1 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,640 Living Seed Media brings to you God's Word, 2 00:00:13,060 --> 00:00:16,620 which is his comprehensive equipment for changing lives. 3 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:19,500 May the Lord impact your heart as you 4 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:20,640 encounter his Word. 5 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,640 For further inquiry or counsel, contact His House, 6 00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:30,180 PO Box 971, Boko, Benue State, Nigeria. 7 00:00:30,180 --> 00:00:39,720 Telephone numbers 0703 03636 59 0703 76811 8 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:40,720 98. 9 00:00:41,580 --> 00:00:47,380 Email address lsmediaatlivingseed.org or visit our website 10 00:00:47,380 --> 00:00:51,980 at www.livingseed.org. 11 00:00:52,220 --> 00:00:55,340 Let us sit back and listen as the 12 00:00:55,340 --> 00:00:57,960 servant of God brings forth the Word of 13 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:58,320 Life. 14 00:01:07,010 --> 00:01:08,250 Praise the Lord. 15 00:01:10,310 --> 00:01:14,210 We give God praise for this morning again. 16 00:01:15,610 --> 00:01:19,450 And we are looking up to him for 17 00:01:19,450 --> 00:01:21,730 all that he has in store for us 18 00:01:21,730 --> 00:01:22,150 today. 19 00:01:23,610 --> 00:01:25,450 I would like us to bow our heads 20 00:01:25,450 --> 00:01:28,990 as we pray, as we take this devotional 21 00:01:28,990 --> 00:01:30,270 challenge this morning. 22 00:01:30,390 --> 00:01:31,030 Shall we pray? 23 00:01:34,010 --> 00:01:37,310 Dear Father, once again we thank you for 24 00:01:37,310 --> 00:01:38,290 this new day. 25 00:01:40,030 --> 00:01:43,190 We thank you, Father, because you are the 26 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:48,010 living God who daily loots us with benefits. 27 00:01:49,790 --> 00:01:52,470 We're grateful that in your mercy you've gathered 28 00:01:52,470 --> 00:01:54,630 us across different nations. 29 00:01:54,630 --> 00:01:59,470 Thank you, Lord, that you have declared in 30 00:01:59,470 --> 00:02:01,350 your Word, you have not said to the 31 00:02:01,350 --> 00:02:03,590 house of Jacob, seek him in vain. 32 00:02:05,730 --> 00:02:07,850 And so, Lord, our eyes are on you, 33 00:02:08,090 --> 00:02:09,930 our hearts are expecting. 34 00:02:11,890 --> 00:02:14,290 Just as your Word did come last night, 35 00:02:15,070 --> 00:02:17,450 that this beginning of miracles. 36 00:02:18,730 --> 00:02:22,250 Lord, we are trusting you that, God, you 37 00:02:22,250 --> 00:02:25,350 will rot mightily among us even this day. 38 00:02:26,650 --> 00:02:29,790 As we come, Lord, looking into your Word 39 00:02:29,790 --> 00:02:33,230 this morning, on the issues of our personal 40 00:02:33,230 --> 00:02:37,770 communion with you, we pray, Father, that you 41 00:02:37,770 --> 00:02:39,730 will be gracious unto us, you will speak 42 00:02:39,730 --> 00:02:40,550 to our lives. 43 00:02:40,550 --> 00:02:45,330 We pray, Father, that you will rekindle your 44 00:02:45,330 --> 00:02:47,710 fire on each of our altars. 45 00:02:48,790 --> 00:02:51,550 We look to you that beyond our asking, 46 00:02:51,730 --> 00:02:52,990 Lord, you will help us. 47 00:02:53,950 --> 00:02:57,250 In Jesus' name we are praying, Amen. 48 00:02:58,370 --> 00:02:58,790 Amen. 49 00:02:59,470 --> 00:03:06,550 This morning, our devotional challenge will be focusing 50 00:03:06,550 --> 00:03:10,710 on the issue of our personal or individual 51 00:03:10,710 --> 00:03:11,370 altar. 52 00:03:12,170 --> 00:03:16,530 And we'll be looking at the need to 53 00:03:16,530 --> 00:03:22,310 have and to maintain our personal communion, our 54 00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:23,530 personal altar. 55 00:03:23,530 --> 00:03:27,610 And as the Lord may be guiding us, 56 00:03:28,310 --> 00:03:31,770 we'll be looking at God's wisdom on how 57 00:03:31,770 --> 00:03:32,910 to go about it. 58 00:03:33,990 --> 00:03:36,710 We'll read a few scriptures, but first I 59 00:03:36,710 --> 00:03:38,450 want us to begin with the book of 60 00:03:38,450 --> 00:03:40,890 Hebrews, chapter 11. 61 00:03:42,290 --> 00:03:44,290 Turn with me to Hebrews 11. 62 00:03:45,770 --> 00:03:47,530 Hebrews chapter 11. 63 00:03:47,530 --> 00:03:52,030 And we shall be reading verses 8 to 64 00:03:52,030 --> 00:03:52,610 12. 65 00:03:54,810 --> 00:03:57,010 Hebrews 11. 66 00:03:58,130 --> 00:04:02,470 We'll read verse 8 to 12. 67 00:04:04,290 --> 00:04:06,890 I'll be reading from the New King James 68 00:04:06,890 --> 00:04:07,450 Version. 69 00:04:08,450 --> 00:04:12,350 Hebrews 11, verse 8 to 12. 70 00:04:13,590 --> 00:04:21,130 By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called 71 00:04:21,130 --> 00:04:27,150 to go out to the place he received 72 00:04:27,150 --> 00:04:28,370 as an inheritance. 73 00:04:30,050 --> 00:04:34,370 And he went out, not knowing where he 74 00:04:34,370 --> 00:04:34,970 was going. 75 00:04:36,150 --> 00:04:40,710 By faith, he dwelt in the land of 76 00:04:40,710 --> 00:04:46,870 promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in 77 00:04:46,870 --> 00:04:52,490 tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with 78 00:04:52,490 --> 00:04:55,230 him of the same promise. 79 00:04:55,230 --> 00:05:01,310 For he waited for the city which has 80 00:05:01,310 --> 00:05:07,070 foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 81 00:05:07,470 --> 00:05:08,190 Verse 11. 82 00:05:08,190 --> 00:05:17,190 By faith, Sarah herself also received strength 83 00:05:17,190 --> 00:05:22,670 to conceive seed, and she bore a child 84 00:05:22,670 --> 00:05:27,790 when she was past the age because she 85 00:05:27,790 --> 00:05:30,730 judged him faithful who had promised. 86 00:05:32,210 --> 00:05:32,850 Verse 12. 87 00:05:32,850 --> 00:05:39,710 Therefore, from one man and him as good 88 00:05:39,710 --> 00:05:45,230 as they were born as many as the 89 00:05:45,230 --> 00:05:51,990 stars of the sky in multitude, innumerable as 90 00:05:51,990 --> 00:05:56,370 the sun, which is by the seashore. 91 00:05:56,370 --> 00:06:00,510 I will be reading other passages as we 92 00:06:00,510 --> 00:06:03,150 go along by the grace of God. 93 00:06:03,150 --> 00:06:09,710 As we consider the issue of our personal 94 00:06:09,710 --> 00:06:15,690 altar, and the need to have a personal 95 00:06:15,690 --> 00:06:20,350 altar, the need to maintain our personal altar, 96 00:06:20,350 --> 00:06:25,290 and our God will help us that despite 97 00:06:25,290 --> 00:06:30,110 all the demands of family, all the demands 98 00:06:30,110 --> 00:06:35,150 of raising children, all the demands of work 99 00:06:35,150 --> 00:06:38,170 schedules, we're able to maintain it. 100 00:06:39,150 --> 00:06:42,790 I was led of the Lord to begin 101 00:06:42,790 --> 00:06:47,790 this by looking at this passage that is 102 00:06:47,790 --> 00:06:48,950 before us this morning. 103 00:06:48,950 --> 00:06:52,650 I sense the way to consider the issue 104 00:06:52,650 --> 00:06:57,070 of personal altar is more than just the 105 00:06:57,070 --> 00:07:00,410 matter of our personal quiet time. 106 00:07:01,810 --> 00:07:05,210 I sense it's going deeper to the matter 107 00:07:05,210 --> 00:07:08,510 of our prayer life, the matter of our 108 00:07:08,510 --> 00:07:12,330 personal communion as it were with the Lord. 109 00:07:13,010 --> 00:07:15,950 The first thing that I want to draw 110 00:07:15,950 --> 00:07:19,910 attention to, brethren, this morning is how crucial 111 00:07:19,910 --> 00:07:23,590 that is in our marriage relationship. 112 00:07:25,190 --> 00:07:28,510 The need, just wanting to emphasize briefly, the 113 00:07:28,510 --> 00:07:33,630 need that as husband or as a wife, 114 00:07:34,630 --> 00:07:39,350 we must build our own personal communion with 115 00:07:39,350 --> 00:07:39,730 the Lord. 116 00:07:39,730 --> 00:07:42,890 You will note with me from the passage 117 00:07:42,890 --> 00:07:49,470 we read, it says, by faith Abraham obeyed 118 00:07:49,470 --> 00:07:51,610 when he was called out to go to 119 00:07:51,610 --> 00:07:55,230 the place which he will receive as an 120 00:07:55,230 --> 00:07:55,670 inheritance. 121 00:07:57,450 --> 00:08:00,250 Our focus this morning is not on the 122 00:08:00,250 --> 00:08:01,270 issue of faith. 123 00:08:02,250 --> 00:08:05,770 But we're looking at the matter of their 124 00:08:05,770 --> 00:08:09,750 faith as a result of their walk with 125 00:08:09,750 --> 00:08:10,150 the Lord. 126 00:08:11,150 --> 00:08:14,490 You note that earlier on in that Hebrews 127 00:08:14,490 --> 00:08:18,930 11, the scripture has laid it clearly that 128 00:08:18,930 --> 00:08:21,710 for anyone who will please God, there's a 129 00:08:21,710 --> 00:08:22,830 way to walk with him. 130 00:08:23,570 --> 00:08:25,770 He must walk with God by faith. 131 00:08:26,390 --> 00:08:29,010 But what is touching my attention, I mean, 132 00:08:29,110 --> 00:08:31,350 catching my attention that I wanted to draw 133 00:08:31,350 --> 00:08:35,610 our attention to this morning is that the 134 00:08:35,610 --> 00:08:40,650 scripture began by saying, Abraham, by faith, he 135 00:08:40,650 --> 00:08:42,870 obeyed when he was called out to go 136 00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:45,930 to a place which he will receive as 137 00:08:45,930 --> 00:08:46,550 an inheritance. 