out with a basic understanding.
This is God’s Word to the husband directly.

It is not my opinion. It is not Dr. Phil’s opinion.

It is not God’s Word to wives in order for them to remind their husbands what they need to be doing.

This is what God says that a Spirit-filled husband is going to look like, is going to live like.

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Filed under: Sermons ]]> http://lookstluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/lw20-spirit-filled-husbands-wives-2/feed/ 0 Christopher Barnes Live Worthy http://lookstluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/lw-18-spirit-filled-husbands-wives-1/ http://lookstluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/lw-18-spirit-filled-husbands-wives-1/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:24:39 +0000 Christopher Barnes http://lookstluke.wordpress.com/?p=1725 Continue reading →]]> Genesis 1:26-27; Galatians 3:26-29; Malachi 2:14; Ephesians 5:31

There are many caricatures of the Christian point of view regarding the role of husbands and wives. Many will paint the picture of a male-dominated home with the wife “pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen.” The husband is the king of his castle and the rest of the family are silent subjects, scurrying back and forth to carry out the king’s wishes.

That’s why movies like My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding are so humorous. In one part of the room the father of the bride-to-be is boasting with full voice, “I am the head of the house!” In the other part of the room the women are gathered and they all laugh hilariously whil his wife says, “And the wife is the neck that turns the head,” for they all know how much she controls her husband in reality.

This is also why political pundits went crazy when presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann said that she submits to her husband. There is no understanding of the Biblical teachings about men and women and the husband wife role.

It all starts with understanding who we are as human beings before our Creator God. Then we need to see who we are as brothers and sisters in Christ. And finally what does God say is true for husbands and wives…

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John 16:5-15, 14:

We need constant reminding that following the Holy Spirit and letting Him be in charge is essential to successfully live the Christian life. Jesus strongly emphasized that He would not leave His disciples as orphans, but would send the Spirit to be with them and IN them. In Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4-5, He instructed them to wait until He had clothed them with the power of the Holy Spirit.

If this was a huge deal for His followers, who had spent three years working with Him and listening to His teachings day after day, do you think this is important for us?

His influence, his work in all the areas of our lives, can totally change our daily experience. This is true for our homes, marriages, parenting experience and in our workplaces.

If He is that important, then it would be wise for us to look at Him and His ministry before we begin to look at how He impacts these areas.

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The gospels of Matthew and Luke open up with the story of Jesus’ birth and the family trees of His mother Mary and stepfather Joseph. Small hints as to His true nature are given by Gabriel when he spoke with Mary directly and to Joseph in a dream. To Mary he said, “He will be called great and the Son of the Most High… the holy one to be born to you will be called the Son of God.” To Joseph he said, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”).”

Despite these hints, the focus is on Jesus’ earthly existence and earthly heritage. Only when we get to the Gospel of John do we see the veil lifted and Jesus is shown for who He is – God Himself. Let’s look at these verses together…

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The father-son connection made the installation service especially moving. Pastor Brian of Rock Creek Bible Church in Meriden, KS, gave the charge to the pastor. The love and legacy passed on from father to son made the words much more meaningful.

Pastor Brian then surprised his son and the congregation when he asked the folks from Rock Creek Bible Church to stand. After explaining that these people had watched Benjamin grow up, he asked if these folks would commend Benjamin to our church to serve us as pastor. They responded with a hearty, “Yes!”

Also memorable were the comments of our church council president. Richard added joy and humor to the occasion through his recognition of the many things Benjamin has in common with our church – his small town roots, love of the outdoors, etc.

Pastor Christopher reminded the congregation that this position of youth pastor was a “new animal” for us at St. Luke EFC. In his charge, he encouraged us as a church to support Benjamin and Sarah in prayer, to be ready for creative and exciting ministry among our youth that might be very different from what we are used to, and exhorted the church to view the new pastor’s family (down the road and as God blesses) as normal people. Each family member should be viewed as all other believers are and not burdened with unreasonable expectations.

Nearly 40 out of town guests joined us for this special time, including Pastor John Jones from our sister Free Church (Faith in Christ Fellowship in Oak Grove), and Micah Gelatt (a staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ and Benjamin’s former youth pastor), Benjamin’s and Sarah’s family and many friends from Rock Creek Bible Church. It was very impressive to see the respect and support shown toward our new youth pastor.

