““LOVE FOR A LIFETIME”LOVE FOR A LIFETIME”EVERY DAY SLICING PIE FROM THE SKY!EVERY DAY SLICING PIE FROM THE SKY!

MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIP MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIP FIRE PROOFING 103FIRE PROOFING 103

MARK 10:1-12MARK 10:1-12

HOW TO HAVE HOW TO HAVE FULFILLINGFULFILLING LOVE TO LOVE TO ““FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A

LIFETIME: LIFETIME:

MARK 10:1-12 MARK 10:1-12

Jesus then left that place and went into the Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again

crowds of people came to him, and as was his crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.custom, he taught them.

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his

wife?”wife?”

3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied.3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied.4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a

certificate of divorce and send her away.”certificate of divorce and send her away.”

5 "It was 5 "It was because your hearts were hardbecause your hearts were hard that that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied.

MARK 10:1-12 MARK 10:1-12

6 "But at the beginning of creation God `made 6 "But at the beginning of creation God `made them male and female.' 7 `For this reason a man them male and female.' 7 `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to will leave his father and mother and be united to

his wife, 8 and the two will become his wife, 8 and the two will become oneone flesh.' flesh.' So they are no longer two, but So they are no longer two, but oneone. .

9 Therefore what God has joined 9 Therefore what God has joined togethertogether, let , let man not separate.”man not separate.”

10 When they were in the house again, the 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He

answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery marries another woman commits adultery

against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits and marries another man, she commits

adultery."adultery."

HOW TO HAVE HOW TO HAVE FULFILLINGFULFILLING LOVE TO LOVE TO ““FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A

LIFETIME: LIFETIME:

MARK 10:1-5 MARK 10:1-5

Jesus then left that place and went into the Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again

crowds of people came to him, and as was his crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.custom, he taught them.

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his

wife?”wife?”

3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied.3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied.4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a

certificate of divorce and send her away.”certificate of divorce and send her away.”

5 "It was 5 "It was because your hearts were hardbecause your hearts were hard that that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied.

HARDENED HEART? HARDENED HEART? The opposite would be a heart that is softened, The opposite would be a heart that is softened,

mellowed, gentle, and open.mellowed, gentle, and open.

Pharaoh “Pharaoh “hardened his hearthardened his heart” (Exodus 8:15ff),” (Exodus 8:15ff),He determnined to handle it himself in his own He determnined to handle it himself in his own

way.way.

He determined to respond in the natural He determined to respond in the natural inclination of his flesh, to do what he felt like inclination of his flesh, to do what he felt like

doing in the situation, to ignore God.doing in the situation, to ignore God.

WhenWhen you determine that you are not going to you determine that you are not going to pay attention to what God reveals about a pay attention to what God reveals about a situation and handle it yourself, thereby situation and handle it yourself, thereby

withdrawing from significant others and God…withdrawing from significant others and God…

you are hardening your heart!you are hardening your heart!

SOFTENED HEART? SOFTENED HEART?

A heart is always soft, A heart is always soft, whenwhen it recognizes that it recognizes that it’s ability to handle a situation, should come it’s ability to handle a situation, should come

from a from a demonstrateddemonstrated reliance upon the wisdom, reliance upon the wisdom, power, and love of God. power, and love of God.

This is always what keeps the heart tender, and This is always what keeps the heart tender, and reasonable – an reasonable – an openopen recognition and practice recognition and practice before all, of the need and design, that what it before all, of the need and design, that what it

takes, is a reliance upon the wisdom and love of takes, is a reliance upon the wisdom and love of God, and an obedience to God, and an obedience to

Him for success in handling things. Him for success in handling things.

This keeps the heart tender and This keeps the heart tender and soft.soft.

HOW TO HAVE HOW TO HAVE FULFILLINGFULFILLING LOVE TO LOVE TO ““FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A

LIFETIME: LIFETIME:

MARK 10:6-12 MARK 10:6-12

6 "But at the beginning of creation God `made 6 "But at the beginning of creation God `made them male and female.' 7 `For this reason a man them male and female.' 7 `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to will leave his father and mother and be united to

his wife, 8 and the two will become his wife, 8 and the two will become oneone flesh.' flesh.' So they are no longer two, but So they are no longer two, but oneone. .

9 Therefore what God has joined 9 Therefore what God has joined togethertogether, let , let man not separate.”man not separate.”

10 When they were in the house again, the 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He

answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery marries another woman commits adultery

against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits and marries another man, she commits

adultery."adultery."

JOHN 17:20-26 JOHN 17:20-26

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their those who will believe in me through their

message, message,

21 that all of them may 21 that all of them may be onebe one, Father, just as , Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be you are in me and I am in you. May they also be

in us so that the world may believe that you in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. have sent me.

22 I have given them the glory that you gave 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may me, that they may bebe oneone as we are as we are oneone: :

23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to to complete unitycomplete unity to let the world know that you to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have sent me and have loved them even as you have

loved me.loved me.

I JOHN 3:18I JOHN 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in words or tongue but with actions and in truthtruth. .

JOHN 4: 23JOHN 4: 23 Yet a time is coming and has now Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and Father in spirit and truthtruth, for they are the kind , for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truthtruth.”.”

EPHESIANS 4:15EPHESIANS 4:15 Instead, speaking the Instead, speaking the truthtruth in in love, we will in all things grow up into him who love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. is the Head, that is, Christ.

JAMES 1:22JAMES 1:22 Do not Do not merelymerely listen to the word, listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. and so deceive yourselves. DoDo what it says. what it says.

HOW TO HAVE HOW TO HAVE FULFILLINGFULFILLING LOVE TO LOVE TO ““FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A FIRE PROOF” YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR A

LIFETIME: LIFETIME:

““LOVE FOR A LIFETIME”LOVE FOR A LIFETIME”EVERY DAY SLICING PIE FROM THE SKY!EVERY DAY SLICING PIE FROM THE SKY!

MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIP MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIP FIRE PROOFING 103FIRE PROOFING 103

MARK 10:1-12MARK 10:1-12