138 00:08:47,390 --> 00:08:49,610 And he went out not knowing where he 139 00:08:49,610 --> 00:08:50,170 was going. 140 00:08:50,170 --> 00:08:54,860 The scripture followed that even the way he 141 00:08:54,860 --> 00:08:58,500 dwelled in the land of promise was by 142 00:08:58,500 --> 00:08:58,840 faith. 143 00:08:59,980 --> 00:09:01,840 What does that say to us that I 144 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:02,820 wanted us to note? 145 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,160 It was that whatever we saw about Abraham, 146 00:09:07,460 --> 00:09:15,020 whatever action we saw Abraham take, they were 147 00:09:15,020 --> 00:09:15,650 not arbitrary. 148 00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:20,740 They were springing out of his relationship with 149 00:09:20,740 --> 00:09:21,020 God. 150 00:09:21,900 --> 00:09:25,200 They were springing out of his knowledge of 151 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,260 God, out of his communion with God. 152 00:09:28,380 --> 00:09:31,640 You see, the scripture says he obeyed when 153 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,200 he was called out to go to the 154 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,340 place which he will receive. 155 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:38,720 That is, he had heard God. 156 00:09:39,580 --> 00:09:42,680 He was in a communion, as it were, 157 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:43,520 with the Lord. 158 00:09:44,560 --> 00:09:47,220 And so when God spoke, he obeyed. 159 00:09:47,260 --> 00:09:49,380 He had a personal walk with God. 160 00:09:49,380 --> 00:09:52,800 He was in communion with the Lord. 161 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:56,460 And all else that we see about Abraham 162 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:03,080 that is noteworthy today, that enabled him, together 163 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,600 with his wife, to fulfill the divine purpose. 164 00:10:06,660 --> 00:10:10,100 They were springing out of their relationship with 165 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:10,320 God. 166 00:10:11,420 --> 00:10:13,120 Now I want to remind us what the 167 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,540 Lord pointed our attention to last night as 168 00:10:16,540 --> 00:10:18,620 we were looking at that John chapter 2. 169 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:23,820 You will note that the instruction the Lord 170 00:10:23,820 --> 00:10:28,680 Jesus gave, I mean, sorry, that Mary gave 171 00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:32,680 to the servant was, Whatsoever he says to 172 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:33,740 you, do. 173 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:40,920 Now I'm bringing this in because there's no 174 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,700 way a man can actually walk in the 175 00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:46,960 light of God's counsel except he's in fellowship 176 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:47,560 with God. 177 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:50,700 The first matter I wanted us to note, 178 00:10:50,980 --> 00:10:53,060 Abraham had a walk with God. 179 00:10:53,940 --> 00:10:57,220 Abraham was in communion with God. 180 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,040 And all else we see about him in 181 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,340 his marriage, in his life, was springing out 182 00:11:04,340 --> 00:11:08,700 of that personal communion, personal relationship with God. 183 00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:12,620 But what makes this passage a matter for 184 00:11:12,620 --> 00:11:14,880 me, as the Lord was bringing it to 185 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,200 my attention, as we're looking at this matter 186 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,880 of personal order, is as I now come 187 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,760 to verse 11, I would like you to 188 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,540 please note with me that Hebrews chapter 11 189 00:11:28,540 --> 00:11:30,880 and the 11th verse. 190 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:54,700 The Holy Spirit says, What 191 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:56,900 is the matter that I wanted us to 192 00:11:56,900 --> 00:11:57,580 please note? 193 00:11:57,580 --> 00:12:03,280 That whether as a husband, for us to 194 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:07,740 have a fulfilling matrimony, it must be springing 195 00:12:07,740 --> 00:12:12,240 out of a communion of our personal fellowship 196 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:13,520 with the Lord. 197 00:12:14,680 --> 00:12:17,220 For a husband to be a correct husband, 198 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,620 to be able to provide leadership as we 199 00:12:19,620 --> 00:12:23,540 see in the case of Abraham here, it 200 00:12:23,540 --> 00:12:26,060 must be one that is in communion with 201 00:12:26,060 --> 00:12:26,440 the Lord. 202 00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:30,160 The Lord was taught again last night, as 203 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,440 the word of God came, and the Holy 204 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,800 Spirit was pointing to the fact that every 205 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:39,020 man at the beginning brings forth the good 206 00:12:39,020 --> 00:12:39,340 wine. 207 00:12:40,340 --> 00:12:42,000 And the servant of the Lord was saying, 208 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,300 as the Lord brought the message yesterday, that 209 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:49,060 it is natural, the law of the natural 210 00:12:49,060 --> 00:12:52,020 is the law of diminishing returns. 211 00:12:52,020 --> 00:12:56,520 That whatever is springing from the natural, it 212 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:57,640 will diminish with time. 213 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,740 What that means is that to sustain a 214 00:13:01,740 --> 00:13:06,100 fruitful and a fulfilling marriage, there's a need 215 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:07,980 for connection to the divine source. 216 00:13:09,140 --> 00:13:12,380 There's a need that there's a springing out 217 00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:15,100 of our communion as it were with the 218 00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:15,280 Lord. 219 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:19,520 So for Abraham to be able to provide 220 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,820 the kind of leadership we see in, that 221 00:13:22,820 --> 00:13:25,600 was not going to lead his wife, nor 222 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,800 his family into the bush, it was from 223 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,060 their communion with the Lord. 224 00:13:31,580 --> 00:13:35,280 It was from his personal fellowship with God. 225 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:40,400 Now, if all that we read ended there, 226 00:13:41,260 --> 00:13:42,860 there will have been no need to speak 227 00:13:42,860 --> 00:13:44,400 about our personal altar. 228 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,420 It is that the Holy Spirit now says, 229 00:13:47,860 --> 00:13:54,900 by faith, Sarah herself also received strength to 230 00:13:54,900 --> 00:13:55,740 conceive seed. 231 00:13:55,740 --> 00:13:59,580 What that says to me is that it 232 00:13:59,580 --> 00:14:02,240 was not just Abraham who had the walk 233 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:02,760 with God. 234 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,480 It was not Abraham alone who had personal 235 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:12,120 communion with the Lord, Sarah herself. 236 00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:16,600 Let me note for wives that are listening. 237 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,540 On one count, it is crucial. 238 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,300 A man did his family well to be 239 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:26,660 the husband that God intends him to be, 240 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,040 whether in the matter of loving his wife 241 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:30,840 as he should. 242 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,440 He must be in touch with the divine 243 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,280 source, with the divine strength. 