Gen. 2:24 “4 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

I. All Couples Fight

Gen. 3:12-13 “Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate. 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Gen. 16:15 “Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.”

Common warning signs of trouble between couples:

• You no longer laugh together or surprise each other.

• Your mate brings out the worst in you. (lagikang pinag-iisipan ng masama, at lagi kangpinasasama.)

• You stop cultivating common interests.

• You avoid your spouse.

II. THE ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT

A. Unmet Expectations

B. SELF-CENTEREDNESS

1Cor. 7:3-5 “ Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does

not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

III. TO RESOLVE CONFLICT

A. I will Act and not React

Rom. 12:21 “ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Eph. 5:22 “Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” And

Eph. 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”

B. Don’t try to change your spouse –change you!

C. FOCUS ON THE GOOD AND NOT THE BAD

Phil 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

D. I WILL TALK and Not WALK

• Begin with serious talk.

Eph. 4:26-27 ““Be angry, and do not sin”:[f] do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

• Keep on talking and – listening.

James 1:19 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”

• Show more consideration and Learn to forgive.

Col. 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Your Marriage can succeed!

• God designed marriage so that yours can succeed.

• God showed you what love is …in His Son.

• God teaches you what marriage is, learn from Him.

• God forgives, and you can forgive one another.