“…be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”

(Ephesians 6:10)

What if our weakness is actually a terrific encouragement to us? Since we are weak, we must depend upon the strength of another. To the glory of God, that is the way it has always been.

In this message, we learn more about the ancient, not-so-secret weapon to aid us in spiritual combat.

Spirit-filled Marriage, Part 5

Ephesians 5:22-27

Making a Majestic Marriage, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Which one would you want your marriage to be? Full of deep affection or destructive accusation? Genesis 2 or Genesis 3? Shepherd or serpent?

In a Spirit-filled Marriage, the wife honors God by giving respect to her husband. 22-24

She honors Christ’s authority by “arranging herself under” her husband. 22-23

She represents the church in its submission to Christ. 24

How bad can it get? Adam & Eve; Isaac & Rebekah Genesis 2:21-25; 3:12; 25:27-28

In a Spirit-filled Marriage, the husband honors God by loving his wife and giving himself for her. 25-27

He honors Christ, with a self-sacrificial desire for his wife– giving himself for her. 25

He represents Christ by using the Word to

purify problem areas and perfect holiness. 26-27

• Practical Steps

• Put God’s Word back into your garden at home & church

• Take the change challenge: put off, renew, put on

• Wife: Trust God enough to submit to your husband

• Husband: Love the Lord enough to love your wife

• Ask the Lord to turn you from misery to majesty

Additional Study: Ephesians 3:14-2; 5:18-19, 1 Peter 3:6-7, Genesis 2:21-25; 3:12; 25:27-28; 27:1-6, 41-46

Click here to listen to this message.

Do you want to have a really great marriage?

You’re probably thinking, “I’m trying!”

But what if that is part of the problem? Instead of “trying,” the Lord speaks of “trusting” Him and letting Him live His life through you.

Why is a “Spirit-filled Marriage” so important? It’s because self-sufficiency makes lousy spouses. If you are trying to be a God-honoring spouse in your own strength, you will be miserable, and you will fail.

In order to be “Spirit-filled,” it is helpful to understand the prayer of Ephesians 3 ( to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man).  In this message, we will also look at Peter’s pen strokes (1 Peter 2 and 3), to draw a picture of Jesus Christ and His church.

If you are really struggling today, may we encourage you to “breathe in what God has breathed out” and know the strength that only the Lord can give.

To listen to this message please click here.

Have you ever felt like giving up on your marriage?

Have you had it? Are you tired of your spouse?

In this audio message, Pastor Dickson explains Ephesians 5 and the connection of 1 Peter 2 and 3. Jesus Christ gave us the Example to follow (1 Peter 2) that guides us around the pitfalls in marriage.

Using the Lord’s instruction about how to escape from blind, self-deception (Matthew 7), this message guides Christians toward a Spirit-filled Marriage.

To listen to this message, please click here.

For the entire series on marriage, click here.

What is God’s highest and greatest purpose for marriage?

In this audio message, delivered on Sunday, January 24, Pastor Dickson examines Ephesians 5:16-24 to find the answer to that question.

In Scripture, we learn what to do, why to do it and Who gets the praise for what we do (Matthew 5:16).  It’s important that we connect what we do (practice) to why we do it (principles); it’s even more important that we determine Who is really getting the praise for our lives: Who is the person behind it all?

By looking at this text in this way, we can learn a lot about marriage. There are a lot of good reasons for marriage, but what is God’s highest and greatest purpose?

Click here to listen to this message.

To listen to Spirit-Filled Marriage, Part 1, click here.

Let’s face it. Some marriages are full of misery.

Why? And how can this change?

In this new series entitled, “Spirit-filled Marriage,” Pastor Gordon Dickson  will examine marriage from Ephesians chapter 5.

As this first message demonstrates, God is able to work in your marriage in a way that is infinitely beyond what you could ask or think.

Believers are given the privilege of being filled with all the fulness of God. With this kind of power, Spirit-filled believers can fulfill

the Biblical purpose for marriage and find great joy in their marriages.

To listen to this message, click here.

To listen to Spirit-Filled Marriage, Part 2, click here.

Why are you experiencing such pain and problems in your personal relationships?

It is just as if there were powerful explosives in the Garden of Eden and when Adam chose to exalt himself, the explosives went off.

Sin separates. The evil has separated us from the Eternal One.

But God has a plan for unity. In this message from Ephesians 4, learn how Christ is the answer to the explosion of evil.

To listen to this message, click the audio player below or “right click” on the download button.

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What is the center of your life? Is life supposed to revolve around your happiness? If so, why aren’t you happy?

Ephesians 3:20-21 calls us to praise God and say, “To Him Be Glory!” This is a wonderful conclusion to the doctrinal section of Ephesians, making a practical transition for us all to follow.

The “Glory” of God is His Uniqueness! He alone is God. There is no one like Him. And where is the Glory to be known and seen? In the Church.

The Church is the House (Habitation) of God. This passage reveals the theme for the entire Book of Ephesians.  Life doesn’t revolve around my happiness; it revolves around God’s Holiness. Only when He is in the center will the joy of the Lord fill my soul.

Please click the picture at left, or click on the player below.

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The two main illustrations in the Book of Ephesians are The Building and The Body. In Ephesians chapters 4 and 5, the Body is the foremost illustration and the Body “walks.”

When we get to Ephesians 6, we will see that when the spiritual battle is great, the Body “fights.”

In the message below, we will summarize what the Scripture says about our “walk.” The Christian is called to walk in a way that is very different from the world, because we know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please click on the picture at left, or click here.

Peace? Joy? Harmony?

It’s the Christmas season, right? So how do you handle the hostility that some will face over the holidays? In fact, where does this cursed hostility come from anyway?

We live between two gardens: the garden of enmity and the garden of eternity. And we will have to wrestle with this for the rest of our days. But over the holidays? Sure. For some, it’s a forced family reunion. Or revisiting old, painful relationships. Or trying to satisfy someone who simply cannot be placated. How should you respond when “Mr. Potshot vents his spleen?”

Ephesians 4:1-3 confirms the Christian’s calling for the holidays: humility, gentleness and patience.

Just a few verses later, in Ephesians 4:22-24, you will discover Three Steps to Permanent Change. If you find that you are getting sinfully angry, it is not enough merely to stop the anger. There are two more steps to spiritual success. If you would like to learn more, listen to Three Steps to Personal Change at this link.

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