244 00:14:36,740 --> 00:14:39,000 He must be one that is in communion 245 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,760 as it were with the Lord. 246 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:46,680 But beyond that, the wife also, the scripture 247 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,720 says, Sarah herself also received strength. 248 00:14:50,860 --> 00:14:53,440 So, in the married relationship, we want to 249 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:54,700 first note this morning. 250 00:14:55,720 --> 00:15:00,520 Both husband and wife must continually be in 251 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:01,840 communion with the Lord. 252 00:15:02,780 --> 00:15:05,800 Must continually be a people who touch base 253 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:06,400 with heaven. 254 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:10,420 Must be people who are having sweet communion, 255 00:15:10,580 --> 00:15:11,660 sweet fellowship with God. 256 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,500 It looks to me, several issues will be 257 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:16,560 easily resolved. 258 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,100 Several issues will take their proper place when 259 00:15:21,100 --> 00:15:23,180 you have a man at the head of 260 00:15:23,180 --> 00:15:25,480 the home who is in touch with heaven. 261 00:15:25,940 --> 00:15:28,680 And you have a wife who is also 262 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:30,420 in communion with God. 263 00:15:30,420 --> 00:15:33,640 As I'm looking at the movement of Abraham, 264 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,760 what is that Abraham might have added a 265 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,400 problem in obeying God if he did not 266 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,680 have a wife who also has a standing 267 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:47,400 before God. 268 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,680 And you will agree with me that there 269 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,180 are many times you'll find that a man 270 00:15:54,180 --> 00:15:57,460 is eager and is pushful for the things 271 00:15:57,460 --> 00:15:58,020 of God. 272 00:15:58,020 --> 00:15:59,180 He's earnest. 273 00:15:59,740 --> 00:16:01,180 He wants to do the will of God. 274 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:07,060 But because somehow the wife is not in 275 00:16:07,060 --> 00:16:08,860 tune, you'll find a problem. 276 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,260 There are challenges we have met before. 277 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:16,780 I don't intend to go into some of 278 00:16:16,780 --> 00:16:18,640 the things that may be said as we 279 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:19,040 go on. 280 00:16:19,300 --> 00:16:21,180 But there are challenges you have met in 281 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:22,020 marriage before. 282 00:16:22,620 --> 00:16:24,600 Where a man says, this is the way 283 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:25,400 God is leading. 284 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,320 But because the wife has no hearing for 285 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,080 God, she has not built her own personal 286 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,120 relationship with God, it becomes a problem. 287 00:16:36,300 --> 00:16:40,420 At other times, even when she's following, she 288 00:16:40,420 --> 00:16:42,680 may be doing so murmuring or passively. 289 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,740 So I want to emphasize in this as 290 00:16:46,740 --> 00:16:48,780 we look at this, the matter of our 291 00:16:48,780 --> 00:16:50,400 personal altar this morning. 292 00:16:51,380 --> 00:16:53,560 As the man, the head of the home, 293 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:56,220 if you must lead your house well, if 294 00:16:56,220 --> 00:16:58,060 you must be the man God intends you 295 00:16:58,060 --> 00:17:01,880 to be, it cannot be outside of drawing 296 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,839 from the source of life. 297 00:17:04,180 --> 00:17:07,599 That you are in communion continually as it 298 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:08,380 were with the Lord. 299 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,099 As a wife, it will not just be 300 00:17:11,099 --> 00:17:13,740 a baggage that is carried along. 301 00:17:13,740 --> 00:17:17,680 And if you will be the correct help 302 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,740 as it were to your husband, it must 303 00:17:20,740 --> 00:17:25,220 be that you yourself, you have this personal 304 00:17:25,220 --> 00:17:29,200 altar that is within your communion as it 305 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:29,960 were with the Lord. 306 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,280 You know what taught me, even though I 307 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,320 don't want to dwell on this too long, 308 00:17:34,780 --> 00:17:37,400 from that Hebrews 11, is the way verse 309 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,920 12 now brings it with the word. 310 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:42,360 I don't know how it is read in 311 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:44,780 your own version, but in the New King 312 00:17:44,780 --> 00:17:49,700 James Version it says, Therefore, from one man, 313 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:54,860 and him as good as dead, were born 314 00:17:54,860 --> 00:17:58,220 as many as the stars of the sky 315 00:17:58,220 --> 00:18:02,980 in multitude, innumerable as the sun which is 316 00:18:02,980 --> 00:18:04,400 by the seashore. 317 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:08,860 Is the word, therefore, that actually taught me. 318 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,400 We read of Abraham, we read of his 319 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:18,580 obedience, we read of his lifestyle, how he 320 00:18:18,580 --> 00:18:21,240 dwelled, and the scripture is saying all of 321 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,460 this was springing out of his faith, out 322 00:18:24,460 --> 00:18:25,960 of his relationship with God. 323 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,820 And then the Holy Spirit says, by faith, 324 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:30,400 Sarah herself. 325 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,600 And all that we saw about Sarah, then 326 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,200 the scripture now says, therefore. 327 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:43,160 It looks that the robustness, the wholesomeness that 328 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,780 we find in this couple's life was not 329 00:18:47,780 --> 00:18:51,260 just the question of maybe the man having 330 00:18:51,260 --> 00:18:54,420 a walk with God, having a personal growing 331 00:18:54,420 --> 00:18:56,520 fellowship with God, and the wife being otherwise. 332 00:18:57,060 --> 00:19:00,120 It is that both man and woman are 333 00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:01,000 in communion. 334 00:19:02,140 --> 00:19:04,280 They are in communion as it were with 335 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:04,720 the Lord. 336 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,540 I am so touched as I look at 337 00:19:07,540 --> 00:19:09,160 the life of Sarah, and I want to 338 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,220 again say only to all our sisters. 339 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,600 It is not enough that your husband is 340 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,060 praying for you or is praying with you. 341 00:19:20,980 --> 00:19:25,680 It is crucial that you are in continuous 342 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:26,860 touch with heaven. 343 00:19:26,860 --> 00:19:30,300 You will not be able to be the 344 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:34,560 help that God intends you to be unless 345 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,640 you are a woman who also have your 346 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,920 personal standing in the presence of God. 347 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,120 I'm touched when we look at 1 Peter 348 00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:47,900 3, it points to the kind of woman 349 00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,520 that Sarah was. 350 00:19:50,820 --> 00:19:52,680 Will you mind if we just read that? 351 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,740 1 Peter 3, I don't also intend to 352 00:19:55,740 --> 00:19:57,640 dwell there, but just to point out something 353 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:03,660 about the necessity of our personal communion, personal 354 00:20:03,660 --> 00:20:05,860 order, and our walk with the Lord. 355 00:20:05,860 --> 00:20:09,420 1 Peter 3, I will just quickly read 356 00:20:09,420 --> 00:20:11,880 verse 1 to 6. 