Installation Service for Pastor Benjamin Hardee
Hardee Installation Service Audio

Bill Bright used to tell the story of a man who carefully saved his money back in the 1950’s until he was finally able to travel on a beautiful cruise ship. It was all he could do just to save enough to buy his ticket. Thinking he wouldn’t have enough money to buy meals in the ship’s fine dining room, he decided to take along some cheese and crackers for food.

For several days he sat in his cabin, watching the stewards go by with carts full of luscious lobster, prime rib, fresh fruits and vegetables. Finally, he couldn’t stand it any longer. He reached out and grabbed one of the stewards by the arm and begged him for a plate of food. “Please, help me. I’ll go to work, I’ll scrub the deck. I’ll do anything to get something to eat. My cheese and crackers are turning stale, and I’m starving to death.”

“Sir,” the steward replied, “don’t you have a ticket?”

“Yes,” the man stammered, producing his ticket from inside his jacket pocket. Seeing the ticket, the steward pointed out the fine print – All Meals Included!

Many Christians live the way this passenger did on the cruise ship. They are “cheese and crackers” believers, living off rations when they could be dining on steak and baked potatoes. They don’t allow the Holy Spirit to take control of their lives and produce the luscious fruit of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.Instead they live in spiritual poverty.

For four years I was a “cheese and crackers” Christian. I was doing things my own way, convinced that I needed to grab all of the gusto that this life offered me. I needed the sinful pleasures to be happy. I had my fire insurance, I knew that Jesus had paid for my sins and I would go to heaven when I died. I figured that was all I should really expect. But I found out that God had so much more, Jesus promised me an abundant life, and I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. Nothing can satisfy like Him. Nothing compares to the blessings that are ours when Jesus is Lord of our life.

In this message, we will look at these blessings and also study the barricades that block us from experiencing them.

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February 4, 1912 was going to be a great day. Franz Reichelt was finally going to prove to his detractors that he had designed a human suit that would enable him to fly safely to the ground from any height. Reichelt was among many inventors of the time trying to find the secret to flight.

After months of trying, Franz had finally obtained the permit needed to test his equipment off of theEiffelTower. Flight attempts from lower levels had been unsuccessful. He was convinced that the extra height was the missing ingredient to make his new suit work.

Early film footage captured the event. Even now you can Google Reichelt and watch the fateful video. Wearing the parachute that he designed and invented before ascending the Eiffel Tower, Reichelt is seen standing on the observation  platform high up on the tower preparing to jump. He climbs the rail, hovering some time on the brink, before he launches out over the edge. Reichelt plummeted straight down to his death.

Police and small crowd around the body of Reichelt as it is carried away, they then measure the depth of the hole made by his fall.

Reichelt found out first hand the results of trying through human effort something that cannot be done without outside help. Many Christians are like this. They crash and burn time after time, trying to live the Christian life in their own strength. Today we will learn another way…

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People often come to me when they are wrestling with the big question,
“How can I know God’s will for my life?”

When I respond by listing things clearly expressed in scripture –
spend time in His Word daily, love others as you love yourself,
avoid immorality,  etc. — they often get very impatient.

“No, no, no! That’s not what I mean.
I want to know what is God’s WILL for my life.
What’s His plan? What does He want me to do with my life?”

One thing I’ve learned, we are more likely to learn God’s will on the
Big Stuff, if we are doing God’s will on the every day stuff.

Today’s passage clarifies what we are to do and NOT do
in order to be doing God’s will every day.

We also are beginning a three-sermon series that will help us learn
one of the most important principles for Christian living,
How we can live Spirit-filled lives,
lives that are under the control of and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit
and experience God’s victory in every area of our lives!

Join us as we discover Spirit-Filled Living.

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All Invited to Benjamin’s Installation Service
Sunday, November 13, 3:30 PM
We will have a pastoral installation service for our new youth pastor/contemporary worship leader on Sunday afternoon, November 13. Brian Hardee, Benjamin’s dad and pastor for over 25 years, will be the keynote speaker. Following his message, there will be the traditional “laying on of hands” to affirm his call to minister here at St. Luke EFC. Light refreshments will be served following the service.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 2 Corinthians 8:7

Ever felt stressed about money?
Some are thinking, “That’s a laugh! When have I NOT been stressed out about money!?”
God does not want us to feel stressed, anxious or worried.
He wants to take us from stress to peace.

In this message, we look at ways to change the whole way we view money and
practical steps to move us up the ladder from $ stress to $ peace
one step or rung at a time.

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