MARRIED LIFE April 15 th Crazy Love April

MARRIED LIFE April 15 th: Crazy Love April 22 nd: Broken Vessels April 29 th: Friends or Lovers? May 6 th: The Devil Made Me Do It May 13 th: Prayer & Spiritual Intimacy May 20 th: Thunder & Lightning May 27 th: Mosquito Bites June 3 rd: Communication June 10 th: Learning to Love

From Week 3 SUMMARY POINTS POINT 1: We marry to share life with another POINT 2: I have to work at becoming a good companion (pursue love, know spouse, listen, be safe, love language, share experiences, have a mission- live for something greater together) POINT 3: A good companion spouse IS a good lover… the best of lovers

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY Do you believe in Satan? In the speech (in 2008), Santorum told an audience at Ave Maria University in southwest Florida: “Satan [has been] attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that [have] so deeply rooted in the American tradition. ”

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY Do you believe in Satan? Barna Research (2009) of Christians: • Satan only a “symbol of evil” minority said Satan was real • Holy Spirit a “symbol of God’s power or presence, but not a living entity” • Yet, most believed in spiritual forces, such as demons or evil spirits

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY Society’s Response to Belief in Satan: Mock, Minimize, or Deny by… • • • Making him a friendly cartoon or entertaining Making him just a ghost story Making those who believe in him look foolish

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY Do you believe in Satan? A. The Evidence - 7 OT Books & Every NT Writer Refers to Satan - Jesus Referred to Satan (Matthew 13: 39; Luke 10: 18; 11: 18)

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Deceive Me John 8: 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 44

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Deceive Me Genesis 3: 1 ff. The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden? ” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die. ’”

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Deceive Me 2 Corinthians 11: 13 -17 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. 13

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Deceive Me Revelation 12: 7 -9 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 7

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Deceive Me 2 Corinthians 4: 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 4

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Harm Me 2 Timothy 2: 25 -27 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 25

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Harm Me Job 1: 6 -12 Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 9 12 “All right, you may test him, ” the LORD said to Satan.

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Harm Me I Peter 5: 8 ”Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ”

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Harm Me John 17: 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 15

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Harm Me I John 5: 19 19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. Ephesians 6: 11 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY B. What is Satan’s Job? … Harm Me Ephesians 2: 2 -3 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. [a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 2

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY POINT 1: Your Marriage Has an Enemy who wants to destroy your marriage - A very real and active threat… - But, how many of us really believe that and live that way? Pray that way?

I. SPIRITUAL REALITY What would happen in our marriages if we truly believed that we had an enemy whose purpose was to hurt us and destroy our marriages? Would that change our perspective? Our Conflicts? Our behaviors?

II. IMPACTING ME 1. By Blinding Me & Dividing Us: Matthew 7: 1 -5 The speck in your own eye Ephesians 4: 25 -27 Speaking truth and dealing with anger

II. IMPACTING ME 2. By Making “Agreements” with Me: luring me into believing the lies (“Agreement” is a deal you make with Satan to believe lies about your spouse, self, marriage, conflict, situation…)

II. IMPACTING ME How does Satan (practically) do that? • Gives us a thought or feeling. . . • By planting seeds of hopelessness in our heads… • By preventing us from looking at out own issues… • By convincing us that it is not our fault…

II. IMPACTING ME Common Agreements- Which Ones Are Yours? • It’s not going to get any better • Don’t rock the boat- settle for what you have • It’s not worth the effort- don’t give it another try • Never let anyone hurt you again • You do your thing, I’ll do mine • I shouldn’t have married him/her • He doesn't really love me

II. IMPACTING ME POINT 2: Satan Hopes to Secure From You an “Agreement” – a lie you believe about your marriage, spouse, conflict, or yourself … this path to destruction in marriages

III. WHAT TO DO? 1. Face our brokenness Speak the truth in love… hear the truth 2. Confront your style of relating… recognizing that you both behave as a result of past experience and pain

III. WHAT TO DO? 3. Recognize your “agreements” • Ask Christ to reveal those to you - listen for what thoughts come to mind - what are they? - are they consistent with Scripture or lies that Satan would encourage? - what is the fruit of them? Effect on marriage?

III. WHAT TO DO? 4. Renounce Agreements. . . - break them, challenge them, pray against them 5. Stop Blaming Your Spouse… - take the log out of your own eye

III. WHAT TO DO? 6. Maintain a united front. . . Get on the same team and act like it… Satan intends to divide and conquercan you see that? Will you let him?

III. WHAT TO DO? POINT 3: Pretending like there is no spiritual battle means you will only lose the war… your marriage suffers

PERSONAL QUESTIONS • How much do you blame on your spouse? • Can you relate to the feeling of being “accused” by your spouse (or dismissed, or disappointed with you, or angry) even just being in the same room? Where do you think this is coming from? • Can you see that not every thought that passes through your head is your own? • Where are the “agreements” you have been making with Satan in your marriage? • What has been hard in your marriage? How have you been interpreting that? Have you blamed your spouse? •

DO SOMETHING • • Pray together daily- against the power and forces of the Evil One who desires to hurt your marriage Get out and do something fun this week