357 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:16,180 1 Peter 3, verse 1 to 6. 358 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,840 My emphasis is not all that is spoken 359 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:21,960 there, but just to point our attention to 360 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:22,400 something. 361 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:27,020 The Scripture says, Wives, likewise, be submissive to 362 00:20:27,020 --> 00:20:30,740 your own husbands, that even if some do 363 00:20:30,740 --> 00:20:34,060 not obey the word, they without the word 364 00:20:34,060 --> 00:20:36,120 may be warned by the conduct of their 365 00:20:36,120 --> 00:20:36,560 wives. 366 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:41,440 When they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by 367 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:46,560 fear, do not let your adornment be merely 368 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:51,720 outward, arranging the heir, wearing gold or putting 369 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:52,780 on fine apparel. 370 00:20:52,780 --> 00:20:58,800 Verse 4, rather, let it be the hidden 371 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:04,180 person of the heart, the incorruptible beauty of 372 00:21:04,180 --> 00:21:07,500 a gentle and a quiet spirit, which is 373 00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:10,160 very precious in the sight of God. 374 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:14,640 Verse 5, for in this manner, in former 375 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,860 times, the only women who trusted in God 376 00:21:17,860 --> 00:21:23,660 also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own 377 00:21:23,660 --> 00:21:24,080 husband. 378 00:21:24,740 --> 00:21:28,260 As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose 379 00:21:28,260 --> 00:21:32,100 daughters you are, if you do good and 380 00:21:32,100 --> 00:21:35,740 are not afraid with any terror. 381 00:21:35,740 --> 00:21:39,280 My focus is just that verse 4 and 382 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:39,960 verse 5. 383 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,860 The Scripture says the adornment, what should be 384 00:21:43,860 --> 00:21:44,400 the focus? 385 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,600 What should be a priority in the life 386 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,460 even of a wife, of a woman? 387 00:21:49,460 --> 00:21:53,400 It says, not the adornment of what is 388 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:57,420 outward, but your inner life. 389 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,440 Rather, let it be the hidden person of 390 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:06,780 the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a 391 00:22:06,780 --> 00:22:09,620 gentle and a quiet spirit, which is very 392 00:22:09,620 --> 00:22:11,380 precious in the sight of God. 393 00:22:11,380 --> 00:22:16,080 When God has a woman, a wife, who 394 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:22,380 is meek, who God works on, what a 395 00:22:22,380 --> 00:22:25,880 treasure, what a blessing to that married. 396 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:28,380 And when we have a man who, by 397 00:22:28,380 --> 00:22:32,240 God's grace, is continuously in communion with the 398 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,440 Lord, what a blessing it will be to 399 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:36,000 his family. 400 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,620 So the first critical matter I just wanted 401 00:22:38,620 --> 00:22:42,560 us to note in this morning, in the 402 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,300 matter of our personal altar, is that both 403 00:22:45,300 --> 00:22:49,460 the man and his wife must be growing, 404 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,640 must be progressive in their personal communion. 405 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,720 It brings a genuine blessing onto the marriage. 406 00:22:59,420 --> 00:23:04,040 Just taking an example about the life and 407 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:08,620 the marriage of Abraham and Sarah, I would 408 00:23:08,620 --> 00:23:13,220 like us just to read Genesis 21, Genesis 409 00:23:13,220 --> 00:23:16,980 chapter 21, and we will read verse 9 410 00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:17,640 to 12. 411 00:23:18,450 --> 00:23:21,240 Just something, again, my attention was drawn to, 412 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:26,400 to see how the relationship they both have, 413 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,920 how it became a blessing and a help, 414 00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:33,380 even in their union. 415 00:23:34,060 --> 00:23:35,200 Are you there with me? 416 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,960 Genesis chapter 21, I would like to read 417 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,140 verse 9 to 12. 418 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,300 It says, And Sarah saw the son of 419 00:23:46,300 --> 00:23:50,200 Aga, the Egyptian, whom she had borne to 420 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,680 Abraham, scoffing. 421 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:53,360 Verse 10. 422 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:59,780 Therefore, she said to Abraham, Cast out this 423 00:23:59,780 --> 00:24:03,440 born woman and her son, for the son 424 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,640 of this born woman shall not be heir 425 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,420 with my son, namely with Isaac. 426 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:15,600 And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's 427 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,380 sight because of his son. 428 00:24:18,380 --> 00:24:22,980 But God said to Abraham, Do not let 429 00:24:22,980 --> 00:24:26,280 it be displeasing in your sight because of 430 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,840 the lad or because of your born woman. 431 00:24:30,060 --> 00:24:35,000 Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to 432 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:41,480 her voice, for in Isaac your seed shall 433 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:42,120 be called. 434 00:24:43,540 --> 00:24:46,220 I'm touched as I look at this passage 435 00:24:46,220 --> 00:24:51,460 because we see what naturally transpires in a 436 00:24:51,460 --> 00:24:52,720 marital relationship. 437 00:24:53,940 --> 00:24:58,560 It is not every time that we will 438 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,600 agree over a matter. 439 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,680 It is not every time that what the 440 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,740 husband is suggesting will be palatable to the 441 00:25:08,740 --> 00:25:09,020 wife. 442 00:25:09,020 --> 00:25:12,820 It is not every time that what the 443 00:25:12,820 --> 00:25:17,040 wife is saying will be welcomed by the 444 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:17,380 husband. 445 00:25:18,300 --> 00:25:21,560 But when God has both a man and 446 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:23,760 a woman who is in touch with him, 447 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,100 oh, it results many issues. 448 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:27,580 I just wanted to look. 449 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:29,600 Here was a situation in marriage. 450 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,160 I'm not dealing with all the details. 451 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,760 I'm only making a reference to emphasize the 452 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:39,800 need that as a man, we must not 453 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,020 lag behind in keeping our communion with the 454 00:25:43,020 --> 00:25:43,240 Lord. 455 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,600 As a wife, you must be at your 456 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:52,820 best in focusing on developing our personal relationship 457 00:25:52,820 --> 00:25:53,420 with the Lord. 458 00:25:53,420 --> 00:25:59,880 Now, the scripture says that Sarah saw what 459 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:03,940 you call Ishmael as a mock Isaac. 460 00:26:04,620 --> 00:26:11,220 And she says, look, cast out this born 461 00:26:11,220 --> 00:26:15,240 woman and her son, for the son of 462 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,800 this born woman shall not be heir with 463 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,620 my son, namely with Isaac. 464 00:26:21,620 --> 00:26:24,880 It sounds authoritative somehow. 465 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:28,880 But as we learn about Sarah's life, we 466 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:30,140 know she's a submissive woman. 467 00:26:31,540 --> 00:26:33,980 Now, I wanted us to note the response 468 00:26:33,980 --> 00:26:35,480 of Abraham to that. 469 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,320 The scripture says the matter was very displeasing 470 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,580 in Abraham's sight because of his son. 471 00:26:42,580 --> 00:26:48,220 Here is a wife bringing the suggestion that 472 00:26:48,220 --> 00:26:50,260 the husband cannot take. 473 00:26:50,460 --> 00:26:51,460 No, no, no, no. 474 00:26:51,540 --> 00:26:52,800 It cannot be like that. 475 00:26:54,060 --> 00:26:56,020 How was this resolved? 476 00:26:57,420 --> 00:26:59,580 Verse 12 says, but God. 477 00:27:01,020 --> 00:27:03,040 But God said to Abraham. 478 00:27:03,380 --> 00:27:05,300 Now, I don't want us to miss a 479 00:27:05,300 --> 00:27:05,580 matter. 480 00:27:05,580 --> 00:27:08,960 As simple as that may sound, do you 481 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,740 know it's not every man that hears God? 482 00:27:13,780 --> 00:27:15,940 Sometimes the issue as a husband, you are 483 00:27:15,940 --> 00:27:16,940 insisting upon. 484 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:21,080 It may be somehow wanting to help your 485 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,560 life, but you are insisting and saying and 486 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:25,640 resisting whatever your wife is suggesting. 487 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,980 How wonderful it would be if you are 488 00:27:28,980 --> 00:27:31,820 a man who is in fellowship with God. 489 00:27:32,420 --> 00:27:34,540 If you are a man who is in 490 00:27:34,540 --> 00:27:38,480 communion with God, the Bible says, but God 491 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:40,080 said to Abraham. 492 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:42,160 Sarah has spoken. 493 00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:46,940 Abraham is not pleased with it, but God. 494 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:50,980 Because there is a man who is in 495 00:27:50,980 --> 00:27:52,440 communion with the Lord. 496 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:56,540 He says, don't let what Sarah said displease 497 00:27:56,540 --> 00:27:56,860 you. 498 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,980 Because of the lad or because of your 499 00:27:59,980 --> 00:28:00,560 born woman. 500 00:28:01,420 --> 00:28:04,360 And it taught me that it was God 501 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:07,740 who was not saying to Abraham, whatever Sarah 502 00:28:07,740 --> 00:28:11,520 has said to you, listen to her voice. 503 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,740 You will note there brethren, that in the 504 00:28:15,740 --> 00:28:19,340 fall, the reason why one of the things 505 00:28:19,340 --> 00:28:23,920 that God rebuked Adam for was that he 506 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:25,740 heard the voice of his wife. 507 00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:29,880 You may wonder, does it not contradict the 508 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,660 way of dealings and the set up of 509 00:28:32,660 --> 00:28:33,800 authority in the family? 510 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:34,180 No. 511 00:28:34,180 --> 00:28:37,600 When what the wife is saying is of 512 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:38,080 the Lord. 513 00:28:39,020 --> 00:28:42,600 But again, it takes a woman also who 514 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:46,320 is in personal fellowship with God to be 515 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,800 able to speak in a manner that will 516 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:49,600 be helpful to the other. 517 00:28:49,660 --> 00:28:52,000 Now did you see that God didn't just 518 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,800 say, whatever Sarah said to you, listen to 519 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:55,260 her voice. 520 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:56,320 There was a reason. 521 00:28:56,320 --> 00:29:01,900 He said, because in Isaac your seed shall 522 00:29:01,900 --> 00:29:02,380 be called. 523 00:29:02,660 --> 00:29:04,700 She is in tune with the counsel of 524 00:29:04,700 --> 00:29:04,960 God. 525 00:29:07,570 --> 00:29:10,710 The first challenge that is coming to me 526 00:29:10,710 --> 00:29:13,650 this morning for us to consider, dear brethren, 527 00:29:14,050 --> 00:29:17,070 is as the head of the home, as 528 00:29:17,070 --> 00:29:20,230 a man, are you one who hears God? 529 00:29:21,550 --> 00:29:24,410 Are you one who is in fellowship with 530 00:29:24,410 --> 00:29:24,650 God? 531 00:29:24,650 --> 00:29:27,890 And not just that you are speaking of 532 00:29:27,890 --> 00:29:31,070 the past, you are in continuous communion with 533 00:29:31,070 --> 00:29:31,410 the Lord. 534 00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:34,570 We like that as the Lord is bringing 535 00:29:34,570 --> 00:29:37,290 it to us here, to have a fruitful 536 00:29:37,290 --> 00:29:41,050 and a fulfilling matrimony. 537 00:29:42,190 --> 00:29:46,250 This matter of our individual personal communion with 538 00:29:46,250 --> 00:29:47,670 God is critical. 539 00:29:48,510 --> 00:29:50,570 Yes, we will have family altar. 540 00:29:51,370 --> 00:29:53,370 Yes, we will pray together as couple. 541 00:29:54,290 --> 00:29:57,890 But all of those will be enriched when 542 00:29:57,890 --> 00:30:01,130 we have men who are in tune with 543 00:30:01,130 --> 00:30:01,410 heaven. 544 00:30:01,930 --> 00:30:04,970 When we have wives who are in tune 545 00:30:04,970 --> 00:30:06,030 with God. 546 00:30:07,750 --> 00:30:12,010 Family issues and disagreements will be resolved easily 547 00:30:12,010 --> 00:30:15,430 when you have a man that is continually 548 00:30:15,430 --> 00:30:16,690 in fellowship with God. 549 00:30:18,530 --> 00:30:22,390 Issues of obedience or submission will not be 550 00:30:22,390 --> 00:30:23,370 a big matter. 551 00:30:23,750 --> 00:30:25,930 When you have a wife, even when what 552 00:30:25,930 --> 00:30:29,730 the husband is saying is not seemingly immediately 553 00:30:29,730 --> 00:30:30,670 agreeable. 554 00:30:31,090 --> 00:30:33,610 If that woman is one who hears God. 555 00:30:34,850 --> 00:30:37,070 As the Holy Spirit saying that whatsoever he 556 00:30:37,070 --> 00:30:38,630 says to you, do it. 557 00:30:39,670 --> 00:30:40,970 How wonderful it will be. 558 00:30:41,780 --> 00:30:46,110 Abraham could only arise to do what Sarah 559 00:30:46,110 --> 00:30:50,570 said because the scripture says what God said 560 00:30:50,570 --> 00:30:51,450 to Abraham. 561 00:30:52,390 --> 00:30:55,070 And by God's grace, some of the blessings 562 00:30:55,070 --> 00:30:55,730 we see. 563 00:30:56,090 --> 00:30:58,750 I realize that it is not every time 564 00:30:58,750 --> 00:31:01,410 that as a husband, the man gets it 565 00:31:01,410 --> 00:31:01,730 right. 566 00:31:01,730 --> 00:31:05,750 But part of the help that God has 567 00:31:05,750 --> 00:31:08,050 packaged in the wife is such that if 568 00:31:08,050 --> 00:31:09,850 there is a woman who is also spiritual, 569 00:31:10,070 --> 00:31:11,670 who is also knowing the man of God, 570 00:31:12,130 --> 00:31:13,910 she can be able to supply that. 571 00:31:14,530 --> 00:31:17,510 So the first critical matter, as we look 572 00:31:17,510 --> 00:31:21,050 at the need to have and to maintain 573 00:31:21,050 --> 00:31:24,650 our personal oath is that first as a 574 00:31:24,650 --> 00:31:27,910 man, as a wife, we must build our 575 00:31:27,910 --> 00:31:28,230 oath. 576 00:31:28,230 --> 00:31:30,250 It is basic. 577 00:31:30,550 --> 00:31:34,410 It is fundamental into enriching our matrimony, into 578 00:31:34,410 --> 00:31:37,410 our fulfilling, as it were, the purpose of 579 00:31:37,410 --> 00:31:37,670 God. 580 00:31:38,310 --> 00:31:40,750 Now, within the short time that I have 581 00:31:40,750 --> 00:31:42,950 left, I just want to explore that. 582 00:31:42,950 --> 00:31:48,390 And how do we maintain this personal communion? 583 00:31:49,930 --> 00:31:54,650 Given the challenges of children upbringing, given the 584 00:31:54,650 --> 00:31:58,850 challenges of family life, given the challenges of 585 00:31:58,850 --> 00:32:04,490 workplace, how do we maintain our personal communion? 586 00:32:04,490 --> 00:32:07,750 Let me first note, dear brethren, that I 587 00:32:07,750 --> 00:32:11,130 sense if the enemy wants to scatter any 588 00:32:11,130 --> 00:32:15,170 life or any marriage, the first place it 589 00:32:15,170 --> 00:32:18,430 will knock at is your personal relationship with 590 00:32:18,430 --> 00:32:18,730 God. 591 00:32:19,890 --> 00:32:23,670 I think that is from several things we 592 00:32:23,670 --> 00:32:26,790 see in the scripture that is apparent. 593 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:33,070 The strength of God's people is the Lord 594 00:32:33,070 --> 00:32:33,470 himself. 595 00:32:34,790 --> 00:32:36,830 We have been taught over and over again 596 00:32:36,830 --> 00:32:40,210 that the greatest treasure any life can carry 597 00:32:40,210 --> 00:32:42,330 is the presence of God. 598 00:32:42,330 --> 00:32:45,910 Our Lord Jesus declared, as one of his 599 00:32:45,910 --> 00:32:48,290 teachings in the gospel, he said to the 600 00:32:48,290 --> 00:32:50,490 disciples, very soon all of you will leave 601 00:32:50,490 --> 00:32:50,770 me. 602 00:32:51,790 --> 00:32:54,430 But he who sent me is with me. 603 00:32:55,050 --> 00:32:57,530 The father has never left me alone. 604 00:32:57,530 --> 00:33:00,470 If there's anything, first, that we see in 605 00:33:00,470 --> 00:33:04,730 the Lord Jesus that is instructive for us 606 00:33:04,730 --> 00:33:10,290 is that our greatest treasure is the presence 607 00:33:10,290 --> 00:33:11,310 of God in our life. 608 00:33:12,110 --> 00:33:14,190 The greatest thing that we must cherish, we 609 00:33:14,190 --> 00:33:17,570 must focus on our personal communion, that there's 610 00:33:17,570 --> 00:33:20,810 nothing between our soul and the Savior. 611 00:33:20,810 --> 00:33:27,690 And honestly speaking, any backsliding, any cracking down 612 00:33:27,690 --> 00:33:32,270 of any life that affects marriage, normally, normally 613 00:33:32,270 --> 00:33:36,410 we begin with when personal communion with God 614 00:33:36,410 --> 00:33:37,450 has broken down. 615 00:33:38,470 --> 00:33:41,610 When personal fellowship with God has broken down, 616 00:33:42,410 --> 00:33:44,550 I recall in one of the teachings on 617 00:33:44,550 --> 00:33:47,330 the steps to betraying the master. 618 00:33:47,330 --> 00:33:50,610 You will recall, as many of us have 619 00:33:50,610 --> 00:33:54,410 come through that message, that backsliding does not 620 00:33:54,410 --> 00:33:55,710 just happen suddenly. 621 00:33:56,290 --> 00:33:58,570 From the illustration of the life of Peter, 622 00:33:59,170 --> 00:34:01,730 it is when a life who has been 623 00:34:01,730 --> 00:34:04,370 in fellowship with God begin now to follow 624 00:34:04,370 --> 00:34:06,010 Jesus from a distance. 625 00:34:07,010 --> 00:34:09,810 And several things we want to come in 626 00:34:09,810 --> 00:34:13,370 between our personal communion with the Lord. 627 00:34:14,210 --> 00:34:16,110 Sometimes there are legitimate things. 628 00:34:16,989 --> 00:34:19,889 Sometimes there are the challenges of raising up 629 00:34:19,889 --> 00:34:20,270 children. 630 00:34:21,050 --> 00:34:23,469 Sometimes there are the demands at our workplace. 631 00:34:24,370 --> 00:34:29,150 But if we must maintain our communion with 632 00:34:29,150 --> 00:34:31,850 the Lord because we've seen its value, the 633 00:34:31,850 --> 00:34:33,429 first thing that I want us to note 634 00:34:33,429 --> 00:34:35,770 is it must be a priority. 635 00:34:35,770 --> 00:34:39,969 It must be a priority. 636 00:34:40,730 --> 00:34:43,710 Time will not allow me, but I want 637 00:34:43,710 --> 00:34:46,170 to count on our knowledge of Scripture to 638 00:34:46,170 --> 00:34:50,110 follow the passage in Luke chapter 10, verse 639 00:34:50,110 --> 00:34:51,610 38 to 42. 640 00:34:52,070 --> 00:34:54,889 We know the story well, the story of 641 00:34:54,889 --> 00:34:57,350 Jesus in the house of Martha. 642 00:34:57,350 --> 00:35:03,150 And I think as we read down, the 643 00:35:03,150 --> 00:35:07,230 Lord Jesus emphasized to Martha after she was 644 00:35:07,230 --> 00:35:10,350 occupied with how she was going to minister 645 00:35:10,350 --> 00:35:13,890 to the Lord with physical things, while Mary 646 00:35:13,890 --> 00:35:15,350 sat at His feet. 647 00:35:16,090 --> 00:35:19,890 The Lord did say, Martha, you are worried 648 00:35:19,890 --> 00:35:24,350 about many things, but one thing is needful. 649 00:35:24,350 --> 00:35:29,710 If we will maintain our personal communion with 650 00:35:29,710 --> 00:35:32,350 the Lord, that is crucial to enriching our 651 00:35:32,350 --> 00:35:33,090 matrimony. 652 00:35:34,890 --> 00:35:39,090 Our personal communion with the Lord must be 653 00:35:39,090 --> 00:35:39,970 a priority. 654 00:35:41,250 --> 00:35:44,950 The psalmist says, one thing I have desired 655 00:35:44,950 --> 00:35:47,910 of the Lord, that will I seek after. 656 00:35:48,050 --> 00:35:49,110 I will pursue it. 657 00:35:49,110 --> 00:35:52,750 He will pursue it because to Him, that 658 00:35:52,750 --> 00:35:53,690 is a priority. 659 00:35:54,430 --> 00:35:56,650 My dear brothers and sisters, can I ask, 660 00:35:57,370 --> 00:35:59,690 how is your personal fellowship with the Lord? 661 00:36:00,290 --> 00:36:04,150 As a husband, how is your personal fellowship 662 00:36:04,150 --> 00:36:04,710 with the Lord? 663 00:36:04,830 --> 00:36:07,890 If you reflect and look back, some of 664 00:36:07,890 --> 00:36:10,410 the challenges that are coming to your marriage, 665 00:36:10,910 --> 00:36:12,310 could it not be while you slept? 666 00:36:12,310 --> 00:36:16,310 Could it not be while something began to 667 00:36:16,310 --> 00:36:18,790 go wrong in your fellowship with God? 668 00:36:19,270 --> 00:36:23,670 I want to sincerely say marital unfaithfulness does 669 00:36:23,670 --> 00:36:28,030 not happen quickly, particularly for somebody who has 670 00:36:28,030 --> 00:36:29,890 had a walk with God. 671 00:36:30,550 --> 00:36:32,530 It begins with a drifting. 672 00:36:33,570 --> 00:36:37,050 It begins when your personal fellowship with the 673 00:36:37,050 --> 00:36:39,190 Lord is no longer a priority. 674 00:36:39,190 --> 00:36:43,410 When so many other things are beginning to 675 00:36:43,410 --> 00:36:45,650 come between you and the Lord. 676 00:36:46,510 --> 00:36:50,450 So if we will maintain a personal communion 677 00:36:50,450 --> 00:36:54,050 with the Lord, it must become our priority. 678 00:36:54,710 --> 00:36:58,110 I have no doubt in marriage, there are 679 00:36:58,110 --> 00:37:00,710 different phases of life. 680 00:37:00,710 --> 00:37:05,750 I recall that as a young married person, 681 00:37:06,310 --> 00:37:11,990 many years back, I had a, what do 682 00:37:11,990 --> 00:37:12,690 I call it? 683 00:37:13,370 --> 00:37:15,530 A pattern in the times of my own 684 00:37:15,530 --> 00:37:18,230 personal, apart from personal communion in the morning. 685 00:37:19,950 --> 00:37:22,370 In the evening, when I return from work, 686 00:37:22,410 --> 00:37:23,570 the first thing I want to do is 687 00:37:23,570 --> 00:37:25,890 to get to my room and spend some 688 00:37:25,890 --> 00:37:26,610 time with the Lord. 689 00:37:26,610 --> 00:37:30,010 As a single person, it was wonderful. 690 00:37:30,990 --> 00:37:34,890 As a married person, particularly, I remember when 691 00:37:34,890 --> 00:37:37,130 we had our first child, the first challenge 692 00:37:37,130 --> 00:37:40,310 I remember was that the moment I come 693 00:37:40,310 --> 00:37:43,090 in, particularly when the child has now begun 694 00:37:43,090 --> 00:37:45,050 to walk and wants his daddy. 695 00:37:46,110 --> 00:37:48,250 When I have gone in, she must come, 696 00:37:48,370 --> 00:37:49,170 daddy, daddy, daddy. 697 00:37:49,170 --> 00:37:52,530 I recall many times my wife will come 698 00:37:52,530 --> 00:37:54,090 and pull the child out and say, no, 699 00:37:54,110 --> 00:37:54,850 daddy is busy. 700 00:37:55,490 --> 00:37:57,390 The child doesn't understand daddy is busy. 701 00:37:57,910 --> 00:37:59,470 Daddy has gone all day. 702 00:38:00,210 --> 00:38:01,150 Daddy has returned. 703 00:38:01,330 --> 00:38:02,330 She must have her daddy. 704 00:38:03,790 --> 00:38:05,330 And the Lord has to say to me, 705 00:38:05,450 --> 00:38:08,210 so Lord, how do I balance this? 706 00:38:08,970 --> 00:38:10,370 He said, yes, she has a right as 707 00:38:10,370 --> 00:38:11,490 a child to her daddy. 708 00:38:12,210 --> 00:38:15,170 It is you that must rearrange your time. 709 00:38:15,170 --> 00:38:17,750 And that's going to bring me to the 710 00:38:17,750 --> 00:38:19,650 second thing that I see with the Lord 711 00:38:19,650 --> 00:38:20,430 Jesus Christ. 712 00:38:21,310 --> 00:38:24,790 Because personal communion with God was a priority. 713 00:38:26,070 --> 00:38:28,350 We don't have space or time, but I 714 00:38:28,350 --> 00:38:31,350 know that if you check through the scriptures, 715 00:38:31,590 --> 00:38:36,970 you will see that despite the demand of 716 00:38:36,970 --> 00:38:37,530 ministry. 717 00:38:37,530 --> 00:38:43,350 Despite the demand of fellowship, even with disciples, 718 00:38:44,530 --> 00:38:48,830 the Lord Jesus organized his life, his way 719 00:38:48,830 --> 00:38:52,110 in such a way that that communion was 720 00:38:52,110 --> 00:38:52,870 not compromised. 721 00:38:52,870 --> 00:38:55,310 And one wisdom God gave me then was 722 00:38:55,310 --> 00:39:00,290 rather than go back home quickly to say 723 00:39:00,290 --> 00:39:01,250 that's when I will pray. 724 00:39:01,990 --> 00:39:03,690 I rather when everything is done in the 725 00:39:03,690 --> 00:39:07,570 office, shut the door, still spend some time 726 00:39:07,570 --> 00:39:08,150 with the Lord. 727 00:39:08,250 --> 00:39:09,470 And then you can go back home and 728 00:39:09,470 --> 00:39:09,970 relax. 729 00:39:10,670 --> 00:39:14,490 The child can have the priority of your 730 00:39:14,490 --> 00:39:17,790 communion because it is in his light that 731 00:39:17,790 --> 00:39:19,090 we continually see light. 732 00:39:19,090 --> 00:39:22,890 So the first thing, we must maintain our 733 00:39:22,890 --> 00:39:23,890 personal order. 734 00:39:24,290 --> 00:39:26,310 As a husband, it must be priority. 735 00:39:27,390 --> 00:39:30,630 As a wife, it must be your priority. 736 00:39:31,610 --> 00:39:34,510 If you know that there's no way you 737 00:39:34,510 --> 00:39:37,910 can be effective, there's no way that your 738 00:39:37,910 --> 00:39:40,830 marriage can take its purpose except you are 739 00:39:40,830 --> 00:39:43,410 touching base continually with God. 740 00:39:43,850 --> 00:39:45,950 It must be our priority. 741 00:39:45,950 --> 00:39:49,810 But I want to end this session this 742 00:39:49,810 --> 00:39:52,130 morning with something the Lord made in my 743 00:39:52,130 --> 00:39:53,750 heart that I just want us to share 744 00:39:53,750 --> 00:39:55,950 with and then we'll be praying in the 745 00:39:55,950 --> 00:40:01,110 matter of maintaining our personal communion, our personal 746 00:40:01,110 --> 00:40:01,550 order. 747 00:40:02,130 --> 00:40:04,330 Please turn with me to Proverbs 8. 748 00:40:05,030 --> 00:40:06,070 Proverbs 8. 749 00:40:06,650 --> 00:40:08,330 I will just raise issues then I will 750 00:40:08,330 --> 00:40:10,810 be stopping for us to pray together this 751 00:40:10,810 --> 00:40:11,150 morning. 752 00:40:12,470 --> 00:40:13,510 Proverbs 8. 753 00:40:14,180 --> 00:40:18,450 And we will read verse 34, verse 35, 754 00:40:18,990 --> 00:40:22,410 and verse 36. 755 00:40:22,410 --> 00:40:26,270 It says, Blessed are who listen to me, 756 00:40:27,490 --> 00:40:36,710 watching daily at my doors, waiting 757 00:40:36,710 --> 00:40:41,850 at my doorway for those who find me, 758 00:40:42,410 --> 00:40:45,710 find life and receive favor from the Lord. 759 00:40:46,150 --> 00:40:48,850 But those who fail to find me, harm 760 00:40:48,850 --> 00:40:49,570 themselves. 761 00:40:50,530 --> 00:40:54,550 All who hate me, they love death. 762 00:40:56,250 --> 00:40:58,290 What is the matter I want us to 763 00:40:58,290 --> 00:41:01,130 pray about this morning as we conclude this? 764 00:41:01,750 --> 00:41:05,710 As I've noted with us, for our marriage 765 00:41:05,710 --> 00:41:13,050 to be fulfilling, we must make the matter 766 00:41:13,050 --> 00:41:15,970 of our individual communion with the Lord a 767 00:41:15,970 --> 00:41:16,710 primary thing. 768 00:41:16,710 --> 00:41:21,950 If, as we pray together as couples, if 769 00:41:21,950 --> 00:41:25,370 it would be enriching, it must be that 770 00:41:25,370 --> 00:41:27,850 there's a husband who is in touch with 771 00:41:27,850 --> 00:41:28,130 heaven. 772 00:41:28,710 --> 00:41:31,350 There's a wife who is in communion at 773 00:41:31,350 --> 00:41:34,070 her own level, as it were, with the 774 00:41:34,070 --> 00:41:34,310 Lord. 775 00:41:34,310 --> 00:41:38,890 But looking at how do we maintain our 776 00:41:38,890 --> 00:41:41,210 personal communion with the Lord? 777 00:41:41,330 --> 00:41:42,750 And I said the first thing I see 778 00:41:42,750 --> 00:41:45,310 from God's Word, which I'm trusting the Holy 779 00:41:45,310 --> 00:41:47,430 Spirit will expand to us much more individually, 780 00:41:48,070 --> 00:41:57,400 is that all who get in tune with 781 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:03,680 the Lord, they may be a priority. 782 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:09,720 Our personal fellowships aid, verse 34, and who 783 00:42:09,720 --> 00:42:11,060 listens to me? 784 00:42:11,360 --> 00:42:13,840 The Holy Spirit says it again, there's a 785 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:14,540 blessedness. 786 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:19,080 There's a blessedness in being a husband who 787 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:19,740 hears God. 788 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:25,360 Being a wife who is in communion continually 789 00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:26,320 with God. 790 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:31,400 But how is this done? 791 00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:36,980 The scripture says, watching daily at my gates. 792 00:42:38,540 --> 00:42:41,920 Watching daily at my gates. 793 00:42:43,340 --> 00:42:47,380 Waiting at the post of my doors. 794 00:42:48,260 --> 00:42:50,900 The emphasis I sense God wants me to 795 00:42:50,900 --> 00:42:54,820 bring is the matter of watching daily. 796 00:42:56,960 --> 00:42:58,080 Watching daily. 797 00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:01,800 Several things we want to come in between 798 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,880 our fellowship, as it were, in the Lord. 799 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:08,100 But for us to maintain our fellowship with 800 00:43:08,100 --> 00:43:10,220 God, it must be a daily thing. 801 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:12,840 It must be a daily thing. 802 00:43:13,140 --> 00:43:15,300 The moment you begin to miss your personal 803 00:43:15,300 --> 00:43:18,080 fellowship with God, you know there's danger. 804 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:23,820 The moment, whether work, whether even ministry, becomes 805 00:43:23,820 --> 00:43:27,460 the issue that clouds you out from communion 806 00:43:27,460 --> 00:43:29,980 with the Lord, you are beginning to enter 807 00:43:29,980 --> 00:43:30,720 a danger zone. 808 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:34,420 And one of the deceptions, particularly for those 809 00:43:34,420 --> 00:43:37,200 of us in ministry, is to think, because 810 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,600 you have preached to others, you have received 811 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:43,320 revelation and spoken, it means you are also 812 00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:43,680 alright. 813 00:43:43,780 --> 00:43:44,580 That's deception. 814 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:47,780 God needs to get us to the place 815 00:43:47,780 --> 00:43:50,520 where continually he has access to our inner 816 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:50,860 man. 817 00:43:51,620 --> 00:43:54,200 And for this to be, it must become 818 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:55,320 a daily thing. 819 00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:58,900 As I'm concluding, as I see my time 820 00:43:58,900 --> 00:44:01,480 is gone, I want to ask you, dear 821 00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:03,940 brother, how is your fellowship with God? 822 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:07,220 How is your personal communion with God? 823 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:09,040 As God has brought us to this retreat, 824 00:44:10,240 --> 00:44:13,140 can we call on God together to revisit 825 00:44:13,140 --> 00:44:14,060 your altar? 826 00:44:14,060 --> 00:44:18,000 You cannot be the correct blessing to your 827 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:20,720 wife and to your children unless you are 828 00:44:20,720 --> 00:44:23,600 a man who God has access to all 829 00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:24,080 the time. 830 00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:26,460 And the way to build it, it must 831 00:44:26,460 --> 00:44:27,220 be a priority. 832 00:44:27,860 --> 00:44:30,620 It must be something you are engaging on 833 00:44:30,620 --> 00:44:34,400 a daily basis, watching daily at my gates, 834 00:44:34,720 --> 00:44:35,100 waiting. 835 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:38,060 So it is not just being there daily. 836 00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:40,080 There must be a waiting. 837 00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:43,020 And that's why I was saying that we're 838 00:44:43,020 --> 00:44:44,960 taking this beyond just that you have your 839 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:45,680 quiet time. 840 00:44:46,080 --> 00:44:48,840 Because it's possible for your quiet time to 841 00:44:48,840 --> 00:44:50,080 become a routine. 842 00:44:51,220 --> 00:44:53,460 But when you are a man waiting to 843 00:44:53,460 --> 00:44:56,560 hear God, because God says, those who listen 844 00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:58,360 to me are those who are blessed. 845 00:44:58,660 --> 00:44:59,180 How wonderful. 846 00:44:59,940 --> 00:45:00,560 How wonderful. 847 00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:02,940 The Lord says, those who find me, find 848 00:45:02,940 --> 00:45:03,200 life. 849 00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:06,140 It means to find him, we must seek 850 00:45:06,140 --> 00:45:06,340 him. 851 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:09,260 We must seek him and to obtain favor 852 00:45:09,260 --> 00:45:10,380 from the Lord. 853 00:45:11,140 --> 00:45:12,580 What is the last point I should raise? 854 00:45:12,660 --> 00:45:17,020 Those who sin against me wrong their own 855 00:45:17,020 --> 00:45:17,240 soul. 856 00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:21,880 And all those who hate me, they love 857 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:22,340 death. 858 00:45:22,460 --> 00:45:26,120 One version says, when you break communion with 859 00:45:26,120 --> 00:45:28,280 God, you are flirting with death. 860 00:45:29,220 --> 00:45:31,200 Oh, I pray the Lord will help us 861 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:32,220 to see the gravity. 862 00:45:32,220 --> 00:45:36,740 The importance of me keeping in tune with 863 00:45:36,740 --> 00:45:36,980 heaven. 864 00:45:37,180 --> 00:45:40,260 So much that any time you find that 865 00:45:40,260 --> 00:45:43,840 things are beginning to go low, you must 866 00:45:43,840 --> 00:45:45,680 learn the wisdom of Jesus in Luke chapter 867 00:45:45,680 --> 00:45:46,760 5 verse 16. 868 00:45:46,940 --> 00:45:50,160 The scripture says, he often withdraws to lonely 869 00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:52,140 places and he prays. 870 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:55,480 As I see my time is gone for 871 00:45:55,480 --> 00:45:58,540 now, I would like us to pray together 872 00:45:58,540 --> 00:45:59,160 this morning. 873 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:04,200 Honestly speaking, dear brothers and sisters, all the 874 00:46:04,200 --> 00:46:07,440 issues God will be bringing, it will become 875 00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:12,300 deeper with us when we have men who 876 00:46:12,300 --> 00:46:15,900 take their communion with God as a priority. 877 00:46:16,760 --> 00:46:19,500 When we have wives who are not just 878 00:46:19,500 --> 00:46:22,760 being carried along as a wheelbarrow in their 879 00:46:22,760 --> 00:46:25,620 marital relationship, but they are in tune with 880 00:46:25,620 --> 00:46:25,940 heaven. 881 00:46:25,940 --> 00:46:27,720 Let it not be said, you say, I 882 00:46:27,720 --> 00:46:28,920 don't know anything, I don't know what to 883 00:46:28,920 --> 00:46:29,080 say. 884 00:46:29,140 --> 00:46:31,260 No, we must cultivate it. 885 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:33,500 I would like us to bow our heads 886 00:46:33,500 --> 00:46:36,240 as we pray together at this time. 887 00:46:37,220 --> 00:46:41,700 This very, very first devotional challenge we're having 888 00:46:41,700 --> 00:46:42,280 this morning. 889 00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:45,240 Can I ask you, how is your altar? 890 00:46:46,320 --> 00:46:49,440 As the husband, how is your personal altar 891 00:46:49,440 --> 00:46:50,120 with the Lord? 892 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:53,220 As a wife, how is your personal communion 893 00:46:53,220 --> 00:46:54,300 with the Lord? 894 00:46:54,300 --> 00:46:57,840 Are you such a husband that hears the 895 00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:00,020 Lord, that the Bible says like Abraham, what 896 00:47:00,020 --> 00:47:00,860 God said. 897 00:47:01,980 --> 00:47:06,240 That issues are resolved, direction is given, because 898 00:47:06,240 --> 00:47:08,760 you are maintaining your communion with the Lord. 899 00:47:09,620 --> 00:47:12,080 Are you the wife that the Holy Spirit 900 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:14,340 will speak of like Sarah and say Sarah 901 00:47:14,340 --> 00:47:14,880 herself. 902 00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:19,840 Whose priority is not just the adornment of 903 00:47:19,840 --> 00:47:22,740 the physical, but you are eager about your 904 00:47:22,740 --> 00:47:23,180 inner life. 905 00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:25,460 You will help your husband far when you 906 00:47:25,460 --> 00:47:26,160 are such a woman. 907 00:47:26,440 --> 00:47:28,500 Can we pray together this morning as couples? 908 00:47:29,300 --> 00:47:32,320 Can we again examine before the Lord, how 909 00:47:32,320 --> 00:47:33,140 is my altar? 910 00:47:34,220 --> 00:47:36,380 Brother, is the fire on your altar, is 911 00:47:36,380 --> 00:47:37,120 it going low? 912 00:47:37,720 --> 00:47:38,260 That's danger. 913 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:41,220 The Bible says, those who ignore me, they 914 00:47:41,220 --> 00:47:42,400 are only courting death. 915 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:44,080 They are flirting with death. 916 00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:46,540 Those who find me, they find life. 917 00:47:47,060 --> 00:47:50,220 Can we pray this morning, the Lord, fresh 918 00:47:50,220 --> 00:47:54,540 grace to be a man who watches daily 919 00:47:54,540 --> 00:47:55,440 at your gates. 920 00:47:56,060 --> 00:47:58,960 Who waits at the post of your door. 921 00:47:59,280 --> 00:48:00,700 Please bow your heads as we pray. 922 00:48:01,340 --> 00:48:02,460 Bow your heads as we pray. 923 00:48:02,560 --> 00:48:03,400 Let's speak to God. 924 00:48:04,100 --> 00:48:04,940 Let's speak to God. 925 00:48:04,940 --> 00:48:07,660 I will be calling on our sister to 926 00:48:07,660 --> 00:48:11,260 please take us up in prayer as we 927 00:48:11,260 --> 00:48:12,200 conclude this session. 928 00:48:12,920 --> 00:48:14,560 You may need to join your hands with 929 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:15,240 your spouse. 930 00:48:15,940 --> 00:48:17,500 And please let's pray together. 931 00:48:18,300 --> 00:48:20,980 Your husband needs to be a man in 932 00:48:20,980 --> 00:48:21,640 tune with God. 933 00:48:22,300 --> 00:48:24,980 Never be content as a wife that maybe 934 00:48:24,980 --> 00:48:27,900 is getting things for you, but his relationship 935 00:48:27,900 --> 00:48:28,940 with God is down. 936 00:48:29,340 --> 00:48:31,700 It will be spelling doom and danger to 937 00:48:31,700 --> 00:48:31,900 you. 938 00:48:31,900 --> 00:48:33,860 Can we pray this morning? 939 00:48:34,120 --> 00:48:35,020 Can we pray? 940 00:48:36,060 --> 00:48:38,940 Marriage cannot be sustained without the life of 941 00:48:38,940 --> 00:48:39,200 God. 942 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:42,900 Sister Inka, please help us to pray further. 943 00:48:43,060 --> 00:48:43,420 Thank you. 944 00:48:46,090 --> 00:48:48,670 In this morning, we are grateful unto you. 945 00:48:49,730 --> 00:48:51,530 Thank you, Lord, for the way you have 946 00:48:51,530 --> 00:48:53,110 come for us again this morning. 947 00:48:54,110 --> 00:48:56,630 Thank you, Lord, for the way you have 948 00:48:56,630 --> 00:48:57,610 spoken to us. 949 00:48:58,450 --> 00:48:59,390 Father, our prayer. 950 00:48:59,750 --> 00:49:01,690 Oh, Lord, as we lift up our hearts 951 00:49:01,690 --> 00:49:04,930 unto you this morning, that's for every man 952 00:49:04,930 --> 00:49:06,310 and for every husband. 953 00:49:06,770 --> 00:49:09,570 Lord, we beg you that there will be 954 00:49:09,570 --> 00:49:12,350 a cultivation and a maintenance. 955 00:49:12,770 --> 00:49:17,930 Oh, Lord, of a continuous current walk and 956 00:49:17,930 --> 00:49:20,290 relationship with you in the name of the 957 00:49:20,290 --> 00:49:21,350 Lord Jesus Christ. 958 00:49:21,870 --> 00:49:24,250 Father, we beg you, oh God, particularly for 959 00:49:24,250 --> 00:49:24,790 the wives. 960 00:49:24,790 --> 00:49:27,370 We are the ones that normally get busy 961 00:49:27,370 --> 00:49:28,270 with other things. 962 00:49:28,510 --> 00:49:30,690 We are the ones that normally shoots our 963 00:49:30,690 --> 00:49:31,170 eyes away. 964 00:49:31,290 --> 00:49:33,410 There are several other things that take our 965 00:49:33,410 --> 00:49:34,570 time and our attention. 966 00:49:34,910 --> 00:49:36,910 Father, we plead with you this morning. 967 00:49:37,510 --> 00:49:39,810 Please show us your mercy in the name 968 00:49:39,810 --> 00:49:41,030 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 969 00:49:41,550 --> 00:49:43,130 Father, we pray for everyone. 970 00:49:43,250 --> 00:49:45,410 Oh, Lord, as we had you this morning, 971 00:49:46,070 --> 00:49:50,090 everyone whose altar, the fire on our altars 972 00:49:50,090 --> 00:49:51,110 have gone down. 973 00:49:51,110 --> 00:49:54,150 We beg you, oh Lord, let fire from 974 00:49:54,150 --> 00:49:54,810 on high. 975 00:49:55,550 --> 00:49:58,330 Let the fires upon our altar be rekindled 976 00:49:58,330 --> 00:50:01,070 as we go back to sit at your 977 00:50:01,070 --> 00:50:03,470 feet like Mary did in the name of 978 00:50:03,470 --> 00:50:04,570 the Lord Jesus Christ. 979 00:50:05,110 --> 00:50:06,930 For every man, for every woman, for every 980 00:50:06,930 --> 00:50:08,890 husband and wife, please help us. 981 00:50:09,030 --> 00:50:10,590 Oh, Lord, in the name of the Lord 982 00:50:10,590 --> 00:50:11,290 Jesus Christ. 983 00:50:11,710 --> 00:50:15,130 Thank you, our father in Jesus mighty name. 984 00:50:15,130 --> 00:50:17,110 Amen.